A Stupendous Tale – as told by “Uncle” Norman
At the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, it was not uncommon to hear or read that not all superheroes wear capes – or strut around with their underwear over their spandex tights. However, considering that the phrase – not all superheroes wear capes – has of late been associated with healthcare workers and others who have been risking infection with COVID-19 for the good of others, Joe Grunenwald carried out an extensive investigation on the subject of bizarrely dressed superheroes’ and concluded that it would be most prudent and sagacious of us to rather state that in actual fact, most heroes do not wear capes. I wonder who is going to tell Joe that nobody really likes a smarty-pants?
At this point you are probably wondering why we have not attempted to answer the question of what may pose as a real eyesore: the question of why superheroes wear their underwear on the outside. Well, it’s simply because we at HeadStart Kids are a child centred organisation, and as a result we prefer to stay clear of subjects that are below the belt. But, in case you are using this platform/blog as your open source knowledge base, then by all means please read Robert Frost’s article, which we believe gives a believable account as to what is the rationale for superheroes wearing their underwear on the outside. Oh by the way, Robert Frost is accredited with being an instructor and flight controller at NASA. Sheesh! Is it too much of a coincidence that we find another smarty pants that is obsessed about the dress code of superheroes. Goes to show that The Big Bang Theory TV series might have been on to something.
Hopefully we can now swiftly move away from underwear to personal protective equipment (PPE) – assuming that we have all come to the same conclusion; that most heroes do not wear capes. In that case, it may come as no surprise that these everyday superheroes, aka – no! not that hip-hop fellow in a Versace shirt – essential and frontline workers, would therefore be expected or are known to possess some special powers (and in some cases special nutrient powders).
For one, they have their own language. Like really! What is MUAC?
Secondly, they are a true force for good, and are revered in the communities they serve – even before the pandemic. It is common knowledge that frontline workers are the essentially the backbone of any effective health systems. In fact, according to Frontline Health Workers Coalition, without frontline health workers, there would be no health services for millions of children and their families in the low- and middle-income communities. This is because, these superheroes are often based in the communities and come from the communities they serve, including that they play a critical role in providing a local context for proven health solutions, and they connect families and communities to the health system. Furthermore, frontline workers are known to be the first and often the only link to health care for millions of people and are capable of providing many life-saving interventions. They also help families, and or children’s custodians in the early childhood development centres, orphan/child-care centres, clinics and many other community-based institutions within which they sometimes identify health-related conditions which require higher levels of care and in such cases provide a link to that referral care. Families rely on these frontline workers as trusted sources of information who have valuable skills in preventing, treating and managing a variety of serious health issues such as iron deficiency in children under two years of age, which can have significant and irreversible effects on brain development and can lead to negative consequences on learning and school performance later in life.
So, albeit that we may find their dress code rather starched, let’s continue to honour and celebrate our cape-less superheroes and their ongoing sacrifices. It is for this reason that we at HeadStart Kids, can boldly say: We are certain that Jeff Silbar and Larry Henley would not contest our claim that they were thinking of our everyday frontline workers, when they composed the song Wind Beneath My Wings (which for obvious reasons, has been performed by the wide array of artists such as Roger Whittaker, Sheena Easton, Lee Greenwood, Colleen Hewett, Lou Rawls, Gladys Knight & the Pips, Gary Morris etc.).
Come now, sing along with us….
Did you ever know that you’re my hero?
You’re everything I wish I could be
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