# Lucas says, "Oh, Star Wars was always about promoting democracy" **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 15, 2005, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lucas-says-oh-star-wars-was-always-about-promoting-democracy/303989 "2005-05-15T23:49:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![TheOnlySaneOne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/67e7ee/32.png) [@TheOnlySaneOne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheOnlySaneOne)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2005, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lucas-says-oh-star-wars-was-always-about-promoting-democracy/303989/1 "2005-05-15T23:49:05Z")
> **[Final Star Wars bears message for America](https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2005/may/16/cannes2005.film1)** > > Lucas wins festival trophy - and hopes his epic will awaken US to democracy in peril. > [@George Lucas](#): > > Asked whether Star Wars Episode III openly alluded to the Iraq war, he said: “When I wrote it Iraq didn’t exist. We were funding Saddam Hussein and giving him weapons of mass destruction. We were going after Iran. But the parallels between what we did in Vietnam and what we are doing in Iraq are unbelievable.” I am amazed by the number of reasons Lucas made his movies. Truly amazed. I wanna make a list of all of the different reasons he’s given so far. Anyone want to help? ---
**Author:** ![Murcielago](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/da6949/32.png) [@Murcielago](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Murcielago)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2005, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lucas-says-oh-star-wars-was-always-about-promoting-democracy/303989/2 "2005-05-16T00:31:52Z")
I read a similar story this morning with the same quotations. My immediate reaction was “Oh Jeebus, George, please shut up.” I respect the guy’s technical skills and I might go to a theater to see the action sequences in Ep.III, but I won’t be there looking for political commentary. Seems to me his depth of analysis in that arena parallels his understanding of male/female relationships (as exemplified by the Anakin/Padme dialogues). To be fair, I think it’s another case of journalists selecting quotes and blowing them up to create a story. Then again, perhaps the entire six-movie epic is in fact an eloquent endorsement of anarcho-syndicalism which I have yet to grasp in it’s entirety. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2005, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lucas-says-oh-star-wars-was-always-about-promoting-democracy/303989/3 "2005-05-16T00:31:55Z")
But, wasn’t the Republic enforced by a theocracy? The Jedi? ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2005, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lucas-says-oh-star-wars-was-always-about-promoting-democracy/303989/4 "2005-05-16T00:34:58Z")
> [@TheOnlySaneOne](#): > > [Final Star Wars bears message for America | UK news | The Guardian](http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,3604,1484613,00.html) > > I am amazed by the number of reasons Lucas made his movies. Truly amazed. I wanna make a list of all of the different reasons he’s given so far. Anyone want to help? In some commercials currently appearing on the Discovery Channel, Lucas says (paraphrased) “Star Wars was always about expanding young minds.” Let’s not forget that SW has made Lucas over $2 billion since 1997 alone. 1. Vietnam/Iraq allegory 2. Expanding young minds. 3. Lining Lucas’ pockets. Let’s keep this one going! ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2005, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lucas-says-oh-star-wars-was-always-about-promoting-democracy/303989/5 "2005-05-16T00:51:25Z")
I remember someone saying about the original film that the Empire were Capitalists and the Rebel Alliance were Communists. The reasoning? The Empire used green (money) beam weapons, and the Rebel Alliance used red (commie) beam weapons. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2005, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lucas-says-oh-star-wars-was-always-about-promoting-democracy/303989/6 "2005-05-16T00:58:47Z")
Jedi Knights Templar ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2005, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lucas-says-oh-star-wars-was-always-about-promoting-democracy/303989/7 "2005-05-16T01:01:14Z")
Does it matter what Lucas says? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2005, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lucas-says-oh-star-wars-was-always-about-promoting-democracy/303989/8 "2005-05-16T01:02:24Z")
> [@Gangster Octopus](#): > > Does it matter what Lucas says? He can always ‘digitally enhance’ his comments later. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![TheOnlySaneOne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/67e7ee/32.png) [@TheOnlySaneOne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheOnlySaneOne)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2005, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lucas-says-oh-star-wars-was-always-about-promoting-democracy/303989/9 "2005-05-16T01:03:10Z")
> [@Murcielago](#): > > Then again, perhaps the entire six-movie epic is in fact an eloquent endorsement of anarcho-syndicalism which I have yet to grasp in it’s entirety. Well, I wouldn’t exactly call Ben Kenobi a watery-tart. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Nonsuch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nonsuch/32/2922_2.png) [@Nonsuch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nonsuch)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2005, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lucas-says-oh-star-wars-was-always-about-promoting-democracy/303989/10 "2005-05-16T01:11:00Z")
What a laugh … I’ve read interviews where Lucas specifically espouses “benevolent dictatorship” as the ideal mode of government. Democracy does not come off well in the Star Wars movies. ---
**Author:** ![Murcielago](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/da6949/32.png) [@Murcielago](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Murcielago)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2005, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lucas-says-oh-star-wars-was-always-about-promoting-democracy/303989/11 "2005-05-16T01:11:58Z")
> [@TheOnlySaneOne](#): > > Well, I wouldn’t exactly call Ben Kenobi a watery-tart. 😛 Heh. Nice catch, **SaneOne** Well, “Vader”=“Father” in Dutch. I had previously thought that was an Anakin/Luke thing, but now maybe the character should be interpreted as a commentary about the evils of the patriarchy. ---
