Well I heard the hype and saw the movie. Now it's time for me to weigh in on the "President Bush as Darth Vader" debate.
When I heard the original accusation made from an article linked to the pages of The Drudge Report, I laughed. President Bush has been compared to a whole slew of historical evildoers, especially in the past couple of years. In quite a few cases, I've heard and read opinion commentary from frothy-mouthed liberals claiming he was WORSE than most of those evil historical figures.
But to compare President Bush with Darth Vader? That just drives home the contention I've been making for some time now that the hard left really has lost its collective marbles. Either that or they're REALLY REALLY desperate for some new material. I just have this vision in my head of a bunch of folks from Moveon.org sitting in a meeting, desperate to figure out who or what NEXT to compare the President to...
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DESPERATE RADICAL #1: "How about we compare Bush to Cain who killed his brother Abel out of jealousy?"
DESPERATE RADICAL #2: "Don't be a dumb&%#! That's a religious theme, and worse, a judeo-christian one! We hate judeo-christian philosophy more than we hate the President!!!"
DESPERATE RADICAL #1: "Oh yeah, right. Forgot that... Sorry!"
DESPERATE RADICAL LEADER: "The fact is, my friends, we've been so busy comparing the President to every reviled historical figure we can think of, we may have run out of reasonable non judeo-christian choices. We need a person or a figure that is well known on an international scale and who is seen universally as 'the bad guy.' We have to come up with someone new soon or Soros will cut off our funding!"
DESPERATE RADICAL #1: (Having tuned his boss and group members out out in favor of the local newspaper) "Hey, anyone want to go see the new Star Wars: Revenge of The Sith flick this weekend? I hear that we get to see how Anakin becomes Darth Vader! "
DESPERATE RADICAL LEADER: "What did you just say?"
Article comments
1 - Convex
I have to admit that the first time I've heard it was from some ridiculous right-wing websites blasting Lucas as a liberal. I think you got your wings mixed up.
Funny take on Obi Wan being absolutist though.
2 - David Flanagan
Convex,
I actually first heard of the controversy from the MSM which had been covering the banter emerging from the movie's screening in which liberals were saying that the movie was offering some comparisons between Darth Vader and the President. From there, however, right wing sites did take up the argument, some of which were in tones of outrage.
I could never bring myself to be outraged; either because I'm used to hearing such things or because I'm not offended by a message that cautions us on the issue of government power.
Or maybe it's just because I think that drawing a link between the two is incredibly silly bordering on childishness. I still have trouble imagining Lucas rewriting scripts to critique the President. I just don't think he did it, though, it could be the case.
Thanks,
David
3 - Convex
Yes, agreed, either side doing it is silly.
However, if the opposing side does it it means they think of the pres as this person (sith lord), funny enough if the other side does it they think the same!
In other words, in my mind, if the right is blasting Lucas for taking shots at Bush that's equivalent to equating Bush with the Sith in *their* minds.
Do you see what I mean?
By buying into this theory, on either side, you have to believe that Bush is subverting democracy and all the other evil things - since Lucas did not come out and say it was about Bush.
Instead of bashing Lucas, the right should be saying how ridiculous the theory is (like you just did) but because Bush *isn't* like that not that they can't believe Lucas would do it. Instead many of them *are* bashing Lucas and basically giving the theory merit.
4 - Convex
Oh, and I read about it on right-wing blog sites before the movie came out. That doesn't necessarily mean the chicken came before the egg but I'm just being clear.
5 - David Flanagan
Convex,
I understand your point though I disagree. For me, it seemed quite ridiculous that the left would even come up with such a ridiculous comparison.
And I first heard of these comparisons from reports coming out of the MSM related to the movie's airing at the Cannes Film Festival on May 15. Here is an excerpt and a link for context:
Thanks,
David
6 - gonzo marx
whoever made the comparison is just too silly for words..
after all, for whatever you want to say about him..for or against
Darth Vader was competent
nuff said?
Excelsior!
7 - David Flanagan
Gonzo,
Darth Vader your definition of "competent?"
Interesting...
8 - Nancy
Next thing we know, W will be running around flailing a plastic lightsaber and ranting about "...from a certain point of view...". Comparing Bush to Darth Vader? Oh, PLEEZE: I loathe Bush, but I wouldn't compare the two; Bush & Jar Jar Binks, maybe, but Vader? Nah.
9 - JR
Comparing Bush to Darth Vader?
No child left behind takes on a whole new meaning.
10 - Convex
Like I said, its a chicken or egg thing but the comparisons I saw started with the release of the book. I have no link for you but I accept it that it began as a left thing from Cannes.
Howveer, I am speaking more abuot the respnose from the right. Instead of saying how ridiculous the comparison is, they are bashing Lucas, implying that the comparison is correct. This is a little troubling coming from the man's own supporters.
You use the "Lucas wouldn't do that" defense, which I think is just as troubling, if it came from a Bush supporter which I don't know if you are or not.
The point is trashing Lucas is buying into the comparison, whatever side you're on.
11 - gonzo marx
David...
i did NOT use Vader to DEFINE "competent"...instead i used the adjective to describe a difference between the two that made the comparison ludacris...
example: Vader's military Intelligence was accurate, when errors occured, the offending party was held accountable and punished ("I find your lack of Faith, disturbing")
Vader's planning of military Operations was complete and well thought out, using overwhenlming force to achieve presicely the well defined Goals he had before him
Vader was an "A" student in each of his Incarnations
Vader could actually work hard and fix things as a youth, young Jedi
Vader's military service (as Anakin) was active duty in a shooting military conflict
on and on...
that's why comparing the two is just silly..
nuff said?
Excelsior!
12 - George P. Wood
If President Bush is Darth Vader, then does that make the Taliban and Al Qaeda into Jedi?
13 - Lysander
I think it all comes down to POV, as it were. During the opera scene, Anakin says something like, "The Sith are evil." To which the Chancellor responds with something like, "Good and evil are a point of view."
Then, during the battle on Mustafar, Obi-Wan decrees, "Anakin, Palpatine is evil!" To which Anakin shouts back, "From my point of view the Jedi are evil!"
However, in 'A New Hope,' an older Obi-Wan tells Luke that Darth Vader betrayed and murdered his father, only to clarify that statement in 'Return of the Jedi,' where, as force ghost, he says, "So what I told was true, from a certain point of view." To which Luke responds, "From a certain point of view!?!" To which the force ghost of Obi-Wan states, "Luke, you'll find that many of the truths we cling to depend greatly on our own point of view."
Obi-Wan, both young and old, is one of my favorite characters. I guess it was interesting for me to see him evolve from "only a Sith deals in absolutes" and "Palpatine is evil" to "What I told you was true, from a certain point of view" and "You'll find that many of the truths we cling to depend greatly on our own point of view."