Darth Vader is the villain in Star Wars. That’s not up for debate. Positive, over the course of three motion pictures he’s in the end redeemed. And sure, via later motion pictures and TV exhibits, these decisions are considerably humanized. However none of that may change that Vader violently murdered many, many individuals after which grew to become the right-hand man of a genocidal maniac intent on bending the galaxy to his will.
Earlier this 12 months, a number one Border Patrol agent posted a video from the finish of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, depicting his crew as Vader, slicing up helpless Rebels every named as a perceived drawback: “Faux Information,” “Fentanyl,” “Gang Member,” and so forth. The implication is the Border Patrol, like Vader, is a hero, saving the U.S. from all these issues. The precise drawback, nonetheless, is Darth Vader isn’t a hero. He’s, in reality, killing the characters who’re combating in opposition to evil and tyranny.
That was launched in Might of this 12 months and, this week, was featured in a section on Final Week Tonight with John Oliver about “Immigration Enforcement.” Oliver joked in regards to the video, saying, “OK, if I’ll quote an unbearable man on a primary Bumble date, ‘Have you ever ever seen Star Wars?’ As a result of that’s fairly famously the dangerous man. Think about how morally bankrupt you must be to look at essentially the most well-known villain in cinematic historical past murdering a bunch of individuals, a few of whom are actually begging for assist, and assume ‘He’s so us!’”
However that’s not the wild half. The wild half is Oliver’s present reached out to the Division of Homeland Safety for touch upon the video and really obtained a response. “To not spoil the plot, however as any Star Wars followers is aware of, Darth Vader can be Anakin Skywalker,” the DHS assertion learn. “I don’t assume DHS has to regale the American public on the heroism of Skywalker, they know.” You may watch Oliver ship this information at 18:33 under.
Outdoors of the wild stretch of assuming the American public understands that Darth Vader is Anakin Skywalker and that Skywalker is a hero, there’s a lot to unpack right here. Initially, I might like to have them “regale the American public on the heroism of Skywalker.” Was it when he killed a bunch of children? Drive choked his spouse? Reduce off a person’s head with two lightsabers? Or are they really, one way or the other, referring to his heroic exploits throughout The Clone Wars animated collection? In that present, sure, Anakin was a hero, but it surely doesn’t change what occurred subsequent. You already know, the subjugation of your entire galaxy via terror and violence. Additionally, we’d enterprise to guess most individuals who aren’t Star Wars followers don’t learn about any of that.
Additionally, on an excellent nerdier observe, is “they know” an Empire Strikes Again reference? It positive feels prefer it. Additionally, why is “spoiling the plot” one thing they’re frightened about? Perhaps be much less frightened about spoiling the plots of essentially the most well-known motion pictures of all time and extra frightened about being simply and human to American immigrants?
The U.S. authorities has an extended historical past of probably not understanding Star Wars going again to Ronald Reagan’s use of the time period in his protection platform. However this occasion must be one of many oddest and funniest.
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