Quotes of the Day

Our cover story on Revenge of the Sith, director George Lucas' final addition to the Star Wars saga, prompted readers to share their memories of growing up with the space opera that changed popular culture

I was delighted that you put the highly anticipated third episode of Star Wars, Revenge of the Sith, on your cover [May 9]. It reminded readers that milestones in entertainment can be just as historic as the political news that swamps the media. Director George Lucas has conceived vivid characters that in many ways resemble some members of George W. Bush's Administration. The final installment in the Star Wars epic could prove to be an eye opener for moviegoers.
Tengbo Li
Brighton, Michigan, U.S.

I remember going to see the first Star Wars film when I was 14. I was blown away by the sheer scope of the film and the number of people who stood in long lines to see it. As a little person who stands just over 4 ft. (1.2 m) tall, I've found strength in the depiction of Yoda. Before Star Wars, I had never seen anyone of such small stature portrayed as a hero possessing tremendous strength and dignity. Lucas brought Yoda to life, all 2 ft. (0.6 m) of him, and created one of the greatest screen characters of all time. "Judge me by my size, do you?" That line from The Empire Strikes Back gave me courage as I was growing up and made me realize that strength is found within and is not measured by whether you are tall enough to slam-dunk a basketball. Yoda was a hero my size.
Dan Madsen
Former President
The Official Star Wars Fan Club
Aurora, Colorado, U.S.

Your report made it apparent that Lucas has totally lost touch with his creative genius. his embrace of special-effects technology over anything else has squashed the soul of the latest Star Wars films. his reliance on limitless digital technology allowed him to create his vision, but he fails to see that limitations inspire creativity. The original three Star Wars films are abundant proof of that. Lucas should realize that none of the special effects in the most recent trilogy look real. The lack of popular respect for those movies is a fitting fate for a failed idea.
Daniel Fetherston
New York City

Richard Corliss wrote a great story on the new Star Wars movie. Revenge of the Sith looks like exciting summer entertainment and a real winner. I wasn't thrilled with the past two Star Wars movies in the prequel trilogy, but I'm looking forward to this one.
Mel McCormick
Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.

Star Wars raised our boys, taught them how to read and do math, and put them on the fast track to an interest in computer science. Both are now young men and college graduates. I'm sure they will save this issue of TIME along with all their other Star Wars items. For Christmas, even after they grew up, we always gave them the latest Star Wars toys. But what will we do after this year, when there won't be any more new episodes in the series?
Dale hill
Anadarko, Oklahoma, U.S.

I don't know a jedi from Yoda, but John Cloud's Viewpoint "How Star Wars Saved My Life" filled me with joy as I read how the movies enabled him to discover and lose himself in those characters and their experiences. Cloud's descriptions of his feelings and the impact those movies had on his life show why brilliant writing and the imagination of people in the arts are so important in our lives.
Michele Adashek
Bel Air, California, U.S.

Cloud's Viewpoint was delightful. It transported me to a quieter, more peaceful time. Thanks for the emotional and mental vacation. The piece was a refreshing respite from articles about politics and elected officials and the negativity that seemingly surrounds us today.
Gerald J. Luongo
Pompano Beach, Florida, U.S.

Although I have been an ardent moviegoer for more than 35 years and I am aware of the millions of Star Wars fans around the globe, I don't care that this is Lucas' last in the series. That his movies have amassed billions of dollars in worldwide box-office receipts doesn't make Lucas a great filmmaker. If he wants to prove himself, let him come up with something in addition to spaceships and special effects. Until he does that, I will prefer directors like Steven Spielberg, whose films Schindler's List and Saving Private Ryan show how deeply he can engage people's emotions.
Abbas Ali Massah
Tehran

What a coincidence: almost exactly 60 years after the end of World War II in Europe, the Star Wars villain, Darth Vader, is on TIME's cover. I imagine he is there not only to attract readers but also to symbolize that the once mighty "evil empire" eventually collapsed. May the Force stay with you.
Arek Druzdzel
Radom, Poland

Staunch Soldiers "Under the Gun" [may 9], on the severe problems of the Philippine military, was timely. The Armed Forces of the Philippines (A.F.P.) need a miracle to overcome the problems you described—"corruption, bad housing, woeful medical care"—but I do not agree that the A.F.P. has a morale problem. Poor equipment, yes, but not low morale. I was in the A.F.P. for 30 years, and I know that the Filipino soldier is highly motivated and fights without grumbling, even if he is short of equipment. Sad to say, the revolving-door policy of the President in appointing a short-term A.F.P. Chief of Staff has diluted the authority of the top brass. Congress should enact a law giving the A.F.P. Chief of Staff a definite term so he will have enough time to plan for the years ahead.
Joel R. hinlo
Brigadier General (ret.)
Armed Forces of the Philippines
Las Pinas City, the Philippines

Manly Hand Holding Joe Klein's column "the perils of Hands-On Diplomacy" [May 9] called attention to the photo of President Bush walking down an uneven path in Texas hand in hand with the infirm 80-year-old Prince Abdullah of Saudi Arabia. There is nothing "unmanly"—as Klein characterized it—in extending a helping hand. Klein seems to lack any cultural awareness of the world outside the U.S. Dan Bloom
Chiayi, Taiwan

Klein was insightful in asking if Bush might have done better to concentrate on energy independence instead of revamping Social Security. his column was fun to read, but it missed the real point: Was our President being subservient to Prince Abdullah to get better oil prices so the American people might benefit? Or was it an attitude characteristically displayed by Bush, his father and their business associates in their longtime relationship with the Saudis and therefore having nothing to do with affecting current oil prices? Jose L. Perez
Clearwater, Florida, U.S.

Girls Skate Too In his interview with TIME, skateboard champion Tony Hawk did a disservice to young women everywhere when he noted that his arena tour showcasing the sport is "one of the few events dads and sons can equally enjoy" [May 9]. What, girls don't skateboard? In his offhand statement, Hawk reveals the prevailing mentality: there are places where girls belong and places where they do not. Stop the brainwashing of young girls! Shelly Riley
Steamboat Springs, Colorado, U.S.

Appreciation
In a middle east where doors seem to open only to friends and friends of friends, one of TIME magazine's best friends was Abu Said Aburish, who died May 2 at age 92. He ran TIME's operations in Beirut from 1952 to 1989, and he provided the magazine's correspondents with entry to halls of power—and sources of sensitive information—far beyond Lebanon. At the height of his career, he held court at the bar of the glamorous Hotel St. Georges in Beirut, from which he followed the activities of diplomats, adventurers and spies even as he entertained, networked and gathered intelligence for the magazine. his generosity with guidance led John le Carré to acknowledge his help in researching The Little Drummer Girl. Aburish's scoops for TIME, some of which involved the shadowy machinations of his friends, are innumerable—and at one point he was jailed for his foreknowledge of plots. He knew almost all the major players of the Middle East at the time, from King Feisal of Saudi Arabia to Yasser Arafat to a young Iraqi named Saddam Hussein. Aburish was part of the Palestinian diaspora after the creation of Israel in 1948, and in exile his family took up the tourist trade in Beirut. There Mohammed Khalil Aburish (everyone called him by the more informal name Abu Said) pampered clients, including Saudi princes, during a period when no one paid particular notice to Saudi princes. Those contacts served him well once he took to journalism. TIME's access to Saudi Arabia, for example, was due in large part to Aburish's old friendships. In 1989 he retired from his work, left Beirut and went to live with a son in Seattle. There he held court at the Alexis Hotel, where the former doorman of the St. Georges had taken a job. Abu Said Aburish said he felt very much at home.

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