So this topic recently came up in a game I'm in and it's causing a bit of frustration.

Why would anyone in the Galaxy who was born during or after the Clone Wars have a positive opinion of the Jedi? Wouldn't the exact opposite more often be the case?

I'd like to present the following in support of this position:

1. The Clone Wars, which caused devastation and upheaval on a galactic scale from 22 BBY - 19 BBY and resulted in billions of casualties, were fought between the Galactic Republic and the Confederacy of Independent Systems. Regardless of which side, if either, someone were to sympathize with, the fact remains that the CIS was founded by Count Dooku, a "retired" Jedi Master and the clone army that would become the Grand Army of the Republic was ordered by Sifo Dyas, a member of the Jedi Council many years before there was even a war to fight. Since these were matters of public record, I'd say it's safe to assume that the average citizen of the Star Wars galaxy is aware of them or could become so with minimal effort. Even if the Empire later destroyed or altered records of this information, an action I'd argue the it wouldn't undertake since doing so would run counter to the Empire's best interests, most people would have relatives or associates who were alive prior to the Clone Wars to provide it.

2. The Jedi Council and its agents (hereafter referred to as Republic Jedi) then took command of the Grand Army of the Republic, a force of genetically engineered and mentally programmed slave soldiers they themselves created prior to the war for unspecified reasons. The CIS leadership commissioned an expansion of their existing droid and conventional armies, pooling them into a single cooperative force and Count Dooku trained his own Force-Sensitive agents (hereafter referred to as Seperatist Jedi). The reason I'm referring to these groups as Republic or Separatist Jedi is due to the fact that from the outside and at a distance, that is to say, the perspective of the average citizen of the Star Wars galaxy, these two groups would have looked remarkably similar (see lightsabers + magical/extraordinary abilities). So, the Clone Wars occur, leading to countless corpses, orphans, and widow(er)s. I think it's safe to say that most people would regard this as a fair unpleasant situation and it came about as a direct result of the actions of a small number of Jedi.

3. Around three years after the beginning of the Clone Wars, the capital of the Republic is attacked and the head of its government (Palpatine) is captured by a force of droids and Separatist Jedi (Grievous and Dooku). Before the kidnappers can escape, a pair of Republic Jedi (Ani and Obi) recover the stolen Chancellor and kill the founder of the CIS (Dooku). A short time later, the Republic Jedi attack the Chancellor in a bid overthrow the government and seize power. That's the official line anyway and from the outside, I suppose it's not too unbelievable. There are a number of reasons that could be given to explain the actions of the Republic Jedi against the Republic they were ostensibly loyal to or the Chancellor specifically. I'm unaware of the canonical reason given, maybe someone can help me out there. This attempted coup lead to the reformation of the Galactic Republic into the Galactic Empire and the effective cessation of representative democracy in the Star Wars galaxy.

So in summary: the Jedi Order either directly or indirectly created the Separatist movement, leading the creation of the Confederacy of Independent Systems which was lead by a former Jedi. They also created a massive army of clones in secret and at a time when there was no justification to do so (years prior to the Clone Wars). Depending on the view you take, one side or the other started the Clone Wars which lead to three years of devastation and horror. The Jedi then tried to overthrow the democratically elected government of the Republic and install either themselves or a proxy into power. Admittedly that last sentence is a lie Palpatine put forward to explain the Jedi's attack on his person, but there's not much evidence to dispute his claim (at least not in the way of publicly available information). As a result of the Jedi's actions, that democratic Republic was destroyed and replaced by a totalitarian regime.

Now, regardless of your views on the individuals or organizations involved in these events, whether you support the Jedi, Republic, CIS, Empire, or not, the fact remains that this is the information your character in a Pre-Rebellion/Rebellion-Era game is going to have available to them. To be clear, no one's character has even seen a Star Wars movie or show, read a Star Wars book or comic, or played a Star Wars game. Bearing that in mind, why would anyone regard the Jedi as heroic or be in any way sympathetic to them? Isn't it more likely that they be viewed as monstrous or at the very best, misguided by the vast majority of people in the galaxy? These are, after all, members of a cult that started a massive war, eventually betrayed the Republic they claimed to serve by trying to overthrow it, and whose actions led to the creation of the most oppressive regimes in living memory.

