Generations

We’re a month into 2020. The decade is moving quickly.

            That thought fits perfectly with this week’s topic: a movie review of Star Trek Generations. “Boldly going where no man has gone before.” Actually, many people have forayed into Star Trek movie reviews. I’m joining the ranks.

            As a relative young person, one might wonder how I got into Star Trek. My father, a “Trekkie” since the 1960s, would watch TV reruns of Star Trek and Star Trek The Next Generation, and I would join in. At first, I didn’t understand what all the fuss was about, but soon I came to appreciate the series. I became such a fan that at one point I had a Star Trek T-shirt. I became a fan not for the action or acting, which has always been subpar (“Kahn!”), but rather for the storytelling and compelling themes.

Star Trek Generations was no different. I’ve seen it a number of times, but in watching it again, I remembered why I like Star Trek. It is a great story even though the acting and action is sometimes B-rate.

            The movie starts with the retired Captain Kirk going on the maiden voyage of the Enterprise B. During the initial cruise, Enterprise B has to rescue a ship stranded in a strange energy field. During the rescue, the Enterprise B gets stuck in the energy field. Kirk, helping during the crisis, goes to a section of the ship. The energy field destroys the section of ship where Kirk was at. Captain Kirk is nowhere to be seen and presumed dead.

            Fast forward a hundred years or so, and the movie is now following Captain Picard and the crew of the Enterprise D. Early in their travels, Picard learns that his brother and nephew died in a fire on Earth. This news weighs on Picard throughout the movie. Picard’s nephew was the last of the Picard family line, and with no wife and children of his own, Picard feels the sting of time.

            A federation research outpost needs help and the Enterprise D comes to their aid. When the Enterprise arrives at the station, almost all of the scientific researchers are dead. There is a lone survivor, a man named Soran.

While at first Soran seems normal, the crew of the Enterprise soon learns that Soran has an evil plan. Soran wants to get back to the “Nexus,” an energy field where time doesn’t exist, and you can relive all of your life’s memories. To get back into the Nexus, Soran plans to destroy a star, which would kill millions in a nearby planet.

            At the end of the movie, Picard battles Soran to stop him from destroying the star. Because Picard fails, Soran destroys the star and both Picard and Soran are swept into the Nexus. Immediately, Picard is experiencing a Christmas with his wife and children, but he knows it isn’t real, as Picard doesn’t have a wife and children. Realizing what has happened, Picard seeks to leave the Nexus, go back in time, and stop Soran from firing the missile. But first, Picard seeks the help of another Starfleet officer: Captain Kirk. Captain Kirk, who’d mysteriously disappeared years earlier, has been in the Nexus. Picard convinces Kirk to leave the Nexus and defeat Soran. Of course, they succeed.

            What I really loved about the movie was the theme of time. Both Picard and Kirk are confronted with how they spent their time. Picard realizes the finiteness of life with the death of his brother and nephew. In the Nexus, Picard sees what might have been. Kirk, in the Nexus, also experiences moments in his life he’d like to do over. Soran famously tells Picard that, “Time” is a “predator that stalks us all of our lives.” Reflecting on Soran’s grim view, Picard realizes that, “time is a companion who goes with us on the journey and reminds us to cherish every moment because they'll never come again. What we leave behind is not as important as how we lived.”

            As I reflect on the beginning of a new year, I couldn’t agree more.

Weight Lost, Strength Gained

            The new year started like any other. Big dreams, and a week or so later, shattered hopes. A crossroads of sorts. “Will I face the fight, or will I be conquered once again?” Yet, this time, things had to be different. All through my youth I’d been overweight. I’d either maintained my weight or gained weight. Besides occasional bouts with stomach flu, I’d never really lost weight. It felt as if I didn’t do something now, I’d keeping gaining, and eventually it would be more than cosmetic.

            Though I’d fallen once again in the pursuit of a noble goal, the winds of change were blowing. I’d recently had some other successes in self-restraint; my pool of will-power was the deepest it had ever been. That fateful mid-January day, I dug deep into my reservoir of self-restraint and began the journey of a thousand miles with one step. Actually, the journey began with a push-up at 6 AM.

