Cardassian society - enforcement or preference?

Discussion in 'Star Trek: Deep Space Nine' started by Dal Rassak, Feb 26, 2013.

  1. Sci

    Sci Fleet Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Mar 2, 2002
    Location:
    Montgomery County, State of Maryland
    I hope so!

    Of course they were telling lies to themselves. Men have always known the full humanity of the women they were oppressing; slavers have always known the full humanity of the people they held in bondage; the wealthy have always known the full humanity of those they kept in poverty. And all have feared their subjects' rebellions throughout history.

    Saying you have rule by the people when you're only letting an elite actually rule? That's a lie you're telling yourself. And future societies should recognize that lie.
     
  2. Pavonis

    Pavonis Commodore Commodore

    Joined:
    Apr 26, 2001
    Oh, really? Even if future societies have ideals and mores that offend your merely 21st century sensibilities? Are you really that enlightened?

    It's not a lie, as in a deliberate deceit, though. It's a limitation in their view. "All humans are equal" isn't an ancient dictum that all past societies were failing to live up to just because you think they were deliberately being elitist asshats; it's an idea that is far most recent and one past societies hadn't latched on to yet.

    You may as well criticize the ancient Athenians for not being vegan as well as for not being ideal democrats.
     
  3. Dal Rassak

    Dal Rassak Lieutenant Commander Red Shirt

    Joined:
    Jan 31, 2013
    Location:
    Terok Nor
    As to one remark at the top of this page... in actual fact, one of the titles of the Roman head of state was imperator, "the one who commands", which is where English gets the word emperor from.
     
  4. Sci

    Sci Fleet Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Mar 2, 2002
    Location:
    Montgomery County, State of Maryland
    We covered this.


    Tl;dr: "Imperator" may be where "Emperor" comes from, but it did not itself mean "hereditary monarch."