Clone Wars, Season 1: Episode 13:
This episode addresses the problem I always had with yoda with a lightsaber. Namely, that a peacekeeper does not kill people they disagree with. Fighting and killing leads to the destruction of the very thing you thought to save.
The prequil movies never address it, unless you view these as the fall of a corrupt regime. The original trilogy sort of deals with it -- Luke tosses away his lightsaber and refuses to fight. While Vader threatening his sister does instigate further action, he tosses away his light saber once again when Vader is defeated. And it is with love and an open heart that the Emperor's regime is finally taken down.
Increased militarization, upping the stakes, and increasing the tension only lead to worse outcomes. Instead of trying to take out Grevious and the Separitists, the role of the jedis should be as actual peace keepers: to find what legitimate concerns they have, and make the Republic a more democratic society. And the role of cops should be similar -- to work hard to find a solution that benefits everyone.
Theoretically, this is why Qui-Gon and Obi Wan were sent to Naboo in episode 1. They weren't trusted, and rightfully so -- they went all crazy kung fu with light sabers when they thought they were back stabbed. Imagine how differently galactic history would have gone if, instead, they'd stayed calm and had a conversation with their captors.
I hope the connection to recent events is painfully obvious.
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Well, to be fare to Qui-Gon and Obi Wan, there were there to have a discussion.... then the trade federation attempt to kill them by poisoning the chamber, then they sent the droids. They popped sabers after the lethal gas was seeping into the room.
ReplyDeleteYeah, David Hawkins , that you and I think that's reasonable is part of the dilemma. Meeting violence with violence leads to additional violence. That the jedi don't have non-violent solutions is what leads to these situations.
ReplyDeleteGranted, as i said, I also find it reasonable for superhuman wizards to immediately use lethal force. And that's an internalized problem I'm trying to deal with.
I'm not really disagreeing with you. It's true the Jedi don't have non-violent solutions.
ReplyDeleteThough, consider, if someone were attempting to poison you, then shoot at you, before you ever even had a chance to engage them in discussion, how would you react?
Also, I enjoy your posts. They're fun and thought provoking.
ReplyDeleteAlso their ship and all on board were destroyed before the gas was released.
ReplyDeleteBut this was in a more direct way exactly what Palpatine succeeded in doing with Anakin and tried but failed to do with Luke. In escalating the conversation to conflict it was opening them up to the Dark Side.
Effectively, the Jedi order and the Republic fell the moment Qui-Gon lit his lightsaber.
How would I react? Honestly, I'd probably either be too petrified to move, or run in terror.
ReplyDeleteI haven't needed to test my courage in such circumstances, and it is ... less than would be virtuous. Artistotle suggests courage is the mean between two vices -- between cowardice and recklessness. Other than Yoda to Luke, I'm not sure if recklessness is ever called out in Star Wars.
David Hawkins I'm glad you like them! Maybe I'll do more often. I'm sick at home today, so can spend some time in thought and cartoon watching.
ReplyDeleteShervyn von Hoerl Precisely right. And the Jedi tradition could only be brought back because Luke kept hold of passion. This, too, is a mean between two vices -- and Yoda's way embodies one vice, while the Sith embodies another.
ReplyDeleteGranted, the level of empathy that you should have when you can feel the thoughts and feelings of every living creature close to you is debatable. There may be very good reason for such detachment.
I think recklessness is somehow related to the force, they to go hand in hand.
ReplyDeleteI'd freak out as well, because I have a lack of combat training experience. Though, if I had such training, it would still be about survival. This doesn't excuse the Jedi in anyway for their lack of restraint.
David Hawkins This is a really interesting notion! We know the force grants additional powers, and sensory inputs. That is, it makes you more capable. Which means that the mean between recklessness and cowardice is pushed away from cowardice -- a jedi should be more courageous than you or I.
ReplyDeleteWhat we don't know -- and what you're pointing out -- is if the jedis move that dial correctly. To judge from the repercussions of their actions, they have be overconfident and reckless. And maybe this even makes sense -- if you stuff that much additional power and sensory input into the same brain, maybe humans make bad decisions.
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