Hello Geeky Stoics! Today we have a newsletter-exclusive video for youwhich I’m delighted to share.
Last week I had the privilege of speaking at LibertyCon in Washington, D.C. This is an international gathering of freedom activists on every continent, and many of them come from countries where political speech and organizing is quite dangerous. That’s why I’m frankly quite humbled to have been put on stage to talk to them about the power of stories as a tool to spread the ideas of liberty. Remember: The original Star Wars movies were banned in the Soviet Union and China. What is it about that tale of rebels rising up against an Empire that is so threatening in the real world? It gives unfree people ideas about what tyranny looks like. Stories can kindle a small flame that spreads like wildfire.
In this talk, I share what I learned at a young age from watching The Lord of the Rings and Star Wars. Beginning with a reflection on the corruption of Boromir in The Fellowship of the Ring, and leading to a commentary on Star Wars: Episode II: Attack of the Clones, I demonstrate how movies teach us about real life.
I hope you’ll watch and FWD to a friend. Thank you for your support of Geeky Stoics and our mission to weave together lessons on living you can learn from great stories.
If you liked this speech and haven’t read my book, How The Force Can Fix The World, now is a great time to order a copy. Much of what I lay out on stage comes from insights within the book, and there’s so much more in those pages you can learn about the virtues of Star Wars that work in real life.
Will You Use Power, Or Will Power Use You?