For the first time since October
1987, there will
no longer be any new Star Trek Episodes on Television, nor any new ones
in the foreseeable future. Eric Renderking Fisk writes about what this
means… and how maybe it’s about time we take William Shatner’s advice
about getting a life…
April 22nd, 2005
"'Save Enterprise' Equals Trekkies Behaving
Badly..."
I would like to think that one of the messages of The Fedora Chronicles
is a positive one, that with a little hard work we can all change the
world for the better. While I might whine and complain that things
aren’t the way they should be, I have no doubt that we can turn back
the clock is some area’s such as bringing back style and substance to
pop culture while at the same time turn the clock a head to make
genuine improvements through out the world.
In this day and age, the potential to do good is incredible. Unless
you’re reading this as a print out, you’re reading this on your
computer that is hundreds of times… maybe even millions of times more
powerful then the ones used on the lunar landers during the Apollo
missions. Your desk-top or lap-top computer is far more powerful then
the ones on board the two Voyager probes sent to the Gas Giants in the
1970’s, more powerful that the first computers used on The Space
Shuttle… the list goes on.
Computers are 11 times faster then the ones sold 8
years ago. Nobody can imagine what Computers are going to be like in
another 8 years, with the exception of more of the same which will be
cheaper, faster and smaller. Imagine what can be done with that kind of
power.
The Internet is as revolutionary as the Printing Press was in it’s day,
it’s the same idea of getting information out to people faster, but the
internet enables everyday people like you and myself to reach the
globe. The entire world can read this column as long as they have a
computer of their own and an ISP.
Beyond that, there are obviously countless programs that enable you to
do just about anything you can imagine… there are programs to aid
doctors, Lawyers (God help us…), Musicians, Movie editors, Architects,
Archeologists and Astronomers.
There is nothing we can’t do, each one of us with a computer and an ISP
have powers beyond even the richest kings and emperors in ages past…
could they get a fedora shipped to them in less then 2 weeks from the
other side of the world? Could they "Google" and get more then the
information they need with in minutes?
The question is… what are we doing with that information? Where are we
going with this new technology?
Essentially, what we have here is a far more efficient way to do the
things we did with paper and mail, and we haven’t really figured out
what to do next. Nobody’s figured out what “Next” really is, but we’re
getting close. People have come close to realizing the full potential,
but not close enough and with hardly enough people doing so. It’s
mainly used as a tool for entertainment and communication.
One group, a specific niche of Science Fiction fans have almost reached
their potential… but are more concerned about saving the message rather
then following through on what the message means.
These were the
Voyages…
In February, Paramount Studios and UPN television that airs “Star Trek
– Enterprise” announced that they will cancel that show after 4
seasons. It’s sad news for all the fans, sad for Science Fiction fans
who just like having it their even though they only watch it some of
the time…
… But devastating news for people who live vicariously through a
television show, it’s the end of the world. Some would think that a
break after 18 years (Star Trek: The Next Generation was first aired in
October 1987…) a break would be a great thing, while others are
hell-bent to keep something going that not enough people are watching.
Tim Brazeal and a large group of fellow fans have started a group
called “Save Enterprise” which has now
morphed into “Trek United.” This
grass-roots organization raised a few hundred thousand dollars from
donations and a pledge of 3 million (That’s Million with an “M”) from
the Areo-space industry with the intention of either helping Paramount
keep “The Future Alive” or buy the franchise… having a subcontractor
make new episodes in Canada. The details are convoluted and a bit
vague…
This group has ( …or “had” since Paramount has said “No” several times
to their offers…) several different divisions working in conjunction in
trying to keep this incarnation of Star Trek on the air…
Campaigns, Conventions & Rallies
Media Coverage &
Feedback
Skills Powerhouse
Global Coordination
& Announcements
Community Outreach
… You can laugh all you want about their mission and their goal (did I
write that Paramount has said “No” and that they want to give this
franchise a rest?) but you can’t make fun of their organization,
structure and passion. It’s very admirable; it’s very commendable…
people with a common interest working towards a goal.
Only if people would unite for a goal that’s more substantial… And
that’s where the trouble begins.
“Plato’s
Stepchildren…”
In Plato’s “Republic”… the author write a parable about prisoners in a
cave with the only thing to amuse themselves is with the shadows on the
wall that’s created by the outside world. They have no concept of what
the outside world is like, in their minds, those shadows have become
real people.
