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First, as good mythology, Star Wars (like Star Trek, Lord of the Rings, among myriad others), is to be variously understood on several levels. Long ago a friend told me that his father saw in Star Wars a retelling of The Wizard of Oz. The Wizard of Oz itself has been rediscovered as a political treatise. (See my comments on the Objectivist Living site here: http://www.objectivistliving.com/foru... That was ahead of a longer print publication.) Myself, I raised my daughter to identify Princess Leia as the Republican senator from Alderaan. So, Star Wars can be whatever you want.
Second, on point, the author claims: (1a) That Luke was without family, when, indeed, he was living with his aunt and uncle. It seemed like a good family dynamic, Uncle Owen wanting Luke to stay on the farm, Aunt Beru counselling Owen to let the boy follow his own path... Pretty typical...
and (1b) Luke was not without friends. We just did not meet them in the movie until later. Luke says that he wants to go to the Academy with Biggs (Biggs Darklighter) and the others. When Luke says that he wants to go into town rather than clean the droids, Uncle Owen scoff that he can hang out with his friends after his chores are done. In the attack on the Death Star, Luke calls for Biggs, but hears on the radio that Biggs was killed. He knew Biggs as a friend from Tatooine.
(2) "The Empire’s accidental harming of Luke’s Aunt Beru and Uncle Owen..." It was not accidental. The stormtroopers just killed everyone they found. Later, when Luke and Obi Wan come upon the dead Jawas, Obi Wan Kenobi points out that the blast points are precise, not the work of Sand People. The killing of Beru and Owen was just as precise. Indeed, their charred remains are outside the house. The stormtroopers knew that they killed a couple of farmers. That was their mission: kill everyone they find at the house.
I could go on, but why bother?
(1) We do not actually see any children on board, nor is there any hint of any in Jabba the Hutt's headquarters. He does have some innocents in his thrall, apparently, such as the first dancing girl, and, of course, Leia herself, if not Han Solo - legally being held for the authorities, if you will.
(2) However, as I recall, the Sail Barge is destroyed in the fog of war, as the artillery gun being used by Jabba's forces swings about and fires itself.
(3) And, to the point, all Luke seeks is his and his friends' freedom. He offers to let Jabba get away in exchange. Luke does not wantonly destroy a little boat full of women and children.
(3) Precisely. Luke offers not just once (in Jabba's throne room), but again just prior to Luke's attempted execution.
Translation: Looter
I wouldn't believe a looter's version of what a domestic terrorist is when describing a person who defends himself and his property with a firearm. Why would I believe one when the weapon is the force of a person's MIND?
I too liked it, thought it was funny, and never had a notion of taking it seriously.
And, of course there is the way that Leia demonstrated proper submissiveness to the men.
Think I'd rather try to reason with the headhunters of Borneo.
They forget whom exactly are in control and whom their controlled barbarian force is.
Revolutions are not fought to be imprisoned or controlled...they are fought to be free of control.
Just like in Star Wars, our world today is experiencing violence, propaganda and oppression purposely caused by the very people that want to blame you for your racism, your intolerance and your footprint...
And I did chuckle quite a bit.
I would also point out that jihadists' goals are to conquer and control - not to liberate. This is a second fatally flawed premise in this piece.