Thoughts?

I suspect that not many people (except their personal friends like Bail Organa) liked the Jedi immediately following the Clone Wars and the "attempted Jedi coup."

Then after a few years, once it became clear to the average Galactic citizen that the Empire is a tyrannical dictatorship, people probably began to think "Those guys who tried to pull a coup against Palpatine had the right idea! Maybe they were the good guys after all."

Then after a few more years of Palpatine, people become really nostalgic for the good old days of the Republic, and they think of the Jedi as the ones who used to protect the Republic, and tried to save it from Palpatine. (If they're not among the ones who think the Jedi were mostly a myth.)

e clone army that would become the Grand Army of the Republic was ordered by Sifo Dyas, a member of the Jedi Council many years before there was even a war to fight. Since these were matters of public record,

Such a matter of public record that the Jedi were unaware of the project and even the location had been hidden from them in their own archive. A fact wich surprised Obi-wan and Yoda, along with the fact that Master Sifo Dyas was even alive....

2. The Jedi Council and its agents (hereafter referred to as Republic Jedi) then took command of the Grand Army of the Republic, a force of genetically engineered and mentally programmed slave soldiers they themselves created prior to the war for unspecified reasons.

The army was created because each system was unwilling to go and fight to protect their neighbors, leaving them open to attack by the CIS or a neighbor with an ancient grudge (Wookies/ Trandoshians et al).

Why Should we Corellians fight to protect Alderaan when they cannot even be bothered to raise their own militia to defend themselves?

Also, historically, the Jedi were the leaders of the Republic military forces as they held no aligance to any specific system, just to the Republic as a whole.

Such a matter of public record that the Jedi were unaware of the project and even the location had been hidden from them in their own archive.

That may very well be what was announced to the public, but the timing would probably seem a bit too convenient, even to a layman. Plus the scope of the operation kind of strains credulity. I mean, how much must a clone army cost? Who was bankrolling Sifo? Other relevant questions...

The army was created because each system was unwilling to go and fight to protect their neighbors, leaving them open to attack by the CIS or a neighbor with an ancient grudge (Wookies/ Trandoshians et al).

Why Should we Corellians fight to protect Alderaan when they cannot even be bothered to raise their own militia to defend themselves?

Also, historically, the Jedi were the leaders of the Republic military forces as they held no aligance to any specific system, just to the Republic as a whole.

Can you cite this in cannon? I don't remember anything be mentioned about it in the prequels or the clone wars show, but there's every possibility I missed it.

Then after a few years, once it became clear to the average Galactic citizen that the Empire is a tyrannical dictatorship, people probably began to think "Those guys who tried to pull a coup against Palpatine had the right idea! Maybe they were the good guys after all."

If a cult tried to overthrow the government of your country, failed, and your country's government became more draconian as a result of that attempted coup and years of grueling war, would you say "Hey, those guys might have been right! After all, the government only became more totalitarian after they tried to depose it. They must have incredible foresight!" Or would you rather blame them for the shift in the climate of your nation's politics?

If a cult tried to overthrow the government of your country, failed, and your country's government became more draconian as a result of that attempted coup and years of grueling war, would you say "Hey, those guys might have been right! After all, the government only became more totalitarian after they tried to depose it. They must have incredible foresight!" Or would you rather blame them for the shift in the climate of your nation's politics?

Well as the story goes, the shift away from democracy began gradually in the later stages of Palpatine's chancellorship. Many senators were already starting to complain in Revenge of the Sith.

