I was listening to this week’s episode of War College, and they were discussing a new book Strategy Strikes Back. The authors were discussing how to use Star Wars as a lingua franca to discuss military matters. The point that was being made is that Star Wars is a multi-national, multi-cultural, and multi-generational experience that can act as a bridge. Particularly when talking to someone outside of one’s normal culture or even sub-culture.

I found this to be of particular interest as I’m a part of several sub-cultures that live outside mainstream culture. And even those sub-cultures don’t talk well to each other, such as taking atheism to a regular person in the gun culture or talking guns to other atheists. Or talking libertarianism to either. At least with Star Wars there are some touchstones that provide shared frames of reference.

At least it would be nice not to be talking past someone.

And yes, the post title is from a Star Trek TNG episode