Actually, I agree, at least as far as TNG goes. I was scared to watch it, wondering how in hell they were going to be able to come anywhere near the Spock/Kirk dynamic of the original, but somehow, they pullled it off. Spock did, however, have the honour of his role needing to be split into two roles - Data and Riker.
While I haven't seen many of the episodes, I've seen a few of the most famous ones (such as "space seed"), and also all of the movies. And while I do like the dynamic there, and while I also think Nemoy is a brilliant actor, Shatner = not so much. Sorry, but aside from a few exceptions, he's pretty consistantly bad. So I think it's more the writing and Nemoy that made it shine, and Shatner was there to fill the part. Patric Stewart is 100,000x the actor Shatner is.
Further, the show is about much more than the Kirk/Spock dynamic (which does has its relevance). It's about tolerance, about people finally bettering themselves rather than working for aquisition of wealth, about human kind actually ignoring their petty differences and coming together to benefit the race, rather than tear it apart with war and bigotry. That's Gene Roddenberry's whole motivation for the show - he was an incurable optimist.
-snip- although I still remain suspect of that Klingon. Masters of deception, the Klingons. My understanding of the universe is that it's not going to be fully safe until the last bird of prey is blown into smithereens. NEVER trust a Klingon.
Did I hear you right? I don't know about TOS, but in all 300+ episodes after, the Klingons are the most trustworthy species in Star Trek - aside from the Federation, of course. They have a moral code and sense of honor that is so reveared and respected, that dishonor would be a far worse fate than death itself - that includes being dishonest, or lying - something the Romulans, and to a certain extent, the Cardassians, do very well and without remorse (and, incidently, it is for that reason that the Klingons do not like either of those two races). It's just easy to piss them off, mainly because of that strong moral code and sense of honor.
Anyway, moving on....
Well I still believe in miracles! Perhaps we can all just try to get along, even if we don't see things eye to eye.
Wow. Out of the mouth of Kathy....
This is quite easily accomplished by utilizing the following attitude on this forum: that people aren't neccesarily wrong because they don't agree with you, or because they don't believe in god. You may believe, and that's fine. But just because you have faith doesn't make it fact. Realize this, and attempt to respect the other side in your arguing. It really is ok for people to disagree. My family, friends, people on this board, do it all the time.
Also don't forget that this is why people don't hold your opinion in a particularly high esteem (or at least, why I don't):
Using the topic of suicide for even a metephor is inappropriate in my opinion.
No topic is inappropriate for intelligent discussion. Thinking otherwise is a sign of either immaturity or narrow - mindedness; two qualities that are not exactly praised in a forum of critical thinkers.
By the way, beautiful posts Tricky. ;(
