Absolute Jedi
Sep. 6th, 2005 01:55 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
sunnyskywalkerOnly the Sith deal in absolutes? I beg to differ!
The whole Jedi Order is based on absolutes. Throughout the PT, the Jedi are practically waving neon signs in Anakin's face saying, "The only way to be a Jedi is this!" There is a light side and a dark side and the dark side is bad. There is no gray side. Acting on anger, fear, or agression is always bad. The Sith aren't a different but no less valid organization with whom the Jedi disagree--they're evil. Evil is a very absolute word. When Obi-Wan says Vader is "twisted and evil," he is saying Vader is absolutely not good. You can't stretch that to mean that Vader has good in him even if you use Obi-Wan's "certain point of view" trick.
Time after time, Jedi say "always," "never,", "only," "best," and "impossible," all very absolute words. Never means never, and if you're the best, there's absolutely no one better.
Maverick Jedi, by-the-book Jedi, Council Jedi, PT Jedi, OT Jedi--they all toss out absolutes like pies at a pie-throwing contest.
Qui-Gon: There's always a bigger fish.
Qui-Gon: Whenever you gamble, my friend, eventually you'll lose.
Ki-Adi-Mundi: Impossible! The Sith have been extinct for a millenium.
Mace Windu: He is too old.
Yoda: An apprentice you have, Qui-Gon. Impossible, to take on a second.
Yoda: Always two there are... a master, and an apprentice.
Mace Windu: [Dooku] wouldn't assassinate anyone; it is not in his character.
Obi-Wan: ...she's a politician. They're not to be trusted.
Obi-Wan: A Jedi's saber is his most precious possession.
Obi-Wan: This weapon is your life!
Jocasta Nu: If an item does not appear in our records, it does not exist.
Ben: He was the best star pilot in the galaxy.
Ben: Only Imperial stormtroopers are so precise.
Ben: You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy.
Yoda: He is too old.
Yoda: Do. Or do not. There is no try.
Ben: That boy was our last hope.
Yoda: Once you start down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny.
Ben: You cannot escape your destiny.
And the one that cracks me up every time...
Obi-Wan: Only the Sith deal in absolutes.
Should have thought that one through first, Obi-Wan. Now you've gone and given Anakin a reason to think you're a hypocrite at a really bad time.
If "don't deal in absolutes" is actually a Jedi precept, then the Jedi sure aren't following it! And if it's not...then what is Obi-Wan talking about?
The whole Jedi Order is based on absolutes. Throughout the PT, the Jedi are practically waving neon signs in Anakin's face saying, "The only way to be a Jedi is this!" There is a light side and a dark side and the dark side is bad. There is no gray side. Acting on anger, fear, or agression is always bad. The Sith aren't a different but no less valid organization with whom the Jedi disagree--they're evil. Evil is a very absolute word. When Obi-Wan says Vader is "twisted and evil," he is saying Vader is absolutely not good. You can't stretch that to mean that Vader has good in him even if you use Obi-Wan's "certain point of view" trick.
Time after time, Jedi say "always," "never,", "only," "best," and "impossible," all very absolute words. Never means never, and if you're the best, there's absolutely no one better.
Maverick Jedi, by-the-book Jedi, Council Jedi, PT Jedi, OT Jedi--they all toss out absolutes like pies at a pie-throwing contest.
Qui-Gon: There's always a bigger fish.
Qui-Gon: Whenever you gamble, my friend, eventually you'll lose.
Ki-Adi-Mundi: Impossible! The Sith have been extinct for a millenium.
Mace Windu: He is too old.
Yoda: An apprentice you have, Qui-Gon. Impossible, to take on a second.
Yoda: Always two there are... a master, and an apprentice.
Mace Windu: [Dooku] wouldn't assassinate anyone; it is not in his character.
Obi-Wan: ...she's a politician. They're not to be trusted.
Obi-Wan: A Jedi's saber is his most precious possession.
Obi-Wan: This weapon is your life!
Jocasta Nu: If an item does not appear in our records, it does not exist.
Ben: He was the best star pilot in the galaxy.
Ben: Only Imperial stormtroopers are so precise.
Ben: You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy.
Yoda: He is too old.
Yoda: Do. Or do not. There is no try.
Ben: That boy was our last hope.
Yoda: Once you start down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny.
Ben: You cannot escape your destiny.
And the one that cracks me up every time...
Obi-Wan: Only the Sith deal in absolutes.
Should have thought that one through first, Obi-Wan. Now you've gone and given Anakin a reason to think you're a hypocrite at a really bad time.
If "don't deal in absolutes" is actually a Jedi precept, then the Jedi sure aren't following it! And if it's not...then what is Obi-Wan talking about?