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Beginning Sith Philosophy, Friday

"Welcome to our last class," Lana said as everybody filed in. "I'll be teaching more next semester, but I hope you've found it interesting so far, at least. Oh, and Libby, could I see you after class, please? I have a proposal for you.

"Anyway, up until now we've been analyzing each line on its own, hunting through them for meaning and picking them apart. Today we get to discuss the code as a whole."

The whiteboard read:
Peace is a lie. There is only Passion.
Through Passion, I gain Strength.
Through Strength, I gain Power.
Through Power, I gain Victory.
Through Victory my chains are Broken.
The Force shall free me.

"I think we've all had time to adequately form an opinion on each line. The question is, does focussing on them as a whole change your opinion of them in isolation? What is your view of the entire thing? Let's discuss it."

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Sithily!

Anakin Skywalker

Liberty Hazlett

Connor Temple

Shane Gooseman

Contemplate the code.

Discuss! Pull it apart for parts! Glower at it if you're Anakin!

"It's all Bantha poodoo," Anakin said plainly.

Lana rolled her eyes. "Show your work, Master Jedi. Explain why it's poodoo."

"Yes, I'd love to summarize the entire class," Anakin shot back. "Your code starts with a faulty premise--that peace is a lie--and builds an increasingly unstable conclusion from it. We both know this is all about based in the Force. The code is not a hypothetical thought exercise. It's a how-to manual. By embracing the chaotic, Dark Side of the Force, I would gain strength. I'd use that strength to take power, I use that power to conquer, and there, I'm the head of a Sith Empire, ruling the galaxy and cackling maniacally. You can't break the code into parts because it's meant to flow together."

He gave her a flat stare. "And it conveniently doesn't mention other Sith--sometimes just two, sometimes more, depending on the era--who are also gaining strength and looking to take power, generally through deception and murder. It's poodoo. The Force doesn't free you through this code. It entraps you in a hell of your own delusions."

Or maybe that was a you thing, Anakin.

Lana listened, then shrugged. "There are certainly Sith who read it that way, yes. Internal strife has been a continual struggle in the Empire. Part of my point in this course is to find other meanings to it. You'll note, for example, that nowhere in the Sith code is the Dark Side mentioned. I work with several Sith that see it as optional. And as far as power, I find myself gaining more, learning more, by working with others. I have no interest in conquering anything more than myself and those who would ruin the galaxy.

"There are thousands of Sith in the galaxy. To think they all believe exactly the same thing is a bit simplistic."

"There weren't thousands of Sith in my galaxy," Anakin said. "There were two. Now there are zero. No one misses them."

"That says a lot about their own personalities and actions," Lana noted, "but it's a very small sample size."

"It was 100 percent of the Sith in my galaxy. I'm good," Anakin said.

"That's your decision," Lana said. "For all I know, it's accurate to your version of the universe. But in mine, the Jedi chose to commit genocide against billions for the actions of a few Sith. If I judged them all based on that, I would have missed out on some very good friends."

"When seen all together," said Libby, after painstakingly writing it all down yet again and reading it over before coming to any conclusions about what to say, "I'm surprised it takes until the last line to mention the Force, that seems like it should be first and foremost. But it's also hard not to think of the Bible verse, either. John 8:32: 'And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.'"

She trailed off a little, frowning a bit, and feeling like she wasn't really getting to a point with any of it.

"I guess," she tried, maybe a little more nervous than usual knowing that Lana wanted to speak to her after class, "it all just depends on what you really believe to be true."

And there was clearly a lack of consensus about that in this classroom!

Lana perked up at that. "Oh, I like that line. The truth is important. And you're right, you'd expect the Force to be mentioned sooner."

She thought about it. "I think it's less that it isn't the foremost thing, and more that it's so intrinsic to everything, it's meant to be taken as read. But if you didn't know that, the code certainly doesn't clarify it."

She's here!

"You wanted to see me, ma'am?" asked Libby, hanging back once the class was finished and trying very hard not to be nervous about whatever this proposal might be. Mostly trying not to go over the last few weeks to try to spot something she'd done wrong. But she had been a bit quieter than she'd been at the beginning. Maybe that was it?

"Yes, thank you." Lana smiled. "You've seemed very interested in the course, and I've enjoyed hearing your opinions. I was wondering if you might want to expand both our repertoires, as it is?"

Libby tried to not let her relief that it hadn't been anything bad be too evident, but she visibly relaxed. "I've really enjoyed it," she said, with a small, pleased smile. "I still think it's sometimes difficult to understand, but I really like the challenge and trying to see things differently."

Then her head tilted, a new sort of nervousness creeping in. "What did you have in mind?"

"I'm going home for the week between semesters," Lana explained. "There are many more Sith and Jedi there; would you like to visit with me?"

Libby's eyes widened a little. "You mean on a trip?"

"Yes," Lana agreed. "A few others will be visiting with me, and I thought I'd extend the opportunity if you're interested. I'd love to see you debate with some of our scholars," she added, smiling.

"Oh." Libby blinked at that, feeling a rush of heat filling her face in an awkward, shy blush. It was one thing, debating and making points in a class where it was expected, but the thought of doing it with scholars who probably spent a lot of time studying and debating with themselves...she felt way out of her league here, so there would be like...The thought of it made her start sweating a little with nervousness, but also, she had to admit, a little thrill of excitement, too. Even with just Lana and Mr. Skywalker, she'd been challenged in this class, with new ideas to consider and contemplate, and she'd had the chance to talk a little about God, too, and she could spread that to more people, and that was important, sharing God's love, and it would be a new place, a new experience, new ideas and people....

In that moment, Libby certainly took quite the journey, but she came out of it with a flushed smile, a little reserved, but mostly eager despite the reservations. "I'd probably have to ask permission first," she admitted, and then almost regretted it. What if her mother said no? If she didn't ask, then she wouldn't technically be disobeying if she still went...She shook her head a little, she'd worry about that when she got there. After all, her mother had been fine with the trip to Africa, and the class where they visited all those worldly restaurants... "But I think I'd like that, ma'am, very much. Thank you!"

Lana smiled. "Don't worry, I won't put you on the spot. But I think you'd enjoy more perspectives than just mine. And you could see some of the actual books," she said, grinning.

Is it coffee time yet?

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Beginning Sith Philosophy, Friday

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