starrygaze
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I feel something so important to mention Today? Until I look up in Star Trek website and realized I know it!
10.24.2006
Gene Roddenberry: 15 Years After
It's been 15 years since Gene Roddenberry, the "Great Bird of the Galaxy," left us. One can't help but wonder what he might be thinking if he were looking upon us today.
Would he be proud of the fact that his creation, Star Trek, seems to be getting more attention than ever in its 40th anniversary year? Would he give his stamp of approval to the visual effects "upgrade" to the Original Series taking place now in the Remastering project? What would he think about the auctioning off of historical Star Trek artifacts from the Paramount warehouses, and how much money the stuff made? Would he embrace the numerous fan films being produced outside the studio purview? And what would he say about an eleventh Star Trek movie made by Hollywood whiz kid J.J. Abrams, that presumably will explore the early days of Kirk and Spock?
One can only conjecture, of course, what his opinion would be of all these things were he still alive (he would be 85), though his widow Majel and son Rod have spoken a great deal at conventions and other events about where they think his mind would be on any given subject. In a broad sense, though, it's probably a safe bet that he would say something to the effect of, Star Trek no longer belongs to him, it belongs to the world. And thus his opinion doesn't count nearly as much as our own.
But Mr. Roddenberry, wherever he is right now, must feel immense gratification knowing that he did create something that still resonates so strongly with so many of us after all these years. To think that the stories hold up so well that it's worth the investment to modernize the effects; to think that the props and costumes and models are worth so much to people; to think that the characters are so beloved that fans want to see more of them even in amateur productions with different actors; to think that Paramount turned over the reins of Star Trek to the industry's most sought-after talent ... it's a testament not only to the caliber of the mythology Roddenberry originated and others embellished — one representing optimism, bravery, tolerance, intelligence, and the fulfillment of human potential — but to the quality of the community that has grown around it. We Trekkies (excuse the term) may not have as much ratings power as the CSI audience in the short term, but we have unequaled passion and steadfastness. We, the fans, are the keepers of the Star Trek flame, and it will continue to survive and thrive as long as it has meaning to us.
You can also imagine that the Great Bird would urge us to, every now and then, step back and evaluate why this phenomenon called Star Trek does have so much meaning to us. Not to stroke his ego or otherwise deify him, but to encourage self-awareness.
Why did we latch onto this thing — usually as kids — and hang on well into adulthood? What does that say about us? That we're terminal geeks? Well, that's usually the first answer. Fine, we're terminal geeks — deal with it! But maybe it's also because we prefer to occupy ourselves with the broader picture. To hold in our heads somewhere a set of ideas and ideals that trascend the petty concerns of the day. If we are not, in some way, envisioning a better future and working toward a better future, then what good are we?
The hard part about self-awareness is that, once you achieve a certain degree of it, it demands action.
William Shatner said something very interesting at the Las Vegas convention last August: "One of the reasons for the popularity of Star Trek is the fact that it exists two or three hundred years from now and offers a note of hope," he prefaced. "We can hope, but hope doesn't do it. We need practical steps. I'm really afraid that your grandchildren and mine will be in dire trouble with the planet if we don't exercise our rights, right now, today, tomorrow, and start cleaning things up — legislating for more miles per gallon in a car, recycling, and trying to repair the planet ... We must work hard and passionately and immediately for the good of the planet, otherwise we're going to terminate ourselves very rapidly."
"Hope" is not the final word. "Vision" is only the first step. The storytellers offer us life lessons and inspire us. But then what?
Our love for Star Trek and the vision of Gene Roddenberry is pretty hollow if we don't commit ourselves to taking some measure of action, in whatever form our abilities allow, to bring about the future — or some semblance thereof — that is imagined in these stories. Not only because we can, but because we must.
The utopian ideals of Star Trek are attainable (maybe not in form but in substance), but we can just as easily — or more easily — fall down a dystopian path as predicted by darker science fiction mythologies. It's all about the choices we make, every day, collectively.
It's great if you can enter the fields of science or engineering and help develop innovative new technologies or advance the space program. It's great if you can influence public policy, or start a new business, or form a new movement that will further the common good of mankind. But for most of us, simple actions over time can have a tremendous impact on our future, one that both preserves our planet and moves us forward — recycling, as Shatner mentioned, or changing our light bulbs, or conserving water. Lending support to advocacy groups and progressive causes. Teaching our kids that being smart is more desirable than being hip. Being informed. Being aware.
Speaking of individual choices, we might mention — at the risk of being political for a moment (but not partisan) — that there is an election coming up in two weeks in the U.S. It's a midterm, which usually means voter turnout is shamefully low. If you're tempted not to vote, that is not acceptable. We want your voice, as a member of the Star Trek community, to be heard. If you are eligible, you must register and you must take the time on Nov. 7 to visit your polling place. It is the only way to ensure that our elected leaders are responsive to the citizenry. We won't make any endorsements here, but we urge you to not just go along with what some authority figure has told you, but to carefully evaluate the issues and candidates of the day against the broader picture of a better future for all mankind. Listen. Read. Discern. And for God's sake, think for yourself.
