"If you prick me, do I not…leak?”

-Data, Star Trek: The Next Generation

I love Star Trek, but I am not a Trekkie or a Trekker or a Klingon speaker. I do not attend conventions dressed as Deanna Troi (which would require significant weight lose and hair feathering in any case) or know the name of Picard’s fish. I consider that the cut off between fan and Trekkie. If can name the fish, you’ve entered a new level. Also, my favorite Captain is Sisko which would get me kicked out of any respectable convention where the Kirk v. Picard war will rage forever.

Today, I want to talk about the whys and wherefores of my love. It has little to do with the acting (ham and cheese sandwich), the special effects (we’ve been hit! Everyone jump!) or the insane continuity or lack thereof (One letter: Q). What I love about Star Trek is the issues that it deals with and the greater questions it raises. It usually doesn’t attempt to answer these questions outside of a neat ending to each episode and I appreciate that. I’m a philosopher at heart and I think it’s more important that you start to think on the question than provide an answer.

Star Trek has always used its futuristic base to pose questions that other shows won’t. My favorite series Deep Space Nine set up issues about theocracies when they come against democracies, terrorism and prophets.

Which brings me to my chosen quote. Data’s fumble for the famous Merchant of Venice line has always struck me deeply, despite its clear attempt at humor. The original is taken from Shylock’s monologue as he defends the Jewish people. Shylock is the villain of the piece and it always made it a difficult read for me as a Jew. The play itself has some very blatant anti-semitic tones, symptomatic of the age and probably not of Shakespeare’s particular prejudices. On the other hand, Shylock does stick up from himself and makes a timeless point in his monologue about the fundamental sameness of humanity.

Data in this roll fumbles for the line, once more unsure of his right to claim part of humanity as his own. The constant debate about Data’s attempts to be human spice up the Next Generation whenever the alien of the week just isn’t cutting the mustard. As a Jewish girl growing up in a predominantly Christian neighborhood, I sometimes shared Data’s feelings. I felt near to everyone else and just like them, but sometimes I fumbled for that last word. I know it is nowhere near as bad as if my difference had shown more on the outside (though I do have the stereotypical hair), but it was there. It was a subtle attitude difference.

It was not the obvious differences between myself and my peers that made me turn to Stark Trek. Of course my classmates celebrated Christmas and I had to explain for the thosendth time that Hannakah is NOT the Jewish Christmas, but that part of being different I enjoyed. What can I say? I’m a rebel. No, the problem was that Old World attitude that was harder to put a finger on, harder to explain to others. I still have trouble with it to this day. For instance EDUCATION. Jewish children are pushed to get educated, the more the better, and preferably into professions that will ultimately pay. When faced with a person who chooses not to continue their education, I have to fight back my first reaction of staring at them like some sort of zoo animal. I think this is rooted in the cultural idea that if we take over lots of high ranking positions, there won’t be another Holocaust. Think I’m exaggerating? My father used to tell me growing up that eventually the U.S.A would become unsafe for Jews and we’d all have to move again. He was dead serious. This is the paranoia lots of Jewish children grow up with and it’s why a lot of us push on to get more and more education until our brain’s burst over the seams.

Who else is smart, feels sort of alienated and sometimes longs to join the crowd? Data. See? I did get back to my original thought. Data, who is almost there, always blows it the end by tipping his hand and just like many Jews (starting from the Catskills all the way to Seinfeld) humor is used to lessen the tension. I embraced Star Trek the same year I was Bat Mitzvah’d and really started to understand why I was just a little different. Like Data I looked like everyone else and blended in…to a point. I’ve gotten better though sometimes I still have conversations like this:

Me: Geo Penny invited us to go to a Celtic festival with her.

Nox: Sounds like fun. Hey! You can spend an entire day in my culture!

Me: ….Honey, I spend every day in your culture.

Nox: Huh….yeah.

I have the bizarre urge to go make a kugel now.

Catch you on the flipside,

Chic Geek Librarian