The DHS Desires You to Overlook That Anakin Skywalker Additionally Descended Into Fascism

Darth Vader is the villain in Star Wars. That’s not up for debate. Positive, over the course of three films he is ultimately redeemed. And sure, via later movies and TV shows, these selections 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 end of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, depicting his workforce 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 preventing towards 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 it’s a must to be to observe 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 suppose ‘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 bought a response. “To not spoil the plot, however as any Star Wars followers is aware of, Darth Vader can also be Anakin Skywalker,” the DHS assertion learn. “I don’t suppose DHS has to regale the American public on the heroism of Skywalker, they know.” You possibly can watch Oliver ship this information at 18:33 beneath.

Exterior 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. To begin with, I might like to have them “regale the American public on the heroism of Skywalker.” Was it when he killed a bunch of children? Pressure choked his spouse? Lower off a person’s head with two lightsabers? Or are they really, someway, referring to his heroic exploits throughout The Clone Wars animated sequence? In that present, sure, Anakin was a hero, nevertheless it doesn’t change what occurred subsequent. You realize, 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 find out 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 apprehensive about? Possibly be much less apprehensive about spoiling the plots of essentially the most well-known films of all time and extra apprehensive about being simply and human to American immigrants?

The U.S. authorities has an extended historical past of not likely 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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