Happy Birthday Arda! :)

Happy Birthday, Arda! :D I hope you have a great day and enjoy these pictures :D

                   

          



Hope you enjoy your day :D
May the Force be with you and Allonsy! :D

Why I still support the Jedi Order; An analysis

                                                         I still support the Jedi Order


         Okay, so I'm a little late on this, but I thought I'd put my input on this matter since it is of great importance to me. In this post I'm going to do an Analysis about the Jedi Order and Council and explain why they do what they do in the Star Wars universe and maybe help clear some things up.

    So I understand the most recent episode of The Clone Wars upset a lot of people. While I didn't watch them in their entirety, I did skin through them and watched the important bits and I know what happened from reading things online(Facebook, Tumblr, etc). And while I definitely can understand being sad that Ahsoka left(she's a lot of people's favorite character so I get it, though I wasn't sad at all), I was surprised by the animosity, and sometimes hatred, towards the Jedi Order I saw, especially towards the Council. And I can get being irritated- I remember being annoyed with the Council while reading the Jedi Apprentice series at times (though I do get what they were doing) since I didn't like how they were treating Obi-Wan. But I couldn't understand the things people were saying(Republic commando all over again) since the Jedi are inherently good and want what's best for the most amount of people as possible. I could never hate them.

 I've grown up studying the Jedi Order, reading books and such, so, if I may, I'm going to explain some things about the Order (though I don't consider those episodes canon).

Number 1: A lot of people seem to think the Jedi shouldn't be fighting in the war (Karen Traviss and Tarkin, I'm looking at you) and that they caused it but that isn't true at all. The Jedi are in the war because of the Sith. It was all a part of Sidious's plan for take over- he wanted to make the Jedi look bad so he could get them out of the way. And it, tragically, worked.
 The second point is that which Tarkin brought up. He, sounding a lot like my least favorite Star Wars author, said that the Jedi shouldn't be fighting the war. And while I agree, they shouldn't, they really had no other choice. They, due to Sidious's design, were dealt a double-edged sword. Either they fought in the war or stayed holed up in their Temple and let the war rage around them. And in actuality, they were screwed no matter what- people would have bitched no matter what the Jedi did(pardon my language).
 Since, remember, the Jedi were the victims in all of this? They were the ones that were slaughtered and killed and hardly mourned. They were the ones killed in their homes and out in the field by those whom they trusted, they were the ones who had to die because of some sick man's lust for power. I really wish people would stop hammering on the flaws of the Jedi Order and instead get angry at the Sith, the Clones, and at Anakin who, while understandable to an extent, did a lot of evil(and don't get me wrong, I love Anakin/Vader's character, he's an amazing, iconic character).

