Politics of Trek: “A Taste of Armageddon”

Commentarama Films ^ | 5-8-2012 | Andrew Price

[KC_Lion]

Let me tell you something about hu-mans, Nephew. They're a wonderful, friendly people as long as their bellies are full and their holosuites are working... but take away their creature comforts deprive them of food, sleep, sonic showers... put their lives in jeopardy over an extended period of time and those same, friendly, intelligent, wonderful people will become as nasty and as violent as the most bloodthirsty Klingon. You don't believe me? Look at those faces. Look in their eyes.

[cripplecreek]

Definitely one of the greatest of episodes.

I rank it up there with the warning offered by Burgess Meredith in the Twilight zone episode “The Obsolete Man”.

[GeronL]

I tried posting on that website and they ran me off, accusing me of being an Obama troll.

[Old Sarge]

[EasySt]

Thumbs Up!

[allmendream]

There is also the liberal view that we can and should be shielded from the horrors of war.

That a limited engagement on limited terms cannot EVER end a war doesn't occur to them. These two civilizations had zero incentive to ever stop the “war”.

A war ends when two belligerents decide upon a mutually beneficial peace - or when one side achieves VICTORY.

Victory is not a dirty word. It should always be the objective of any wartime campaign. Warfare is killing people and breaking things - and it will continue until one side decides that they are tired of having their people killed and their things broken.

[Drill Thrawl]

Warfare is killing people and breaking things - and it will continue until one side decides that they are tired of having their people killed and their things broken.

Which is a good argument for fast, hard and vicious wars. The sooner they are over, the better for all.

[unkus]

I rank it up there with the warning offered by Burgess Meredith in the Twilight zone episode “The Obsolete Man”.

---

Yes!

[cripplecreek]

The sooner they are over, the better for all.

Generations of North Koreans who have suffered the horrors of "peace" would probably agree.

[cripplecreek]

The Obsolete man in 2 parts.

Twilight Zone The Obsolete Man episode is carries a warning p1/2

I'd say that Rod Serling had read the words of George Bernard Shaw and was as disgusted by them as I am.

You must all know half a dozen people at least who are no use in this world, who are more trouble than they are worth. Just put them there and say Sir, or Madam, now will you be kind enough to justify your existence? If you can’t justify your existence, if you’re not pulling your weight in the social boat, if you’re not producing as much as you consume or perhaps a little more, then, clearly, we cannot use the organizations of our society for the purpose of keeping you alive, because your life does not benefit us and it can’t be of very much use to yourself.

-George Bernard Shaw (Scumbag Fabian Socialist)

[unkus]

Disgusting bastard.

[stuartcr]

The conservative theme works great when we’re talking about different planets, separated by huge distances...not so much on one planet in a time when whatever happens on one side of the planet will have an affect on the interests of all.

[cripplecreek]

(Wordsworth clutches his Bible like a lost treasure. The Chancellor is slowly moving towards him as if unsure how it would look in front of the cameras to force him to open the door and then stops )

Wordsworth: It's been hidden here for over twenty years, it's a crime punishable by death, so it's only thing I have that has any value at all to me...So I'm just going to sit down and read it...until the moment of my death. How will you spend your last moments Chancellor.

[allmendream]

Indeed.

A short brutal campaign might kill a lot of people - but convince the opponent that continuing the war is futile - thus ending it.

A long “humanitarian” war campaign will go on indefinitely.

Thus those arguing for a more “humane” war - are de facto arguing for a longer war.

I am also reminded of the “Dragonslayer” movie - where a virgin female was ‘picked by lots’ to feed the dragon. But somehow the girls from well connected families never got chosen. I think such “simulated” deaths would tend to fall disproportionately if not exclusively upon those less well connected. How nice for them to have a war that doesn't cost them anything in terms of material goods - and supplies an excuse to execute a constant crop of those who are less valuable in that society.

[discostu]

This episode became very different for me when I started playing war games. That’s when I started thinking the people in their command room weren’t nerdy enough, nobody once complained about the other side having hot dice.

[unkus]

Great scene!

[Pontiac]

bump for later

[RavenLooneyToon]

“A long “humanitarian” war campaign will go on indefinitely.”

Thus Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Many lives were saved by the Enoloa Gay.

[cripplecreek]

And look how quickly Europe and Japan rebuilt after the war.