A while back, I had a discussion with a friend of mine about joining the dark side. Yes, THAT dark side. Even though I wanted to think that when it came down to it, I would choose the right path, the truth is that the life of a Jedi is not that appealing. In fact, I think most people would probably choose to follow the Empire.
It’s a much more comfortable life. There’s power, prestige. It might be a bit conformist and stifling, but still, there are some serious perks. You pretty much rule the galaxy.
Jedis are discriminated against. They hang out in swamps. They’re almost like priests. They also die off pretty quickly. Joining the Empire just seems like a much saner life choice.
So that was kind of my philosophy for a bit. Jedis are cool, but c’mon.
Until I was tested.
Someone got me angry. I mean REALLY angry! Seething, yelling, kill-someone angry. It took all my strength just to keep it together. It consumed me.
So a friend took me out for some drinks. After three Cosmos I was feeling significantly better and we started to plan my revenge. A night of egging. Some mild vandalism. Maybe write a letter to the newspaper. As we downed drinks, our plans became more exaggerated. We cursed out all the people that were getting me so mad, and then we celebrated how much we hated them. The more I gave into my hate, and the more I drank, the more powerful I felt I was becoming. It was coursing through me.
And then it hit me.
I was in Return of the Jedi and I was facing the emperor.
Everything became clear (well, as clear as it could be after three drinks). I had a choice. I could give in to the hate, let it consume me and join the dark side, or I could drop my weapon and tell “them” that they had failed. That I would never join them. I was the protagonist of my own story, and they were the antagonists working against me. I was on my way to joining the dark side. Becoming this miserable, hate consumed, shriveled Emperor, begging people to join me. They were clearly the Sith. Even if I lost my hand over it, the idea of living with that kind of hate in my heart was not something I wanted.
So I threw away the light saber. Right there in the bar. And passed the test. No revenge. No anger. No hate.
“I am a Jedi, like my father was before me.”
And suddenly I transformed. After the hangover, I walked around as a Jedi. I saw those people from the Empire, and I just inhaled deeply and reminded myself, “I am a Jedi.”
I didn’t throw eggs at their cars, or TP their houses. Those things would not have changed anything in the long run anyway. It would have felt good momentarily, but it would not have ended there. Once you start down the path, forever will it dominate your destiny.
I know people who hold onto rage. It festers. It grows. I wasn’t going there. Choosing to take the higher road is not about cowardice. It isn’t about weakness. It is about controlling your feelings, and realizing that anger, and darkness, and hate only breed more of the same. It’s about identifying the people in your life who side with the dark lord and choosing not to join them.
It’s a choice.
I am a Jedi. And they have failed.
But I’m still keeping a blaster by my side, just in case.
(14) caroline schechter, June 6, 2013 11:51 AM
What a great article! Thanks for sharing:)
(13) Dale, June 5, 2013 5:06 AM
I Understand
I have been guided along similar lines lately. I used to have a terrible temper and very easily could have wound up on the dark side. I have been in three situations where I was so angry I lost all logical thought and just wanted blood. Luckily I haven't spilled blood. So believe me when I think of that segment of the movie I really understand the implications. The dark side can consume us totally.
(12) Anonymous, June 4, 2013 8:49 PM
I love the Jedi
This is a funny and perceptive article. It looks like my theme of today is to cut through denial with a light saber, and make the "light" choice. I once had a break up with a boyfriend. I knew he was no good for me, but when I found out he was sleeping with his new female roommate, I badly wanted revenge. I wanted to do something destructive but impermanent. What I ended up doing was to put water all over his bed. HIs other roommates thwarted me, by placing fans to dry out the mattress. They saved me from becoming addicted to the joy of revenge, even if minor.
(11) Emperor, June 4, 2013 3:31 PM
Every single Jewdi is now an enemy of the Republic
RalphSL, June 6, 2013 6:46 PM
ten out of ten for this reply.
Ten out of ten for this reply. I really had a good chuckle. I really liked the Star Wars movies. I find that the movies I like are those with a strong "GOOD" message. This article put the message I got into even better focus.
(10) Broom, June 4, 2013 1:13 PM
IMPRESSIVE! MOST IMPRESSIVE! OBIWAN HAS TAUGHT YOU WELL.
I know the Star Wars saga very well, with all its nuances. I was very impressed by this article as it demonstrated that the author really feels and understands the underlying moral of the series, and has internalized it. A luminous being is she, not this crude matter! She feels the Force around her.
(9) A Cimento, June 4, 2013 4:35 AM
What a read
This girl can write.
(8) Lauren Roth, June 4, 2013 2:53 AM
A blast from the past, Adina!
