Quote of the day for Star Wars day (May 4th) - so this is how liberty dies

"So this is how liberty dies - with thunderous applause." 

Line from Star Wars Episode III (Revenge of the Sith) spoken by Senator Padme Amidala, played by Natalie Portman.



Today is often humorously described as Star Wars day (on the basis of the pun "May the 4th be with you.") But my quote today from one of the Star Wars films is anything but humorous. 

Not everyone likes the Star Wars prequel trilogy - though it's far more popular than the sequel one - but in my humble opinion the three films, Episodes I to III, and the Clone wars series brilliantly depict the fall of a once-great democracy. A story which has far more relevance to our own day than I like, though this should be seen as a statement of warning of the threats we need to avoid rather than one of despair that we are on the same track as the Republic was in those films.

Here is a Youtube essay on the subject by "Arkan the Amerikan" which I think is very powerful. (Warning - it lasts an hour and eighteen minutes.)


I would argue that Democracy, in many if not all countries, is proving stronger and more resilient than either its' enemies or some pessimists would have you believe.

However, in the face of so many threats to our freedoms, both obvious and more insidious, from open enemies of democracy like Vladimir Putin to those who would limit democracy in the sincere belief that they are preserving it, nobody can afford to be complacent about those threats. If liberty and democracy ever do die in this country, it will indeed be to the sound of thunderous applause.

Comments

Jim said…
But the time came, and you were clapping and cheering with the loudest of them............
1:53 pm
Chris Whiteside said…
The clearest proof that, however battered it may be, liberty yet survives is that each of us is still able to express our diverging views on the subject.

You are free to express that opinion, and I am free to disagree.
12:46 am
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