Well, okay...I don't stan them.
But I have mixed feelings about them.

As a kid I was really into Star Wars and looked up to the Jedi, so I think it's a hold over from that.
The Jedi are flawed, foolish, short-sighted and kind of cowardly (among other things) and The Republic is a stagnant beasts with an inefficient anachronistic and byzantine system where the worst kind of poverty has existed for millennia.
...But I still kind of like them, despite their tragic faults.

Well...Idk if I like The Republic as depicted in Star Wars, in some ways I hate it.
But the idea of a galactic society where hundreds if not thousands of peoples and cultures are brought together to coexist is one I really like, and I can understand in the early days why the Jedi would of supported the creation of such an organization.
Of course it is just that, an idea , and the lore is filled with the many ways The Republic as a bourgeoise order failed these ideals.

Ultimately I think the Jedi erred in so closely associating themselves with and mooring themselves to a state.
Their understanding of the force and themselves is also incomplete or lacking, I think.
But at the end of the day I still like the little space wizard monks.
I respect their aim in controlling their emotions (even if it often materializes in suppression instead) and in being diplomats and peacekeepers for the galaxy (even if it often materializes in propping up an unjust status quo).

But now I am starting to ramble about children's media, which is an unforgivable crime, so I'll stop.

Also link to tweet

    • PrincessMagnificent [they/them, any]
      ·
      4 years ago

      It's always puzzled me that the two ways of approaching the Force appear to be either anger, or serenity.

      Like has anyone tried fueling your Force use with joy?

      • REallyN [she/her,they/them]
        ·
        4 years ago

        I'm gonna ramble about my interpretation of a fictional metaphysical entity for a bit.

        I think the Jedi are mostly right in their interpretation of the Force, but also wrong in key ways and I think the Sith are mostly wrong, but somewhat right in some insights.

        The Sith view the Force as a tool, a means to an end, as something to be mastered, but that's not what the Force is.
        It's a living energy that connects all living things, if not all matter.
        You can influence the force and in turn the force can influence you, you can use it to aid yourself and others, but at the end of the day it's not a tool and the relationship beings have with it shouldn't be as such primarily.

        I would also agree that there is a dark and a light side to the force and in that dark side there entails evil.
        But I wouldn't say everything about it is evil.
        I think when it is said the force is out of balance, it is because darkside users like the Sith and the Infinite Empire have had a corrupting influence on the force and in turn it has had a corrupting influence on them.

        The difference between the dark and light sides appeared to be in how they feel to those who are aware of them. The light side at times was described as a flowing river: soothing, constant, with hidden strength. In contrast, the dark side was described as a roaring fire: obviously powerful, seductive, and potentially dangerous. Darth Revan and Darth Bane mentioned the difference between the two sides of the Force. They claimed that while the light side represented the compassion and tranquility of all beings of the galaxy, the dark side focused on individual passion and strength. They also mentioned that while the light side was about maintaining the status quo, the dark side was about change and evolution.

        This I think is true and I think the Jedi err in failing to recognize or embrace these sides of the force.

        To put it poetically I think to be perfectly in balance you have to be apart of this grand flowering river of the universe that connects everyone and to embrace that collectivity, while also not letting that river extinguish the fire within you.
        Or on the flip side, not burning your fire to the extent you cause the river to drought.

        • Ithorian [comrade/them, null/void]
          ·
          4 years ago

          Kyle Katarn is "jedi"for you. It's been so long since I was deep into the lore but he and a few others were the "grey jedi"

      • Civility [none/use name]
        ·
        4 years ago

        Kind of, in season 6 of the clone wars cartoon series there's a mystical "Force Planet" where 5 immortal force priestesses who may or may not just be living manifestations of the force appear to try and test Yoda/tempt him to the dark side. They're all named after/represent emotional states. One of them represents Joy.

      • SerLava [he/him]
        ·
        4 years ago

        Imagining a badass force sensitive hermit who does this, he's all smiles and guffaws, and it turns out he could lift a planet but doesn't.

          • SerLava [he/him]
            ·
            4 years ago

            Haha, that is really good. Although I'm thinking of someone who's basically that down to his true core, there's no mask, just supernatural mirth.

            And you find out he/she has actually been doing something quite helpful using their immense powers, but making it seem like a natural phenomenon or coincidence. Like creating a nebula that has been hiding the good guys, doing battle meditation, or something. And they're absolutely not a Jedi or Sith.

      • HereInRobotHell [they/them,comrade/them]
        ·
        4 years ago

        The nightsisters seem to have it down, except for that wierd cult Tenzin leads worshiping the fanged God instead of just acknowledging it as a useful part of yourself