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From: plw@panda.UUCP (Pete Williamson)
Newsgroups: net.startrek
Subject: On Humans and Vulcans
Message-ID: <1428@panda.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 21-Feb-86 12:29:10 EST
Article-I.D.: panda.1428
Posted: Fri Feb 21 12:29:10 1986
Date-Received: Sat, 22-Feb-86 03:00:45 EST
Reply-To: plw@genrad.UUCP (Pete Williamson)
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Organization: GenRad, Inc., Concord, Mass.
Lines: 42


One of the major themes that I very much enjoy about Star Trek is the
general concept of discovery, of infinite diversity, and of the beauty
and awe of the Universe.  Indeed, the original five year mission and 
a few of the TV episodes focussed on this.  Better still, several of
the newer Star Trek novels focus on Alien cultures and customs and deeper
character portrayals.

One of the themes that I really dislike is: "the intuitive, emotional,
Human way is far better than the logical, un-emotional, Vulcan way."
The major vehicle for this theme has been the character of McCoy.  Now
that I think of it, I've never really liked McCoy.  The whole business of
intuition vs. logic is foolish chiefly because Senior Officers on ships
like the Enterprise could only rise to major leadership positions by being
able to apply BOTH logic and intuition to all critical situations.

To a medical officer of McCoy's calibre, the scientific approach would
be a major tool at his disposal.  He would, by definition, be schooled
in the very logic that his character apparently abhors.  Spock's scientific
credentials and accomplishments are widely known throughout Federation Space.
Great scientists seem to have the ability to make intuitive leaps.  Surely
Spock has a great deal of intuition and insight (albeit hidden).  And Captain
James T. Kirk, arguably the finest field commander in Human History, could
hardly rise to greatness without a powerfully logical, precise mind.
Leadership, especially at that level, requires the best of both worlds, logic
AND intuition, with a lightning ability to swap between them as needed.

The theme that I like the best is one that the novels bring out a bit better
than the video medium: the SPECIAL BOND between two extraordinary individuals,
Kirk and Spock.  These characters are larger than life to say the least!
Kirk is the very essence of COMMAND.  Spock is ... Spock.  His character is
probably one of the most interesting ever created.  But put together, these
two are an unbelievable team: the whole far outweighing the sum of the parts.

On the whole, Star Trek is timeless and truly great!




-- 
						Pete Williamson
"By hook or by crook, we will !!" ... #2