Saga Star Wars- an anti-power fantasy saga

Actually, I think the movies show us that this kind of victory doesn't end the war. The war doesn't end until Luke refuses to fight.

One step at a time. Peaceful solutions require patience. If you want things to change, be the change. That's how you inspire others to change, too.

 

Regardless, Leia was the change, and inspired others to change, too.

 

The Rebels had no ability to negotiate for some peace treaty at that point. It was either flee and let the planet be destroyed only for the Death Star to go around destroying more planets in order to wipe out the Rebels or do what they did and save who knows how many tens of billions of lives. Kill one to save a thousand is better than killing none to let ten thousand die

 

That's a very narrow way to approach things.

 

So is the refusal to use violence.

 

Not really.

 

Star wars is many things, but I don't believe its "anti-power fantasy" at all. I think it's just the opposite in most cases. The willfully defenseless are preyed upon on a regular basis by evil, and in the end, the good only win through the use of force*.

Sure, in Luke's tiny little world, the war might be over when he refuses to fight. Meanwhile, outside in space, Rebels and Imperials are pounding the stuffing out of each other with turbolasers, and a quarter million crew members aboard the Exeuctor were busy getting incinerated due to an unfortunate collision with a A-Wing. They didn't get the memo about the end of the war.

Let's remember who the Empire is. They're the guys who murdered a planet as a demonstration and to instill fear in the rest of the galaxy. And you want to negotiate with them?

This is spot on. Among other things, Star Wars is a cautionary tale about the dangers surrounding the concentration of power. By the end of ROTS, Palpatine's been given control of everything he needs to take control of everything else.

I blame Jar Jar.


* Not the Force, necessarily.

 

This is a tough one. Ultimately the Rebels win the final space battle by blowing things up and the Emperor is defeated by being manhandled down an open shaft, so force wins out. On the other hand, Luke's triumph is ultimately gained as a result of refusing to fight fire with fire (or lightning with a laser sword as the case may be), so...

 

In order for Luke to get to the point where he could refuse to fight, he first had to fight.

 

Not externally he didn't.

 

That is true. There's no doubt that there's plenty of fighting in these films. That doesn't necessarily preclude the possibility that not fighting could ultimately win out. I've always liked the idea that SW is about human strength overcoming superhuman power.

 

I believe it.

 

Time was also a factor, the Rebels didn't have time to make peace with the Empire.The Sith's idea of peace is killing everyone who doesn't obey them. The Death Star just killed a whole world and it is coming for the Rebels next, it was kill or be killed for them. Sometimes there are no good options. Both sides must be willing to listen to be able to settle a conflict peacefully, the Empire was clearly not willing to listen, they only wanted the rebels dead by any means.

 

How would you seek peace in such little time, the Death Star is almost on top of you, the Empire wants nothing else to see you dead. The Death Star is a threat to everyone and the Empire is willing to use it to kill anyone who opposes them. What would you do?

 

I have already said, sir. From the FIRST I would seek PEACE with Tarkin, that's what. I ain't moving from this.

 

Admirable resolve Cushy!

However, let's say Leia did succeed in convincing Tarkin to surrender
Odds are, eventually Palpatine would hear. Tarkin would be charged with treason and most likely executed, and a new officer would take his place and continue onward. Peace is simply a fallacy in a scenario such as this :/

 

That doesn't seem the case in the prequels, where the Jedi are quick to use the saber. You're making up things, I am thinking.

And Obi-Wan & Yoda were on the same page in the OT. It's not as if Yoda didn't put Luke to vigorous physical training. I wonder what Luke would need that for if he isn't supposed to fight.

 

You missed this sentence: "That said, there are few Jedi in Star Wars who actually understand what true Jedi Knighthood is about".
Luke makes the right decision where the other Jedi made the wrong ones.

 

Even Luke will fight if there's no way around it (example Jabba's palace). He counters violence with violence.

Like I said, the Jedi will try to seek a non-violent solution, but when that fails, power and might come into play.

 

Luke learned WHEN to fight. If he'd chosen to fight at the end of ROTJ he'd likely have died and / or the Empire wouldn't have been defeated.

 

Luke stopped fighting.

 

A Jedi uses the force for knowledge and defense, never for attack.