#the jedi weren't wrong or “outdated”

[ripegreenfruit]

This is my Roman Empire. Fuck Disney forever.

        “It really has to do with learning.  Children teach you compassion. They teach you to love unconditionally. Anakin can’t be redeemed for all the pain and suffering he’s caused. He doesn’t right the wrongs, but he stops the horror. The end of the Saga is simply Anakin saying, I care about this person, regardless of what it means to me. I will throw away everything that I have, everything that I have grown to love - primarily the Emperor - and throw away my life, to save this person. And I’m doing this because he has faith in me, loves me despite all the horrible things I’ve done. I broke his mother’s heart, but he still cares about me, and I can’t let that die. Anakin is very different in the end. The thing of it: The prophecy was right. Anakin was the Chosen One, and he does bring balance to the Force. He takes the ounce of good still left in him and destroys the Emperor out of compassion for his son.” –George Lucas, The Making of Revenge of The Sith; page 221 “He takes the ounce of good still left in him and destroys the Emperor out of compassion for his son.” I’M GONNA YELL ABOUT THIS BECAUSE IT’S EXACTLY WHAT I’VE BEEN SAYING. It’s easy to conflate the meanings of “attachment” and “compassion” for each other, because “attachment” has significantly different shades based on how we use it, that those definitions can make entire worlds of difference in whether or not they’re a good thing or a bad thing.  If we use the definition of “love” or “support” for “attachment”, then the Jedi saying, “Attachment is forbidden.” of course seems like it’s a terrible thing! But the way George Lucas talks about it, it’s always in the context of selfish, possessive feelings, of greed for that person, of the inability to let go when it’s time. “If he’d have been taken in his first year and started to study to be a Jedi, he wouldn’t have this particular connection as strong as it is and he’d have been trained to love people but not to become attached to them.”  –George Lucas, Attack of the Clones commentary “But he has become attached to his mother and he will become attached to Padme and these things are, for a Jedi, who needs to have a clear mind and not be influenced by threats to their attachments, a dangerous situation.“   –George Lucas, Attack of the Clones commentary “Because he was unwilling to let go of his mother, because he was so attached to her, he committed this terrible revenge on the Tusken Raiders.“ –George Lucas, Attack of the Clones commentary “Jedi Knights aren’t celibate - the thing that is forbidden is attachments - and possessive relationships.”  –George Lucas, BBC News 2002 interview “He turns into Darth Vader because he gets attached to things. He can’t let go of his mother; he can’t let go of his girlfriend. He can’t let go of things. It makes you greedy. And when you’re greedy, you are on the path to the dark side, because you fear you’re going to lose things, that you’re not going to have the power you need.” –George Lucas, Time Magazine 2002 interview This is the context of how George Lucas–and the Jedi, who frequently mirror in-universe what he says about how the Force works out-of-universe–talks about what attachment means, that it’s leading to greed, that it’s in the realm of possessive relationships, that it drives Anakin to be unable to let go (something that is narratively rewarded over and over in Star Wars), that it’s genuinely dangerous. Attachment is not the same thing as love–otherwise “he’d have been trained to love people but not to become attached to them“ would be “he’d have been trained to love people but not to love them“ and that makes no sense–and that’s why the above quote about Luke and Vader in Return of the Jedi is so important, that George doesn’t describe it as attachment, but instead compassion. That what happens between Vader and Luke isn’t a rebuke of the idea of attachment is bad, but instead a confirmation of how the Jedi were on the right track, that this was about compassion for each other. “Children teach you compassion. They teach you to love unconditionally.“ –George Lucas “Attachment is forbidden. Possession is forbidden. Compassion, which I would define as unconditional love, is central to a Jedi’s life, so you might say we’re encouraged to love.” –Anakin, Attack of the Clones Return of the Jedi isn’t just about the return of the Jedi to the galaxy through Luke, but also through Anakin.  Anakin returns to being a Jedi, he returns to compassion, he returns to selflessness, he returns to letting go.  That’s why the ending of him in white Jedi robes was so significant at the end of ROTJ.

Anakin has returned to being a Jedi and everything they taught him, including compassion over attachment, that that is what these things mean in Star Wars.

[devorantescorda-2]

"He's a 10, but he's quite rude."

"Aww, I'm almost moved that you think I'm a ten, Kenobi." He grinned and winked at the Jedi, his tone dripping with condescension. "You would be a ten as well if you weren't that hopeless and... on the wrong side." He took a step closer, his grin widening into something sharper, more dangerous. "And I am not rude, no. I'm realistic. Like when I say you're a lost cause."

He circled slightly, his eyes glinting with amusement as if he were toying with a wounded animal. "You cling to those outdated ideals like a drowning man clings to a sinking ship. Noble. Tragic. Pathetic." His voice dropped, silken and venomous. "But don't worry, I find your delusions... endearing, in a pitiful sort of way." Another step closer. Close enough that the tension hung between them like a drawn blade.

[spokewar]

His lips pulled into a frown; Anakin hadn't upset him yet, but Obi-Wan knew where their conversation was going. It was an argument they've had before and one they would, no doubt, have again.

"No; emotions are not the enemy." He squared his shoulders to his full height as the Force radiated with displeasure. At that, to the very least, he could agree. "Do I look unfeeling to you?

"You weren't raised in the temple, you don't fully understand and . . . well, that's my fault isn't it?" And his lack of experience combined with the Council's high expectations hardly did Anakin any favors either. Obi-Wan already knew he wasn't the best of teacher's, but times like these were a painful reminder of just how badly he failed. "I'm sorry you feel that way, but everyone has a different relationship with the Force. Just because Master Yoda communes with it differently than you doesn't mean he's wrong. He's almost a thousand years old, he's bound to have some outdated beliefs.

"Don't take everything he says at face value; he is an ancient Jedi trying to apply his beliefs to the modern day. It won't always translate well." Or, perhaps, ever, but that was too cruel to admit. Yoda was not only just their Grand-Master, but one of the most esteemed Jedi to ever exist, he deserved some level of respect. "I want you to listen to the Force and I want you to feel like you can talk to me about it . . . it's tough being in our lineage, there is too much expected of us. You, especially. I don't want you to feel resentful."

"IT'S NOT YOUR FAULT MASTER." Anakin's eyes fell on the other Jedi. He might not be his padawan anymore, but he still looked to him for guidance. Skywalker tried his best to apply his teachings to every day life in and out of battles. "If he does then he will be hearing it from Master Windu." Mace Windu had in the last year been teaching him the ways of the balance and instructing him on how to deal with Palpatine.

"We are more soldiers than peacekeepers." A truth he had to reflect on more than once before. "Grandmaster Yoda denies the balance. Emotions are not the enemy, master. Constant control and being numb is. Yet, this is what the Order teaches. You can not tell me any different." Shaking his head, he finally rose to his feet. "If the Grandmaster wants to do this, then let him fall into his own consequences. I won't bow to my beliefs and listening to the Force."