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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.-