star wars yeeteth, and star wars yoinketh away

I noticed something that never comes up in the discussion of whether it was wrong of the Jedi to fight in the clone wars (surprisingly from both the Pro Jedi and antijedidiot camps) is that the separatists want all the Jedi dead

Like even aside from that being implied by the separatists being controlled by the sith, Count Dooku and General Grievous explicitly state that they're in this to kill the Jedi, their idea for how the war goes is inseparable from the mass murder of the Jedi

(and it's not like anyone else in the separatists are against it, most of the military leaders are only slightly less murderous psychopaths than Dooku and Grievous, the corporate leaders hate the Jedi for always ruining their "get even richer" schemes so they won't protest, and the civilians and political leaders of the separatists are powerless)

Being neutral and staying out of the war was never an option for the Jedi, one side's goal was to murder them

Yeah so we should be talking about this. Why are we not already talking about this

i think it's great that people who've suffered religious trauma feel a connection to anakin. i also think it's deeply troubling that the majority of them are either unable to recognize or unwilling to admit that the religion he was indoctrinated into and abused by was the sith and not, in fact, the jedi.

Similar summaries for other frustrations:

Problems with corrupt government and politicans? Nothing could be more understandable. The prequels are all about that! What with you know, the corrupt senate, the corrupt Chancellor, and the corrupt Separatists. (not the jedi council, who are clear headed, decisive, and willing to change their minds with the circumstances)

Problems with corporations, and corporations buying out government? Nothing could be more understandable, and the prequels have that. The trade federation, the banking clan, the techno union are all in control of the Separatist government, Dooku aside. (unlike the Jedi, who are deeply aware of the power they hold with the Force, and avoid taking more of it by getting involved with politics)

But speaking of Dooku, problems with populist leaders becoming dictators by appealing to people’s reasonable distrust in government but then presenting the worst possible “solutions” to their problems? He is standing right there, giving a speech about how he “has no choice but to execute these prisoners.” (Unlike Jedi Master Mace Windu, who is willing to die to stop Dooku using the Jedi as hostages to begin a war)

Problems with people standing by and doing nothing during times of crisis? Nothing could be more understandable. The senate and the population of the Republic do that as Sidious guides them into supporting a war, hating the Jedi, and ushering in an authoritarian government. (unlike the Jedi, who are reluctant to go to war, try their best to remain kind and just when they’re recruited anyway, and are so incredibly relieved when it looks like the war is going to end)

And just to get *really* controversial around here:

Frustration with rich people justifying and hiding the crimes of their friends and family members? Nothing could be more understandable. The prequels have a place for that! Two, in fact, and their names are Sheev Palpatine and Padmé Amidala—who for all her usual sense of justice, does not fully engage with the violence Anakin confesses to her and its potential to continue, because he makes her feel less lonely. (unlike Jedi Masters Obi-Wan Kenobi and Yoda, who are immediately somber and horrified when they see the dead children, and take action to stop the person who did it)