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» The Ishtar

Over the years, much has been made of the philosophy of Light vs. Dark, of Jedi vs. Sith, and of actions that can lead a person in one direction or the other. But I am here to tell you that the entire concept of Light vs. Dark -- with a straightline path between them -- is narrow minded and flawed.

The dichotomy of the Light Side and the Dark Side is nothing more than a social construct, not an actual reflection of reality. There is no cosmic struggle between Light and Dark or Good and Evil…reality is much, much more complicated than a simple binary between two opposing forces. There are only actions and intentions, and the choices we make because of them. And there are many more colors than just light and dark, white and black…an entire spectrum exists outside of them! This spectrum is a much closer approximation to the true nature of reality than black, white, and gray. To restrict your perspective to two chromas when a myriad of color exists beyond them is limiting, and is not the path to enlightenment.

To see life as a road, a linear progression between Light and Dark, is foolish. There are always choices, and these choices are influenced by many things beyond what the Jedi see as the Light and Dark sides of the Force. We are all influenced by our intellect, our culture, our personal history, and our emotions. Now, the Jedi are told to trust their feelings, but also to suppress them, because certain feelings can lead to the Dark Side. But suppressing the so-called negative emotions -- in the hope of staving off temptations to the Dark side -- will eventually lead to the suppression of all emotions. A frozen heart and a lack of empathy are not enlightenment.

I am here to tell you that true enlightenment does not lead to quiet meditation in a temple, cut off from parts of your own psyche or from the rest of the universe. Rather, it is bringing the knowledge and wisdom you have acquired out into the universe, to benefit all. And by all, I do mean all…all sentient beings have rights, and all are equally deserving of life, no matter who or what they are. Human or not, force-sensitive or not, all are equally worthy. And all are interconnected. Therefore, if one person is oppressed, we are all oppressed. Corruption, tyranny, despotism…all are anathema to us.

It has often been said that actions speak louder than words; this is something we truly believe. We will not stand by and let injustice and tyranny go unchallenged. We are not bound by a limited, black-or-white view of the universe. We will do more than philosophize and endlessly debate while others are suffering. We will work for the common good, for all sentient beings; and we are not afraid to fight towards this goal. We will fight for what we believe in, but we will do so with honor and integrity. We will lead by example.

We are the Ishtar.

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