Are the Cardassians the most interesting Race in the Star Terk Galaxy?

[Thor Damar]

^ Good point Nerys Ghemor, and well put too.

I will lay my cards on the table on this issue because I think it's a very important question that needs a sensible answer. Now I'm quite far to the Left (I will not say how far because this isn't TNZ and we don't want to get drawn into a massive debate) and can not be in any sense called a conservative, and yet I am a huge Cardassian fan. I personally think that it is because of the complex nature of the Cardassian society and the counterpoint the Union poses to the UFP.

I do see a lot of arrogant sneering from some of my fellow Lefties both on the interweb and the real world but I will also say that self righteousness and arrogance crosses all political borders and can be poison to political discourse. I hold firmly to the view that politics is both the art of the impossible and the area of our ideas and hopes, that the point is to share and debate in order to help shape society for the better. Therefore all points of view deserve respect.
I think for the Cardassians politics is both a deadly form of combat and a means of enlightenment, a way to understand an often harsh universe. They may be tyrants, spies and often cruel but at least they know that life and success have to be fought for.
And that is one of the many reasons for the greatness of the Cardassian people!

[JustKate]

"...but at least they know that life and success have to be fought for."

That's really good, Thor Damar - really powerful. And I think it demonstrates one of the reasons why the Federation can be so very annoying (keeping in mind that I admire many things about the Feds). I know bad things happen to Federation citizens; we see some of them on episodes every other week. But on the whole, life is pretty damn easy in the Federation. You almost have to create difficulties for yourself by colonizing distant worlds or joining Starfleet. That can make you smug. Even before the Dominion war, nobody on Cardassia was smug - they couldn't afford to be.

[Myasishchev]

Nerys Ghemor wrote:

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Yet you so perfectly illustrate my point as to why they need to be outside the Federation as a strong competitor [...]

What does "conservative" mean in the 24th century, then? What does it translate to?

Fiscal responsibility? Economic libertarianism? Utilizing the fleet in its traditional role as a primarily military arm? We should speak in concrete terms here. Does it simply mean "unwilling to integrate and give up sovereignty"? If that's the case, then I can see your point--but for what it's worth I see the Ferengi as potentially filling that role more nicely than the Cardassians, as they are, more than anyone, the "anti-Federation," an amoral alliance of libertarians set against the self-righteous communards of Earth and Vulcan. And they do not have the baggage of war guilt and the intense self-examination.

They need only be written as competent and efficient... which I'll grant is apparently beyond any Trek writer to date, that I know of.

Now I'm not saying the Cardassians need to be humans with scales. That would be dull. But despite the received wisdom, I personally believe that Federation allies and members can be at least as interesting as any adversary.

You seem to assume that the only people whose views are worth having are those who adhere to the exact set of liberal/relativistic values that the Federation have

Not really. Of all the factions in the Star Trek universe, the ones that most closely approximate my own values might actually be the Borg. I find the Federation often hypocritical and parochial... and yet for a society of humanoids, I fear there is no better alternative, just like the real world state for which the Federation is an avatar.

Thor Damar wrote:

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I'm very glad to see Cardassia recovering from the Dominion Genocide and I personally think that its great that there is no Klingon or Romulan occupation. Besides isn't the KDF supposed to be recovering from the Dominion War? Those Klingons shouldn't be trying to expand their poxy empire for gods sake.

And what better way to recover than to loot the corpse of the Cardassian Union?

Simply from a realpolitik perspective, I'd presume the Klingons and Romulans, who have lost millions of lives on account of the Cardassians, would demand, perhaps even rightfully, tremendous concessions from the prostrated Union, likely in the terms of territory.

I doubt they were much swayed by Damar's rebellion--any more than the Allies were by von Tresckow's attempted coup (and I just realized that Valkyrie already came out three months ago, I thought it was slated for a summer 2009 release ). After all, Damar only got serious about fighting the Dominion... once he started losing.

Indeed, the question really isn't whether the Klings and Roms wanted to annex large portions of the Cardassian Union, but who was there to stop them? The Cards? No. The Feds? Yeah, I bet they stopped them with as much vigor as we stopped the Soviets from occupying Berlin.

