Broken Frontier

The echo of stomping boots as precisely planned as a symphony fills the air. Their white armor gleams in the light. And if you hear them coming for you… it’s already too late.

People are always asking me why I am obsessed with Star Wars Clone Troopers. I’ve limited my action figure purchases to Storm and Clone Troopers. I love getting my photo taken with people in the 501st Legion when I see them at cons. Were I not a fat ass I would have constructed a Storm Trooper costume by now. Nothing spells authority and certain doom like a Star Wars Storm Trooper.

It’s not that easy to pinpoint a specific reason why I find these agents of an evil empire so fascinating. Clone Troopers and Storm Troopers are obviously metaphors for the Nazi’s, and they’re certainly not a group to be admired, correct? Or maybe it’s just that mysterious truth I’ve always held as a child that the bad guys are always cooler then the good guys. I think the real reason I’m fond of the Troopers is that in many ways I feel like a Trooper.

You see, Clone Troopers are forced to blindly follow orders and are never asked if they feel their tasks are right or wrong. It kind of reminds me how I sit at my cubicle at work and respond to a faceless higher authority and I’m rewarded with a paycheck every two weeks. Granted, my job and a Trooper’s job are very different. I’ve never been asked to kill anything (yet!), and if I ever really wanted to I could just quit and find something else. Troopers are forced into a life of servitude, pretty much until death. But while my type of job can change whenever I like, one can say I am forced to work until death as well, right? Sort of?

The Clone Trooper is science fiction’s everyman, doing the dirty work of the empire. Not everyone can be so fortunate to become a Han Solo or a Boba Fett. Someone’s got to be a part of that giant wave of mediocrity that nothing would exist without.

Like I mentioned previously, Troopers are more then loosely based on the Nazis. It wouldn’t be cool of me to call anyone a Nazi. I’m not calling you a Nazi, I don’t even know you. I’m not saying I’m a Nazi either. And I’m not saying that just because you answer to a higher authority that pays you for your hard work that you would be willing to commit heinous deeds like a Nazi might. I’m also not saying our brave soldiers fighting overseas, whether or not you agree with the war, are Nazis or Storm Troopers. I’m just saying it’s easy to draw comparisons to everyday life and the life of a Storm Trooper.

You can look at it in a Tyler Durden aspect if it makes you more comfortable. The whole, "You are not a beautiful and unique snowflake," mentality. We might not be anything special, but we exist so society functions properly, even if the upper crust doesn’t appreciate our dedication and hard work. We middle-class workers who control the universe for twenty-five grand a year and one week of paid vacation.

I’m not trying to be anything too exciting. I’m completely satisfied to make it by without much notice or attention. And I’m betting deep down inside you feel the same way as I do. I think there is a little Clone Trooper in all of us.