Was Leia rascist against Wookies?

[The Wormhole]

Started re-watching the OT in preparation for TFA recently, and it stood out just how much of a racist attitude Leia displays towards Wookies. Notable examples include ANH when she grumbles about Chewie being in her way calling him a "walking carpet." Then in TESB when her and Han are arguing she derisively says "I'd just as soon kiss a Wookie."

WTF? As a princess in Alderaan's royal family not to mention a member of the Imperial Senate she should be schooled in diplomacy not to mention used to dealing with aliens, so how do we explain this prejudiced attitude against Wookies? Is casual racism against them so common in the Star Wars universe, it's almost believed to be acceptable, or does Leia just have issues with them in general?

 

[Flying Spaghetti Monster]

Please. This is a pretty dumb thing to think.. considering the original films were supposed to be fun pulpy space adventures. Now the word racism is coming into this.

Gosh I hate society.

 

[Ithekro]

By the time she was a Senator, the Wookiees are basically a slave race for the Empire. Or at least that seems to be the implicates of things. Their planet is blockaded and under full control of the Empire

 

[Locutus of Bored]

Started re-watching the OT in preparation for TFA recently, and it stood out just how much of a racist attitude Leia displays towards Wookies. Notable examples include ANH when she grumbles about Chewie being in her way calling him a "walking carpet." Then in TESB when her and Han are arguing she derisively says "I'd just as soon kiss a Wookie."

WTF? As a princess in Alderaan's royal family not to mention a member of the Imperial Senate she should be schooled in diplomacy not to mention used to dealing with aliens, so how do we explain this prejudiced attitude against Wookies? Is casual racism against them so common in the Star Wars universe, it's almost believed to be acceptable, or does Leia just have issues with them in general?

Please. This is a pretty dumb thing to think.. considering the original films were supposed to be fun pulpy space adventures. Now the word racism is coming into this.

Gosh I hate society.

LOL. Don't overreact and bring heavy stuff like racism into this over something so silly. That's why I hate society.

 

[Flying Spaghetti Monster]

I didn't bring the heavy shit in.. I was complaining that someone else did

 

[Locutus of Bored]

I didn't bring the heavy shit in.. I was complaining that someone else did

Yes, I know. I'm mocking the fact that you complained about overreacting to silly nonsense by overreacting to silly nonsense and saying you hate society.

 

[HIjol]

She did call Chewie a Walking Carpet... on the other paw, she did share her Rebel Midi-Chlorian Nummie Snacks©§ (Rebel Trademark) with the Ewok in the Forest of Endor.(Teebo?)

 

[The Wormhole]

Started re-watching the OT in preparation for TFA recently, and it stood out just how much of a racist attitude Leia displays towards Wookies. Notable examples include ANH when she grumbles about Chewie being in her way calling him a "walking carpet." Then in TESB when her and Han are arguing she derisively says "I'd just as soon kiss a Wookie."

WTF? As a princess in Alderaan's royal family not to mention a member of the Imperial Senate she should be schooled in diplomacy not to mention used to dealing with aliens, so how do we explain this prejudiced attitude against Wookies? Is casual racism against them so common in the Star Wars universe, it's almost believed to be acceptable, or does Leia just have issues with them in general?

I knew there was something I was forgetting when I wrote the post. But yeah, how else other than racism do you explain Chewie being snubbed at the ceremony?

I didn't bring the heavy shit in.. I was complaining that someone else did

Dude, chill. It's just meant to be fun discussion.

She did call Chewie a Walking Carpet... on the other paw, she did share her Rebel Midi-Chlorian Nummie Snacks©§ (Rebel Trademark) with the Ewok in the Forest of Endor.(Teebo?)

Ah so furry guys are okay if they're small and cute, but when they're giant it's okay to make slurs against them to their face?

 

[Timelord79 (he/him)]

Leia's Ewok friend was Wicked.
Teebo is the striped one.

