Growing Up With Star Wars: Revisiting the Saga

During the last 3 months, my father has driven me to revisit the Star Wars saga. He gave me audio books to listen to, as well as access to his movie collection. He encouraged me to listen to the books and watch these movies, but this became difficult to do now that I am utilizing my time instead of playing videogames. As I continue through these books and movies, I will post my thoughts on them. I will not spoil the books and/or movies for the people who have not seen read or seen them. If you are interested, read or listen to the book, and watch the movie for yourself!

The first audio book is Star Wars-Darth Maul: The Shadow Hunter. This audio book was an intriguing one because it gave some background on the Darth Maul. He was incredibly powerful and was able to maneuver in ways that many Jedi could not. I strongly encourage any Star Wars fan to listen to this book. It takes you into the story and you find that time flies by as you follow each event in your mind. This audio book also puts a few questions in my mind. First, if Darth Maul was so powerful, why did George Lucas kill him in Episode I? Next, if Darth Maul would have lived, would he have been able to kill Palpatine?

Growing Up With Star Wars: Toys

Star Wars toys have been a major part of my life since I can remember holding one. I have my specific  favorites, but all of the Star Wars toys I had were both well-built and a blast to play with. I loved being able to control how the Jedi fought different creatures and toys that I had. Some were just for decoration, some used for great battles in my own home and some that went everywhere I went.

Many of the toys I played with as a child have been lost, taken or broken into many pieces.These toys are the only tangible thing I have left from my childhood. These same toys were the only link I had to my father during our separation. During these years of our separation, I did not realize how important these toys really are. As I look at these toys now, memories come back to me. I remember times when I was very young. For example, tying a string around Han Solo and hanging him from our balcony. I was four years old then.

These toys also remind me of how I was robbed of the time with my father and time just to be a kid. All the years that went by that I was playing with the very same toys my father had given me. I didn’t realize that until July of 2010. 11 years, from when I was 5 until 16, I was forced to grow up too fast. Forced to grow up without my father, who loves me more than I can even begin to understand. It’s amazing to me that I realized all of this from a few Star Wars toys. Luckily for me my father saved a bag of my toys. My only tangible link to the short childhood I had. Some of my favorite toys, from what I can remember, I actually have. Others are only in my memories.

These toys are not in any given order. They are just a few of the many favorite toys I have or had. Below is a picture of the all of the toys I still have, including the bag my father saved. The toys in the front are all of the ones I played with the most. But all these toys mean a great deal to me and I will always treasure them for as long as I live.

Growing Up With Star Wars: Video Games

The very first Star Wars video game I ever played Star Wars Episode I: Racer.  This game came out in 1999 and was a different type of racing game than other racing games. This probably explains why I was so bad at it. I was 6 at the time and my hands and brain were still growing. The next Star Wars game I played was Star Wars: Bounty Hunter. One of my favorite video games even now which came out in 2002.  This is because it was one of the first games that allowed me to use my brain in the way that I wanted to while enjoying a campaign. My favorite mission was the sixth mission, “Upper City”. It took me the longest to complete and was the most fun because I was able to drop down from the ceiling and kill my enemies.

A game I was not able to play was Star Wars: Galaxies. My father showed me this game about a year ago and I was amazed at the capabilities this game allowed. This game came out in 2002 and was far more advanced than any other game I have  played in my life. Luckily I pre-ordered a new video game called Star Wars: The Old Republic for my PC. After seeing the game play of Star Wars: Galaxies, reading about SWTOR and watching trailers of the game, I am convinced that this will be one of the best, if not the best game I have ever played. When my father and I found out that we were able to pre-order the game online, we seized the opportunity. We ordered the ”Star Wars: The Old Republic Digital Deluxe Edition”. This version of the game allows special opportunities that otherwise would not be available to us. It is not the “Star Wars: The Old Republic Collector’s Edition”, but it is better than the “Star Wars: The Old Republic Standard Edition”.

I am finding it quite difficult to choose what class I will play as. What will my playing style be? Will I choose to play on the “Light” or the “Dark” side? Will I rely more on defense or offense? Will I be sneaky while killing my enemy, or charge right into battle? So many options to choose from and I don’t know where to begin. I will have to wait for more information to be released.

Growing Up With Star Wars: The Movies

When I was young, my father and I would spend time watching the first three Star Wars movies to be released. The movies were: Episode IV  A New Hope, Episode V The Empire Strikes Back, and Episode VI Return of the Jedi. My father told me of the time I was able to recite the words of the movies as they were playing! Though I could not understand very much of what was going on, I was able to get a good grasp on the difference between good and evil. One of the most vivid memories I have from my childhood was “Great Pit of Carkoon” from Return of the Jedi. The reason why this is one of the most memorable moments is still a mystery to me. Another memory was seeing Han Solo frozen in carbonite. The thought of this boggled my mind for some time every time I saw it. The way Han Solo was frozen and how quickly it happened  was the most amazing to me.

