The Keeper of Just Jedi 2019
The Empire Statement
The most recent work of Community Wide Keystones would be known as the Empire Statement. Started and created by community member Alex Bird chapter leader of the facebook group Jedi: Empire State who then opened it up to community scrutiny and adapting as well as use.
To this day it is used by a small handful of the community, but grows by those who took it to heart. Further plans to develop this statement are in progress but for now, it earns a place in our history and lessons.
Journal Entry
Read through the Empire Statement and write your thoughts on how it is appears different from other Key Stones. What would you add or subtract from the statement?
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draft 6/26/2019
The Empire Statement
A Declaration of Definition and Principle for the Jedi Community
We the undersigned, ever mindful of the Force, while leaving room for honest differences of opinion, perspective, and the civil discussion thereof, recognize that not all views or activities are compatible with the Jedi Path or the Jedi Code and, thus, declare the following:
· Jedi are categorically opposed to oppression in all its forms, including, but not limited to, structural and systemic denial of access to resources (social or material), power, or representation, as well as violence or prejudice against individuals or groups on the basis of race, ethnicity, culture, sex, sexuality, sexual identity, gender, gender identity, religion (or lack thereof), nation of origin, immigration status, health status, age, ability, etc. regardless of whether or not that oppression is codified in law.
· Jedi categorically reject oppressive/supremacist ideologies (i.e. the action or advocacy of domination, destruction, violence toward or superiority of one group, lifestyle, or social identity over another), and regard it as incompatible with the Jedi Path.
· Jedi work to actively prevent violence against self or others wherever possible through de-escalation, discussion, and mediation. Jedi regard interpersonal violence as a means of last resort, with only a tiny minority of instances being a necessity.
· Jedi respect enthusiastic consent and honor the withdrawal of consent in all situations: e.g. social, platonic, romantic, and sexual.
· Jedi support the equal application of just laws to all, regardless of demographic.
draft 6/26/2019
· Jedi support the active pursuit and ongoing journey toward equity and universal civil rights.
· Jedi understand that we are all interdependent parts of a whole, and as such treat all individuals with empathy, respect, and dignity, regardless of their demographic.
· Jedi embark on the Path in order to serve. We engage in self-improvement in order to be of greater service, not to pursue personal greatness. As there are a multitude of ways to serve, no one is barred from the Path because of ability.
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This list does not by any means describe the whole of the Jedi Path, nor should it be taken as a replacement for our Code, but its articles are essential statements of ethical principle for the Jedi Path as lived out in the real world. Insofar as we embrace the statements above, we commit ourselves to the following, inviting our peers to remind us or hold us accountable in those instances where we fail to uphold these principles:
· We will not engage in speech or action that would contradict, or imply contradiction, of any point made above.
· We will humbly accept comment when we make any error in this regard and make public and/or private amends where necessary.
· We will not engage in harassment, whether online or in person. Harassment covers a wide range of targeted behaviors of an offensive nature. It is commonly understood as behavior that disturbs or upsets, and it is often repetitive or part of a larger pattern of abuse. In the legal sense, it is behavior that appears to be disturbing or threatening.
· We commit to engage in regular self-assessment and humbly submit to peer assessment where necessary and applicable.
draft 6/26/2019
· Where we display frequent and/or egregious failure to honor our commitment to the statements above, we commit to renounce all honors, titles, offices, teaching responsibilities, council seats, administrative responsibilities, etc. until such time as we have amended our behavior enough to set about earning them back. Should we so lose sight of the Path that we repeatedly fail to recognize and take ownership of our choices, thereby persisting in behaviors that are toxic or dangerous to ourselves and our community, making it necessary for that community to be protected from us, we ask that our community and leaders relieve us of all honors until such time as we have demonstrated the changes in behavior necessary to begin earning them back.
