Vs.

[Tyler]

Aubree, Chad, David, Chad's Sister Sara(h), half the nation, and I, went to go see the new and final Star Wars Movie. There were unanswered questions and some slightly questionable plot devices, but only if you are an ass. I won't put the details here until most of you have seen it.
What I'm thinking about this morning, other than that I thought it should have been rated 'r', is that I think Lucas is beating Gygax for me.
Being a fantasy kinda guy, I keep a running tab on lots of things... What I'd wish for if given any number of wishes, what character class I'd play if depositied in the DnD universe, etcetera. One of these questions is: "If given the choice of which imaginary universe to live in, which would I choose?"
I'm pretty sure I'd choose Lucas's vision over any other right now.

[Jeff]

Are you sure?

"Star Wars" despots vs. "Star Trek" populists

archive.salon.com/ent/movies/feature/1999/06/15/brin_main/

"But there's probably no better form of government than a good despot." George Lucas

Star Wars claims?

1. Elites have an inherent right to arbitrary rule; common citizens needn't be consulted. They may only choose which elite to follow.

2. "Good" elites should act on their subjective whims, without evidence, argument or accountability.

3. Any amount of sin can be forgiven if you are important enough.

4. True leaders are born. It's genetic. The right to rule is inherited.

5. Justified human emotions can turn a good person evil.

[Thanin]

star wars III was lame. it was better than II, but thats saying absolutely nothing. Dying semen is more entertaining to watch than II. In III though I think it would distract me from such an activity.

[Tyler]

I don't agree with your assumpitons.

1. Elites have an inherent right to arbitrary rule; common citizens needn't be consulted. They may only choose which elite to follow.
This I not only agree with, I endorse. Most people are morons and shouldn't be allowed to breed without a license.

2. "Good" elites should act on their subjective whims, without evidence, argument or accountability.
As the statement assumes that they are "Good" I think that's true. You have to trust someone and I think that once someone has proven themselves the only accountability there should be is the capacity to remove them from their post. The Jedi do what they do with only one goal in mind: To help others. Total selflessness is their highest dictum.

3. Any amount of sin can be forgiven if you are important enough.
I don't know where this came from except that it may be talking about Vader. Just because Luke offered to take him along, didn't mean he was going to give him command of a carrier-wing.
I've never understood the idea of forgiveness to begin with. It seems like it's most accurately described as an estimate of the level of anger the person who is to do the forgiveness has with the forgiven.

4. True leaders are born. It's genetic. The right to rule is inherited.
That's mitochondrial crap. It's best if we forget that whole part of the mythos. Especially you David.

5. Justified human emotions can turn a good person evil.
I think justified is the wrong word here. The word we're looking for is "uncontrolled". People fail to segment their emotions properly. Love and concern for others are entirely different things. Also, people spend most of their lives working very hard to keep their head in the sand. They don't want to think about the consequences of their actions. They don't want to exibit self-control. To be a good king, you have to remain celibate.

[Thanin]

Ok, since the obvious parallels between the bush administration and the Sith are really pissing off conservatives, I am obligated to like this movie. It still sucks, but it doesn't.

[Tyler]

Wait, where are you hearing this?

[amanda mcbride]

Tyler -

www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/blog/2005/05/16/BL2005051600615.html

www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2005-05-17-sith-politics_x.htm

www.japantoday.com/e/?content=news&cat=8&id=337337

www.democrats.com/node/4681

msnbc.msn.com/id/7873314/