(no subject)

you know, Yoda’s quote about fear/anger/hatred has always disturbed me on so many levels since I first heard it, and I think I’ve finally unraveled some bits why.

He’s speaking in a position of absolute power and security versus young Anakin before him - of fucking course his idea of fear is going to be nothing like the one who is braving the entire galaxy of unknowns on a word of a mysterious man. 

It’s human nature to fear, especially if you’re desperate, maligned in some way, alone - it’s a survival mechanism wired to our very bones.  Instead, weaponize that fear.  Pull it out of your heart, sharpen it like a knife, learn how to use it responsibly and defend yourself - better yet, make an entire suit of armor out of your fear and hatred.  Pretending it doesn’t exist is foolishness to the uptenth degree, at least know how to fucking use it.  Otherwise it’s just a loaded gun in your hand, festering; and it’s going to turn on you at some point.

And Yoda never understood that - mando'ade, particularly Jaster’s faction -were always in a position of inferiority to force users and always being used by them.  They had to learn how to survive, use their armor, their anonymity, their hatred - everything at their disposal just to stay alive and left alone.  Their armor was just another layer of their identity; another way to re-forge themselves from broken, bitter selves to selves with choices and choices of ideals that they considered worth fighting for.  Family, justice, duty - every choice was respected, every person was respected (or rightly derided) for what they did, not what they couldn’t shred and destroy from themselves.

Fear for them is an integral part of their identity - you don’t turn to a life of violence like that unless you seek control of self with a terrible, terrible price.  Every one of them knew what it was like to run from something unbeatable, to be that desperate - their glory and pride is that they learned to master it.  And it is so incredibly worth it being proud of your self and yourself conquering your fears.