How could a franchise that once acknowledged the importance of Nichelle Nichols's meeting with Martin Luther King, Jr. and her inter-racial kiss with William Shatner, episodes like "A Private Little War" being an allegory for the Vietnam War, the first space shuttle named Enterprise, and celebrated "firsts" such as Avery Brooks as the first African American captain and Kate Mulgrew as the first woman captain, not to mention countless public figures and professionals who have been influenced by this show all of sudden have a fanbase that consider this very topic "inconsequential" when it comes to social and political discourse?
The Star Trek fanbase is also more diverse now, compared to the early days of Trek. Even conservatives like Star Trek these days, thus there are many differing views within the Trek community. Some who used to be leftist liberals have become conservatives in their old age. Others may have grown up in conservative homes, but now are more moderate/liberal (like me).
What you are saying is that the same "Star Trek" that once took pride in the fact that the late-Rev Martin Luther King, Jr. told Nichelle Nichols to remain on Star Trek when she wanted to leave after its 1st season due to the bigotry and racism she herself experienced from people at Desilu Studios because it opened doors in the way African Americans are viewed positively in the media is no longer the same Star Trek that it is today 40 years later? Inspite of Star Trek being a big Hollywood cashcow, doesn't it count for something for the way it has had an influence in American culture for many decades after the 1960's? Does this not have any bearing at all to what is happening in the American political landscape 40 years later today?
It's entertainment and drama that has an interesting setting and occasionally throws in a good message.
I like being short spoken.
