Patrick Stewart taught us what good men do with power

Patrick Stewart, the renowned actor who passed away recently, left behind a legacy that teaches us about the proper exercise of power. In his iconic role as Captain Jean-Luc Picard on the Star Trek: The Next Generation series, produced during a time of American dominance, Stewart embodied the ideals of a benevolent and democratic union known as the United Federation of Planets.

This federation, the sole dominant power in its quadrant of the galaxy, stood in contrast to the Soviet Union, which had still not fallen when the show began. Despite being armed with formidable weaponry, Picard's primary focus was often on humanitarian missions, such as distributing vaccines across the galaxy. His character served as a symbol of 1990s liberalism, advocating for universal rights and justice.

The show's writers cleverly used the Klingon Empire as a metaphor for the Soviet Union, yet within Picard's Federation, a Klingon, Lieutenant Worf, served alongside him, symbolizing the alliance between the once-opposing powers. The Next Generation provided a vision of an idealized America, where the Enterprise crew spent more time rescuing people from disasters or negotiating peace deals than engaging in space battles.

While this portrayal may seem outdated in today's context, the lessons of Stewart's portrayal of Picard remain relevant. The actor's performance in episodes such as "The Measure of a Man," which defended the rights of an android named Data, demonstrated the institutional liberalism embedded in the show. In this episode, Picard argued before a judge, whom he despised, to preserve Data's right to exist, highlighting the show's belief in the trustworthiness and responsiveness of institutions.

The final outcome of the trial mirrored the optimistic reality of the time, emphasizing that institutions can and should be forces for good. Despite the show's eventual vision of a post-Cold War world, it is essential to recognize that America hasn't fully lived up to Star Trek's aspirations. However, the children who watched Patrick Stewart embody the role of a just and capable leader should continue to serve as role models for how powerful individuals should behave.