TNG episode Birthright

[FaxModem1]

What kind of episode is this?

WORF
"Romulans are treacherous, they cannot be trusted."

In this episode, he says that as if it is genetic, and does anybody else notice that the only voice the romulans get is the old leader who is portrayed as some sort of neo-nazi for not teaching them about "the hunt".

Please tell me if I am off base about this.

[Uraniun235]

Worf has always been bigoted with regard to the Romulans; recall if you will that it was Romulans that killed his parents, indirectly shamed his father and his family, and (IIRC) betrayed the Klingon Empire, who was once allied with the Romulans.

In "The Enemy" he refused to donate blood to save a Romulan's life, knowing that without his blood the Romulan would die, and that such a death could very well spark a major incident between the Federation and the Romulan Empire.

There are other examples, but I think the point is clear.

[Ted C]

WORF
"Romulans are treacherous, they cannot be trusted."

In this episode, he says that as if it is genetic, and does anybody else notice that the only voice the romulans get is the old leader who is portrayed as some sort of neo-nazi for not teaching them about "the hunt".

This is extremely typical of the racist propaganda in Star Trek. All alien races are monocultural; only humans show diversity. Worf is one of the worst bigots on the show.

[TheDarkling]

Trek isn't the only scifi universe to have 2d races.

[Ted C]

Trek isn't the only scifi universe to have 2d races.

But considering the amount of socio-political preaching they do, they have less excuse for it.

[Darth Servo]

Trek isn't the only scifi universe to have 2d races.

But Trek does insist it portrays a universe where humanity has overcome all of our present day weaknesses, including racism. Maybe this social improvement isn't meant to be extended to other races like the Klingons, but many of the humans SHARE many of these bigoted opinions Worf holds.

[Raoul Duke, Jr.]

Worf has always been bigoted with regard to the Romulans; recall if you will that it was Romulans that killed his parents, indirectly shamed his father and his family, and (IIRC) betrayed the Klingon Empire, who was once allied with the Romulans.

In "The Enemy" he refused to donate blood to save a Romulan's life, knowing that without his blood the Romulan would die, and that such a death could very well spark a major incident between the Federation and the Romulan Empire.

There are other examples, but I think the point is clear.

Okay, clue me in on this: how was Klingon blood supposed to help a Romulan, as opposed to human blood?

[Grand Admiral Thrawn]

Worf has always been bigoted with regard to the Romulans; recall if you will that it was Romulans that killed his parents, indirectly shamed his father and his family, and (IIRC) betrayed the Klingon Empire, who was once allied with the Romulans.

In "The Enemy" he refused to donate blood to save a Romulan's life, knowing that without his blood the Romulan would die, and that such a death could very well spark a major incident between the Federation and the Romulan Empire.

There are other examples, but I think the point is clear.

Okay, clue me in on this: how was Klingon blood supposed to help a Romulan, as opposed to human blood?

Genetic compatability or some shit.

[Mangled quoting fixed --Enlightenment]

[Raoul Duke, Jr.]

Worf has always been bigoted with regard to the Romulans; recall if you will that it was Romulans that killed his parents, indirectly shamed his father and his family, and (IIRC) betrayed the Klingon Empire, who was once allied with the Romulans.

In "The Enemy" he refused to donate blood to save a Romulan's life, knowing that without his blood the Romulan would die, and that such a death could very well spark a major incident between the Federation and the Romulan Empire.

There are other examples, but I think the point is clear.

Okay, clue me in on this: how was Klingon blood supposed to help a Romulan, as opposed to human blood?

Genetic compatability or some shit.

Still, I can't help thinking there must have been at least one Vulcan on board the E-D, and the idea that Klingon blood and Romulan blood are similar enough for transfusion is kinda stupid -- I mean, the blood isn't even the same color! (Klingon=Purplish, Romulan=Green)


[Mangled quoting fixed. I think --Enlightenment]

[Uraniun235]

"I've also ruled out the Vulcans we've tested." -Dr. Crusher

[Raoul Duke, Jr.]

