| Today is February 19th, 2003. As per my usual routine, while
waiting for my bus I read the headlines and captions of the front pages of
the newspapers in the machines.. You will probably recall that over
this last President's Day weekend there were major peace
demonstrations around the world. One story said that President Bush was not
swayed. The article quoted him as saying "Democracy is a beautiful
thing." A chill ran down my spine but before I could read on my bus
arrived. I spent my commute pondering the chills that have been
running down my spine as of late. In particular, last night I popped in my DVD
of Battlestar Galactica and watched the first hour or so. The
Cylon tyranny, the slaughter of entire planetary populations - made
possible by vigilance being lowered; by being blinded by faithless offers
of peace...
For those of you who do not remember, let me briefly summarize the
story. Somewhere, out there, there are twelve colonies of Man.
These colonies are at war with a ruthless civilization known as the
Cylons. They have been at war for yahrens. Finally Count
Baltar has arranged a peace settlement. The first episode of
Battlestar Galactica opens with the entire human fleet about to
meet the Cylons to sign the historic treaty. Adama, commander of the
Galactica and member of the Quorum of Twelve (the ruling body of
Mankind) is doubtful of the peace. He says to the President of his
misgivings:
"They hate us with every fiber of their existence. We love
freedom, we love independence - to feel, to question, to resist
oppression. To them, it's an alien way of existing they will never
accept."
| The President assures him that his fears are unfounded
and Adama is lulled. Luckily, he is not lulled into complete
complacency. Nevertheless all twelve colonies of Man are
destroyed along with the entire fleet save Adama's Galactica.
Only a rag-tag collection barely space-worthy vehicles remain of the
human race. Except, of course, for the long lost and probably
mythical "Earth" which they set out to find, etc. etc. etc. |
 |
| Cylon base stars poised for the attack. |
I am sure that President Bush sees himself as Commander Adama.
Not only that, but as a strong Adama who did not give in to the soft
whispers of a deceitful peace but rather stayed
the course of his convictions to protect his people from what he knew was
an utterly brutal, merciless, and uncompromising enemy.
Now, back to this morning. "Democracy is a beautiful thing," says
Bush. I was instantly reminded of Chancellor
Palpatine's haunting voice saying, "I love democracy."
Palpatine says it after the Senate
votes him war powers to create an army to deal with the separatists trying
to destroy the Republic. He goes on to promise that he will lay down
this power when the crisis has abated. Sure. I believe that.
For those of you who need some reminding about Star Wars, this is from
Episode II - Attack of the Clones. Palpatine is a Sith Lord who
manipulates his way to the Chancellorship of the Republic (Episode I).
We know that he later will become the Emperor. Somewhere along the
line he turns young Anakin
Skywalker to the Dark Side and thus Darth Vader is born. Palpatine has orchestrated the
crisis himself while secretly preparing an army of clones which
will defeat the separatists but will also be handily available to take
over the Republic later.
 |
| The Grand Army of the
Republic embarks. |
Ian Mc Diarmid (who plays Palpatine) delivers this line so very
excellently; the double meanings coming across loud and clear. Of
course he loves democracy! How else could be become Emperor?
All he has to do is sway the mob. He sets events in motion to create an atmosphere of fear wherein the people
are willing to trade freedom and liberty for security. An act that
has been played out over and over in human history- from Caesar to Hitler to
Palpatine.
Is Bush in that lineup as well? Is it reckless or disrespectful
to ask? I mean, come on - this is the twenty-first century!
This is America! That kind of nonsense is just plain crazy nowadays.
It could never happen. I mean, surely we know better, right?
Right? |
