STAR TREK AND THE MIDDLE EAST

Glenn Reynolds writes today of Iraqi Star Trek fans and wonders "if the presence of Trek fans in Iraq offered some sort of lesson about cross-cultural understanding and the possibility for long-term peace in the Middle East." The son of Gene Roddenberry (really, Glenn, does anyone call him "Eugene?") doesn't pretend to answer that in his forthcoming TrekNation.

Beyond pointy-eared Iraqi's, what says more about the ability of Star Trek to influence matters in the Middle East is that King Abdullah of Jordan is a Trekkie. In fact, the King is such a Trekkie that he had his aids arrange a cameo in Star Trek: Voyager. That's right, the King of Jordan (while still Crown Prince) appeared as a science officer in the 1996 episode "Investigations." What does it say about the Middle East that the King of one of the more modern and moderate Islamic nations of the region subscribes to the hopeful future portrayed in the series? And how many Jews were on the set with the King of a nation that forbids its citizens to be Jewish?

Unfortunately, if he opens up his society and embraces the hopes and dreams of the west (and Star Trek is an extension of those dreams), he'll probably end up as a target of al Qaeda. I hope he takes the risk to realize a grander future for his people and his neighbors.