Changes

==Political themes==

==Political themes==

Producer Gene Roddenberry emphasized his “utopian vision” of humanity’s future. Following this vision, humanity is considered to have achieved perfection in Star Trek. This includes overcoming greed, hate, jealousy, as well as ethnic and national rivalries.<ref name=walker>Walker, J., [http://thiswastv.com/2012/08/29/same-as-it-ever-was-star-trek-after-gene-roddenberry/ Same As It Ever Was?: Star Trek After Gene Roddenberry], ''This Was Television''</ref> In the original series, this vision is illustrated by the use a Russian man and a black woman as regular minor characters (Chekov and Uhura).

Producer Gene Roddenberry emphasized his “utopian vision” of humanity’s future. Following this vision, humanity is considered to have achieved perfection in Star Trek. This includes overcoming greed, hate, jealousy, as well as ethnic and national rivalries.<ref name=walker>Walker, J., [http://thiswastv.com/2012/08/29/same-as-it-ever-was-star-trek-after-gene-roddenberry/ Same As It Ever Was?: Star Trek After Gene Roddenberry], ''This Was Television''</ref> In the original series, this vision is illustrated by the use a Russian man and a black woman as regular minor characters (Chekov and Uhura). The Federation's charter, in fact, was a word-for-word copy of the United Nations charter, and by extension, the constitution for the [[Union of Soviet Socialist Republics]].<ref>[http://www.conservativenewsandviews.com/2016/08/18/editorial/entertainment/articles-of-federation/ Articles of Federation] on Conservative News and Views</ref>

Negative characteristics are generally found only in alien races. In a typical episode, one alien race is trying to enslave another, and the Enterprise intervenes to restore balance. The principle of equality is thus applied universally, with the Declaration of Independence sometimes mentioned explicitly.<ref>"The Omega Glory", March 1, 1968. Watch Kirk read the Declaration of Independence [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3b56e0u0EgQ here]. It's with feeling; He is obviously an American.</ref> In these episodes, the Federation stands in for the United States, while the villain species stands in for Communists or Nazis.<ref name=Cantor>Cantor, Paul A., ''Gilligan Unbound: Pop Culture in the Age of Globalization'', p. 46.</ref> In other episodes, an alien species is used to comment on imperfections in contemporary America. One episode depicts a species divided into two races by skin color.<ref>“Let This Be Your Last Battlefield”, Jan. 10, 1969.</ref> For one race, the left side is white, and right side is black. For the other race, these colors are reversed.<ref name=Cantor/>

Negative characteristics are generally found only in alien races. In a typical episode, one alien race is trying to enslave another, and the Enterprise intervenes to restore balance. The principle of equality is thus applied universally, with the Declaration of Independence sometimes mentioned explicitly.<ref>"The Omega Glory", March 1, 1968. Watch Kirk read the Declaration of Independence [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3b56e0u0EgQ here]. It's with feeling; He is obviously an American.</ref> In these episodes, the Federation stands in for the United States, while the villain species stands in for Communists or Nazis.<ref name=Cantor>Cantor, Paul A., ''Gilligan Unbound: Pop Culture in the Age of Globalization'', p. 46.</ref> In other episodes, an alien species is used to comment on imperfections in contemporary America. One episode depicts a species divided into two races by skin color.<ref>“Let This Be Your Last Battlefield”, Jan. 10, 1969.</ref> For one race, the left side is white, and right side is black. For the other race, these colors are reversed.<ref name=Cantor/>