Superman and the Power of Restraint: A Model of Non-Toxic Masculinity

In an age where masculinity is often debated—sometimes celebrated, sometimes scrutinized—there exists a fictional character who has embodied the best version of it for nearly a century: Superman. Beyond his physical strength, heat vision, and flight, what truly makes Superman a hero isn’t what he can do, but what he chooses not to do.

Superman is the ultimate power fantasy, yet he is also the ultimate restraint fantasy. He possesses the strength to rule the world, to impose his will, to crush opposition, but he does none of these things. Instead, he serves. His masculinity is not about dominance, aggression, or unchecked authority—it is about responsibility, protection, and self-control.

A fundamental test of a great leader is not just the ability to wield power but the wisdom to know when not to. This is where Superman shines. In many depictions, his greatest struggles aren’t against physical threats but moral dilemmas. He could solve problems with brute force, yet he doesn’t. He leads by example, using his power only for defense, never for conquest.

This contrasts starkly with toxic masculinity, which equates strength with aggression, authority with dominance, and power with control over others. Toxic masculinity demands that men prove themselves through displays of force, intimidation, or suppression of emotion. Superman, however, represents a different paradigm—one where strength is used to protect the vulnerable, not to assert superiority.

Superman’s most famous motto—“Truth, Justice, and a Better Tomorrow” (previously “the American Way”)—speaks to his commitment to higher ideals. Toxic masculinity often manifests in the belief that emotions, vulnerability, or restraint are weaknesses.

Superman is the man who can throw a punch that shatters mountains, yet he doesn’t unless he absolutely must. His greatest enemies—Lex Luthor, Darkseid, General Zod—often misinterpret his restraint as weakness. But true power, as Superman shows, is having the ability to destroy and choosing not to.

There is a famous moment in All-Star Superman where Superman saves a young girl who is about to jump off a building. He doesn’t grab her or impose his will. Instead, he simply stands beside her and says, “You're stronger than you think.” He uses his presence, not his power, to save her.

This moment encapsulates Superman’s ethos: masculinity at its best is about knowing when strength is needed—and when presence, kindness, and understanding are more powerful than brute force.

Superman’s heroism isn’t in his ability to overpower others; it’s in his refusal to abuse that power. He is the ultimate counterpoint to toxic masculinity, proving that true strength lies in control, compassion, and self-restraint.

The world doesn’t need men who seek to dominate. It needs men who, like Superman, use their power not for themselves, but for others. Not to impose, but to protect. Not to control, but to serve.

And that is what makes Superman a true hero.

The Post-Rule-of-Law Society: Signs of Collapse and Paths to Resistance

 

Welcome to the beginning of the post-rule-of-law society. Since I posted that original prediction two months ago, America has seen the assassination of a Health Insurance CEO and a veteran bombing a Tesla outside Trump Tower. 

These events are not isolated. They are all symptoms of a system in collapse, where the foundations of law, order, and trust in institutions have eroded. Each act of violence, each instance of lawlessness, is a reflection of deeper fractures in the social contract that binds a society together. When citizens no longer believe that justice is impartial, that leaders are accountable, or that systems are fair, they begin to act outside the boundaries of those systems. These actions, whether driven by despair, anger, or a loss of faith in peaceful solutions, are not random—they are the inevitable outcome of a society failing to address its core inequities and uphold the principles that sustain it.

When a convicted criminal, who incited a violent attack on our Capitol four years ago, not only gets away with his crimes but is elevated to the highest office in the land, it undermines law and order overall. It can be argued that the post-rule-of-law society really began when the Supreme Court aided him in getting away with crimes by granting him unprecedented and unnecessary legal "immunity" (Trump v United States 2024). Legal immunity is unnecessary unless you intend to act outside the law. 

Government is only legitimate when it operates with the consent of the governed. Governmental systems only function when the people trust them and are not openly resisting them. When people stop trusting the government in general and specific government institutions like the courts, violence becomes inevitable. People will seek redress for their grievances, even if there is not a peaceful way to do so, even if the only redress available is vengeance.   

The damage is already done but things can get worse. For example, if Trump does pardon all the January 6th rioters, it will solidify the perception of arbitrary, partisan justice, accelerating the descent into chaos.

When the law is not applied equally and the wealthy are allowed to live above it, the law becomes nothing more than a tool to control the poor, stripping it of justice and making rebellion not only understandable but inevitable.

This is not even new information. All I am pointing out is that the destabilization is already visible. Historians have noted the phenomenon I am describing in an article titled, "History shows that societies collapse when leaders undermine social contracts" (Link) - 
"This pattern of amoral leaders destabilizing their societies goes way back—the paper uses the Roman Empire as an example. The Roman emperor Commodus inherited a state with economic and military instability, and he didn't rise to the occasion; instead, he was more interested in performing as a gladiator and identifying himself with Hercules. He was eventually assassinated, and the empire descended into a period of crisis and corruption. These patterns can be seen today, as corrupt or inept leaders threaten the core principles and, hence, the stability of the places they govern. Mounting inequality, concentration of political power, evasion of taxation, hollowing out of bureaucratic institutions, diminishment of infrastructure, and declining public services are all evidenced in democratic nations today."

Hope is not lost. Fascist regimes can be resisted, and nations can rebuild stronger. Start by organizing within your community—join advocacy groups or form your own. Study the successes and failures of resistance movements, from the French Resistance of World War II to the White Rose Society of 1930s Germany. Resist oppression with peaceful noncompliance whenever possible, but prepare for tougher measures if necessary. And above all, cultivate the ideas that will guide your community through rebuilding when the dictator is removed. Imagine a better world and then work toward that vision. That is how all progress is made.