Today saw another intersection between poltics and Star Trek. This time it was conservative commentator Glenn Beck who used the Star Trek episode "The Savage Curtain" to set up a discussion on good vs. evil. Check out the clip below.
Glenn Beck and the "lava rock guy"
FOX news host Glenn Beck talks Star Trek "The Savage Curtain".
It appears that Beck is a real Trek fan. In 2008 he devoted an entire hour to his old show on CNN to an interview with Shatner, here is the first part of that.
Oh god why…
Don’t let him take Star Trek, too.
Comparing Canada to a crappy state? It’s a Country Glenn Beck! A COUNTRY! It’s land mass is larger than America’s you big schmuck!
It’s sad to me because I feel he doesn’t truly understand what Star Trek is about.
You can tell he is a fake Star Trek fan because he stated the number of the episode, like in the ‘Get a Life’ sketch.
Try to remember when we’re tearing him apart (as I suspect will happen at some point on this thread), that for every lunatic on a soapbox spewing their brand of insanity, there is a horde of people watching him or her intently and agreeing.
It’s not the one maniac that scares me, it’s the blind, sleeping masses that do.
I shuddered at the very title of this article. I hope he never references Star Trek again.
Ugh… just from the comments so far, and the title, I don’t even want to watch the vids, Can’t he go ruin something else?
Y’know, I frequent the TrekBBS. Everyone there, by definition, is a Trek fan. And yet every single political discussion contains a douche like Glenn Beck. I’m not surprised that Mr. Beck particularly is a Trek fan because I’ve been reading the ridiculous screeds of bigoted, short-sighted jerks like him for a decade on A TREK SITE.
That’s fine, I guess. Everyone’s entitled to their opinion as far as it goes. I just wonder what these people ever saw in Star Trek. No, Trek was not exclusively about liberal ideals, but it WAS about an optimistic vision of the future. The optimism that lay in the fact that we would still be around, more than anything else, really. So it’s funny to me that a dick like Glenn Beck and people like him would enjoy Trek when it’s in their best interests (and apparently wet dreams) that the world eats itself whole tomorrow.
“Looking back on this might explain my lack of childhood friends.” Or, you know, adulthood friends. But that has nothing to do with liking Star Trek.
He trades in fear, hate and division. And has a pessimistic view of the future, to boot. So I don’t believe that he understands or is in sync with Star Trek at all!
How ironic that America’s greatest actor is Canadian.
Is the guy actually a loon? i don’t know who he is but whenever people comment by calling someone a lunatic or referring to someone as scary without actually ever addressing something he says i wonder if there is some brain dead group think going on, and by the accused or his fans.
If you cannot debate someone’s argument it is pretty lazy to just insult them, completely lets one off the hook of having to think through the opposing position or their own.
And not by the accused or his fans, sorry.
I not saying it will happen folks but are you willing to stand by and let VULCANS teach their alien culture in the classrooms?
to let Andorians who were once terrorists now demand that their laws be enforced here, ON OUR Planet ?
Since Beck is a “Libertarian” surely the thought of a united FEDERATION of Planets would scare the hell out of him.
“Oh, we’re all very good at conjuring up enough fear to justify whatever we want to do.” — Vedek Bareil.
guys lets not get into flaming and name calling. it is just a silly trek thing. It is possible for people you dont agree with to also like Star Trek, and that is OK. And it is also OK for your fellow Trek fans to not agree with you on politics or which pundits they prefer…and that is OK too
Sounds like he had a few points to me. As Kirk’s son said, “Those were good words. That’s where ideas begin. Maybe you should listen.”
How are Beck’s fans going to accept warp drive if they can’t even get behind high speed rail?
Glenn Beck: “As you can see from the diagram on my chalkboard, the United States of America and Earth as a whole are rapidly heading towards the Satanic nightmare of a single world government, with the quadruple socialist communist Nazi demons of free healthcare, free housing, free education and free food for all, led by a tyrannical African-American president who is suspiciously broad-minded about ‘foreign’ religions….Now that I’ve exposed this vast conspiracy, let’s discuss more pleasant matters like my favourite show Star Trek, based in a wonderful post-capitalist utopian future where Earth has a single world government, with free healthcare, free housing, free education and free food for all, including a charismatic African-American commander who is refreshingly broad-minded about ‘foreign’ religions.”
Glenn Beck is great. It is a fun show to watch and learn. As he says don’t take his word for it, do your own research.
@13
At this time there is no real point in debating Beck. People have been “debating” him for years. It is more than clear and fairly well documented that this guy is merely a huckster. His views and opinions change to reflect whatever show he is on or whatever network he is working for.
I don’t care for the message he spouts or that people take him so seriously (that worries me) but I don’t consider him a news anchor, he’s more like a personality (almost a character) like a right wing Howard Stern and his purpose isn’t to be right it’s to stir up ratings and generate cash for both himself and his employer.
#22, where is your proof??? Obviously you never watched his show. He has called quite a few things right. I do love how he gets under the skin of the left wing moonbats. They get all emotional, because they have no facts and fly off the handle.
Ugh Glen Beck is just crazy. I’d rather watch Jon Stewart impersonating him :).
