"Part Two: Change the World By Teaching Young People To Discover Their Own Heroic Potential" by Ralph Zuranski
This is Part Two of the article appeared in the Coronado Eagle-Journal Newspaper on August 9, 2006
Laura Neale actually was one of the winners. Her character
was named “Flex.” She proved to be a real heroine after her
back was horribly broken when her car was hit by a drunk
driver at the intersection that was the epicenter of the
Northridge Earthquake at 4:30 am, on January 17, 1994.
After 12 hours of surgery to place two steel rods on either
side of her spine, she was placed in a body cast and
required to walk one hour each day without any pain
medication. A couple weeks later, Laura appeared at the
“Good Guys Comic Book Kickoff at Mile High comic store on
November 27th. She missed the gala event at “Disneyland” the
day before because of the severe pain, but refused to stay
home when she knew her fans were expeciting “Flex” to sign
autographs.
A couple of months later, while still in her body cast,
Laura’s family were terrified by the Northridge Earthquake,
but survived without serious injury. As TVs flew across the
room and dressers toppled over, spilling the clothes on the
floor, Laura was not concerned about herself…only her
family.
The Coronado journalism and multi-media were so impressed
with this family’s triumph over their incredible ordeals,
they interviewed the entire family at Peohe’s Restaurant.
Jason Bean from Coronado Cable Vision was kind enough to
videotape the entire interview. The questions posed by the
students were thoughtful and often times difficult. The
answers were emotional and in many cases astounding.
Many of the students experienced an epiphany. They realized
the real heroes are family members, next door neighbors,
teachers, coaches, spiritual leaders and often young people
their own age. Their interviews of the stars of Baywatch and
Jonathan Frakes, Commander Riker of Star Trek the Next
Generation, clearly proved this point.
Gregory Alan Williams, a African American policeman on
Baywatch and real life hero, saved a man’s life during the
LA Riots. He really nailed the definition of a hero when he
said, “There is a little bit of good in the worst of us.
There is a little bit of bad in the best of us. When we
reach out to help someone else, in that moment, we are
heroes. The real heroes are those who help others quietly,
without any fanfare or publicity, every day of their lives.”
Ralph Zuranski and Captain Biorhythm were both encouraged by
what they discovered the the San Diego Comic Convention. It
was now a family event governed by “PG Standards…safe and
enjoyable for the entire family.
Even the US Post Office along with DC Comics jumped on the
superhero bandwagon with the first issue of superhero
stamps. Even Mayor Sanders showed up for the official
unveiling of the gorgeous stamp collection.