To further expand and clarify your analogy the prime directive does not allow The Federation to interfere in pre warp drive cultures.Once a planet advances enough to achieve warp drive then first contact can be made.Once said planet achieves a global peace and one government then they can apply for membership in the Federation.
I think Japan has been accepted in the "Federation" and is effectively considered and treated as "White/European." Eskimos can hunt whales,that is perfectly acceptable but the Japanese can not.They must now live by "Federation Rules."
Thank you for commenting on and expanding upon my analogy (I've watched "Star Trek" but I'm not a fanatic or anything).
Japan is an intersting case. They have been absolved of guilt for their World War II era atrocities ("it was their culture"), but Pat Buchanan regards them as "white" (as did the apartheid regime of South Africa).
Why do the Ainu never get any press? Is it because they're indigenous "caucasians" in a country ruled by "people of color?"
The Ainu. Aboriginal caucasions. Almost sounds like an oxymoron. A native any redneck could love.....
Ping for later. Great read. The dicotomy of diversity. Gotta be a haiku in there somewhere.