Star Trek’s Greatest Moments Fighting For Independence

Today is Independence Day in the USA, a holiday commemorating the signing of a declaration of independence and sparking a revolution. The right to self determination is a strong theme in Star Trek. Regardless of the Prime Directive, Star Trek’s captain’s were known for getting involved and taking on causes. Today we look at some of their finest moments fighting for independence.

Original SeriesKirk sows seeds of revolution
Mirror Mirror
In the closing moments of ultimate alternative universe episode, Captain Kirk just cant help himself as he is leaving the ‘evil’ universe and does his best to inspire “Mirror” Spock to take up arms and fight for freedom against the tyrannical Empire.

Honorable Mention: In “The Cloud Minders” Kirk embraces the cause of the Troglytes on Merak II by forcing the leaders to see that a gas created in mining conditions was turning the Troglytes into dumbed-down second-class subservients.

 

Next GenerationPicard uses tough love to free addicted race
Symbiosis
Captain Picard manages to stay within the Prime Directive while still righting a wrong in the form of one race (The Brekkians) using a narcotic disguised as an unneeded vaccine in order keep another race (the Onarans) under their thumb. Once he uncovers the insidious ‘symbiotic’ relationship he stops providing the help that would keep the drugs flowing, knowing that it would cut them off from their addition.

Honorable Mention: In the film “Star Trek Insurrection” Picard leads an insurrection against the Federation itself, after he deems their policy of forcibly relocating the Ba’ku to be immoral.

 

Deep Space NineSisko becomes homeless hero
Past Tense” (2-part episode)
While three hundred years in the past, Benjamin Sisko one ups his predecessors by not only helping a revolution, but actually taking on the identity of the leader (after the original leader, Gabriel Bell, dies). Sisko (as Bell) goes on to spark the ‘Bell Riots’ of homeless and unemployed who have been put into a ‘Sanctuary Districts’ and he even gets himself martyred.

Honorable Mention: In the episode “Paradise” Sisko demonstrates civil disobedience as he quietly (yet powerfully) defies the anti-technology zealot Alixus who has knowingly stranded her followers on the ‘Paradise’ colony. When Sisko refuses to back down and willingly walks back to his torture box, it is a true moment that celebrates the individual against the oppressive society.

 

VoyagerJaneway gives Borg freedom
Unimatrix Zero” (2-part episode)
If any group of people have been deprived their right to self-determination, it is the assimilated drones of the Borg Collective. Through Seven of Nine, Janeway connects with and helps foment rebellion for a group of Borg who are able to find their individuality while ‘regenerating’ in a virtual place called Unimatrix Zero.

Honorable Mention: In the episode “Nemesis” Chokotay is recruited into a war and trained to hate the ‘Nemesis’ only to find out that Janeway has allied herself with the opposite faction, and they may not be as evil as he was led to believe. This episode deals with how right and wrong in war and freedom are often a matter of perspective.

 

EnterpriseArcher sparks Vulcan Renaissance
Kir’Shara” (3-part ‘Syrrannite’ arc)
After first believing the dissident Vulcan group the Syrrannites were responsible for bombing the Earth Embassy, Captain Archer ends up embracing their cause and (with the help of the Surak’s Katra) leading them to rediscover their Vulcan heritage and begin a new age of Logic.

Honorable Mention: The episode “Dear Doctor” foreshadows the Prime Directive as Archer is faced with a moral dilemma over whether or not to help a dying race (Valakians) who are impeding the development of another race (Menk). It is Doctor Phlox that convinces Archer that in this case the right thing to do is to do nothing, and let nature take its course.

 

 

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Great episodes! First!

The bell one is the best of these (except TOS of course!)

The fight for freedom are the noblest of fights , i know alot of Irish people fought for America in their war of independence , and Ireland also had to fight and gain its indepencdence, i guess its shows people will always be willing to try for what they believe in. Happy 4th of July.

“Dear Doctor” might not be a good mention here. The decision Archer made in that episode is a misguided (evolution does not work that way…), morally ambiguous one.
Bernd Schneider of EAS sums up the reasons quite nicely:
http://ex-astris-scientia.org/inconsistencies/bad_ethics.htm

I would rather choose “Marauders” as the honorable mention for ENT.
http://memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/Marauders

Happy Fourth Of July to all of our wonderful American friends!!!!!!

4- The weird thing that I’ve observed about Enterprise since it’s been kicking around in reruns is that Archer’s pre-prime directive, half-baked decisions have actually inspired the most discussion over the years among friends that have re/discovered it this way…

Mirror, Mirror is TOS at its best and it doesn’t pale.
That last scene between Mirror Spock and Kirk never fails to captivate me.

