Genocide and Jedi: Why the Sith may be Right

There is a great sci-fi/fantasy series of novels I can recommend if you're interested in this topic: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Night_Watch_%28Russian_novel%29" rel="nofollow">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Night_Watch_%28Russian_novel%29</a><p>In the second book (Day Watch), the story is continued from the point of view of the "bad guys" from the first book, and the reader slowly understands that it's not simple good/evil, all characters have their own complex emotions and motivations.<p>Warning however - skip the movie, it really really sucked.

I thought this was a useful reminder that there are always 2 sides to every coin. It is useful to understand your opponent's motivation as people are rarely motivated by simply "being evil".

<i>"If you seek to aid everyone that suffers in the galaxy, you will only weaken yourself ... and weaken them. It is the internal struggles, when fought and won on their own, that yield the strongest rewards. If you care for others, then dispense with pity and sacrifice and recognize the value in letting them fight their own battles."</i><p>―Darth Traya<p>Sounds like a philosophy I can get behind. It's just unfortunate that behind all that, the Sith will force-choke someone to death for disagreeing with them. But there are many aspects of the Sith philosophy that are appealing, especially to startup founders: particularly that of passion, without which, we wouldn't have too many startups. And Sith are at least allowed to love, unlike Jedi (though, I guess love could be a subset of passion).

Not knowing much about the story I really enjoyed reading this article. I had assumed the Sith were just about power-hungry evil villains.

But isn't that true for all of us? We are <i>all</i> born wild, and unrestrained, and emotive. And as we grow we're taught to control our urges, to be more responsible, to practice restraint, and patience, and understanding.<p>And as surely as we're taught to control our carnal selves, so the Jedi are taught to kill ...<p>(At this point I stop writing because I realize that I'm now attempting to justify genocide).<p>Damn. This guy is good.

A Leo Strauss-style variation of the argument is here:<p><a href="http://www.marginalrevolution.com/marginalrevolution/2005/05/the_public_choi.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.marginalrevolution.com/marginalrevolution/2005/05...</a>

Surprisingly poignant.

So, Shadows and Vorlons?

Step away from the computer.<p>Go outside<p>Look at the sky<p>Breathe in the air.<p>Realize this is not real ......