How Assimilation Became a Dirty Word : MANIFEST DESTINY

We are The Borg. 

Lower your shields and surrender your ships.

We will add your biological and technological distinctiveness to our own. 

Your culture will adapt to service us. 

Resistance is Futile.

Assimilation : The Arthurian Dream

 

[Captain's office]

(Sisko switches on a wall monitor.) 

EDDINGTON [on monitor]: 

Captain. 

SISKO: 

Mister Eddington. 

I have just one question. 

Why? 

EDDINGTON 
[on monitor]: 

Will knowing my personal motivation change anything at this point? 

SISKO: 

No, I don't suppose it will. 

EDDINGTON 
[on monitor]: 

Then let's table that for now. 

The only reason I've contacted you is to ask you to leave us alone. 

Our quarrel is with the Cardassians, not the Federation. 

Leave us alone and I can promise you you'll never hear from the Maquis again. 

SISKO:

 Unless you see another shipment you want to hijack. 

EDDINGTON 
[on monitor]: 

You keep sending replicators to Cardassia and you're going to have a lot more to worry about than hijackings. 

SISKO: 

I don't respond well to threats. 

I thought you would know that by now. 

But I'm beginning to see that you don't know me at all. 

EDDINGTON 
[on monitor]: 

I know you. I was like you once, but then I opened my eyes. 
Open your eyes, Captain. 

Why is the Federation so obsessed about the Maquis? 

We've never harmed you, and yet we're constantly arrested and charged with terrorism. Starships chase us through the Badlands and our supporters are harassed and ridiculed. 

Why? 

Because we've left the Federation, 
and that's the one thing you can't accept. 

Nobody leaves Paradise. 
Everyone should want to be in the Federation. 

Hell, you even want the Cardassians to join. 

You're only sending them replicators because one day they can take their rightful place on the Federation Council. 

You know, in some ways you're worse than the Borg. 
At least they tell you about their plans for assimilation. 

You're more insidious. 
You assimilate people and they don't even know it. 

SISKO: 

You know what, Mister Eddington? 
I don't give a damn what you think of the Federation, the Maquis, or anything else. 
All I know is that you betrayed your oath, your duty, and me. And if it takes me the rest of my life, I will see you standing before a court-martial that'll break you and send you to a penal colony, where you will spend the rest of your days growing old and wondering whether a ship full of replicators was really worth it.

"For [Sisko/Roddenbury, The United Federation of Planets] means... a fixed array of behavior like a breed of dog or a species of animal. 

He is not thinking of a national community united by a literate language and a classical culture to which any person can become assimilated through a political choice. 

For [Sisko/Roddenberry, The United Federation of Planets] is unchangeable, and [The Federation] is destiny. 

It is a matter of blood and soil. 

The United Federation of Planets fights the Klingons,

and then assimilates them,

The United Federation of Planets fights Romulans,and then assimilates them,

The United Federation of Planets fights Ferrengi,  

and then assimilates them,

The United Federation of Planets fights The Borg,

and then assimilates them,

The United Federation of Planets fights The Cardassians,

and then assimilates them,

The United Federation of Planets fights The Dominion,

and then assimilates them,

and so on through all eternity. 

These hatreds are the main datum of sensory perception.

[Roddenberry's] warhorse is the Territorial Imperative. 

Each is obsessed with borders and territory [Neutral Zones and Demilitarised Zones, Badlands and Briar Patches], and each finds a way to oppose and sabotage dirigistic economic development. 

Each one is eager to submerge and repress other national groupings in pursuit of its own mystical destiny. 

This is [Roddenberry's] racist gospel of universal ethnic cleansing.

Assimilation : The Arthurian Dream

GABRIEL: 

They're here! They're here! 

WORF: 

Who? 

GABRIEL: 

The Klingons! 

(A group of people with varying amounts of ridges, including none.) 

BROTA: 

Q'apla. 

WORF: 

Q'apla. 

BROTA: 

We are the Sons of Mogh. 

WORF: 

You are my descendents. 

BROTA: 

Some by blood, some by choice. 

Our hearts are Klingon. 

We live as warriors, just as you taught our ancestors long ago. 

GABRIEL: 

I'm going to be one of them someday. 

I'll ride a wild torga and go hunting, and only come to the settlement to trade furs for the things I need. 

PARELL: (a human woman) 

When you're older, you'll have the chance to prove yourself. 

