I just saw the new Star Wars move “Revenge of the Sith” last night. As it plays in the theaters in the USA it’s already out on DVD in Vietnam.
The movie was excellent and some of the lines really stuck in my mind. It appears George Lucas is paralleling the political environment of our times, especially that of George Bush.
Darth Vader says – If you’re not with me, you’re against me. – Sounds like something I’ve heard before.
Obi Wan says – Only a Sith thinks in absolutes – Sounds like the good vs. evil campaign
Padamé – “And that’s how liberty dies, with thunderous applause”
To me, it seems that the electorate will applaud anyone who is charismatic or simply thinks that the presidential contender is simply a “good guy” without thinking too much about the issues. They are only aware of what the president is currently saying, but not the vast other items on his plate that he will put into place that will affect the future of the country.
In another writer’s words, the electorate is an “unpolitical animal.” Therefore, most of the middle class that were clapping loudly clapped for their own demise and loss of jobs. The president speaks about defending the country from terrorism by restricting the rights of the citizens to “thunderous applause.”
Finally, the Chancellor or Sith Lord says “What is good or evil depends on the point of view.” This could not be more true. What I have learned from living abroad is that people will most likely hold the views of their community, village, city or nation. If they travel and encounter other points of view, they will most likely classify these points of view as simply “wrong” without further thought because it is contrary to what they have been taught all of their lives and are not in line with those of their community.
The current fad of “having an open mind” is an illusion. Most people cannot deviate from what they have been taught all their lives. To do so would make them feel stupid and weak and nobody wants to feel that way. The more one learns the more confused he becomes. It is impossible to assimilate all the information out there, and people can only comprehend only one slice of all this information which they hold on to for dear life. And these conflicting views cause war death and destruction. In the movie, the Sith only desire more power. This does not seem much different from what most nations do.
Most nations, religions and so on teach their young to open their mind and care about others. But as they grow older they become corrupted and most simply desire more money, power and so forth. As every nation or religion continues upon this path there will be conflict and war when interests collide and power must go to one or the other. It would seem that adults never learned to share or simply became corrupted.
*The Unpolitical Animal – The New Yorker – By Louis Menand
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2004/08/30/the-unpolitical-animal
