From the original script to A New Hope:

C3PO: "What a desolate place this is."

Trundling through the blistering desert heat with C3PO, R2 suddenly veers off toward a rocky horizon.

C3PO: "Where are you going?"

R2 hoots and twitters his reply.

C3PO: "Well, I'm not going that way. It's much too rocky. This way is much easier."

R2 shares a plaintive retort.

C3PO: "What makes you think there are settlements over there?"

More insistant, stacatto beeping from the truncated droid - clearly expounding on his reasons.

C3PO: "Don't get technical with me."

R2 seems to explain his logic in detail, though only 3PO can fathom the reply.

C3PO: "What mission? What are you talking about? I've had just about enough of you! Go that way! You'll be malfunctioning within a day, you nearsighted scrap pile!"

And with a swift kick in the backside, 3PO takes his leave, departing from his best friend in the universe to Force knows what fate in the boundless sands of Tatooine....

C3PO: "And don't let me catch you following me begging for help, because you won't get it."

R2-D2 issues his best and most effective robotic insults.

C3PO: "No more adventures. I'm not going that way."

Heroes-in-making R2 and 3P0, facing doom and desolation all around them, part ways to go it alone. R2 has his secret mission hard-wired into his chasis, 3PO has self-preservation hard-wired into his. Two diverging goals, two diverging minds, too diverging paths, two diverging friends.

I watched this scene the other night and it reminded me, oddly enough, of a tale of two cities. Two American cities, to be exact. Two cities dating back to earliest decades of this country's existence. Two cities that have staved off war to secure a nation in between, two vibrant ports and cultural centers. Two cities called New. New York City, and New Orleans.

It occured to me that those of us in this nation point to these two cities as our alternate destinations of national mandate. Many point to New York City on this day 5 years ago, and renew their pledge to fight abroad. Many more point to New Orleans 1 year ago, and ask why we won't fight for our own here at home.

And true to the core of our values, you can't rebuild one, while allowing the other to languish.

Five years ago our awareness was cast first to our own shores and then to far-flung horizons from whence our enemies were assumed to come from. One year ago our awareness was riveted to our own shores, and then to the human story within, the tragedy, and the questions. Two buildings fell, and that found a touchstone for our righteous anger. An entire city drowned, and that left us humbled and silent.

A mission to accomplish, or salvation to be found.

The scene struck me as interesting because of how Mr. Lucas resolved the diverging paths of two dear friends. One friend struck off in the direction of the mission, the other to find help. Both were willing to give each other up in pursuit of their goal. And try as they might to part ways, both ended up in the same place. Having realized that, both became heroes.

So maybe it's time to realize we're all going the same direction, whether we want to or not.

When you think of 9/11, think of Katrina. When you think of Katrina, remember 9/11. Know that for all our debates on the issues, they are two paths to the same destination, and we are still, inexorably, together.

DM out