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| Light side | 63% | 339 votes | Total: 540 votes | |
| Dark side | 37% | 201 votes |
Light side
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Add to FavoritesAt heart, this may appear to be a rather humorous debate. However, I've come to the conclusion in recent years that such a simplistic idea as the Light and Dark sides of the Force mirrors our own inner consciousness. George Lucas may have come up with the idea of the Force being a neutral entity with light and dark polar opposites, but subsequent additions to the Star Wars universe have hinted that it runs much deeper than that.
For the purpose of this debate, I've chosen the Light Side of the Force as the stronger power, but I've done so based on reasons of morality and ethics. The natural power called the Force in the Star Wars movies is merely a conduit with which force-sensitive beings can tap into to achieve power greater than a normal being. Because the Force is a neutral, unemotional entity, neither side should be more powerful. Instead, ethics and morals come into question. Is the Dark Side stronger because of its sheer brutality? Or, is the Light Side more powerful because the road to mastering it is harder to tred?
To an imperfect being capable of emotional thought, the debate comes down to Good and Evil, not Light or Dark. For instance, the Sun sets in the evening, followed by the moon. One is light, and one is dark, but neither is good nor evil. Both are present out of necessity for balance and harmony. Similarly, the Light and Dark sides of the Force exist within the same basic principal.
The Dark Side of the Force is "quicker, easier, and more seductive," according to Jedi Master Yoda. While the individual can attain great strength and vicious power by tapping into the Dark Side, the end result is self-defeating. The Sith Order portrayed in the Star Wars universe has been comprised primarily of Dark Side practitioners seeking to achieve absolute power in their studies. However, the Order was plagued by constant infighting among its Sith students. Those vying for power destroyed each other in an attempt to gain the mantle of "Dark Lord of the Sith." Although certain individuals such as Exar Kun, Freedon Nadd, Marka Ragnos, and Darth Revan were all able to effectively lead the Sith Order, they managed it only for a short time. When Darth Bane restructured the Sith Order using the Rule of Two (one Master, one apprentice), it allowed the Sith to trickle down silently through the ages until Darth Sidious and Darth Vader were able to use stealth and cunning to annihilate the Jedi Order and claim rulership over the galaxy. However, this managed to throw the Force out of balance, and in the end, the Sith were undone by the very being who was foretold to do so: Darth Vader.
As practitioners of the Light Side, the Jedi have a far more difficult task of controlling their emotions and acting as agents of peace and diplomacy, rather than warriors. Although their battle skills are superb, they must take great care that they do not instigate conflicts, no matter how small. Light Side students must exact a greater degree of discipline on themselves so that they remain uncorrupted by the Dark Side of the Force. Although this is always a risk, the acknowledgement of their own fallible nature defines their very being. Personal growth and a greater understanding of the universe around them are their rewards.
Sound familiar? In our particular day and age, we see plenty who "fall to the Dark Side" by taking the easy way out. We even see such extremes as murder, genocide, greed, lust for power, and ambition. There are also those who practice the Light Side, in a manner of speaking. They prefer to take the road less travelled in an attempt to define their existences through hard work, discipline, and compassion for those around them. For these most important reasons, I fully believe that the Light Side of the Force is the stronger side. It is not a question of the Force, but rather, a question of our own morality and character if we were able to wield it. Indeed, the Force is neither good, nor evil. It's how the Force is used that matters. Will it be for quick gratification and instant power? Or will it be for patience, inner strength, and discipline?
Learn more about this author, Derek Draven.
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Dark side
With all due respect to Master Yoda, the dark side is more powerful than the light side of the force.
The dark side of the force is comparable to a powerful elixir - quenching the thirst of those who crave power. When used properly by a dark lord of the Sith, the dark side can manipulate the weak, terrify the fearful, destroy the strongest opponent and cloud the vision of the mightiest Jedi. The dark side is so powerful, that only two dark lords of the Sith may use it at one time - a Master and an Apprentice. Unlike the Jedi, who feel it's a responsibility to prepare the next generation by mentoring padawans and younglings, the Sith are selfish and more likely to turn on one another. Driven by the shadow of greed, a Sith will use the dark side of the force to overthrow their own master. By creating lies and deceit, they do not trust anyone (except themselves) and use everyone else as a pawn for their personal gain.
