“You cannot explain away a wantonly immoral act because you think it is connected to some higher purpose.” Picard declared when an alien species used other intelligent beings without their permission to pursue peace.
Time and time again, as the series wore on, the crew found themselves facing extreme danger, even seemingly inevitable death, but they never wavered in their commitment to the chain of command. They didn’t question their captain, and in the few instances where this trust was violated, repercussions were immediate. The Federation, like the United States, liked to play the role of the peace keeper, but in a fight, you had a place, and you were expected to stay in it.
That isn’t to say that Captain Picard was unwilling to hear the concerns or complaints of his staff when presented in the appropriate and respectful manner. In fact, as much as Star Trek taught me to embrace the structure of military living, it also taught me that good leaders, the ones that really make a difference, listen as much as they speak. They’re level headed, and they’re willing to carry the burden of their decisions, even while accepting the input from those around them.
“In my experience, communication is a matter of patience and imagination. I would like to believe that these are qualities that we have in sufficient measure.” Picard told his crew.
Picard saw each action of his ship and his crew as a representation of the Federation as a whole, just as I saw my actions in uniform as representative of the United States and the branch of service I called my own. If you were to take away the starry backdrop, the photon torpedoes, and the colorful opponents, Star Trek would ultimately be a clinic in how naval operations are run – with strong leadership, a committed crew, and an appreciation for duty over self.
“It is possible to commit no mistakes and still lose. That is not a weakness. That is life.” He taught his android science officer, Lieutenant Commander Data, and in doing so, he taught a 12 year old me.
Picard and his intrepid crew served as ambassadors of the Federation’s way of life, as explorers seeking knowledge, and when called upon to do so, as warriors defending the rights and lives of sentient beings, of people, in the face of overwhelming odds. In my mind, that’s exactly what America’s military does each day, the world over. We tend to think of the military as strictly a war fighting apparatus, but America’s military, in many parts of the globe, serves as a stabilizing presence, rather than a war fighting one – just as the Enterprise and her crew did on so many missions, but if enemies of peace, freedom, or the greater good appeared on the horizon, Captain Jean Luc Picard would be there, holding the line.
Star Trek, through its various iterations, has led to advancements in space science, has encouraged young engineers and researchers to develop new technologies that we had previously only dreamed of – but to a young man that grew up in a rough household and never particularly excelled at math or science, Star Trek: The Next Generation offered me something more. The science, the space ships, the alien species… they were all interesting enough, but to me, it was the people, the crew, risking their lives for a purpose they recognized as bigger than they were that inspired me. Star Trek showed me what discipline and self sacrifice can offer. Star Trek, in a very real way, taught me how to be a good Marine.
And while I served alongside no shortage of incredible officers, none have had such a lasting effect on who I am than a fictional Frenchman, played by a Brit, doing battle with poorly costumed foes. It was out there, in the depths of fictional space, that I learned very real lessons about humanity, about life, and about the service I would one day come to pursue.
Captain Picard’s wisdom, based in history, both real and fictional, but presented in a futurescape so fantastic, I’m not certain our species could ever actually attain, still speaks to me today – perhaps because our society has grown increasingly divided. As we use our own advanced technology, and the digital weapons of our day, to tear one another down, I’m reminded of one more important Picard speech; one about military justice, and honoring the Constitution. You may think a space show is silly, or maybe you just like Star Wars better… but moments like this shaped me as a child, and made me into the man I am.
For that, I’ll always be grateful.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADEDLoLY3AY
Feature image courtesy of Paramount Pictures
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