I love the utter lack of tolerance shown by comments in this thread. Since when is it allowed to call someone a “douche”?
People have a problem with the message… then explain that problem. Personal attacks and insults just show the utter lack of tolerance for another point of view that is exactly what Beck is criticized for. The irony is amazing…
umm.. wow..
Anyway..
Good vs. Evil.. doesn’t this depend on your perspective? I mean, come on! In TOS time did the Klingons and Romulans not think they were good and Kirk was evil?
#25…. Well said.
How interesting to bring up an episode which was about the fluidity of life and values in order to support a rigid political philosophy.
The first thing that both sides try is diplomacy. Surak attempts to find a peaceful resolution to the conflict, because he absolutely refuses to kill. He knows that he will probably die, but he makes the attempt on the chance that he might find a compromise and protect his values. When that does not work, largely due to a lack of trust, then both sides resort to violence. The point is that at first, there is an attempt at talking things through, and trying to understand what the other side wants. Kind of a stark contrast with the Bush-era “with us or against us.”
Also, when that rigid philosophy fails, they reevaluate the situation and change their tactics.
Its actually kind of funny, this weekend my wife and I were talking about this episode. She’s a strong believer in civil rights and equality for gay people, partially because her mother is a lesbian. She was complaining about how so many people try to hide what and who they are, and I quoted to her Uhura’s line to Lincoln about how in the 23rd century, we will all learn to be delighted with who we are.
Anthony P., thank you for defending Mr. Beck’s (and my) right to hold a different viewpoint in the spirit of IDIC!
While I would not support everything Mr. Beck says (or has said) I do consider myself a thoughtful conservative libertarian–I have enjoyed Star Trek as much as my politically liberal friends because there are more common grounds (goal-wise just not always method-wise) that we share.
Star Trek is a great world of fiction about a universe we all would like to live in but we are a far cry from seeing that reality as long as common decency and respect for one another’s views continues to be debated (rather dismissed) in the tone that some posts have exhibited.
Even Mr. Shatner (who is clearly more “left” leaning politically) has shown that decency and disagreement can co-exist on his show, Raw Nerve, with his interviews of Rush Limbaugh and Jon Voight who are more “right” leaning than himself.
We all have our biases and so will naturally find reasons to agree/disagree with talking heads who are either like us or not like us. Unlike all of the media figures who are also trying to make money for their employers (while exercising their right to express their own beliefs in most cases) we can demonstrate more civility and reason in our discussions (even Kirk was actually reasonable when ranting!).
Beck’s cluelessness astounds. He shows a bit of The Savage Curtain. He actually goes on to *verbalize* the underlying message that if you use violence and the tools of hatred in the service of good then you’re not actually doing good at all.
Yet no doubt, minutes later he was back to his usual ‘anyone who doesn’t agree with me should be rounded up and shot’ style ranting.
#25. I think you’re labouring under a misapprehension. *Points of view* are not deserving of equal treatment and respect. Racist, homophobic, sectarian, xenophobic bigotry like Beck’s doesn’t get to be treated as equally valid as a simple disagreement between whether or not a particular sales tax should be applied, or what the minimum age for holding a driving licence should be.
There’s no parallel between Beck’s own rants that human rights should only be for *his* kind of people and screw everyone else; and people calling him out for talking such crap.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3J_QLtYqlk
enough said :)
#13 – You’re absolutely correct. People call others names without bothering to debate their actual beliefs. It’s the old “you don’t believe like I do, I don’t have any evidence of that, but you’re a bad person anyway so boo on you.”
#22 – Everybody has an opinion. Nobody’s opinion is right or wrong. People either believe what they believe based on facts, or on feelings. And those who can stir up those feelings usually wind up with listeners or viewers (except for those on MSNBC, apparently). It’s all a game.
#23 – While I am loathe to defend any left-wing “moonbat”, let’s remember that there are just as many right-wingers driven batty by talkers like Ed Schultz and Chris Matthews as there are left-wingers driven crazy by Hannity or O’Reilly or Beck. It’s all opinion.
Facepalm!
@32
no babe, it’s not “opinion”.
beck is a self-inflicting wound on the psyche of our culture that is thriving on the worst aspects of humanity in an effort to demean the best aspects. beck is the spokesman for power-hungry extremists who are manipulating the victims of their own arrogance. beck is the scum that floated to the top of the jetsam formed in absence of rational thought. beck is a false messiah to a mob of racists who suffer from stockholm syndrome under bush.
left wing pundits are at best anti-bodies formed to attack the virus that is beck.
as a matter of fact, “the immunity syndrome” would be a more fitting episode explain beck’s presence in the universe.
was that political? sorry.
I don’t feel good about this….
I watch Glenn Beck, and to be honest as an avid Beck watcher, this was pretty neutral in political content. All he was doing was trying to show an example on how at times there is no difference between good or evil. Sheesh! its ridiculous seeing the instant flame wars to appear. And I am betting that one or a few will respond in some rude manner just because I stated I watch him, which I will simply state, I am not making this political and I would HOPE you won’t either. Anthony, thanks for putting this clip on.
