The Death of Icons

Captain America is dead.
I know, I know... he's just a comic book character. But he's kind of more than that. He's an Icon. There are certain Icons out there that embody more than the sum of their parts, be it words, ink, color, computer programing, or what ever medium was used to create them. Killing, altering, or removing them symbolizes more than "good business decisions".
Captain America stood, to me, for all that was good about our country. While Superman (even though he's an alien) has stood what is best in mankind as a whole, Cap stood for those things that made up what it meant to be an American. Bravery and courage in the face of overwhelming odds, honesty, justice tempered with mercy, equality with individuality, and most importantly, he stood for Freedom. He was the ORIGINAL American Hero. He stood for those things that you really don't see much anymore. We are now a nation of fear, encouraged into our collective paranoia by the very Government that is supposed to protect us. We say we're proud to be Americans... but I wonder. The fact that Cap is dead (most likely because he is "no longer relevant") concerns me.
I can understand if Cap wasn't profitable for them. I can understand bumping him back to the Avengers, or what not. Killing him off though... it seems to bring with it a toll of something more.
When in the movie "Superman Returns" Perry White wants to know if Superman still stands for "... truth, justice, and all that stuff", there's a reason it's in the script.
When the idea of a son enters the storyline of a movie, there's no mention that they were married in the second movie (at least for a little while), and no one remembers that Lois and Clark are married in the comic books, it seems more than an oversight.
When just a few years ago there was a huge stink about the fact that Godzilla destroyed an U.S. Army base in one of the movies, now it would seem that no one would bat an eye if it was to happen again.
When children look to heroes, it's hard to find ones you really want them idolizing. (I can find more than a few though with DD chests and bikinis as their fashion sense, though.)
When there seems to be a push to "humanize Jesus Christ", taking the Son of God to, just another man with some really good ideas that went all over the place, it seems convenient that this push happens in this time where we (the general populace) needs faith so much.
Now, is the spring of my discontent. I see Icons being destroyed. I see symbols becoming hollow. I see a downward turn towards a long dark night, where the World of Warcraft is more real to some than the real world, our children don't look towards heroes with the Stars and Stripes protecting those around him; but chains and blades, carving through Titans, drenching all around in blood and gore.
I won't lie to you and claim not to be part of the problem. I may not play W.o.W., but I play D.O.A.. I'm not innocent, not by a long shot. But I want my children to be, my niece to be, and my godchildren to be.
Our government spends more time bickering, playing head games with each other and the public, and looking for spin to forward their agendas, than actually GOVERNING. I love our nation. I love the people that are in our nation. Why do I need to fear though, that because my wife has Muslim friends that we're on a terrorist watch list? Why do we have men and women returning from war to decrepit conditions? Why are our candidates for President not running on what "will" be done, as opposed to what "should" be done? And despite how they all look, act, my personal opinions aside, they ALL seem to me to be politicians first and Americans second?
Captain America is dead... maybe the death of the icon of the American Way is just another sign of the world we're living in.
Truth, Justice, and the American Way may be dead, but like in comic books... maybe death just means it's gone for a little bit, and then comes back in a cooler looking outfit.