Though there are some similarities between the Jedi & Sith. The differences are undeniable. I can see how the line would not be as clear to those normal folks on the outside. Most would consider the war of the Jedi & Sith to be an internal struggle of the Jedi. Just as we in our society would lump fundamentalist factions with those in the mainstream of any religion we were not a part of. In part this could be a truth. In any case to the minds of those who were not Jedi, they wanted to be left out of the squabbles of the order. They wanted them to butt out of their lives. To go away. This is especially true by the time of the PT since the Sith had been in hiding so long that they wouldn't have even been a consideration. Let's take a look at what makes the two different and how this relates to the civilian population


One is the right of superiority.
The Sith believed in the strong ruling over the weaker. They being the strong and powerful and the everyone else being the weak. I would say they believed it their "divine" duty and right to be rulers and bring their own sense of justice to the social order. The Force users were superior to the mass populace and should therefore be over them. This was then brought even more concisely with the idea that among the Force users only two could be allowed to exist at any moment. The one to rule and the one to be trained to inherit rule. No others could be allowed.

The Jedi on the other hand thought of themselves as stewards. The Jedi had no need for the attachments of class or power. This was why they wore the travel robes of a peasant. They did not want to be classified as better than anyone. They saw they had gifts that were meant to serve and protect the way of life of the citizens of the GFFA. There were some that held elitist tendencies and some that were downright arrogant to be sure, but I would argue that they were in the minority and were skirting the line of the darkside. Some even fell. Such as C'Baoth in the doomed Outbound Flight or Dooku for example.

This did not matter to the average person however. The Jedi were strange and different with abilities that were beyond their understanding. So to some the Jedi became mystical and god like, and to others they were feared and mistrusted. To those fearful ones the lies of Palpatine just reinforced those fears and so the people gave up their rights to him without a thought. Good riddance to the Jedi and their meddlesome ways. The Empire would only come after you if you did something wrong right? So we are secure and the galaxy has order.

In our world it is much the same. No Jedi as protectors, no ships flying from system to system. We do have classes and different ways of thought that cause friction in our ever expanding human culture. We have leaders that manipulate our fears and try to gain power over the lower classes. We have Fundamentalists that twist the good of all religions to exclude and destroy those they hate. Dividing us further into us against them camps. We also have those people whom wish to be stewards of the planet and those who reside there in. That feel no one is better than the other. We are our brother and sister's keeper.


The use of Passion.
This is one of the main tenants of the Sith. Or at least what they say is their major tenent. It is most assuredly one of their most important tools. As one way of singling out potential Sith candidates, they seek those who have strong passionate tendencies. Passion is a powerful emotion that can be easily manipulated.

In this way something good can be twisted and perverted to evil. Passion can make you appear stronger as it fuels anger but it is actually a recognizable weakness. The Jedi saw this problem and decided to cut passion off from themselves. The thing with this was that in not allowing passion. They kept themselves from understanding the nature of life and failed to achieve true balance. The balance in oneself is not in denying the dark side of yourself but to accept that it is there experience it and learn what it has to teach and then keep it in check. By denial from the beginning the Jedi created impotent students incapable of knowing themselves much less being able to fight off the darkside. The Sith let themselves be overcome by their passions, and took it to the other extreme. Allowing it to rule them with the illusion of control. A spark is innocuous until it becomes a raging fire.

The Sith knew the power of passion in the masses. They recognized that inciting passion in the populace distracts eyes away from things that actually affect them. Leaving them clear to do as they please. The Jedi being passive could separate themselves emotionally from an issue. They worked to calm the passions of the people in their mediator roles which put them at odds with those who felt they put their noses where they should not belong.

I see many in our world that become slaves to their own passions whatever they may be. Passion can be a wonderfully intense experience when accompanied and tempered by love. In some cases however we become addicted. "We can stop. What's one more time, right?" Until we become lost in the darkness. It can also lead to possessiveness. which I will discuss further on. In other instances intolerance can form. This can be manipulated by those falling into the first category of right of superiority. We should remember that creating too many sacred cows means being careful of the bulls.


