Trouble in Paradise

The following scene contains a salient soliloquy... well, more like an angry rant by Commander Sisko after an infuriating talk with his superior officer. I think it encapsulates rather effectively some of the problems that come with utopia. You heard me right. Problems of utopia.

DS9 was one of the few shows that focused on other, less-evolved civilizations over a long period of time. In other series, the discovery of and encounter with other, alien cultures happens in virtually every episode, and it can often be a cautionary social tale, but its exposure seldom lasted longer than a single episode. And while DS9 can seem darker for focusing on a less idyllic culture than the Federation, it also shows us the cracks in even the Federation's foundation at times.


This does not mean that the utopia of earth is actually less perfect. It does, however, suggest that its near-perfection is itself a weakness at times. Domesticated dogs don't understand what life is like for the wolves and it is easy to lose sight of the day-to-day struggles others still experience when all your needs are met. As Sisko puts it, "It's easy to be a saint in paradise."