The Fredösphere

I haven't seen the new Star Wars, and I don't have to.  I knew three years ago what direction the plot would take.  Permit me to quote an email I sent some friends right after episode II came out, on the subject of the decadence of the Jedi:

WHAT WAS THE JEDI COUNCIL THINKING when they tasked Anakin with "guarding" a gorgeous young woman who has nothing better to do than parade up and down terraces in backless gowns, have picnics in meadows, and pop pieces of peeled fruit into her mouth?  If they want to maintain a celibate culture, they need to give their young people lots of work to fill up their time.  Preferably, work involving exhausting physical labor.  Ditch digging would be fine for the purpose.

And speaking of celibacy:  Let's look at the situation as it now stands.  We have an organization in decline, trying to maintain a rule of strict abstinence.  We know that eventually it will all but fall apart.  The adult members, mostly male from what we've seen, each keep a young "apprentice" in tow.  I think we have enough information to make a prediction about the plot of episode III....

Yes, face it:  if the Catholic church could be rocked by such a scandal, if the freakin' Jesuits of all groups could see their subculture radically redefined, how could the Jedi presume to be above such a disaster?  Why else is Yoda living in a swamp in episode V?  Could it be that, being a registered sex offender, no other neighborhood would have him?  Now we can guess what really drives Anakin over to the dark side.  No wonder Obi-Wan lacks the moral authority to resist him in the light saber duel in episode IV.  One more reason, as if you need it, to conclude the Empire is better than the Republic.

And finally, they're not beneath using choral music to frighten people.