Wisdom… from the pages of a comic book

With the major success of comic book movies over the last decade, the name “Stan Lee” has gained a lot of recognition. Stan spent most of his career at Marvel Comics and was one of the creators of familiar heroes such as Spider-Man, the Avengers and the Incredible Hulk.

Stan passed away in 2018 and, as a tribute, Marvel has been publishing pieces from “Stan’s Soapbox,” a feature that Stan wrote regularly and which would appear on the letters page at the back of their comics. I happened across one of these tributes from the 60’s whose message was particularly well written and still relevant today and thought I’d share it here:

Let’s consider three men: Buddha, Christ and Moses… men of peace, whose thoughts and deeds have influenced countless millions throughout the ages – and whose presence still is felt in every corner of the earth. Buddha, Christ and Moses… men of good will, men of tolerance, and especially men of love.

Now, consider the practitioners of hate who have sullied the pages of history. Who still venerates their words? Where is homage still paid to their memory? What banners still are raised to their cause?

The power of love – and the power of hate. Which is most truly enduring? When you tend to despair… let the answer sustain you.

Stan Lee, May 1969

This isn’t to say that there’s no evil in the world or that evil intent cannot take root in large populations (think the Nazis or the KKK or even McCarthyism). But in each case, evil eventually lost its hold. Yes, it may take a long time for that to happen, and horrible things may occur in the interim, but humanity has – eventually – returned to the right path.

I believe that evil, even great evil, is transient and temporary. Still, we must ever guard against it and need to be open to questioning ourselves and our motivations. But I have faith that, as a species, humankind is drawn to the good… to the Bhudda’s, the Jesus’ and the Moses’ in the world.

Their’s are the lessons that get passed down through the generations. Their’s are the words which are spread throughout the world. And their’s are the standards by which we should judge our own actions.

Know that I’m pulling for you.