RE: Can I just say, and I'm just being honest...
September 12, 2017 at 9:22 pm
(This post was last modified: September 12, 2017 at 9:30 pm by Kernel Sohcahtoa.)
CIJS,
Last night, I watched the Star Trek: Enterprise episode "Judgement" (Season 2, episode 19), and IMO, an interesting dialog transpired between Captain Archer (commander of the Enterprise) and the Klingon advocate Kolos.
Background.
Archer has been charged with conspiring against the Klingon Empire, which carries the sentence of death. Specifically, Captain Duras testified that Archer attacked his ship and prevented him from destroying a rebel ship that posed a great threat to the Klingon Empire.
Now, in the scene prior to the dialog between Kolos and Archer, Kolos gave an eloquent delivery in the tribunal which persuaded the Klingon judge to allow Archer to tell his side of the story (up to this point, the trial had been one-sided: the Klingon judge was unwilling to hear Archer's side). Specifically, Archer prevented Captain Duras from destroying the crew on a helpless spaceship near Klingon territory: this ship was heavily damaged, and the crew, who saw themselves as refugees from the Klingon Empire, urgently needed medical attention. As a result of this action and other benevolent actions that Archer demonstrated toward the Klingons, Kolos finished his presentation by concluding that Archer is honorable and has performed courageous deeds that have constructively benefited the Klingon Empire. Thus, immediately following this scene, Archer and Kolos are in Archer's cell awaiting the decision from the Klingon tribunal.
Dialog between Archer and Kolos in Archer's cell:
Archer: How many cases have you won?
Kolos: Oh...I'm not sure. Over 200, but that was a long time ago when the tribunal was a forum for the truth and not a tool for the warrior class.
Archer: There are other classes?
Kolos: You didn't believe all Klingons were soldiers?
Archer: I guess I did.
Kolos: Ahhh (Kolos sighs)...my father was a teacher--my mother, a biologist at the university. They encouraged me to take up the law. Now, all young people want to do is take up weapons as soon as they can hold them. They're told there's honor in victory--any victory. What honor is there in a victory over a weaker opponent? Had Duras destroyed that ship, he would've been lauded as a hero of the empire for murdering helpless refugees. Ahhh (Kolos sighs)...we were a great society not so long ago, when honor was earned through integrity and acts of true courage, not senseless bloodshed.
Archer: For thousands of years my people had similar problems. We fought three world wars that almost destroyed us. Whole generations were nearly wiped out.
Kolos: What changed?
Archer: A few courageous people began to realize they could make a difference.
Last night, I watched the Star Trek: Enterprise episode "Judgement" (Season 2, episode 19), and IMO, an interesting dialog transpired between Captain Archer (commander of the Enterprise) and the Klingon advocate Kolos.
Background.
Archer has been charged with conspiring against the Klingon Empire, which carries the sentence of death. Specifically, Captain Duras testified that Archer attacked his ship and prevented him from destroying a rebel ship that posed a great threat to the Klingon Empire.
Now, in the scene prior to the dialog between Kolos and Archer, Kolos gave an eloquent delivery in the tribunal which persuaded the Klingon judge to allow Archer to tell his side of the story (up to this point, the trial had been one-sided: the Klingon judge was unwilling to hear Archer's side). Specifically, Archer prevented Captain Duras from destroying the crew on a helpless spaceship near Klingon territory: this ship was heavily damaged, and the crew, who saw themselves as refugees from the Klingon Empire, urgently needed medical attention. As a result of this action and other benevolent actions that Archer demonstrated toward the Klingons, Kolos finished his presentation by concluding that Archer is honorable and has performed courageous deeds that have constructively benefited the Klingon Empire. Thus, immediately following this scene, Archer and Kolos are in Archer's cell awaiting the decision from the Klingon tribunal.
Dialog between Archer and Kolos in Archer's cell:
Archer: How many cases have you won?
Kolos: Oh...I'm not sure. Over 200, but that was a long time ago when the tribunal was a forum for the truth and not a tool for the warrior class.
Archer: There are other classes?
Kolos: You didn't believe all Klingons were soldiers?
Archer: I guess I did.
Kolos: Ahhh (Kolos sighs)...my father was a teacher--my mother, a biologist at the university. They encouraged me to take up the law. Now, all young people want to do is take up weapons as soon as they can hold them. They're told there's honor in victory--any victory. What honor is there in a victory over a weaker opponent? Had Duras destroyed that ship, he would've been lauded as a hero of the empire for murdering helpless refugees. Ahhh (Kolos sighs)...we were a great society not so long ago, when honor was earned through integrity and acts of true courage, not senseless bloodshed.
Archer: For thousands of years my people had similar problems. We fought three world wars that almost destroyed us. Whole generations were nearly wiped out.
Kolos: What changed?
Archer: A few courageous people began to realize they could make a difference.
