If you’re coming to a site that’s called “We the Nerdy,” I’m assuming you’re aware of what today is. I mean, I guess everyone knows what today is – May the fourth. Not difficult, right? And with Star Wars back at the forefront of the public conscience, I wouldn’t be surprised if the general public knows the significance of May the fourth. But for those of you who stumbled upon this site, and this specific article, today is Star Wars day. I mean, in my world, everyday is Star Wars day. There’s not a single day that goes by where I don’t consume Star Wars content of some form. But today is a day where everyone celebrates possibly the greatest franchise ever, all because of the brilliant pun of “May the fourth be with you.”
Star Wars holds such a special place in the hearts of so many of my fellow writers that I felt it would be remiss to let the day go by without putting something up. As a result, I decided to ask writers from across We the Nerdy why Star Wars was important to them. I’ve compiled their responses here, for your reading pleasure. Yes, yous. May the fourth (and the Force) be with you.
Seriously, go watch some Star Wars today.
A young boy buys a couple of sentient droids and drinks some blue milk, before meeting an old man in some tattered robes who almost immediately gives him a dangerous weapon. The man then proceeds to take the boy to a dingy bar with werewolves, devils, and astronauts. The man then murders another bar patron before finding a smuggler who can help him overthrow the government. All of this happens in the first hour of Star Wars. It is no wonder that Star Wars is special. The Star Wars lore is unparalleled in its richness and diversity. The so called Legends contain something for everyone. The novels and comics have amazing stories. The animated TV shows are some of the best content that children and adults alike can consume. The video games feature some revolutionary technical achievements. But most importantly, the original trilogy contains some of the best films of all time. Star Wars means so much to me not because of everything it does right, but everything weird and esoteric that it does. My childhood imagination was shaped by the colorful variety of characters, worlds, and stories that this universe offered to me. With such a deep psychological link to Star Wars, it is no surprise that I watch it when I’m sad, happy, tired, or sick. Which reminds me; I think it’s time to watch some Star Wars… – Roshan Krishnan
As a person who didn’t have much exposure to Star Wars until adulthood, I have a different relationship with the whole thing. I’ve seen all the films, and I read the books and watch Clone Wars with my kid, but I am not heavily invested in any part of this universe. My relationship with Star Wars is something different entirely. It’s a way for me to connect with other people. It has allowed me to meet some of my best friends on their terms and get to know them better through the way that they experience something they love. Through others, I’ve experienced a depth of feeling for this big, crazy thing than I would ever have developed on my own, and it’s been a real treat. I imagine this must be what it’s like for other people when I go full-on nerd about what I love, and I hope they enjoy my ramblings as much as I enjoy theirs. – Samantha Liggett
Star Wars has symbolized hope in the broadest sense. In many ways, the early Star Wars movies are very basic plots with intrigue and story driven through the universe around these characters. Star Wars was never this big touchstone for me I never grew up playing with the action figures or watching the movies so much that my VHS tape would break. It always stuck out to me as something to aspire too. Fandom so compelling that people would wait in line for more. Fandom so intense that people would cry when they see Han Solo and Chewbacca on the Millennium Falcon one last time. People are passionate about all sorts of different things and on many different levels, but it’s a particular kind of passion that Star Wars fans have for that universe and those characters. Characters that are looked up to like gods, or idolized by the next generation of kids who heard their parents talk about how great the original movies were. The only thing stronger than the Empire or the Rebel Alliance is the love that fans have for this franchise. – Cody Rostron
Star wars was everything to me as a kid. It was the first movie and first trilogy that I ever watched and completed. It was also the first movie franchise where I had bought the accompanying books, toys and games. Where Stephen Colbert had the Lord of the Rings, I had Star Wars. I knew all of the Imperial and Alliance star ships, knew way too many Expanded Universe characters and story lines, and could beat all my friends in Star Wars trivia. And then the prequels happened. Followed by the Disney acquisition. Suffice to say, my childhood was gone. But this has all taught me something. Just as Star Wars evolved and grew into a multi-billion dollar franchise/Disney behemoth, I have also grown up, matured and learned. I can say that just as Star Wars is so accepting of people everywhere, I am so as well. I hope the new generation of Star Wars fans are treated by Star Wars and treat Star Wars as I have. Because a long time ago in a galaxy far far away… – Henry Wong
Star Wars has always been a major part of my life. I was raised in a family of nerds, so I started watching the original trilogy with my parents at an early age. I knew the main plot lines and characters by the time I was six or seven years old, and that knowledge helped me notch many victories on Star Wars Trivial Pursuit. As a young’un, I started going through and reading every single book in the Expanded Universe that I could find (For those keeping score, I, Jedi is fantastic). As an adult, it’s amazing how much Star Wars affects my life. I own every movie on DVD, Blu-Ray, and the original VHS tapes that I had as a kid. My dad and I even use Star Wars as a way to connect. I still read the novels even though they don’t matter to the Disney universe. Oh, and I also ran a race through the Redwoods on May 4th while carrying a toy lightsaber and wearing Darth Vader shirt. I even have a stormtrooper tattooed on my wrist! My wife and I had Star Wars included in our wedding vows. Yup, I’m a big ol’ dork, but I’m not ashamed. Star Wars is just that important to my life. – John Newby
I wish that I could accurately describe how emotional reading through my fellow writers’ contributions has made me. Almost as emotional as I was when (spoilers) Ahsoka turned her back on the Jedi Order at the end of the Clone Wars. I think there are those out there who will read through this and be incredulous. “How could one franchise, even one as large as Star Wars, have such a profound effect on these people? They must be exaggerating for the sake of getting clicks. Even if they’re not, there can’t be many people like them.” Here’s the thing: none of us are exaggerating our love for Star Wars. And there plenty of people out there just like us, who have a deep passion for the films, as well as the novels, comics, toys, television shows, and music that it has spawned.
Star Wars fandom has evolved into this really wonderful community. That’s part of the reason I’m feeling such a variety of emotions as I write this – these people are all like me! And I know that, because of that, we’re all accepting of one another. Because if there’s one thing Star Wars does well, it’s bringing people together. Whether you just got into the franchise with The Force Awakens, or saw A New Hope when it first opened in 1977, there’s room for you in the community. For as long as I can remember, Star Wars has helped me forge connections. One of my best recent memories is seeing Force Awakens opening night with my grandpa. I’ve sparked up conversations with people I’ve never even seen before because they made a comment about one of my many Star Wars shirts, or vice versa. These aren’t even people I’m likely to see again – I’ll be walking to the metro station or whatever, and stop for half an hour, just talking Star Wars.
For as long as I can remember, Star Wars has been a huge part of my life. As soon as I discovered it, I left pretty much everything else behind. You can go through all my old toys – they’re pretty much all Star Wars related in some form or another. It’s rare that I’m seen in public without a Star Wars shirt. And while I’m not 100% sure I want tattoos, if I were to get one, I would follow in the footsteps of John Newby, and make it Star Wars related.
Man, I could just go on about my love for Star Wars for another few thousand words, no problem. But this is already a bit on the long side, and I don’t want my ramblings to outweigh the wonderful work that my compatriots have done.
So take today off, sit inside, and watch Star Wars. Or read Star Wars. Listen to it. Engage with it in SOME way today.