Number 2: Something I've noticed is that people get angry when the Jedi go against what they, personally, believe or do something that hurts one or a few people to save and help the many.
        But remember, the Jedi aren't like us. They are raised in a completely different environment and mindset than us humans on earth and they have to be brought up that way so they can do the work they do.
  They serve the Greater Good- it's their duty to put their own personal desires aside to serve and save and protect as many people as they possibly can. It isn't beautiful, it isn't always rewarding, but someone has to do the right thing no matter. And the Jedi know that- they say it is a hard life and it can be lonely.
  With all of that in mind, they had to do what they did with Ahsoka. They had to think about the bigger picture, especially with the on-going war, even when every bit of them was against it(though I love that  Obi-Wan was against it not supporting her XD)
     And, from what I saw, it wasn't the Jedi Order/Council that was doing the wrong thing, but the Galactic Senate who are, remember, very corrupt  and selfish for the most part, since they didn't see Ahsoka, or any Jedi youth, as a child at all (minus a few of the good individuals like Padme, Bail, etc);  With all of the eerie dehumanizing of Jedi in the Senate, I could definitely see why they were so quick to cheer the Rise of the Empire and remain silent against the Genocide happening around them.
      And why did the Jedi Order stick with the Galactic Republic, you may ask? Well, they couldn't do much else, could they? The Separatist's are connected with their sword enemy, the Sith, as well as the wicked Corporations so they definitely can't side with them and they can't take over since its against the Jedi Code to rule over others (Jedi are servants of the people, not their masters). Plus, over a thousand years ago, during the Ruusan Reformation, the Jedi and Galactic Republic made a pact to serve each other, so that the Jedi couldn't fight wars not related to the Republic's safety; Jedi want to protect people's rights and the Democracy is the best way they(as well as us on Earth) knew of, so they supported it with their all and died for it.
      One more thing before I move on- Jedi and War don't mix, so that is why they were experiencing so many difficulties and so-called corruption(they definitely aren't, though; it's quite explicit in the Revenge of the Sith novelization that they were still pure, just exhausted and nearly defeated). As Master Windu said "We are Keepers of the Peace, not soldiers", and because of this, it's hard for them to wage war. They can do it, of course, it's just that the people can't take it. The citizens of the Star Wars galaxy seem to not be able to handle the Jedi all that well (they're jealous or fearful of their powers). While I dislike how Filoni does TCW, I will admit they showed how the populace and citizens have slowly became scared of the Jedi and are, in turn, are projecting these fears in the form of hatred.
    A lot of people are also forgetting that this is the first large-massive-scale war the Jedi have had to fight in over a thousand years. They are stretched thin(numbers), they are dying by the day, and the war doesn't seem to have an end in sight at this point. So, of course they aren't at the top of their game and are going to make mistakes. They're tired and tense and their Jedi training is barely helping them cope and war changes people, even Jedi who have more self-control than the majority of beings. It may be hard to remember, but the Jedi are only human (figuratively speaking) after all.

Number 3: Moving onto my next point which is that of Mace Windu, whom a lot of people seem to either hate or at least dislike. And I find it a shame since he's really a fascinating, depths-full  character that a lot of people could grow to love if given the chance.
      While I could never do his character justice in an explanation(go read Revenge of the Sith and Shatterpoint to get what I mean),  I'll try anyway.
      One important thing to remember, when watching all of Mace Windu's decisions and actions is this -(quoted from the Revenge of the Sith novel) - "Because Mace, too, has an attachment. Mace has a secret love. Mace Windu loves the republic." And with this, taken along with many other quotes, perfectly explains this man's motives. He will do anything to protect the Republic which he sees as the bedrock of goodness and civilization which keeps the Peace he treasures above all else. Is his extreme, gripping attachment of peace and civilization the right thing to do? In matters of the Jedi way, no, but he had good intentions and truly loved the Republic and Jedi Order and would give his life in an instant for any citizen of it. He cared deeply for his Padawan, Depa Billiba, for his friends, and even Anakin Skywalker, though he might not have trusted him. While I can see why most people would not like him, since we've always seen his cold, stoic exterior but, having peered into his psyche, I truly do care for him and could never hate him- I know him, now. And he is definitely someone you want on your side in a dangerous situation.
Instead of getting mad at Master Windu, I'm going to give a brief glare at Filoni for messing up Barriss's character and turning her into someone she would be horrified to see (at least I have the canon(minus KT and some of the comics) EU :D).

Now, real quick before I move on to my mini-rant, I want to say my opinion on Ahsoka's decision.
Was it the right thing for her to do? Really, I have no right to say whether it was or not- it was her decision, not mine, and she can what she wants(I didn't find it upsetting, though, since I'd lost a lot of my interest for her character and her relationship with Anakin a long time ago *not entirely sure why, however, :(*, though I do like her still and I love her interactions with Obi-Wan and Padme ) .
    Would I make the same decision? No, I wouldn't, because I've got too much of Obi-Wan in me for that.
And one more thing I found really annoying- themes in this episode were actually directly lifted from some of the Jedi Apprentice series (sabotage in the Temple, it being a Jedi, etc). Read the books to see what I mean :P

And remember -
A pair of starfighters. Jedi starfighters. Only two. 

