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6 Reasons The Jedi Could Be Villains In a Star Wars

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Published1yearagobyAndrewDyce,UpdatedSeptember25th,2014at2:11am,

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Theresnomistakingit:StarWarsisbackandreadytoreturntotheheightsitonce
enjoyed.WithJ.J.AbramsatthehelmofStarWars:EpisodeVII,fansarelooking
forwardtonewfilmscarryingonthelegacyoftheRebellionsheroes.Butthats

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nottheonlydirectiontotake.
Nowthatconfirmedstandalonemoviesarealsointheplansalongsidemajor
Episodes,thecharactersandstoriesthatcanbeexploredarefarmorenumerous.
WevealreadylistedtheStarWarsspinoffswedliketosee,butthemorewe
thinkaboutit,permanentlyrelegatingtheSithorDarkJeditotheroleofvillain
seemstobemakingonemassiveassumption.

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Atthispoint,thewholeLightSidegood,DarkSidebadideaiscommonknowledge
butthatsonlyaccordingtotheJedi.History,asweknow,iswrittenbythevictor.
WetendtoagreewiththebeliefthattheSithwereevildoersandextremists,butit
mightbeworthwhiletoactuallylookatwhatdrovethemtothatpoint,andseeifa
storycantbetoldplacingtheJediintheroleofantagonists.
Allowustooutline6ReasonsJediCouldBeVillainsInaStarWarsMovie.

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WhatshouldbemadeclearoffthebatisthattheSithLordsdidntjustshowup
likeboogeymenonedayandstartterrorizingtheinnocent.TheywereJeditobegin
withonlymoreradicalintheirviewsofthegalaxyandwhattheirgiftsshouldbe

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usedfor.ThefirstJediExilesthegroupthatwouldonedayfoundtheSithwere
simplyonesideofacivildisputewithintheJediOrder,knownastheSecondGreat
Schism.
Whateverextremeseachsidepushedtheothertoward,itshouldbeknownthatat
nopointdidtheSithhuddlearoundafireanddecidetocrushalllifeinthegalaxy
theywereconquerorsinsearchofmasteryoverlifeitself,notgenocidalmaniacs.
TheyevendevelopedtheirownSithCode,opposingthatpreachedbyJedi.Rather

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thanspeakingofexistenceasitshouldbe,theyfocusedonthewayitwas.The
Codereads:
Peaceisalie,thereisonlypassion.
Throughpassion,Igainstrength.
Throughstrength,Igainpower.

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Sequel

Throughpower,Igainvictory.
Throughvictory,mychainsarebroken.
TheForceshallfreeme.

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Inventions

WhiletheJeditaughttheirfollowersthatlove,angerorpassionwereforbidden,the

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Sithembracedthefullrangeofhumanemotionpassioniswhatmakespeople
powerful,andfree.TheoriginalStarWarsmoviesclearlyshowthattheSkywalkers
dontsharethebeliefthatloveistobeavoided,anditsarguablethatmostof

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humanitywouldrelatemoretotheSithsviewofpassionasagoodthing.
ThefirstJediExilesaimstorevivedeadworldsmaynothavebeensomethingtheir
brethrenbelievedin,andresultedinthembeingcastout,butitwasntspawnedby
malice.

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Fascistgovernmentsthroughouthistoryhaveproventhatthedenialof.unpopular
progressongroundsthatitchallengesexistingbeliefsofwhatsrightisoneof
mankindsworsthabits:Galileo,forinstance,wascalledahereticforclaimingthe
Sun,nottheEarth,wasthecenteroftheuniverse.
ItsnosecretthattheJediopposeanythinganythingtodowiththeDarkSide,
sincenothinggoodevercomesfromit.Whatislessknownisthatbeforethe
GalacticRepublic,thegalaxywaslargelyruledbytheRakataraces10,000year
InfiniteEmpire.Likemanyothers,thisempirewasbuiltoncuttingedgetechnology
(likethefirstwidelyusedhyperdrives).AnditwasallthankstotheDarkSide.
OncetheRakataempirecollapsed25,000yearspriortothefilms,thetechnology
wasupforgrabs,withtheCorelliansamongthefirsttocircumventtheDarkSide
componentsofRakatawarpdrivesandsellthetechnologywholesale.Theresultwas
helpful,sonoonebattedaneyelash.

