Star Wars on Trial by Keith R. A. DeCandido, David Brin, Tanya Huff, Kristine Kathryn Rusch, Matthew Woodring Stover Page A

Galaxy.
    That's the true message of Return of the Jedi: renounce violence in the name of love. If Opposing Counsel finds this to be a pernicious theme, he should go argue with Jesus and Buddha, and leave Mr. Lucas out of it.
    Anakin Skywalker-Darth Vader-fulfills a distinct mythic role in the Saga: the Scourge of God. When the world (society, whatever) has become so corrupt that only destruction can answer, it is the Scourge of God-customarily a tragic character (q.v. The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark)-who must carry out that destruction, and in the end be destroyed by his own violence. It's not good vs. evil or black vs. white; Anakin/Vader is in fact wiping out that old Manichaean duality that Opposing Counsel so wistfully pines for. Ana kin's (and Vader's) destiny is to bring balance to the Force, remember? To do this, he destroys both the Jedi and the Sith-and, necessarily, himself-and leaves Luke with clean hands and a clear conscience, untainted by the corruption of the past, to be half of, ahem, A New Hope for a better future.

    The other half?
    His twin sister, just as gifted with Force potential, but not turning toward ascetic contemplation as a Jedi. She's turning instead toward full engagement with the world: marriage, and a family and eventual participation in the government of the New Republic (in later years as its Head of State, in fact. Elected Head of State, I might add, and without the need for a Supreme Court to steal the election for her, either).
    Yeah, there's a nasty message there, all right.
    Opposing Counsel's real complaint seems to be that we don't see Anakin Skywalker burning in Jedi Hell.
    Ahem again.
    Ain't no such animal as Jedi Hell. Sorry again.
    Corellians (Han Solo's people) have a tradition of Hell-nine of 'em, if I recall correctly-but they're virtually alone in the GFFA in even having the notion of an afterlife at all. The "Force-spirit" phenomenon is not an afterlife as we use the term.
    I guess the death penalty just doesn't satisfy some people.
    That fellow Nietzsche-the one Opposing Counsel seems to dislike so much-had a saying that's worth keeping in mind here:
    "Distrust men in whom the impulse to punish is overwhelming."
    Wise words. Worth remembering in any number of situations, including this one. Because that's what's really going on here, isn't it? The overwhelming impulse to punish.
    And who does that sound like?
    The Prosecution-Opposing Counsel and witnesses alikedoesn't like Star Wars. The reasons may vary, but the reality remains. The Prosecution is here to beat on the Saga.
    They'll take any excuse. If they can't find one, they'll make one up. Assuming that all the above errors are, ahem, honest mistakes, one can only come to the conclusion that Opposing Counsel's lust for conviction has overwhelmed both his critical insight and his ability to do basic research.

    All the Defense will do, here, is try to point out where the Prosecution might be, ah, accidentally sliding over the foul lines of truth, as it were. Or where there are other, alternate explanations for what the Prosecution will insist is the Way Things Are. Because there are always alternate explanations, no matter what they try to tell you.
    They will insist You Must Trust Them. They Know Best. Don't Question. Don't Think For Yourself. Believe What You're Told.
    In the end, it comes down to a single word.
    Obey.
    Put in those terms, it all becomes familiar, doesn't it?
    Oh, I would never assert that Opposing Counsel is himself a Sith Lord, and his witnesses Sith agents-not at all. Even if true, being Sith is hardly a crime. And they may be entirely innocent; would a Sith Lord reveal himself by publicly attacking Star Wars? Nor would I claim that this entire trial is a sham, a frame, a massive put-up job orchestrated to shake public confidence in the Saga, in order to cement the Sith grip upon our government....
    Doesn't seem likely, does it?
    The most logical explanation is that the Prosecution is quite