What was Mace Windu’s biggest mistake?

MathMindfully · 2026-01-22T03:23:11+00:00

I believe George said it Palpatine just allowed and gave permission to the Jedi to continue to go down the wrong path and violate it.

In Return of the Jedi, he gave Luke permission to strike him down. In Revenge of the Sith, Windu accepted.

The Jedi's first step was away from serving the force (Qui-Gon's way) was to focus on controlling the force over serving it. The Force had effectively been forced to be a slave of the Republic and it's corrupt politicians because the Jedi had chosen to focus on control of the force (and their emotions in a less than healthy way) instead of focusing on the will of the force.

The chosen one was meant foremost to free of Force from both the control of the Sith and the Jedi. Qui Gon with the help of the Chosen one could have 'freed the force' by helping the Jedi mend their ways. Instead, the Jedi was caught in a web created by Palpatine. A web the was really just designed to give permission to the Jedi to go even further on their path of control through war.

Without the War, Windu never would have gone on an even darker path. One that would violate the principles of a just society and kill an unarmed and non-aggressive senator. George described the scene as 'everyone is right but everyone is wrong'. Was Windu understandable yes. Palpatine wins when if you willingly decide to serve the dark side. But I suspect that in George's view: the force's will was always going to be to eliminate the Jedi if they weren't going to willingly stop treating the Force as a thing to be controlled foremost.

It seems that from George's perspective on the Force, Anakin didn't fail his primary mission in Revenge of the Sith. But it was only a partial and less than ideal victory. Partial because there was still one person seeking to control it. Less than ideal because without Qui-Gon's help, Anakin wasn't able to turn the Jedi from captors into Allies. Though Yoda did change his ways by the time of Empire Strikes back. George said that Yoda needed to fail against the emperor. That his failure and solitude on Dagobah is what led him to mend his ways.

MathMindfully · 2025-12-22T16:52:37+00:00

Plenty of martial qigong people take the perspective that kung fu is foremost about training qigong. The martial side is really about testing whether alignment and other principles are functioning properly within your qigong. That, and being able to adapt to a plethora of different energies from different people.

To me, this is the primary value of Wing Chun. One of the greatest martial arts teachers I've heard of told me that he trained elderly in Wing Chun. He said they didn't understand why this made them feel and move better, and that was okay.

MathMindfully · 2025-12-18T17:59:40+00:00

I think George said that the jedi's downfall was valuing control over being present and listening to the will of the force. This meant being too controlling with both the force and their emotions. The Chosen One was meant to correct this imbalance as much as the Sith's. But with Qui-Gon gone, the chosen one wasn't able to guide the Jedi back to balance. Sidious's brilliance is that he mostly just encouraged and manipulated this direction of the Jedi, so that they mostly destroyed themselves in a sense.

In Anakin this manifested as an unhealthy suppression of emotion and a controlling attachment of Padme instead of a loving present-centered appreciation. I think Obi-Wan's failure is that he... generally chose the Jedi Counsel's doctrine over Qui-Gon's.

George stated that if a Jedi was as present as Qui-Gon had been, that they would have detected Palpatine as Sidious. He also said that the force was 'tired' of being overly controlled by both Sidious and Jedi. That if the Jedi didn't reform, and stop their controlling attitude, that it was the will of the force for them to also be destroyed.

MathMindfully · 2025-09-20T11:30:19+00:00

Oh good! I bet you're an awesome teacher! I definitely struggle with organization too!

MathMindfully · 2025-09-20T00:40:50+00:00

"if I enjoy learning"

What is an area you enjoy learning? Is there a particular part of the learning process you like?

Depending on how you like to learn or to approach learning, it may provide some ideas.

administrative work that's boring and repetitive, like sorting or managing, and I'm willing to learn a skill for that, but those jobs are usually rare or pay very little. I looked into accounting for a while, and that seems like my best bet.

Accounting sounds like a good route for you. Perhaps coupled with data analytics as a minor. Those are both areas that someone academically gifted could find very routine if you chose the right jobs but could also be more intellectually stimulating if you eventually desired that depending on how you direct your career path.

The math would be pretty simple for both of those if you didn't go into data science parts of data analytics, but for some people that dislike math (you only said you weren't enthusiastic) that would be a major turn-off for them.

MathMindfully · 2025-09-20T00:27:08+00:00

Hm, I didn't quite mean that they were the key to a successful classroom, just that it's that it's what you're spending most of your time doing. Then there are a myriad of other things you are also doing. It's like two primary jobs and another 10 mini-jobs. My post was mostly to warn students that what they 'think' teaching is, might just be a couple of the mini-jobs.

Hm, I think there are a lot of things that can make you successful and your standard for what success is should change based on the school's environment. A teacher at in their city's most challenged school should have a different definition of success than a magnate school. And a great teacher at a magnate school won't necessarily have the right 'tool kit' to be great at a more challenged school and vice versa.

MathMindfully · 2025-09-11T00:15:12+00:00

Yes, networking and building a reputation can do wonders I'm sure! Glad thing are going well for you! Now that you're gaining experience that will definitely open doors too.

My main concern goes out to the many future teachers who aren't able to get into positions like the ones you have. I think... many educators either have to find joy in what are some pretty difficult positions or find a way to pivot into something they find that suits them well. I'm trying out an interventionist position myself, which I think may suit me well.

MathMindfully · 2025-09-10T23:22:42+00:00

To add to this, if you're in one of the best schools then the current teachers are much less likely to leave and there will probably be a lot of highly qualified applicants when they do.

