STAR TREK & COLONIALISM “The Best of Both Worlds”

ALLEGORY (def.) A story that represents something else. In this allegory: Humans & the rest of the Federation = Indians The Borg = European explorers & colonists Being assimilated into a Borg = losing the Indian ways of life and becoming Westernized/’Civilized’/etc.

SETTING It’s 400 years in the future All the countries on Earth have joined together in peace and have begun to explore the galaxy We have encountered many other races, many of them friendly, and have joined a “Federation” of united planets (think of it as being like the United Nations, but with one central government, one military, etc.) Life isn’t perfect, but we are comfortable in our culture, lifestyle, beliefs, etc.

FIRST CONTACT: THE BORG A couple years ago, a small group of us encountered a previously unknown race from very far away. They are called “The Borg.” They look and act very different from us: They don’t treat us as important for who we are or respect our beliefs, practices, or property They are only interested in us for things that they can take from us: new materials, any new technologies, and in capturing us They will also turn us into drones with no free will, working for them as slaves Their technology is significantly superior to ours – our best weapons don’t seem like they can stop them at all

Some of us escaped to tell others about it, but more of them are coming We don’t know how soon they’ll get here, but we know that once they do, they may be able to completely destroy our culture and way of life and absorb us into their own society They call this process “assimilation,” and they don’t care whether we like it or not

ASSIMILATION - to become part of a different society and adopt the ways of their culture

THEY’RE COMING! In the meantime, we’ve started to prepare however we can – see if we can upgrade our defenses, try to enhance warning networks, etc. If resistance fails, then what happens to our people, culture, and way of life?

THE CAST (ALL “GOOD GUYS”) Captain Picard Captain of the Enterprise. After he is captured, he is re-named “Locutus” by the Borg Commander Riker Executive officer of the Enterprise (it’s like an assistant principal or vice president). Takes command when Picard is captured. This is the Federation’s best ship, and where the show takes place. The Enterprise

THE CAST He’s an android – a robot. No emotions. Super smart and super strong. Ironically, wants to be more human. Counselor Troi She is half-human, half alien. The alien half can partly read minds. Why does she dress in pajamas-that-don’t-meet-dress-code? I don’t know. Worf He’s a member of an alien race called “Klingons.” Data Geordi LaForge He’s the Enterprise’s chief engineer – keeps the ship running. He wears a visor because he was born blind – it lets him see.

THE CAST Dr. Crusher The Enterprise’s doctor. Guinan An alien bartender whose race was previously assimilated by the Borg. She often advises Captain Picard. Special guest Borg expert. Commander Shelby Wesley Crusher Dr. Crusher’s son who is some kind of supergenius, so he’s allowed to help fly the Enterprise

PART I DISCUSSION NOTES: NOTICE HOW… …Even when the Enterprise crew killed some Borg, there always seemed to be more? This is how the Indians felt! More and more immigrants kept coming. …Ugly and unappealing it seemed to us that these aliens have technology connected to their bodies? Think about how attached you are to your phone…and tablet…and watch…and earpiece/earbuds/headphones…and pedometer …They captured the Federation leader and used him to speak for them? This happened to some Native Americans. They were brought back to Europe, taught English or Spanish as the case may be, and were used by Europeans to help assimilate their fellow natives. …Locutus declaring, “your life, as it has been, is over. From this time forward, you will service us.” Native Americans were expected to help European settlers by providing food, teaching them important local farming techniques, and becoming slaves in futile gold-mining operations.

DEATH AND CULTURAL DESTRUCTION In part II, Guinan talks to Riker about the crew sensing the nearness of their own deaths. What she says is similar to what many Natives experienced. Millions of Native Americans died in the centuries after Europeans arrived, mostly due to disease, also due to warfare. Estimates are as high as a reduction from 12 million in 1500 A.D. to about 237,000 in 1900 A.D. (95% drop). Even though many members of native tribes are still around today, their traditional way of life largely has disappeared. Around 1900, many Indian children were rounded up and sent to “Indian schools” to teach them how to look, act, and dress like other Americans. One thing that Europeans often traded to Native Americans was alcohol. Not surprisingly, many Indians descended into alcoholism and depression. Native American rates of alcoholism and suicide continue to be much higher than that of other Americans to this day.

FIGHTING BACK In real history, there were some times that Native Americans fought back successfully: A small group of Cherokee were allowed to stay in NC instead of being forced onto the Trail of Tears after one of their leaders surrendered himself. The Seminole Indians of Florida were never defeated by the U.S. even though the U.S. Army tried to forcibly remove them. They use their superior knowledge of the Everglades to evade and push out U.S. troops. This is why the Seminole tribe has no problem with Florida State using them as a team name – it honors a victorious, not defeated, tribe. At the Battle of Little Bighorn, the Sioux tribe famously defeated the U.S. Army led by General George Custer. This was called Custer’s last stand, and was used as a rallying cry in the U.S. to continue to fight Native Americans.

REAL LIFE: NO HOLLYWOOD ENDING In the show, Captain Picard is rescued. The Federation then destroys this Borg ship, continues to fight off the Borg for a few years, and eventually defeats them. In real life, Native Americans survive, but have been assimilated into American culture. Some members fight to preserve their culture by practicing their traditions, but many are uninterested in learning traditional ways.