Jar Jar Binks is Innocent!

In one of the most amazing displays of hatred for a single character in a motion picture, Jar Jar Binks has been accused of many, varied crimes. This page has been built to do these things :
1. Prove his innocence
2. Be a place for fans and admirers of Jar Jar to send messages of support.
WHO IS HE?
For those who don�t know, Jar Jar Binks is a character in Star Wars Episode One - The Phantom Menace. He is from the Gungan tribe, a tribe that lives in an underwater city, away from the main inhabitants of the planet Naboo. He was an outcast, because of his abject clumsiness. However, he manages, through many accidents, to rise above all this and become both a Gungan general, and a treasured member of his community.
In the meantime, he is a character who follows the Jedi Knights Qui Gon Jinn and Obi Wan Kenobi. His life is saved by Qui Gon, so Jar Jar believes that he owes Qui Gon a �life debt�. So, we see him tag along while they go to Tatooine and Coruscant and be a part of the film�s plot. He returns with the group to Naboo, and helps the Naboo and the Gungans get together and help each other.

WHY DO PEOPLE LOATHE HIM?
Criticism I - He is Silly, Clumsy and Inappropriate for �Star Wars�
Jar Jar is a buffoon. He is a silly character. He has no idea what is going on around him, even when he is there are major disasters going on around him. He also talks in an infantile manner.
Defence - He is a fun character. He is also an �everyman� character. He is not heroic, or very articulate. Certainly, the Jedi Knights are more noble and articulate than he. Then again, they�re better than most of us. Jar Jar is like many of us - a bit foolish sometimes, and scared. Many of us also repeat favourite phrases. Shakespeare and other playwrights had �everyman� characters likes servants and townspeople to lighten the tone of a play, and to give the audience someone to relate to. Jar Jar is just another one of those.

Criticism II - He is a Disney - style character. Bad for Star Wars.
Defence : Star Wars is entertainment as well. Just remember the humour in the Episodes 4 - 6. Remember the Ewoks. When I was young, I adored the Ewoks. I�m sure the younger audience members will adore Jar Jar. Star Wars is not only for the 20 - 40 year old fans who saw the older movies. Some of these same fans mistake Star Wars for Lord of the Rings.

Criticism III - A Computer Animated Character looks Ridiculous
Defence : It is still early days in computer animation. Jar Jar is a well made character, and lopes in a non - human way. He is alien to us. Of course he looks different.

Criticism IV - He is a Racist Characterisation. He is a servant, and speaks in an African American accent, using the language of the old slaves.
Defence : George Lucas would not have deliberately created a racist character. Jar Jar speaks a pidgin English dialect, like the ones spoken in nations on the Pacific Rim. It is likely that a breakaway tribe like the Gungans would have a pidgin dialect after they broke away from the Naboo. This argument is as solid as the one that says the Ewoks are a slur against the pygmies of Africa.