Let It Rest, Jim.
To add my two credits' worth to the argument, in my opinion what
Paramount needs to do is replace Berman and Braga with someone who
"gets
it." Everyone talks about the phenomenon of Star Trek. But
that's not
what we really have here. Every time I think of Gene Roddenberry,
one Star Trek quote comes to mind from the end of the Original Series
Episode "Mirror, Mirror": "In every revolution there is one man
with a vision. Be that one man." Gene was one man. His
vision is contained within the Original series
and in The Next Generation. With millions of fans the world over,
including the scientific community, all working to the best of their
abilities to make Star Trek REAL. If that's not a revolution,
then I
don't know what is. And keep in mind that this revolution was
quietly
started, has been totally non-violent, positive, life inspiring and
life
changing, has crossed language and racial barriers, involves
individuals
from all walks of life, and has lasted 30 some odd years in length thus
far!
If you don't believe that people the world over are working to
make Star Trek real, let me remind you that people now have flip-open
cell phones (very similar to Captain Kirk's flip open communicator)
with
walkie-talkie features, camera features, etc. Scientists are
working on
technology to transport molecules (Star Trek style) from one place
to another. Even Dr. Stephen Hawking, upon touring the Next Gen
set, pointed to the warp intermix chamber mock-up and said "I'm working
on that." Meaning the warp engine concept and faster-than-light
travel. Again, if that's not a revolution, then I don't know what
is.
Yet, since Next Gen, there has been little to inspire the Star Trek fan
(regular Joe or scientific professional) to continue the fight, the
work, of making mankind better, in increasing our knowledge and
technological levels, in reaching for the stars to see what's out
there.
Simply because Berman, Braga, and Paramount just don't "get it."
They
do not realize what Star Trek is, what Star Trek does best, or what
Star
Trek has truly become over the years. They think it's cool that
we have
flip open cell phones with some really cool features, but they do not
recognize the similarities they have to Kirk's communicator. They
see
Star Trek as this cool Sci-fi show with a huge fan base, but they do
not
recognize that people (especially in the scientific community) are
working to make Gene's vision real.
What Star Trek does best is to hold a mirror to mankind's face and show
us what we are really like in all its faults and glory. Since
Next Gen,
I haven't seen much of that social commentary (disguised as Sci-fi)
that
made people sit-up and take notice, or that gave us food for thought.
More evidence that the powers that be just don't "get it." There
is
little with the B & B version of Star Trek that makes the Average
Joe
want to change his ways, or attitudes, beliefs, the way he treats
others, etc., to try to change mankind's faults by changing himself.
Gene was one man with a vision, that vision is contained in Star Trek,
and if the revolutionaries can make that vision a reality, what a
future
mankind can achieve for itself!
LT Akela tai-K"Tor (Sharon Boren)
Chief Communications Officer
IKV SunsGlory--KAG
<[email protected]>
