As a fan who has been with "Star Wars" almost since the beginning, it is difficult for me to determine when the Ewok bashing began. I was nine in 1983 and can tell you that none of my peers (at the time) disliked Ewoks. Their popularity was so immense that two Award-winning Ewok films followed (they were presented in theaters in Europe and on television screens in America): "Caravan of Courage" (renamed "An Ewok Adventure") (1984) and "Ewoks: The Battle for Endor" (1985). When "The Ewoks and Droids Adventure Hour" premiered, See Threepio and Artoo Detoo's adventures lasted only one season, but the Ewoks went on until 1987. This is an intriguing fact: It seems "Star Wars" fans could not accept Artoo and Threepio without Luke, Leia, and Han, but Ewoks could be enjoyed without so much as a mention of the other characters and planets in a GFFA.

I think the bashing came when all entertainment began to get "darker", a scenerio whose appeal has always been lost on me. For some reason, friendly, furry creatures went out of styles, at least on screen (thank God for cats, not in real life).

So, what if Lucas decided to someday ax Ewoks from "Jedi"? I think we would be left with a much less interesting film.

First off, it would certainly be a film less appealing to children. The Ewoks engage an audience that might be afraid in Jabba's palace, bored on Dagobah, and lost in the Emperor's throne room (let's face it, most of us didn't have a clear picture of what was going on there as kids, we knew Luke was Vader's son and he wanted to rescue him, but what was all the pish-posh with the Emperor?). Frankly, this is where the Prequels are lacking, with the exception of Episode I, that goes overboard, we need something for the kids (Episode III was the best balanced with the Artoo opening).

However, whether we want to admit it or not, as adults, we like the Ewoks, too. If Han had encountered a moon full of Wookiees (as was the original idea) he would have been right at home, so there ends all the conflict and humor between the Han and the Ewoks. Furthermore, Wookiees were very familiar with people and there would have been none of the enteraction between them and See Threepio.

Then there is the moral message that Ewoks represent. No, I'm not going to give the standard kiddie one, but again, for us grown-ups: the Ewoks were physically small and had none of the military power. Most of us are small economically, and in the power and influence departments. However, the Ewoks size didn't stop them from going against evil, and our limitations shouldn't prevent us from standing up for what is right.

So go herd that, Scruffy!

Or, thanks for reading, to those who are already Ewok fans.