If you are worthy, you can take a Klingon name and live among us. 

BROTA: 

The Sons of Mogh are gathering to celebrate your return. 

It would honour us greatly if you would feast with us tonight.

WORF: 

I look forward to it. 

BROTA: 

We'll come for you at nightfall. 

BASHIR: 

Well, it would appear I'm not the only legend around here...

(Worf is by a fire.) 

PARELL: 
We came to tell you. There will be no feast tonight. 

WORF: 
I understand. This is not a time for celebration. 

BROTA: 
Tomorrow we will see the sun rise again, but no one here will see it set. 

WORF: 
Join me. There is something I wish to say. 
It is a great honour to know that my legacy has thrived on your world for so long. 
I can see the Klingon heart beats strong here. 

BROTA: 
You honour us with your words. 
We have tried to live as you taught us to. 

PARELL: 
We've never plowed fields or milked chattel. 
We've lived as warriors, hunters. 

BROTA: 
Last year, I slew a yarbear three metres tall. Your mek'leth was my only weapon. The beast maimed me, and for a time it seemed I would die from my wounds. Now I wish I had. It would have been a warrior's death. 

PARELL:
 He could have taken his place among the honoured dead in Sto'Vo'Kor. 

WORF: 
Perhaps he will yet. 

BROTA: 
No. Ceasing to exist because my parents were never born? 
That is not a death worthy of Sto'Vo'Kor. 
Kill me, Worf. I have no enemies to fight, no glory to be won. 
Give me an honourable death. 

PARELL: 
Don't make us wait for the end like farm animals waiting for slaughter. 


WORF: 
I will come to you tomorrow and do what you ask.

(Sunrise on the final day.) 

WORF: 

By sunset this will all be gone. 

DAX: 

Taking a last look around? 

(Gabriel runs through the group. Sisko grabs him.) 

SISKO: 

Whoa. Gabriel, where are you going in such a hurry? 

GABRIEL: 

To the fields. It's time for planting. 

(They walk on to where everyone is getting the young plants ready for the ground.) 

MIRANDA: 
Come on, Gabriel, there isn't much time. 
Put some of this on your face. 
The sun's strong today. 

YEDRIN: 

Planting day has always been important here. 

It brings everyone together. 

Somehow it feels right to see it through.

[Field]

(Most of our people help with the planting. Pushing a motorised hand-plough, making planting holes. Compost goes in the bottom and the plant on top. Kira is scattering seed. Miranda is handing out the rooted plants.) 

MIRANDA: 
Here's one for you. Molly, take that from the bottom. 

MOLLY: 

Aren't you going to help? 

O'BRIEN: 

I'm busy. 

MOLLY: 

You don't look busy. 

SISKO: 

She's an O'Brien, all right. Better get to it, Chief. 

(Sisko hands over his trowel. Worf and the Sons of Mogh arrived.) 

BROTA: 

You said there was an Enemy for us to fight. 

WORF: 

They are attempting to plant their fields before the sun sets. 

Time is their Enemy. 

We should help them defeat it. 

BROTA: 

Bring the others. 

(And the sun sweeps on in its course. Molly brings O'Brien a plant.) 

O'BRIEN: 

Ah, great. You know, I have a little girl named Molly, too. 

MOLLY: 

Really? Can I meet her? 

O'BRIEN: 

We'll see. 

MOLLY:

 By summer, this plant will be taller than you. After the harvested, I'll help my mother make gelm bread with it. 

WOMAN: 

Molly? 

(Molly runs off, O'Brien goes over to Sisko and Kira.) 

SISKO: 

Is something wrong? 

O'BRIEN: 

We can't do it. 

SISKO: 

What? 

O'BRIEN: 

We can't let these people die.

Klingon Guile

KRUGE: 

Why haven't they finished us? 

...They outgun me ten to one.

MALTZ: 

My Lord, enemy commander wishes a truce to confer.

KRUGE: 

Put him on screen!

KIRK (on viewscreen): This is Admiral James T. Kirk of the Federation Starship Enterprise.

KRUGE: 

So! The Genesis Commander himself.

KIRK (on viewscreen): 

By violation of treaty between the Federation and the Klingon Empire, your presence here is an act of war. You have two minutes to surrender your crew and your vessel, or we will destroy you.

KRUGE: 

He's hiding something. We may have dealt him a more serious blow than I thought.

TORG: 

How can you tell that?

