Star Wars: Attack of the State

Having just enjoyed(ish) watching Star Wars Episode II: The Attack of the Clones, my radical side could not but help look at the film through critical eyes. I've unfortunately arrived at the conclusion that the Jedi are nothing more than the inter-stellar CIA; bullies of the New World (or Planet) Order. A big accusation, but the evidence is there. So, who are the Jedi? They claim to be a force for peace and justice who's highest ideal is compassion. Sounds good. However how compassionate could an organisation be who stand by and allow abuses of freedom to go unopposed?

In Episode I, Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn and his apprentice Obi-Wan Kenobi travel to the desert planet of Tatooine where they meet a slave boy and his enslaved mother. The boy, called Anakin Skywalker, they recruit. Due to cost constraints they only end up freeing Anakin and abandon his mother. Thus, the Jedi are so respecting of the laws of commerce that they do not even consider actively oppose the use of slaves by forcing the freedom of both. Within the realm they claim to 'police'; clearly money means more than compassion. Not convinced? Do the Jedi return to free Anakin's mother? No. Duty, he is told, is more important. Do the Jedi rail against the excesses of wealth we can see on display within their realm? No. It would seem that not only slavery; but bonded servants, monarchy and unrivalled privilege are not only supported but are defended.

So if the Jedi are not involved with the fight to abolish slavery then what are they doing? Well they act as the enforcement arm of the 'democratic' republic. They claim not be war-like, but given that rogue Jedi and Anakin himself expres views that dictatorship seems better than the representative democracy they have on offer. Thus it's reasonable to assume that there is a faction and/or ideology within the Jedi that embraces a dictatorial tradition. How else do you explain his anger at the separation and slavery of his mother being channelled into an anti-republic ideology? The Dark Side? Why is there no radical-libertarian doctrine for Anakin to plug into such as that hinted at by the words of Dom Helder Camara, Archbishop of Recife "When I feed the poor, they call me a saint. When I ask why the poor have no food, they call me a communist." Except in this universe it’s more apt to say, "When I buy a slave they tell me it’s the voice of the force, when I ask why there are slaves, I’m told it’s the voice of the dark side."

Still not convinced the Jedi have a war-like side? How about the existence of slush-funds/black ops activity that goes to create the clone army in Episode II we can see the Contra-style approach to intervention is alive and kicking within the Jedi.

I know it may seem I'm being a little harsh, but consider the plight of a slave on Tatooine; if this slave escaped would the Jedi help the slaves flight to freedom or capture and re-imprison? Evidence shows the latter. The Jedi's main concern seems to be involvement with the political structures of the Republic and the maintenance of the status quo and in that they are akin to the less mystical and yet early similar earth equivalent of the CIA. If the Jedi wants my respect they can begin by taking up the fight to abolish galactic slavery and then maybe we can sit down together and discuss whys and how towards the destruction of the pillars of the interstellar-state and the triumph of justice and liberty for all species.

More Info: The Case For the Empire, Star Wars Fan Site, More on Anarchist Ideology, Abolition & Anti-Slavery Movements

More Star Wars
Speaking of Star Wars, it seems that S11 has accelerated the Bush Jr. plans for a new system of 'missile defence' Gulp! One of the main concerns seems to be that this system involved putting nuclear weapons and/or reactors into space. Image one of those failing and falling to earth! Don't think it could happen? Remember the Space Shuttle Challenger exploding 73 seconds after take off in January 1986? Now imagine that shuttle was carrying a nuclear reactor. Now imagine enough plutonium to kill every single human on the planet being spread all over Florida. Nasty (unless you have a pathological hatred of Florida; in which case we think you need to talk to someone...)

More info: http://www.animatedsoftware.com/cassini/kg8910ny.htm

Computer Error
Even if the system doesn’t break down and fall to earth, who's happy about the prospect of computers controlling nuclear-powered weapons from space? Not us! Surly, you may say, computers can't go wrong? Can they? As they say; 'to err is human but to really f**k things up requires a computer.' F**kMicrosoft.com, a website run by people who aren’t keen on their products have a nice list of how software can go pear-shaped, 'Did I mention that Microsoft's products tend to be full of bugs? I'm sure you know this if you've used any Microsoft products to any great extent. It's pretty sad that people have accepted things like rebooting daily because the OS crashed as a part of computing...'

More Info: http://www.f**kmicrosoft.com/content/whatsbad.shtml

Cry For Me, Argentina
As you may (or may not) know Argentina has gone into meltdown. Things have really gone screwy in the former model child of the IMF/World Bank. It can't afford to pay its loans and so is hoping for a loan to bail it out. As the old saying goes; 'Borrowing from Peter to pay Paul'. There is hope in the ruins; communities are organising, factories are re-opening under worker control, barker markets are thriving. Necessity maybe the mother of invention here, but when a country that was once rated as of equal wealth to France can fall, it shows just how fragile international capitalism really is.

More Info: http://argentinanow.tripod.com.ar/

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