But the Jedi weren't a cult, they were the official guardians of the Republic prior to the creation of the Empire. If my own country's leaders became gradually more repressive over the next few years, then the military tried and failed to depose them, and the leaders became even more repressive afterward, I might well conclude that the military coup was trying to protect me from the government.

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Such a matter of public record that the Jedi were unaware of the project and even the location had been hidden from them in their own archive.

That may very well be what was announced to the public, but the timing would probably seem a bit too convenient, even to a layman. Plus the scope of the operation kind of strains credulity. I mean, how much must a clone army cost? Who was bankrolling Sifo? Other relevant questions...

Cost does not really matter (especially when you are not actually paying the soldiers) so the only real cost is paying the Kimenoans and companies making things. Which with a centralized government is basically you make this for us at this price, or we will come in and occupy your factory, put all of you who opposed us in jail and make what we want anyhow. Even if that does not happen, you can manipulate your economy to make things (confiscate material, mandate heavy production levies and so on).

When your entire centralized government is on the line you find the money (even if that means writing bogus checks). Look at the Soviets in WW2. Prior to the Stalingrad offensive, Stalin was officially stating that they had no money to raise an army or to build AFVs or planes and that the US and UK needed to get involved ASAP. Then out of nowhere, they had a 1,000,000+ man army with significant armor and air support to encircle the Germans in Stalingrad and many, many more to press them on other areas. These numbers increased throughout the latter stages of the war, not only with men, but equipment.

At the siege of Berlin, the Soviets had artillery pieces parked wheel to wheel firing non-stop bombardments over an 8 to 10 mile front, now consider that you average artillery piece at the time was about 5 foot wide.

Yet at the time, Soviet peasants were starving.

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The army was created because each system was unwilling to go and fight to protect their neighbors, leaving them open to attack by the CIS or a neighbor with an ancient grudge (Wookies/ Trandoshians et al).

Why Should we Corellians fight to protect Alderaan when they cannot even be bothered to raise their own militia to defend themselves?

Also, historically, the Jedi were the leaders of the Republic military forces as they held no aligance to any specific system, just to the Republic as a whole.

Can you cite this in cannon? I don't remember anything be mentioned about it in the prequels or the clone wars show, but there's every possibility I missed it.

While my specific examples were made up, the context is there in episode 2 and several clone wars episodes where various planetary governments are either demanding that other systems come to their aid or refusing to aid others.

An offshoot of this is even in Rogue 1 where the various cells are refusing to commit to the raid on Scariff because they may take too many losses, it may be a tactic, someone else will save us.

The Jedi did have thousands of years of good publicity before the Clone Wars.

Well as the story goes, the shift away from democracy began gradually in the later stages of Palpatine's chancellorship. Many senators were already starting to complain in Revenge of the Sith.

While it's certainly true that there was a fair amount of political unrest in the upper echelons towards the end of the Republic, the reformation of that government into the Empire was an overwhelmingly popular decision. At least that's how it's depicted in Revenge of the Sith. That was following Palpatine's announcement that the Jedi had attempted to assassinate him and consequently a large number had been executed on his order. In that context, it's very hard to imagine that most of the rest of the Galaxy didn't also swallow his story.

That being the case, when the Empire proved to be an oppressive regime, I have a hard time believing that the position of the Jedi was widely considered by the public at all. After all why would it be? It seems as though the Jedi started the Clone Wars in the first place, fought on both sides, and then tried to destroy the winning side's government (see my original post). So that the fact that the Jedi Order seems to be regarded, at least by most protagonists of the chronologically later books, shows, movies, et al, as this legendary symbol of a better time doesn't seem to synch with the events that occurred during the Clone Wars.

Cost does not really matter (especially when you are not actually paying the soldiers) so the only real cost is paying the Kimenoans and companies making things. Which with a centralized government is basically you make this for us at this price, or we will come in and occupy your factory, put all of you who opposed us in jail and make what we want anyhow. Even if that does not happen, you can manipulate your economy to make things (confiscate material, mandate heavy production levies and so on).

