Mr. Spock

I was very young when I saw my first episode of Star Trek.  I fell in love with Mr. Spock immediately.  I think the first episode I ever saw was the one where he and Captain Kirk have to fight over Spock’s wife on Vulcan.  The thought that it as great that the Vulcan’s were so logical but had outlets for their emotions that were pretty mystical.  I wouldn’t have put it in those terms but that what ultimately kept me coming back to Star Trek.  That and Captain Kirk was a real captain to me.  None of this diplomacy stuff, set phasers to annihilate thank you.

The fact is Captain Kirk, Spock and Dr. McCoy simply made a great trio that wasn’t just funny at times but could be quite philosophical in their debates where al sides of an issue could be presented.  The show formed a lot of things in me.  My love for science fiction, my love for space, a love for thinking of the possibilities and some interesting theories of God and the universe also came out of this series.

Central to all that was Spock.  Leonard Nimoy once admitted that the character took a life of its own and became more famous than he was.  Fact is many interesting things went into the making of this character but one thing that I never forgot that the famous split finger greeting is from Jewish tradition.  Nimoy never forgot his roots and poured some of that into Spock.  In the end Nimoy probably had more influence on what Vulcans and Spock were than Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry.

Today marks the passing of a great actor who allowed the character to be bigger than he was.  Mr. Spock is finally dead and there is no Genesis effect to bring him back.   RIP – Mr. Spock.  RIP – Leonard Nimoy