Today's New York Times has a glowing movie review of Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith," I thought this section was particularly relevant and interesting to politics in America today:
This is how liberty dies - to thunderous applause," Padm? observes as senators, their fears and dreams of glory deftly manipulated by Palpatine, vote to give him sweeping new powers. "Revenge of the Sith" is about how a republic dismantles its own democratic principles, about how politics becomes militarized, about how a Manichaean ideology undermines the rational exercise of power. Mr. Lucas is clearly jabbing his light saber in the direction of some real-world political leaders. At one point, Darth Vader, already deep in the thrall of the dark side and echoing the words of George W. Bush, hisses at Obi-Wan, "If you're not with me, you're my enemy." Obi-Wan's response is likely to surface as a bumper sticker during the next election campaign: "Only a Sith thinks in absolutes."
Wow, what a quote! "Only a Sith thinks in absolutes." Think about that one for a minute, particuarly in light of the current state of politics and culture in our country. You tell 'em, Obi-Wan Kenobi!
Interestingly, just as with the positive, progressive Star Trek universe of Gene Roddenberry, Star Wars portrays its good guys as, essentially, tough-minded (and armed to the teeth!) liberals. These guys live on the light side of "the Force" and are moved by Lincoln's "better angels of [their] natures." They value diversity, tolerance, cooperation, complexity and peaceful coexistence. But, they also know how to defend themselves (and their families, countries, and planets), if necessary, against the bad guys. That's where all the phasers and light sabers come in -- these futuristic progressives can kick some serious ass when they need to!
In contrast, the bad guys of Star Wars and Star Trek are definitively on the "Dark Side of the Force" - authoritarian, strict, harsh, undemocratic, war-like, perceiving the world in shades of black and white. If you don't like something, kill it/torture it/blow it up. If you're not my friend, you're my enemy. Every man for himself. Force is the answer to all problems, especially as practiced by an ultra-strict father ("Darth Vader") figure. Wait a minute, is this the Republican Party platform or a sci-fi adventure movie? Sometimes they're hard to tell apart.
If you think I'm exaggerating the link between current American left/right politics and Star Wars - Revenge of the Sith? Well, here's what Star Wars' creator, George Lucas, had to say on the subject yesterday at a news conference:
* "Star Wars is a "wake-up call" to Americans about the "erosion of democratic freedoms under George W. Bush."
* "I didn't think [the Bush Administration] was going to get quite this close [to the Nixon era]" in "sacrificing freedoms in the interests of national security."
* "I hope this doesn't come true in our country. Maybe the film will awaken people to the situation of how dangerous it is ... The parallels between what we did in Vietnam and what we are doing now in Iraq are unbelievable."
* "Because this is the back story (of the Star Wars saga), one of the main features of the back story was to tell how the Republic became the Empire."
* "In terms of evil, one of the original concepts [of Star Wars] was how does a democracy turn itself into a dictatorship"
* "They all seem to happen in the same way with the same issues: Threats from the outside; they need more control; and a democratic body not being able to function properly because everybody's squabbling."
Hey, nobody ever accused George Lucas of being subtle, that's for damn sure! But can he be any clearer in his view that the "Sith" are stand-ins for right-wing Republicans, twisted in bitterness, intolerance, repression and rage to the "Dark Side of the Force?" And could Lucas' last quote about outside threats, need for more control, and a squabbling bunch of smug, corrupt politicians be any more descriptive of the current state of American politics?
Anyway, just one more "deep thought" before I completely ruin the movie. The release of Star Wars - Revenge of the Sith at this time is an excellent example of how pop culture, the artist, and the "real world" interact. And just as the original Star Wars appeared in the aftermath of Watergate, the current version comes hot on the heels of 9/11 and Abu Ghraib. Gee, I wonder what George Lucas is trying to say here. Hmmm....