Some Fans Neither Understand Star Trek, Nor Have Any Shame

Political support in the US election is what moves us towards Roddenberry’s vision

Sep 28, 2024

Let me state, right off, that this particular edition of Subspace Chatter not only is going to be overtly political — it’s also going to directly question those who call themselves Star Trek fans but also cling to the ideology associated with the political right.

I suggest that anyone who objects to any of that beam out now and return next time.

However, when I see something going on in the Star Trek community, I'm going to speak out.

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In this case, it’s a subset of fans who are being outright rude to actors and other creatives associated with the franchise who are actively supporting Vice President Kamala Harris for president this year.

Most specifically, this involves participants in the upcoming “Women of Star Trek for Kamala,” a virtual campaign event hosted by the well-known Democrat and Star Trek fan Stacey Abrams. (You might remember Abrams’ cameo as the president of United Earth in the Star Trek: Discovery episode, “Coming Home.”)

Star Trek celebrities have been complaining about ill treatment they’ve been receiving from some folks online for their involvement in this event and/or the Harris campaign more broadly.

Such is the case with Denise Crosby, of Star Trek: The Next Generation.

“It’s so disheartening that I’ve received such insulting and disrespectful comments by my post to invite curious and like minded folks to a zoom event I’m taking part in. No need to hate on a different opinion! Talk less, listen more!” she posted recently, as one of those both participating in — and promoting — “Women of Star Trek for Kamala.”

Crosby is hardly alone in voicing such thoughts.

And, of course, she’s right.

Seemingly too often forgotten these days, Star Trek rests on the philosophy of IDIC, or “Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations”:

“It represents a Vulcan belief (also Roddenberry’s belief) that beauty, growth, progress — all result from the union of the unlike.”

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Let me add a couple of other quotes which are foundational for the ethos and philosophy of Star Trek:

Star Trek was an attempt to say that humanity will reach maturity and wisdom on the day that it begins not just to tolerate, but take a special delight in differences in ideas and differences in life forms.
— Gene Roddenberry

And

The acquisition of wealth is no longer the driving force in our lives. We work to better ourselves and the rest of humanity.
— Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart), Star Trek: First Contact

Taken together, these pretty clearly describe the societal aspirations of Star Trek.

Although the Picard quote was written after Roddenberry passed away, he clearly voiced similar sentiments during his lifetime.

And the first came straight from The Great Bird of the Galaxy, himself.

The intent of Crosby, Abrams, Kate Mulgrew, Jeri Ryan, Robert Picardo and all the other Star Trek folks supporting Kamala Harris for president clearly is to move our contemporary society closer to that portrayed by Star Trek and unabashedly described by Roddenberry himself.

One need not support Kamala Harris for president to be a Star Trek fan, and I’m certainly not here to gatekeep fandom or impose a litmus test.

There are right-wingers in fandom. (I never will understand them, but they exist.)

But neither should right-wing fans harangue Star Trek creatives, or attempt to gatekeep them.

This is beyond moaning about the quality of Discovery, or bleating about how “woke” Star Trek has become.

These celebrities and creatives only are striving towards the vision already laid down by Roddenberry and the franchise.

Anyone who attacks them for it not only is incredibly rude, but disrespectful to Roddenberry’s memory and Star Trek, as a whole.

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