I Boldly Went Where Many Have Gone Before

Today I watched the very last episode of the very last season, of "Enterprise," the last Star Trek series on television. I have now seen ALL of the episodes of every series: Star Trek (the original series), The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and Enterprise. (No, I haven't watched the cartoons). It's been a great ride. All of them I acquired over the last several years from the Seattle Public Library, the greatest library in my world--so I could watch them without commercial interruption. I will say this, Star Trek is not (IMO) the "best" television fiction in history (Many others, including Breaking Bad, Slings and Arrows, Twilight Zone, Downton Abbey and West Wing, vie, in my mind, for that distinction.)  But, I can say, without reservation, that Star Trek has been, by far, the most personally inspiring. I dream of a day when we can all live in harmony, independent of class and race distinction, and monetary slavery, exploring the universe, boldly going where no one has gone before. Someone once defined the difference between science fiction and fantasy. They said sci-fi (which they preferred to call speculative fiction) describes what possibly could happen, whereas fantasy, although imaginative and fun, can't possibly happen. I think this is a pretty blurry distinction, but it is evident that Star Trek has featured some concepts that have become true, even commonplace (think cell phones, computer tablets, and flat screen televisions). Star Trek also explores the human psyche, frequently exploring ethical dilemmas that are resonant today and promise to continue to be challenges in the future. I really don't know, and I have considerable doubts, that we will ever overcome the barriers of physics, making interstellar travel, or transporters possible--but I hope so.  I also don't know, but I have have hopes, that one day humanity will overcome petty differences that divide us, making a Star Trek-like future possible. Quoting Langston Hughes,
“Hold fast to dreams,
For if dreams die
Life is a broken-winged bird,
That cannot fly.”
Below, left, is a nice video that summarizes some of the prescient story Star Trek story elements that we see in the real world today. On the right is a collection of  the inspiring openings and credits for each series. No, you're not going to watch all of the second video, but I just wanted it here. 

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Let me add one more item. A couple days ago I saw a fantastic Nova documentary on the search for extra-terrestrial life. Chock-full of original NASA footage. Almost two hours long, and worth every moment of your time. When I write "fantastic," this is only an adjective, every bit of this is the real thing. Check it out here.
    Thank you Gene Roddenberry, for sharing your vision with the world.