Adina!! It's Lauren! So nice to "hear" your voice again (I totally heard your voice in this article :) Makes me want to live in Miami Beach again! I hope you all are well. Great article, by the way. Not that I'm surprised!
(7) Dayana, June 4, 2013 1:30 AM
Another voice calls you...
..."Adina, I am your Father." That is the voice of the Master of the Universe and He has so much more and better to offer us. Let vengence be His and He will look out for us. Follow the Light.
I enjoyed your essay. I am a big Star Wars fan and now you've got me started. :)
Luke Spink, June 5, 2013 1:47 AM
Teshuva...?
I too am...interested in Star Wars as an allegory of a person's fight against evil. I am a graduate of English Literature, so when I see the terms: Protagonist or Antagonist, I tend to become just a little bit critical about how they're being used. But no worries, I won't go into all that. All I'm actually interested in asking is the question: How? For instance, I believe in Adonai, not the force. For me there is a clear distinction between the two. One is the personal, all-powerful, God of all gods, and the other is purported to be some mysterious energy that is simply that: a source of energy that can be tapped and used however your own philosophy devises. But not so with a relationship with Adonai, that gives him ALL the power, given to us as he and he only decides. So as far as my own relationship with him goes, it makes me wonder where Teshuva, or repentance manifests itself in me when I find that I hate another person when they are not someone who practices wickedness without it affecting their conscience. I am virtually hating the opposite kind of person, one who is potentially seeking after holiness but has messed up and they know it or will come to realize it. If I am angry at a person for consciously practicing unholy things than my conscience is clear, let the judge of all the earth decide who deserves what. But if I let pop culture ,such as is seen in Star Wars philosophy, predominantly decide how I approach anger, than I am left with an empty philosophy that turns my affections away from where Adoani's heart is: for us to walk humbly with...not our philosophy...but with our God.
(6) Anonymous, June 3, 2013 9:53 AM
Great Article
Thank you. When George Lucas wrote Star Wars, he was writing a redemption story....that would allow people to identify heroes and villains, and to have a new legend...it had worked it's way into our consciousness. A whole generation now has heroes to identify with, role models to follow.I was fortunate enough to meet him and the cast, and see first hand how this work would unfold.People miss the point all the time about this film series.It's too bad for them.
(5) Aiden, June 2, 2013 8:37 PM
Awesome
The article was awesome, it taught me to never join the dark side.????:)
(4) Avraham, June 2, 2013 4:54 PM
Brilliant!
Brilliant article! Major Star Wars fan here.
I love how Aish has these article with a great Jewish perspective to movies and TV. And I love how the writer had his life compared to the movie. I do that a lot too. (Much like Abed from Community ;)
Akiva, June 4, 2013 2:11 AM
The author of the article is a she, not a he
...And she is a teacher of english literature now going on 12 years. You should join her blog. She posts some awesome stuff. http://writingelves.com/
(3) Risa, June 2, 2013 4:37 PM
BE a Jedi I must
I look forward to reading this article to my middle and high school religious school students. Excellent comparison.
Eli Barak, June 2, 2013 10:56 PM
"Kill" "blaster" etc.
I hope that you do not teach in a district with "zero tolerance" for students who talk about weapons, wear shirts showing weapons (real or fantasy) or bring toy weapons of whatever physical size to school. You, like your students, could be branded as dangerous. You could even lose your ability to teach forever! Movies can portray any type of violence and children will see and enjoy the films. But uh-oh, can children or adults TALK about such things safely? Check with your school board first so there won't be any surprises! :-(
(2) Debbie Shapiro, June 2, 2013 3:06 PM
huh?
could someone please explain this to me. I have absolutely no idea what this article is talking about.
I'm not choosing the dark, I'm just in the dark :)
Anonymous, June 2, 2013 5:36 PM
You have to have watched the Movie
The author is writing this article based on the fact that the reader watched the movie. She makes many references to the movie and you can't possibly understand the article without watching it.
julie, June 3, 2013 12:05 AM
There is oneness and ego. The plan as written in the article came from the ego (anger, hate, revenge). We must remember that there is always duality (anger vs happiness, sickness vs wellness, etc). because G-d has duality (alpha and omega). Therefore, we can choose to run after the emptiness of ego or the fulfulllment of oneness with G-d. The writer of the article struggled with this. Remember, only light can outshine darkness.
(1) Princess Laya, June 2, 2013 11:36 AM
Ripples of light from your victory!
Your victory impacts the galaxy. And yes, Jedis do carry weapons, we're not fools.
May the Force be with you dear one.
Princess L
;-)