What Would Captain Kirk Do About Aleppo?
I sat down to write, but felt torn by two completely different topics: the horrible humanitarian crisis in Syria, or the fiftieth anniversary of Star Trek. I realize, the conflict I experience between these two disparate topics makes me sound incredibly shallow.
I’ve been disturbed by the images coming out of Aleppo. The heart-wrenching photos of children, injured and orphaned amid the rubble that was once their home, sicken me. But I feel helpless to do anything about it. My knowledge of the drama playing out in Syria is, I suspect like most Americans, sketchy at best. My ignorance, combined with my inability to render aid, causes me to tuck my concerns about these tiny war refugees, however haunting, into the further recesses of my mind.
Besides, it’s better to write what you know. It’s the fiftieth anniversary of a childhood fav, Star Trek. While I wouldn’t consider myself a full-fledged Trekkie, I love the original episodes in all their geeky glory. The captain and his crew provide a nostalgia that comforts me in lieu of the reality I see on the nightly news. James T. Kirk always manages to outwit any opponent or complicated situation, especially when aided by his logical side-kick, Spock.
Then there’s Gary Johnson, poor guy. He looked like a deer in the headlights when asked about Aleppo; forcing many Americans to Google it. No one wants to look that dumb. But, who among us could pass the geography test on the second largest city in Syria? Still, if you want to be President of the Unites States, you kind of have to be smarter than the average bear. Well, that’s the theory; I guess we’ll see how this election turns out.
If Captain Kirk were asked a similar question, “What should be done about, Remus?” He would know from his Starfleet academy training, not to mention his friendship with a Vulcan, that the planet Remus is occupied by the Romulans – a group who rebelled against their peace-loving Vulcan heritage and fled to the planet Romulus. Once there, they took over the neighboring planet, Remus, and subsequently oppressed the natives. Kirk, backed up by his crew and the United Federation of Planets, would deal with any situation that cropped up on Remus, or Romulus for that matter. The bad guys would be identified and dealt with before the hour was up. Then, we would all sleep better for knowing it.
Meanwhile back on Earth, Aleppo is the definition of FUBAR.
It represents the epicenter of the five-year Syrian civil war. There are many different factions controlling the city’s borders, which have all but been closed to humanitarian aid. These factions include the government controlled forces, led by Bashar al-Assad, President of Syria. He’s the guy who used chemical weapons on his own people. His army is aided by the likes of Russia, Iran, Hezbollah, and Al-Qaida.
Okay. Got it. Bad actors. So the rebels are good guys?
Not exactly, the rebels include ex-Assad soldiers and Syrian citizens who want Assad out. But they are a small group who has welcomed the aid of over one hundred additional groups; each with their own agenda and reasons for wanting to see Assad’s government toppled. The U.S. is offering “aid” to the rebels, even though not all the groups in league with the Free Syrian Army are our friends (ISIS for example).
Wait, we’re helping support the side that includes ISIS?
Not exactly, but the U.S. is doing what it can to aid rebel forces without sending troops. Russia claims their only “aid” to Assad forces is in rooting out ISIS.
If Captain Kirk were here, he’d call “bull crap” on both arguments. He’d point out that each military powerhouse was playing a game of war with secret agendas, while the people of Syria suffer. Then he’d round up everyone with a weapon and transport them to the planet Romulus to let the fighting Vulcans sort it out as punishment for oppressing the people of Remus.
I’m probably getting way over my head here. My knowledge of Star Trek trivia isn’t that much better than my understanding of the complicated issues in Syria. The point is; I dream, however fanciful my imagination may be, of a time when the people of Earth come together to live in peace, where children grow up in safety with equal opportunities to seek out new life and new civilizations and boldly go where no one has gone before. I want all monsters to be identified and forced to wear lizard costumes, and good guys to carry phasers set to stun until the truth can be sorted out in any conflict. Is that too much to ask?
17 Comments
Daily Drip of Wisdom
"Dare to reach out your hand into the darkness, to pull another hand into the light." - Norm Rice
Karry, I love this article. Actually, I love all your writing. It is remarkable how you weaved these two very different stories into one fabulous, thought-provoking piece. Keep writing 🙂 Janice
Kerry,
You always write such thoughtful pieces on your blog. You capture many of t I enjoy reading it and I hope we can achieve world peace. Star Trek was really a vision for the future in a humanitarian sense, not just a technological one.
Lori
Happy to see your blog as it is just what I’ve looking for. I am looking forward to another great blog from you.
Finally I found something useful to me. I have been looking for information on this particular topic for a lot of time now. I can’t believe it is this difficult to find something on the Internet like this. I must be looking for the wrong thing or I don’t know how to use Google. Anyway, thanks a lot for making this post available to us.
OMG! I have to say, your blog needs to be one of the best written blogs that I have learn in a protracted time. What I wouldn’t give as a way to put up posts which might be as interesting| as yours. I guess I will have to continue studying yours and pray that someday I will write on a subject with as lot of wisdom as you have! Bravo!!
Excellent Blog. I really want to admire the quality of this post. I like the way of your presentation of ideas, views and valuable content. No doubt you are doing great work. I’ll be waiting for your next post. Thanks .Keep it up!
This is a great blog Confidential Detective. I am pretty much impressed with your good work. You put really very helpful information. Keep it up.
This is a fantastic blog. You obviously know what your subject matter! I have grabbed the rises feed to stay up to date of any further updates.
OMG! I have to say, your blog needs to be one of the best written blogs that I have learn in a protracted time. What I wouldn’t give as a way to put up posts which might be as interesting| as yours.
your blog needs to be one of the best written blogs that I have learn in a protracted time. What I wouldn’t give as a way to put up posts which might be as interesting| as yours.
Once again feeling happy and proud to say that this is my favorite Blog. The postings are very unique and also outstanding performance with the new creativity and Excellency with the new different ideas and concepts.
I have been looking for a rare blog because I am tired of accessing almost the same topic discussed in a website.
This is a great blog sir. I am pretty much impressed with your good work. You put really very helpful information.
I’m a little late reading this blog, especially some of the posts, but got to say… everything here is so great and so true. As someone who’s originally from the area, I get a chuckle out of many things here. keep it up.
The post is totally incredible. Bunches of incredible data and motivation, both of which we as a whole need. A debt of gratitude is in order for such a constant incredible postings.
This is a good web log. i’m just about affected along with your sensible work. you place very terribly useful info. Keep it up.
I have been searching for a rare diary as a result of i’m uninterested in accessing virtually identical topic mentioned during a web site. This diary is truly striking what i would like to expect. i’m terribly glad that you just area unit currently providing the data wherever i’m looking for several days of water sport internet.