It's no secret that the concept of attachment/love is central to the saga. In AOTC, Anakin's relates to Padme his "certain point of view" about love and the Jedi. Instead of being "forbidden", Jedi are "required" to love, he says. Padme is no Jedi, but she shares that reluctant attitude toward love- at first. Duty, service, and other ideals are more important. A galaxy on the brink of war, preserving democracy, the Republic- these are the more important things. Until the Geonosis arena.

"I truly, deeply, love you."

Later, Yoda shares his perspective, which we could call the official, authorized Jedi view. His advice to Anakin in ROTS is to learn to "let go" of everything he might fear losing, because that fear would lead to the dark side.

But Anakin does not heed this advice, and his love for Padme becomes the pivot point for Sidious' manipulations, and the creation of Darth Vader, and the revenge of the Sith.

So who was right about love? Anakin? Not really. His philosophy is actually a rationalization to justify his desire, and get what he wants- or maybe I should I say who he wants.

Yoda then? I don't think so. Be happy when beings you care about join with the Force? "Mourn them do not." Like so many things in life, much easier said than done. Why bring the clones to Geonosis then? Why fight at all then? Put his perspective in practice and it would create some terrible circumstances, and did. Yoda eventually sends Obi-Wan to kill, not reason with, not negotiate with, Anakin. You've gotta be a cold-hearted so and so to do something like that, but that's another blog.

Who really understood love? Padme. And that's why she's the real Chosen One. Without her influence, her life, the galaxy could never have been saved.

If we understand that the Force was out of "balance", and we assume that this means an inequality between the light and the dark, Jedi and Sith, then isn't it interesting that the solution to this problem didn't come from either camp? Nope, I'm not forgetting Anakin.

Luke, Padme's son (how often do we think of him that way?) becomes the solution, the key to restoring the balance, because he had a philosophy of love instilled in him not from the Jedi, not Anakin, not the Sith, but his mother.

"There is still good in him."

That fundamental mindet, way of looking at the world, is so pure, so refreshing, and so powerful, that it overcomes darkness and destroys fear. Now that I think of it, we could use some more of that type of love in our galaxy...

Your thoughts?

Edit- Regarding Padme's sense of duty I mentioned in the first paragraph, I meant to give props to Galactic Babe for her excellent blog which you've already seen on the front page 11/21. Her question helped spark the thoughts I blogged here. Thanks GB!