I asked how Sifo afforded the army. Who was bankrolling him? The Republic didn't. They weren't even aware of the army until Obi found it on Kamino and reported it to the Jedi Council. Ditto the Jedi Council. It costs a lot of money to make millions of people. Food, clothing, education, tools, weapons, vehicles all cost money. That's before you even consider paying the cloners themselves. A Jedi ordered an army, someone paid for it. Even if the Jedi Council denies knowing about the clone army prior to its discovery by Obi-Wan (and they didn't seem to but that's hardly the point), how do you suppose that looks to the public?

While my specific examples were made up, the context is there in episode 2 and several clone wars episodes where various planetary governments are either demanding that other systems come to their aid or refusing to aid others.

I was actually asking for you to cite canon about the timing of the army's creation. Sorry if that wasn't clear. My original post states that the clone army was created before there was a need for it. In other words, long before there was a war to fight, Sifo Dyas ordered the creation of a clone army. Then, years and probably billions of credits later, there's a war, started by a political movement founded by a "retired" Jedi and in response (all MtG players just shuffled their hands nervously) the Jedi trot out an army of slave soldiers they claim to have no prior knowledge of but that the people who made it claim it was ordered by the Jedi "for the Republic" and their official position is "Hey isn't that convenient? Lucky us!"

Credulity... strained.

The Jedi did have thousands of years of good publicity before the Clone Wars.

That's a fair point, they did have an awful lot of good will build up.

As a rough hypothetical parallel: If a bunch of Catholic military officers tried to murder the President of the United States, failed, and the President later made a public address implicating the Pope and Council of Cardinals in ordering the attempted assassination, how much do you suppose that good will would count for? Would there be a "#NotAllCatholics" movement? Probably, but I imagine that wouldn't do too much to shape public opinion. Plus there doesn't seem to be any sort of social media analog to Twitter in the Star Wars galaxy.

The GAR was bought on credit. Of course, much as with many things bought on credit, no consideration of how to pay for it was ever made.

The Jedi did have thousands of years of good publicity before the Clone Wars.

That's a fair point, they did have an awful lot of good will build up.

As a rough hypothetical parallel: If a bunch of Catholic military officers tried to murder the President of the United States, failed, and the President later made a public address implicating the Pope and Council of Cardinals in ordering the attempted assassination, how much do you suppose that good will would count for? Would there be a "#NotAllCatholics" movement? Probably, but I imagine that wouldn't do too much to shape public opinion. Plus there doesn't seem to be any sort of social media analog to Twitter in the Star Wars galaxy.

That's a really bad example for a great many reasons.

I asked how Sifo afforded the army. Who was bankrolling him? The Republic didn't

The Republic did, but not directly. Monies were shifted from other projects, built into bottom lines as inflated costs, and the beautiful thing about a fiat currency (non-physically backed money) is that the government can just print it at will and 'pay for it later'.

So money could be taken from the Republic's Feed the homeless Toydarian budget and project to introduce a landscaping industry on Dak, while simultaneously having $1000 toilet seat covers on Republic capital ships, $100 hammers, and miscellaneous R&D costs go covertly into Palp's slush fund and have the Senate approve measure after measure to print more currancy. All of these are open and governmentally approved measures that are done openly.

This is how covert budgets operate on Earth in the 20th and 21st centuries.

I was actually asking for you to cite canon about the timing of the army's creation. Sorry if that wasn't clear. My original post states that the clone army was created before there was a need for it. In other words, long before there was a war to fight, Sifo Dyas ordered the creation of a clone army.

That is correct. However, I am not sure that was every really made public knowledge. To my recollection, Obi-Wan found the clone army and brought it to Palp's attention and Palps then said they had been developing the army since Naboo to fight the seperatists once they officially split from the republic.

Nor, was it probably ever really mentioned that they were 'slaves'. Most people probably thought that they were individuals from across the republic who had been in training.

