As an evil authoritarian tankie, this episode made perfect sense to me 😉
The old man had a knee-jerk opposition and lack of trust to any form of government or authority, understandably developed from living under the fascist occupation, but now extended to the fledgeling revolutionary government, which could not survive without cooperation and buy-in from the people. It was necessary for the Bejorans to adapt from the role of rebels to other roles. We see in other episodes Bejorans who can’t or won’t do this (the Maquis).
The whole point of overthrowing the Cardassians was not “blowing things up is fun and cool” nor was it “all governments are bad and individualism is good.” That specific government was bad, and the point was to set up a new government that could work for the benefit of the Bejoran people, and protect their safety and interests. Kira threads the needle between freedom fighter and civil servant, burning down the old order and building up the new one with equal resolve and determination.
By living with the old man, Kira showed that she understood him, that she felt similar things to him, that she wasn’t just a pencil pusher who didn’t care whose lives got ruined in the name of profits and efficiency and understood the weight of what she was telling him. But she also showed that, even from that perspective, she was still determined to get the reactor built. Ultimately, the decision she makes is forceful, authoritarian, even. But she also demonstrates by example how someone who is like the old man could arrive at her position. She is not only forcing him, but also leading by example, showing him that if she can switch gears to the changing conditions, he can too.
That willingness to build up after, to cooperate and ensure that a new peace can last, that is what separates the revolutionary from the rebel (the Maquis), or the individualist (the old man).
As an evil authoritarian tankie, this episode made perfect sense to me 😉
The old man had a knee-jerk opposition and lack of trust to any form of government or authority, understandably developed from living under the fascist occupation, but now extended to the fledgeling revolutionary government, which could not survive without cooperation and buy-in from the people. It was necessary for the Bejorans to adapt from the role of rebels to other roles. We see in other episodes Bejorans who can’t or won’t do this (the Maquis).
The whole point of overthrowing the Cardassians was not “blowing things up is fun and cool” nor was it “all governments are bad and individualism is good.” That specific government was bad, and the point was to set up a new government that could work for the benefit of the Bejoran people, and protect their safety and interests. Kira threads the needle between freedom fighter and civil servant, burning down the old order and building up the new one with equal resolve and determination.
By living with the old man, Kira showed that she understood him, that she felt similar things to him, that she wasn’t just a pencil pusher who didn’t care whose lives got ruined in the name of profits and efficiency and understood the weight of what she was telling him. But she also showed that, even from that perspective, she was still determined to get the reactor built. Ultimately, the decision she makes is forceful, authoritarian, even. But she also demonstrates by example how someone who is like the old man could arrive at her position. She is not only forcing him, but also leading by example, showing him that if she can switch gears to the changing conditions, he can too.
That willingness to build up after, to cooperate and ensure that a new peace can last, that is what separates the revolutionary from the rebel (the Maquis), or the individualist (the old man).