Darth Vader runs for president, who's next?
The fact that a man calling himself Darth Vader wants a spot on the ticket to run for president of Ukraine may spark the imagination of kids and parents to discuss which favorite fictional characters would make the best leaders.
鈥淒arth Vader, in full costume, announced his candidacy on Saturday,鈥� according to the听Monitor.听"Another candidate, an ex-world boxing champion threw his support behind billionaire candy maker Petro Poroshenko."
I suppose if you鈥檙e going to run for president of a nation in conflict with Russia, and are searching for a suitably intimidating opponent to President Vladimir Putin, then Lord Vader is a strong candidate.
However, instead of going to the 鈥淒ark Side,鈥� I think this also gives parents an opportunity to mix lessons about politics and role models.
I asked my four sons, their friends, and other parents I know which fictional character they would cast their vote for to run a nation and got a pretty eclectic pool of candidates.
My oldest son, Zoltan, 20, doesn't hesitate, 鈥�. Because he always has people鈥檚 best interests at heart and won鈥檛 be corrupted,鈥� he texted me when I asked for his nominee. 鈥淗e is intelligent. His weapon of choice is a shield.鈥�
My son Ian, 18, picks听 (as played by David Tennant) for consistently saving the planet and universe from tyranny while being fierce and funny.
My third son, Avery, 14, chooses the hero of the 鈥淢etroid鈥澨齰ideo game series, Samus Aran, basically, 鈥淏ecause she鈥檚 a total鈥�,鈥� then used a word that refers to the 鈥渂adness鈥� of her hind parts in a complimentary way not suitable for print.
My youngest son, Quin, 10, has a tough time choosing his candidate, so he fills the entire presidential and vice presidential ticket. His pick would either be the 鈥�My Little Pony鈥� character Fluttershy, who stands up for her friends, or ,听who is both a brilliant scientist and not to be trifled with.
I also asked some parents I know to add their input via Facebook comments.
Felice Burns of听Red Bank, N.J., casts her vote for "X-Men" leader 听because, 鈥淗e cares, primarily and foremost, for the good of the people and is brave, wise and eloquent.鈥�
Lee Elia of Norfolk, Va.,听chooses Capt. John Yossarian, the protagonist in Joseph Heller's novel 鈥淐atch-22鈥� and its sequel 鈥淐losing Time.鈥�
鈥淗e gets things done and is crazy enough to be normal,鈥� says Mr. Elia.
Another parenting pal from Los Angeles, Cliff Redding, dad to a teenage girl, chose the same pick I was leaning toward, 鈥淚ron Man鈥� hero Tony Stark.
鈥�, is intelligent, rich, relatively handsome, and ... has some AWESOME weaponry,鈥� says Mr. Redding. 鈥淭he COOLEST part about Ironman is that when he's not Ironman, he's a relatively regular guy who can relate to the masses on their level, because he can walk among them ... without folks going, 鈥楬ey! You're Ironman. What are YOU doing at the 7-Eleven?鈥欌赌�
While Erin Cook of Norfolk isn鈥檛 a parent, I liked her Facebook response to my question in which she chooses Katniss Everdeen from 鈥�The Hunger Games.鈥�
鈥淪he's tough, she can be ruthless, she sees a larger picture, she knows how to play the diplomatic game-currying favor, earning respect,鈥� says Ms. Cook.
One of my former journalism students, Kathryn Brown, says she would choose the female character Death, from 鈥淭he Sandman鈥� comic books series by Neil Gaiman because, 鈥淪he's fair and understands balance.鈥�
As a second choice, I would probably choose Matilda from the novel of the same title by Roald Dahl. Matilda is well read and finds she can move things with her thoughts.
Matilda, like Captain America, has known what it鈥檚 like to be bullied and so respects power when it鈥檚 her time to hold the reigns.
Her father tells her, 鈥淚'm right and you're wrong, I'm big and you're small, and there's nothing you can do about it.鈥�
When it鈥檚 Matilda鈥檚 turn to do something about injustice without becoming mad with听power.
I recommend asking your child who he or she would choose. Maybe have a little campaign at home and explore the qualities of each potential candidate.
It鈥檚 an opportunity to use the force of international politics for the good of your child鈥檚 education and a means of getting to know how your kids think about the world and who runs it.
