The Empire were the "good guys". Bringing peace and order to the galaxy. What's wrong with that? The Rebellion were the ones that dropped a 300 mile diameter steel sphere onto a populated jungle moon. An extinction event that wiped out the indigenous sentient population. Aaand a "rain forest". "This is how the Ewoks end. To the sound of thunderous applause." Empire destroys a planet known to be full of rebellious traitors, almost instantly and with minimal suffering. Bad. Rebellion drops what amounts to a giant kinetic projectile on a planet full of innocent indigenous peoples, dooming those that don't die immediately in the impact, to suffer and die slowly due to the effects of nuclear winter. Heroic medals for everybody. "Because it's different when *we* do it."