The Rebel alliance is made up of self-loathing Jedi who blame the Empire for every ill in the galaxy, and politicians suffering from power-envy, bitter that the galaxy’s only power can do what it likes without having to ask permission. The truth is that the Empire has behaved with enormous restraint since the Battle of Yavin. Remember.

Remember the gut-wrenching holos of weeping stormtroopers phoning their partners to say, “I love you,” before the station was destroyed. Remember those people leaping to their deaths from safety-pod hatches with no safety pods installed.

Remember the hundreds of droids buried alive.

Remember the smiling face of that beautiful girl who was in one of the detention cells.

Remember, and realize that the Empire has never retaliated for the destruction of the Death Star in anything like the way it could have.

So a few Rebels got locked without a trial in cell block 1138? Pass the Kleenex.

So some Gungan wedding receptions were shot up after they merrily fired their blasters in a sky full of Empirial shuttles? A shame, but maybe next time they should stick to confetti.

I love the Empire, yet the Empire is hated. The Empire is hated because it is what every galactic empire wants to be – rich, free, strong, open, optimistic.

Remember the Death Star. One of the greatest atrocities in human history was committed against the Empire. No, do more than remember. Never forget.