So I'm watching an episode of Star Trek DS9 right now, entitled "Past Tense" where Sisko, Dax and Bashir are transported to 21st century Earth through a transporter malfunction. Sisko and Bashir are walking through a "sanctuary district" which is almost like a prison/slum area of a city and they are talking about the social problems of the era. Sisko mentions that in the US, in the early 21st century that people felt like the social problems were too enormous to deal with; it's not that people don't give a damn, it's just that they've given up. Bashir says, "Causing people to suffer because you hate them is terrible, but causing people to suffer because you have forgotten how to care...that's really hard to understand."

Bashir goes on to say "It makes you wonder, doesn't it? Are humans really any different that Cardassians, or Romulans? If push comes to shove, if something disasterous happens to the Federation, if we are frightened enough or desperate enough, how would we react? Would we stay true to our ideals, or would we just stay here, where we started?"

I have felt for a long time there has been incredible social commentary in the Star Trek series.

Sisko assures Bashir that the people in the early 21st century will remember how to care.

Let's not wait for more rough times to come. Remember how to care today, and maybe you can help someone else remember how to care too.