Tuesday, June 30, 2015

Division or Unity Within the Ranks?

With all the hubbub and opinions being posted out there over the last week, I figure it's time for me to jump in too and give my thoughts.  This issue has consumed the hearts and minds, indeed the souls of countless people.  There has been hurt, hope, loss, anger, grace, entrenchment, forgiveness, and love on both sides.  I am of course referring to the ongoing, almost 40 year-long debate over Star Trek vs. Star Wars.  

On the one hand, Trekkies point out that Star Trek was the original, a mainstay of our sci-fi loving society long before Star Wars came on the scene.  Star Trek was intelligent, grounded in science, delving into mysteries of what it is to be human and what our place may be in the universe.  It was also funny, heartwarming, wholesome, and a fine example of the power of friendship and love of others to overcome obstacles.  The crew of the enterprise overcame much through their commitment to one another.

Then came Star Wars.  It was sci-fi, but with so much more fantasy.  Science didn't really come into play.  There was the force, light-sabers, good vs. evil, and hyperspace, which as any Trekkie could tell you, is not nearly as fast as warp.  While a fine story, and fun to watch, Star Wars seemed too surface level for many Trekkies.  The force was cool, but also hippie-dippy nonsense.  The Millennium Falcon was also, rather a neat ship, but nothing, and I mean nothing compared to the Enterprise:  smaller, slower, less firepower and defensive capabilities.  No matter how good a pilot Captain Solo may be, he had nothing on Captain Kirk, and neither did his ship.

On the other side, to Star Wars fans, Star Trek was a boring, outdated look at what sci-fi could be.  Slow pace.  Explore rather than fight.  You want to talk about weapons?  Star Wars had the Death Star - it could destroy the Enterprise in one shot (not to mention the Earth and other planets of the Federation).  One Jedi, beamed to the Enterprise, or better yet, Darth Vader beamed there, could take out Kirk's entire crew.

Plus, two words:  Millennium Falcon.  The Trekkie claims about the Enterprise superiority were just wrong.  Pseudo-science aside, the Falcon is a much cooler ship, and Han would take Kirk down with one shot.

So, for decades the debate raged on.  Arguments and attacks toward the other side became increasingly vitriolic as both became more entrenched in their views.

Some, however, began to see a middle view.  They were afraid at first to admit it, but they eventually had to declare that they liked both Star Trek and Star Wars.  Indeed, the loved both of them, sometimes even equally.  "Heresy!" Cried the far Trek and far Wars sides.  You cannot like both.  You'll just cause division within our ranks.  "You're going to the Dark Side."  "You're just like a Romulan."      

Now, as we continue on in the 21st century, these middle-minded geeks seem to be taking a hold.  I for one applaud their efforts and hope to see more nerds embrace this middle ground.  Too many relationships have been ruined over this senseless fight.  Both the Star Trek and the Star Wars universes have wonderful things to offer.  We can embrace and love both, while still disagreeing about the Falcon vs. the Enterprise.

If we don't, then we will just have more sad division among the ranks of the dorky and nerdy, a group that can hardly handle division if it wants to continue to thrive.  Besides, what a terrible world would it be if the Enterprise and the Falcon actually did blow each other up?

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