Blog 5: The return of the Archons

The return of the Archons was a very interesting episode. It basically surmised about how captain Kirk and Spark rescues a planet from subjugation by a computer. The entire society is telepathically ruled by the computer in its attempt to create a ‘better’ world. While I can grant that this is idea is not unique the story retells an important quality of sentient beings; the desire for freedom.

The part of the episode that attracts me the most is when people like Merplon and Reger go out of their way to help the party from the enterprise. Both Merplon and Reger are alien to the crew of the Enterprise and could fit right in with their people. Yet they choose to fight against the authority of the computer Landru. If one chooses to analyze their motives it is apparent that they have little to profit and much to lose from failure. So the only possible motive they can have is an ideal that they vigorously believe and would die to preserve. 

The flip side of this picture of bravery is a mass of people who choose to passively submit to an immoral authority. This can probably be understood as a form of herd mentality. The difficulty most societies and its members find is where to draw a line between conforming and retaining the individuality of people. The extremes of both independence and conformation are equally dangerous. Stable civilizations with time learn to evolve a relationship between these two traits that changes constantly with time.

Blog 4:Startrek, The Turnabout

Since I’ve always loved older movies I decided to take on Star Trek. The episode I watched was called the Turnaround intruder from the original series. In general the episode focused on how a woman with a enormous desire for power exchanges bodies with captain Kirk and irks the entire crew of the Enterprise to the point of mutiny. Eventually the Captain regains control of his body and his ship.

This episode was extremely interesting in a couple of facts one being the tremendous deference to a chain of command. On more than occasion when the captain (in reality the woman) breaches rules and decency of the real Kirk, the crew chooses not to do anything. The buildup is altogether very gradual. This raises an interesting question; in the future with a larger population will our governments become more centralized and hierarchical. None of these features are bad in a government however excess of any of these can bend the very concept of democracy, stifling questions and preventing solutions. When a chain of command is revered as God, I think people need to ask questions about it.

A counter point that can be put forward is that the Starship is a military vessel and most militaries would not be able to function without a clear adherence to authority. This however must not come at a price of lost effectiveness. People say that a good army exists to protect democracy not practice it. Could that be as hypocritical as a clergyman condemning premarital sex yet assaulting 14 year old choir boys?

Blog 3: The Train Job Again

The central argument that I see in the heart of the episode is making choices in a difficult scenario. There are at least two clear instances when this happens. One is of course the obvious one which involves Mal returning the medicine. Another more discrete one is Mal’s gesture to allow two fugitives actively sought by the alliance to use his ship to evade capture. 

A simple answer would probably be that Mal being anti alliance would naturally do all in his power to help those who hinder the alliance. However a deeper analysis of this statement brings up two important contradictions. Mal is very self preserving. He would never take unnecessary risk. Mal also seeks gain and he doesn’t have much to gain from either a doctor with frozen accounts or his senile sister. 

The other choice is much more direct than the former. Mal realizes what his action has caused; an epidemic amongst helpless children and civilians. He tales stock of his options and chooses to annul the deal. Again he chooses to do this in the way of least harm. He offers to return the money paid by his employer. So the captain in a way does this tightrope between what is necessary and what is right. 

The sheriff at the end puts actual words to this when he says something to the effect of taking any job available in a hard time and yet presented with a choice when all the facts are made known. The train job displays the need for a feeling of goodwill behind every decision.

Blog 2: The Train Job

The train job was a pretty okay episode. The part I liked the most was at the very end when the sheriff and the captain meet once more just as the medicines are being returned. The sheriff was hoodwinked by the captain and Zoe and yet realizes the predicament they were in. He said something to the effect of taking any job available in a hard time and yet presented with a choice when all the facts are made known. Malcolm in good grace replies saying there never was any choice, implying that he would always do the right thing at any cost. 

The really cool thing is that despite their diametric roles, Malcolm as a thief and the sheriff as the enforcer of law, they share some striking similarities. The sheriff and Malcolm both play by the rules of no harm no foul. They understand that in uncertain times judgment can often be clouded. In the end the decision the individual takes defines his character. This commonality is a sign that the secessionist sentiment may be well founded and with a cause. The Alliance however clearly sees itself as a disparate entity. It cannot identify with the people it supposedly serves because it sees itself as superior. 

At any rate, the captain made the right choice. The kids got the medicines. The sheriff was happy and discontent towards the alliance made stronger. The guy with the creepy knife met his end and with that I shall conclude this blog.

Blog 1: Introduction

This is going to be an awkward start. I’m sorry, but despite some blogging experience I have never shared a classroom with someone who comments on my blog, reading it or not. The situation to me is as awkward as a shy seven year old opening the door of his home to his friends on his birthday party. I do not know what to say or do, so I shall do what I am instructed to. My name (if you haven’t figured it out yet) is Kinshuk Mitra. If you kick the “Mitra” out its Kinshuk with the ‘u’ pronounced as the double O in book.  

I am a citizen of India. I am also 17 years old which means I can get away with some stuff others can’t. My major at Ohio State is Computer Engineering and I really hope I don’t get a sudden urge to change that fact. In reading this blog (if you care to do so) I suppose you would not be interested in my past misadventures, crushes or biography. So let me spend my 68 remaining words telling you about my personality. I am a dreamer and an optimist. Hopefully I am not terribly blind to realities as a romantic would be. That would make me a loser. That said, one of the reasons I chose to study in America is because of my conviction in the “American dream”. It’s weird in a sense; while many in America consider that ideal dead I see that it is very much alive, but only if you make a grab for it.

That’s the dreamer in me I guess. As much as I can see America looks beautiful to me. I am honored (India was part of the British Empire, we’re still a bit formal over the mushy stuff) to be your colleague. Just so that my writing style does not misdirect you guys, my regular dress combo is not a button down with trouser but the nearest pair of jeans and tee I can grab from a dark closet at 7 am in the morning.

Cheers!

ENGLISH 110. Blogging!! XD

courtsey:"www.collegesportsnation.com"

 

 

Dear Readers,

As a part of my English 110 course I will have to temporarily surrender the use of my blog to write articles of my choice. Instead I will have to post on a topic given to me. I do this entirely of my free will; I cannot let the 100 articles that I am supposed to post , go to waste. Moreover I am an avid Isaac Asimov fan and the course has a science fiction focus. I hope the fates continue this display of benevolence. As of now, for the next 2 months adieu.

Lots of Love