What real-life events inspired the Occupation of Bajor

[chris32482]

I've often wondered if the DS9 writers had any specific historical or current events in mind when they came up with the Cardassian/Bajoran story. Obviously, Nazi-occupied Europe comes to mind as far as anything that comes even close to the scale of Cardassian oppression. However, the Jews didn't really fight back the way Bajorans did. For that reason it puts me more in mind of the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. It's been going on for roughly the same amount of time (60+ years), and the Palestinians are still fiercely resisting what they consider Israeli encroachment on their land. Just watch CNN and you'll probably see tanks rolling through Gaza right now.

Any other ideas? I wonder if I.S.B. or anyone has actually commented on this before?

 

[TheGodBen]

It fit whatever analogy that the writers wanted that episode to be about.

 

[JNG]

They have commented that the situation was not *directly* modeled on any real-world events.

 

[TEH BABA]

French-Algerian war, Irish-Anglo war Kira reminds me of michael collins in a way.

 

[2 of 10]

Why do most conflicts start? living space, resources, slave labor, racial hatered, past injustices to name a few. In the case of Cardissa, they were pretty close to Bajor only about 9 LY away and they were about 100 years ahead in technology, in their case I think they occupied Bajor because they could, and they needed their ore, although one would think that somewhere in their empire they had their own ore, why did need Bajors resources. There was probably some racial hatred mixed in there also...

 

[AdmiralGarak]

The Occupation, to my mind, is more akin to the Soviet annexing of eastern Europe than of the Holocaust. Take Cardassian labor camps, which are clearly based after Soviet gulags. There are strong Cold War parallels found through out storylines dealing with Federation-Cardassian relations during both TNG & DS9.

The books offer more similar shades of the Holocaust in the Cardassians' persecution of the Oralian Way religious sect. But even this is more reminiscent of Communist governments' surpression of religion.

 

[indranee]

no, it's more like the British Occupation of India. only that one lasted longer and was bloodier in the end.

 

[Odo's_Bucket]

I'd say the ongoing war between the bloods and the crypts.

 

[AdmiralGarak]

no, it's more like the British Occupation of India. only that one lasted longer and was bloodier in the end.

That's a pretty accurate analogy.

I'd say the ongoing war between the bloods and the crypts.

I wouldn't.

 

[Odo's_Bucket]

no, it's more like the British Occupation of India. only that one lasted longer and was bloodier in the end.

That's a pretty accurate analogy.

I'd say the ongoing war between the bloods and the crypts.

I wouldn't.

Behold sarcasm, so elusive is it's concept to some. Yes. You can quote me on that.

 

[jgdst]

Behold sarcasm, so elusive is it's concept to some. Yes. You can quote me on that.

Done


To keep this post on-topic though... I always thought it was more like the Nazi occupation, with a couple of other references thrown in - like the British Empire. I was under the impression that the occupation was less to do with conquest and more to do with keeping the Cardassian Union alive by stripping Bajor of its resources.

I think it's not just Dukat who wants to be loved, admired and thanked for his 'helping' the Bajoran people, but even the whole Union to some degree.

Mind you, I haven't read the Terok Nor trilogy yet, so my opinion might change on that.

 

[trekkerguy]

If it had been in this decade, it would almost mirror the occupation of Iraq.

 

[Red Ranger]

When I think of Cardassia's occupation of Bajor, the first thing I think of is the Nazis and the Holocaust. But it also reminds me of the Israeli occupation of Palestine; the Soviet domination of Eastern Europe; and the French occupation of Algeria. I think there are amazing parallels to all three of those real-world situations. -- RR

 

[Odo's_Bucket]

If it had been in this decade, it would almost mirror the occupation of Iraq.

Yeah, because we keep the Iraqis in slave labor camps, rape their women, kill them, starve them, and plan on exterminating them all, all the while striping their planet of all it's natural resources. We aren't rebuilding their military, economy, police forces, schools, health care system, government. We haven't introduced them to a right to vote in a election which will allow their people to decide who runs their government instead of leaving the murderous dictatorship in place that was there before we arrived. Yeah, you hit the nail right on the head. Google sarcasm by the way. Something tells me to doubt that you're already aware of it's definition.

 

[Red Ranger]

If it had been in this decade, it would almost mirror the occupation of Iraq.

Yeah, because we keep the Iraqis in slave labor camps, rape their women, kill them, starve them, and plan on exterminating them all, all the while striping their planet of all it's natural resources. We aren't rebuilding their military, economy, police forces, schools, health care system, government. We haven't introduced them to a right to vote in a election which will allow their people to decide who runs their government instead of leaving the murderous dictatorship in place that was there before we arrived. Yeah, you hit the nail right on the head. Google sarcasm by the way. Something tells me to doubt that you're already aware of it's definition.

Nope, I don't think any of us can fail to detect sarcasm in this post, my combative friend! It reeks of it! It's drenched in it! Think you need to air this post out, and get that sarcastic odor out! Whoo! -- RR

 

[Odo's_Bucket]

Never said he or anyone else would fail to detect it. I said I thought it unlikely he would be able to define it.

 

[Red Ranger]

Never said he or anyone else would fail to detect it. I said I thought it unlikely he would be able to define it.

For someone with such a whimsical handle as Odo's Bucket, you're awfully serious! Ligthen up! -- RR

 

[Odo's_Bucket]

Never said he or anyone else would fail to detect it. I said I thought it unlikely he would be able to define it.

For someone with such a whimsical handle as Odo's Bucket, you're awfully serious! Ligthen up! -- RR

Two thirds of what I say are deadpan. The other half is dry humor.

 

[Red Ranger]

Never said he or anyone else would fail to detect it. I said I thought it unlikely he would be able to define it.

For someone with such a whimsical handle as Odo's Bucket, you're awfully serious! Ligthen up! -- RR

Two thirds of what I say are deadpan. The other half is dry humor.

OK, Yogi Berra! That's a big one-third if it equals half! -- RR

 

[Odo's_Bucket]

For someone with such a whimsical handle as Odo's Bucket, you're awfully serious! Ligthen up! -- RR

Two thirds of what I say are deadpan. The other half is dry humor.

OK, Yogi Berra! That's a big one-third if it equals half! -- RR

No. It equals half. The other two thirds only equal a half. Two halves equal a whole. Oh, wait. Am I forgetting a third? Yes. A third and a half equals two in the bush right?