Hope For the Next Generation

I’ve always been a fan of the Star Trek franchise.  Creator Gene Roddenberry took science fiction from fighting aliens to a closer look at our frail human nature.  Star Trek Next Generation took the series to a higher level of moral issues.  Whether Kirk or Picard, Janeway or Archer:   the Captain of a Federation Starship always tried to do be honorable as he (or she) represented the human race. 

Sounds rather hokey, doesn’t it?  Almost cheesy.   But in fact, the whole premise of the series was almost Biblical – you know that stuff about “do unto others, love thy neighbors, don’t covet, and don’t lie.”  But somehow over the years our moral compass has become misdirected.   We often fail to respect, lies become acceptable if they’re little ones, we covet, we fight with neighbors over trivial matters, and don’t even start with “thou shall not kill.”

But recently, I saw a glint of sunshine.  Two days ago, my daughter called me quite upset over an event she had witnessed.  To protect her privacy, I'll call her Annie.  Annie is in her final year of Veterinarian College.   She has worked two, even three jobs at a time, studied endlessly, and persevered after every setback and never surrendered her dream.  With her boards passed, and graduation in May, Annie is within arm’s reach of her degree and license to practice.  Yet, she put it all on the line this week, because she was compelled to do the right thing.  Annie witnessed another Veterinarian lie to a pet owner.  A medical mistake was made and as a result, the pet was lost.  Morally, and by oath, the Doctor is responsible for telling the pet owner the truth.  He chose to create a plausible excuse for the death.

My daughter was so troubled she went to her school advisor to report the event.  Her goal wasn’t to get the Vet in trouble, but for the school to evaluate the clinic’s role in the curriculum for future students.  Annie took the high ground for all the right reasons.  I am exceptionally proud of her.

Now, in an unrelated incident, yesterday, while driving to work, I was involved in a minor fender bender.  A young lady bumped into my car while I was stopped at a traffic light.  She couldn’t have been moving more than 5 miles an hour and could easily have stayed in her car to see if I would respond.  Instead, this young lady immediately came to my car to see if I was alright.  We moved our vehicles out the traffic lane and exchanged information.  This young lady, her name is Callie, accepted her responsibility and did the right thing.  Callie is about my daughter’s age and recently completed her Law Degree.  Callie took an oath, chose to honor her words and I’ll bet her dad is exceptionally proud of her, too. 

If either of these young ladies ever watched an episode of Star Trek, it was a rerun sitting on their dad’s lap.  I can’t speak for Callie, but I’m pretty sure my daughter hasn’t had much time for reading the Bible.  But both young ladies honored those commandments – which so many feel are “optional” and not required. 

That gives me hope for the Next Generation.  And best yet, if they continue on their journey, someday they may become the Captain of their own Starship and represent the best of the human race.

Star Trek Lessons

To paraphrase Spock’s last words in Star Trek II – The Wrath of Kahn, "I have been and always will be Star Trek’s friend."



Jeri Ryan - 7 of 9



With the exception of Star Trek – Deep Space Nine; I have become, admittedly begrudgingly at times, a fan of every spinoff of the original series. Initially, I had a tough time accepting Captain Picard in Star Trek: Next Generation, although I immediately took to Mr. Data; Star Trek: Voyager’s Kate Mulgrew was fine as Captain Janeway, but the show more than made up for her command with the addition of the spray painted costume of Jeri Ryan as “Seven of Nine.” Scott Bakula, as Captain Archer in Star Trek: Enterprise was perfectly cast. I could never get into Sisko’s character in DS9, or for that matter, the politics of Cardassians, Romulans, or Klingons. I always thought the Vulcans took themselves a bit too seriously and I never cared for cultural lessons in the honor of Klingons; even after they became part of the Federation.

There are those reading this blog and know exactly what I’m talking about; and there are others wondering what the heck I’m talking about. I’d suggest setting your VCR to record a few of the original Star Trek episodes and the second version of the program, Star Trek: Next Generation. More than sci-fi space shoot-outs, these programs always had a moral dilemma to address. The shows’ writers looked for current events and wrote episodes addressing the foolishness of our prejudices, wars, economics, and refusal to accept changes that could benefit mankind. There are a lot of lessons to be learned from the program: in spite of its setting and relatively early stage special effects.

James T. Kirk

Many know the “Mission” of the original Star Trek Enterprise: “To explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations, to boldly go where no man has gone before.” Unfortunately, Captain Kirk’s five year mission was cancelled after three years. Five years later, Captain Jean-Luc Picard took his Enterprise D “to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations, to boldly go where no one has gone before.”  Women were now in space and the show became politically correct.

Jean-Luc Picard

The given of each Star Trek series was that intelligent life exists in our solar system. In today’s state of the world, we wouldn’t have to leave the planet to search for intelligent beings. A five year mission to Washington, DC should be ample time to find intelligent life. Both Spock and Mr. Data would be challenged to find anything that resembles a thriving species, especially if they concentrated on the House and Senate. And what kind of plot would the writers create if they focused on our election process and political campaign promises. Would they not surmise we’re a species of lying, two faced, unethical, and immoral beings incapable of mutual cooperation? In just the past two weeks, an allegedly “lame duck” session has been remarkably un-duck-like. Don’t Ask-Don’t Tell: repealed. Tax Cuts/Unemployment Extension: Passed. Strategic Arms Treaty: days away from resolution. A 9/11 Health Bill passed. Finally, two sides of our species work together. It’s what the “Federation” of American citizens has urged our counsel (representatives) to achieve.

And yet, the moment a bill is passed, each side retreats to its camp and takes phaser shots at the “enemy” (Republican/Democrat – Klingon/Romulan … you choose, it doesn’t matter).  Mr. Data would no doubt be confused by the lack of logic; Mr. Spock would simply raise an eyebrow and say, “fascinating.”

No-one in government wants wasteful spending, but no-one in government seems willing to stop it. So, to keep their job (something millions of other Americans can’t find), politicians compromise. Not because it’s the right thing to do, but because it’s the ultimate Survivor episode decided by the Tribal Counsel. Maybe we should elect Jeff Probst as the Majority Leader.

It’s no wonder little is accomplished in DC; it really doesn’t matter who is at the helm of the Enterprise. The writers of Star Trek would have a field day with this topic, because with phasers set on “stun” little gets done.