Insights · January 11th, 2023
I’ve been a huge Star Wars fan since the age of 4 when my father took me to see Episode IV: A New Hope. But, it was in the new series ANDOR that I found real thought-provoking scenes about rebellion, struggle in the face of oppression and hope.
This makes me think about futures exploration and foresight. There were three characters in ANDOR that really make me feel that foresight and vision is alive and well, and that the uprising is essential for the Rebellion to succeed – Karis Nemik (The Philosopher), Luthen Rael (The Strategist), and Maarva Andor (The Activist).
They were all deep thinkers that explored the current state of struggle and tried to understand how that works while having an eye on a future horizon where liberation will come. They all had distinct roles that we as Futurists have to assume in our work.
Karis Nemik – The Philosopher
Karis Nemik was part of the team assigned to steal the quarterly payroll of the Galactic Empire’s base on the planet of Aldhani. Nemik was a passionate and idealistic supporter of anti-Imperial causes and was in the stages of drafting a manifesto detailing his thoughts on the Empire and its rampant oppression of the galaxy.
Nemik records his idealistic views in a pocket-sized datapad, a journal and manifesto on his evolving thoughts on the cause of rebellion in the galaxy. During his mission to Aldhani, he uses his downtime to work on the growing tome, recorded on a simple piece of tech shielded by a leathery cover. While he continues to refine his words and find his voice, he is also in search of a fitting title.
This framed the struggle – and, we must do the same with our increasing industrial complex today.
There will be times when the struggle seems impossible. I know this already. Alone, unsure, dwarfed by the scale of the enemy. Remember this. Freedom is a pure idea. It occurs spontaneously and without instruction. Random acts of insurrection are occurring constantly throughout the galaxy. There are whole armies, battalions that have no idea that they’ve already enlisted in the cause.
Remember that the frontier of the Rebellion is everywhere. And even the smallest act of insurrection pushes our lines forward. And then remember this. The Imperial need for control is so desperate because it is so unnatural.
Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle. Oppression is the mask of fear. Remember that. And know this, the day will come when all these skirmishes and battles, these moments of defiance will have flooded the banks of the Empire’s authority and then there will be one too many. One single thing will break the siege.
Remember this. Try.
Karis Nemik
Luthen Rael – The Strategist
Luthen Rael antique dealer and revolutionary leader who leads the fledgling rebel network and spy operation during the time of the Galactic Empire. Alongside his assistant, Kleya Marki, Rael secretly collaborated with others such as Senator Mon Mothma and militant Saw Gerrera to oppose the Empire.
He knows the value of a shape-shifting belief system with a staunch idea of what is needed – an end goal, plans for disruption, and alliances to accelerate the network effect.
Calm. Kindness, kinship. Love.
I’ve given up all chance at inner peace, I’ve made my mind a sunless space. I share my dreams with ghosts. I wake up every day to an equation I wrote 15 years ago from which there’s only one conclusion: I’m damned for what I do. My anger, my ego, my unwillingness to yield, my eagerness to fight, they’ve set me on a path from which there is no escape. I yearned to be a savior against injustice without contemplating the cost, and by the time I looked down, there was no longer any ground beneath my feet.
What is… what is my sacrifice? I’m condemned to use the tools of my enemy to defeat them. I burn my decency for someone else’s future. I burn my life, to make a sunrise that I know I’ll never see. No, the ego that started this fight will never have a mirror, or an audience, or the light of gratitude. So what do I sacrifice?
Everything.
Luthen Rael
Maarva Andor – The Activist
Probably my favourite character out of the three is Maarva Andor – the spark of rebellion in Ferrix. During Maarva’s funeral, which became the site of a massive riot when her anti-Imperial post-mortem speech inspired, her droid B2EMO broadcast her message for the crowd to rise up. It was raw and real. It upset those trying to desperately keep their hands on power.
A futurists we all need to rise up and not hide our feelings about key issues.
There is a darkness reaching like rust into everything around us. We let it grow, and now it’s here. It’s here and its not visiting anymore. It wants to stay. The Empire is a disease that thrives in darkness. It is never more alive than when we sleep.
It’s easy for the dead to tell you to fight, and maybe it’s true, maybe fighting is useless. Perhaps it’s too late. But I’ll tell you this… If I could do it again, I’d wake up early and be fighting these bastards… from the start.
Fight the Empire!
Maarva Andor
Remember, Futurists are philosophers, strategists and activists. Stand up!
_______________
Nikolas Badminton is the Chief Futurist at futurist.com. He’s a world-renowned futurist speaker, consultant, author, media producer, and executive advisor that has spoken to, and worked with, over 300 of the world’s most impactful organizations and governments. He helps shape the visions that shape impactful organizations, trillion-dollar companies, progressive governments, and 200+ billion dollar investment funds.
You can preorder ‘Facing Our Futures’ at Amazon, Bloomsbury, Barnes and Noble and other fine purveyors of books. We’s also love it if you considered pre-ordering from your local, independent book store as well.Please contact futurist speaker and consultant Nikolas Badminton to discuss your engagement or event.
