In an era of escalating aggression and division, Star Trek once again offers a hopeful glimpse of what humanity’s future could hold.
Garland, TX – The human race seems to be wired to fight about things. Coke or Pepsi? Christian or Muslim? Aggies or Longhorns? Republican or Democrat? A favorite in my family is Texas brisket or NC pulled pork? This week’s episode of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds confronts another frequent point of contention: Star Wars or Star Trek?
I’ve always been solidly in the both category when it comes to my taste in science fiction (and BBQ), but this week’s episode of Strange New World, entitled “What is Starfleet?,” poses an interesting documentary-style question: what’s the difference between an empire and Starfleet? Without any spoilers, there is a core issue here that touches on what has always resonated with me as the difference between my favorite fictional worlds. Star Wars is about good vs. evil, centered around the power-hungry and cruel Empire against the peaceful and justice-seeking Jedi Order. Star Trek, while certainly boasting its own iconic villains, is about something else. It’s about the exploration of humanity and the blurred and complicated worlds of motivations, flaws and interpersonal relationships that form the human experience.
“What is Starfleet?” encapsulates the essence of Star Trek perfectly. As often happens, it also captures the irrationality of humanity’s growing, self-inflicted existential crisis.
Unlike Star Wars, which happens in a fictional galaxy far, far away, Star Trek represents a glimpse into this world’s potential future. Trek creator Gene Robbenberry envisioned a future in which the people of Earth stopped fighting with each other over imaginary lines and arbitrary beliefs and came together to form a truly unified global brotherhood. As a kid I thought that was amazing and truly believed that the human race might achieve that level of highly evolved society. After all, living things need all of the same essential things and there are universal goals that would serve all and assure all of inalienable human rights.
Unfortunately, we seem to get further and further away from that idyllic future with each passing year. Should we all just give up on the dream, or should we fight to keep that dream alive, as the inheritors of the Star Trek franchise have done in the decades since Roddenberry died? Strange New Worlds still offers us a hopeful vision of what humanity might be, and this week’s episode embodies that vision in beautiful and tear-jerking splendor.
Imagine what we could accomplish if we stopped fighting each other and bribing officials to stop progress at every turn. We might even be able to build huge starships and travel the universe on a mission of peace and exploration. That’s a future I can get behind.
Star Trek movies and shows stream on Paramount +
