They're just so bitterly opposed to the People's Union of Cardassia... can't even get them to share a glass of kanar together(!)
Worthy aspects of Cardassian culture?
- Thread starter Ragitsu
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I think the Cardassian belief in the importance of community and solidarity is a good and worthy thing if it is tempered by other principles. Under the old regime, it manifested itself as a toxic belief in the superiority of the state and the family over the individual. But if it is combined with a belief in the rights of the individual and the rights of minority groups, and with a belief in democracy, I think the Cardassian emphasis on solidarity and shared sacrifice could be a very powerful element of their culture that could allow them to weather a lot of crises in a healthy manner. I could, in point of fact, imagine a scenario where Cardassia joins the Federation and never leaves the UFP after the Burn, precisely because of their belief in solidarity and shared sacrifices.
Finding the balance between collectivism and individualism is unfortunately dependent on both sides being willing to apply reason and good judgment.
I have thought a lot about the Cardassians.
Here are some of my thoughts.
They are very organized.
Don't judge a people on Dukat.
They care for their families sometimes 4 generations still living in the same household.
They really care about the education of their children.
Many of them don't like war anymore than we do.
They have Garek, (I really like the book he wrote).
It will be interesting to know how they recover after what happened with the Dominion after they kill so many. How do they recover and what will their people be like? I can see Bajor helping them to recover. And maybe even as unlikely as it seems become some kind of friend? Or at least no threat anymore to anyone.
The possibilities are endless on what they will be like after that. I mean no one would be the same. It was too awful. Too much death. And the way that Demar put aside the person he was to be a hero to his people, he could even work with Kira who he really hated, that was very inspiring, I think.
I often think of that poor Cardassian boy, Rugal who was raised by Bajorans. I wonder what he grew up to be back on his home world? I also wonder if as an adult (he was only 12) he went back to his adopted family on Bajor?
Well, it gives me a lot to think about and ponder.
I like to see growth in a people though such a sad way as all the death and destruction did teach them what they did to Bajor. I think the Prophets of course knew this would happen and it is all part of what ever plan there is for Bajor and their growth. Which again was the hard and pain way. But it was growth and change.
Here are some of my thoughts.
They are very organized.
Don't judge a people on Dukat.
They care for their families sometimes 4 generations still living in the same household.
They really care about the education of their children.
Many of them don't like war anymore than we do.
They have Garek, (I really like the book he wrote).
It will be interesting to know how they recover after what happened with the Dominion after they kill so many. How do they recover and what will their people be like? I can see Bajor helping them to recover. And maybe even as unlikely as it seems become some kind of friend? Or at least no threat anymore to anyone.
The possibilities are endless on what they will be like after that. I mean no one would be the same. It was too awful. Too much death. And the way that Demar put aside the person he was to be a hero to his people, he could even work with Kira who he really hated, that was very inspiring, I think.
I often think of that poor Cardassian boy, Rugal who was raised by Bajorans. I wonder what he grew up to be back on his home world? I also wonder if as an adult (he was only 12) he went back to his adopted family on Bajor?
Well, it gives me a lot to think about and ponder.
I like to see growth in a people though such a sad way as all the death and destruction did teach them what they did to Bajor. I think the Prophets of course knew this would happen and it is all part of what ever plan there is for Bajor and their growth. Which again was the hard and pain way. But it was growth and change.
?
I always figured Cardassia was much like any real life nation currently run by a dictator: it had a rich culture and history, and was once a very enlightened society. But most of that is probably suppressed now by the current regime.
Fair trials are so time-consuming and unpredictable.
I'm not sure whether we ever saw them, but Ziyal might have become an artist (in the novels her works were later exhibited IIRC), and surely someone wrote the books that Garak discussed with Bashir.
Well, there were those Cardassian female scientists that had to work together with O'Brien. (Not sure if you'd call them intellectuals though, they seemed more the kind of technical scientists).
Time travel episode, anyone? That would have been a FANTASIC idea...modern Cardassians witnessing the past live as it unfolds, with some of them expressing a longing for the Cardassia that was and others dismissing the pre-war Cardassians as pathetically pacifistic.
It's a neat idea, seeing the Cardassians of the past, but I'm not sure what the hook would be to tie it into 'contemporary' events within the series. The Cardassians are aware of their history, so it seems to me that there's not much to be gained from exploring it.
...although, there might be some potential in finding an Orb or such that was long-lost...
Just use the Orb of Time to go back as far as you need. And since the Orb is a construct used by the Prophets, maybe your Cardassian explorer wants to go to a specific event... but he is sent back further, for his benefit and Cardassia's. It's known that the Prophets aren't afraid to manipulate history to their advantage: Sisko's birth, Akorem's rescue, and transforming Zek (and not completely changing him back) are three examples.
There's an apparent contradiction between Picard claiming in "Chain of Command, Part II" that Cardassia was once peaceful and democratic before the military took over early in Gul Madred's life and Gul Dukat in "Defiant" claiming that the triumvirate of the Central Command/Obsidian Order/Detapa Council had ruled Cardassia for 800 years, though.
I don't think it's an insurmountable contradiction though. Like, maybe that triumvirate kind-of ruled, but the Detapa Council was the dominant agency before the early 2300s. Maybe Cardassia was more peaceful and democratic without necessarily being a full-on liberal democracy.
I don't think it's an insurmountable contradiction though. Like, maybe that triumvirate kind-of ruled, but the Detapa Council was the dominant agency before the early 2300s. Maybe Cardassia was more peaceful and democratic without necessarily being a full-on liberal democracy.
Madred was speaking from personal experience. He was relating tales of his own youth. And, unlike Dukat (who is prone to exaggeration and inflating his ego), Madred really has no reason to lie. So I am more inclined to take HIM at his worth vs. Dukat.
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