Inustice itself is a matter of perspective. Was what Kira did just because she was fighting for freedom from occupation? I would say that a chattel slave killing their master and escaping to freedom would be just, which is what she was essentially doing for Bajor as a whole. The Cardassians, unrepentant for their past occupation and considering it justifiable, would consider her a mass-murderer.
Then you have the Maquis. Was their cause just? It seems like that is also a big perspective issue. Starfleet and the Federation obviously did not think their tactics were justified. On the other hand, you could argue that they were resisting ethnic cleansing. The Federation didn’t consider it ethnic cleansing, but others, including Chakotay’s people, disagreed.
As they say- one man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter.
I would say that a chattel slave killing their master and escaping to freedom would be just
And yes, that’s just. Yet, the same slave going into a spree and killing everybody that crosses his path would be a terrorist.
The Maquis were more of the second, and much less of the first. (And if it was not clear enough from the first episodes, anybody saying “whoever is not on our side is a collaborator” is a criminal.) Besides, it’s quite an objective fact whether somebody is fighting for freedom or not.
What you can argue is whether somebody suffering a genocide, slavery, or any other kind of attack against their human rights is acting with a clear mind and should be given a chance to change. And whether such person needs help afterwards, and how much help to allow before giving up and moving into punishment. But that they all were terrorists isn’t up to discussion.
And yes, that’s just. Yet, the same slave going into a spree and killing everybody that crosses his path would be a terrorist.
This is something that an awful lot of people seem to miss.
Kira made it very clear that her and her fellow resistance fighters actively targeted Cardassian civilians and she never showed any remorse over doing so. Civilian casualties are inevitable in a scenario like this, but going out of your way to target them, even if they’re occupiers, is crossing a line.
To be fair, terrorist and freedom fighter aren’t mutually exclusive, nor is the term terrorist entirely a moral judgement, even if it’s often used that way. In a literal sense it would be someone who uses violence in a way that is primarily intended to cause fear, rather than direct damage, in order to further their political aims. Freedom fighters will often do this kind of thing, because they tend to be in a disadvantaged position where actually causing enough damage to force their opponent to leave is unlikely, but scaring their enemies enough that they might consider staying not to be worth it feels more possible.
Kira, and others who fought for Bajoran freedom, would argue that those deaths were necessary for the freedom of Bajor. Again, it’s all a matter of perspective.
But from Sisko’s own perspective, what Kira did during the occupation wasn’t relevant to Starfleet’s relations with her and the Bajoran government.
Kira … would argue that those deaths were necessary for the freedom of Bajor.
In DS9 she doesn’t. And that’s one of the main reasons why she is where she is.
Chakotay does, and that’s the reason the Voyager was sent to stop him by any means, killing if necessary, and that people keep reminding him that he would be in jail if they could afford a jail on the Gamma Quadrant.
“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere”
Inustice itself is a matter of perspective. Was what Kira did just because she was fighting for freedom from occupation? I would say that a chattel slave killing their master and escaping to freedom would be just, which is what she was essentially doing for Bajor as a whole. The Cardassians, unrepentant for their past occupation and considering it justifiable, would consider her a mass-murderer.
Then you have the Maquis. Was their cause just? It seems like that is also a big perspective issue. Starfleet and the Federation obviously did not think their tactics were justified. On the other hand, you could argue that they were resisting ethnic cleansing. The Federation didn’t consider it ethnic cleansing, but others, including Chakotay’s people, disagreed.
As they say- one man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter.
This is not as subjective as you put.
And yes, that’s just. Yet, the same slave going into a spree and killing everybody that crosses his path would be a terrorist.
The Maquis were more of the second, and much less of the first. (And if it was not clear enough from the first episodes, anybody saying “whoever is not on our side is a collaborator” is a criminal.) Besides, it’s quite an objective fact whether somebody is fighting for freedom or not.
What you can argue is whether somebody suffering a genocide, slavery, or any other kind of attack against their human rights is acting with a clear mind and should be given a chance to change. And whether such person needs help afterwards, and how much help to allow before giving up and moving into punishment. But that they all were terrorists isn’t up to discussion.
This is something that an awful lot of people seem to miss.
Kira made it very clear that her and her fellow resistance fighters actively targeted Cardassian civilians and she never showed any remorse over doing so. Civilian casualties are inevitable in a scenario like this, but going out of your way to target them, even if they’re occupiers, is crossing a line.
I’m not trying to say that they weren’t terrorists from my own perspective. But Chakotay would probably say they were freedom fighters.
And Kira was not a terrorist from my perspective because she was a freedom fighter.
To be fair, terrorist and freedom fighter aren’t mutually exclusive, nor is the term terrorist entirely a moral judgement, even if it’s often used that way. In a literal sense it would be someone who uses violence in a way that is primarily intended to cause fear, rather than direct damage, in order to further their political aims. Freedom fighters will often do this kind of thing, because they tend to be in a disadvantaged position where actually causing enough damage to force their opponent to leave is unlikely, but scaring their enemies enough that they might consider staying not to be worth it feels more possible.
So, tell that to the lots of innocent people from both sides of the occupation that her group murdered.
Kira, and others who fought for Bajoran freedom, would argue that those deaths were necessary for the freedom of Bajor. Again, it’s all a matter of perspective.
But from Sisko’s own perspective, what Kira did during the occupation wasn’t relevant to Starfleet’s relations with her and the Bajoran government.
In DS9 she doesn’t. And that’s one of the main reasons why she is where she is.
Chakotay does, and that’s the reason the Voyager was sent to stop him by any means, killing if necessary, and that people keep reminding him that he would be in jail if they could afford a jail on the Gamma Quadrant.
HE BETRAYED HIS UNIFORM!