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"I need to do some emergency gloating." ~Han Solo
by: v'TaiakEth
date posted: Jun 29, 2006 3:55 PM
Let Freedom Ring--What did the Empire tell their kids about the founding?
A bit of background. When I was 9, I moved to Massachusetts and before I could even get properly settled in, our school did the unit on the Revolutionary War. I immediately got to know everything I wanted to ever know about the war and then some. We made field trips to battle sites, memorized all of these complicated names like the "Intolerable Acts" and drew pictures of the Boston Tea Party.

All in all, because I really like history, I thought it was a cool thing. Every year, in fact, I watch Gettysburg or Glory or another film about America's history so I can remember that freedom isn't always easy, even if it's always worth it.

Today, however, I was thinking about the Founding of America and all my random ancestors who fought for independence and I had a random thought.

Undoubtedly, in order to maintain the Empire, there had to be some measures set in place to make sure people always thought it was better than what they had. The fall of the Republic was played up by our favorite boy Palpatine as for the prosperity and security of society and people were, for the most part, pretty enthusiastic about the idea.

But what about their kids?

Did the average Imperial kid get to a point in school where they drilled into their heads the injustices of the Separatists and the traitorous, Benedict-Arnold-Jedi? Did they know about the Petition of the 2000 that forced the Chancellor to quell the Senatorial treachery and put an Emperor in place to protect his people?

Did they feel patriotic about this? How early was it started? Was it left to the parents and their sense of loyalty to the Empire or was that considered too risky?

Now, while I grew up feeling proud of what happened in the Revolutionary War, I have this strange idea of the Empire kinda having a bit of the Hitler Youth indoctrination programs to make sure that those kids grew up wanting to fight for the Empire's sovereignty just as much as their parents did.

  greenandwhitejedi
Bar 66
date Posted: Jun 29, 2006 4:11 PM
Gotta respect the colonies for achieving seperation, not to mention for resisting the long-term influence of the other imperial powers - who were obviously just helping out of the goodness of their hearts ;) .
I have no doubt that there were indoctrination classes for the youth in the Empire. Not to mention re-education centres for the unruly adults.

mandalore65
Mandalorian Pride
date Posted: Jun 29, 2006 4:26 PM
I have no doubt that there were indoctrination classes for the youth in the Empire. Not to mention re-education centres for the unruly adults.

right outa' my mouth:D
Nice Blog
  chorche X
Clone commander Cody(CCC), ccc stands for Clone Commander Chorch_X "Yes, sir. Am right on schedule!"
date Posted: Jun 29, 2006 6:15 PM
You know you are right...but however remember that Palpi- boy was a sith lord and all that cared was the destruction if the Jedi, one way or another. That is why he managed to kill Mace and let the evidence as an attempt to assassinate him. Witch at the senate they will believe in him. Like you said.

God bless and MTFBW yia'll.
Lord Harald
The Council of Evil
date Posted: Jun 30, 2006 8:32 AM
I have no doubt that there was schoolprograms for imperial children, but not everywhere. I can't imagine that every single starsystem even has a schoolsystem. Propaganda and fear of the Deathstar and Vader probably kept the systems in line. And in EU you read about deserting highranking imperial officers (General Veers' son amongst them) that joined the rebels cause.
anakinside1
Echoes from the Asteroid Field
date Posted: Jun 30, 2006 1:45 PM
Very interesting blog! I remember in a recent SW insider there was a great bit of fiction about what Palp's whole speech on the first day of the Empire was, as well as propaganda about the "treachery" of the Jedi. It was interesting to read. I wonder if the TV show will go into this at all. I hope it will.

:)
anakinside1
Echoes from the Asteroid Field
date Posted: Jun 30, 2006 1:46 PM
BTW I've really enjoyed your blogs recently!:)
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