Worshipping the Ideal

3 June 1988

Fans of Star Wars used to be just geeks, who loved the films and characters (when they thought they were just that), now, they are in a dilemma as to the true nature of their identity.

Their heroes are no longer their own, to be played with in the realm of the imagination. Now they are actually real, it seems, and it has split opinions on whether or not that is a good thing.

Many fans have already signed up to become part of the ILM's new police force, perhaps simply because they want to be part of it all and to get closer to their heroes. Others who have stayed away from what they call 'the dark side' remain skeptical to the rapidly changing events of SWIAR.

Kids from the
SWFG in casual attire

"Why would the new Star Wars government want an army of stormtroopers? They are the bad guys", one source said. "If they were recruiting Jedis, I'd probably join up. Where are the Jedis?".

Indeed, Darth Vader is a member of the SW7, who is supposedly on the dark side of the force. Yet he is teamed up with good guys Ben Kenobi, Princess Leia, Han Solo, Chewbacca and, less clearly, Lando Calrissian and Senator George Lucas. It doesn't make a lot a of sense. If Star Wars were indeed actually real then wouldn't they be on different sides?

The remainder of fans who'd prefer to worship the ideal versions of their heroes, rather than the ones that are sitting in office in County Hall, have banded together and call themselves the Star Wars Fan Group (SWFG).

Unlike the Forcetroopers of the ILM, the SWFG have no uniform, they do not all dress up as Jedi knights (yet). Instead they are more likely to be seen in casual dress: jeans and T-shirt.