I've always marvelled about the inability of Americans to see the forest for the forest. Such is the case with Paramount Inc., and their television money maker the Star Trek franchise. America goes around embracing the ideals expressed by the series creator, the now deceased Gene Roddenberry.
American military power projects the political and economic philosophy of the United States which is Capitalism. They still mount a covert war against communist insurgents around the world.
American religious zeal for a fundamentalist Christianity expressed itself in the election of George W. Bush into the Presidential office. This type of intolerant Christianity isn't being that much of being a follower of Christ than it is a worship of Capitalism under the cloak of being the word of God.
Now a lot of fans of Star Trek are politically very Conservative. Its a real paradox. Those who claim to be Liberals of today tend to find the television series revolting. Again a paradox.
Lets look at the basic philosophy of Star Trek:
1. Basic human rights.
2. No money.
3. Religious tolerance, indeed no religion at all.
4. Freedom of speech.
5. Freedom of association.
6. Freedom from hunger.
7. Full employment.
8. Group actions and decision making.
9. Group benefits with equal shares.
10. Peaceful resolutions.
11. Free health.
12. Free education
13. Free legal access
14. Blind and swift justice
15. Equality of sexes.
16. No racism.
17. Free will.
Now this list constitutes most of the philosophy, the ideal society conceived by Star Trek writers. And its not Capitalism. These are all the tenets of Socialism and Communism.
Americans tend to knock the latter political tenets without ever reading about them. And this is what is astounding. They will not read about Socialist ideas because Socialism is un-American. Perversely as a result comes forward that socialism, the idea that Americans claim to loathe, is the society of their favorite science fiction.
1 comment:
Well, this another fascinating observation you've led me to finally pondering...
On the other hand, I suppose I've always appreciated the disconnect between what Americans admire in Star Trek and what they admire in actual, everyday real life.
Riddle me this: How could so many of our southern cousins possibly admire the Star Trek philosophy --- and yet many of those exact same people elected and re-elected George W and Dick Cheney?
Even Roddenberry highlighted the dichotomy when he introduced the Ferengi Alliance. I think Riker described them as similar to Yankee Traders but really, once you take Dick Cheney out of his Darth Vader costume, it turns out he's a perfect Ferengi, like pretty well all Republicans. I'd say Mr. Roddenberry was, perhaps, hinting Republicans (and our Conservatives, of course) are not very evolved.
I admit I hadn't seriously thought about the religious aspect either. How did they go from believing Jesus was riding dinosaurs two thousand years ago to no religion at all?
It's a mystery.
Keep up the insight, Gord. The mental exercise will keep all of us young with fully functioning brains - except the Conservatives and the Republicans, of course. They're too busy memorising the Rules of Acquisition.
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