Melnoli
r_s_boston
Mekanikal_Pankake
r_s_boston
Mekanikal_Pankake
Lulu disagrees. The people of Gotham dislike Batman, but they know they need him. And most Americans at this point have realized that the world doesn't like us. We just won't accept it. My opinion is something more like "America sees itself as Batman, but the world sees America as Ra's Al-Ghul". Ra's has diluted his own mind with the front that he and his organization are saving the world when in fact they are taking countless innocent lives in a vain attempt to create their "perfect world". Batman is a man who believes ever so strongly in justice and will sacrifice his own life (and way of life) to attain the justice to benefit others, despite the fact that they will never understand what he's done for them. That is the facade that America hides behind. We know people hate us but we think they're wrong.

That's how Lulu figures it anyway. sweatdrop And she can see it from both sides. Lulu is both a citizen of Ireland and the U.S. 3nodding

Hmmm. You do have a definite point there, Lulu-- although the Batman/Superman comparison ties in quite well with how Batman is presented in "The Dark Knight," so that's probably why Michael Caine thought of it (beware spoilers, anyone who hasn't yet seen the film): Batman's intentions are good, but ultimately a lot of what he does is unethical, such as the way he ruthlessly interrogates villains (like the Joker, etc.) and turns to such underhanded techniques as surveillance of Gotham's population using their cellphones-- and thereby listening in on their private conversations if I'm not mistaken-- to catch the Joker. Yes, these methods get the job done. But it's as if Batman's position as Gotham City's self-appointed "protector," the power and free reign it affords him, have started to go to his head and cloud his better judgment. Like he's started to think too much in terms of "the ends justify the means"-- regardless of the consequences. And it is possible to view the U.S. this way, although the Ra's Al-Ghul comparison works as well. However, I can't really imagine George W. Bush viewing himself as Batman. Superman, yes, but not Batman. But maybe that's just me. sweatdrop
I'm sure the government knows they follow an "ends justify the means" policy, but of course they'll never admit to it.

George Bush is not America. The people are America.

My point was more how Michael Caine might have made the sort of connection he did than anything else, but I guess that got kinda lost. Oh well. sweatdrop

Well, regardless of who or what America really is, George W. Bush still represents the U.S. and I really think he, and the rest of the government, view themselves more as "Superman" and less as "Batman" in the end-- this is of course just my view and I could be wrong.


Agreed


I'd agree, too. And I'm in the Navy. eek That's saying something...