In 1999, my father and I went to see Episode I The Phantom Menace in theaters. The Podraces were the coolest part of the movie to me at the time. The use of hovercrafts was intriguing even more so because I knew then that hovercrafts do not exist . Not only was young Anakin Skywalker able to beat the champion, Sebulba, but he was the youngest in history to ever win a podrace. This was inspiring to me because this showed me that even young people can achieve great things. The quality of the movie was noticeably better,  even to me at the time.

After being separated from my father , I lived with my mother who was not as big of a Star Wars fan as my father and I. Even though my mother took me to see Episode II Attack of the Clones and Episode III Revenge of the Sith, we were unable to connect in the way my father and I had in the previous years. Sadly because my mother and I did not discuss the movies as my father and I did, I do not remember these movies as well as the others.

Growing Up With Star Wars

Ever since I can remember, Star Wars has always been a part of my life in some way. Even being only 17 years of age, I have watched many different things come from the Star Wars Saga. Many kinds of toys, cartoons like “Star Wars: The Clone Wars”, clothes and costumes, video games, candy and all sorts of other things. My father exposed me to Star Wars at different times in my life. For a mind so young as mine was then, Star Wars has incredibly influenced my life growing up, and continues to influence me today.

This is great! The Department of Justice Helps out!

Meeting Tomorrow!

Reaction to new allegations of alleged discrimination at Alta High School

Statement

Need I say more?

2005 and nothing was done?

Direct Link

Alta High School students targeted with KKK Hoods and Hail Hitlers’.

I am currently a junior at Alta High School. I’m bi-racial. I have been attending Alta High School since the fall of 2010. I have experienced several occurrences of racism since then but it was the usual ignorant rants that mindless people say.
On March 17, 2011 @ approximately 9:00am the school was gathering for our annual spirit bowl. I woke up excited because the first spirit bowl I attended was fun but this time I was going to actually participate.
While walking across the gym floor to find a seat, a student wearing a white hood with holes for eyes was jumping around. When his friends saw that I had noticed they began pointing and laughing. I immediately demanded that he remove the hood. He then approached me and began dancing in my face and taunting me. I snatch the hood and threw it behind me and his crowd of friends became very displeased with this. I found a seat, finally, and sat down next to a friend. She, her sister and her friend all asked me if I was ok. I told them I was ok, and then began to contemplate how I was going to handle the situation.
I felt numb! I had no idea that the KKK was part of my high school spirit bowl.

Later during the assembly he donned his hood again. When he got the opportunity, he began running in circles while showing his support for the general Nazi cause, hailing Hitler. I was immediately reminded of a recent movie on Netflix that I watched with my father. The images of the Nazi party marching while the people hailing Hitler as they strolled by.
From my observation nothing was said or done but later a group of people’s names, including the racist supporter, were called to the administrative office.
After the spirit bowl I walked to my Spanish class and was appalled that he was sitting in class. His friends were laughing and bragging how funny it was. I then realized I needed to talk to my father as soon as possible. I asked my teacher if I could go to the restroom, took the pass, and when I got outside I called my father. He told me to go to the office immediately and tell someone about my situation. I had no idea he was preparing to join me.
We all know that racism is a problem and I had heard a series of stories underlying race problems in Utah. I am now convinced that this is true. Who in their right mind would plan to blatantly enforce their hate for others in a large gathering in a public school? How is it a joke? How is that funny?
This incidence has made a lot of people really show their true feelings at Alta High School. I was so surprised to find that there was a large group of supporters for the student and his racist demonstration. They even are so brazen to express their view on Facebook. They are so entrenched with their cause that they are willing to show their name and face in support of hate.
If your child has to attend Alta High School and they are nonwhite just know that the chances of being treated unethically are very high. My experience is that to be a non-white individual is a bad thing at Alta High School. Some people who are non-white have conformed, so they do not have to deal with this type of bullying.
My father was not surprised by what happened. He grew up in Utah and remembers that school administrators, teacher, parents, and students felt free to use the N-Word and other forms of emotional mistreatment. He is writing a book about his life and he says he is pulling back the curtain on this type of hatred. He also informed me that a lot has changed and there are people who will not stand for that behavior. My parents have taught me to love people and respect everyone but no one can prepare you for this kind of treatment/torment.

Reaction to new allegations of alleged discrimination at Alta High School

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