3. Racial Profiling Is OK
In Star Trek every member of any culture encountered is perceived as representative of that group. Vulcans are smart, not some Vulcans, ALL Vulcans. All Romulans are crafty, sneaky blighters. Ferengi are cowardly, money grubbing, con-artists. Klingons are violent, rude drunks Yes that would be ALL of them. There's nothing like a bit of racial profiling to get everyone upset, and it isn't just in the general attitude of the shows that the opinions come out. A good deal of dialogue, from some extremely important, and influential characters, is questionably reductive at best...
Thats a human attitude. (STNG The Emissary - Worf)The Borg have neither honor nor courage. (TNG The Best of Both Worlds - Worf)Lemec is a Cardassian, and Cardassians are like... timber wolves, predators - bold in large numbers, cautious by themselves, and with an instinctive need to establish a dominant position in any social gathering. (TNG Chain of Command Captain Jellico)You learn to watch your back when you're around those people. (TNG The Wounded Miles OBrian) Romulans. So predictably treacherous. (DS9 Images in the Sand Weyoun)All humans look alike. (DS9 Little Green Men Quark) I always considered your people warm and sensual. (ST VOY Caretaker Tom Paris)We were warned about the Ferengi at the Academy. (ST VOY Caretaker Ensign Kim) On the flip side, anyone who doesnt fit into their group stereotype is perceived as having other cultures rub off on them.
Nice legs for a human. (TNG Qpid - Worf)You are cunning you must have Klingon blood. (TNG The Hunted - Worf) You may have noticed by now that a LOT of these quotes came from Worf. I actually considered changing the name of this article to, 10 Ways Worf Says Klingons= Awesome, Anyone Else= Suck." Whatever happened to not judging a book by its cover, or an alien by the size or shape of his ears, or how many folds they have in their head, eh?