The GAR was bought on credit. Of course, much as with many things bought on credit, no consideration of how to pay for it was ever made.

Can you cite a source for that? I'm prepared to accept that it was commissioned partially on credit, but there had to have been some kind of collateral in that case. The sheer expense of manufacturing, raising, housing, and training millions of people is a burden there's no way the Kaminoans could reasonably have agreed to bear or even been capable of bearing on their own. The proposition that they'd do it in exchange for the promise of a hamburger tomorrow is pretty far fetched. Plus, weren't they in the midst of rebuilding their planet after some sort of ecological disaster covered most of the surface in water? I can't remember if that's still canon or not.

The Republic did, but not directly.

Can you cite a source for this assertion? I'm prepared to believe that some element inside the Republic bureaucracy could manage to wrangle the funds in the manner you describe or through any number of official but classified channels, but when/where was this element discussed in canon? Also, it wouldn't matter if that's how it was done unless the Republic publicly took responsibility (retroactively in this case) for creating the clones. This didn't happen in the prequels. Palpatine does say that the Senate would order the creation of the Grand Army of the Republic, but that's really just legitimizing the preexisting clone army as an appendage of the Republic government. It doesn't explain, at least to the public, where the army came from. Since this doesn't seem to have been explained, aren't we forced to accept that the Jedi didn't try to cover up the fact that one of their senior members had secretly placed the order years ago?

Either way, no justification for the clone army's creation was ever given to the public, at least by my recollection. Though, I welcome being corrected.

Having re-read your post, you are making the mistake of reading into the events with jaded 21st century glasses. A majority of the people in the galaxy would not have more than a passing idea of what actually transpired nor would they actually care. Fewer would actually think to look beyond media scources to find the answers.

As has been proven time and time again in the 20th century and even now, people will ceed massive amounts of freedom and intellectual judgment to anyone who claims to have a solution. That is exactly how Hitler took power in Germany in the 1930s (and Lucas modeled the Empire and Palps on Nazi Germany). Hitler created massive social issues in German in the 1930s riots in the streets, murders of political enemies, and even forcing shortages of bread and labor, all the while blaming the problems on France, the Wiemar Republic, and Jews for the reasons that there was no bread, jobs, money.

He promised that only he could stop the problems, with his election to Chancellor and then later abolishment of the government. Which is exactly what we see happen in Episodes 2 and 3 and the CW series.

As for the Jedi, they were an officially sanction body that was separate, but equal to Republic whos sole purpose was to guide and defend the Republic. Most people would not think of them more than we would think of a monastic order today, that is to say without more than a passing curiosity. Palps was able to use this ignorance to spin things to his favor by creating both the problem and the solution.

This can be seen in several episodes of the CW series (notably the Fall of Ashoka arc which highlights several other flaws with how the public percieved the Jedi) but is best shown in the episode of Season 3 of Rebels where Ezra and crew come upon a group of battle droids that escaped the shutdown. Ezra has a speech that neatly sums this up.

But basically the reason the Jedi were able to go from a highly regarded organization to scapegoats is that they were resting on their laurals from 1000s of years ago and most people tend to think in the "What have you done for me lately" mentality. So, they are unfamilliar with the order and the fact that the Emperor and Senate publically renounce them and issue an order declaring them all outlaws is enough to push most into the "hell with them" camp,e specailly after a long costly war.

Nor, was it probably ever really mentioned that they were 'slaves'. Most people probably thought that they were individuals from across the republic who had been in training.

Sorry, it's a little point, but they're unquestionably slaves. The Clone Wars are called the Clone Wars because they were fought by clones. Everyone knows their clones, so everyone knows that they're people grown in a lab, force-fed a military education, and pressed into service for a government they have no say in. When did you ever see in canon a clone soldier retiring before the reformation of the Republic into the Empire? There was one episode in the Clone Wars show "The Deserter" that depicted a clone that had left the army and he did it illegally. If you can point out any other examples I'd be grateful. Otherwise, to my knowledge, every other clone served until death. Even the injured ones were repurposed into non-combat roles.

