Even Star Wars Has Bullies

Do you ever feel like you have reached your limit? Ever feel like you have been pushed around long enough? Sometimes we all reach that point in life, even our children. So how do we help them when faced with this challenge?

I have often wondered about the imagination of George Lucas, and the design team that created the wonderful universe of Star Wars. Where did they find their inspiration? How did they come up with this ship design or that? Where did they get the ideas for the imaginative characters we see on the screens?

Then in Episode 6, Return of the Jedi, we were introduced to a very “unique” creature. From the moment he came onto the screen, there was no doubt, at least in my mind, where the inspiration came from. Captain Panaka described this group best, “The Hutts are gangsters…” These beings were the worst of the worst. In the galactic dictionary, beside the term thug or bully, you would expect to find a picture of a Hutt. And no Hutt was more infamous or feared than Jabba the Hutt.

He was the gangster’s gangster, the bully’s, bully. He was the top. What he wanted, he got, no matter the cost. Jabba the Hutt was the quintessential bully. From before Anakin was born, until his death at the hands of Luke, no one messed with Jabba.

Bullying has been around since the beginning of time. One need look no further than the story of David and Goliath  - bullies do not get much bigger than this. Over the years it has taken different forms, and even more recently, has moved to the Internet. But no matter the form, it is still basically the same. The little guy getting pushed around by the “big” kid. The kid that no one wants to mess with. The one who always gets what he wants.

As I watch the scenes with Jabba the Hutt, I can’t help but think about the classic playground scene – the school’s “tough man” towering over the “little guy” of the class. As he stands there, quaking before that bully, what is he to do?

Sadly, this is a question and situation that most kids will face at some point while growing up. No matter how much we try to protect, shelter, and shield them from an event like this, it will inevitably happen. Whether a giant Hutt, or that kid on the playground, our children will at some point, run into someone bigger than them, who will push until they get what they want.

So what are they to do? When asking this question, consider the Jedi’s golden boy, Luke. In those first scenes of Return of the Jedi, we see Jedi Skywalker faced with this exact problem. Han Solo had been captured. The prisoner of Jabba the Hutt, encased in carbonite, the comrade of Luke needed to be rescued. The bully, Jabba, would hear none of it. In Luke’s response to this situation, we see some excellent lessons we can share with our children, when dealing with the bullies in their lives.

Before looking at Luke’s response, we must consider who he was. In the previous blog posts, we looked at how each person is unique and special, and the importance of standing firm for beliefs and what is right. This was Luke’s starting point, just like it must be for our children.

Luke understood who he was and how he was unique, and because of this, he was able to stand, even against this huge bully. David understood who He was, and who as with him, and that enabled him to fight, when no one else would. Our children must have this same foundation. When they know who they are and that they are special, this will give them a great starting point for dealing with those who would try to intimidate them.

Initially, as the movie begins, Luke simply tries to talk. He sends representatives to deliver a message to Jabba. Luke’s first step is to try to diffuse the situation. Through talking, trying to solve the problem, and in a way, even befriending him (through the “gift” of the droids), he seeks to address the problem.

Our children need to know that this always needs to be the first step. While talking will not always resolve the problem, it is always a good way to begin. This is a lesson that they can carry with them into their adult life. Unfortunately, in today’s society, talking and listening are lost arts. People are not always keen on talking things out – often yelling, insults, and swift reactions have replaced this very valuable step (even from those who should be our examples).

In the course of events, we see that this step does not work for Luke, yet even in this, he does not jump right to fighting. He seeks to avoid a confrontation altogether, by simply sneaking Han out. In talking with my students, I try to let them know that it is okay to just walk away. Fighting is not the proof of courage and strength – sometimes it takes more strength and courage to walk away. Taking this course will not always be easy - in reality, it will be very difficult, and it may not solve the problem, but sometimes, walking away can be the most courageous thing one does.

When this fails to work for Luke, he attempts again to talk Jabba out of a confrontation. Following this unsuccessful attempt, there is only one course of action left to him; he must stand up, and fight. But in this fight, Luke is not alone. He has the force, a power greater than himself, and he has his friends. When David faced Goliath, he knew who was with him and that he was not alone.

Our children need to know that this is available to them as well. There will be times in which they must stand up, and may even need to fight as a last resort, but when this occurs, they have someone that will stand with them, and support them. There will be problems that are too big for them, and they need our support when this happens.

Whether us, or friends – as Luke had on the skiff with him, or an even greater power, they need to know that they are not alone. Even when they have to fight, when all the other steps have failed, someone will be there to support them.

In this movie, we see that Luke was successful in this fight, but this does not always happen. Sometimes the bully wins (just consider the Emperor). Even when this happens, our children need to know there is no shame in losing, as long as they stood their ground and stood up for their beliefs.

There will always be someone bigger and tougher, but as long as each person knows who they are, and is willing to stand up, even to those bullies, win or lose, they really have won. What has been your experience with bullies? Did it end when you grew up, or have you run into some even as an adult? How did you handle it? Have you had to help your kids through a situation like this? How did you help them?

Dealing with bullies is hard. Take time to share with others and your children your experiences, and what you learned from them. Our children need to know that even as they deal with them, there is someone there that can help walk them through it. Just like Luke, at some point, they will need to stand up and deal with the problem, the question is, how can we help them do this?