PT Palpatine's full Imperial victory speech

Seagoat note: This is not the thread to discuss the US 2016 election. As I note below, please limit conversation to only Palpatine's speech in-universe/SW in general

Taken from Star Wars Insider, 2005:

Citizens of the civilized galaxy. On this day we mark a transition. For a thousand years, the Republic stood as the crowning achievement of civilized beings. But there were those who would set us against one another, and we took arms to defend our way of life against those Separatists. In doing so, we never suspected that the greatest threat came from within.

The Jedi, and some within our own Senate, had conspired to create the shadow of Separatism using one of their own as the enemy's leader. They had hoped to grind the Republic into ruin. But the hatred in their hearts could not be hidden forever. As last, there came a day when our enemies showed their true natures.
The Jedi hoped to unleash their destructive power against the Republic by assassinating the head of government and usurping control of the clone army. But the aims of the would-be tyrants were valiantly opposed by those without elitist, dangerous powers. Our loyal clone troopers contained the insurrection within the Jedi Temple and quelled uprisings on a thousand worlds.
The remaining Jedi will be hunted down and defeated. Any collaborators will suffer the same fate. These have been trying times, but we have passed the test.
The attempt on my life has left me scarred and deformed, but I assure you my resolve has never been stronger. The war is over. The Separatists have been defeated, and the Jedi rebellion has been foiled. We stand on the threshold of a new beginning.
In order to ensure security and continuing stability, the Republic will be reorganized into the first Galactic Empire! For a safe and secure society, which I assure you will last for 10,000 years. An Empire that will be continue to be ruled by this august body and a sovereign ruler chosen for life. An Empire ruled by the majority, ruled by a new Constitution.
By bringing the entire galaxy under one law, one language, and the enlightened guidance of one individual, the corruption that plagued the Republic in its later years will never take root. Regional governors will eliminate the bureaucracy that allowed the Separatist movement to grow unchecked. A strong and growing military will ensure the rule of law.
Under the Empire's New Order, our most cherished beliefs will be safeguarded. We will defend our ideals by force of arms. We will give no ground to our enemies and we will stand together against attacks from with or without. Let the enemies of the Empire take heed: those who challenge Imperial resolve will be crushed.
We have taken on a task that will be difficult, but the people of the Empire are ready for the challenge. Because of our efforts, the galaxy has traded war for peace and anarchy for stability. Billions of beings now look forward to a secure future. The Empire will grow as more planets feel the call, from the Rim to the wilds of unknown space.
Imperial citizens must do their part. Join our grand star fleet. Become the eyes of the Empire by reporting suspected insurrectionists. Travel to the corners of the galaxy to spread the principles of the New Order to barbarians. Build monuments and technical wonders that will speak of our glory for generations to come!
The clone troopers, now proudly wearing the name of Imperial Stormtroopers, have tackled the dangerous work of fighting our enemies on the front lines. Many have died in their devotion to the Empire. Imperial citizens would do well to remember their example.
The New Order of peace has triumphed over the shadowy secrecy of shameful magicians. The direction of our course is clear. I will lead the Empire to glories beyond imagination.
We have been tested, but we have emerged stronger. We moved forward as one people - the Imperial citizens of the first Galactic Empire. We will prevail. Ten thousand years of peace begins today!

Sheev Palpatine
Emperor Elect.

 

Make Coruscant and The Galactic Empire Great Again!

 

"So this is how liberty dies... with thunderous applause."

Man, what a chilling moment. I think I'm going to have to watch ROTS again tomorrow. I don't normally watch it all that much since it's such a dark and distressing movie, but now seems like as appropriate a time as ever.

 

Time to invoke that apocryphal curse:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/May_you_live_in_interesting_times

 

This is a bit too politically sensitive
Please discuss your thoughts on the 2016 US elections in the designated thread for it, not here

 

Gonna open this back up. Please do keep in mind the post above this and the note added to the first post

 

I'll bite......

 

I always found it so interesting that the Senate, hell, the GALAXY itself, was so beaten down, tired, and corrupted by that point that they literally cheer being told they're being taken over by a dictator. So desperate for the promise of "peace", that they'll accept it under any circumstances.

 

And of course, Sheev makes the speech while one of his guys "take care" of the militaristic plutocrats who propelled him to his position of power.

 

"The President promised us peace. WE only want...AHHHHHH!"

 

This:

 

This thread is NOT about the US election. At all
Please limit discussion to SW and Palpatine's speech, not how it related to real life current events

 

Remember, Seagoat re-opened this on the condition we discuss the topic & not real world politics.

I think Palp's was an amazing & disturbing speech. Can't believe he had the gall to throw Dooku under the bus as a Jedi stooge who led the Separatists. Painting the Jedi as the ultimate puppet masters of TCW is the ultimate slap in the face

 

Great scene and performance.


" P, I mean Lord Sidious promised us peace... "

"The message was muddled. He promised you in pieces!"

That was a funny line in the novel, too bad it wasn't in the movies.


I just want to ask, why did his voice changed dramatically after his true face was revealed?

