I've been following Blue Leader 46's "Why I hate clones" blogs, and I wanted to post a rebuttal. I really do think there is way too much "us versus them" in this world. And, it would appear that is drifting over to the GFFA. It is my point that the clones were fully human and tragically exploited.

I'll fall back on that which I know and am well versed in. Dog breeding. We have all varieties of dogs, all from the same wolf genetics. A German Shepherd Dog and a Maltese terrier are very different dogs. They were bred for different purposes, but their genome is virtually identical. Many German Shepherds naturally herd things together (children, sheep, ducks), but if the dog doesn't herd, and its parents were both GSD, it's still a GSD. Even more to the point, it is still a dog.

Now, if I came forward and said that a Maltese terrier is not a dog because it doesn't look like or act like my German Shepherd, who looks more like a wolf, would I be right or wrong? Clearly wrong. They are different breeds, different animals, different individuals.

Now, lets bring humans into the equation. I have several friends who are identical twins. Same genetic code, very different people. Are they any less individuals because there is an exact genetic copy of them running around? No because each one has his own individual memories and experiences that shaped who they are today.

Now bring the two together. Even if I have modified a Mandalorian template to be more docile, the offspring is still fully human. Why? Because I'm certain there are other naturally bred individuals out there that are still more docile. Is there a point at which your German Shepherd is too docile to be deemed a German Shepherd? Too docile to be a dog? Again, clearly not. The clones are fully human, fully individuals, shaped by their training to act as soldiers, but fully self-aware and fully capable of independent decision making.

Does that make the clones evil? No. They end up being the tool of evil, but they are doing what they have been trained to do. Any military force drills its soldiers so that they will know how to react in any number of anticipated situations. The key is that when the going gets really bad, they have training that says "this is what you do" hard wired into their brain. They don't sit and think about it. They slot the enemy before the enemy slots them. The clones have been trained since they were decanted to follow orders and obey the chain of command.

What then of Order 66? The clones turned on their commanding officers and killed them without malice? Well, I hope that most soldiers kill without malice. They should be professionals about it. I sincerely hope that slotting the enemy doesn't give a soldier happy warm feelings. However, when a direct order is given and it doesn't violate any rules of engagement, they should do it. It's not like Palpatine ordered the clones to mow down a bunch of women and children. These were battle-hardened Jedi. The Jedi, even such a small number, were very dangerous and capable of amazing feats. The clones were told that the Jedi were enemies of the Republic, and they believed their CO. It is not like they were ordered to round up the Jedi and torture them. Taking out an enemy of the state is a pretty clear-cut command.

Things are not always as they seem. The clones were relying on the judgement of the chain of command above them to make the correct decision, the moral decision. They were doing their part to protect a Republic in which they had no stake. That is the real tragedy of the Clone Wars. The clones were heroes who worked hard and gave their lives for a way of life they could never enjoy. Whether they were borne of a woman or from a flask matters not. What matters is that they were brave in the face of horrific odds.