It's probably what Gene Roddenberry would say.
10.24.2006
Gene Roddenberry: 15 Years After
It's been 15 years since Gene Roddenberry, the "Great Bird of the Galaxy," left us. One can't help but wonder what he might be thinking if he were looking upon us today.
Would he be proud of the fact that his creation, Star Trek, seems to be getting more attention than ever in its 40th anniversary year? Would he give his stamp of approval to the visual effects "upgrade" to the Original Series taking place now in the Remastering project? What would he think about the auctioning off of historical Star Trek artifacts from the Paramount warehouses, and how much money the stuff made? Would he embrace the numerous fan films being produced outside the studio purview? And what would he say about an eleventh Star Trek movie made by Hollywood whiz kid J.J. Abrams, that presumably will explore the early days of Kirk and Spock?
One can only conjecture, of course, what his opinion would be of all these things were he still alive (he would be 85), though his widow Majel and son Rod have spoken a great deal at conventions and other events about where they think his mind would be on any given subject. In a broad sense, though, it's probably a safe bet that he would say something to the effect of, Star Trek no longer belongs to him, it belongs to the world. And thus his opinion doesn't count nearly as much as our own.
But Mr. Roddenberry, wherever he is right now, must feel immense gratification knowing that he did create something that still resonates so strongly with so many of us after all these years. To think that the stories hold up so well that it's worth the investment to modernize the effects; to think that the props and costumes and models are worth so much to people; to think that the characters are so beloved that fans want to see more of them even in amateur productions with different actors; to think that Paramount turned over the reins of Star Trek to the industry's most sought-after talent ... it's a testament not only to the caliber of the mythology Roddenberry originated and others embellished — one representing optimism, bravery, tolerance, intelligence, and the fulfillment of human potential — but to the quality of the community that has grown around it. We Trekkies (excuse the term) may not have as much ratings power as the CSI audience in the short term, but we have unequaled passion and steadfastness. We, the fans, are the keepers of the Star Trek flame, and it will continue to survive and thrive as long as it has meaning to us.
You can also imagine that the Great Bird would urge us to, every now and then, step back and evaluate why this phenomenon called Star Trek does have so much meaning to us. Not to stroke his ego or otherwise deify him, but to encourage self-awareness.
Why did we latch onto this thing — usually as kids — and hang on well into adulthood? What does that say about us? That we're terminal geeks? Well, that's usually the first answer. Fine, we're terminal geeks — deal with it! But maybe it's also because we prefer to occupy ourselves with the broader picture. To hold in our heads somewhere a set of ideas and ideals that trascend the petty concerns of the day. If we are not, in some way, envisioning a better future and working toward a better future, then what good are we?
The hard part about self-awareness is that, once you achieve a certain degree of it, it demands action.
William Shatner said something very interesting at the Las Vegas convention last August: "One of the reasons for the popularity of Star Trek is the fact that it exists two or three hundred years from now and offers a note of hope," he prefaced. "We can hope, but hope doesn't do it. We need practical steps. I'm really afraid that your grandchildren and mine will be in dire trouble with the planet if we don't exercise our rights, right now, today, tomorrow, and start cleaning things up — legislating for more miles per gallon in a car, recycling, and trying to repair the planet ... We must work hard and passionately and immediately for the good of the planet, otherwise we're going to terminate ourselves very rapidly."
"Hope" is not the final word. "Vision" is only the first step. The storytellers offer us life lessons and inspire us. But then what?
Our love for Star Trek and the vision of Gene Roddenberry is pretty hollow if we don't commit ourselves to taking some measure of action, in whatever form our abilities allow, to bring about the future — or some semblance thereof — that is imagined in these stories. Not only because we can, but because we must.
The utopian ideals of Star Trek are attainable (maybe not in form but in substance), but we can just as easily — or more easily — fall down a dystopian path as predicted by darker science fiction mythologies. It's all about the choices we make, every day, collectively.
It's great if you can enter the fields of science or engineering and help develop innovative new technologies or advance the space program. It's great if you can influence public policy, or start a new business, or form a new movement that will further the common good of mankind. But for most of us, simple actions over time can have a tremendous impact on our future, one that both preserves our planet and moves us forward — recycling, as Shatner mentioned, or changing our light bulbs, or conserving water. Lending support to advocacy groups and progressive causes. Teaching our kids that being smart is more desirable than being hip. Being informed. Being aware.
Speaking of individual choices, we might mention — at the risk of being political for a moment (but not partisan) — that there is an election coming up in two weeks in the U.S. It's a midterm, which usually means voter turnout is shamefully low. If you're tempted not to vote, that is not acceptable. We want your voice, as a member of the Star Trek community, to be heard. If you are eligible, you must register and you must take the time on Nov. 7 to visit your polling place. It is the only way to ensure that our elected leaders are responsive to the citizenry. We won't make any endorsements here, but we urge you to not just go along with what some authority figure has told you, but to carefully evaluate the issues and candidates of the day against the broader picture of a better future for all mankind. Listen. Read. Discern. And for God's sake, think for yourself.
It's probably what Gene Roddenberry would say.