Just to make
sure we’re all on the same page I’ll briefly summarize
what occurs:
A galaxy is host to a Republic comprised of many, but not all, star
systems contained within. The Republic is at least 1,000 years old.
The star systems are represented in the senate. A group of star
systems becomes unhappy with the ineptitude & corruption in the
Republic & attempt to split off. The senate temporarily abrogates
its power to the Supreme Chancellor, who brings the secessionist
systems in line through force. The Chancellor then becomes an
emperor. He eventually disbands the Senate. A rebellion is formed by
a group that seeks to restore the Republic. The emperor is eventually
defeated by this rebellion.
Now that’s
the brief political view of the Star Wars films. Here it is with a
little more substance:
A young Jedi
called Anakin Skywalker is seduced by the Dark Side of the Force. He
aligns himself with a Sith master called Dart Sidious. Sidious is
also Palpatine, who rises from Senator to Chancellor to Emperor.
Palpatine claims he longs for order in the Republic instead of the
petty bureaucracy of the Senate & he launches a very elaborate
plan involving the Jedi & the secessionists to gain more power to
achieve his alleged ends. An alliance is formed to counter
Palpatine’s moves towards empire. Part of that alliance is a
young Jedi named Luke Skywalker. He’s the son of Anakin.
Anakin helped Palpatine hunt down the Jedi & so Luke remains one
of the last of that order. Through several battles & many years
the rebel alliance defeats the emperor but not without paying a great
price.
Now what does
this have to do with the usual content of Publicola? Everything.