Kirk's pep talk, while rousing, is disturbing in its xenophobia.
"To seek out new life and new civilizations," and then shoot to kill because it's not human. I know this is glib, but sometimes Kirk welcomes the unknown ("The Corobomite Maneuver"), but other times he is quite afraid of the dark ("The Man Trap.")
KIRK: Give me your hand. Your hand. (she does) Now feel that. Human flesh against human flesh. We're the same. We share the same history, the same heritage, the same lives. We're tied together beyond any untying. Man or woman, it makes no difference. We're human. We couldn't escape from each other even if we wanted to. That's how you do it, Lieutenant. By remembering who and what you are. A bit of flesh and blood afloat in a universe without end. The only thing that's truly yours is the rest of humanity. That's where our duty lies. Do you understand me?*
"To seek out new life and new civilizations," and then shoot to kill because it's not human. I know this is glib, but sometimes Kirk welcomes the unknown ("The Corobomite Maneuver"), but other times he is quite afraid of the dark ("The Man Trap.")