Fear & Anger.
This will fall into a similar category with the last two. In fact all of these walk hand in hand with one another. These are emotions that the Sith thrived on. They felt stronger with them. While the Jedi again suppressed them. The Jedi would not let themselves be ruled by the negative, but just like the other aspects of the dark, it would be impossible to remove completely.

Fear is a driving force in many horrible acts. In the Dune series it is called the "mind killer". It keeps us imprisoned and easily controlled. It makes us unable to think or to reason, therefore the mind can fall for the tricks of the power seekers. Fear makes otherwise good people into murders. When in this mode there can be justifications for almost anything. Especially in a mob situation where confusion is the rule. The more fear we have the more anger we feel.

Again this was an easily manipulated emotion for the people. Anger like fear is one of the most dangerous of emotions. In turn it can be easily manipulated by those like the Sith. There is no positive in it's presence. Anger can be sudden and fierce or slow and soul consuming.
The Sith felt these emotions hardened themselves and made them powerful. This power is fleeting in that the ones touched by it soon weary of the negative and the blinders are lifted. Once illuminated the cockroaches scurry away or are squashed under foot.


Possessiveness, Greed & the Self.
If the Sith wanted something they took it. Satisfying the need to have everything was a right to them. How it affected others mattered very little. The desires of selfishness and the moment superseded all else. As in all Sith teachings the self was above all. The Jedi however attempted to live in harmony with the all. The relinquishing of ownership and needs was an outward symbol of having no needs "beyond" self. They saw themselves not above all. They were the all. You have no need of something you are already a part of.

Love when overtaken by passion can lead to possessiveness. It strangles the love which once flourished. Think of this in the metaphor shown in Anakin's Force choke of Padme. The love that was, consumed by his desire to own and control something free, is smothered (choked). Love can only wither and die in those conditions.


Bravery & Honor.
The Sith could talk a big talk but they were nothing more than cowards. It is easy to use other peoples bravery so you don't have to. They used dirty tricks to gain an upper hand and had no trouble in stabbing a "friend in the back". The Jedi on the other hand would gladly sacrifice themselves if it meant saving or protecting others. Bravery and honor were second nature to them.


Death & Dying - The Spirit
This is actually the idea that spurred on this blog. This was to be my take on how each looked at life and the afterlife. The longer I thought about it the more I felt need to examine more than just this and well.... here we are. The nature of death shapes so much. Most importantly how we live is determined by how we relate death. The GFFA is no different.

The Jedi had no fear of death. Even for those not schooled in Force Ghosts there must have been some concept of returning to and becoming one with the Force. Death was not something to be mourned but to be honored. They did not see it as an ending but more as a transition into a new existence. The Sith by their actions did not see things in the same light. They feared death (despite what Lumiya has said in recent books). A being can't accept death if they are running from it. The Sith of Palpatine's ilk in particular seemed to want eternal "physical life". They tried to by any means mechanical or of the Force to preserve themselves for as long as they could. No small feat since they wanted to kill one another as much as they wanted to kill their enemies.

It is an interesting juxtaposition to look at how the Sith wanted themselves preserved but they had no problem at all in dealing out death to others. Then looking at the Jedi who took a passive stance on their own death, stood for preserving life outside themselves. The Sith used the Force as a tool for their power which ironically blocked them from ever achieving the full power and connection to it. They could master the techniques but the Force was separate like clothing or a speeder or a hammer. Hence they thought of themselves separate from everyone and everything outside of themselves. This makes it much easier to commit horrible acts if it is not affecting you personally. The Jedi felt connected to everything. If you believe you are a part of and connected to all there is then harming anyone or anything would be harming yourself. Look how the Jedi are affected when anyone dies. They felt the loss and pain personally. The only way anyone could do harm to themselves is if they have disconnected emotionally & spiritually.


The people of the GFFA could not see how better off they were with the Jedi as their protectors. And so it goes good deeds often go unnoticed or unappreciated. Maybe the Jedi should have kept to the temple and their studies instead of becoming involved in the affairs of government and the people, but they knew the duty their abilities came with. They knew they were the stewards of all. Even those who wished them gone.