A Humanist's Review: Star Trek The Next Generation - Episode "The Drumhead"

[intermender]

New example even now: Adam Lusher of Sunday Telegraph attacking Richard Dawkins for his slave owning ancestors. Lusher's arguments are the same used by terrorists the world over to justify their atrocious acts upon innocents. I read about it on Richard Dawkins website and recalled this scene lol. When will people learn (including not to buy the Sunday Telegraph lol).

[irlsarge]

Amazing work dude, live long and prosper :p

[prosig556]

segregation can solve most problems, hang out with your own breed. maybe, create nation staes on another planet based on ethnicity

[sysprog1953]

I also liked this TNG episode. Many of the TOS and TNG episodes did a good job of depicting moral issues in a manner that, hopefully, made the viewer think about how its relates to current events. I like many of these episodes. "The Measure of a Man" comes to mind, but these are only two of a great series. Gene R. did a great job with the stories in both ST:TOS and TNG, in my opinion.

Thanks for posting this video.

[quinnpohl]

Nice comments sir. Nice to hear someone talking genuine peace. Indeed, this episode of Start Trek is of utmost relevance now...

[pacsouljah00]

What I like about star trek tng is that sense "self critique". There is another episode called "the Pegasus" which is also one of my all-time favourites that I recommend everyone to watch and compare that situation to the current north korea/Iran WMD situation. What star trek, especially tng, brings to the table is that sense of "if I want to criticize others, I should make sure I don't suffer from the same faults".

[AlethaBryson]

You sir are an idiot.. Nobody nobody nobody holding any political sway has ever ever accused EVERYBODY in the muslim community of being terrorists. People have accused certain practitioners of shariah law and other extremist versions of the islam religion of being terrorist, but not EVERYBODY of the muslim. When you perpetrate this lie, you are just as closed and small minded as the drumhead like people you condemn in this episode..

[AxelLaw]

@AlethaBryson Strange, because that's not what Tom Tancredo (Colorado senator) has tried to do these past couple of years. In 2008, Tancredo introduced the Jihad Prevention Act, which basically prohibits anyone from practicing Sharia Law, and even if they are already citizens of the United States, they would be removed of their citizenship and kicked out of the country. He also said that we should "bomb Mecca." That's a little extreme, don't you think?

[AlethaBryson]

@AxelLaw I believe that Tancredo's statement has some conditional elements in it. I believe the exact quote was "If muslim fundamentalists attack U.S. soil with nuclear weapons, we should take out Muslim holy sights including Mecca. Considering that we could retaliate with our own nuclear strike and hurt innocent muslims after their nuclear attack would possibly maim or kill innocent Americans, just bombing Mecca would be America showing saint like restraint.

[AlethaBryson]

@AxelLaw Sharia law is what gave Rahim Alfetlawiman in Michigan the moral fortitude to shoot his 20 year old step daughter Jessica Mokdad to death. Practioners of Sharia law call the murder of this 20 year old lady an honor killing. In Bangledesh Sharia law caused the death by stoning penalty to a fourteen year old girl named Hena Akhter. Hena Akhter was accused of the crime of adultery after she was raped by her cousin. Sharia law is the extreme, Not Tom Tacredo.

[ApeMonk7]

I have just recently gotten into Star Trek. I started with TNG and have just come from watching "The Drumhead", and I must say up to here, it is my favorite episode. Dark and deeply worrying, Picard's quotation of Aaron Satie is marvelous. I like your review.

[AxelLaw]

@ApeMonk7 Thank you. =)

[Tsuruta1]

#1 Prostitution is a detriment, they who engage in it shame themselves,

#2 The LGBT are not prevented from marriage they never were, there's no law thar says one must enter marriage, in which one can't remain single,

#3 Secularism is the forerunner of socialism, history has shown that it doesn't work,

#4 No one wants disease, but there are those who care nothing of preventive health maintenance,

#5 All should be allowed to read, book burning is what's dumb,

These issues aren't "Drumheaded".

[AxelLaw]

@Tsuruta1 While I appreciate your feedback, I strongly disagree with you, and it's obvious since you are a Christian, you wouldn't want a secular society, anyway. Have a nice life.

[Tsuruta1]

@AxelLaw Likewise.

[Tahkaullus01]

@AxelLaw Easy there Axel. I'm not Christian but I'm also not about to see your argument lose weight because you slander a religion. Your message is good but you'll lose it if you respond like this. My advice: Just don't reply, or if you must, keep it professional.

[AxelLaw]

While I am a flawed human being, my message still stands. I can be snarky sometimes because some of the arguments I hear from the religious right rub me the wrong way, especially when one says objective reality is absolute or that gays aren't prohibited from marrying (which is a pretty asinine argument in of itself). Still, I will take your advice to heart, especially when I'm faced with trolling. Thanks for the comment.

[Tahkaullus01]

@AxelLaw Good man

[woollybully100]

I agree with everything you say about it this episode and series in general. I love it and I'll gladly rewatch it over and over.

[Yewon2001]

Do you see the irony in fighting for a future of peace?

[AxelLaw]

@Yewon2001

Are you asking me a serious question, or are you trying to be snarky?

[caseysavestheday]

Excellent video, excellent message. As a Star Trek fan, I am also proud to embrace Roddenberry's vision for the future, and fight for the day when humanity outgrows racism, sexism, homophobia, et. al. I am very happy I watched this. Please, review more ST episodes... there are a few Voyager episodes that have a similiar positive, progressive, Humanistic message.

[AxelLaw]

@caseysavestheday You might get your wish! I'm going to do another TNG episode in the future, and whenever I get the DS9 series, I wanna do a 2parter that's very similar to this episode. I think I've got a Voyager episode in mind...thanks for the comment!

[Dalbert342]

Axel,I disagree....'Inner Light' was the best TNG episode,perhaps the best of all episodes

[AxelLaw]

@Dalbert342 To each his own. I do love "The Inner Light" a lot and it deserves to be in anyone's TNG Top 10.

[Dalbert342]

@AxelLaw I do agree Drumhead was a powerful episode......that's why I was pissed with ENT...they abandoned the whole concept of moral drama for cheap trills

[tuseroni]

@Dalbert342 yeah star trek in general, they sold out their principals, sure cheap thrills, sex appeal, and action sell but its the message that makes the immortal. unfortunately thats not what film companies want, they dont care if people are watching the episodes in 20 years (unless they can make money off redistribution of course, and if money made on redistribution over time is more than money made right now from cheap theatrics) star trek needs to bring back the humanism.

[Jeorney]

Those who clothe themselves in good deeds are well camoflaged. Its similar to a wolf in sheeps clothing. I met too many of those in life, and they cause tremendous damage.

[mknbfm]

It is my belief that this episode represents one of the fundamental flaws plaguing humanity. It is easy for people in our society to cast swift judgments over others that they do not take the time to consider the short and long term effects on others. Arguments can be made for issues including gay rights and religions. However, what will truly test humanity is whether or not we can all co exist and respect everyone around us and the choices we make in the decades and centuries to come.

[GodlessManitoban]

I like it better than the old generation.

[liljay652002]

It was a very deep episode. Pretty good commentary for the most part.