So during my four and a half hour drive today, I thought about a lot of things. Of course, as I have recently gotten into a spaceship flying game, the thoughts of TV series came to mind. Star Trek is of course up there. I like it more than Star Wars honestly. There's something about the setting that I have always liked. And to be honest, I was always more a Picard fan. But the more I think on it, the more I see some real issues in his captaincy.
It is no secret that the creator of the series is anti-Christian. He has admitted so himself. And I can't help but feel the more the series got along, the more he slipped it in the writing. Of course, no one in the '60's would have anti-Christian sentiments. But in the '90's it was more acceptable. Of course these days, all new shows are on the propaganda of the modern times, which has a very strong anti-Christian message.
The issue I see comes in following the Prime Directive. A set of laws for captains in how they can interact with other civilizations. Don't interact with ones that don't have warp capable ships. Don't interfere with their life. And so forth. Often times, the Prime Directive comes into conflict with the captain's conscious. The entire episode goes back and forth with the captain wrestling with how they should handle the situation.
Captain Kirk interferes a lot. But in most situations he does it, it's to protect others. A law, custom or tradition that hurts its people or illogical, he will step in. He looks out for those hurting. He breaks the law.
Captain Picard does interfere, but not as often. He allows genocide, rape, enslavement and other immoral acts slide in the name of the Prime Directive. He follows the law quite often. Unless, the culture resembles Christianity. A singular deity that asks for a pious life, sets him over the edge. "Prime Directive be damned" is shouted and Picard pulls a Kirk and interferes. Often time these interference doesn't protect anyone, rather helps some who may be inconvenienced.
It sounds silly, but if you watch it, you will see this seems to be a trend after Picard. Sisko, Janeway and I am sure the newer ones will allow cultural atrocities happen, as long as it doesn't resemble Christianity. It may sound like crying victim, but look at our own world. Christians are called all sort of derogatory terms for being bigots, simply for being against the idea on certain popular world trends. However, other world religions who don't just disagree, but persecute, imprison, enslave and even torture, rape and murder are given a free pass. Heck, just like Star Trek, these "other cultures" are often championed as being superior to our own. Just as red shirts were ordered to die so the Enterprise didn't "interfere" with a culture, so are we supposed to turn a blind eye to certain religions as they chant and preach hate against us.
It's madness, if you think about it.
But, beyond the world's convoluted view, let's take a look at the captains and how we should act. God tells us to follow the laws of the government over us. Breaking their laws, means breaking God's laws. Unless, the governments law breaks God's law. Then it is no under the covering of God. So we should follow the Prime Directive, in our lives, until it requires us to break God's law. While not a perfect example, we can see the symbolism in Kirk. Yet the world wants us to be Picard. Follow all laws. Disregard the evils of the world. And openly detest God.
Perhaps I am stretching. But I almost want to watch both series again, the longer I mull this over. (almost because it's rare for me to watch a movie twice, let alone a series)
Valid or not for the series, it is still valid for our daily lives.
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