Star Trek: Sigils and Unions--"Inhuman"

[Nerys Ghemor]

But I'd appreciate any top picks you have. Again, thanks for the good work.

No problem! Just shoot me a PM with the kind of stuff you like to read, and I can pick out some things that might be to your taste.

I'm sure Spirodopolous was scared to the gills that if he did go over Rotmensen's head, the commander would still find out about it, and thus retaliate against him.

I'm sure the possibility entered his mind.

 

[TheLoneRedshirt]

My comments from Ad Astra:
Kudos for tackling such a sensitive issue with class and intensity. It's all the more visceral because of the contemporary relevance of the story. I think you captured well that tolerance and diversity have limits (depending on who decides what is to be "tolerated") whereas liberty (ideally) is for all. Very well done!

 

[kes7]

However, I do like the ending. They do tend to treat Humans with more of a mind for ideological conformity than aliens, don't they? That Klingon guy talking smack about Romulans? That's cool, that's his culture, you dig. That Human dude expressing a negative opinion for the civilization of the Planet Rapetron, World of the Electric Rape? He should be ashamed.

This is so true. I almost spit water on my keyboard reading it.

 

[Nerys Ghemor]

My comments from Ad Astra:
Kudos for tackling such a sensitive issue with class and intensity. It's all the more visceral because of the contemporary relevance of the story. I think you captured well that tolerance and diversity have limits (depending on who decides what is to be "tolerated") whereas liberty (ideally) is for all. Very well done!

Here's my response from Ad Astra...

Until prejudice is recognized as a human problem--one that we all suffer from regardless of where our "starting point" is--then I don't think we're going to get anywhere. That said, I will also say there's a difference between prejudice (holding an opinion in your head) and bigotry (acting like a jerk because of it). The former is annoying, but it's the action I have real problems with.


But when it comes to diversity--I would say that there is also an alternate approach that we hear about, from Professor Shalwa. As I told another friend of mine, I get the feeling little Shalwa was the kid that went to the spaceport for the first time and got really excited about all the pretty aliens and their foreign foods and clothing. And then when her telepathy developed, I think that instead of judging their thought patterns like Lwaxana Troi did, she thought that was another neat extra "spice" in the recipe, too. I see Shalwa as conveying that excitement to her students. Celebrating them and letting them celebrate others and themselves.

However, I do like the ending. They do tend to treat Humans with more of a mind for ideological conformity than aliens, don't they? That Klingon guy talking smack about Romulans? That's cool, that's his culture, you dig. That Human dude expressing a negative opinion for the civilization of the Planet Rapetron, World of the Electric Rape? He should be ashamed.

This is so true. I almost spit water on my keyboard reading it.

Me too!

 

[mirandafave]

Like a few of the other entries into the challenge, what I particularly liked about this instalment was how it turned the conception of prejudice on its head - by having it be a prejudice from a surprising perspective and setting. A very interesting piece, Nerys. Well done.

 

[Nerys Ghemor]

Like a few of the other entries into the challenge, what I particularly liked about this instalment was how it turned the conception of prejudice on its head - by having it be a prejudice from a surprising perspective and setting. A very interesting piece, Nerys. Well done.

Thanks for reading. One thing I firmly believe is that those who fool themselves into believing they are prejudice-free are often the ones who are the most blind of anyone.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

I suppose there's some hidden meaning in Spiro's remark about "don't think of me as human"?

 

[Nerys Ghemor]

I suppose there's some hidden meaning in Spiro's remark about "don't think of me as human"?

Well...he doesn't want to conform to Rotmensen's expectations of what a human "should" be. "Alien" is not an offensive term to him--and he would rather be considered "alien" than be forced into Rotmensen's mold.

But if you ever read The Thirteenth Order, he breaks with expectations in a different way.

 

[Rush Limborg]

^Frankly, one should really appreciate the irony of all this:

Cardassians are always painted as being "intolerant" and "imperialistic" and "stubbornly hard-nosed and nationalistic"...and yet Spiro finds himself more comfortable and at home among them than among the human society which produces men like Rotten-Man's-Son.

I have to be honest, Nerys...I was okay with the Cardassians beforehand, but indifferent. However, with your tales, I actually found myself becoming someting of a fan! The strong, reserved, channeled nobility--the sense of pride in one's self, the inner control. Something a lot of humans seem to lack--now, and in the 24th century. Maybe that's what Spirodopoulos sees in them, as well.

