It's been nearly seven years since we first met Jar Jar Binks and many people still express their outright hatred for him. The backlash from fans was so strong that Lucas limited the creature's appearance in Episodes II and III. He ended up becoming the being that would vote to give Palpatine more powers; little realizing the sorrow this ushered into the galaxy.

However, let's look at Jar Jar in Episode I. What are his characteristics? He is admittably clumsy. He is difficult to understand (verbally). He is frightened (but to his credit, he is not easily frightened, but frightened in battle or when about to be eaten by a large fish--i.e., frightened when anyone would be). He is sometimes annoying. However, he wants to be of help. He would like a second chance.

What does all of this add up to? Jake Lloyd may have been the 8-year-old on the set, but Jar Jar was the child.

The first time I saw "Episode I" it was with two boys from my church. One was eleven and had been diagnosed with ADHD. When Qui-Gon grabbed Jar Jar's tongue and told him "don't do that again" in regards to sticking it out and snatching a piece of fruit, the boy said: "But that's how he eats."

So, what ah mesa saying? Jar Jar was George's way of acknowledging that a LOT of "Star Wars" fans are children. Children are not always easy to understand (verbally), they can be clumsy, situations that seem mundane to us can frighten them (or, on the other hand, some of them survive traumas we wouldn't wish on our worst enemy), sometimes they can be downright annoying. Nevertheless, they want to help, in whatever large or small way they can. They would like a second chance.

So what did I think of Jar Jar? I was disappointed at first, the whole "life debt" thing was previously attributed to Wookiees, and I would have rather Jar Jar been a Wookiee, but over the years I have come to realize that if I were like many kids today, who always feel in over their heads and that they are in constant trouble, then I could relate to the mixed up Gungan and find him funny, but also a little relieved that he's something like me, because if George Lucas, who I don't know, can come up with someone like me, I must not be the only one like me.