Why Star Trek rocks!

The mere mention of the fact that you are a big fan of Star Trek is liable to catapult you into the classification of the uber geek. I like Star Trek too but I would like to think that I am not the typical geek so I decided to explore why Star Trek appeals to me and maybe some of you will identify with these reasons.

Start Trek is a path breaker in many ways. It is based in a world that is dominated by just the exploration of curiosity. A world where everyone is free to choose what to do. It shows us humans in perhaps our best light as it hints at a civilization where religion and racist cliches have been done away with. The guy driving Captains Kirks Enterprise was Chinese, Lt Uhura was black, Spock was a Vulcan, Data an Android and Troy a Betazoid and yet they blend into the plot and complement each other.

It can be argued that the necessity of survival is perhaps the topmost instinct that we harbor. Hunger is closely linked to it. Even Lord Krishna in the Geeta says that an empty stomach cannot contemplate the divine. In Star Trek we have the Replicator which can magically synthesise what ever we wish for. This seemingly trivial device by itself has the potential to re write human history. Imagine a world without hunger and maybe even money. Wouldn't it be a marvelous place to live in?

The "Prime Directive" which all Star Trek Captains hold so close to their hearts. This directive forbids the Federation from interfering in the development of other worlds no matter what the situation at hand may be. I view this directive not as one of non involvement but one of tolerance. The world is in the state we see it now because all these moronic religious freaks: Muslims, Christians and Hindus alike are trying to prove that their faith is the only valid one. I wish all of them would just drop dead RIGHT NOW. Hmm.. I still see a few people around so guess that wish didn't work. What I am getting at is that if every existing religion on this planet started following the Prime Directive and absolutely stopped trying to convince others that they are the only one following the true God then "maybe" we will see an end to all the religious conflicts that afflict us now.

The Warp drive. With the world feeling the brunt of the greenhouse effect nowadays, being "green" is not a fad but a necessity. Our reliance on carbon based fuels is leading us down the one way lane of global warming, pollution and non sustainability - all at the same time. Star Trek with its Warp drive technology ( presumably based on matter/anti-matter interaction) has the potential to solve this issue once and for all. It represents more than a geeks fancy of tearing through the fabric of the space-time continuum, it represents the hope that mankind is too versatile to be doomed to be dependent on lifeforms that existed several million years ago.

The scientific spirit is so dominant in every aspect of Star Trek that is inescapable. One thing that strikes a chord with me is the way the character "Q" is treated. Now "Q" has powers which by all accounts we would tend to attribute to a divine deity but the crew of Star Trek stands defiant. They refuse to be subjugated by "Q". I view Q as just the manifestation of our ignorance and all things we do not understand. Star Trek teaches us that even in spite of overwhelming odds we should not bow down and acknowledge the easiest solution : GOD. God may or may not exist but the moment this is invoked it is a showstopper bringing an end to any logic or scientific enquiry

The other devices on board like the Holodeck and the transporter spark the imagination of everyone from movie lovers to those bitten by the travel bug alike. However, one of the most important reasons why Star Trek ranks high is because of the depiction of women. Counsellor Deanna Troi for example holds an equal status as any other high ranking officer and is much a member of the team as anyone else. Her calm and composed nature under the worst of circumstances is a testimony to how much patience and understanding women have. She holds a special place in my heart for these qualities.. Okay Okay I lied.. she is HOT.. there you have it. Are you happy now?