One of the prisoners escape and see the world for what it really is…
what’s going on that makes those shadows appear on the wall in the
cave. The dramas that the prisoners have made up in their
interpretations of the shadows are nothing like what the real world is
like.
The real world fantastic, there’s so much more color, there’s so much
more depth…
and after experiencing life that’s so beautiful and terrifying the
former prisoner wants to share with his former in-mates. When
the man goes back to free the other prisoners and tell them what
the real world is like, they want to break his skull open for talking
such nonsense. They can’t believe him; they have no comprehension
because they haven’t experienced it yet...
The point Plato tried to make is that people like to have their lives
simplified into shadows and flickers of light. Because they haven’t
experienced real life, that’s all they have and for some accepting that
is more that is more then they can bare.
I reuse this annalogy to say is that Television is the flickers of
light and
play in shadows of our own “Caves”. It’s not always real or even the
reflection of reality, it’s the representation of what someone else
thinks the world is or should be.
Sadly we can’t convince people that the
flickers of light aren’t real. Nor can you tell them that the flickers
of light have a greater message or they’re just entertainment… they are
not a means unto themselves. It’s the meaning of the message that’s
important, not the message itself.
Boldly Go…
Nowhere.
The frustration towards “Save Enterprise” isn’t even about them, but at
the whole culture that obsesses about unreal things and make
believe… people who send “Get Well” cards to characters of a television
show, host parties to celebrate the birthdays of fictional movie
heroes, stand around the water-cooler and lament about who got
fired on “The Apprentice” or voted off the island on “Survivor” but are
absolutly clueless about the land-slide that just killed a few hundred
people in California or the thousands of people who were killed in the
Tsunami the day after Christmas.
While former Presidents of The United States are overseas surveying
the damage of that natural disaster in the Indian Ocean, these people
are building the infrastructure and campaign to save a show that not
enough people were watching in the first place. What does that say
about our priorities in the world?
Ok, so forget “Save Enterprise” for a minute. Why aren’t there more
organizations that are this motivated into doing the important things?
Show me the links of the fans who are saving endangered species, Rain
Forests, the welfare of children and the AIDS epidemic in Africa and
I'll host them on the links page..
I know there are organizations that are are out there who are working
on important issues, I want to know why their aren’t more of them and
get the attention they deserve, like the attention The New York Times
gave the “Save Enterprise” crew?
How is it that people can get motivated in saving a television show
like this, but can’t get behind saving worth while cause?
And here’s a news flash; “Enterprise” is just a television show, not an
Endangered Species.
I’m really embarrassed for people who put so much effort into saving a
show that’s basically entertainment used to lure viewers into watching
ads for soap, on-line travel agencies and mortgage companies, clothes
and disposable cars and razors… have I said this is for a show that not
enough viewers were watching in the first place?
And at the same time I’m embarrassed that the same people refuse to
consider that the same effort could be put into making a real
difference into changing the world for the better.
I’m not angry with the “Save Enterprise” group. I’m angry with
everybody who puts their entertainment above and beyond the needs of
others. It’s ok to have things that enrich your life and bring you joy…
but they are not a means unto themselves. Those are things to enjoy to
help you cope while you’re overcoming doing the hard stuff. I’m angry
at myself because I’m just learning this at the age of
35 and it took Oklahoma City, September 11th, the birth of my sons and
then watching other people’s children get swept away by the tsunami to
finally get it.
“Save Enterprise” is putting the message above the meaning… some
members are advocating violence against the people who canceled the
show and harassing the shareholders of Viacom. What happened to
learning and overcoming differences, “Live Long and Prosper” and all
that? I don't believe Leonard Nimoy's "Spock" ever said: "Live Long And
Prosper - But if you don't get what you want act like a terrorist and
become the thing you hate most..."
The message of Star Trek (besides the ads during the commercial breaks)
was: “There's something great and wonderful out there… lets
go see!”
As I write this, the Hubble Space Telescope’s future is in question. Is
the new NASA administrator going to fight to save it or let it go? Are
there going to be greater instrument put into space and peal back the
veil of heaven? Are there going to be new wonders and advancement as we
push forward? Do enough people care anymore? The answer is simple: it
doesn’t matter as long as we aren’t able to
keep our priorities in check. Space Travel and Exploration is one of
the most important endeavors we can share,
Everyone with
a computer has the tools that were unimaginble 40 years ago and the
capibilty to do amazing things. It’s about
time that we
start pushing forward and shut the TV off for a while.
