Return to Star Trek: The Next Generation main page Talk directly to Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) Counselor Deanna Troi Lieutenant Commander Data Lieutenant Worf Doctor Beverly Crusher Trivia (click here): PPvEvtDBf Help rescue Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) from slavery! (click here) TV-Commentary - Star Trek: The Next Generation Does Star Trek support single parenting? Star Trek takes the position that single women should be allowed to have children on their own, despite the stigma of single parenting. In "The Offspring," Data "reproduces" by creating another android named Lal whose computer mind operates on the same principles as his neural net. Captain Picard is alarmed that Data has so rashly brought a new life into the world. Picard is concerned ostensibly because Data doesn't pretend to understand the implications of bringing a new android into the world. But Captain Picard is really concerned because Data, like a stereotypical single parent, seems unprepared for the task of raising a child. This episode illustrates how modern society makes a value judgment that single mothers should not bring children into the world. But Data responds to this concern by merely noting that other crew members don't consult the captain about their decision to procreate, so why should he? In other words, Data is saying that single parents have the same right to have children that traditional families do. However, when the visiting Admiral Haftel arrives on the Enterprise, he wants to take Lal away from Data, to take her back to Star Fleet command for further study. He feels that Data (the single parent) is not adequately able to look after her needs and wants to take her to a facility where she can be properly looked after. Or, in other words, Admiral Haftel wants to take Lal to an orphanage. Haftel is saying that Data, as a single parent, is unfit to raise a child, and therefore the child should be put in the hands of the state. The philosophy that unfit single parents should have their children reassigned to orphanages has made headway in the political mainstream by Newt Gingrich and some of his congressional allies. But Admiral Haftel is cast in the heavy of that episode. In other words, Star Trek is casting a negative light on his philosphy. So what Star Trek is saying is that even though single parents may not be perfect parents, it is much better to keep children with their imperfect parents than to toss them into an orphanage. Furthermore, when Lal finds out that the Admiral is trying to take her away from Data and toss her into a Federation "orphanage," she collapses and quickly dies, symbolizing how governments can destroy nontraditional families by trying to take their children away. Click here to post a message        posts on 5/29/2006 11:17:35 PM a non-tng question i'm posting on all the trek threads. does anyone know who assumed command of the enterprise-a after the undiscovered country? i always hoped chekov would be made captain. he must have eventually since a starship was named after him. take care. Click here to post a message Other Recent Star Trek: The Next Generation Discussions Patrick Stewart gets divorced! Why did Dr. Pulaski wear a maternity outfit? Ferengi Encounter The tricorders want to unionize to get better working conditions Clicking fish people experiment on the crew Did Riker have an abortion when he phasered his clone? Barclay overcomes his transporter-phobia The Unethicals Within--Part I The Unethicals Within--Part II The Unethicals Within--Part III Worf takes Alexander to obedience school How Picard first met Guinan Wesley getting dating advice from Data Captain Picard becomes a child again... 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