Two is enough. 

Two is enough because the adults are wrong, and their younglings are right. 

Though this is the end of the age of heroes, it has saved its best for last.




So I've explained some of the finer points of the arguments I've seen and, for the most part, I don't mind people having those opinions- I'm the kind of person who has differentiating opinions from the norm so I'm, somewhat, used to is.
However, I found some of the things said to be extreme and I was especially horrified to see that some people were calling for Order 66 to be initiated because they were so angry with the Council.
And my response is - What the HELL!? Order 66 was an evil, evil freaking GENOCIDE! Don’t you remember Revenge of the Sith? How all of those people were slaughtered in their HOME? It was a sick, sad tragedy where countless of innocents lost their lives(including CHILDREN, people!). 

I don’t consider those episodes  canon, but if I did, I still wouldn't do say something like that. I can understand being angry and if you want to hurt someone who is truly evil, that’s fine- I get angry and want to hurt evil people a lot too and it's right, evil people deserve punishment. But you want to hurt people that are actually at least ATTEMPTING to do good? :P  That's just not right, not right at all. ( And I know, Do or Do not, there is No Try). 

*sigh*










(Told you Belle was cool! :D :D )





To people who wanted to execute Order 66  - WATCH these videos below!


Jedi Code


Fall of the Jedi & Rise of the Empire



So, I hoped my analysis helped you at least understand the Jedi Order a bit better. :) :) If you have any more questions, feel free to ask :)

Happy International Women's Day :D My favorite Heroines

Happy International Women's Day! :D Today is the day to be thinking about women in your life that inspire and amaze you- whether they are real or fictional :)
Today, I will give you a list of my fictional inspirations who are female like me :) :)

                    Siri Tachi from Star Wars - "I never loose my focus, Obi-Wan. Or my commitment." 
                 

          Ferus Olin: It seems so hard, Master. To have so many beings who are important to me but not to be attached to them. I don't understand what is meant by "no attachment." 
Siri Tachi: It's not so hard to explain. To love without wanting to possess or influence. To cherish without keeping. To have without holding.
Ferus Olin: I understand, Master
Siri Tachi: No you don't. It's not something to understand. It's something to strive for. 

                             (she kind of looks like Cordelia Chase from Buffy/Angel here)

                                    Jaina Solo from Star Wars - "I name you the Sword of the Jedi. You are like tempered steel, purposeful and razor-keen. Always you shall be in the front rank, a burning brand to your enemies, a brilliant fire to your friends. Yours is a restless life, and never shall you know peace, though you shall be blessed for the peace that you bring to others. Take comfort in the fact that, though you stand tall and alone, others take shelter in the shadow that you cast." - Luke to Jaina

                                   Satele Shan from Star Wars - "And the last… Satele Shan, guardian of the Republic, whose words inspired armies. They had fought separately, on the Ash Plains of Lenico and in the asteroid-hives of Gelpog the Tyrant. They fought twenty thousand years of evil, incarnate in the Sith Emperor and his servants. They never faltered. Of them all, it was Satele who made me the most proud."

―Ngani Zho, on Satele and his other former students

                             Tahiri Veila from Star Wars - "I think it's time to leave the lies behind. It's time to leave a lot of things behind."

                                     Tenel Ka Chume Ta' Djo from Star Wars - "You carry within you everything that a Jedi Knight is."

                           Tallisibeth Enderwung-Esterhazy(Scout) from Star Wars - "Too few Jedi have I already. But even had I a crop of thousands, small one, I would not let you go without a fight. Spirit and determination you have. Between the stars, so much darkness there is. Why would I throw away one who burns so bright?" - Yoda

"Tallisibeth, being a Jedi is about being resourceful, keeping your eyes open, and never, ever giving up. You taught me a lot about being a Jedi today."

                         Mara Jade(Skywalker) from Star Wars - "I'm a fighter. I've always been a fighter. The few times when I have been at leisure, I've been miserable. I want challenges, I crave them."

