Life should be a bit more than the lessons learned in a science fiction adventure. I listened with interest as William Shatner, aka Captain James T. Kirk, was interviewed about his new book titled, “Boldly Go, Reflections on a life of Awe and Wonder.” I always wanted to like Shatner, I certainly enjoyed the Star Trek series and movies, the Priceline commercials, and my favorite role, Denny Crane on the Practice and later on Boston Legal. The stocato deliver of lines and the lack of emotion were predictable while distinctive. Turns out that he is a very talented and adaptable actor by most measure’s with a numerous awards and recognition. Shatner, did have a reputation for letting his ego get in the way of team work during his career, it is reported that he took the time to apologize. The 90 year old vegan is still active and a passionate and eloquent communicator. I was curious about his trip into space but did not expect to be engaged by his book or care about his life view. I overcame my OCD desire to mow the lawn and listened to Shatner. I will read the book.
Shatner talked about the experience of going through the physical aspects of escaping Earth’s gravity and sudden feeling of no gravity. His fellow travelers unbuckled and begin to enjoy the acrobatics allowed in a no gravity space. Shatner recalls just wanting to get to the window to look at Earth and into outer space. Shatner is fascinated by the mystery of the universe and finality of a journey beyond our solar system. He believed he might find the “ultimate catharsis” he had sought between all living things, that he might be a step to understanding the harmony of the universe. I will cut to the chase, what Shatner emotionally describes is that the beauty is not out there, “its down here, with all of us. Leaving it behind made my connection to our tiny planet even more profound.” Instead of awe, Shatner described a feeling of “overwhelming sadness”. He outlined the “ongoing destruction of Earth, extinctions or animal species, of flora and fauna… things that took five million years to evolve” gone because of the interference of mankind. Shatner says the trip that was supposed be a “celebration, instead, it felt like a funeral.
Shatner takes his journey to the next steps, considering the changes needed in our view of the planet and things like “countries, ethnicities, religions; it can prompt a reevaluation of our shared harmony and a shift in focus to all the wonderful things we have in common instead of what makes us different.” I am hoping his visionary experience could bring the world around to a commitment to save our shared home, planet Earth, from further desecration.
I was impressed that NASA could target a far off rock to redirect its orbit. Spock would likely say that effort is “highly illogical”, a bit like rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic. Hurricane Ian gives us a good recent view of our changing planet, as if heat domes, melting ice caps, animal extinctions, wild fires are not enough evidence that the planet is at the greatest risk from its self absorbed inhabitants.
I would close with a plea to each of us to get involved today. “Live long, and prosper” is not our most likely outcome in our world today. Save the planet for our grandchildren. Mike