"Truth, Justice, and All That Stuff"

Hollywood has done the unthinkable.

It has stripped all-American Superman of his American identity.

From The Hollywood Reporter:

Nevermind Superman's sexual orientation. Here's another identity-related question that is likely to spark controversy as the Man of Steel soars into theaters nationwide this Fourth of July weekend in Warner Bros. Pictures' "Superman Returns": Is Superman still American?

Ever since artist Joe Shuster and writer Jerry Siegel created the granddaddy of all comic book icons in 1932, Superman has fought valiantly to preserve "truth, justice and the American way." Whether kicking Nazi ass on the radio in the '40s or wrapping himself in the Stars and Stripes on TV during the Cold War or even rescuing the White House's flag as his final feat in "Superman II," the Krypton-born, Smallville-raised Ubermensch always has been steeped in unmistakable U.S. symbolism.

But in the latest film incarnation, scribes Michael Dougherty and Dan Harris sought to downplay Superman's long-standing patriot act. With one brief line uttered by actor Frank Langella, the caped superhero's mission transformed from "truth, justice and the American way" to "truth, justice and all that stuff."

"The world has changed. The world is a different place," Pennsylvania native Harris says. "The truth is he's an alien. He was sent from another planet. He has landed on the planet Earth, and he is here for everybody. He's an international superhero."

Translation: We want the movie to make lots of money in foreign markets. We also don't want to alienate the America-haters in America.

So, Superman is no longer a super-American.

Patriotism stops at the water's edge. Actually, it stops at the ticket counter.

In fact, Dougherty and Harris never even considered including "the American way" in their screenplay. After the wunderkind writing duo ("X2: X-Men United") conceived "Superman's" story with director Bryan Singer during a Hawaiian vacation, they penned their first draft together and intentionally omitted what they considered to be a loaded and antiquated expression. That decision stood throughout the 140-day shoot in Australia, where the pair remained on-set to provide revisions and tweaks.

According to Dougherty, the "American way" is a "loaded and antiquated expression."

Among the Hollywood liberal elite, I suppose it is.

This is further proof that Hollywood is hopelessly out of touch with the American people.

In comic book terms, Michael Dougherty and Dan Harris are the unambiguously evil duo, out to eliminate the identification of freedom and justice as AMERICAN values.

At this point, Clark Kent would excuse himself and suddenly Superman would swoop in and save the day.

The American way is truth and justice.

"We were always hesitant to include the term 'American way' because the meaning of that today is somewhat uncertain," Ohio native Dougherty explains. "The ideal hasn't changed. I think when people say 'American way,' they're actually talking about what the 'American way' meant back in the '40s and '50s, which was something more noble and idealistic."

What is Dougherty really saying here?

He's saying that today's "American way" is no longer noble and idealistic. America's goodness was lost somewhere in the 1940s and 1950s.

Clearly, Dougherty and Harris believe that America no longer stands for truth and justice. They think that the "American way" is the wrong way so they purged the term from their movie.

"Truth, justice, and all that stuff" doesn't cut it for me. I still believe in the American way. Apparently, lots of people do.

Millions are so desperate to be a part of the American way that they enter the country illegally, in some cases risking their lives.

I think Ronald Reagan's words still ring true.

"We are indeed, and we are today, the last best hope of man on earth."

Since Dougherty and Harris didn't hesitate to apply their agenda to Superman, AMERICAN icon, I'll do some revising, too.

"It's a bird!"

"It's a plane!"

"It's two 'blame America' traitors!"