The alternative to a lack of Federation occupation is occupation by the Klingons and Romulans.

From the perspective of the Federation itself, the Cardassians have been a thorn in the side of the Federation for years. These wars were apparently so damaging that the Feds even gave up territory in the form of a "DMZ" which the Cardassians did not respect. And then they served as the power base of the Dominion in the Alpha Quadrant--there was no way they were going to allow the Cardassians to regain their footing on such terms that they would again become a threat. And practically, the Cardassian society and economy was so devastated by the war that they were likely incapable of functioning on their own.

Now, that doesn't mean I think Federation occupation would be brutal or even undemocratic--I think it would be similar to the situation in West Germany, after our war. The Klingons would be permitted to reap some benefits from conquest but eventually would be obliged to leave--by the Federation--once (after maybe a decade) the Feds considered the Cards ready for sovereignty again. The Romulans, like the USSR, would refuse to give up their gains, and Cardassia would be split into two parts for the long term.

Unfortuantely, the situation we actually have is the Romulan state being split in two for the long term, and the Federation is utterly without enemies, except the bloody Borg or a combination of minor players like this newfangled Typhon Pact is meant to be.

[Myasishchev]

Actually, Thor Damar, I just saw your sig, and it sums up my point of view about how the Federation must have felt after being attacked by the Dominion and Cardassia and spending two years finally triumphing over them...

Skrain Dukat wrote:

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A true victory is to make your enemy see they were wrong to oppose you in the first place. To force them to acknowledge your greatness.

[Nerys Ghemor]

Thor Damar wrote:

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I hold firmly to the view that politics is both the art of the impossible and the area of our ideas and hopes, that the point is to share and debate in order to help shape society for the better. Therefore all points of view deserve respect.

Many have forgotten that...and I am very glad to see others that remember.

at least they know that life and success have to be fought for.
And that is one of the many reasons for the greatness of the Cardassian people!

YES!

One thing that unnerves me about the Federation is that I am not sure sometimes if they'd even have the fire left to fight for a just cause. Yes...we saw the Borg and the Dominion Wars--but I have to wonder, for instance, just how long they would maintain their commitments in a different sort of combat situation. Let's say the Federation sent aid to Cardassia, but some Cardassians decided to play terrorist.

Part of me fears the Feds would abandon the reconstruction just because it was hard. That they would fail to keep their promises out of fear of pain. And that without the Federation's actual survival threatened, they would not have the capacity to put the cause before the comfort of the individual.

Myasishchev wrote:

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What does "conservative" mean in the 24th century, then? What does it translate to?

Fiscal responsibility? Economic libertarianism? Utilizing the fleet in its traditional role as a primarily military arm? We should speak in concrete terms here. Does it simply mean "unwilling to integrate and give up sovereignty"? If that's the case, then I can see your point

I think it's more than that, though some of those are components. (And another component, I think, is the value of the family--taking relationships seriously, as commitments and not as flings, and placing the care of one's children and elders first.)

I think it's refusing the easy route of relativism. It's the belief that there are standards beyond the individual. They always had that--though they stopped at the society/government level and didn't move beyond that to the consideration that the universe itself has laws as to what is right or wrong--a higher power, in other words.

Now, just as for those who undertake a 12-step program, the Cardassians need not necessarily restore their old religious beliefs (though I do like the idea of some religious diversity among them, as the novels are showing) to accept a "higher power". As I just pointed out, one could even entertain an idea that the universe itself has laws--corollaries to the laws of physics, perhaps--and that by these objective standards certain things are right or true and certain things are wrong or false. People can disagree on their understanding as to which is which--but in the end there is only one right answer...not a different answer for each person.

As long as the Cardassians abandon the idea of forcing their systems and ways upon others, then I think if they were able to function on a democratic system yet hold to ideals so opposite to the Federation's, it would really get some people's hackles up. Especially if any world (or worlds) that the Federation would've liked to have in their court ended up making a different alliance.

