Lessons from X-Men

To continue our series, A Geek’s Guide to Life, I want to discuss what we can learn about human nature, differences, division, and unity from the X-Men. I will mainly reference the movies throughout this post, but these are common themes we can also see in the comics and television shows.

One of the things I both love and hate about X-Men is the connections we can see between fiction and reality—is the way humanity handles mutants any different from how people would handle it today? What lessons can we learn to keep from following down this divisive path? How can we as a people become more unified with the fellow humans we share this earth with?

If you’d like to view this content in video form, check out the YouTube video.

Fearing What is Different

“Humanity has always feared that which is different” (Magneto, X-Men: Days of Future Past).

Different skin colors, nationalities, cultures, personalities, gender expressions—people have often feared and resisted that which is different from them. We like for things to make sense and have order, but that does not exist when we lack understanding. Our brains naturally resist change, whether it be in the world around us or the worldview within our minds. If it’s too complicated to grasp, we ignore it or force it to conform to our own understandings.

It’s like when you look at a random ink blot and find faces—our brains constantly search for what is familiar and tries to make sense out of chaos. We often do that with people—assuming they’re just like us, believe the same things we do, follow the same thought processes. And when it becomes so different we can no longer ignore it, we panic as it shatters our understanding of how the world works. We feel a loss of control of our own little worlds; we are forever changed and must decide how we enter this new world. Do we approach it with curiosity and seek truth, or do we face it with fear and hostility?

 

Us vs Them

“Who will you stand with—the humans or us?” (Magneto, X-Men: The Last Stand).

When differences are feared, a dividing line grows stronger until people begin speaking in terms of “us and them.” I’ve seen it in the racial division and police tension when I lived down the road from Ferguson during the riots. I’ve seen it in heated arguments on social media as people attack one another for their different political views. “We can’t let THEM ruin OUR way of life. THEY are behind the problem that’s affecting US. What are WE going to do about THEM? Why can’t THEY just fit in with US?” Rather than seeing the person as a fellow human individual, equally worthy of value, love, and respect.

Hate to break it to ya, but PEOPLE ARE DIFFERENT. They always have been; they always will. There will always be people who disagree with you or see the world differently from you or look different than you or have a very different brain wiring than you or have different natural strengths and weaknesses than you. But differences don’t have to equal division.

In the X-Men movies we see many humans fearing the mutants and quickly seeking to protect their own kind. On the other side we have Magneto who also is looking out for his own kind. They both see their cause as righteous because they’re doing what they think is best to protect lives. In the middle is Xavier who values ALL people equally—humans and mutants alike—and wants to bring them together in peace and harmony; he believes they can coexist. But how can they achieve this when the differences are so great?

 

Putting Yourself in Their Shoes

“You built these weapons to destroy us. Why? Because you are afraid of our gifts. We are different…Today was meant to display your power; instead I give you a glimpse of the devastation my race can unleash upon yours…And to my mutant brothers and sisters out there I say this: no more hiding. No more suffering. You have lived in the shadows in shame and fear for far too long” (Magneto, X-Men: Days of Future Past).

Many conflicts arise from an inability to empathize and put yourself in the other person’s shoes—we stubbornly hold to our own perspective.

If the humans stopped to think about what it would be like to be a mutant, they’d understand them better. I mean, could you imagine being able to fly or shoot fire out of your hands!? Would YOU want to give that up??

Trying to make people equal for the sake of fairness is some freaky Harrison Bergeron dystopian crap. And if you’ve never read that short story by Kurt Vonnegut (you should go do that right now!), basically it’s a dystopian future where the American constitution is amended to MAKE everyone literally equal—e.g., weights are put on the strong and athletic, ugly masks are given to attractive people, a device is used that emits loud sounds to disrupt the thoughts of people with above-average intelligence, etc.

Yeah, not good.

As much as it sucks to get the short end of the stick and not be the world’s most talented, strong, attractive, or intelligent person, that does NOT mean we should handicap and hold back those who are. How would you feel if you were naturally gifted with music and were told you could never play an instrument? Or what if you were forced to wear a stinky, ugly mask all the time because you were born with a gorgeous face?

Life isn’t fair.