            I started each morning by working out. Running, push-ups, and crunches at 6 AM or earlier. I kept the good mornings rolling by eating a healthy, but certainly not delicious, breakfast of quinoa, eggs, and a plateful of fresh vegetables, hold the ranch. For lunch, I’d eat another plateful of vegetables. Even as I recount my feat, I’m still amazed that I ate celery daily. Celery is disgusting. I stopped eating deserts, something I’d been doing every night after dinner. My portions shrank, and where I’d once eaten two or three servings, I contented myself with one.

            By early May, I’d lost 35 pounds. What I lost in mass, I gained in self-confidence, understanding, and vision.

            It’s easy think that the confidence I gained is the type that comes from looking slim and handsome. It’s true I felt some of that, but that confidence is superficial. It comes and goes, but it mostly goes as time isn’t kind to anyone’s looks. The confidence I gained and treasure to this day I’ll have no matter how I look on the outside. It’s a confidence that I can do difficult things. I have confidence that when the going gets tough, I get going. I’ve needed that confidence for challenges in the intervening years, and I know with that confidence I can conquer the challenges ahead.

            My understanding of life, beginning with this experience and culminating quite recently, has changed drastically. While I once thought of life’s challenges as bumps in the road of a perfect life, I don’t see it that way anymore. I see life as undergirded by what I call the buffet principle. Eat lots of food, have a good time, and waddle out feeling sick to your stomach. That may have some parallels with life, but that’s not the buffet principle I’m talking about. Rather, it’s the eat your money’s worth buffet principle. When I encounter adversity, I don’t see it as a detraction from my life, I see it as exactly what I’m meant to experience in life. When adversity comes and I choose to face it and learn from it, I’m learning the lessons I need to learn. I’m getting my money’s worth out of life. That understanding and attitude has buoyed me up when I really needed it and kept me focused on the things that matter most.

            My weight loss experience changed my vision. While I once scanned the vista of life and saw lots of experiences and goals that felt unobtainable, I know see an exciting vista of opportunities. Since that time, I’ve accomplished things I once never thought possible, things I never would’ve tried.

            It all started with a little gumption and a push-up.

           

           

Reflections for Martin Luther King Jr. Day

            Martin Luther King Jr. Day is coming up this Monday. I thought I’d listen to some of the famous words and events of his life and share what I think they could mean for our day. I listened to his “I Have a Dream” speech proclaimed over 50 years ago in front of the Lincoln Memorial. I also listened to a recording of his “Letter from Birmingham Jail.” I rounded out the study of his life and words with a brief video that discussed the FBI’s harassment of Martin Luther King Jr.

            In his “I Have a Dream” speech, King repeatedly used the phrases “Now is the time” and “I have a dream today.” He used those words to urge his listeners to change the segregationist attitudes and laws of the day. His words are an encouragement to me to continue in that great effort. Now is the time, not tomorrow, not in a week. In his “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” King expressed his frustration with the white moderate who would essentially say, “Yes, I agree with what your goals, but now is not the time, and I don’t like your methods.” We likewise encounter voices in our lives that would temper our good ambitions and ask that we pursue them another day. Yet, as King rightly said, “Now is the time.” Whether it’s a project we want to start, life changes we need to make, or a friend we want to reconnect with, King’s words remind us to start today. Starting, after all, can be the hardest part.

            In his “I Have a Dream” speech, King also expressed his hope that people of all races would one day feast at the table of brotherhood. Much still needs to be done to accomplish his vision. Political correctness keeps our society from reaching that goal. Whenever I have discussions with people about race, politics, and society, I notice that everybody speaks in quiet, subdued tones. Everyone speaks in a measured way. People say salutary statements to virtue signal to their “wokeness” rather than express their true opinions. Those who fail to hew to political correctness are castigated and ostracized swiftly. I understand the need to respect each other and not to offend, but frankly, if we are to feast at the table of brotherhood, we must be brothers and family. Families speak openly, candidly, and truthfully. Families are not rude, but they say what needs to be said. Political correctness discourages truthfulness and candidness, and ultimately, I believe keeps us realizing Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream of brotherhood.

