Not Even The Jedi Are Good Enough For Social Justice Warriors - The Federalist

Since starting How The Force Can Fix The World, I have not written much in the way of op-ed’s or commentary. This weekend however, something was published in the Scientific American which begged a response. Have you ever heard anyone argue in earnest, outside of a tongue-in-cheek debate, that the Jedi are too problematic to be considered heroes? Well here we are.

“It was perhaps only a matter of time before social justice activists armed with masters degrees took to the digital pages of a popular and somewhat esteemed science magazine, in this case the Scientific American, to argue for why Star Wars and the entirely fictional Jedi Order is “inappropriate” for any association with social justice causes. The “mood in the room” of American politics could only direct its sanctimonious scorn at Founding Fathers, dead poets, and seafaring explorers for so long. Skywalker Ranch should reinforce and guard its Yoda statue while it still has a chance.

In this case, the Scientific American was particularly concerned about a trend in which various organizations in social justice, the arts, and science have started using the acronym JEDI as a more buzzy alternative to “DEI” initiatives. DEI, which stands for “diversity, equity and inclusion” must not have been inspiring enough for some organizations looking to make Maoist struggle sessions more fun, so J was added on to reorder the initiatives as JEDI.”

Jedi are special in the pop culture zeitgeist, and everyone in his right mind views them as heroes warding off the forces of darkness. They are protectors of the weak. Helpers of the needy. They sacrifice and toil for others, often at their own peril. So why do the authors of the article in Scientific American (J. W. Hammond, Sara E. Brownell, Nita A. Kedharnath, Susan J. Cheng, and  W. Carson Byrd) dub this joyful Star Wars spin on “diversity, equity and inclusion” work to be “problematic”?