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About The Clackamas print. (Oregon City, Oregon) 1989-2019 | View Entire Issue (June 6, 2007)
rtyçpntertainment Clackamas Print Wednesday, June 6, 2007 9 jjht and the Dark ‘You want to go home and rethink your life’* Jedi Master Bashaw 77ie Clackamas Print Mace Windu, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Qui-Gon Jinn, Yoda . and Luke Skywalker - the list goes on arid on. Jedi, protectA|^^^__.l__ L ijustice __ and truth, have always beeWahigl badas-^ ses. In battl< both mentally and physically, they come out ahead The debate over whether Jedi or Sith are better is one of deep, ethi cal and philosoraiical waters. It is a battle of good and evil, a decision between doting what is right and what is wrong. Jedi bring light toa world full of Sith darkness. The Jedi way is a code of honor, peace and harmony. In a world tnat often lacks'TRrity and beauty, Jedi^^^Bfcrth seren ity and knowledgeYAs guardians of peace in the galaxy, they only use their powers to defend aM^protect - never to attack - others. Unlike their darker enemies, they respect all life and seek to improve the quality of life for everyone. The Dark Side of the Force is a much easier path to take; it is much more seduc tive, and oftentimes the weak and naive fall prey to its power, fo remain a Jedi requires dedication ind determination. »fosOwouid eall this strength. Sith are selfish ind overconfident. They are rash in heir actions, never hinkirig twice about vhat they do. Jedi are a higher qual- ty of human being, hinking past them- telves and their own leeds. They use their ninds first, rather han jumping in with ictions. This is called visdom. These protectors if Light are bal- nced and at peace vith themselves ind the galaxy. Not inly do they have a tear focus and work ogether; they under- tand the powers of he Force as good. Sith not only have ) fight Jedi, but also ach other. The Dark lide is the only side f the Force that akes a visible toll in its users. This is a mste of both energy nd life, putting the lith at a disadvan- age. Also, the way Sith use the Force is not natural. The Dark Side twists the Force, and in the end, it had to create a person (or two people, I should say) so power- ful in the Force to restore balance to itself. The Force turned its back on dark side u^ers. The Light Side used by the Jedi is the Force; the ( Dark Side is just ^twisted mirror AjM|j|£ains power through under- standing. A Sith gains understand ing through power. Understanding d of power, thus a Jedi is stronger. R> Rather than isly ~ on sheer talent, Jedijcount di Mount on t^eir their talents andKnawleM; e. |U| A y oiingUapp rentice ^Luke once asked, “I^Ke Dark Side Stronger?” The wise, almighty Yoda answered, Quicker’, easier, more seductive.” djSgBF The easiest path is not always the right one to take. Jedi under stand Jthis Wd find the strength witlri^l^^^vercome all obstacles. Thfff is true power. ‘I find your lack of faith disturbing’ Darth Stark Arts & Entertainment Editor Throughout history, it has been those who call themselves righteous who destroy their countries, and those who acknowledge the evil within who rise up to save their people. From Darth Revan to Darth Caedus, the Sith Order is filled with such beings. And why not? The Sith understand their own weaknesses, embracing themjn ordg^io become stronger. Sith are willing to explore alternatives that may not be as clean or moral- istically limited as the Jedi Order. The Sill» Order’s history logins after tlie Battle of CorooS." when the Jedi Order decided that, rather than attempt to convert or reha bilitate those they were fighting, they would banish the so-called “Dark Jedi.”’ After being forced to leave everything they held dear, the exiles found the world of Koiriban, where they encountered a species that called themselves the Sith. With the native Sith, the former Jedi soon improved the way of life on Koniban, and before long, the planet wasthriving. v . . ■ P - All of the subsequent efforts of the Sith Order to reestablish contact with the Republic and its guardians, file Jedi Knights, ended in disaster as the Jedi were unable to overcome their prejudices and accept that tire Sith came in peace. The Jedi’s conflict with the Sith finally came to an end at the Battle of Ruusan, when both sides were wiped out by the detonation of a thought bomb. The only survivor, Darth Bane of the Sith, eagerly discarded the enmity had built up between the two sides in order to rebuild div Sith Order. In the following thousand years, the Sith Order, now limited io a single master and his or her apprentice, spent its tape learning to understand all aspects of the Force, as opposed to the Jedi, who fanatically followed their singular dogmatic view of what the 1 ■ orve shotlld be and ii I led their young charges with nightmarish tales of the Sitfi. As the Jedi continued their reactive stance against tragedies happening all over the gal axy, a Dark Lord of the Sith called Darth Plagueis the Wise managed to gain such a mastery over the Force that he could prevent otheps from dying. Had he not suffered an untimely death, he would have taught this feat to his apprentice, ushering in a new age of health and enlightenment for the galaxy. The desire for a greater masteiy and understand-. ing of the Force led many Jedi to turn their backs on the Council and give allegiance to the Sith. One of the best examples of this was Ulic Qel-Droma. who watched his mas ter’ die at an assassin’s hand and swore to never let such an event occur again. His loyalty to the Sith allowed him to gar ner information that he then gave the Republic, allowing the Jedi to defeat one of the most dangerous madmen to ever threaten the galaxy. Ulic’s reward for his bravery and sac rifice was vilification throughout history. Sith are called “Dark Jedi,” for they understand that there is more to life than mindless servitude to the masses, and they choke under the yoke of the Jedi Order’s narrow mindset. One of the most important facets of the Sith - which , is often ignored by their detractors - is their need for freedom. The entire ty of the Sith Code is a guide to understanding the Force and letting oneself be freed by it So while the Jedi may represent the lighter aspects of the Force, and the Sith the darker ones, it is important to remem ber that not all light is good and not all darkness THF SITH THFJ GUI COTE: ■Peace Is a lle> there 7 ere Is no enA-otiorv, Is owLy passLow.' iere Is peace. Through passtow, I Viere is M i-gyvo- «kvce, there galw strewgth,. Is . Through strewgth, Mwledge. Viere ls wo passlow, here ls Photo Illustration by Adam J. Manley Clackamas Print sereruty. Viere is wo chaos, tViere ls harwtowy. Viere ls wo oleath, there ls the Force. J galw power. Through power, I galw victory. Throuyirvlctory, wiy chalws are broteew. The Force.shall free wee.-
