Assimilation of Nog...

[Ferengi Prime 5]

Since Nog lives on a Bajoran station, if this were a textbook case of cultural assimilation, the question might be expected to hinge upon his taking on traits from Bajoran culture. He doesn't. He chooses to join Starfleet. As far as we know, there's nowhere in the Federation where cultural assimilation in the textbook sense could apply to a Ferengi, although this doesn't mean that you couldn't make a case with another species. (I'm not denying that cultural assimilation COULD be applied to the Federation in some context, I just don't find it applicable to Nog's circumstances.)

Yes... but lets take another look... Nog went to a school run by Star Fleet person making up her own lesson plans most likely favoring Star Fleet themes. His best friend is a son of the commander of DS9 a Star Fleet officer. His dad works for DS9 which is Bajoran but controlled and operated by Star Fleet. Everyone on the station knew Star Fleet was the dominate cultural presents on the station... So maybe Nog was classically assimilated by Star Fleet... bubblelike... a thought...

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

I would hardly call Starfleet "dominant" on DS9.

What "everyone knows" is that the station is owned by the Bajorans. Bajor owns it, they asked Starfleet to help them run it. Their culture would surely be as dominant, if not more, than Starfleet's. So if Nog was going to be assimilated by any culture, it would be Bajor.

That said, Nog's reasons for joining Starfleet are obvious, he's said it several times. He wants to make something of his life and be the engineer his father couldn't be. If that means Starfleet, so be it. He wasn't "assimilated", just choosing a career.

 

[oberth]

Yes... but lets take another look... Nog went to a school run by Star Fleet person making up her own lesson plans most likely favoring Star Fleet themes. His best friend is a son of the commander of DS9 a Star Fleet officer. His dad works for DS9 which is Bajoran but controlled and operated by Star Fleet. Everyone on the station knew Star Fleet was the dominate cultural presents on the station... So maybe Nog was classically assimilated by Star Fleet... bubblelike... a thought...

nonsense - keiko o'brien is not a starfleet person, she's married to one, though

 

[Ferengi Prime 5]

keiko o'brien is not a starfleet person, she's married to one, though

She worked on the Enterprise... Where she met O'Brien... She is a UFP citizen...

 

[oberth]

She worked on the Enterprise... Where she met O'Brien... She is a UFP citizen...

doesn't make her starfleet - she's a civilian

 

[Paul Weaver]

She also said she was making a broad curriculum incorporating many different cultures, not just federation. The majority of children attending were Bajoran, some of whom were unhappy that it wasn't a Bajoran school, and there was the whole Religious terrorism thing, however Bajorans continued to send their children to the school (in addition to Rom and Nog) until the start of Season 3 after the dominion turned up

ROM: You want my boy to go to a Federation school?
KEIKO: Not just Federation. I'm developing a curriculum that will take a much broader approach.
ROM: Little lady, little lady, what do you know of Ferengi education?
KEIKO: I understand you employ a work-study approach, Mister Rom, with apprenticeships in a wide range of business and economic fields.
ROM: We throw them into the cut-throat competition of Ferengi commerce and anyone who survives, graduates. Are you prepared to teach that to my son?
KEIKO: I'm sure I couldn't improve on what you've already taught him in that department.
ROM: Thank you. Thank you. I've taught him everything I know. It's so important that we prepare our youth for the challenges of the future.
KEIKO: Exactly. Consider the advantage your son will have over other Ferengi once he's learned about other cultures, once he learns how others run their economies, conduct business, negotiate.
ROM: You will teach my son these things?
KEIKO: Knowledge is power, Mister Rom.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Ah, those were the days. When Rom had a pair.

 

[oberth]

Ah, those were the days. When Rom had a pair.

i guess he always had or leeta would have left him

 

[kkt]

... in my line of work (journalism) he wouldn't be considered a strong source, would he?

