The Sunrise of a New World

[Brutal Strudel]

For decades, this bugged me: "This death takes place in the shadow of new life, the sunrise of a new world; a world that our beloved comrade gave his life to protect and nourish. He did not feel this sacrifice a vain or empty one..." Spock didn't give his life to protect the Genesis Planet, I thought. For decades. Only recently did I realize: Kirk was talking about the cadets on the Enterprise. Duh!

Just thought I'd share that.

 

[Melakon]

Kirk is a poet and doesn't know it.

 

[Franklin]

I don't know. I think it was only about Spock. The words were spoken in the singular, after all ("beloved comrade," "his life," "his wisdom, and his sacrifice). The early part of the speech could be interpreted as a more general mention of the dead from the mission (the "honored dead") but then he goes on to speak about Spock specifically, as he is standing over his body and his alone at the time, of course.

Now, if they had fired other torpedoes containing the dead from the mission after Spock's, then the words may have been able to be taken more generally as well. (It also would've made for a very interesting return to the planet in TSFS if a dozen or so other bodies were down there.)

 

[Timo]

"Protecting the/a world" simply establishes Spock as a conservative: he gave his life maintaining the status quo, ensuring that the new world is the same as the old.

Timo Saloniemi

 

[Brutal Strudel]

I don't know. I think it was only about Spock. The words were spoken in the singular, after all ("beloved comrade," "his life," "his wisdom, and his sacrifice). The early part of the speech could be interpreted as a more general mention of the dead from the mission (the "honored dead") but then he goes on to speak about Spock specifically, as he is standing over his body and his alone at the time, of course.

Now, if they had fired other torpedoes containing the dead from the mission after Spock's, then the words may have been able to be taken more generally as well. (It also would've made for a very interesting return to the planet in TSFS if a dozen or so other bodies were down there.)

I think you misunderstand. Kirk means Spock gave his life to protect and nourish the trainees, that they are the new life, the sunrise of a new world.

 

[Franklin]

I don't know. I think it was only about Spock. The words were spoken in the singular, after all ("beloved comrade," "his life," "his wisdom, and his sacrifice). The early part of the speech could be interpreted as a more general mention of the dead from the mission (the "honored dead") but then he goes on to speak about Spock specifically, as he is standing over his body and his alone at the time, of course.

Now, if they had fired other torpedoes containing the dead from the mission after Spock's, then the words may have been able to be taken more generally as well. (It also would've made for a very interesting return to the planet in TSFS if a dozen or so other bodies were down there.)

I think you misunderstand. Kirk means Spock gave his life to protect and nourish the trainees, that they are the new life, the sunrise of a new world.

Got it, now. Sometimes I only have to be told things twice. Who knew Kirk could be so deep?

 

[Brutal Strudel]

On his ship, you either think or sink.