                                       

                                Shaak Ti from Star Wars - "Poor boy. The Sith always betray one another. But I’m sure you’ll learn that soon enough."

                          Luminara Unduli from Star Wars - The crystal is the heart of the blade. The heart is the crystal of the Jedi. The Jedi is the crystal of the Force. The Force is the blade of the heart. All are intertwined: the crystal, the blade, the Jedi. You are one."
---Luminara Unduli

The road is long, but it is worth the journey, for a true master of Form Three is invincible."
―Luminara Unduli on Form Three (Soresu)

           Barriss Offee from Star Wars(EU) - "It's not the size of the Jedi or the amount of power running through her lightsaber, but the strength of her heart."
―Barriss Offee

                         Aayla Secura from Star Wars - "Aayla Secura made a point of seeing us off personally; calling us the bravest soldiers she had ever met. It's a good thing we were wearing helmets, because none of us could bear to look her in the eye." (Clone right before Order 66)

"Sometimes it takes courage to stick to one's beliefs, young Padawan."

                        Bastila Shan from Star Wars - "The Force fights with me!"

               Nomi Sunrider from Star Wars - "This Jedi will play an important part in the battles to come. Truly, she will be strong—a luminous being is she." - Another Jedi on Nomi 

"My apprentice will become a very great Jedi…a Jedi who will be remembered for her deeds or bravery, as long as the Jedi Knights survive."

"…Nomi Sunrider. One of the greatest of all Jedi Knights."

                                       Vima Sunrider from Star Wars - "And so the little one… also a great Jedi."
"And this little one… someday she will be a Jedi Master, with many apprentices."

"A real Jedi is resourceful. I'll just have to find my own trainer… maybe even Ulic himself! I'll just open my mind, my thoughts… let the Force take me where it wants me to go."

                                     Meetra Surik(Jedi Exile) from Star Wars - "…and where they look at you and see the death of the Force, I look at you and see hope for all life."

                                                               
                                       Kerra Holt from Star Wars - "Gorlan. You're—you're a Jedi?"
"No, Kerra Holt—the only Jedi on Chelloa now is you…"

"There are billions of people on Darkknell, Jenn. Daiman just enslaves them—Zodoh is going to kill them! If you want people to fight for themselves, you've got to keep them alive!"

                         Eowyn from Lord of the Rings - "No living man am I! You look upon a woman! Éowyn I am, Éomund's daughter. Begone if you be not deathless! For living or dark undead, I will smite you, if you touch him!"

                           Hermione Granger from Harry Potter -  Now if you don't mind I'm going to bed, before either of you come up with another idea to get us killed! Or worse expelled!

                 Buffy Anne Summers from Buffy the Vampire Slayer -
The Master: You're dead.
Buffy: I may be dead, but I'm still pretty. Which is more than I can say for you.
The Master: You were destined to die! It was written!
Buffy: What can I say? I flunked the written.

Could you contemplate getting over yourself for a second? There's no 'us'. Look, Angel, I'm sorry if I was supposed to spend the summer mooning over you, but I didn't. I moved on. To the living. 

"No guy is worth your life. Not ever!" (she is talking about just dying because you like someone(Bella and Juliet style). 

"I'm Buffy. The Vampire Slayer. And you are?"

"I don't think I'm gonna be taking any more orders. Not from you, not from them."

" Professor Walsh. That simple little recon you sent me on... wasn't a raccoon. Turns out it was me trapped in the sewers with a faulty weapon and two of your pet demons. If you think that's enough to kill me, you really don't know what a Slayer is. Trust me when I say you're gonna find out. "

Belle from Once Upon A Time - 

After what you just tried to do to me? You're no better, father. You don't get to decide what I do or how I feel. I do. If either of you cared about me, you would've listened. I don't want to see either of you again. Ever. 

