A Wookiee Manifesto
An old adage says "it is unwise to upset a Wookiee." Well, I must warn you ... the Wookiees are not just upset. They are angry. Very angry. In fact, they are enraged.
Why are the Wookiees angry?
1. Our planet is isolated by an Imperial blockade. Our people are not free to come and go as we please. We do not enjoy open communications with the rest of the galaxy. In fact, communication between our cities and villages is severly hampered due to the loss of control over our planetary satellite network.
2. Our people are forcibly taken from their homes and villages. Males, females, even the children, are kidnapped and taken away from their forest home. Even the very old are taken, if they are not killed in the process of capture.
3. Untold numbers of Wookiees live in the most horrific of conditions ... chained, beaten, and forced to live and work as slaves. Their ties to their people, their culture, their families, are severed. It is a living hell ... a fate worse than death for any Wookiee.
4. Wookiees who are lucky enough to live in freedom are not free from oppression. Those on our homeworld of Kashyyyk live under the constant threat of the slavers. Those who reside elsewhere live under the constant threat of the stormtroopers. Is there no place left in the galaxy where a Wookiee can just be a Wookiee? Is there no place where there is no discrimination, no oppression, no fear?
Is it any wonder that we are upset? That we are angry? That we are enraged?
Would you not be, too, if your species was targeted for such treatment? Would you not shake your fist in the air and demand justice? Would you not do everything in your power to make it stop? To bring it all to an end?
What do the Wookiees want?
1. The blockade of Kashyyyk must end. Our people must be free to determine who may visit our planet and what they may do there. We will control the use of our own resources. We will ensure that the ecosystem of our planet is preserved and that our ancient ties to the forest remain for the next generation. This is our decision to make, and ours alone. Our planet, our way of life, and the preservation of our culture depend upon it.
2. Slavery must end. All slavery. No more Wookiees will be taken from their homes. No more Wookiees will wear chains and be forced to work against their will. And it isn't just Wookiee slavery that must end. All slaves, regardless of their species, must be set free. All beings must be given an equal chance to live their lives in freedom.
3. Discrimination and systematic oppression of the Wookiees, and of all non-human species, must end. No more insults from the stormtroopers because of our fur. No more searches and interrogations because of our appearance. No more special rules just for the Wookiees. We must be seen as equals to the other species. We must be treated with the respect and dignity deserved by all sentients.
How can we resolve this?
This does not have to be a violent revolution. The Emperor has it in his power to make these changes now. He can, through his position as the leader of the Empire, declare an end to slavery and to the blockade of Kashyyyk. He can clearly demonstrate to the Wookiee people that we will have a place as equal participants in his Empire.
Why does he not do so? If he wants peace in the galaxy and stability in his Empire, then why is he so unwilling to do this?
Is it because he sees us as an inferior species that is only fit to do his hard labor? Is it because we are biologically unable to speak the Basic tongue? Is it because we are a furred species, and are therefore too alien to be considered people?
Just why are we targeted for this "special" treatment? And how long are we expected to just accept this situation without doing something about it?
Our patience as a people is wearing thin. We prefer peace, but we are powerful warriors when we need to be. We will fight for our freedom, for our families, and for our forest if that is what has to be done. If we cannot live free, we will surely die fighting for our freedom. We will roar our manifesto for all to hear. We will remain silent no longer.
The Wookiees refuse to hide their views and aims. We openly declare that our ends will likely be attained only by the forcible overthrow of existing social conditions. Let the oppressors tremble at the Wookiee revolution. The Wookiees have nothing to lose but their chains. They have their homeworld to win.
Wookiees of the galaxy, unite!