For...Cardassia.

 

[Nerys Ghemor]

Some Cardassians definitely embody those bad traits, and we do have to remember Spirodopoulos did encounter a particular group of Cardassians with a tendency to think outside their society's box. But people like Berat, Macet, and Rebek, he can definitely work well with.

 

[Deranged Nasat]

I dunno. Rotmensen is just too bizarre to take seriously, unless the intention is to show the Fed (or at least United Earth) being run by thought police.

I don't find him bizarre - he's simply the unfortunate union of two behaviours that are very much already confirmed in reality (at least in my experience) and one that's confirmed as a part of the Trek universe. First, as Nerys said, he's an academic who is caught up in his own "ivory tower". I've been at a well-established university for three years now, and I can certainly say there is a real tendency for these otherwise supremely intelligent people to be really quite blind to the world outside, or to perspectives not their own. They make assumptions a lot as well. Usually, that's a bit irritating but nothing majorly disruptive - because I've been lucky enough to have a string of really welcoming and friendly directors and supervisors. Everyone has their blind spots (which is part of what Nerys is saying here, of course), and I just shrug it off (though I never feel truly at home there, and I really worry that universities are far more closed-minded and restrictive than they should be). Rotmensen, though, goes beyond that because he combines his short-sightedness with a pronounced aggression towards certain philosophies. In his case, he apparently views religious belief as detrimental, only responsible for holding back human progress or contributing to wars, and he clearly thinks it's a distasteful practice that should be abandoned. And when a cadet brings their religious devotion into his closed academic world it becomes an intolerable intrusion to him. How dare this backward dinosaur pollute Rotmensen's world with his (supposed) short-sighted metality?! The irony is of course that Spirodopolous does not seek to impose anything, and it is Rotmensen's own unexamined intolerance that's the issue.

We all have our prejudices, as Nerys again says, but when prejudiced beliefs are combined with aggression, that's when it turns nasty. And aggression is the response when someone feels their world has been intruded into. A short-sighted person like Rotmensen with his very closed, "ivory tower" existence, without input to challenge his assumptions or force re-examination...well, he'll feel intruded upon by pretty much anything outside his narrow assumptions, and it's easy to end up with what we get: someone who attacks those who clearly do not deserve anything of the sort, and reads a personal, non-imposing belief system as an attack upon his world.

And Rotmensen's prejudice regarding religion isn't bizarre either - there are indeed people who believe as he does, that religion will inevitably result in book-burning and infidel-slaying and whatnot. And given the more secular society of Trek's humans plus their oft-repeated assertion that they're "evolved", it's easy to imagine that the idea of religion as a backward piece of baggage is actually more common in their world than ours. So Rotmensen, as I see it, is simply the meeting of three personal traits that are questionable but alone can be handled; put together, you end up with...well, this guy.

Also, finally, I think we should keep in mind that this was written for a "prejudice" theme competition, so it is going to be very upfront with it.

And, if I may say so, I really like the point that it is humans towards which Rotmensen demonstrates intolerance; like many people in reality, he forgets that diversity has to include those of his own kind too - but interestingly enough those who otherwise preach tolerance often seem to have blind spots when it comes to those closer to home. That's one of the interesting wrinkles of the issue of prejudice that this piece is exploring. And Spirodopolous sees this and says "if you can't handle a human thinking and behaving in a manner you feel humans somehow shouldn't, then just pretend I'm something else - one of the many alien races who you don't judge like you do your own people".

 

[Thor Damar]

A great story NG as per usual.

A couple of quick asides if I might, before I get to the main heart of this story.

Firstly the esteemed Professor's view of the border wars with the Union of the Cardassians as a 'conflict' or 'misunderstanding' although obviously a product of a mind that is distrustful of the military is something that I would understand if Rotmensen were blessed with a rather more..British sensitivity. Even now we tend to use understatement and reserve to describe all manner of events no matter how dramatic they really are or where. Thus the long and bloody history of the British in Ireland is merely called the 'troubles' for example.
This actually has little to do with the story in question, its just a note that some humans use a common languge in a very different way.

As for the second item of interest I found myself very intrigued by Cadet Spirodopoulos theory with regards to the Earths visited by Captain Kirk and his crew. Give me parallel rather than Preservers any day...