Some people have natural advantages over us. Having equal human life and worth does NOT mean needing to have equal human attributes. We all have different strengths and weaknesses, and some have above average intelligence, looks, strength, or skills.

However, if the mutants stopped to think from the humans’ perspective they’d realize, “Oh, no wonder they’re freaking out. It must be scary to not have a way to defend yourself against someone who can mess around with your mind or kill you just by winking at you.”

Not every mutant is bad…but not every mutant is good. Do you limit everyone (including the good and responsible) because of the few who DO use their powers for evil? But that sure can get messy and complicated, huh?

 

Complicated Problems Often Require Complicated Solutions

“Killing them will not bring them back. It will set you on a path from which there is no return. An endless cycle of killing. Us and them until there is nothing left” (Charles to Raven, X-Men: Days of Future Past).

Another way to combat divisive thoughts of “us vs them” is realizing that most problems rarely have only two sides and most choices are not clearly clean-cut “right and wrong.” We like to quickly label who are the “good guys” and “bad guys,” just like how we like our movies—we want to know who to cheer for.

But humans are more complicated than that.

I have yet to meet a person who is 100% “evil” or 100% “good.” We are all imperfect people made up of both good and bad decisions, as well as both pure and selfish motives. And if you’re labeling an ENTIRE people group as the bad guys…there’s very likely a problem because since when did skin color make everyone think and act exactly the same?

Each individual has their own unique back story, personality type, motives, and opinions.

So if we can’t just label one group of people the “bad guys,” wipe them out, and call it a day…THEN WHAT DO WE DO?? *cue mass freakout*

I get really frustrated when people make problems out to be a simple “either/or” decision. Why do we either have to side fully with democrats OR republicans? Why do we have to either be for women OR for babies? Why do we have to choose between supporting men OR supporting women? Why do we have to choose a side between one friend OR another?

Most problems are rarely that simple to be given only two options as solutions.

It’s not as easy as saying let’s let anyone onto the women’s sports team, let’s let everyone have a gun, let’s financially support everyone who does not have a job.

But, rather, it requires a more thoughtful and thorough solution.

Yeah, that will mean way more work, a lot of trial and error, a bunch more headaches, and I’m sure a lot of inconvenience, BUT IT’S WORTH IT to find the best solution that benefits all.

If humans are unique individuals, then we deserve unique solutions that will serve everyone, not just one group. We should be seeking ways to bring us all together, not create stronger dividing lines that cause shame, harm, and disunity.

 

Striving for Unity

“Born into a world divided—a world he tried to heal” (Storm about Xavier, X-Men: The Last Stand).

When talking about unity and division, it’s important to note that the problem is the problem, not a person or people group. When we label people as the problem, we start seeing people on different sides rather than different sides to the problem.

If you’re “protecting yourself” at the cost of hurting someone else, there is a huge problem here. Your life, rights, happiness, success, comfort, and convenience should never trump that of another’s.

Instead of fighting each other, we should be fighting TOGETHER for a mutually beneficial solution.

We’re all on the same team here.

But how do we bring unity in a world already so very divided?

 

It Starts With You

“The whole world out there is full of people that hate and fear you, and you’re wasting your time trying to protect them?” (Wolverine to Storm, X-Men).

Like I talked about in my video, 6 Lies You Tell Yourself About Others, when two sides are in conflict, SOMEONE has to make the first move for there to be peace. And if you’re waiting for the other side to be the initiator, it will likely never happen.

But guess what you do have control over?

That’s right! YOU!

YOU can make the first move.

In the X-Men movies we constantly see Charles Xavier and the X-Men making the first move to try to bring about peace. No matter the persecution from BOTH sides, they never gave up hope that humans and mutants could live in harmony. Xavier’s vision for his school was to turn it into a university where all kinds of young people—humans and mutants alike—could work together and grow together.

Stronger Together

“You will never win because you are alone, and I am not” (Xavier, X-Men: Apocalypse).

When we seek unity, everyone benefits. We should embrace our differences and learn from one another with a loving curiosity. There is a synergy of our combined efforts. We truly are stronger together.

“Then we stand together. X-Men. All of us” (Wolverine, X-Men: The Last Stand).

 

---

Comment Below!

I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!

Did you enjoy this topic of unity? You may also enjoy it discussed as seen in Captain America: Civil War and Star Trek Beyond.