KRUGE: 

I trust my instincts. 

...Admiral Kirk, this is your opponent speaking.

Do not lecture me about treaty violations. The Federation, in creating an ultimate weapon, has become a gang of Intergalactic criminals!

It is not I who will surrender, it is YOU! 

...On the planet below, I have three prisoners from the team who developed your doomsday weapon. If you do not surrender immediately, I will execute them, one at a time, as enemies of galactic peace.

KIRK: 

Who is this? How dare you take prisoners?

KRUGE: 

Who I am is not important. That I have them IS. 

...I will allow you speak to them.

The Remainders - "Sir" Patrick Stewart

WE ARE THE CLUB OF ROME. 

LOWER YOUR BORDERS AND SURRENDER YOUR SOVERIGNTY. 

WE WILL ADD YOUR AGRICULTURAL AND INDUSTRIAL DISTINCTIVENESS TO OUR OWN. 

YOUR CULTURE WILL ADAPT TO SERVICE US. 

RESISTANCE IS FUTILE.

"Perhaps today is a Good Day to Die ...!!

Prepare for RAMMING SPEED!!!"

This Flanders 'Mare

The Blue Death

The Belgian Disease

This Flemish Pox

BE-NE-LUX Fever

Tyler's  Cramp

Mason's Elbow

Auditor's Pinch

Peoples of these British Isles, Your Attention Please : 

Having commenced my own study of the extent, breadth and fundamental nature of this Flemmish Malaisse, this Permanant, Rolling National Crisis of Confidence, and the promise of potential cures, my initial findings are now in and they are these : Things are indeed, as I had previously intuited, no nearly so bad or so severe as it may superficially have appeared to be, with our peoples, our nations and in our composite, unified sovereign Nation-State.

They are in fact worse. Far, FAR worse, than I ever dared contemplate myself to fear. 

You therefore leave me with no other options left - as of right now, I am going forward at RAMMING Speed, course locked in, Dead-ahead Full-Worf Factor 9.99 - 

You drove me to this...

"YOU ARE KLINGONS WITHOUT HONOUR..!!! 
I AM WORF, SON OF MOGH !! 
SQUIRE TO THE HOUSE OF MARTOK, 
FIRSTBORN SON OF THE HOUSE OF MOGH 
AND I SAY 
YOU ARE NO KLINGONS!!! 

YOU COWER, LIKE STINKING, WRETCHED P'TACH WHILE THE BLOOD OF OUR FALLEN WARRIORS LIES STILL WARM IN THE VERY COUNCIL CHAMBER LIKE SO MUCH TARG-FODDER WHILE THE HATED ENEMY OF OUR GREAT EMPIRE, THE ROMULAN P'TECHT MAKE THEIR ESCAPE FROM OUR VERY THRONE WORLD !!!!

O PROUD AND MIGHTY KLINGON RACE - KHALESS CALLS TO YOU ALL, BLOOD TO BLOOD TO ANSWER THE CALL TO ARMS - TO AVENGE THE PROUD KLINGON BLOOD SPILT THIS DAY AND DIE WELL, FOR THE GLORY AND TO RESTORE THE NOBLE AND LAMENTED NAME OF HONOUR OF YOUR GREAT HOUSE AND OF THE EMPEROR KHALESS AND HIS NOBLE IMAGINE IN FLESH SO CRUELY AND SACRALIGIOUSLY CUT DOWN, SLAIN BY THIS RANK TREACHERY IN OUR MIDST !!

TONIGHT, WE  DINE IN STO-VO-KOR ON THE HEARTS OF EVERY FLAG OFFICER IN THE ROMULAN INVASION TASK FORCE AND THEIR FLEET !!!

BEWARE, O RESTFULLY DREAMING SPIRITS OF THE DEAD OF MEN OF LESSER RACES - THE FIRST KLINGON WARRIOR IS ABOUT TO ARRIVE !!! FIE !!

K'PLA !!!

Perhaps today is a Good Day to Die ...!!

Yes, perhaps it is - but it is an even better day to live

K'Pla!!

Guinan is a Magickal Negro

Melchizedek, The Dark Messenger

Using Her Voudon Magicks, Counter-Curses and Warding Gestures, Guinan Successfully Backs-Off God/YAWH/The Evil Demiurge.

The Deity Formerly Known as Q.

Why Does This Bartender Dress Like a Nun and Talk Like a Priest?

