Status Updates From Star Wars and History (Wile...

I like how the author points out that dominant cities don't last forever. Amsterdam replaced Antwerp, London over Amsterdam, and New York City over London. I wonder what will be the next replacement of New York City? Tokyo? Hong Kong? Dubai?

I didn't know that the longitudinal measures were done by the English as a means of putting London as the center of international time when they were mapping the world. But I like how Star Wars does something similar by putting Coruscsant in the center of the government as well as hyperspace trade and time.

Uh, I doubt that Obi-Wan and Anakin are trying to be plain-clothes, undercover detectives in their scene in Attack of the Clones. Their Jedi robes and lightsabers make them stand-out too much from the crowd of clubbers, gamblers, and party-goers.

"One of the signal symptoms of a decaying state is the rise of corruption, both at the top, among the political and economic elites, and throughout the whole structure, to the point where the state exists more or less for the personal and corporate profit of those who are in a position to exploit the resources at hand."
I'm pretty sure, with this description, the US is a decaying state.

And just like how the British East India Company became nationalized under the British crown, and the Trade Federation and other members of the Separatist Council were likewise nationalized into the Empire, could we see a nationalization of tech and oil companies into the US?

Never knew that the extent of the comparison between the Trade Federation and the British East India Company went as far as representation in the British Parliament. I can't help but wonder if the US will see something similar? Our own representatives are already accused of accepting bribes from companies, but an outright seat?

Well, the Dutch East India Company was hampered by the technology of the time if they wanted to ask approval over courses of action from Holland, their native country. Same with England and its East India Trading Company. The Trade Federation does not have that restriction, as there is galaxy-wide communication that can be used to determine courses of action.

You see this monopolization even today with various tech, social media, and AI companies.

Europeans liked to think they were "all that" and civilized compared to Asians during the 1600s-1700s. However, they were just as likely to be conned as anyone.

Now we're getting some more Asian examples of trade and piracy.

Nearly finished. Chapter 10 is called "'Greed Can Be a Powerful Ally:' The Trade Federation, the East India Companies, and the Chaotic Worlds of Trade."

So, what is this author's point? That true freedom can only be found in anarchy? Or become like animals? To have no rules, no values, no attachments?

"On the other hand, freedom is the opposite of personal dedication (or enslavement) to an idea, a cause, a set of beliefs. A Jedi Knight is not 'free' to choose his own direction but is constricted by a monklike obedience to the Order and the Force; a stormtrooper in service to the Emperor lacks freedom to choose on which side to fight; Darth Vader is a 'slave' to the dark side." Okay, now you're being pedantic.

"Or the Hebrews dragooned to build cities in Ancient Egypt, described in the Book of Exodus." Which still hasn't been proven yet in Egyptology or Egyptian history.

I find it difficult to grasp that the author is implying Luke was in a form of bondage aka slavery, similar to his father.

Actually, Watto's chance dice that he uses was a rigged one. He had bet to lose Shmi and keep Anakin, not the other way around like this author suggests. He valued Anakin more than he did Shmi because he could use Anakin as both a slave worker and as a podracer pilot. That's why Qui-Gon had to use the Force to rig the dice to favor Anakin.

"Although slavery would not be allowed in Britain, Mansfield had no interest in interfering with the lucrative African slave trade or the vast fortunes being made in the American colonies."
Key word being "lucrative." Britain and other European countries saw no problem profiting off of enterprises that used slavery in other countries and colonies. They still don't today.

I'm glad that this writer highlights that slavery is not a thing of the past. It is still utilized, just not openly, under the monikers of human and sex trafficking in Western, developed democracies.

It's interesting that many of the historical comparisons that I've seen comes from Rome and Greece, and while they do have a strong influence on Western culture, I'm surprised that Asian or Middle-Eastern sources aren't utilized (besides the chapter on warrior monks). For instance, slavery was treated a lot differently in ancient China, Mesopotamia, and Egypt compared to Rome and Greece.

The final part of the book is "'Excuse Me, Sir, but That Artoo Unit Is in Prime Condition, a Real Bargain:' Economy and Society in a Galaxy Long, Long Ago." The ninth chapter on the next page is called "From Slavery to Freedom in a Galaxy Far, Far Away."

The next page lays out the American military industrial complex post-WWII.

"Why did a great Sith Lord such as Emperor Palpatine need the Death Star? The simplest answer is that one person alone—even someone so powerful—cannot control and entire galaxy. For that, a strong military force is necessary, and army leaders want the latest and best weapons." You see this still today with the American war industrial complex churning out new, advanced weapons and vehicles for war.

The British and French fears of aerial bombing were justified; the Blitz destroyed much of British and French cities to rubble, as did the Allied retaliation to Grrmany that would come about later in WWII.

The fear of nuclear weapons and mutually assured destruction is almost equivalent to the fear of the Death Star. It's best that these weapons are removed than they be utilized against human lives.

"The original trilogy of Star Wars also offers a devastating criticism of WMDs. As we have already observed, the Rebel Alliance, the heroes of the first films, seek simply to destroy the Death Star, rather than build their own...The Rebels clearly reject a never-ending arms race: the moral high ground belongs to those who refuse to use such weapons." I still see this argument among fans online to this day.

Chapter 8 is called "'Fear Is the Path to the Dark Side:' Nuclear Weapons and the Death Star."

It's interesting that Palpatine uses some Machiavellian theory to gain power, but then he does away much of it once he has it.