MeTv just had a run of Star Trek specials, reminding me of Roddenberry’s vision.
    That vision was certainly nothing close to the very dark MAGA vision for our future. In fact just the opposite. MAGA’s vision is closer to that of Christian Identity, The Renaissance Party, the various Nazi/racist/beyond Klan groups that infested the Yorkville near NYC, New Paltz and Newberg, NY. Of course the south as well, like Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi. Burned crosses for meetings near or on Stone Mountain.
    I have never had a problem with the images of Confederate generals engraved on Stone Mountain. It’s historical: where a lot of crosses were burned, where the KKK gathered and since the Confederacy was essentially an oligarchy, the three men on horses is very indication of a cause that was well worthy of being “lost.”
    As an as an aside it’s a beautiful mountain.
   &#8194’Some of the the reasons I don’t think the left… generally… pushed for their removal. It is historical. However, IMO, such statues don’t belong as if they on the same level as Grant, Washington, Lincoln. The fact the nation has tolerated them so long does say something about us offering an olive branch, despite continued rejection.
    I’ve always thought a historical park, or some historical location specific to the Confederacy, would be the best location for statues of Lee, Jackson, Longstreet. While the man was revolting in many ways, I didn’t appreciate the vandalism perpetrated on the statue of Nathan Bedford Forrest. Although my wife and I were bad because we did snicker. The vandals did have a sense of humor. Finally they tore it down.
    You see I am all for inclusion, to a certain extent, which is why I’m not for taking away all their statues and such, to me it’s more a matter of location, location and then, well you know what’s next. I’m also all for diversity, despite MAGA’s, and Trump’s, demonizing the very concept for political gain and to create hate, division.
    Star Trek was all about diversity and inclusion. One look at the folks on the bridge shows that.
    Equity?

Social/Fairness Equity: Giving people fair access to resources and opportunities based on their specific needs, which is different from treating everyone the exact same way

    WTH is wrong with that? It’s not treating everyone exactly the same. It’s about fairness. Just like inclusion is.
    You know who MAGA and Trump are like?
    Want the official definition of Romulan society? Here you go…

Paranoia: Society operates under systemic paranoia where public dissent is treated as treason.
Caste and Slavery: Unlike many advanced Alpha/Beta Quadrant powers, Romulan civilization maintains a rigid caste system that openly practices enslavement.
Interpersonal Views: Romulans can be fiercely loyal to immediate family or close circles, broader societal interactions are heavily driven by egoism, pragmatism, and transactional self-gain.

    I edited those down only to fit the discussion. Easily found via Google and “The nature of Romulan Society.”
    MAGA is getting closer and closer. The most extreme portion of MAGA; you know, the Nazis and such who marched in Charlottesville, Proud Boy-like organizations who did some of the worst done on 1/6, these groups are headed in the direction of the terrorists in the horrific book: The Turner Diaries.
    Why “horrific?” Well, via setting us against each other and terrorist events the revolutionaries in The Turner Diaries, when they win, line up the educated, anyone NOT Christian Nationalist, people of color, those who disagree with them, and there mass executions all across the nation.
    I suspect voters will be murder by poll watchers om election day, most likely black area and blacks. Though I don’t think it impossible they sacrifice one of their own to fit their idiotic narrative f “the violent left.”
    In The Turner Diaries the also execute children they feel can’t reeducate. Which includes pretty much all of them.
    Similar phrases, like “the enemy within,” pure blood metaphors, are used by their leaders at the end to excuse excesses. Elections are suspect at best. Better to have one strong man leader, women expected to be submissive: even though some fought in the revolution.
    Not there yet as far as that last one, but Trump accolades are arguing that the vote should be taken away from women, who should stay home and take care of the children.
    While we’re not talking Romulans, yet, the stink of Romulan-like authoritarianism is there.
    You can hear echo in the intent of “woke” and “DEI” rhetoric. The assumption, for example, is if you are black you gained that position BECAUSE you are black, no experience. This despite those who ascended in military ranks: fired by Trump, DID work their way to the top.
    You know who does fit the definition of “DEI?” TRUMP’S APPOINTEES. Gained their position by kissing Trump’s ass.
    Star Trek society is the anthesis of MAGA and Trump. And instead of diversity they are also more like Twilight Zone’s Anthony; willingly, eagerly, sending those who dare disagree into the cornfield, or just flat out murdering them.
    They are current day Romulans.
    They are Anthony.
    They are everything America should never stand for, and the opposite of the heroes in Star Trek.

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    “Inspection” is a column that has been written by Ken Carman for over 50 years. Inspection is dedicated to looking at odd angles, under all the rocks and into the unseen cracks and crevasses that constitute the issues and philosophical constructs of our day: places few think, or even dare, to venture.
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