Stan Lee, a comic book author

Stan Lee, a comic book author · **MichaelaSJ** Tue Nov 13, 2018 5:02 pm

Stan Lee, the co-creator of Marvel Comics, died yesterday at 95. I am not into comics, much less Marvel. But in reading a bit about his life, I came across an anti-racist column he wrote in 1968:

“Let’s lay it right on the line. Bigotry and racism are among the deadliest social ills plaguing the world today. But, unlike a team of costumed super-villains, they can’t be halted with a punch in the snoot, or a zap from a ray gun. The only way to destroy them is to expose them — to reveal them for the insidious evils they really are. The bigot is an unreasoning hater — one who hates blindly, fanatically, indiscriminately. If his hang-up is black men, he hates ALL black men. If a redhead once offended him, he hates ALL redheads. If some foreigner beat him to a job, he’s down on ALL foreigners. He hates people he’s never seen — people he’s never known — with equal intensity — with equal venom.

“Now, we’re not trying to say it’s unreasonable for one human being to bug another. But, although anyone has the right to dislike another individual, it’s totally irrational, patently insane to condemn an entire race — to despise an entire nation — to vilify an entire religion. Sooner or later, we must learn to judge each other on our own merits. Sooner or later, if man is ever to be worthy of his destiny, we must fill our hearts with tolerance. For then, and only then, will we be truly worthy of the concept that man was created in the image of God ― a God who calls us ALL ― His children.

“Pax et Justitia, Stan.”

This will not make me run out and buy a bunch of his comic books or go see a movie based upon his creations - but it makes me feel a little less fulfilled for never having met the man and to have thanked him for his humanity.

Re: Stan Lee, a comic book author · Lesley Niyori Tue Nov 13, 2018 5:37 pm

It's nice that he is numbered among those we can say "we will miss".

I've never been a comic nerd. I'm not even a manga nerd.

I judge films on 'were they entertaining' not based on adherence to 'canon'.

I always thought it was fun to 'spot Stan' in the films.

Re: Stan Lee, a comic book author · **Celia Eriksson** Tue Nov 13, 2018 7:47 pm

I too am not a comic nerd, but I had heard of Stan Lee when his works and him, have appeared on a show I like, Pawn Stars, filmed at a Pawn Shop in Las Vegas. I love antiques, especially quirky stuff and that show has lots of it!

Once, he had signed some comics and the price actually went down coz he was still alive then. And as I remember, it might have been him?, he drew a spiderman on a napkin or something and that was worth something. I always mentally note the names of artists, makers and that when I see artefacts, coz I may come across them myself one day.

Well, anyway, he seemed quite level headed as that quotation from Miki proves, so he must have been a good person. Celia xx

Re: Stan Lee, a comic book author · Angelic Wed Nov 14, 2018 5:37 pm

MichaelaSJ wrote:Stan Lee, the co-creator of Marvel Comics, died yesterday at 95. I am not into comics, much less Marvel. But in reading a bit about his life, I came across an anti-racist column he wrote in 1968:
“Let’s lay it right on the line. Bigotry and racism are among the deadliest social ills plaguing the world today. But, unlike a team of costumed super-villains, they can’t be halted with a punch in the snoot, or a zap from a ray gun. The only way to destroy them is to expose them — to reveal them for the insidious evils they really are. The bigot is an unreasoning hater — one who hates blindly, fanatically, indiscriminately. If his hang-up is black men, he hates ALL black men. If a redhead once offended him, he hates ALL redheads. If some foreigner beat him to a job, he’s down on ALL foreigners. He hates people he’s never seen — people he’s never known — with equal intensity — with equal venom.

“Now, we’re not trying to say it’s unreasonable for one human being to bug another. But, although anyone has the right to dislike another individual, it’s totally irrational, patently insane to condemn an entire race — to despise an entire nation — to vilify an entire religion. Sooner or later, we must learn to judge each other on our own merits. Sooner or later, if man is ever to be worthy of his destiny, we must fill our hearts with tolerance. For then, and only then, will we be truly worthy of the concept that man was created in the image of God ― a God who calls us ALL ― His children.

“Pax et Justitia, Stan.”

This will not make me run out and buy a bunch of his comic books or go see a movie based upon his creations - but it makes me feel a little less fulfilled for never having met the man and to have thanked him for his humanity.

That is simply not true. First God is not true. Second of all I don't hate everyone equally, I hate some more than others. For instance I hate the admins who runs Susans place more than I hate others. Third it is good to villify entire religions because they enslave minds, much like the mods of Susans Place, and should be villified.

Re: Stan Lee, a comic book author · **MichaelaSJ** Wed Nov 14, 2018 6:14 pm

Angel

Think about this for a moment - if you hate everyone equally, then you hate no one!

Re: Stan Lee, a comic book author · Angelic Wed Nov 14, 2018 7:59 pm

MichaelaSJ wrote:Angel

Think about this for a moment - if you hate everyone equally, then you hate no one!

Incorrect.

Re: Stan Lee, a comic book author · **Celia Eriksson** Wed Nov 14, 2018 10:03 pm

Mmmmm. I'm with Angel there, sorry Miki. If ya can love everyone, it must be possible to hate everyone. And though I don't recommend the second option..... it would be impossible to do that equally. Even if Miki meant to write, '....if you could hate everyone equally...., Angel would still hate someone, well everyone surely?

Re: Stan Lee, a comic book author · Anna Mull Thu Nov 15, 2018 6:50 am

I know millions of Brigadiers are going to miss Generalissimo. RIP, Stan Lee.

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