Recently, I was watching an iconic episode of Star Trek, “Arena” (s1ep19, a.k.a. the one with the Gorn), and I noticed this dialogue for the first time:
SPOCK: You mean to destroy the alien ship, Captain?
KIRK: Of course.
SPOCK: I thought perhaps the hot pursuit alone might be sufficient. Destruction might be unnecessary.
KIRK: Colony Cestus Three has been obliterated, Mister Spock.
SPOCK: The destruction of the alien vessel will not help that colony, Jim.
KIRK: If the aliens go unpunished, they’ll be back, attacking other Federation installations.
SPOCK: I merely suggested that a regard for sentient life —
KIRK: There’s no time for that.
I was impressed by how much Spock went out of his way to avoid destroying sentient life, as his duty allowed. This is not the only time he does this, see for example in Devil in the Dark (s1ep25):
SPOCK: Or it is the last of a race of creatures which made these tunnels. If so, if it is the only survivor of a dead race, to kill it would be a crime against science.
Of course, it’s also known that Leonard Nimoy helped develop the character’s iconic Vulcan Neck Pinch too: a non-violent way of subduing humanoids. He also didn’t hesitate to toss people from time to time…
Nonetheless, Spock’s respect for all life, and commitment to reason, science, and non-violence is really admirable. In Arena, Kirk is taking vengeance against the Gorn for the destruction of Cestus III, but Spock points out that destroying the Gorn vessel won’t bring back Cestus III. Later, as the episode shows, the destruction of Cestus III was due to a misunderstanding between the Federation and the Gorn. Spock was right: wanton destruction would have done no good. Kirk’s mercy toward the Gorn at the end is also praised by the Metrons who instigated the arena-style battle of the episode.
I suppose my point here is that science, reason, and respect for all life are worthy traits to uphold even today. 🖖🏼
P.S. Many years ago, when I visited the Star Trek museum exhibit at the Museum of Pop Culture in Seattle and I got to see the original Gorn costume:
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Meanwhile, here on Earth, I just came across a clip of Tucker Carlson seemingly criticizing Ben Shapiro for defending Israel’s actions in Gaza. Carlson is particularly critical of the killing of women and children, and Piers Morgan, who is interviewing Carlson, pushes back. “Is it wrong? Even in war?” etc. I have this inchoate feeling that the world really changed when the WWII generation died out. With the loss of living memory of that conflict, there seems to have been a loss of sensitivity to such things. Roddenberry was a WWII pilot IIRC.
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I am similarly disappointed but not surprised. People who push for war are most often those who will not actually fight in it.
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