Transportationsonething,butthetrademarkoftheJediOrderthelightsaberis
onethatcouldonlybecraftedbythoseintunewiththelightsideoftheForce,
right?Right.TheRakatacalledtheirversionForcesabers,usingtheForceto
channeldarkenergyintoasolidblade.TheJedi,astheydidelsewhere,sawthe
potentialmadepossiblethroughwaysoftheDarkSide,andadapteditfortheir
ownaims.
SurethetechnologywasusedbytheRakataforconqueringanddomination,butif
everyadvancementthataidedwarfarewasseenasinherentlyevil,theworldwould
beaverydifferentplace.MaybetheJediactuallymeantthatnothinggoodcomes
fromtheDarkSideanymore.

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IfitspossibletobringthemoralityoftheJediintoquestion,itsinthewaythey
treattheirenemies.AftertheFirstGreatSchismcametoanend,andthelast
twelveDarkJedisurrendered,publicdemandfortheirexecutionranhigh.Everthe
mercifuldiplomats,theJedichosetosparethelivesoftheirfallenbrethrenand
theirfollowers.
Theythenproceededtostriptheirformeralliesoftheirweaponsandarmor,boarded
themontounarmedtransportships,andsentthemintoUnknownSpace.Itshard
tosaywhattheJediintendedtohappentotheExiles,butwhenthehelpless
prisonersfoundtheraceofredskinnedSithontheplanetKorriban,theydidwhat
Jedido:sharedtheirbeliefsandtechnology,andlaidthefoundationsofanew
empire.
Oldfeudsdiehard,sooncetheSithhademergedasasuitablearmyfortheirDark
JedileadersnowSithLordstheunbelievablynamedGreatHyperspaceWar
began.TheSithultimatelysuccumbedtoinfighting,andtheRepublicandJediwere
victorious.Clearly,theiractions1,900yearsearlierhadntworked:theDarkJedihad
survived,andnowruledoverapreviouslyunknownraceofForcesensitive
humanoids.

RepublicChancellorPultimolookeduponanenemythatnolongerposedathreat,
andorderedtheJediandRepublicforcestoinvadeSithSpaceanddestroyany
remainsoftheempireanditscitizens.ThispurgeknownastheSithHolocaust
ultimatelyfailed,leavingthesurvivorstotakerefugeonDromundKaas.Fromhere
theywouldrebuildtheirempire,andnotrestuntiltheyhadtheirrevengeonthose
whohadtriedtoexterminatethem.

The Jedi Defended a Corrupt System

Assomanygalaxywidearmedconflictsdo,theCloneWarsallstartedwiththe
passingofaFinancialReformbill.Well,attemptedpassing.Yousee,thisisthe
partthatgetsglossedoverintheclearlyproJedifilms,givingtheimpressionsthat
theSeparatistsweresimplybadguys.
Thetruthis:thecommerciallypowerfulsystemsofthegalaxywereonlyafter
removalofcorruptionintheSenate,andgovernmentderegulationinthenameof
capitalisticgrowth.Thosewishescouldbecastinagreedyorantidemocraticlight,
buttheyrealsothedesiresthatshapedthecreationofthewesternworld.Inother
words,notinherentlyevil.
ThetaxationandcorruptionoftheSenatefromtoptobottompushedthelarger
corporationsnottorevolt,butintroducenewfinancialreformtoprotecttheir
interests.Beforeavotecouldtakeplace,theSenatorrepresentingtheCommonality
oftradeplanetswasassassinatedbyabribedSenateguard(apparentlytheywerent
kiddingaboutcorruption).Thosewhosenttheassassingottheirwish,andthevote
wascancelled.

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Understandably,thiswasthelaststraw.TheCommonalitybrokeofffromthecorrupt
bodyandformedtheConfederacyofIndependentSystems.Politicalmovements
areusuallybiggerthantheyremadeouttobetheiropponents.sowhilethefilms
depictedthegroupasatablefullofvillainouscharacters,theSeparatist
Confederacywasmadeupofovereightgalacticgovernments,dozensofRepublic
Senators,andspannedover10,000starsystems.TheJediandRepublicdidnteven
formallyrecognizethegroupsexistence,choosinginsteadtodefendthecorrupt
government,andratherthanaddresstheSeparatistconcerns,simplywipethemout.

The Jedi Betrayed Their Own Beliefs

Havealook,ifyouwill,atthestatedbeliefsoftheJediCodearoundthetimeof
Episode1ThePhantomMenace:
Jediaretheguardiansofpeaceinthegalaxy.
Jediusetheirpowerstodefendandprotect,nevertoattackothers.
Jedirespectalllife,inanyform.
Jediserveothersratherthanrulingoverthem,forthegoodofthegalaxy.
Jediseektoimprovethemselvesthroughknowledgeandtraining.
Ofcourse,theForcewielding,telekinetic,mindcontrollingmonkswerentalwaysso
docile.WhentheJediputanendtotheNewSithWars1,000yearsbeforethefilms,
theyhadgrowntobesomilitarizedthattheirbeliefswerebeingjeopardized.As
recognitionofthisdangertheRuusanReformationtookplace,restructuringthe
RepublicanddisbandingtheJedisarmyandnavy,aswellasrestrictingtheir
influence.Thismeantnolongersportingarmorormilitaryrank,andservingthe
Senate,nottheirownhierarchy.