 

[HIjol]

Yeah...you got a big point there! Plus, I completely missed the No Medal thing...I think there is a good case to be made for BestialRacism in a Galaxy, Far, Far Away.

Plus, why didn't Han stick up for Chewie and say, "Hey, what the f*ck?"!

 

[HIjol]

Leia's Ewok friend was Wicked.
Teebo is the striped one.

Ah, thanks! Like to get it right, when I can!

 

[Jedi_Master]

Started re-watching the OT in preparation for TFA recently, and it stood out just how much of a racist attitude Leia displays towards Wookies. Notable examples include ANH when she grumbles about Chewie being in her way calling him a "walking carpet." Then in TESB when her and Han are arguing she derisively says "I'd just as soon kiss a Wookie."

WTF? As a princess in Alderaan's royal family not to mention a member of the Imperial Senate she should be schooled in diplomacy not to mention used to dealing with aliens, so how do we explain this prejudiced attitude against Wookies? Is casual racism against them so common in the Star Wars universe, it's almost believed to be acceptable, or does Leia just have issues with them in general?

In universe - I would sincerely doubt that the adopted daughter of Bail Organa would harbor prejudice against any species.

The "walking carpet" comment came after Leia had been tortured for possibly days, rescued by incompetent idiots, forced to splash around in disgusting sewage, nearly blown apart by blaster fire (both friendly and unfriendly), nearly crushed to death, and forced to argue with an individual who was the antithesis to her personal idealism and heroism.

I imagine if Luke had been slowly trundling in front of her she would have said something like "would someone get this horny towhead out of my way?"

She was pissed, and wanted to take it out on somebody.

Only an hour or so later she hugs Chewie in the cockpit, even though they STILL hadn't been formally introduced. So apparently she doesn't view them as not worthy of physical contact or hold other prejudicial views.

The same goes for her conversation with Han. She was angry, flustered, and infuriated in dealing with a man who she was clearly attracted to, but again was a scoundrel, the exact opposite of what a good, progressive, peace-loving girl from a good family should have been interested in... thus her snapping at him, using the first alien that came to mind.
Again she regularly interacts with Chewie throughout the trilogy, and never treats him with disdain.

Out of universe? It's obvious that Leia's quips in ANH were meant to establish her as a tough, fast talking, smart, and fiesty heroine.

The argument between her and Han in TESB was just a much needed injection of humor in a rather dark story.

 

[tommulligan]

Besides Cheewie was part of the medal ceremony, took a bow a pat on the back. Poor Wedge and the y-wing pilot weren't even invited.

 

[Kor]

He was too tall for her to reach up and place the medallion ribbon around his neck.

Kor

 

[HIjol]

@Jedi^^

"...horny towhead..."

 

[The Wormhole]

Besides Cheewie was part of the medal ceremony, took a bow a pat on the back. Poor Wedge and the y-wing pilot weren't even invited.

Well, it's not like either of them destroyed the Death Star or took Vader out of the fight.

 

[Locutus of Bored]

He was too tall for her to reach up and place the medallion ribbon around his neck.

There's a comic called The Day after the Death Star! where they actually do say that's the reason, and then Princess Leia gets up on a table and gives Chewie his medal at the after party.

Of course, not giving him the award at the main ceremony but only in a private after party doesn't really get rid of the racism charge...

 

[Shazam!]

No more than McCoy and Spock

 

[SPCTRE]

Gosh I hate society.

 

[J.T.B.]

He was too tall for her to reach up and place the medallion ribbon around his neck.

In the Star Wars novel, Chewie did get a medal and it said she had to strain to reach or something like that. I actually had a disagreement about that at the time with a grade school friend; he swore that Chewie got his medal in the movie and I said that it was in the book but not the movie. The movie was no longer playing by then, so we had to wait till the next year (seemed like forever) for the limited-time-only re-release to settle the question. The days before home video...