And they do not have the baggage of war guilt and the intense self-examination.

But somehow I see those as in the end, making the Cardassians stronger. If they can face the truth about themselves in ALL aspects--see what is bad AND what is good (kind of a societal 12-step program), then they really WILL go to great heights.

The suspicion of others towards them and the bigotry towards opposing views would actually add a good dose of drama to the plot were a show to be created along those lines. Just like with the Detapa Council's uprising--would the rest of the quadrant fail to accept evidence of change even if it were right before their eyes? And where would that lead?

Not really. Of all the factions in the Star Trek universe, the ones that most closely approximate my own values might actually be the Borg. I find the Federation often hypocritical and parochial... and yet for a society of humanoids, I fear there is no better alternative, just like the real world state for which the Federation is an avatar.

For me the closest approximation would be a Cardassian like Tekeny Ghemor. He loves his family and his nation dearly, and also believes strongly in doing what is right. He believes in principles. (Or as I would put it in my own beliefs, God, family, and country.)

[Myasishchev]

Firstly, Nerys, I do want to point out the irony of you asking for cultural relativism in the view of a non-relativist society.

Nerys Ghemor wrote:

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I think it's more than that, though some of those are components. (And another component, I think, is the value of the family--taking relationships seriously, as commitments and not as flings, and placing the care of one's children and elders first.)

How does membership in the Federation keep Cardassians from staying true to their families? The Federation is no more going to coerce Cardassian lasses into flings than any truly democratic Cardassian state is going to coerce them into not having flings.

I think it's refusing the easy route of relativism. It's the belief that there are standards beyond the individual.

Fine and very dandy--but any society worth respecting places limits on the extent that such standards may be imposed.

But somehow I see those as in the end, making the Cardassians stronger. If they can face the truth about themselves in ALL aspects--see what is bad AND what is good (kind of a societal 12-step program), then they really WILL go to great heights.

Strength in unity. Unity through faith (in the Federation). I think you overlook the dramatic possibilities in a schismatic Cardassia that is torn between those who want the Federation and those who want Cardassia for Cardassians. Those who recognize the Federation is a flawed but friendly thing, and that not all foreigners are sub-Cardassian, as you put it, and those who are extremely wary of the potential for the loss of identity in the Babel sea of kooky aliens.

Taking a page from Enterprise, the latter could call their movement Cardassia Prime Prime.

The suspicion of others towards them and the bigotry towards opposing views would actually add a good dose of drama to the plot were a show to be created along those lines. Just like with the Detapa Council's uprising--would the rest of the quadrant fail to accept evidence of change even if it were right before their eyes? And where would that lead?

Such a drama could be pursued with the Cardassians in or out of the Federation. Personally, I think it could be done even more profitably within. (What would the Bajorans think if Cardassia Prime and her colonies suddenly applied for membership into the UFP? "Great, the Cardassians took our resources for half a century by force, but they found a better way: now the Federation will do it for them!")

And if we have the Romulans having annexed Cardassian territory de facto, but the Cardassian Union is whole de jure, what results from the sudden admission into the Federation of all these Cardassians under Romulan control? Interestingly, this could be used as a vehicle for exploring what the Federation itself has become after a war that nearly annihilated it--a power in no mood to be flexed with anymore, the Quadrant's arrogant superpower.

For me the closest approximation would be a Cardassian like Tekeny Ghemor. He loves his family and his nation dearly, and also believes strongly in doing what is right. He believes in principles. (Or as I would put it in my own beliefs, God, family, and country.)

The Federation respects your beliefs, citizen. Now, give us your dilithium.

[USS Triumphant]

Nerys Ghemor wrote:

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Part of me fears the Feds would abandon the reconstruction just because it was hard. That they would fail to keep their promises out of fear of pain. And that without the Federation's actual survival threatened, they would not have the capacity to put the cause before the comfort of the individual.

For someone who claims not to care for post-TMP Klingons, you've stated the perspective of True Warriors on this issue succinctly.

