The Shadow Hare: Behind the Mask

After a few weeks back from school, I finally have time to do some writing on this site. Finals were a fucking heart attack and a half and my new job sucks balls. However, you aren't reading this to find out about my personal problems so here we go.

Over the past couple of weeks (or months, time is a strange thing in college), the internet has been abuzz about the Shadow Hare: a 'real life' superhero patrolling the streets of Cincinnati, Ohio. All that is known about this person is that he's 21 and uses legal weaponry (pepper spray, tasers, handcuffs, etc.) to stop muggers, kidnappers, etc.

Most people have been treated this as a circus, even though Mr. Hare seems to be taking himself seriously. First of all, I'd like to point out that this reaction from the rest of the world is exactly what Alan Moore was trying to portray when he first put pen to paper and wrote the masterpiece that is Watchmen. Theres not really a point in bringing that up, I just found it interesting.

However, all the publicity about Shadow Hare seems to be about how 'rediculous' it is that this ordinary man is dressing up in black tights and a mask and trying to fight crime under an alias. While all this internet cover about the sensation is very interesting, it distracts from what I truly want to know: Is it working?

Personally, I think what this guy is doing is pretty cool. Many people deem him on the spot as a man child who is putting himself in danger, but how can we be sure? Shadow Hare could have training in the military or be a black belt in some form of martial arts, we don't know. That is why all superheroes wear masks, so they cannot be judged directly.

The point is this, what Shadow Hare is doing is legal, no one seems to be considering him a menace of any sort, he realizes that this is dangerous and most importantly, he is trying to help. Many people, including myself, complain about the crime in cities and yet do nothing about it. Here, we have someone who is trying to make a difference and most of the world is laughing at him. I firmly believe that if someone wishes to help, then they should not be stopped unless they are doing more harm than good. He could be crazy, but I have to respect someone who is willing to put himself on the line for absolutely no pay in order to make the world a better place.

Maybe it is my fantastic delusions and love for superheroes, but I am 100 percent behind the Shadow Hare. I doubt he will get any respect from many others, but he has mine. Perhaps in a few years, the criminals of Cincinnati will cower at the sight ot Shadow Hare, but that day is unfortunately not today. If anything, he should make us realize that anyone can help. If some 21 year old Cincinnati citizen can go out there in tights and try to stop criminals, then we can at least do a little bit to help others everyday.