If nothing else, this proves Star Trek is a great show in the sense that it has to ability people from all walks of life.
I think it is that positive sense of the future that is so attractive. I remember Counselor Troi telling Cochrane about the future in “Star Trek: First Contact”. That poverty, war and hunger would be gone by the next 50 years. I think all people aspire to that goal, we just may differ on how we get there.
I will say I don’t have much use for the likes of Glenn Beck or George Soros. Whether the far left or the far right, these types of people are extremely intolerant of the other sides view points. I prefer intelligent debate, something you don’t get on TV these days. Someone like Leonard Pitts on the left or George Will on the right. I don’t always agree with them but at least they quote facts in their opinions and don’t shout down the opposition. When you get into a debate with these guys, you better have your facts straight or they will eat you alive.
Wow! You lot really know how to get riled up!
Whatever happened to IDIC? Granted I rarely pay attention to Beck, however I’m a regular Limbaugh, Hannity, Levin and Elder listener AND I’m still a diehard Trekkie and proud of both.
By the way, #19, Beck and his ilk are against high speed rail simply because it will cost a phenomenal amount of money that the US simply does not have. If we had a budget surplus, I would love a TGV spanning the country.
@30 The irony is so thick in your post that I could cut it with a knife. You are basicly saying that YOU get to pick and choose what is an appropriate point of view. He has EVERY right to his own point of view.. just like I amd every other human have the right to decide if we agree with that point of view or not.
Again.. calling someone a “douche” on this forum because one doesn’t believe in his message is the antithesis of a free and open debate on ideas.
Intolerance is sad… no matter who demonstrates it… and there are plenty in this very forum who demonstrate it while cloaked in a shroud of self-righteous fury.
#39…. Thank you.
Canada is a “crappy state”?
Oh Glen… Your creating soo many enemies right and left. But at least I don’t need to see you in my “crappy state” of Canada.
You remind me of Admiral Satie from ‘the dreamhead'(TNG). Pure bigotry.
We need to remember people like Glen Beck, so we don’t forget the face of madness and stupidity.
Wow, so much for IDIC.
The hypocrisy of some Trek “fans” never ceases to amaze.
I guess all viewpoints are equal in Trek… just some are more equal than others.
Politics aside this guy is a tool. How the hell does he have his own tv program?
I love how Beck can call anybody he disagrees with a Nazi or the Antichrist, but if he’s called out on his hate speech — and it absolutely is hate speech — his fans suddenly fall over themselves to tell his detractors that a little tolerance is called for. No, sorry, not all opinions are equal.
#38 – Florida’s “brilliant” teaparty governor just turned down Federal funds for high speed rail that would have created thousands of jobs and run a surplus in it’s first year. It was exactly the kind of infrastructure job creating initiative this state needs and he tossed it away to play to his base. There was no logic in turning it down. Deficits are bad but a recession bordering on a depression is worse. Creating demand is a the priority, and endless corporate tax cuts won’t do that.
I’m a Canadian and I like Glenn Beck!
@42
I think your using the wrong word. This isn’t hypocrisy.
Some trek fans here are really sick and tired of this man who spreads useless fear. Were not saying he shouldn’t be broadcasting. He has the damn right to broadcast whatever he wants too, but we also have the right to voice our opinions about what he says. This is what Star Trek is all about. Its not about certain viewpoints being equal or less equal to other view points. Freedom of speech and freedom of responses without resorting to violence. Obviously some fans here have been really angered by what he says, so they will say some horrible words, but i think its a “heat of the moment” exchange. Lets not get angry here everyone. we are UNITED star trek fans.
#46
“Hypocrisy” may be the wrong word… buuut when someone calls another a bigot for giving a non-bigoted opinion (unless evil is now a protected minority) and then go about talking about free speech and being united, it does send one reaching for synonyms.
44–Florida (and some other states) issues with high speed rail is that the states do not get off free here. Some states fear being left with part of the bill when high speed rail inevitably will run into cost overruns. It’s the same issue Gov Christie sited when he ended up cancelling a new tunnel from NJ to NYC. The federal government was unable to promise that NJ wouldn’t be left holding the bag if it went over budget and Christie stated he could not leave the state taxpayers holding the bag. (Don’t forget, government programs almost always go significantly over budgeted amounts, sometimes by a factor of 10 or more).
Re: Beck, I don’t remember him being quite as controversial when he worked for CNN. He has gotten more brazen in the last few years.
It is truly amazing how People like Glen Beck and Sara Palin get under the skin of the Libreals. I laugh every time i read post like these an hear the far left spew there hate. Truly funny.
#48. I don’t think anyone that *specific* statement was hypocritical. Indeed, it’s the hypocrisy (or, more probably, cluelessness) of Beck in making such a statement while remaining fully proud of his own, OTHER, past, present and future bigoted opinions that was so rank and so in need of being pointed out.
If this piece right here – about how Good must be careful not to use the tools of hate or else it simply becomes indistinguishable from Evil? If that was the only thing Beck had ever said in his life, or everything else he’d ever said had been consistent with it, then nobody would saying anything but great things about the guy, honestly.