Now on to the thrust of this most provoking (in a very good way) tale of academic prejudice. I think that everyone else has already covered the basics and the various issues with their customarily elegance and panache so I'll restrict myself to a few more generalized observations and such.


Now I come from what is one of the most secular nations on Earth with quite a high feeling of irreligiously and possibly atheism to boot, yet we have a solidly established Church and a law preventing religious discrimination. On the whole there is a good level of comfortable cohabitation between various faiths and creeds which is why I believe that Rotmensen's petty reactions are so shocking and would be condemned by many.
(Not to say that those altitudes don't exist, there are several rather smug prominent authors and journalists who are very...arrogant and over the top in their approach to religious belief who would support Mr Rotmensen.)
I can defiantly guarantee that there is no sense of evolved sensibility with the British.


I get the 'ivory tower' aspect of the reaction to the cadet although at first reading I honestly thought that it was just pure racism. (normally my assumption when someone uses the term 'you people' in conversation.) Then after seeing that it was pure minded contempt for someone's cherished belief system the thesis became valid. I've never encountered anyone like the professor before during my lamentably short time in academia but we've all seen people of whatever ideological stripe or creed refusing to accept that other notions and ideas are equally as worthy, and in a place of learning that is a true tragedy indeed.
(plus, randomly accusing one of your students of plagiarism is a reprehensible thing for any self respecting professor to do.)

I still think that it is worth noted that both with Spirodopoulos and in RL there are plenty of secular and yes, even atheistic people whom are happy to accept and engage with those who follow their faiths in a respectful and constructive manner. For example if Rotmensen was offended by the Cadet's actions during the course then why not call him into his office to a have a one to one private discussion and try to work out a compromise and to ascertain the facts behind the essay? That way both sides can calmly air their grievances and reach a mutually agreeable solution.

Anyway, that's enough of my unfocused rambling for today. Thank you for a superb piece of writing NG.

(Might I finish by saying how pleased I am that Rush has come to the True Way of the Cardassians. It is anyways a great thing to see someone embrace the noble discipline of the Cardassians. Hurzzah!)

 

[Rush Limborg]

^I must add that I also have a tendency for verbal understatement, using formal tones, and so on. My college essays tend to be written in a Vulcan-like tone, with "highbrow" styles of wording, etc. And I often refer to shocking events as "incidents".

 

[Nerys Ghemor]

DN: Yeah, Rotmensen is kind of a "perfect storm." I think that Picard had the same beliefs and the rather (verbally) aggressive defense of them; I see him as a product of the same social trends that produced Rotmensen. But because Picard did get out and see the universe, he was obnoxious but not as likely to power-trip on someone because of it. He did it verbally on a few occasions, but I only once recall him doing an actual power trip on one of his own crew because of it. Remember the whole tiff over the Bajoran earring? That WAS interfering with one of his crew's religious observances. That said, Picard eventually relented of his own accord, whereas Rotmensen pretty much had to realize he'd dug himself into an untenable position.

About the "evolved" assertion, with religion considered backwards and in need of eradication...I've actually seen that view espoused, in seriousness, by some on this and other message boards.

As for Spirodopoulos...he is Christian and he would like for his beliefs to become widespread again. But, he knows that you do not do that by forcing or bullying people. That not only doesn't do any good, it's also sinful. But in returned, he does not want to be forced or bullied.

Now, I don't think Professor Shalwa would have the same blind spots.


Thor Damar: Regarding the parallel Earths, I saw it as a proven theory for the purposes of the Sigils universes, rather than Cadet Spirodopoulos'. The Sphere Builders' actions in the former Delphic Expanse provided a great excuse for what I thought to be a very stupid explanation in TOS. In ENT, we see Hodgkin's Law applied in a much more sensible context: convergent biological evolution, rather than social decisions, so I decided for Sigils that someone had misapplied that theory in TOS and a further examination of sensor records, or later ships into the area, determined there had been a crossing into a parallel universe.

You might particularly enjoy this as a Brit, but it's not the UK that I see as responsible for this mindset. Look at where the capital of the Federation is...

To Rotmensen, the plagiarism accusation didn't seem random--he simply could not accept that Spirodopoulos could actually write something suggesting noninterference in the particular situation encountered on Magna Roma. Indeed, his behavior was very immature; he could've learned from some of Spirodopoulos' human classmates.


Thanks, guys, for reading!