No one decides my fate but me 

Heroism. Sacrifice. You know, there aren't a lot of opportunities for women in this land to--to show what they can do. To see the world, to be heroes. so when you arrived, that was my chance. I always wanted to be brave. I figured, do the brave thing and... bravery would follow.

"I  learned a long time ago that when you find something that's worth fighting for, you never give up." 

                                           

                                                    Emma Swan from Once Upon A Time -
People are gonna tell you who you are your whole life. You just gotta punch back and say, "No, this is who I am". You want people to look at you differently? Make them! You want to change things, you're gonna have to go out there and change them yourself, because there are no fairy godmothers in this world. 

                                River Tam from Firefly/Serenity -

You're talking to "Serenity." And Early, "Serenity" is very unhappy. I can kill you with my brain

                                 Rose Tyler from Doctor Who - I was born on that planet. And so was my mum, and so was my dad. And that makes me officially the last human being in this room. 'Cause you're not human. You've had it all nipped and tucked and flattened till there's nothing left. Anything human got chucked in the bin. You're just skin, Cassandra. Lipstick and skin. 

Rose: I am the Bad Wolf. I create myself. I take the words; I scatter them in time and space —[the words "BAD WOLF" detach from the Corporation's sign on the opposite wall and fly off] — a message to lead myself here.

The Doctor: Rose, you've got to stop this! You've got to stop this now! [pause] You've got the entire Vortex running through your head! You're gonna burn!

Rose: I want you safe. My Doctor, protected from the false god.

I've seen fake gods and bad gods and demigods and would-be gods; out of all that, out of that whole pantheon, if I believe in one thing... just one thing... I believe in her.

                     Padme Amidala from Star Wars -

                     "So this is how liberty dies. With Thunderous applause."

               The rest of the girls on "Serenity" in Firefly and Serenity: Kailey, Zoe, and Inara(not in the picture)

                               
                              Katara from Avatar: The Last Airbender - "You can't knock me down!" 
"No! I will never, ever turn my back on people who need me!" 

                                  Toph from Avatar: The Last Airbender - Yeah! Let's break some rules! 
[she blasts a large chunk of the house wall off with her earthbending] 

Oh sorry, didn't mean to offend you, Phoenix King of getting his butt whooped. 

                    Lyra Belacqua from The Golden Compass trilogy -

Iorek: "You tricked Iofur Raknison?"

Lyra: "Yes. I made him agree that he'd fight you instead of just killing you straight off like an outcast, and the winner would be king of the bears. I had to do that, because—"

Iorek: "Belacqua? No. You are Lyra Silvertongue."

                          Snow White/Mary Margaret Blanchard from Once Upon A Time -
 Prince Charming: [when meeting Snow White for the first time] You're a... girl...! 
Snow White: Woman. 
[knocks him over with a rock] 

                                Black Widow from The Avengers -
Loki: Oh no. You brought the monster.

*Natasha turns back around and looks at Loki, completely unfazed and dry-eyed. She was manipulating him.*
Natasha: So, Banner? That's your play.
Loki: What?
Natasha: *speaking into her earpiece* Loki means to unleash the Hulk. Keep Banner in the lab, I'm on my way, send Thor as well.
Natasha: *turns to Loki* Thank you, for your cooperation.

                             Leia Organa from Star Wars - "You're a fighter, always have been. You took one hell of a punch, but you got your feet back under you." - Han so Leia

                Katniss Everdeen from The Hunger Games trilogy -

“My spirit. This is a new thought. I'm not sure exactly what it means, but it suggests I'm a fighter. In a sort of brave way. It's not as if I'm never friendly. Okay, maybe I don't go around loving everybody I meet, maybe my smiles are hard to come by, but I do care for some people.” 

"There are worse games to play."

                           Lin Bei Fong from Avatar: The Legend of Korra -

No arguments. You and your family are the last airbenders. There's no way in the world I'm letting Amon take your bending away. 


And of course, there is my main character in my book series :) :) 





Who are your girl heroes?

                                                     (me pretending to be Spider-Man).