In the Star Trek universe, New Orleans is a vibrant city in the 24th century with strong ties to its past. Captain Benjamin Sisko, commander of Deep Space 9, grew up there. Viewers saw him return there to the Creole restaurant of his father, Joseph Sisko. The elder Sisko was a symbol not only of the continuity of family through the generations—from Joseph to Benjamin to Jake Sisko, Star Trek’s first three generation family—-but his restaurant was a symbol of old values and culture that were still important, still necessary in the Star Trek future.
Now Star Trek offers the vocabulary for a perspective on what today’s catastrophe in New Orleans and vicinity means to our view of the common good and the future.
For the complete essay:
http://soulofstartrek.blogspot.com/2005_08_28_soulofstartrek_archive.html
Dang. I never really followed DS9, tho I know the general story. I wouldn’t have thought about the New Orleans connection if it wasn’t spelled out so well. Good stuff, about our past and (hopes for) the future.
Actually, the star trek paralled that struck me this week was more along the lines of this:
Brigadier Kerla: This is Brigadier Kerla speaking for the High Command. There has been an incident on Praxis. However, everything is under control, we have no need for assistance. Obey treaty stipulations and remain outside the Neutral Zone. This transmission ends now.
Captain Hikaru Sulu: An “incident”?
Commander Janice Rand: Do we report this, sir?
Captain Hikaru Sulu: Are you kidding?
–Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country
Will this be the disaster that brings down an Empire?
Seriously, an over-extended warring people suffer a tremendous energy crisis at home, causing them to re-examine everything.
Tho to be honest, I think the Klingons handled the transition far better than we ever could. That’s the beauty of fiction…
Thank you for posting this. The essay you linked to was well done and thought provoking. I highly recommend folks check it out.
Although it seemed at times corny or naive, the Star Trek universe was always appealing to me because it showed a vision of hope and the bright future we could (and hopefully can) have if we call forth the best in ourselves and each other. If that seems a little naive in these darker days, it is more a commentary on how our society has fallen rather than any loss of truth in the ideals Star Trek held up for us.
Full Disclosure: I spent my 16th birthday at a Star Trek convention at the old Belleview-Stratford Hotel in Philly (later of Legionnaire’s Disease outbreak fame) in August 1976. Live long and prosper. 😉
My first convention was maybe a year earlier, in DC. My second was last summer.
I love the Thoreau quote!