Star Trek alternate universe episode explains Bush & our foreign policy

[yurbud]

The episode starts with Captian Kirk and a landing party trying to negotiate for dilithium crystals with some recalcitrant planet that disapproves of the Federation's violent ways. Their leader says they have no way to protext themselves and the Federation could take what they want. Kirk says they don't work that way, and says he will be back to try to persuade him again.

As the landing party is beaming up, some kind of electrical storm sends them to an alternate universe where the Federation is a pirate Empire that takes what they want. Kirk is ordered to destroy the civilization on the planet and just take what they came for.

What's the point?

Americans like to think we are like the Federation in the 'real' universe.

The Bush administration is more obviously like the Empire that takes the resources (OIL) it wants (though they make a token effort at democracy-spreading talk).

The problem is, our foreign policy before was essentially both: we tried to LOOK like the Federation, but when the natives wouldn't cooperate, we would ACT like the empire. During the Cold War, we did this covertly so we wouldn't give the Soviets propaganda fuel to use against us. Before that we did it more openly, as in Hawaii, Cuba, and the Philippines. Now that the Soviet counter-balance is gone, the empire is pulling their sword out of their cloak, and aiming it not just at the oil rich Arabs but at us.

[villager]

1. the "Mirror, Mirror" episode explains it all!

I once explored this in a DU thread, too.

But the GOP seems to have no "bearded Spock" willing to tackle the greed-ravaged "alternate" universe for its own long-term survival...

[skids]

2. I think this explains it better...

www.bestoftheblogs.com

[adarling]

4. love this pic :) nt

[adarling]

3. i love it when people use star trek to get their point across

it makes me really happy because i love it :)....now back to my geek hiding hole ;)