Monday is “Star Trek: Enterprise” night.
One of the episodes last night was “Stigma“. From Trek Nation:
While Enterprise visits a planet where an Interspecies Medical Exchange conference is taking place, Dr. Phlox tries to obtain research on a terminal disease from the Vulcan contingency there. But he must not reveal that T’Pol has contracted this disease, because that knowledge would forever stigmatize her among her people.
There are – and this is a general rule among television shows in general and “Star Trek” is no exception – two story-lines. The second is one of Phlox’ wives comes to visit. The first is T’Pol has this disease that normally is associated with the “minority” of Vulcans who engage in “unacceptable intimate behavior” namely mind-melds.
The first story (“main arc”) is transparently about homosexuality and AIDS. The “minority” who mind-meld represent those who engage in homosexual relations. P’nar Syndrome represents AIDS – which is associated with the “minority” although T’Pol is not a member of that group. She contracted P’nar Syndrome because of a psychic assault (forced mind-meld).
I am a moderately conservative Christian pastor who happens to agree with the more traditional teaching of the Christian church on same-sex relations. But I must admit as propaganda goes this is well done. The propaganda (or not-so-hidden agenda) does not overwhelm the story which stands well on its own. The issue is plausible. Some Vulcans mind-meld but for the last one thousand years this has become less tolerated in Vulcan society. Those who engage in mind-melds sometimes contract a particular medical condition. One sympathizes with T’Pol, with the scientist who “comes out” during the hearing, with Captain Archer. This is what good science-fiction is about. Exploring real issues in alternative settings.
(There are of course examples where this sort of thing is very badly done.)
The other story (“secondary arc”) is genuinely funny. Feezal – Phlox’ wife – is brilliant, charming, and gorgeous and quickly starts putting major moves on Commander Tucker who is a good gentleman from Florida who thinks it is just plain wrong to fool around with another man’s – I mean sentient being’s – spouse. He eventually dares discuss this with Phlox.
“I think your wife has been making… advances to me”.
“Sexual advances?” (Voice and eyelids lowered.)
Oh shoot. Here it comes. Phlox is gonna beat the tar out of Tucker.
Phlox then grins like a Cheshire cat. “Mmm… did she give you a rose petal bath?”
It quickly becomes apparent that Phlox thinks it’s just fantastic that his wife is hot stuff and is interested in Tucker and wonders why on earth Tucker is not more supportive of good interspecies relations. Nudge nudge wink wink!
“She’s your wife!”
Phlox explains that Tucker is confusing human morality with Denobulan culture.
Again – I am a moderately conservative Christian pastor who agrees with traditional Church teaching. But again – this is good propaganda. The situation is plausible. The message does not overwhelm the quality of the episode. Heck – it’s funny when Phlox grins at the idea that one of his shipmates is enjoying what a fantastic woman his wife is.
I happen to believe that if God has created multiple worlds with multiple “sentient species” (other people who image God) then the divine guidelines for what is moral and just will be similar. And so I do not quite buy that “what is considered wrong for humans is just smokin’ for Denobulans”. But if this is propaganda – sexual mores are arbitrary and one day we will get past all this rubbish – then I must admit it is good propaganda. A serious story-line balanced with one that is funny. Plausible situations that explore in an alternative setting current social-cultural issues that human beings face.
This is what science-fiction is to a large extent all about.
One last note. Even if one agrees with traditional Church teaching on sexual relations (same-sex relations or extra-marital relations) one cannot argue with part of what “Stigma” is trying to say. That even if one does not approve of what the “minority” does they still deserve compassion and fair treatment. Should the junior scientist lose his job when he “comes out”? Should Vulcan scientists not work their tails off to find effective treatments for P’nar Syndrome? Of course not. And similarly of course even if one does not approve of certain sexual behaviors (same-sex or extra-marital and so on) then one should still support compassion and fair treatment.
Phlox to Feezal: “It’s too bad you and Commander Tucker didn’t get to know each other better”. Pause.
“Uh… I gotta go. The plasma conduits are overheating. Ma’am, it was nice meeting you”.
That’s good writing. Say no more. You know what I mean?