Cost does not really matter (especially when you are not actually paying the soldiers) so the only real cost is paying the Kimenoans and companies making things. Which with a centralized government is basically you make this for us at this price, or we will come in and occupy your factory, put all of you who opposed us in jail and make what we want anyhow. Even if that does not happen, you can manipulate your economy to make things (confiscate material, mandate heavy production levies and so on).

I asked how Sifo afforded the army. Who was bankrolling him? The Republic didn't. They weren't even aware of the army until Obi found it on Kamino and reported it to the Jedi Council. Ditto the Jedi Council. It costs a lot of money to make millions of people. Food, clothing, education, tools, weapons, vehicles all cost money. That's before you even consider paying the cloners themselves. A Jedi ordered an army, someone paid for it. Even if the Jedi Council denies knowing about the clone army prior to its discovery by Obi-Wan (and they didn't seem to but that's hardly the point), how do you suppose that looks to the public?

While my specific examples were made up, the context is there in episode 2 and several clone wars episodes where various planetary governments are either demanding that other systems come to their aid or refusing to aid others.

I was actually asking for you to cite canon about the timing of the army's creation. Sorry if that wasn't clear. My original post states that the clone army was created before there was a need for it. In other words, long before there was a war to fight, Sifo Dyas ordered the creation of a clone army. Then, years and probably billions of credits later, there's a war, started by a political movement founded by a "retired" Jedi and in response (all MtG players just shuffled their hands nervously) the Jedi trot out an army of slave soldiers they claim to have no prior knowledge of but that the people who made it claim it was ordered by the Jedi "for the Republic" and their official position is "Hey isn't that convenient? Lucky us!"

Credulity... strained.

Most of this is covered directly or indirectly in Episode II, although the Clone Wars episode you would want to watch is S6E10: The Lost One (link is to Wookieepedia).

Well, I am done arguing with you, as you will only accept non-existent proof over logical assumptions. None of what you are looking for can be found in the movies because it was never discussed on screens. It can only be inferred from the context of the movies and the historical events in Earth's history that Lucas drew inspiration from.

I may as well ask you do prove to me exactly when did you stop <insert abhorrent behavior here>? And I will only except sworn and notarized testimony from non-family sources.

Do some research on how things operate in Earth bureaucracies and governments

But basically the reason the Jedi were able to go from a highly regarded organization to scapegoats is that they were resting on their laurals from 1000s of years ago and most people tend to think in the "What have you done for me lately" mentality. So, they are unfamilliar with the order and the fact that the Emperor and Senate publically renounce them and issue an order declaring them all outlaws is enough to push most into the "hell with them" camp,e specailly after a long costly war.

So I take it that you're agreeing with me then? At least in part? If so, which of my three points or which part of my conclusion do you disagree with?

I'm curious because it seems that you spent a few posts trying to defend the Jedi by claiming their lack of prior knowledge concerning the clone army would be enough to deflect suspicion or blame in the public eye. You also seemed to be making a case for the Republic, or some elements of it secretly being aware of the clone army and funding its creation, but that, while an interesting theory, doesn't appear to have much bearing on the way the Jedi would be perceived in light of the events surrounding the Clone Wars, which was the thesis of my original post.

Most of this is covered directly or indirectly in Episode II, although the Clone Wars episode you would want to watch is S6E10: The Lost One (link is to Wookieepedia).

Well, I am done arguing with you, as you will only accept non-existent proof over logical assumptions. None of what you are looking for can be found in the movies because it was never discussed on screens. It can only be inferred from the context of the movies and the historical events in Earth's history that Lucas drew inspiration from.

I may as well ask you do prove to me exactly when did you stop <insert abhorrent behavior here>? And I will only except sworn and notarized testimony from non-family sources.