"I've also ruled out the Vulcans we've tested." -Dr. Crusher

Well, that's a nice convenient line of dialogue the writers threw in, but (as with most lazy Trek plot devices) it ignores logic completely. I mean, look at it this way -- and maybe I'm just ill-informed here --- but if you personally needed a transfusion, would it make more sense to get human blood of a different type, or gorilla blood? Vulcan blood -- even if it isn't an exact match -- has still got to be closer to Romulan blood than Klingon blood is. Unless the Klingons and the Romulans had a joint eugenics program during the early 23rd century... nah. Too far fetched.

[neoolong]

"I've also ruled out the Vulcans we've tested." -Dr. Crusher

Well, that's a nice convenient line of dialogue the writers threw in, but (as with most lazy Trek plot devices) it ignores logic completely. I mean, look at it this way -- and maybe I'm just ill-informed here --- but if you personally needed a transfusion, would it make more sense to get human blood of a different type, or gorilla blood? Vulcan blood -- even if it isn't an exact match -- has still got to be closer to Romulan blood than Klingon blood is. Unless the Klingons and the Romulans had a joint eugenics program during the early 23rd century... nah. Too far fetched.

Uh, getting human blood of a different type can kill you.

[Raoul Duke, Jr.]

So that explains why the Home Transfusion Kit I invented got recalled... oops...

[Kamakazie Sith]

WORF
"Romulans are treacherous, they cannot be trusted."

In this episode, he says that as if it is genetic, and does anybody else notice that the only voice the romulans get is the old leader who is portrayed as some sort of neo-nazi for not teaching them about "the hunt".

This is extremely typical of the racist propaganda in Star Trek. All alien races are monocultural; only humans show diversity. Worf is one of the worst bigots on the show.

Oh please.......

The Romulans have a reputation for being treacherous, Worf is absolutely correct in his statement, and the Romulans deserve that title.

The events in Uraniums post prove this.

[seanrobertson]

What kind of episode is this?

WORF
"Romulans are treacherous, they cannot be trusted."

In this episode, he says that as if it is genetic, and does anybody else notice that the only voice the romulans get is the old leader who is portrayed as some sort of neo-nazi for not teaching them about "the hunt".

Please tell me if I am off base about this.

I thought he was more of a neo-nazi for wanting to shoot all of those dissenting voices. He WAS treacherous.

That shouldn't extend to all Romulans, of course, but from Worf's
point of view, most Romulans are indeed treacherous. That does not make his remark any less of a racist statement (which is really any generalization made about such a group), but I don't think he should necessarily be condemned for believing that. Consider what they do: impersonate an ambassador to gather intel on the Feds, sealing a GCS inside an asteroid, trying several times to instigate a Klingon Civil War and/or war with the Federation, tricking one of their own officers to defect just to test his loyalty (and ambush E-D), taking part in the Founder homeworld attack, the Proconsul's effort to capture Spock and invade Vulcan, etc., etc.

Worf might be racist in being leery of all Romulans (which is not true: Ba'el), but he's not foolish to do so from the standpoint of out and out survival.

[RedImperator]

"I've also ruled out the Vulcans we've tested." -Dr. Crusher

Well, that's a nice convenient line of dialogue the writers threw in, but (as with most lazy Trek plot devices) it ignores logic completely. I mean, look at it this way -- and maybe I'm just ill-informed here --- but if you personally needed a transfusion, would it make more sense to get human blood of a different type, or gorilla blood? Vulcan blood -- even if it isn't an exact match -- has still got to be closer to Romulan blood than Klingon blood is. Unless the Klingons and the Romulans had a joint eugenics program during the early 23rd century... nah. Too far fetched.

Uh, getting human blood of a different type can kill you.

But alien blood would be just skippy? It was a stupid plot device, nothing more, nothing less.

[neoolong]

Well, that's a nice convenient line of dialogue the writers threw in, but (as with most lazy Trek plot devices) it ignores logic completely. I mean, look at it this way -- and maybe I'm just ill-informed here --- but if you personally needed a transfusion, would it make more sense to get human blood of a different type, or gorilla blood? Vulcan blood -- even if it isn't an exact match -- has still got to be closer to Romulan blood than Klingon blood is. Unless the Klingons and the Romulans had a joint eugenics program during the early 23rd century... nah. Too far fetched.

Uh, getting human blood of a different type can kill you.

But alien blood would be just skippy? It was a stupid plot device, nothing more, nothing less.

No, but it was still a mistake to say so.