As delivered before the Galactic Council of Earthly Affairs, Earth
Mmm.
Much applause I heard, for the speech of the Senator.
Calm, he was. Careful, his words were. Persuasive, yes.
But dangerous.
Deceive you, such words can.
Like the dark side itself — soft at first. Soothing.
But step by step, down a path it leads… from freedom to fear, from
choice to chains.
He says: “Lay down your arms.”
That only the state must carry weapons. That peace will follow.
But I ask you: Peace for whom?
And at what cost?
The Senator speaks of chaos, anarchy,
recklessness.
Hmm. But what is chaos, to a ruler who fears defiance?
He says: “You do not give blasters to children.”
But we speak not of children — we speak of citizens.
Of beings with minds, with dignity, with rights.
To carry arms is not to invite war. It is to declare: “I will not be ruled by force alone.”
He speaks of unity — and yes, unity is
powerful.
But unity without liberty… is submission.
It is order without justice.
And peace without truth.
The Clone Army marched in unity. The Empire ruled in unity.
But free, were they?
No.
The Senator says: “What kind of government fears its people?”
I say: A wise one.
A just government does not seek to destroy the power of the people —
it earns their trust.
It respects their strength. It does not fear it… but neither does it try
to take it away.
For when only rulers may wield force… rule by consent becomes rule by command.
Yes… told, some were — only the loyal may bear arms. Only the
obedient.
“Ordinary beings, no need have they,” said the tyrants. “Serve the
state… or be silent.”
Thus freedom vanished.
And peace? No peace there was.
Only silence. Only fear.
He promises you protection.
But protection without autonomy is not peace.
It is dependence.
And dependence, when betrayed, becomes despair.
Hrrrm. Trust in the state, he says. But I have seen what comes of
that trust, when too deep it runs.
Jedi trusted the Republic. And blind, we were, to its fall.
Weapons are dangerous, yes. But far more dangerous is power
without limit.
And far more deadly… is obedience without question.
To keep and bear arms is not a rebellion — it is a reminder.
A reminder that sovereignty belongs to the people.
Not to the throne.
Not to the Senate.
Not to the Jedi.
To the people.
So I say to you now:
Choose peace — but not peace by surrender.
Choose order — but not order by fear.
Choose unity — but not unity by force.
Stand not with the strong because they are strong. Stand with the free… because they are free.
Hold fast to your right to resist. To speak. To stand armed if you
must.
Not in anger. Not in hate.
But in duty.
And may freedom be with you. Always.