**Author:** ![Rainbowthief](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/4bbf92/32.png) [@Rainbowthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rainbowthief)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2005, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lucas-says-oh-star-wars-was-always-about-promoting-democracy/303989/12 "2005-05-16T01:48:58Z")
Nice idea for a thread. I don’t have a cite, but I saw Lucas on TV when **Phantom Menace** was coming out saying that Star Wars “is basically about free will and how it takes precedence over what some would call destiny”. :smack: I read on a Yahoo! article on Episode III that Lucas said after this he wants to “return to his filmmaking roots” and make smaller, more personal films. LOL! How is he going to pull of dialogue like > [@From Attack of the Clones](#): > > “I’m haunted by the kiss you should never have given me. My heart is beating, hoping that kiss will not become a scar. You are in my very soul, tormenting me.” without tons of CGI effects to cover his ass? ---
**Author:** ![Rainbowthief](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/4bbf92/32.png) [@Rainbowthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rainbowthief)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2005, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lucas-says-oh-star-wars-was-always-about-promoting-democracy/303989/13 "2005-05-16T01:50:02Z")
I meant “How is he going to pull **off** dialogue like…” ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2005, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lucas-says-oh-star-wars-was-always-about-promoting-democracy/303989/14 "2005-05-16T02:08:26Z")
> [@NoClueBoy](#): > > But, wasn’t the Republic enforced by a theocracy? The Jedi? Oh, how right you are! [David Brin tees up Lucas and Star Wars](http://www.davidbrin.com/starwarsarticle1.html) I love Star Wars. Being ten years old in 1977 made sure it had a huge impact on me. But I’m under no illusions about it. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2005, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lucas-says-oh-star-wars-was-always-about-promoting-democracy/303989/15 "2005-05-16T03:47:17Z")
Er. I don’t get it. Are you saying a person can’t have multiple reasons for creating a story? If I was to write an adventure story, I’d make sure it had several different threads of purpose. Star Wars has many goals - entertainment in the forms of adventure, comedy, a new myth, character motivations, plot twists, two trilogies set in different eras, metaphors, parallels, influences… It’s one of the main reasons it has endured for so long. And what the hell is wrong with making enough money so you can self fund your projects? Compared to standard Hollywood dealings, it’s an impressive achievement. ---
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2005, 8:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lucas-says-oh-star-wars-was-always-about-promoting-democracy/303989/16 "2005-05-16T08:29:15Z")
Well _of course_ it’s about promoting democracy: wasn’t Leia a Republican senator as well as a princess of the blood? {And please, no tortured explanations about how this feat was possible, particularly any which involve the last two toy commercials}. ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2005, 8:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lucas-says-oh-star-wars-was-always-about-promoting-democracy/303989/17 "2005-05-16T08:53:24Z")
> [@Case Sensitive](#): > > Well _of course_ it’s about promoting democracy: wasn’t Leia a Republican senator as well as a princess of the blood? And Amidala was an elected Queen. :dubious: 😕 (So…Lucas wrote Ep III before Iraq existed? Wow! I didn’t know he was working on Star Wars _6000 years ago!_ Or maybe he just means from before when modern Iraq was an independant country—1932, I think?) ---
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2005, 9:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lucas-says-oh-star-wars-was-always-about-promoting-democracy/303989/18 "2005-05-16T09:22:59Z")
> [@Ranchoth](#): > > And Amidala was an elected Queen. :dubious: 😕 You just _had_ to, didn’t you? To be fair, elected monarchs aren’t entirely unheard of - the ancient Celts used to elect their kings - but I’m pretty sure Lucas didn’t have that in mind when he wrote Star Wars; he just figured “Well, heroines have to be princesses, and good guys have to be democrats”, and the contradiction didn’t occur to him until later. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2005, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lucas-says-oh-star-wars-was-always-about-promoting-democracy/303989/19 "2005-05-16T12:57:16Z")
> [@](#): > > And what the hell is wrong with making enough money so you can self fund your projects? Compared to standard Hollywood dealings, it’s an impressive achievement. There’s nothing wrong with it, nor did I imply that there was. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2005, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lucas-says-oh-star-wars-was-always-about-promoting-democracy/303989/20 "2005-05-16T13:43:02Z")
> [@Case Sensitive](#): > > Well _of course_ it’s about promoting democracy: wasn’t Leia a Republican senator as well as a princess of the blood? {And please, no tortured explanations about how this feat was possible, particularly any which involve the last two toy commercials}. I know the acceptible non-dork answer is “who gives a fuck?” but anyhow: Her mom was the “elected” Queen of Naboo in Episode I (whatever that means). So basically, if each planet is it’s own geopolitical entity, she rules that one. Maybe she’s elected from some aristocracy class. Who knows? In Episode II, she is no longer acting Queen but she has taken on the position as her planets representitive in the Senate. Kind of like if a British prince took a job as a lawyer. He is still prince but his job is “lawyer”. It would stand to reason that Leia as the daughter of a former Queen would hold the inherited title of Princess but could also take a job as Senator (which may or may not be limited to Naboo royalty). NOW!! LETS DESTROY THEIR CAPITALIST ROBOT ARMY IN THE NAME OF OUR BELOVED TYRANT!!! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lucas-says-oh-star-wars-was-always-about-promoting-democracy/303989.md?page=2)