Ratherthanweakeningthegalacticgovernment,havingtheJeditodefendfreedom
andservedemocracyusheredintheGoldenAgeoftheOldRepublic.Thefilmsare
set1,000yearslaterenoughtimefortheJeditohaveshiftedfromrealizingtheir
religiousordershouldonlybeusedtodefend,notleadtheRepublictoclaimingthat
theyknewbetter.
GeorgeLucascouldhaveatleastincludedascenewhereMaceWinduorYoda
debatedtheideaofinstantlybecominggenerals,betrayingtheircodeandundoing
legislationthatbroughtamilleniumofpeace(funfact:LukeSkywalkerlater
removedthelineaboutneverattackingothers).

The Jedi Led a Coup Against an Elected Leader

DespitethefactthattheSithwerenotinherentlyevil,theresnoquestiontheJedi
sawthemastheirenemy(eveniftheydhelpedmakethem).SowhenSupreme
ChancellorPalpatinewasrevealedtobeDarthSidious,believinginthequestfor
masteryoverlifethattheJedisovehementlydisagreedwith,whatwouldanypeace
lovingreligiousorderdo?Inshort,attempttoarrestorkillhim.
TheproblemhereisthatChancellorPalpatinewas,withoutquestion,the
democraticallyelectedleaderoftheGalacticRepublic.TheJedihadtherighttobe
angrythathehadkepthisbeliefsandreligionasecret,andsuspiciousofwhathe
hadplannedfortheRepublic,butrememberthatbitintheirJediCodethatsaid
theyservedtheRepublicsgovernment,andthattheywerenotinchargeof
determiningwhowasfittoleadandwhowasnt?
Anywayyoulookatit,theJediattemptedamilitarycoup,wishingtodeposethe
electedleaderofademocracybasedonapersonalvendetta.Theyhadmany
diplomaticmethodsofbringinghisSithoriginstotheattentionoftheRepublic,but
insteaddecidedtoactwithoutconsent.Theresult:theJediwerejudgedbythe
RepublicsleadertoonceagainthreatenfreedomandexertcontrolovertheSenate,
andhadtobeeliminated(poeticjusticefanswillnotetheJediPurgeasareversal
oftheirgenocideagainsttheSith).

OnecouldarguethatPalpatinehadmanipulateddemocracytosettleanoldscore
himself,butthatmeansthatheknewtheJediwouldnthesitatetoremovethehead
oftheSenatebyforce.Thebottomline:marchingintoaHeadofStatesofficewith
gunsdrawnafterdiscoveringhisracial,religiousorphilosophicalbackgroundisa
hardpilltoswallow.

Conclusion

HopefullywevemadeourcaseforwhythestorybeinggiventoStarWarsaudiences
maynotbethefullone.ThatsnottosayonesideoftheJedi/Sithconflictwasmore
intherightthantheother,butclearlybothgroupswerewillingtogettheirhands
dirty.
CouldthismakeafilmsetintheOldRepublic,oranyofthenumerouswarsbetween
factionsachancetoprovideacompletelynewperspective?Itshardtoknowhow
thoseentrustedwithStarWarsfuturefeelaboutplayingwithmorality,butifthey
do,weveobviouslygotsomeideas.
HowdoyouviewtheJediafterreadingourargument?Stillseethemasthe
upholdersofwhatsrightandmoral,oraretheSithnotasbadastheymayhave
beenportrayed?Leaveusyourthoughtsinthecomments.
StarWars:EpisodeVIIistentativelyscheduledtoopenintheatersby2015.

