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"It's a Trap!"

November 19, 2006 11:25 PM

y Return of the Jedi, Luke Skywalker had come to terms with the fact that Darth Vader was his father, but also believed that the Sith Lord still had some good left in him. Luke willingly turned himself in to the Empire and his father. Meanwhile, Han Solo, Leia, and Chewie, together with the Ewoks, stormed the forest moon of Endor in an attempt to destroy the shield generator for the Emperor's second Death Star. The hope was that the Rebel Fleet, lead by Admiral Ackbar (with Lando Calrissian behind the wheel of the Millenium Falcon) could exploit a weakness in the Death Star's design and deal a final, devastating blow to the Empire.

Eventually, Darth Vader brought Luke to the Emperor's throne room, where the Emporer taunted the young Jedi. The three of them watched as the Rebellion and the Empire exchanged blows in space. After pointing out that Luke's greatest weakness was his faith in his friends the Emperor said "Now witness the full firepower of this armed and fully operational battlestation!" Even though the Death Star was still under construction, its weapons systems were online.

Han and Leia had not been able to take out the shield generator, meaning that the Rebel fleet was unable to attack the Death Star. Then, seemingly out of nowhere, the Death Star's giant laser destroyed one of the Rebellion's capital ships. Admiral Ackbar, aboard the flagship, surmised that the blast came from the Death Star and ordered a retreat--but the Rebel fleet, overcommitted and outnumbered, was surrouned. It was a trap.

In the end, the Rebels won the day and the Empire fell, restoring peace and justice to the Galaxy. But there were a few terrible minutes during which it seemed like the Rebellion would be destroyed forever.

Those are the risks they had to take: in order to win the biggest victory, the Rebellion had to risk losing everything. I doubt that Luke or Han or Admiral Ackbar questioned--even for a moment-- that they had made the right decision, even as they were becoming more and more aware that they were about to die and that all hope was lost.

Sometimes you have to be bold. Sometimes you have to take risks. Sometimes you have to go all-in. Sometimes you've got to put all your money on 17.

Sometimes you lose. Sometimes you lose everything. Sometimes you look back and all there is is regret and sorrow. But, maybe, sometimes you'll win.

After all, you only need to win once.



4 Comments


TheExpat said:

eh? Sounds like some addict trying to convince himself of a sure win as he pawns off his mother's kidneys.

Better save your money, Shakey McBetsalot.

November 20, 2006 4:10 AM



Utah said:

All in? I call. Full house.

November 20, 2006 7:32 AM



Vice said:

I'm going to try being helpful here, but if this comes out sounding patronizing, understand that I don't mean it to. That being said:

It doesn't have to be life or death. Framing it in terms of winning everything or losing everything gives the Empire too much power over you. If the Empire still has its shield generators up, don't let it destroy you. Unlike the rebellion, you can live to fight another day. Of course, if the shields are down...fire at will, dude.

November 20, 2006 9:43 AM



tRJ said:

So what you're saying is that you support the war in Iraq? Didn't see that coming...

November 20, 2006 1:47 PM



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