[Thor Damar]

Interesting debate and some very thought provoking points made by Myasishchev, some of which I hope to address in this post. (Warning: this may result in either a rant or a Cardassian style monologue)

With regards to my sig, I included it because it is one of my favorite Weyoun/Dukat moments and it highlights the differences in their personal Philosophies. Weyoun shares the typical Dominion viewpoint that anything and anyone who poses a threat to their Gods should be eliminated entirely whereas Dukat believes that one has to prove that you are the superior being to your enemies. The line that you quoted Myasishchev is more revealing of Skrain Dukat than of official cardassian policy, Dukat needs to prove that he was correct to justify his actions to the universe and to gain the respect he feels that he deserves. Basically Dukat has a serious ego problem! However the first sentence could be applied to the Federation after the dominion war but more in the sense that the UFP would want to build up Cardassia as a ally. After all the UFP's greatness is in its diversity not it's conquests.

As for the Ferengi becoming the "anti-Federation" I have several reservations with this concept. Firstly the Ferengi are a caricature of capitalism and quickly became a running joke (Quark was an admirable attempt to move beyond this but too many Ferengi episodes ruined it IMHO). Secondly why should a alliance of arrogant libertarians be the only alternative to the alleged Communism of the Federation? Oh look it's 400 years in the future and we're still fighting the Cold War. Hooray for neo-Liberalism.

It's precisely because the Cardassians occupy (and I hope you'll forgive me for using that word) a middle ground between the two that makes the Cardassian Union's interactions with the rest of the Alpha Quadrant so interesting. I do hope they don't just revert to being the federation's adversaries in 20 years time, perhaps a neutral Cardassia would have more dramatic impact.


As for the Borg, I have never liked the collective and aside from the first few times that they appeared, I never found them to be that interesting. All they do is take from others subjugating entire worlds and civilizations to the Collective's will. The Borg have nothing to offer to the universe and I'm glad that they are finally gone.

As for the Klingon's looting the corpse of the Cardassian Union in order to recover from the War? I don't think the Klingons have that right personally, after all it was their arrogant and misguided aggression based on the paranoia of an easily tricked high council and the stupid belief that the Klingon Empire needs to expand or die. The Klingons attacked their closest ally and would have left the AQ wide open to the Dominion after the UFP, KE and the RSE had fought each other to exhaustion . I should also note that the Federation nearly fought a civil war due to Founder influence and none other than Enabran Tain himself was taken in by a Dominion plot. The point is that occupying a dying and resource poor Cardassian Union will not help anyone recover from the War and it is particularly disguising of the Klingons to demand reparations and territories from the Cardassian people when they have spent the last few years launching unprovoked raids and wars of aggression on the Cardassian Union that have cost the lives of millions. Indeed the only group that has caused more harm to the people of Cardassia (and indeed the AQ itself) is the Dominion.

As for Damar's rebellion I will be addressing the causes and affects of Damar's actions in my next essay which will be on the politics of the Union.

[JustKate]

Thor Damar wrote:

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Interesting debate and some very thought provoking points made by Myasishchev, some of which I hope to address in this post. (Warning: this may result in either a rant or a Cardassian style monologue)

And what's wrong with that?

As for the Ferengi becoming the "anti-Federation" I have several reservations with this concept. Firstly the Ferengi are a caricature of capitalism and quickly became a running joke (Quark was an admirable attempt to move beyond this but too many Ferengi episodes ruined it IMHO). Secondly why should a alliance of arrogant libertarians be the only alternative to the alleged Communism of the Federation? Oh look it's 400 years in the future and we're still fighting the Cold War. Hooray for neo-Liberalism.

I agree completely. The Feds should have a foe who makes us think. I enjoy the Ferengi (in smallish doses) but I wouldn't call them particularly thought-provoking. Honestly, I don't think the Klingons ever caused me to think that much either. The TOS Klingons were just regular old bad guys - not without interest, but it was always really clear who wore the white hats and who wore the black ones. Nothing thought-provoking there. The later Klingons had some interesting characters and could have been interesting, but...they got too much into all that pseudo-honor stuff (and some of it was pseudo), and after a while it was all treachery and revenge and aggression and clashing swords and so on. Eh.