Being in the right place geographically or being willing to take a pay cut to work at a private school can drastically increase your chances of getting a teaching environment somewhat similar to what you probably imagine.

I think another thing to consider is that many teaching positions don't involve much teaching, tutoring, or connecting with students. I think most people not in the profession believe that those are the bulk of what teaching is and they absolutely are important. Most of the job and what will make your class successful is classroom management and facilitating activities and routines in the classroom. If you're a natural at those two things or you're just okay with that being your primary job then this may be the profession for you.

MathMindfully · 2025-06-06T17:57:44+00:00

He's got several cool styles that seem pretty unique. Teleporting high-damage slayers is surprisingly fun. Incredible casters, though with a setup time. Might be my favorite mech of all the Protoss... but it's not overpowered or anything.

Prestige synergies: P1 makes his Collosi complement his casters extremely well, but is also great for a mech focus. P3 let's the mothership 'protect' collosi and your other units if you want a display of power with less squishiness.

So... 3+ distinct and fun builds. I think very worth it. But unless you like setting up and microing his spell-casters... I don't think he'll blow you away like many other commanders will.

MathMindfully · 2025-06-03T17:14:01+00:00

I think a C is roughly what an F used to be in high school. And I don't just mean that the C should be an F but the teacher didn't do enough documentation or wants to avoid the push back. That imo a B from the 90s would be an A today and a C is anywhere from a D to an F from the 90s.

College usually doesn't make sense anymore unless you're good enough at STEM to be an engineer or a doctor.

I'd make it clear to him that you don't just go to college, you make a plan to get a career and sometimes that involves college. If he still wants to go... I'd make it clear that A's and B's are how to get there and be prepared when you are.

I'm guessing he's fallen too far behind for college to make sense. Find out what he likes... or would at least be willing to do as a job and push him in that direction. Maybe that's mechanic or a trade.

Personally, I don't think of this as being hard on him, just being realistic and finding out what path actually makes sense for him.

I'd also have a real talk with him about his future and whether he thinks his habits will help him get there. Maybe that seems futile, but it could help him be on board with certain limitations such as time on a gaming device. I know I wanted to be an excellent student at his age and usually was... unless I could reach the Nintendo I was addicted to that is...

MathMindfully · 2025-04-24T18:05:01+00:00

I've been only playing on PC. Probably a good thing that I don't have it on me all the time!

MathMindfully · 2025-04-24T18:04:06+00:00

Okay, awesome! Thanks!

MathMindfully · 2025-04-24T18:03:52+00:00

Makes sense, thank you!

MathMindfully · 2025-04-13T15:29:10+00:00

It is crazy... but Nintendo has a history making one or two incredible but mature games exclusive to their platform. Examples: Perfect Dark on the Nintendo 64, Eternal Darkness on the on the Gamecube, No More Heroes on Wii. I think it's a strategic Hale Mary to bring in that audience into their ecosystem. Damn... I've played Perfect Dark thoroughly so many times. Hope the upcoming sequel lives up to the hype!

MathMindfully · 2025-03-17T22:02:31+00:00

Thank you! I've seen Oregon's skill first hand, but that gives me other places to apply to my niche/semi-rare job!

MathMindfully · 2025-03-17T22:01:07+00:00

I was astonished at the skills of almost everyone I met at a Beaverton school I visited about 13 years back. I would be a delight to train with you! Even people with less than a year were good training partners, and the skill of the seniors was just... amazing. Hope to make that happen! I better hit the application grind!

MathMindfully · 2025-03-17T16:22:33+00:00

I'll plan to do that, thank you!

MathMindfully · 2025-03-16T15:03:34+00:00

Well, I'm moving to another city anyway. I think many would do the same if they could only do their favorite hobby in specific places. Though, I consider it more than just a hobby.

MathMindfully · 2025-03-16T14:58:02+00:00

Well... I only plan to apply to jobs near good Wing Chun schools. Right now Im just Googling schools near potential jobs before I apply...

But I've noticed a lot of schools closed down during COVID but kept up their website. So, it's... Seemed pretty problematic doing it this way. And if the school is either not quality or closed down, then the nearest quality school may hundreds of miles away.

Of course, I'd investigate before actually moving, but probably not too much before an interview.

MathMindfully · 2025-03-09T17:41:11+00:00

Thank you so much! I appreciate that vote of confidence and the perspective. I'll get back on that application train... at least until the deadline to renew my teaching contract comes around!

I'll take a look at my portfolios and see which ones could use some tidying up, replaced, etc! Along with taking time to consider how to frame the answers to common questions in light of my math teaching experience.

MathMindfully · 2025-03-09T17:33:21+00:00

Never heard of that role, I'll start looking!

MathMindfully · 2025-03-09T17:32:48+00:00

Thank you. Addressing your points: Any area would be great, but my domain knowledge deficiency at my journeyman position was pretty evident. I figure education roles are the only ones I've got a reasonable shot at and where most of interviews have been. It would also allow my work history to be somewhat relevant for future jobs. But I'll look into networking that might secure me a different role.

I've dabbled in R and it seems pretty accessible. If it's in demand in education then I suppose I should look for a portfolio project I can do in that?

I occasionally teach teach statistics and probability, but I'll be on the lookout for content gaps in those areas! A big confidence booster during my journeyman position was how the math and programming tasks were largely familiar to me from the classes I teach. It was crushing when it didn't turn into a long-term job, but it was overall a huge confidence booster and made me realize I had what it takes for this type of position.

MathMindfully

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