            Lastly, I’d like to discuss the FBI’s treatment of King. Though not public knowledge until after King’s death, the FBI sent a letter to King under the guise of it being from a disgruntled civil rights activist. The letter declared that King was a fraud and that they would reveal his illicit sex life to the world. In addition to this harassment, the FBI would wiretap King’s phone communications and bug his hotel rooms. Robert Kennedy, as attorney general, signed at least some of the wiretap orders. However, it is likely that the bugging of the hotel rooms was done without proper authorization. Of course, to the FBI, who were very concerned with possible communists within King’s circle, it was justified. The FBI continues with their stellar record today. It’s easy to overlook the FBI’s abuses when the victims aren’t popular, but the glove fits on the other hand. The FBI used their power to harass a good and noble person. It’s a good reminder that their abuse is wrong no matter who they do it to.

Isn't it wonderful to be able to express your innermost thoughts and feelings with the beautiful English language? I always consider it a blessing to do so.

This past week the supreme court began deliberation upon Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission. Naturally, its been a hot topic among my peers. Yet, in echoing the times of Obergefell v. Hodges, poor reasoning abounds among the common public. Few make a coherent argument away from the sway of emotional rhetoric. Its unfortunate, but heartstring arguments are more common than not. Fortunately, good legal reasoning can be found.

So what are some of the finer points of this prickly case? States have anti-discrimination laws. Such laws have stood as a bulwark against racism and sexism. Colorado claims that the baker's refusal to bake a cake for the homosexual wedding is a violation of those laws. Is it? It may be, nevertheless, it's important to be specific about what is actually being refused. The gay men are not being refused. The baker has said he will sell them any baked good they choose, but he will not bake a cake supporting a homosexual wedding. So, it's not discrimination against homosexuals in the strict sense, but rather a refusal to support an event and idea that is unpalatable to the baker. Many logically weak arguments try to gain support by obscuring this fact and making an emotional appeal. That won't do.

A couple other important points need to be noted. The baker is arguing his case, I say he but really it's his legal team, on the grounds of protected free speech, not on the free exercise clause. If their best claim is rested in free speech and not in the free exercise clause, maybe religious freedom has already lost. What is riding on this case? Many would say everything and yet be unable to name any specific consequence. That's a sure sign of dogmatism.  The question must be asked, if Colorado wins, can anyone refuse to do something that they find morally reprehensible? Can anyone openly oppose homosexual marriage in word, action, or thought? These are questions a majority opinion in their favor would need to address. What if the Masterpiece Cakeshop wins? Will more discrimination occur? Will people use religious grounds to justify their unlawful actions?

I hope that the supreme court can have weighty deliberations, the type that show there was no predestination but rather a desire to weigh the presented evidence thoroughly. Justice Scalia scathingly described parts of the majority opinion in Obergefell as "the aphorisms of the fortune cookie." Hopefully there won't be a repeat. I hope the baker wins.

With Gratitude

Veteran's day this past week started me thinking about a number of things. I cannot think about veterans without remembering my two grandfathers, one a veteran of World Ward II and the other a member of a K-9 unit in Germany during the Korean War. I've tried to understand the magnitude of their service. I think of my missionary service, years of my prime given to a worthy cause, but its not the same. Their service wasn't giving up years in the blossom of youth to share a glorious message, it was hard fought years of sorrow and pain, years of their lives that would continue on as burdensome memories. While my friends came back from missionary service with joy, their friends were joyous to be alive. Some friends never came home again. What they gave, I cannot conceive, but what I can do to honor them, I must know and do.

Do we honor veterans properly, with dignity in equal magnitude to the sacrifice they gave? I would say that we, as a society, do not. Consider the violence that fills our screens. Did they sacrifice their youth in living hell so we could enjoy the very cause of their suffering as entertainment? Is it honorable and decent to play video games where war is depicted as a game, a "game" in real life some don't survive and others come home amputated, crippled, and mentally scarred? Yes, veterans certainly served to protect our rights, including the those of speech which includes the ability to make violent entertainment. But don't be mistaken, just because it can legally occur doesn't make it good or worthy. I'm opposed to censorship in most forms, including that of violent entertainment. I'd rather see such base forms of amusement driven out by market forces, by a collective group of grateful citizens who will remember with gratitude the incalculable service of veterans and who will say, "If we honor veterans by filling our minds with violence, we do not honor at all!"