The Jedi of theStar Warsprequel trilogy made their biggest mistake long beforethe tragedy of Order 66. In the lead-up to the Jedi Order’s sadly inevitable destruction inStar Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, the Jedi suffered from many errors in judgment.
They let their fear of the dark side cloud their vision and connection with the Force; they failed to see Palpatine’s manipulation of Anakin Skywalker, and they allowed themselves to get swept up in a violent, galaxy-wide conflict.The Jedi were unbalanced. They were no longer true peacekeepers, and no single decision makes this more apparent than their treatment of the clone troopersduring the Clone Wars.
The Jedi Didn’t Question The Ethics Of Using A Clone Army
Inexplicably, the Jedi never questioned what it meant for them to utilize the clone trooper army. While they were curious about the creation of the clone army, which they later learned was commissioned by a Jedi Master gone rogue known as Sifo-Dyas, they never stopped to think about what it meant for them to send the clones into war.
The clones were slaves to the Jedi Order long before the inhibitor chips in their brains made them slaves to the Empire.
Sure, one could argue that that’s exactly what the clones were bred and trained for, and that the Separatists/Sith never gave them a choice – how else were the Republic and the Jedi going to find an army large enough to fight against the droids? – but the clones were real, breathing human beings, with personalities and dreams and hopes.
The Jedi never allowed them to decide for themselves. The clones were bred for war, so they were used for war.
The Jedi Should Have Given More Clone Troopers A Choice In Fighting
The clones were slaves to the Jedi Order long before the inhibitor chips in their brains made them slaves to the Empire.The Jedi may not have forcibly removed the clones’ free will the same way Palpatine did, but they never gave them a chance to question their allegiance, either.It’s not so different from how the First Order created its stormtrooper army. It’s all about choice.
Where else could they go? Those clones who decided to leave (or left the war through circumstance) were branded as deserters. Those who were seen as defective were sent back to Kamino.
They were never given a chance to lead a life of their own, and by the time the Empire had taken over the galaxy, and they’d outlived their usefulness, the few surviving clones were left to fend for themselves, completely unprepared for life beyond war.
Some, like Captain Rex and the members of the Bad Batch, found a way to survive. Others, like the clone trooper Obi-Wan encounters on Daiyu inObi-Wan Kenobi, were left destitute.
There werethousands of clone troopers, with more being created every day.Why couldn’t the Jedi have given them a choice, or at least offered them an alternative future, providing other ways for the clones to serve the Republic during the crisis?
The Jedi felt it was their duty to protect the galaxy; they decided to align themselves with the Republic and fight against the Separatists. The least the Jedi could have done was offer the clones the same courtesy before the war broke out inStar Wars.
The Mandalorian and Grogu
