At some time in nearly any American kid's life, the thought of what it would be like to have super powers has crossed the mind. Fueled by the comic book industry, and the natural creative abilities of kids, the discussion of the merits of these powers has long been with us. Add to that the success of the show "Who Wants to Be a Superhero" and this conversation reaches new heights.

Several years ago, the radio program "This American Life" did an audio essay on the subject of "Invisibility vs. Flight." In a nonscientific survey, the writer discovered that those who preferred flight didn't necessarily want it for altruistic reasons. They thought the ability to fly would be convenient for those days when driving wasn't a great option, or just for the thrill of being able to cut through the air without wings or an aircraft.

Those who chose invisibility were not much better. They hoped to observe others without being detected - invisible peeping Toms, if you will. Some hoped to get information to use for personal gain, such as passwords or pin numbers to get access to accounts, or bank vaults. The conclusion of the radio writer was that, given the choice of super-human power, most of us would use it for evil rather than good. Or at best, we would use it for our own convenience as opposed to the service of our fellow humans.

But I think that what's wrong with this assessment is exactly what's right about "Who Wants to Be a Superhero." In this case, the individuals have to create the appropriate powers to suit their alter-ego. They have to determine what their hero offers to the world, not what they get from it, and how they can best help humankind. The jaded view of the radio writer, that cynical opinion that we are all mostly evil and out for ourselves at heart, is thrown out the window by the inspiring, and amusing participants in this show.

So what superpowers would you choose, and how would you choose to use them? It's no longer the silly question posed by eight-year-olds on the playground. It's a valid question about ethics, morality, and civic duty. Hmmm . . . and to think that adults once tried to ban comic books.

Learn more about this author, Kim Justesen.
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