FollowAndrewonTwitter@andrew_dyce.
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Shadeworld4weeksago

Itisworthtonote,thatthestarwarsuniversewascreatedbyG.Lucastomimicthedualityof
TaoismandChristianity.However,intheStarwarsuniversethedefinitionofevilisunlikethatwe
subscribetoinourworld.
Yousee,Christianitywhichisarguablyoneofthecornerstonesofourmoralsociety,believesthat
evilistheabsenceofgood.
ButintheStarwarsuniverse,EvilasnottheabsenceofgoodRatheritistheoppositeofgood.
Itstandstobalanceoutthegood.
Andthus,inconclusion,thedarksideisinherentlyEvilanditwillcorruptyouasitissupposedto
createacounterbalancetothelightside.
WemustunderstandthatthetermShadesofgreydoesntexistsintheSWuniverse,notwhere
theforceisconcerned.AtleastifLucasviewistobefollowed.
Reply

Bergman4weeksago

Tobehonestidontthinkanyofthesidesiscompletelygoodorevil.Andevenifsomepartsofthe
jediorderweremissledinthierbeliefihaveithardtoseesomejedilikeQuiGon,ObiWanorYoda
asevil.ObiWanandQuiGonevendefiedthecouncelwhentheysawitfitforthegoodofit.And
nowiamgoingtouseatermfromFinalFantasyVIII.Theviewofgoodorevilismerelyaclashof
differentidealsbetweenpeople.
Whenitcomestothepartaboutthegenocideofthesithracethesith(nottheracebutdarkside
practitioners)alsodidsomegenocidesto.DuetoreerencetotheExpandedUniverse(noncanon
now)acordingtoOldRepublictheemperorplanedtowipeoutalllifeinthegalaxyjusttobecomea
godlikebeing.Andhehadallreadykilledoneworld.
WhenitcametoShmiSkywalkerQuiGontriedtogetthembothatfirstbutWattowasntinterested
insuchabigbet.AndifAnakinwouldlosehecouldntbetwithtomuchthingseitherbecausethey
stillhadamission.
Reply

Bergman4weeksago

Alsothosewhosaid(Imayhavemissinterprettedyou)thatLucassoldoutTarWarsduetogreed
shouldknowthathedonatedthemoneytocharity. anditisunderstandableifhewanttoretire
becauseheisover70yoafterall.
Reply

Dale4weeksago

SomanyholesinthisargumentIdontknowwheretostart...
howabouttheultimategoalsoftheSithemporersforone.Consideringthis,thedestructionofthe

Sithisnecessarytopreservelifeitself.
Reply

johnny1weekago

UnlimitedPowaaaaaaaThatwasthegoaloftheSith.Tocontrolalllifeanddirectlyinfringedon
freedom.PalpatinewastheHitlerofstarwars.RemembertheJedineverkilledtheirownmastersto
gainmorepower.Sithwerefilledbyhatred
Reply

Elaine1weekago

IhavereadallthecommentsonthisandIamsurprisedhowitturnedintoaSithVsJediargument
aboutwhoisevilandwhoisgood.Why?ThisarticleissimplydecribeshowtheJedicouldbethe
villainsinthenextStarWarsmovie.ThisisnotaSithVsJediargument.Nowherediditsuggest
thattheSitharethegoodguysandtheJediaretheevilones.ThearticlepointsoutthattheJedi
havedonemanyquestionablethingsdespiteseeingthemselvesasshiningbeaconsofallthatis
goodandrighteous.Ifyouholdingyourselftosuchahighstandardandtosuchloftyideals,you
havetoliveuptothem.TheJedisimplydont.TheSithmaybeevil(orevilerthantheJedi)andthe
Jediaregoodguys,buttheyarefarfromperfectandtheyarenotwhatpeopleclaimthemtobe.
AtleasttheSitharehonestaboutwhattheyare.TheJedimaynotbeevil,buttheyareself
righteousheroeswhothinkthatthesunshinesoutoftheirbacksides.IntheStarWarsuniverse,
theJedigetawaywitheverythingthattheydobecausetheyandeveryoneelsethinktheyareright
allthetimeandnoonequestionsit.Heroesareneverheldaccountablefortheiractions.Thisquote
fromTerryPratchettstheHogfathersumsitupquitenicely:
AndthenJackchoppeddownwhatwastheworldslastbeanstalk,addingmurderandecological
terrorismtothetheft,enticement,andtrespasschargesalreadymentioned,andallthegiants
childrendidnthaveadaddyanymore.Buthegotawaywithitandlivedhappilyeverafter,without
somuchasaguiltytwingeaboutwhathehaddonewhichprovesthatyoucanbeexcusedforjust
aboutanythingifyouareahero,becausenooneasksinconvenientquestions.
Ifthepriceofbeingheroistotrulybelievethatthesunliterallyshinesoutofonesbackside,I
wouldmuchratherbethevillain.
Reply

DarthOzymandias2daysago

Thereiswaytoomuchtoaddresshere.
IlljustsaywhatnooneelsehassofarDarkJediandSithareNOTthesamething,contraryto
whatthisarticlementions.
Reply

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