Power

...People often wonder why Spider-man's so screwed up. I mean, he's a guy who just takes on all these psychos more often than not getting beaten to a bloody pulp in the process, but still comes back for more. I mean sure, maybe the dude's this big masochist but...you really think so?

A friend of mine got mugged last night (April 28, 2009) a couple of steps from the entrance of her condominium. Mid-last year, another friend of mine got injured trying to get away from another mugger. August 31, 1999...my grandfather past away due to cancer. 20 years ago, I saw my best friend...bubbles the shitzu get run over right before my 4 year-old eyes. And the list goes on and on and on...

Spider-man does seem like a fool right? Swinging around, cracking jokes left and right...trying to land a punch or two. He sure does seem like a fool...I mean look, where can a Spider win against:

1. a scorpion
2. a chameleon
3. a goblin
4. another goblin that's green
5. a vulture
6. an octopus
7. sand?
8. some black alien goo
(and the list goes on)

But, look the line "with great power comes great responsibility" comes in. So he does this because he feels that he has to? That since he's gifted with this power, he should save others around him? Is it just that? I mean...technically I have great power, graduating from prestigious schools, coming from a well-off family, working at a place that can make a lot of difference...but does that make me responsible for everything out there?

You see, the reason why Spider-man fights against the odds, performs herculean tasks over and over again is because he's protecting those that he loves; Aunt May, Mary Jane, Harry Osbourne and so on and so forth. And after being bullied growing up, watching his Uncle Ben die in front of his eyes, failing to save Gwen Stacy from the Green Goblin...he demanded power...he needed power to help protect those that he loved. Whether it be joining with an alien goo, asking Tony Stark to give him a new costume...and even making a deal with the devil himself, just to protect those that he loves.

You see, if I was the only one I was responsible for...I'd do crazy shit like jump off a bridge with a bungee chord, sky-dive, base-jump, drag race...but no. I have loved ones of my own. Loved ones that I want to protect. Loved ones that I'm willing to die for, and break out of hell again and again for. I mean, if I'm in danger, I could get away. I could duck, I could run, I could serpentine. But if the people I love are in danger, what if I couldn't protect them? All I could do is worry.

Spider-man, no...Peter Parker wanted power so he could be something, so that the bullies would stop, so that the girl would fall for him...but after seeing his Uncle Ben die...he wanted power for another reason altogether. He wanted power so he could protect his loved ones...so that none of them would ever feel in danger. So that none of them would ever feel fear.

And I wanted power. So I could've protected my friends who were getting mugged. So I could've saved my grandfather from cancer. So I could've stopped that car from running bubbles over. I wanted power. I want power so I could stop my friends and family from getting hurt. I want power so that they don't have to feel fear from just walking outside their homes, or feel fear from just being in a densely crowded area. I want power so I could protect them.

But just as Spider-man, Peter Parker learned...even though you have the power, even though you can fight the forces of evil...there are still some that you cannot help...you cannot save. Like Uncle Ben, like Gwen Stacy...Like Aunt May. And like him, I know that I cannot save everyone...I couldn't save my friends from being mugged, I couldn't save my grandfather from cancer...I couldn't save bubbles from that car.

But just like Spider-man, just like Peter Parker...I'm not going to stop trying. I'll protect my friends, my family, my loved ones. I'll protect them with everything that I have and am, and with all the power that I have within me. I'll take on Doc Ock, Sandman, Electro, Vulture, Chameleon, Scorpion, Hobgoblin, Green Goblin, Carnage, Venom, Shocker and King Pin if I have to. Even if I get beaten to a bloody pulp. Even if I'd be an inch from death...I'd fight. Because it's no longer just about me...but it's also about all of you.

I want power.