Over at National Review Online is a little back and forth between a couple of contributors exploring what the deal is with Star Trek and conservatives.  It all begins with an observation that Patrick Stewart is apparently up for knighthood, and a question of why conservatives would like that liberal show.  The answer expressed, and later expanded on, pretty much comes down to “it’s all about Picard.”  As a conservative Trekkie myself, I can say without doubt that there is much more to it than that.

The original question starts by noticing the “messages [of Star Trek, which] are unabashedly liberal ones of the early post-Cold War era – peace, tolerance, due process, progress (as opposed to skepticism about human perfectibility).”  As an initial matter, I have to seriously wonder if those values are “unabashedly liberal” at all.  Most conservatives I’ve ever met share the “liberal” desire for peace, while recognizing the necessity of violence and war.  Tolerance is itself a universal virtue, and the lack thereof is part of why people came to America in the first place.  Due process is enshrined not once, but twice in the Constitution, and is the first line of defense against arbitrary action by an overbearing government.  Progress, too, is a part of the human condition, and the drive to better oneself rings more true as a conservative principle than as an ideology promoted by the architects of the welfare state.

That said, there undoubtedly are some unabashedly liberal messages to be found in Star Trek.  There is no money in the 24th century, and the Ferengi are thoroughly vilified as capitalist pigs.  The series took some none-too-subtle shots at religion at various points throughout its run.  Dr. Crusher was well known for her skills not only as a physician, but as someone who tangled the Enterprise crew up into situations where they didn’t belong out of her heart felt desire to be helpful.  Star Trek also had Deanna Troi.

When it comes to attracting conservatives, I think where Star Trek truly shines is in its consistent expression of fixed, often conservative, principles.  “The first duty of a Starfleet officer is to the truth,” Captain Picard admonished Cadet Crusher.  The Prime Directive held Federation largess at bay.  Despite the myriad of temptations available to them, Starfleet officers could not be bought off easily, and most would not sell out their principles at all.  To contrast this with the modern liberal, whose principles (if, indeed, he has any) can now be openly bought and sold on the Senate floor, is to find that there is truly no comparison at all.

One of the greatest problems with conservatism is that it lacks the flare of utopia which make liberalism attractive to idealists and dreamers.  Star Trek is able to bring together elements of utopia in a principled culture.  And so, while some of the particular lessons are undoubtedly high on the liberalism scale, Star Trek brings with it a solid foundation of strong principles and moral clarity which is music to (at least) this conservative’s ears.