Although First Contact plays with the idea of linear time, even collapses it, the film asserts that some things are timeless: namely, liberal humanism. When Picard explains the status quo of the 24th century to Lily on the Enterprise, he reveals that the mission of the Federation, from its inception as an interplanetary diplomatic and militaristic organization, is to better all of humanity.
Picard and Lily speak the same language, they also share the same values. Both Lily and Picard are liberal humanists. Despite the overwhelming technology of the 24th century, Lily recognizes that human issues remain the same: reason, individuality, and personal autonomy are ideals humankind must champion, cherish, and protect. As witnesses of their mutual humanity, Picard and Lily are reminded of their values. Consequently, Picard becomes more resolved to safeguard humanity’s past, present, and future, by resisting the Borg.
The timelessness, or centrality, of the human and of the Earth, also remain fixed in First Contact. Although they declare that “resistance is futile,” the Borg must travel back in time to assimilate Earth before humankind developed the technology of the 24th century. Somehow, despite their claim, the Borg are not able to assimilate humankind in the present. Perhaps a reason the Borg resort to time travel in order to assimilate humanity, is because they want to bypass Picard. Picard represents the will, the intelligence, the hope, and the resolve of humanity, with all the technological gadgets that just might make resistance possible.
What is “essential” about humanity? The film highlights two things. Firstly, that humans resist and rebel against anything that would limit their freedom. Philip K. Dick asserts that the “ethics most important for the survival of the true, human individual” (194) are to rebel against whatever totalitarian force that threatens to limit human free will, by whatever means necessary.
Secondly, the film suggests that, despite all odds, somehow humans are able to overcome adversity, even extinction. Picard does not abandon the ship when all others do. He confronts the Borg Queen and finds that Data, the measure of humankind’s creative ability, was able to resist her too. As time collapses, and humanity faces extinction, Data and Picard are able to fight for the future, as representatives of humankind, by holding onto the ideals of liberal humanism, while resisting the very ideology that would undermine and replace it.
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