“What will it be, past or future? Tyranny or freedom? It’s up to you.”
“It is time.”
“In every revolution, there’s *one* man with a vision.”
“Captain Kirk, I shall consider it.”

Harry, I am so glad we Yankz bought our Independenze from you Canaderans. Although, I do miss that fine Canaderan cuisine.

Happy Four of Seven, everyone!

Unfortunately, wasn’t it according to Kira in the alternate universe, those who formed the uprising Kirk proposed were defeated and the Bajorans took over?

There is a moment in “Return of the Archons” in TOS when Kirk says to Marplon, who is worried he will be hurt by defying Landru:

“It’s time you realized that Freedom is never a gift, it has to be earned.”

Appropriate for Independence Day.

Also, it’s kind of buggin’ me, in the story above:

It’s “Prime Directive”, not “Prime Direct.”

But, but, but… what about “The Omega Glory?” Surely a 4th of July ep if there ever was one. I can’t believe it didn’t even get mentioned.

Don’t forget “The Omega Glory” when Kirk and company actually have an American flag and the documents of our founding fathers on the set!

Happy 4th to everyone and especially to the men and women of the armed forces. You are the reason we have our independence and we all thank you. Mirror mirrior is a great example of good vs eveil. One man can make a difference. Just like Gen George Washington did in the war of independence of the U.S. Im just glad it went better for america then it did for the mirrior spock.

OMEGA GLORY ANYONE???? Geez, E Plevnista ring a bell? American flag on an alien planet? Yangs overthrowing their communist overlords with the help of Kirk. You can’t get more July 4 than that.

12 and 13 you must have posted as I was typing.

Wish we could send phaser rifles, tricorders, and body deflectors to Iraq. That would shorten things a might over there. Don’t mean to make this political. Just supporting the troops.

good mention of insurrection…. That is one of my favorite episodes…….. Oh wait.

Now that would be a GREAT collection of episodes to have, episodes that show that the fight for freedom us Universal and that the Prime Directive sometimes must be uphold and sometimes has to be broken for the good of all.

“Mirroe, Mirror”…always been my absolute favorite TOS episode…great choice!

A Happy and Safe 4th to all.

7

I’m with you sister. Me too.

10

I’m with you brother. Great episode.

13, 15

I’m with both of you. You saved me the trouble of bringing it up. “Omega Glory”. For some reason people don’t like this episode. “the parrales of the two worlds are too much the same….blah blah blah” ….Love it. Always have.

“Omega Glory” is classic Trek. Over the top! You bet yer butt! Love it. Good 4th of July ep, too!!!

I would love to serve under Ron Tracey hell of a guy. Loves his Chinese Food to if you know what I mean

Lord Garth, long time no read!! How goes it, old friend?

Happy 4th of July my lovely Yankee Doodles.

Omega Glory!

Superb.

; )

Happy 4th of July my American friends… Live long and Prosper!

“E Plebmnista; norcom, forcom, perfectumum.”

Of course, that is what Trek is about: blasting people with phasers.

I-ee, Plegli-ian, for-com, perfectunum, like for stand……

Yikes. In August I’m marrying a Com. Guess a generation later it is all peace and love, like Worf on the Enterprise. : ) My little Com is a cutie though. I’m sure even Captain Tracy would approve.

Reread the Constitution and, also, the Declaration of Independence today (everyone should read it now and again–vigilance!). Couldn’t help but thinking of ol’ J.T.K. and his hammy delivery.

Just another Yang thinking about home.

I, by the way, have a friend who wove into her Master’s Thesis – the doctrine of Landru, “The Way to Eden”, Vaal, and the E-Plebnista. She did this in a way so that the professors reviewing the work were not even aware she was doing this. It was approved.

Now THERE’s a true Trek fan.

30

thebiggfrogg,

I think you’re marrying a “Kohm”, but congratulations.

“Omega Glory” is a great eposode, wish they would show it on the 4th of July once in a while….

Ballzio old bean I’ve been around here and there not much happening to rant about lately. Hope you are well

thebiggfrogg — I’m assuming you mean a Chinese gal.
Got me one of them. It’s nice.

Oh, and congrats!

-‘ Independence day ‘ was pretty good ….i really hate the ugly little space frogs from the movie…”insurrection” was a good movie..with great fx and aliens…but the story is more suitable for a tv movie…

Thanks. The funniest photo is of her in her army training (they all do that here in college) with her AK-47. I’d better be a good boy!

“Kohm” whoops.

