Terrorism

[shatastrophic]

For my Aviation Security class I was discussing with my professor about how deep space nine often spoke of terrorism and how Kira talked of its necessity in order to get the cardassians off of Bajor. I let him borrow the episodes "Home front" and "Paradise Lost" as it discusses current events of today.

The connection is the bombing of a DHL flight out of Yemen and it only costing the terrorist group 4200 american dollars total. Since then the United States has spent billions of dollars in bomb detection equipment and part of the terrorism plot itself is to have the US spend itself into oblivion. One of parallels within these two DS9 episodes is when the founder meets Sisko out on a walk and relays to him that there were only 3 founders on earth, only 3, "and look at the havoc we have wrought".

My professor enjoyed these episodes and used clips at a symposium he spoke at concerning our counter terrorism methods. He was a fan of the original series and never watched DS9 and said he loved it. He wants to borrow more episodes which I happy to oblige however now that it is out on Netflix he can watch on his own.

I know of a few and have been going thru the whole series again but I know some of you on here are brilliant and know them by heart so my question is, what are all the episodes where terrorism is spoken of, and episodes with connections to today's events like the example from above? My prof would like a list. Im still going thru the series again because Its my favorite of all the treks but I thought I could save some time asking you all. Thanks!!!!!

 

[Vulcan Princess]

In DS9, The Maquis is a must-watch.

Past Prologue is good, too. In that episode, Kira has to face a Bajoran who is still committing terrorist acts even after the end of the occupation.

Another one that might be worth watching is Crossfire. It's more subtle, but the one thing that struck me is that Shakaar and Kira have very different views about the nature of the actions they took while in the resistance. Shakaar refers to himself as having been a "soldier", while Kira has on many occasions (though I don't recall if she did so in that episode) referred to herself as a "terrorist". Same actions in the same circumstances, but different characterizations.

Defiant is a good one, and we get to see parallels between the Maquis and the Bajoran resistance.

During the Dominion occupation of DS9, Kira, Quark, Rom, and Jake start a resistance cell, so there might be some interesting stuff there. The final arc where Kira works with the Cardassian resistance to the Dominion is good, too.

In TNG, there's The High Ground, which explores ethical issues surrounding terrorism.

Journey's End is useful because it provides the background to why the Maquis formed.

Voyager has the theme woven throughout, since half the crew members were Maquis. One that comes to mind is Repression, which explores the themes of what means are appropriate to achieve one's ends. In that episode, we find out that while Tuvok was undercover in the Maquis, a radical vedek implanted post-hypnotic suggestions in his brain that have negative effects on the crew of Voyager.

 

[shatastrophic]

Hey thats great! Thanks, I thought there were a couple more though. Anyhow thanks for your response!

 

[anaya]

Yeah.. very good then..

 

[matthunter]

There's also the ep where a disgruntled Cardassian is killing off Kira's former friends from Shakaar's cell, can't remember the name but she's pregnant with the O'Briens' baby at the time. It ends up with her giving a fairly blunt view on who she considered a target during her resistance days.

 

[Ln X]

In the 1st season of DS9: there's Duet, with Kira and that Cardassian war criminal. There's a lot of references to terrorism, from both sides: Bajoran and Cardassian.

Then there is In The Hands Of The Prophets. That episode features terrorism of the radically religious sort: Kai Winn persuades this Bajoran technician to kill Vedek Bareil no matter what the cost.

Then there is Shakaar and The Darkness and the Light. Both are episodes that focus around the Shakaar resistance cell.

Next in season 5 there is For the Uniform. Where Sisko tries to capture Eddington. That episode is probably depicting the extremes to which to stop terrorists.

Finally the last six episodes of DS9, is where Kira helps Damar and his resistance cell, and eventually start up a whole uprising where the Cardassians rise up against their Dominion masters. Lots of scenes, and talk, of terrorism.

That's about all the episodes I can think of that could help you with your theme.

 

[You_Will_Fail]

"The Darkness and the Light" is a good one