He's Mr Reliable... right up there with Garak

 

[Locutus of Bored]

Nog was inspired to join Starfleet by his Delta Quadrant camping trip with Jake, Ben, and Quark and got captured by some Jem'Hadar, so no in your face recruiting. If anything Captain Sisko went out of his way to deter him because he was skeptical of his motives.

Nog always said he didn't have the lobes for business, but he had his father's hands and his uncle's tenacity and wanted to make something of himself, so his reasoning is sound and independent.

Nog didn't forget what it was to be Ferengi. He still had faith that the Great Material Continuum would provide when the Chief asked him to acquire some new parts, and traded for them accordingly.

Nog hasn't completely given up capitalism as a concept, but it's a kinder, gentler form of capitalism of the type instituted in his father Grand Nagus Rom's reforms that still allows from profit making, but with a social safety net, worker's rights, and women's rights.

I'm not seeing the problem. It's not like he was indoctrinated into a cult against his will. This is navel-gazing at its worst. Not everything is some cultural conspiracy or sinister plot. He's a kid who grew up at a crossroads of Ferengi, Bajoran, and Federation society and adapted the parts that fit his personality the best.

 

[Ragitsu]

He's a kid who grew up at a crossroads of Ferengi, Bajoran, and Federation society and adapted the parts that fit his personality the best.

He almost sounds like a Space United States citizen (the most optimistic/idealized version, anyhow).

 

[Ferengi Prime 5]

He's a kid who grew up at a crossroads of Ferengi, Bajoran, and Federation society and adapted the parts that fit his personality the best.

It sounds like assimilation into other cultures for Nog...

 

[Locutus of Bored]

It sounds like assimilation into other cultures for Nog...

And Worf can't kill his superior officers to get advancement in Starfleet, but no one told him he has to stop believing in Klingon ways, just that there are certain restrictions when serving aboard ship.

Nog was never told he had to give up his Ferengi beliefs, just that he can't engage in profiteering while a serving officer.

You're imagining a bigger problem than it was because it sounds kewl to make Starfleet look all insidious.

And just constantly rephrasing what people say to support your initial premise is annoying.

 

[somebuddyX]

I don't think Nog or Aron Eisenberg ever considered Nog a victim. I think he got the best of both worlds..

 

[Ferengi Prime 5]

You're imagining a bigger problem than it was because it sounds kewl to make Starfleet look all insidious.

No, to create a debate and point out we have a romantic views of Star Fleet and UFP...

And just constantly rephrasing what people say to support your initial premise is annoying.

I am not assimilating ones thoughts only pointing out similarity in our thoughts and adjusting others to give a new perspective on ones thoughts...

 

[Tosk]

There doesn't seem to be any good faith interaction with rebuttals, just more spin and links.

 

[McCoy's Disco Collar]

There doesn't seem to be any good faith interaction with rebuttals

Sad but true.

 

[JirinPanthosa]

No, to create a debate and point out we have a romantic views of Star Fleet and UFP...



I am not assimilating ones thoughts only pointing out similarity in our thoughts and adjusting others to give a new perspective on ones thoughts...

You still haven’t explained why a person from one culture choosing to adopt aspects of other cultures is some inherently sone insidious form of coercion.

If you wanted to be equally pedantic from the other side you could equally accuse Nog of appropriating human culture.

“Assimilation” and “Appropriation” are two ways of claiming that a person raised in one culture adopting elements of another culture is bad, just one blaming the adopter and the other the adoptee.

 

[dupersuper]

Troll troll troll troll

Nog was inspired to join Starfleet by his Delta Quadrant camping trip with Jake, Ben, and Quark

That'd be Gamma.

 

[MarkusTay]

So we are saying one Culture is better than another Culture...

That does seem to be what some people are saying here...

You know, its not much of a stretch, then, to say our culture is SO superior to everyone else's, maybe we should force it on them. Thats the thing about slopes... they become slippery real fast.