Or something like that :)

It’s interesting you mention the idea of Lucas changing the cantina scene, because out of all the arguments I present, I think the one about Ponda Baba is the strongest because it’s something we actually see on screen and not merely speculation on my part. I still think it shows wanton brutality on Obi-Wan’s part. Seems like he could have Force-pushed Ponda out of the way or pulled the gun into his hand. I never thought about the idea of Obi taking that opportunity to demonstrate Jedi power to Luke but that’s an interesting idea.

Regarding Obi-Wan’s achieving immortality, I’ve actually thought about that a bit and considered that it might disprove my theor.y My only argument against that is that Vader was basically evil up until a few minutes before his death. It seems true that one can turn back to the light just prior to death and still become a ghost, even if after living a life of evil.

As for Obi-Wan’s experience with the clones, it’s a good question. I’m not sure if he ever had contact with them after the war. Investigate this, I must. :)

- Obi-wan telling Luke that Vader killed his father and later clarifying his point is, to me, a defining aspect of the Star Wars trilogy and the Jedi way (under its original interpretation). Obi-wan is moral enough not to lie to him, but detached enough that he truly felt he wasn’t, which allowed him to bend the truth to inspire Luke; at the same time, his bending of the truth and Luke later realizing it was *also* a lesson to Luke! It’s like a twofer.
- Obi-wan was certainly capable of orchestrating the murder of Lars and Beru, so there’s no definitive proof that he didn’t; I will, however, say that I don’t think he would have achieved immortality as a ghost if he had been so immoral.
- The clone troopers *were* quite skilled in the prequel trilogy, which is the last time that Obi-wan encountered them, right?
- If he could get away with it, I bet Lucas would reverse the Obi-wan dismemberment of Ponda Baba like he did Han’s shooting first, but I don’t think it even matters. It’s possible mind tricks don’t work on that race. Perhaps he’ll regrow his limb, being an unknown alien race, in which case it served well as impressing Luke with the power of a Jedi while it didn’t really permanently injure Ponda Baba (another twofer). All those possibilities aside, dude pulled a blaster on him, so it doesn’t strike me as excessive at all to respond with force.
- Does it not require an intense amount of sanity, discipline, and enlightenment to attain Jedi ghost form?

To me, it’s just too much of a stretch, and I think it would damage the plot more than add to it, so I just can’t believe that it is intended this way (ie, *is* this way) nor choose to view it this way.