A New Era

Welcome aboard Kyber Squadron! This week, I wanted to use the new newsletter to highlight a bit more about the moment we are in and what this newsletter aims to accomplish. As the 2024 election continues to heat up in the US, we are faced with an increasingly detached electorate. Issues are viewed as “too complex” and our impact is often minimized to simply voting or, if you have money to spare, donating to a campaign. However, every democratic system is actually held together by something much simpler, and that is your participation. Whether it is volunteering for a campaign or nonprofit tackling an issue you care about, providing testimony on an issue that impacts you directly, or requesting information from your government to share information with your peers, there are so many ways to engage and actively shape the communities that you’re in. Rise of Skywalker introduces us to Zorii Bliss who reminds Poe that the First Order wins by making you think that you’re alone–but we’re not alone.

Case in point, with the election wrapping up, there are still plenty of things that can be done. For example, if you have voted already, you can help your local officials running for office by phone banking for them. If you’re not interested in calling people on behalf of a politician, consider calling people on behalf of ballot initiatives! Some of the larger ones like Amendment 4 in Florida, an amendment to enshrine Abortion Access in the state constitution, and Amendment J in Colorado, to enshrine Same-Sex Marriage in the state constitution, can have a big impact on you and your local community while completing bypassing politicians and other elected officials who say one thing to get your vote and then do something different. These amendments are brought forward by people just like you, and are won with the support of communities, not just dollars.

Sithty Minutes has always been about making the complicated world of politics more accessible, and reminding Star Wars fans that if you know the galaxy inside and out, then you already have insight into how policies can help or harm the people. If you loved the Original Trilogy, then you understand how a ragtag group of rebels can change the world. If you like the Prequel Trilogy then you understand how corruption can bring out the worst in our institutions, ultimately leading to fascism. If you like the Sequel Trilogy then you understand that simply defeating evil once (like voting blue in one election) is not enough until the people rise up and make their voices heard. These lessons are all available to us, so long as we have the courage to look beyond the shiny lightsabers and flashy space battles to analyze the depth of the franchise. I hope you’ll join me on this journey, and help your neighbor just like the Rebels did in your favorite show/film/book!