A different take on Revenge of the Sith

I've noticed on the radio lately several reports about folks taking parts of Revenge of the Sith to have a political meaning, somehow a slam on President Bush. Frankly this strikes me as a big stretch, however another message jumped out at me during the movie that hits a little closer to home.

I've forgotten a lot about episodes I and II so forgive me if some of my recollections are a bit off. That said ... I saw a big parallel between Anakin's slow descent into the dark side and many of the struggles our teens and young adults have today. Think of the Jedi as the parents, very busy parents, who see Anakin as the chosen one and want nothing but the best for him. Yet how many times do they actually say this to him or take the time to sit down and listen to their young prodigy. Esp. in episode III, Anakin pretty much left to his own devices and to wonder if the Jedi would accept him anymore if he came clean on his marriage, ripe for Palpatine to drop ideas into his head w/o anyone to counter them.

How would things have turned out if Obi-Wan instead of rushing off to the next battle, and telling Anakin to wait in the temple, had taken the time to sit down and talk? Find out why his young pupil so on edge, make clear the reasons they didn't make him a master and lay out the steps to attain that goal, let him know they valued what he had done to date and that they trusted him, but yet had concerns about the motivations of Palpatine in picking Anakin as his personal representative. Ditto this in the earlier movie with Anakin dealing w/ the loss of his mother and increasing turning to Padame for comfort, slowly increasing his reliance on her and his desire to marry.

Instead from Anakin's point of view the Jedi came across as rigid and arbitrary, Palpatine as willing to listen and concerned for his welfare. It seems to me a lot of our modern households have a similar dynamic, any wonder kids turn to gangs or their friends for advice and a sense of worth? The good news, it's never to late to change the dynamic in your household if you realize your family resembles Revenge of the Sith more than you'd care to admit.