#Men of war 2 star wars series

The first time was through the Revolutionary War, which won independence from Great Britain, and the second time was through the Civil War, which destroyed slavery for good. (The principles of this document were, of course, echoed in another rebellion in a galaxy far, far away…) To vindicate those rights, Americans had to win them through force of arms on the battlefield. In what is perhaps the most dramatic demonstration of American self-contradiction, Thomas Jefferson held fellow human beings in bondage even as he penned “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal…” and the rest of the immortal words of the Declaration of Independence. This complex, contradictory relationship is one of many that would define the American political system, its culture, and the question of what it really means to be an American-something commentators have endlessly argued about from every possible angle. The United States-a country “conceived in liberty”-also came into existence through war and revolution. The emphasis on freedom of choice, even when things seem the darkest and life is most constrained, is the saga’s most inspiring feature…That’s the hidden message and real magic of Star Wars-and the foundation of its rousing tribute to human freedom.Īs I learned more about politics, economics, history, and philosophy over the course of my life, I realized that the many hard lessons of war, liberty, and human nature were already woven throughout Star Wars.

#Men of war 2 star wars series

Whenever people find themselves in trouble, or at some kind of crossroads, the series proclaims: You are free to choose. Star Wars also makes a bold claim about freedom of choice. In addition to its seamless integration of classical motifs such as heroic journeys and destiny, Star Wars contained a distinctively American element. Similar excitement over Star Wars and unlikely fan bases were also reported in the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Russia, Nigeria, Egypt, Israel, India, and Japan.īut what is it about Star Wars that speaks so strongly to the human psyche?Īs a student of Joseph Campbell, creator George Lucas understood the power of myth and archetypes that connected the human experience ranging from the Odyssey to the legend of King Arthur.

In his delightful and perceptive book The World According to Star Wars, legal scholar Cass Sunstein recounts a story about how a meeting with high-ranking Taiwanese officials on the subjects of human rights, the world economy, and its complex relationship with mainland China turned into a conversation about Star Wars. Even though my first grade self had no idea what a Senate was or what “the last remnants of the Old Republic have been swept away” meant, I quickly became enthralled by the idealistic farm boy Luke Skywalker, the swashbuckling smuggler Han Solo, and the strong-willed and beautiful Princess Leia in their adventures and struggle against the Galactic Empire.įor a young immigrant boy who knew nothing about politics or history, Star Wars had a universal appeal that transcended language, nationality, time, and other superficial social barriers. This was my earliest introduction to American popular culture and sparked my lifelong devotion and obsession with the space opera franchise. One of my fondest childhood memories was watching Star Wars: A New Hope for the first time. This is the first axiom of science.” – Alexis de Tocqueville, Democracy in America “All who seek to destroy liberty in a democratic nation should know that war offers them the surest and shortest route to success.