Of course this is a comic movie ... fantasy ... there are still things we can glean from it.
In the movie Captain America, Steve Rogers, is a short, small, weak human being.
There is a scientist who has created a serum that gives strength, speed, height, power ... enhances the physical qualities to create a stronger man.
Steve is chosen to be the man, the guinea pig to test this serum ... to create the more powerful soldier.
The night before the procedure he has a conversation with the scientist ... naturally he asks, "Why Me?"
Hitler hears of me. My work and he finds me. And he says, you will make us strong. Well I am not interested. So he sends the head of hydra, his research division. A brilliant scientist by the name of Johann Schmidt. Now Schmidt is a member of the inner circle and he is ambitious ...
So when he hears about my formula and what it can do, he cannot resist. Schmidt must become that superior man.
"Did it make him stronger?"
Yes. But there were other effects.
The serum amplifies everything that is inside,
so good becomes great.
Bad becomes worse.
This is why you were chosen.
Because a strong man who has known power all his life may lose respect for that power,
But a weak man knows the value of strength.
And knows compassion.
"Thanks. I think."
Whatever happens tomorrow, you must promise me one thing.
That you will stay who you are.
Not a perfect soldier
but
A GOOD MAN
...
Let's ask ourselves: Is that truly what WE want as coaches? Do we want the perfect athlete or the good man?
One other thought from the movie that demonstrates the strength that comes from living the virtues of courage, humility, and charity. (From an admitted old comic book nerd.)
ReplyDeleteThe crucial moment / test for who was going to receive the super soldier serum took place as the prospective subjects were standing at attention and the commanding officer of the program tossed a dummy grenade in front of the line of recruits. Only one soldier jumped on the grenade – the perceived smallest, weakest, most feeble of the group – Steve Rogers – who would become Captain America. If not for his core values lived out as virtues of courage in the face of certain death, humility to know that he was part of something greater, and charity to sacrifice his life for the greater good, he would not have been selected to become the superhero. As the story goes, he did, became Captain America, and led the downfall of the Nazi Hydra organization that was dominating the European theatre. While a story played out in comic books and the screen, we still see this action every day by our brothers, sisters, and friends who serve in the US Armed Forces and we owe them our gratitude.
Just a thought.