She is a Priest Forever of the Order of Melchizedek.

Guinan: 

How much do you know about what happened to the last ship called Enterprise?

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: 

Enterprise C? It was lost at the battle of Narendra III, defending a Klingon outpost from the Romulans.

Guinan:

 And the survivors?

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: 

There were stories of prisoners taken back to Romulus, but these were only rumors.

Guinan: 

No. There were survivors. And Tasha Yar was one of them.

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: 

Guinan - that was 23 years ago. Tasha Yar was only a child.

Guinan:

 I know that. But I also know she was aboard that ship. And she was not a child. And I think... you sent her there.

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: 

How can that be?

Guinan: 

I don't know. I just know that you did.

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: 

Tasha died - a year before you came on the Enterprise. You never met her.

Guinan: 

I know that.

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: 

If you have only a vague intuition...

Guinan: 

You can't just dismiss this. If I'm right, then you are responsible for this whole situation.

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: 

I think it's time that I met Commander Sela.

I'm the Wise Janitor. I impart knowledge and help overcome fears.

"Friendly black optimistic advice"

In order to show the world that minority characters are not bad people, one will step forward to help a "normal" person, with their pure heart and folksy wisdom. They are usually black and/or poor, but may come from another oppressed minority. They step (often clad in a clean, white suit) into the life of the much more privileged (and, in particular, almost always white) central character and, in some way, enrich that central character's life. If the Magical Negro (also known as Magic Negro or Mystical Negro) is from a society of Noble Savages, expect an Anvilicious Aesop about the failings of the protagonist's society — which usually leads to the protagonist "Going Native".

With such deep spiritual wisdom(and sometimes — though not always — actual supernatural powers), you might wonder why the Magical Negro doesn't step up and save the day himself. This will never happen. So enlightened and selfless is he that he has no desire to gain glory for himself; he only wants to help those who need guidance... which just happens to mean those who are traditionally viewed by Hollywood as better suited for protagonist roles, not, say, his own oppressed people. In fact, the Magical Negro really seems to have no goal in life other than helping white people achieve their fullest potential; he may even be ditched or killed outright once he's served that purpose. If he does express any selfish desires, it will only be in the context of helping the white protagonists realize their own racism and thereby become better people.

Bonus points if this character is a priest of Vodoun. If they are, it's generally a sign that you're watching a particularly bad horror film, such as the Final Destination series.

See also Whoopi Epiphany Speech, Black Best Friend, and Mammy. For a similar trope about women, see Manic Pixie Dream Girl (as well as Disposable Woman and The Bechdel Test); the Magical Girlfriend may play a similar role for her love interest, but is not necessarily an example of this. For the gay version see Magical Queer(who may also be black). The disabled version of this is Inspirationally Disadvantaged. When a non-minority character is portrayed this way, the character is usually a Sidekick Ex Machina. Similar in vein to the Magical Native American, though that trope tends to be more explicitly magical. Also similar to Magical Asian, when an Asian character, often with supernatural abilities, fulfills a mentor role to a white character. Another related trope is White Man's Burden, where the plot is about an ordinary white person who befriends an underprivileged minority character.

The term "Magical Negro" was popularized by Spike Lee during a lecture denouncing this trope.

Whoopi Epiphany Speech

"Now that black girl knows something you don't!"

Profoundly wise, life affirming short speech given by the poor, oppressed minority, uneducated, or mentally challenged character to the more-educated protagonist. Thus, perhaps, clearly distinguishing between the "Intelligence" and "Wisdom" attributes in Dungeons & Dragons.

Named after actress Whoopi Goldberg, whose character Celie in The Color Purple is an uneducated, viciously oppressed farmgirl who famously stands up for herself with such a speech. Her later character Guinan from Star Trek: The Next Generation, a wise, mysterious and Really 700 Years Old alienbartender, may have helped cement the trope name, though Guinan's life affirming speeches tend to be more erudite.

Subversions usually take the form of some person interrupting a fight with a comment on why they shouldn't be fighting. Instead of stopping as expected, the rioters just continue fighting.

Frequently utilized by the Magical Negro. See also Waif Prophet, Book Dumb, Simpleminded Wisdom, Wisdom from the Gutter. Note that just because the character is black, and is giving a speech, doesn't make it a Whoopi Epiphany Speech—if the character is powerful, intelligent, and respected, they don't fit this trope.