Written by: Tessa Alloine

 

Sometimes, one cannot help but share a current issue. even if only to think out loud and hope to clear one's mind. 

 

I don't normally speak of things that come across my desk. That would be unprofessional and cause more problems than it would help. But in this case, I wonder if perhaps it would actually help. 

I have an odd situation and perhaps the public's viewpoint would be of value. 

To start, I must remind us of a little history. The bounty hunter (and often alleged criminal) Greedo, a rather famous or infamous Rodian. 

This Greedo was fairly well known in the Hutt Cartel and had dealings with the historically known Han Solo and even worked on a crew with him off and on. 

 

As such, you can well imagine the spotty record that Greedo held. Working with a smuggler such as Han Solo, he was not exactly an upstanding citizen, and according to record, he didn't soar to great heights in the Cartel, either. He became a bounty hunter and in the end went after his former partner, Han Solo and in so doing, came to a messy end. 

 

So now we come to my part. I have received a petition from Rodia, asking for a large statue to be erected by their governmental hall, of Greedo! To commemorate his great deeds and contribution to history. 

I am very conflicted about this as you may imagine. 

I have poured over the records and I cannot find an instance where this Greedo, well known or not, comes across as a great historical figure. He has not, to my mind, contributed in any way that should be honored. 

What are we saying by having a statue built to him? 

 

I understand that Rodia deeply wants someone from their own planet to be honored and remembered in the history holos, but is this the one to choose? 

A criminal? Someone who never really accomplished what they set out to do? A person who did nothing to make the world a better place? Whose entire goal in life seemed to be Greedo? I mean, greed? 

 

Perhaps I am wrong. Have I missed something about his life that isn't in the obvious records? I cannot help but feel that if we are to spend the credits and labor on something like a statue, it should be to remember something honorable and impacting and unfortunately, the long-passed Bounty Hunter Greedo isn't it. In my opinion. 

I would rather spend the credits to clothe and feed orphans, for example, or to help settle the refugees from the Tee-ka Mon inicident or even find a way to build bridges between planets so that I wouldn't have to FLY everywhere in ships! (I know - it's not very practical and utterly expensive. And, apparently, impossible). What other way could we acknowledge the Rodians and their history without paying homage to a rather disappointing criminal? Or ANY criminal, if it came to that. I would just rather not. But what is your opinion on the matter?