Do some research on how things operate in Earth bureaucracies and governments

I'm actually at a complete loss as to what you're taking issue with JalekZem. I'm not disagreeing with your assertions about the funding, it's fine speculation, though Northman's explanation in canon does render it largely moot.

My original post, and my question that still stands largely unaddressed is: Why would anyone in the Galaxy who was born during or after the Clone Wars have a positive opinion of the Jedi? Wouldn't the exact opposite more often be the case?

It doesn't really matter if the clones were secretly funded by the Republic or by Dooku (as seems to be the canonical explanation) but rather what the public knows and what they likely think as a result.

Why would anyone in the Galaxy who was born during or after the Clone Wars have a positive opinion of the Jedi? Wouldn't the exact opposite more often be the case?

The setting material seems to imply this is largely accurate. I'm running Chronicles of the Gatekeeper now, and basically every NPC who has a positive opinion of the Jedi either had good personal experiences with a Jedi or came from a culture that was profoundly affected by Jedi (for the better). Likewise, the people most vehemently against Force-sensitives are former Separatist systems or people who had bad experiences with Jedi. This seems to track pretty well with how prejudice works in the real world too.

Long story short, it feels like it's going to be a different case for lots of places:

• Strategic Separatist world, far from the core, invaded by clones lead by lasersword-wielding space wizards? Probably not going to feel too great about the Jedi.
• Same world, but the Separatist leadership conscripts civilians into fighting and dying for them? Might feel a little better about Jedi.
• Distant Republic world, saved from an army of robots by the sworn defenders of the Republic? Probably consider the official Imperial story a little suspect.
• Same world, left to fall and rot because forces are spread too thin around the galaxy? Buys into the whole tale of betrayal and insurrection.

I would contest your assertion that the Clone Wars caused billions of casualties. The initial order of clones (to my knowledge, we have no concrete numbers for follow-on batches, or clones from other sources, i.e. Spaarti) from Kamino was 3 million. The CIS battle droids were more numerous, but nowhere near as numerous as reported. The clone army, while smaller, was better equipped, better led, and generally more effective on the field of battle (and in naval engagements). Add to that the fact that almost no engagements were fought on Core Worlds or heavily-populated worlds and I have trouble understanding where you're coming up with "billions" of casualties. Many hundreds of thousands of clones, a few thousand Republic citizens of various species, several million-plus battle droids, and thousands of Geonosians, Trandoshans, Neimodeans, etc., yes, sure. Billions, no.

FlashbackJon brings up a good point, that some worlds and cultures are/were predisposed to positively regard the Jedi - Wookiees, Alderaanians, Togrutans, maybe Gotal, Mon Cal, etc. Additionally, despite the propaganda and defamatory rhetoric, there were surely a number of sentients serving in the GAR, both clones and not, that had high opinions of the Jedi. Whether or not those individuals followed Order 66, I would expect doubt and disbelief to plague them and that as the Empire became more despotic they would nourish a belief that the Jedi were wronged. Such a belief might only be communicated to sons & daughters or very close friends, but still extant. At the same time, though, with the relatively small number of Jedi at the time of the death of the Republic, I'd expect that the vast majority of beings in the galaxy had never seen a live Jedi. For them, the propaganda is probably sufficient.

Another side is that maybe the people don't think much of the Jedi one way or another. Statistically Jedi are about as common through the galaxy as members of Seal Team Six are on Earth. Sure you think of them the one time they make news but since you never see or interact with them or probably even know someone who has, it would isn't a big thing (obviously more likely if you are in American vs. anywhere else).

The Jedi and the Force are a rallying point for the rebellion, who already know the Empire is bad. Many systems still view the rebellion as a group of terrorists and will fear the Jedi accordingly, it is often the more oppressed people (non-humans especially) who are more sympathetic to the cause. Among sympathizers the few who know or think of Jedi at all might be inclined to like them simply based on the fact that the Empire doesn't.