Politics - The Subject We All Love, Right?
Joking Aside, today I do want to talk about a Very “Specific” Aspect of Politics without getting “Into” Politics…
Political Identity.
Especially in Relation to this Month’s Reflection: Corruptibility, Yet Integrity.
Now, I have “No” Desire in the slightest to Suggest how you should feel about Any Real World Political Parties.
But there “Is” a Danger that Exists within “All” Political Parties and Movements, which is something that the Movie Star Wars Episode Three Highlights Well.
(If You Have Not Seen It, No Worries, I’ll Explain the Important Parts to Today’s Sermon)
In the Movie, the Jedi have been Peace Keepers and Guardians of the Republic (a Democracy) for, “Over a Thousand Generations”.
What I want you to Focus on is “Guardians of the Republic”.
This is a Political Identity.
Over a Long Period of Time, the Jedi began to Associate a Part of their Identity “with” a Political Organization.
This Identity also became a Primary Focus of the Jedi…
Which eventually became their Downfall.
How?
In the Movies and TV Shows, there has been a War that has been Going On.
Within the Current of the War, the Jedi become Generals within the Armies of the Republic…
But the Jedi also Recognize that within The Force, the Dark Side is becoming More Powerful as the War Grows.
But an Interesting Question becomes Important…
Are the Jedi “Guardians of the Republic”…
Or “Guardians of Light Side of The Force”?
The Jedi at the Time would likely have said “Both”, but something becomes Very Apparent in the Movies and TV Shows…
The Republic is Changing.
It is becoming Corrupted, literally, by Agents of the Dark Side of The Force.
These Two Identities that the Jedi have During the War become Opposites…
By Supporting the Corrupted Republic…
They are Working Against the Light Side of The Force…
Which Means their Integrity comes Into Question…
Are the Jedi Really Peace Keepers?
Or are they Generals of a Corrupt Government?
Sadly…
The Jedi Never “Question” their Political Identity.
They Simply “Accept” It, and it Comes to Haunt Them…
The Republic’s Corruption turns the Government into a New Entity…
The First Galactic Empire.
Which is met with, “Thunderous Applause” by the Vast Majority of the Republic’s Senate.
The Empire Turns on the Jedi, Orders the Execution of the Jedi, which Effectively Eliminates 99% of All Jedi…
And One of the Most Hailed Jedi Masters, Obi-Wan Kenobi, has this to say…
“… my allegiance is to the Republic…”
A Republic that had “Just” Turned on the Jedi.
Even “After” this Tragedy has Happened, the Jedi are “So” Attached to their Identities as “Guardians of the Republic” that they Fail to See the Truth…
The Republic is No Longer What It Was…
It has Changed…
It has been Corrupted…
And they have been an Essential Military Presence that has Helped Usher In this New Corrupted Power.
Their Integrity has become Challenged because of their Attachment to this Political Identity.
Now, what “We” Must Understand is that this Metaphor is Based on Reality.
People Frequently Become Attached to their Political Identities…
Often Without Ever Questioning Them.
All Political Parties are also Run by Humans, which All Humans (Including Us) are At Risk of Corruptibility.
Every Single Political System - Past, Present, and/or Future - has this Risk.
As Jedi, We Must Ask Ourselves an Important Question…
Are We Attached to Our Political Identities?
The Fourth Teaching:
“Jedi practice non-attachment, maintaining an awareness that the cycles of creativity and renewal in The Force give rise to phenomena as others pass away.”
If and/or When a Political Party becomes Corrupted…
Will We Remain Attached to that Identity?
Or Will We Seek Integrity and Live in Alignment with The Force?
Are We Willing and Open to Question the Corruptibility of All Political Parties, and “Any” Large Organization Run by Humans?
Or Will We Remain Attached to Those Identities, Regardless of the Consequences to Our Integrity?
Corruptibility, Yet Integrity.
I Challenge You to Meditate on Integrity…
What Does that Mean to You?
Then Look at All Aspects of Your Life…
Are You Living in Integrity?
Seek the Truth.
Seek The Force.
May The Force be with You, Ni-Kso-Ko-Wa (My Relative), Always
