In Brightest Day, In Blackest Night...

My blogging debut begins with an explanation of the title of my blog. Growing up in a small town in Oregon, a fictional character known as the Green Lantern whose secret identity was an Air Force test pilot, Hal Jordan, became my hero and has remained my hero to this day. Published by DC Comics, the superhero Green Lantern has an oath which reads:

"In brightest day, in blackest night,
No evil shall escape my sight
Let those who worship evil's might,
Beware my power...Green Lantern's light!"

Originally developed in the early 1940's during World War II, the character was recreated in the late 50's with a different backstory and purpose. Each Green Lantern is given a power ring which allows the wearer to affect virtually anything, with its effects only limited by the will and imagination of the wielder. There are approximately 7200 Green Lanterns and each is part of a Green Lantern Corps which encompasses the entire universe. The Corps is essentially an intergalactic police force which protects and maintains order by each Green Lantern in his or her (or even its) sector of the universe. Earth happens to have four Green Lanterns because of its importance in the grand scheme of Creation, though only two are ever actively assigned to protect our planet, with the second being a back-up. All Green Lanterns are supposed to be honest and without fear, though clearly no one is without character flaws and selfish desires. But the goal of all is to allow order and freedom to exist for all peoples of all races and creeds. In fact, the Green Lantern's greatest enemy is a former Green Lantern, Sinestro, whose idea of order through authoritarian rule caused him to have his ring taken away. The profound oath of the Green Lantern seems to be very appplicable to the current day where so much of the world often seems to be "in blackest night", at times including one of the greatest nations to ever exist, the United States of America. And therein lies the reason for the title of my blog and my entry into the blogosphere.