Daily Bugle Exclusive Interview with Captain America!
Hero Calls For Tolerance For Mutants; Shares Stories of Horror From Pre-Revolution Genosha
By Joy Mercado
The first thing one notices about Captain America is not his costume. Really, he wears it so casually, it might as well be his skin. It's not his incredible physique or his impervious shield.
It's his smile. His smile is friendly, honest, and forthright, and it's clear why even his numerous enemies, both in and out of costume, respect him.
And right off the bat, he begins by thanking me for taking the time to meet with him.
Of course, there's one question that's been on everyone's mind. Though Captain America spoke publicaly against the mutant cure when it first appeared, people have been wondering, has his opinion changed? Genosha's revolution, the murder of a mutant by an Avenger... has Captain America altered his perspective?
"Mutants are not something to be feared or persecuted," Captain America insisted. "They are merely another group of people. Nothing about being a mutant makes a person inherently better or worse than anyone else. Humanity has yet to fully understand the X-gene, and that lack of understanding can lead to fear... but it's a fear we must find within ourselves to put aside. Claiming to find a 'cure' is ludicrous. It's like finding a 'cure' for brown eyes, to turn them blue... it assumes that blue eyes are somehow superior to any other color."
Is Captain America comparing those who are trying to cure mutants with Nazis?
"No, these people who seek to 'cure' mutants mean well, I'm sure. And there are some mutants whose mutations make their lives fundamentally unliveable. But to claim that it's a 'cure' is dangerous terminology, and it's a sign that they believe there's something inherently wrong with being a mutant. There isn't."
But when asked about those mutants whose powers are inherently dangerous, and reminded of his teammate Mockingbird's recent lethal encounter with one, he frowns.
"What we need is not more legislation against mutants and claims for 'curing,' but rather better scientific research and funding. People such as Drs. MacTaggart or McCoy are amazing, but they cannot shoulder the burden themselves. A young mutant with uncontrolled powers being killed in combat with Mockingbird earlier this week is a tragedy, and it has lead to her suspension from the team -- a suspension which I hope will be temporary, but it will be dependant on her actions during her suspension. But imagine if we had better understanding of mutant abilities; a young boy with knowledge on how to control his powers, rather than a young boy with strange and frightening abilities, lashing out as most frightened teens do. A tragedy could have been avoided."
But understanding mutants does not equate to registering them, he is quick to point out.
"It's easy to look at a situation such as Genosha and point fingers or place blame. But we must look deeper, and we must be careful not to paint all mutants with the same brush as Magneto. When I was in Genosha before Magneto's revolt, I saw horrors which are the equal of Nazi atrocities. People grafted into skin-suits which they could never remove, and dehumanized with number-tattoos. Children removed from their parents and brainwashed. Vivisection and experiments, to better understand how to control the so-called 'mutant threat.' And they were not satisfied with treating their own citizens in this way; American citizens were kidnapped from our own soil and taken to Genosha to face their treatments. I saw labor camps with mutants working
(continued on page A-7)
By Joy Mercado
The first thing one notices about Captain America is not his costume. Really, he wears it so casually, it might as well be his skin. It's not his incredible physique or his impervious shield.
It's his smile. His smile is friendly, honest, and forthright, and it's clear why even his numerous enemies, both in and out of costume, respect him.
And right off the bat, he begins by thanking me for taking the time to meet with him.
Of course, there's one question that's been on everyone's mind. Though Captain America spoke publicaly against the mutant cure when it first appeared, people have been wondering, has his opinion changed? Genosha's revolution, the murder of a mutant by an Avenger... has Captain America altered his perspective?
"Mutants are not something to be feared or persecuted," Captain America insisted. "They are merely another group of people. Nothing about being a mutant makes a person inherently better or worse than anyone else. Humanity has yet to fully understand the X-gene, and that lack of understanding can lead to fear... but it's a fear we must find within ourselves to put aside. Claiming to find a 'cure' is ludicrous. It's like finding a 'cure' for brown eyes, to turn them blue... it assumes that blue eyes are somehow superior to any other color."
Is Captain America comparing those who are trying to cure mutants with Nazis?
"No, these people who seek to 'cure' mutants mean well, I'm sure. And there are some mutants whose mutations make their lives fundamentally unliveable. But to claim that it's a 'cure' is dangerous terminology, and it's a sign that they believe there's something inherently wrong with being a mutant. There isn't."
But when asked about those mutants whose powers are inherently dangerous, and reminded of his teammate Mockingbird's recent lethal encounter with one, he frowns.
"What we need is not more legislation against mutants and claims for 'curing,' but rather better scientific research and funding. People such as Drs. MacTaggart or McCoy are amazing, but they cannot shoulder the burden themselves. A young mutant with uncontrolled powers being killed in combat with Mockingbird earlier this week is a tragedy, and it has lead to her suspension from the team -- a suspension which I hope will be temporary, but it will be dependant on her actions during her suspension. But imagine if we had better understanding of mutant abilities; a young boy with knowledge on how to control his powers, rather than a young boy with strange and frightening abilities, lashing out as most frightened teens do. A tragedy could have been avoided."
But understanding mutants does not equate to registering them, he is quick to point out.
"It's easy to look at a situation such as Genosha and point fingers or place blame. But we must look deeper, and we must be careful not to paint all mutants with the same brush as Magneto. When I was in Genosha before Magneto's revolt, I saw horrors which are the equal of Nazi atrocities. People grafted into skin-suits which they could never remove, and dehumanized with number-tattoos. Children removed from their parents and brainwashed. Vivisection and experiments, to better understand how to control the so-called 'mutant threat.' And they were not satisfied with treating their own citizens in this way; American citizens were kidnapped from our own soil and taken to Genosha to face their treatments. I saw labor camps with mutants working
(continued on page A-7)