One would only have to examine the effect of the dark side upon the Jedi Knights. How many Jedi have been seduced by the dark side of the force? Count Dooku became disillusioned with the views of the Republic and ultimately chose the ways of the dark side. Was not young Anakin Skywalker, a great hero of the Republic and very strong with the light side of the force, reduced to a shell of himself? Fearful that his wife Padme could potentially die in childbirth, Anakin was manipulated into believing that if he learned to use the dark side, he could save Padme's life. The dark side of the force clouded his beliefs. The good was driven from him and ultimately Anakin was partly responsible for Padme's death.
Once Anakin became Darth Vader, he was so consumed with the dark side of the force that he almost killed his very own son Luke Skywalker - mercilessly beating Luke and cutting off his hand. Although Vader defeated the Emperor to save his son in Return of the Jedi, he was still consumed with the dark side of the force and watched his son get tortured with dark force lightning before defeating the Emperor. If Luke were not Vader's son, the dark side would have triumphed. Darth Vader and the Emperor would have destroyed Luke Skywalker.
The Jedi believed the Sith to be extinct, only to be tragically fooled. Using the dark side of the force to cloud their vision for a number of years, a Sith Lord manipulated his way into the position of Chancellor, gained complete control over the Senate, abused his Executive powers, secretly created an Executive order to eradicate the Jedi, caused great turmoil throughout the galaxy that resulted in the start of the Clone Wars, and used a number of pawns to carry out his master plan to rule the galaxy. Those pawns included Padme Amidala, Jar Jar Binks, Count Dooku, Darth Maul, Viceroy Nute Gunray, the Jedi Knights, Anakin Skywalker and countless others.
Moreover, the Sith used the dark side of the force with ease. Sith Lords were always looking to strike out at their opponents with relentless aggression. Fueled by anger and hatred, the Sith channeled the dark side of the force to choke adversaries, throw a multitude of objects at one time, and cripple the fallen with dark force lightning. On the other hand, the Jedi were more defensive minded and primarily used the force for knowledge and events - not for attacking opponents. Didn't it seem that the Jedi Knights had to be 100% focused using the force just to move one object, whereas the Sith would be using the dark side of the force to hit the Jedi with multiple objects from every direction. You never see a Sith Lord struggling to force choke someone or use dark force lightning.
Although the confrontations between Jedi and Sith were fierce, the dark side dominated the battles. Lightsaber duels resulted in a standoff with the Sith escaping in the end. The Jedi only gained victories when the Sith hesitated, or the Jedi were goaded into using hate and anger to destroy their opponent (making the Jedi vulnerable). In Episode I, Darth Maul had already defeated Qui-Gon Jinn. With Obi-Wan Kenobi barely clinging to his life, Maul's moment of hesitation allowed Kenobi to use the force for a split second and ultimately defeat Maul.
Episode II also featured a narrow escape for the Jedi. Like a puppet master, the Sith Lord Darth Tyranus (Count Dooku) caused enough unrest that resulted in the death of many Jedi and a beating for Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker. If not for Master Yoda, who could not defeat his former padawan, the two fallen Jedi would have been history. By the end of Episode III, the dark side sealed their victory by destroying virtually all the Jedi.
The true underlying power of the dark side is not solely based on the damage caused when physically used by a Sith Lord. Its true power lies in the art of manipulation and betrayal - preying on the fears of the weak, greed of the selfish and naive beliefs of the innocent. While the light side may have a strong influence on the weak-minded, the dark side of the force could be used in such a way to manipulate just about anyone. Only the most crafty, calculating and cunning soul could master such an art. As fans have seen, the dark side had a far greater impact on the entire Star Wars galaxy - which makes it the more powerful and dominant side of the force.
Learn more about this author, Eugene G..
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