Yesterday, I wrote a blog called "Star Trek Wisdom."  In it, I posted a clipped version of the ST:TNG episode, "The Drumhead."

I was looking around on the Internet for the full episode so that I could post it for some people on my other site who showed interest.  Today, I found a playlist so that the whole episode could be viewed and you can see some of the nuances that might have been missed in the clipped version.  It shows how manipulation is used by some and intimidation is used by others.




The Klingon tries to bribe Worf with an offer to get something he greatly desired after making him feel bad about not having it.  The retired admiral used intimidation and fear to make the crew of the Enterprise to suspect that there were traitors all throughout the ship and pushes it even further by putting the captain on trial.  Sometimes both manipulation, intimidation, and fear are used by the same person as the retired admiral on Worf, telling him that she wanted him to conduct the interrogation.  She even got Worf to suspect the captain somewhat for awhile.

The tactic of divide and conquer has been used for ages upon ages.  Divide et impera in Latin, as described in Wikipedia.

"...is a combination of political, military and economic strategy of gaining and maintaining power by breaking up larger concentrations of power into chunks that individually have less power than the one implementing the strategy. The concept refers to a strategy that breaks up existing power structures and prevents smaller power groups from linking up."

Those who have read "The Art of War" are familiar with this.

By causing divisions between races, division between religions, and divisions between different social and educational classes, those who seek power and money have been able to keep people from uniting in a common cause for the good of the whole.  They keep people busy fighting amongst themselves so that they don't have time to notice how they're being misused and abused by them.  If enough people realized this, they could come together against those who are misusing their money and power and create a better life for everyone, not just the rich.  It has been done in the past and eventually it will be done again.  Right now, the rich are screaming, "Let them eat cake!"  That didn't work out so well for the "elite" during the French Revolution.  Is it time for the guillotines yet?



                                               Copyright © 2011 Cal Jennings