 

It's not a bad speech, overall. Calling the Jedi "would-be tyrants" is a good one, considering that's exactly what he is--I bet he takes some delight in pinning all the things he's done on his hated arch-enemies. Palpatine sure is a devious fellow, that's for sure. Though I don't agree with his using a portion of the speech to officially re-name "clone troopers" to "stormtroopers". That one left me scratching my head a bit. Seems an oddly specific thing to do. I do like his plans to end corruption in the senate though. We saw in TPM how ineffective and mired in procedure the senate had become. I'm sure many of the galaxy's citizens were fed up with it as well. I mean, from their perspective at least he's promising to root out the corruption. I don't recall Senators Amidala or Organa ever really doing anything to address that. All-in-all, not a bad way to launch his new empire.

 

Sorry. But it's hard not to link the events in the prequel movies to what is currently happening in our real world and political sphere...

Regarding Palpatine's speech, which mainly concerns themes as politics, democracy and dictatorship, here's an interview I've uploaded (subtitles are also available in french) with George Lucas during the release of Revenge of Sith, 10 years ago. Very insightful:

 

True. But it deserved to be yesterday.

And that's why you made it -- yes???

Never mind it being a principal driver of why Lucas made Star Wars...

Hearing from the on-screen puppet master himself back in 2005:

https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2005/nov/07/theatre1

He also bristles at the notion that the Star Wars films are totally hollow entertainments. "I remember when I sat there in the Evil Emperor's swivel chair and George [Lucas] said things like 'does it remind you of the Oval office?' And I realised that at that time Richard Nixon was in his mind.

"And I see that in the Guardian's review of the DVD - not favourable, of course - mention is made of the fact that there are lines that sound really contemporary. But the reviewer decided that was by chance: no, no, no, no. Entirely by design.

"George knew that eight-year-olds, for whom these films are primarily intended, are very impressionable, and he wanted to make the right impression. So the whole film is about the unnecessary rise of fascism. In other words: watch out, they're all after your freedom, particularly when they're talking about defending freedom. Without getting over-extended about it, that is at the heart of these movies."




And from "The Maker" himself, reiterated several times, but put very precisely in 2002:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/670092/posts?page=2

Lucas tells TME about his own geopolitics, reflected in the features:
"All democracies turn into dictatorships--but not by coup. The people give their democracy to a dictator, whether it's Julius Caesar or Napoleon or Adolf Hitler. Ultimately, the general population goes along with the idea. What kinds of things push people and institutions in this direction? That's the issue I've been exploring: how did the Republic turn into the Empire?...How does a good person go bad, and how does a democracy become a dictatorship?"




Anyway, dig even the URLs...

"The Guardian", "Free Republic"

"The Jedi Knights were..."


Thank you, Ian.

Thank you, George.

 

Sheev uses the Goebbels technique. Make it a big lie and repeat it often.

 

It makes more sense if you consider what comes after rather than what came before: the clones will be phased out and normal citizens will be recruited/drafted on a scale not seen in the Republic for at least a thousand years. So divorcing the "clone" from the "trooper" in the public consciousness is kind of the first step; giving up civilian life is no longer going to be a thing that primarily happens to other people (especially with the Jedi gone too). The clones are becoming only part of the troopers, not the entirety of them.

"The clone troopers, now proudly wearing the name of Imperial Stormtroopers, have tackled the dangerous work of fighting our enemies on the front lines. Many have died in their devotion to the Empire. Imperial citizens would do well to remember their example."

I doubt it was super obvious to everyone listening at that moment, but this is very much laying the groundwork for "joining up is noble and good and something to be proud of, and YOUR EMPIRE needs YOU!"

 

That was scary and prophetic at the same time... "when democracy isnt treated well, when the elected officials dont do their job the whole thing can go awry, if you're always bickering and not agreeing on things and doing the peoples work that elected you, a TYRANT will come in a do it for you because the people want to get the job done." Sounds like Life imitating Art right before our eyes

 

It relied on a principle that many great propagandists (in the sense they were pioneers/highly successful, not a moral judgment) such as Goebbels relied on - a Big Lie is actually much easier to propagate than a small one in certain circumstances. The timing of his speech was highly propitious (as it would be given he engineered the whole opportunity) and his speech was genuinely pretty rousing and inspiring, it just so happened to be almost entirely untrue or at the very least ''selective with the truth.'' But by cramming it down the throats of alarmed and browbeaten Senators and having them applaud him all the way into tyranny he made sure that by the time anyone stopped to wonder if maybe there wasn't more to the story it was already too late - Padme, Mon Mothma and Bail Organa all noted that trying to challenge him openly was already a pointless task and even they (who knew full well it was a crock of excrement) would have to go along with it, in public at least.

 

Palpatine had evil plans before he came to power, but he never advertised them. He was elected because he talked smoothly and "helped" Naboo. Would he have become very popular if he talked about who he would like to hit in the mouth or by promising to go after the Jedi? I don't think so, not in that universe. There was nothing in his politics until the last 30 minutes of ROTS that seemed unreasonable in any way. Also he had no political opponent. So his coming to power at least is understandable and justifiable. Not even the Jedi had any clue what Palpatine really was until too late. This proves that on the whole the Star Wars universe is a lot more civilized than the real world.

 

I get a kick out of how he says "The remaining Jedi will be hunted down and defeated." What a wonderful euphemism for kill! He just took all the ugliness out of that. I wonder who wrote it.

Thanks for the post!