The Romulans had real potential, and still do. But they'd need to be filled out a bit now - they haven't been used enough so that we know enough about them to make them thought provoking.

It's precisely because the Cardassians occupy (and I hope you'll forgive me for using that word) a middle ground between the two that makes the Cardassian Union's interactions with the rest of the Alpha Quadrant so interesting. I do hope they don't just revert to being the federation's adversaries in 20 years time, perhaps a neutral Cardassia would have more dramatic impact.

Still agreeing here...

As for the Borg, I have never liked the collective and aside from the first few times that they appeared, I never found them to be that interesting. All they do is take from others subjugating entire worlds and civilizations to the Collective's will. The Borg have nothing to offer to the universe and I'm glad that they are finally gone.

I agree (again). The Borg are kind of like a tsunami - an impersonal destructive force. When they were new and unknown, they were really creepy, with all those spare parts and grey skin and everything. But the problem with an impersonal destructive force is...what can you do with it? Is it possible to make the same impersonal phenomenon dramatic again and again over a relatively short time?

I think the Trek writers did their best (the Borg queen, having the Borg assimilate characters we care about, having some Borg freed, etc.). But that cow has been milked dry, IMO.

As for Damar's rebellion I will be addressing the causes and affects of Damar's actions in my next essay which will be on the politics of the Union.

Great. I look forward to it.

[neogothboy74]

Cardassians and Bajorans are my favorite Trek aliens. I can't really see 1 race without the other. My best friend Mollie and I both love the Cardassians though, and find many of them, oddly sexy. lol.

Garak could carry his own series.

[Hoshi_Mayweather]

I want to put my vote in for the Cardassians over the Klingons.

Yes, the Klingons were one-dimensional and over-used....although, I do like the early TOS Klingons. (I prefer Romulans as the top villans, and not what TNG/onward did with them in terms of characters and appearance; I think I'm more upset with the appearance).

[Myasishchev]

I hate their foreheads. It makes no sense--they are Vulcans, they are not similar, they are the same, because speciation doesn't happen in 2000 years. The makeup was a waste of money that could have been better used to make sure phasers didn't come out of the photon torpedo tube.

[Nerys Ghemor]

Myasishchev wrote:

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I hate their foreheads. It makes no sense--they are Vulcans, they are not similar, they are the same, because speciation doesn't happen in 2000 years. The makeup was a waste of money that could have been better used to make sure phasers didn't come out of the photon torpedo tube.

While from an evolutionary standpoint you're quite right...I can't help noticing the actors cast as Romulans tend to have a very different stature and build, in some cases, than those playing Vulcans. I personally like to reconcile it in my head by saying that the Romulans tampered with their own DNA to achieve a physique suited to a more temperate world like Romulus, as opposed to a desert like Vulcan. (Hell, maybe they even created the Remans as they experimented, either by accident or deliberately.)

[Myasishchev]

What we needed was a two-episode arc in a prospective fifth season of Enterprise, to explain this inconsistency!

I ultimately do rationalize it as most do--Romulan foreheads are to the Vulcan genome what an epicanthal fold is to the human one, a trait shared by many but not all. Now the morphological gulf between giant creases of bone and the precise construction of an eyelid is large, but at that point I can comfortably suspend disbelief.

As for the Remans, I assume they're the result of two thousand years of living in mildly radioactive caves. This is of course not ultra-scientific, but it's more fun to assume they're Vulcan, genetically. Their paleness could be attributed to simple lack of UV light (melanin production must be stimulated in Vulcans as well as humans). The curiously missing inner eyelid function which protects Vulcans (and presumably Romulans) from bright light might yield to the same principle, that without exposure, the specialized cells which produce polarizing compounds simply don't develop normally.

Apropos of nothing, one of my biggest beefs with how Trek dealt with the Romulans was the ridigity of their society, particularly a throwaway line in Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges, when Garak regales Bashir with the "grayness" of life on Romulus. If you're just going to wind up boring, why bother leaving Vulcan?

[Tachyon]

No. Romulans are much more interesting.