With precision, that is how sci-fi works. It transforms the coordinates of our act, our show, to an alien system so as to remove much of what we don't see day-to-day because it is background to our daily lives. What is left is the point, which could be something political or social, a question of "what is this? seen in isolation." Thus an alien, Enemy Mine, with some human characteristics, or an Empire existing in itself and by itself in a galaxy far away, or a legal system trekking at warp 8 to an unknown destination, or the effect of a single discovery, cavorite, on the coursae of history.
I also enjoy the way Sci Fi allows you to isolate human reactions as in a laboratory controlled environment...Being in an alien environment...your humanity becomes MORE pronounced...Sci Fi has technology in it, but it is not there to be the star! The monkey in the bubble is where the action is at(We want to see the reaction of the Astronaut looking at something no human has ever seen before, I mean, What would you do if you met a Democrat who wanted you to spend your money the way you saw fit?...I'd call in a fire mission from Tonkin cause I was in the presence of something not of this earth or MARS!Classic Human fear of the unknown in its pure form)
Star Trek was so culturally integrated in such a way that it wasn't an issue...Until Abe Lincoln stepped on the bridge, noone ever talked to Uhura about her race...Her response was CLASSIC We've come to understand that everyone is beautiful for who they are! Jesse Jackson has done more to DESTROY true racial harmony in this country than IDI AMIN or all the heavy Crip and Blood gangs in history!!!!
Gene Roddenberry gets a toast from me everytime his name is mentioned in a documenary of the star trek phenomenon...His ashes are in orbit...RIP Revolve in Perpetuity, Gene...Wish I could have shaken your hand just once...