This post is spoiler free. This post is about love.

This post is spoiler free. This post is about love.

I have always loved Star Wars. And, sometimes, I realize why.

Its not about laser swords or exploding planets. That's all distraction.

No, my love of Star Wars is of a series where love triumphs; where treating people as people, rather than commodities, wins.

I could tell you there are 37,085 crew onboard an ISD-2, or that it is 1.6 kilometers long and carries 60 heavy turoblasers and 72 TIE starcraft. And those numbers illustrate something: those people aren't important. The system (the Empire) treats them as nothing more than disposable cogs, and they become so.

And, sure, its neat that there's always a bigger ship: The Tantive IV with its 11 engines is dwarfed by Vader's ISD, and Vader's ISD is dwarfed by the Death Star.

And, well, who flies to the Death Star? A bunch of professionals, and three kids -- Luke, Wedge and Biggs., These three come the closest to destroying it, because they trust and love each other. Gold Leader falls and dies early; he was following the rules and made himself a part of the system.

Systems, Star Wars teaches, chews up people.

Meanwhile, Wedge, Biggs, and Luke take a run at the Death Star. Not because its their job, not because they are forced to. They do it because they love each other, and will support each other. When Biggs falls and Wedge is out of position, Luke is alone.

For a moment, it looks like Luke will die. The Empire will win, the system will destroy more planets. Leia and Nadine will fall to the Death Star.

And in that moment, love shows its head again: Han and Chewie fly in at the last moment, and blast Vader's TIE. The unconditional love showed to them is returned, and they are redeemed.

Love not only triumphs, it redeems. That is why my love of Star Wars is so long lasting.