Here’s to international brother and sisterhood and free-duhm.

hello? honorable ST: ENTERPRISE mention should be “In A Mirror, Darkly, Parts 1 & 2″…the alien rebellion against the tyrannical Terran Empire…it eerily mirrors dissent against the Bush administration and how Bush views anyone who disagrees with him as terrorists…it also teaches a great lesson about how pride goeth b4 a fall, and how sometimes, standing up for whats right requires martyrdom, which Bush has made seem like terrorism itself, as if not sacrificing ur beliefs just because Bush said so makes you a terrorist even if ur a pacifist…even if u hate Al Qaeda as much as he does…

In Deep Space Nine, every episode mentioning or dealing with the Bajoran Resistance and their fight against the Cardassians or in season 7, Damar’s Resistance movement against The Dominion would qualify, as well as all TNG, DS9 and Voyager episodes dealing with The Maquis

on the Maquis front it should be noted that they were RIGHT their rebellion was JUST, since the Cardassians later joined The Dominion…

also in DS9, the Section 31 episodes and Bashir and O’Brien’s attempt to expose/destroy Section 31 and Luther Sloane would qualify as would all of DS9s Mirror Universe episodes wat with the Terran rebellion against The Alliance would qualify

Pike: Where are you from? You have some odd ideas! Bush does not view everyone who does not agree with him as a terrorist! (I mean, look at the Democratic congress! LOL!) Also, he never called Germany, France, etc. terrorists? They stayed out of Iraq. ‘standing up for whats right requires martyrdom’? Oh boy! Bush has martyred himself politically (22% approval rating down from 90% after 9/11) and historically because he did what he thought was right. History will not look at him well, alot of Presidents are worried about their legacy, but this one isnt. If we could compare the Terran empire to anyone it would probably have to be Nazi Germany.

Pike:tell me where this quote came from:

‘Together we must also confront the new hazards of chemical and biological weapons, and the outlaw states, terrorists and organized criminals seeking to acquire them. Saddam Hussein has spent the better part of this decade, and much of his nation’s wealth, not on providing for the Iraqi people, but on developing nuclear, chemical and biological weapons and the missiles to deliver them. The United Nations weapons inspectors have done a truly remarkable job, finding and destroying more of Iraq’s arsenal than was destroyed during the entire gulf war. Now, Saddam Hussein wants to stop them from completing their mission. I know I speak for everyone in this chamber, Republicans and Democrats, when I say to Saddam Hussein, “You cannot defy the will of the world,” and when I say to him, “You have used weapons of mass destruction before; we are determined to deny you the capacity to use them again.[58]

Eeb-pleb-neesta!!!!! This is the greatest Fourth of July episode ever! How can you overlook that? Captain Tracy drained all of his phaser packs to celebrate! But the Yangs kept coming and coming for the free hot dogs and hamburgers.
These are our high worship words. You will not speak it.

Trying to remember — are there any specifically Chinese characters in Trek, as opposed to “Sulu”-ish generic Asians? Chinese make some serious fun of the Japanese, who make fun of everyone else in Asia. I understand why, historically speaking, but don’t quite get why Trek doesn’t acknowledge the variety among Asian peoples. Of course, I am talking about the franchise with a Shakespearean-sounding Frenchman and a Russian whose russian would make Pyitter the Gritt shudder.

Omega Glory! I forgot about that one! And William Shatner’s genous delivery!
A tour ‘d force!

Sulu is not generic! he is clearly Japanese! Japanese people look different from Chinese! They dont ‘all look the same’ as some people think, when you have travelled overseas you pick up the differences.

George Takei is of course Japanese. Sulu is “Asian.” As in Sulu Sea. Takei uses judo and botany, but I can’t recall Sulu ever proclaiming himself Japanese.

Sorry, meant Japanese-American for George.

Kirk;s defense of the US Constitution in “Omega Glory” should be here, too. I never thought of DS9 “Past Tense” as such, but that is a good show.

And Wesley — I am married to a Chinese lady, who frets when she gets a tan because she thinks it makes her look southern… as in southern China. The differences between Chinese, Japanese, Thai, Indonesian, Vietnamese, and other Asians is striking. Though, there has also been a great deal of mixing, via war and migration; it’s a little tough sometimes for a Yanguize like me to see the difference between some ethnic Chinese and some Indonesians or Koreans.

Funny stuff — Chinese historical dramas! The Japanese are routinely played by overweight or dumb-looking Chinese. Chinese love anything that makes their former aggressors look bad.

I’m working on IDIC with my wife. Hasn’t happened yet.