Obi-Wan Kenobi Is A Sith Lord!
I finally made it to see the last installment of the Star Wars trilogy, series, or whatever you want to call it, last night. The movie script was great! Acting wasn't. There was plenty of action though, and at least for me, that makes up for the poor acting. All the loose ends were tied up, the whole series fits together very well now. And that's a great accomplishment, even when you take into account that the scripts were for the most part written around the same time as the first (last? Episodes 4-6) three movies were made, given the time that has elapsed between the two trilogies.
I was bothered however by the blurring of the lines between the 'darkside', and the 'other' side of the force. What do they call it, by the way? As far as I can remember it has no name other than 'force'. And this force has a darkside. I guess we have to assume it is the 'lightside' or the 'goodside' of the force. This may not be a problem for others, but it presents a problem for me. Not because I want to equate the fictional 'force' with the very real Creator, but because it isn't really stated with any clarity what this side of the 'force' is. Is it good, moderate, light, obscure, perfect, alright, or the 'good ol' boy side' of the force?
This problem is only heightened for me as I hear one of the heroes of the movie, Obi-Wan Kenobi, say, "Only a Sith deals in absolutes!" Are you absolutely positive about that Obi? If so you have just joined the Sith in the 'darkside'! I know that these are fictional characters but I believe they represent a fairly accurate modern conception of good and evil. 'Absolute truth is bad and uncertainty is good.' No, no, no, a thousand times no! How's that for a statement of the absolute? Good and evil are not joined at the hip. It is not our responsibility to live in the gray. There is no gray, only black and white, good and evil, right and wrong, up and down, left and right, east and west. They are opposed to one another. They exist in the same world, but they war against each other, between nations, countrymen, brothers, and even in the depths of our own souls. And they will never be reconciled.
This statement by Obi-Wan also represents a common sentiment toward good prevalent in the U.S., and perhaps throughout the world today. This sentiment calls good evil, and evil good. Didn't God or somebody say something like that once? We are taught to believe that if anyone has any kind of conviction, then that person is evil. Oops! Correction. Unless that conviction is opposed to Christianity or Christian principles, then the person of conviction is evil. Muslims? 'oh they're just protecting their way of life'. Atheists? 'well you can't force your views on others'. Murderers? 'they're just reacting in a way they've been conditioned to act by society'. Now, What about Christians? 'religious zealots, warmongers, lazy morons,' and anything else they can think of. That is the attitude of the world.
Now, why did I move from the attack on good and truth to attacks on Christianity? Because Christianity is good and is true. Any attack on morality or truth is an attack on Christianity and Christ himself. Christ founded the Christian church with His own blood. He said that He would build His church. He also said, 'Love one another.' This statement is the highest form of morality, not a warm and fuzzy feeling we have for others, but the love of God working in us and through us to do those things that please him, namely moral things. Jesus also said, 'I am the Truth.' Not a way or path to enlightenment, but very Truth and very Light Himself.
But we must continue to live in this world, even if we are not of it. And I would still recommend this movie to Star Wars fans. Just don't be seduced by the Jedi's philosophy that, 'there is no absolute truth, and shame on you if you think there is'.
But that's just one man's opinion. Just kidding. It's the truth.
Submitted by,
Sith Lord Darth Weaver,
'We deal in absolutes.'
2 comments:
I caught on to that comment as well. It's amazingly contradictory to the very heart of Star Wars which is all about absolutes.
I believe it's Lucas' worldview and political bias bleeding through. It was poorly thought out on his side and sticks out like a sore thumb.
Sad he had to muck up one of the great theatrical events of my lifetime to push (and weakly at that) a flawed ideology.
It's always encouraging to hear a brother declare truth vs. falsehood. I'm glad I'm not the only one left who sees black and white! There is absolutely no gray (except in my beard).
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