Today’s post is courtesy of Canadian in the USA. Thank you so much!!!!
Poor George Takei. He seems lost without his dream utopia:
https://twitter.com/GeorgeTakei/status/928407808424464384
Now, I know this tweet has been mocked, debunked and discussed already but I’d like to offer my thoughts on this and why George’s dream (and, for that matter, Gene Roddenberry’s dream) won’t happen:
If you’ve ever watched “Star Trek: First Contact”, there are a number of moments that describe how the Star Trek Utopia came to be. Note that I am going to use quotes from the movie to discuss the Star Trek Utopia so SPOILER ALERT.
Basic synopsis of the movie: the Borg has gone back to the 21st Century to stop something called “First Contact”. That is the day when man first flew with the newly created Warp Drive and broke the speed of light. The Vulcans who happened to be in the area saw this and revealed themselves to Earth. Captain Jean Luc Picard and the crew of the Enterprise go back in time to stop the Borg from rewriting history.
The first scene that stood out to me the most was when Captain Jean Luc Picard was talking to Lily, a woman from the 21st Century, about the “Economy of the Future”:
Captain Jean-Luc Picard: The economics of the future are somewhat different. You see, money doesn’t exist in the 24th century.
Lily Sloane: No money? You mean, you don’t get paid?
Captain Jean-Luc Picard: The acquisition of wealth is no longer the driving force of our lives. We work to better ourselves and the rest of humanity.
Later in the movie, Commander Riker, Councellor Troi and Lieutenant La Forge is talking with Dr. Zefram Cochrane about the importance of his test flight:
Cmdr. William Riker: Doctor, tomorrow morning when they detect the warp signature from your ship and realize that humans have discovered how to travel faster than light, they decide to alter their course and make first contact with Earth, right here.
Dr. Zefram Cochrane: Here?
Lieutenant Commander Geordi La Forge: Well, actually, over there.
Cmdr. William Riker: It is one of the pivotal moments in human history, Doctor. You get to make first contact with an alien race! And after you do… everything begins to change.
Lieutenant Commander Geordi La Forge: Your theories on warp drive allow fleets of starships to be built and mankind to start exploring the Galaxy.
Cmdr. Deanna Troi: It unites humanity in a way no one ever thought possible.
When they realize they’re not alone in the universe, poverty, disease, war – they’ll all be gone within the next fifty years.
As much as I would like to believe that “one defining moment” will unite humanity for all time (which I don’t), it will never happen.
First, there will be some humans who will never give up their desire for “the acquisition of wealth”. To some, wealth is their “driving force” – it has been since the beginning of time. Even in the Bible we read of tax collectors who cheat others of their earnings or religious leaders who work so hard to place themselves above everyone else.
Second, we know there are elements of humanity who believe that, unless you believe their “God”, you are to be punished or put to death. That makes it a lot harder to “unite humanity in a way no one ever thought possible”.
Third, we’ve all read stories of socialist/communist economies that have failed. Even the first settlers of America tried a form of socialism in order to survive. But, human nature being what it is, when those who work see those that don’t get the same reward, what’s the incentive for working? By the way, I’ve always wondered why people in Star Trek movies/shows put their lives on the line if everybody has the same “rewards”? Does that mean there are some people in the ST universe who aren’t working but live just like those working on starships?
Fourth, a Star Trek Utopia requires everything to be “just perfect”. Notice how diseases are cured with a simple injection or pill (e.g. McCoy giving a dialysis patient a pill and she grows a new kidney). How about food replicators being able to replicate any meal desired? And is Mr. Takei sure that there isn’t “politics” in the 24th century or did everybody put aside their differences and “play nice”?
Mostly, though, I believe the Star Trek Utopia requires humans to put aside their humanity and human instincts. Utopia requires humans to not be human but to be a collective – no longer individuals but a group working towards a “common cause”. As much as I would like to put faith in my fellow man, I don’t believe it will ever happen. Even in the 24th century, there will be those who will want to accumulate as much wealth and/or power as they can. There will be those who favor war instead of peace. And there will be those who will see themselves more “equal” above all others.
Utopia becomes their “God”; their “garden of Eden”; their “perfection”. But, humans being flawed, it will never be perfect. Perfection only belongs to God; humans fall way short.
So, as much as George would really like his ‘pretend world’ to be real, it’s not going to happen.
As an aside: as I am a Christian and a follow of Jesus, instead of hoping for some pretend “utopia”, I choose to be the light we hope to see in this world. I like simple and choose to live my life with these two simple rules:
Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:37-40)
