«12. . .135136137138139140141. . .152153»
1) In the first few episodes, Leonard Nimoy way leaning more heavily on military protocol. Over time, he found other ways to appear stolid.
2) None. This episode was filmed years before he started to let himself go.
3) Mission Impossible had nearly twice the viewership, so they kept shifting the budget over. In case you didn't know, both shows had the same producer and were being filmed in the same building at the same time. Star Trek was not their cash cow at the time.
Post self-deleted by Sreunikye.
The Issue
Recently a well-known clothing retailer, "Totally Happenin' Apparel Trends" (T.H.A.T.), began marketing a new hoodie that features deeply sacred iconography of a Stjernean ethnic group. Civil rights activists, tribal emissaries, entrepreneurs, and an assortment of young punks from the local skate park have formed an impressive mob outside your office, demanding you take action.
The Debate
"Oh come on, you can't be serious," scoffs CEO of T.H.A.T. Billy-Bob Han, bedecked in a war bonnet and calavera-patterned t-shirt. "It's not 'stealing,' it's assimilating. Next you're going to be telling me certain ethnic foods and languages are being appropriated, too! These people just don't realize that we're helping promote parts of their cultural heritage by mainstreaming it. Think about how many people didn't know about the Native Stjernean Emblem until we featured it on our clothes. Frankly, they should be thanking us."
---
"This is racist stereotyping and an insult to our proud culture!" shouts Stefanie McKay, a representative of the United Stjernean Nations. "Stjerne has been responsible for centuries' worth of genocide, rape, and discrimination against our people, and now you have the audacity to take one of our most sacred icons and turn it into a fashion statement? This isn't cultural exchange; it's cultural theft. We owe you no obligation and shouldn't have to share something you willingly bastardize. Cultural symbols, like ours, should only be worn by people that can prove they descend from that ethnicity."
---
"Woah, now, let's not get hasty. This is just a misunderstanding," cautions anthropologist Bruce Summers. "Clearly T.H.A.T. had no right to misrepresent that Stjernean symbol like they did. But making these heritages off-limits to all outsiders? That's a little extreme, too. Why not introduce educational programs that aim to teach people about their culture, so ignorant folk don't accidentally make that mistake. We'll need a little government funding to kick-start the programs, but surely cultural acceptance and equality are worth the Credits?"
---
"Yo, man, did'ja consider the possibility you're askin' the wrong questions?" says a local youth, shouldering his way to the front of the crowd. "My parents are, like, a bunch of ethnicities all blended together, so we never have to worry about someone cribbin' our style, or who we should or shouldn't identify with. Why not make all forms of cultural identification a thing of the past? That way we don't have to worry about appeasin' or insultin' any one social group. It's mostly our parents and grandparents doin' all the yakkin', anyway."
~~~
What in the world?
And one like for you and one like for ferri and one more like to whomever posts next.
A coalition of working parents have put forward a petition that Stjerne's maternity leave laws be extended to allow new fathers time off.
The Debate
"Offering different lengths of parental leave based on sex is discrimination!" yells well-known egalitarian Britney Christmas, pounding on your desk. "And it also disadvantages gay couples. Why shouldn't a lesbian mother have time off when her partner gives birth? I say we offer both parents six months' fully paid leave, regardless of sex. It's pricey, but it's the only way to be fair. Oh, and parents who've just adopted can have it too."
---
"I agree that we can't discriminate against gay and adoptive parents," says your Minister for the Family, Evan Steele, "But there's a limit to how much of a burden we can place on the taxpayer. How about offering, say, six months' joint parental leave, and letting the couple divide it up how they want? That way families can find a solution that suits them, without costing the country too much."
---
"There is another way, you know," quietly suggests one of your advisers, "Young children need to be taken care of during the workday, but not necessarily by their parents. What if the government provided daycare for all kids until schooling starts? Parental leave would cease to be an issue. Of course, it'd cost a lot to take care of everyone's kids, but I think it's worth it to allow parents to work full-time guilt-free."
~~~
Opinions? (I already deleted the ones I KNOW I will not take.)
Another week and another embassy request... *sigh*
Oh if anybody has suggestions about what region we should establish an embassy with let me know.
Oh and about the poll... BLACK HOLES MAN... JUST ARE *takes a hit of his lightorette* COOL YA KNOW?
Issue Series
“An International Incident”
The Issue
Media outlets have been buzzing about the thousands of children abducted from their remote villages across the exotic nation of Brasilistan, suspected to have been carried out on the order of their own government. Reports are coming in that the abducted children have been sent underground to mine for diamonds, Brasilistan's most precious resource, but military intelligence suggests that some young Stjernean citizens living there have fallen to the same fate.
The Debate
"The Brasilistani government have been pursuing aggressive and provoking policies for years, especially in their attempts to annex their neighbour Marche Noir. Now they're abducting and holding hostage not only their own children, but citizens of other countries!" booms General Erica Hernandez, slamming her fist on the conference table and urgently gesturing to a map on the wall. "We have sat idly by and now it's our people over there waking up in the middle of the night to bombs and soldiers destroying their homes! President Striker, we must marshal our forces and intervene with the only language the Brasilistani seem to understand - violence!"
Accept
"The good general is surely exaggerating the threat here." John Parke, one of your trusted advisers responds calmly while drinking his tea. "Brasilistan is our foremost diamond trade partner, so we must approach the situation with diplomacy and targeted efforts. A knee-jerk military response is the worst thing we could possibly do here. I am confident that with some juicy incentives, the Brasilistani government will discover their error and immediately release our citizens."
Wasn't 'Erica Hernandez' the captain of the Columbia NX-02 in Star Trek: Enterprise?
The poll is dead :( nobody is discussing it on the RMB.
I am Jutot Akar, Supreme Commodore of the Junker Fleet. We are a nomadic people who seek peace and friendship but be warned that we are not afraid to fight should the need arise for us to defend ourselves. Our technology is based on space debris from forgotten battlegrounds as well as from fair trade with other people. We are looking for a place that we call home. We will stay for a few weeks and see if this is the place. During our stay I shall ensure that members of the Fleet follow all laws and regulations set out by your council.
«12. . .135136137138139140141. . .152153»
Advertisement
