Lee Love on thu 20 may 04
and all the future.
wayneinkeywest wrote:
>I fervently embrace technology. I truly believe that I was born
>about
>400 years too early. Star Trek Next Generation is just about
>where I feel I belong. And I am probably in the minority. Too
>many of us struggle to get through our present, and never look
>up to see what's coming. and that's ok too, if it works for them.
>
>
Some historian once said that in our time, we don't look far into
the past or far into the future. We are on the corporate/industrial
"five year plan", that has us looking down at our feet, approximately 5
feet into the future.
I am a Star Trek fan too. But if you notice
Rodenberry's Universe, it is not so much built upon advanced
technology as it is a basic belief in the ideals of Jeffersonian type
Democracy and Universal Humanism. Technology is just a plot
device. I believe we currently have the technology and material means
to get a good start on the type of society created in the Federation in
the Star Trek universe, but we don't have the will to do so.
We seem to live in a society that has more of a leaning toward one
similar to the Ferengi, based on materialism, short term profit and greed.
Watched the video of the movie tonight, Star Trek -
Insurrection.* *Showed how even in the Star Trek far future, greed and
personal gain can disrupt higher altruistic/humanist goals. I found
the movie interesting: not many new special effects. It was a lot
like a longer T.V. original Star Trek program.
I enjoy technology, but I don't make a distinction between
present day technology, past technology or possible future technology.
I don't follow our societies value that "new" technology is without
question always the best. All technology needs to be viewed with an
open mind, without our prejudice toward the new. And we have to
examine the overall impact of technology and not just judge it according
to short term profit or short term savings in time and money.
Sometimes quick fixes are not as good as ones that require time and effort.
--
Lee in Mashiko, Japan http://mashiko.org
New Weblog: http://journals.fotki.com/togeika/Mashiko/
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