Human Rights, The Very Name IS Racist

TriAngulum Studios - Truth OR Myth?.100; Human Rights, The Very Name IS Racist (Revised Version)


I think his video brings up some good points.

In the context of the UFP (United Federation of Planets), that term should be made obsolote/archaic and replaced with a new term.

I propose we use "Sapients' Rights" instead of "Human Rights" since the connotation implies that the Rights belongs to Humans Only.

What do you all think of the concept and the overall contents of the video.

On top of that, how much toleration should the UFP give towards different aliens that aren't part of the UFP and do things differently. If those species were to become part of the UFP, (e.g. The Klingons) down the line. How much lee way should there be allowed for different Cultural practices?

Things like Family Blood Feuds, and killing another person because they are Dishonorable?

Also, how closely to the Prime Directive should future Captains be beholden to?

 

We had this conversation fairly recently.
https://www.trekbbs.com/threads/what-earth-centric-language-would-need-to-change.299684/

 

Given the show has always been made by and for humans, sometimes the writers forget that and use terms that are later on used as plot points.

Or characters only know their frame of mind and mean well but use incomplete, inaccurate, or ill-conceived-for-the-scene phraseology. Such as Chekov:

Note how BOTH characters make the same error as, regarding Azetbur, we've seen scores of sentient species in Star Trek - in TOS and the movies up to VI. Azetbur probably was unable to notice, lacking espionage equipment. Or might have forgotten one way or another. Or was saying it using third person perspective, or as taught (via propaganda perhaps, remember Mara in "Day of the Dove" regarding Federation death camps.) Or other possibilities. The story doesn't tell us and the mystery allows more creative possibilities to remain.

As for Chekov, who amazingly didn't go in to "season 2 mode" and promptly continue and rattle on regarding how the term was inwented in Wussia after swilling some Scotch Whiskey, he is used as plot fodder with an ignorant but not racist-by-default-but-as-inference. He's the butt of lame jokes later in the movie as well.

Neither meant to induce hostility, but his gaffe did cause a reaction, which caused her to make a not dissimilar gaffe in the process. Neither was a diplomat. That's why diplomats exist, but don't tell Scotty as he thinks they're all popinjays. At least when having to command the ship at Eminiar VII.

In real life, until aliens show up at Earth and say they're our friends but are not named John and Diana as they likely wouldn't engage in this conversation regarding us unless it involved which condiment to use, it's all hyperbole, based on TV shows. /SpockMode

 

Civil rights work too.

 

^^this

Civil rights are for all sentient species. "Human rights" refers to one species and is easily spoken with well-meaning but clearly led to unintentional misinterpretation and it spiraled from there, in the way the story needed to.

 

Let's face it: As of now, we as humans simply lack the proper terminology to talk about aliens in this specificity.

I'm a big supporter of human rights and humanism. On SF, there is currently no proper terminology to apply that thinking to non-human lifeforms.

That's why we also usually run into pedantic problems when describing Empress Georgiou from DIS as a "cannibal" - because technically she didn't eat one of her own species, but other sentient lifeforms, which fits only part of the definition.

I'm a big fan of "sapients" or "sentients", but for a television show "humanoids" also works, because every (present day) person would know what "humanoid rights" mean. Even if it would technically exclude, say, the ExoComps from TNG's "Quality of Life".

 

I just assume they have a different word and the universal translator simplifies it for the modern human audience.

I also like to think in the 24th century we have evolved beyond political correctness and hear a person’s intent with understanding.

The show is clear in broad strokes where it draws the line. Global equal rights, no discrimination based on race, gender, caste, etc.

 

Klingons have got some nerve talking about Federation personnel sounding "racist". What do they call all the conquering and enslaving of other worlds that THEY do? Urban renewal?

 

I tend to think of the term "human" as a very generic term that can be applied to a number of different (but similar) species in the Star Trek Universe, with "Terran" being more specific to beings from Earth. I like "humanoid" as a term that can be applied to most bipedal species throughout the Galaxy, with "Vulcan," "Klingon," etc., as more specifics. But I think someone else said it best:

"You want to know something? Everybody's human."--Captain J.T. Kirk

 

It was a clunky throwaway line from a clunky movie, to bonk the audience on the head with the point that a character was making.

Kor

 

Another day in the life of Klingons?

 

I believe they call it Khalessday.

 

The Klingons believe that as an empire of warriors, they have the right to conquer other species because of their strength. Then the Federation comes along and preaches an egalitarian message of everybody getting along and holding hands and singing Kumbaya, mutual cooperation, etc., when in reality the Federation is human-centric, with Vulcans being their "intellectual puppets," and Federation members are expected to give up their own values to conform to the human cultural imperialism of this Federation. The Klingons are open about their intentions, whereas those sneaky humans are deceitful in their methods at achieving galactic dominance.

Or so I've heard.

Kor

 

All subjugated and conquered races are equal in the Klingons' eyes.

 

Yeah, Klingons treat all their slaves the same: like shit.

 

They are all equal beneath the boot of Klingons stomping your throat and telling you to get back to work you stupid conquered slave.

 

How about the simple terms:

"People's Rights"

or:

"Legal Rights"

 

General Martok: "We don't embrace other cultures, we conquer them!"
Except they were the ones who could "no longer afford" that attitude because of the disaster at Chernob— that is, Praxis. And they were the ones asking for help. They might not've been required to buy into the Federation drivel, but they were pretty much obliged to listen to it.

 

When you translate the word 'Human' into the Klingon language, the word you get is 'Klingon'. It no more means 'from this planet' than 'endtable' does, it is simply the word we use to describe ourselves to ourselves. Chekov's mistake was in not allowing that a Klingon would say "Inalienable Klingon rights" instead of "Inalienable Human rights". Azetbur's complaint about 'inalienable' is invalid, as the word means 'unable to be taken away'.


Yes, I'm fully capable of being pedantic when I want to.