Rest for the Weary discussion

STNG - Episode: The First Duty

Ensign Crusher is due to graduate from the Academy and perform a close formation flight as part of the celebratory program. The leader of his flight team has convinced the other members to perform a very dangerous maneuver and one of the team died. Then the psychological pressure to conform, to be “loyal” to the remaining team members is dramatically increased on Crusher, twisting his loyalties and his duties to his team members and to Star Fleet.

STNG was always a favorite drama of mine because they explored human attitudes and behaviors as much or more than they “explored” the cosmos. Any high school student can “feel” Crusher’s struggle as he weighs 1) the importance of a LIE that will either forever besmirch the reputation of a classmate who has already paid for his teams’ corporate guilt in attempting a forbidden maneuver with his own life against 2) the importance of a TRUTH that may ruin the budding careers of himself and 3 of his classmates and brand himself as someone who cannot be trusted with confidential information.

There are limits to loyalty. Choosing friendship with the world over friendship with Christ is costly. Don’t let anybody make you feel guilty because you refuse to do something that violates your conscience or because you report unethical behavior. They will try but that’s the world for you.

I remember that episode very well, I never missed any Star Trek or spin off episodes. I agree with you, they were well ahead of their time in elevating human morality.