J J Abrams Picks Muslim to be Captain Kirk in New Star Trek Film

Captain's B-Log 

(HotConflict Date 10.900)

Well obviously that has not happened. J J Abrams the new director of the latest Start Trek film has not put a Muslim in as Captain James T Kirk. As a matter of fact he has not even let the actor William Shatner who originally played the character to be in the film. There was talk of Shatner making an appearance, as Leonard Nimoy has already signed on to appear in the film. Nimoy will be reprising his role as the Vulcan alien Spock.

I have been wondering what it would be like to get a Muslim to play captain of the Enterprise. Start Trek has always been on the cutting edge of race relations and gender taboos. The crew on the deck of Enterprise had a Russian, Checkov. There was a Japanese engineer in Sulu and a Swahili African communications officer in Uhura. Not to mention the fact that the main science officer was an alien from the planet Vulcan.

Even with all of that, is it too difficult to include a Muslim on the Enterprise? Imagine having the new Enterprise lead by a Muslim. The current world conflict, as we are portrayed is between Islam and the West. America has always been able to bridge gaps and spread our ideals by the culture of America. Start Trek is the essence of  American pop-cultural. The original Star Trek and the character of James T Kirk are iconic.

Imagine having a Muslim, who represents Islam in a positive light in the Captain's chair. It would have to be someone who understands the conflict going on in the religious world. Someone who can be a shining example of change. Someone who has confidence and a strong moral character. The captain of the Enterprise is someone who has such a deep understanding of people and nations. Having a Muslim who can easily communicate the differences between religions, people, nation, cultures.

Where do you find a person who can discuss the differences in theology, while also being well versed in foreign policy. Someone who can negotiate with different cultures in the world, while also understanding the prime directive of non-interference with the development of other planets.

Are there any Muslims in the US who are able to pull off the role as Captain of the USS Enterprise?

God, I hope so!

Listen this this audio of a show I did relating to Islam and Star Trek.

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Saleem Siddiqui is a Political Commentator, Public Speaker, Actor and Consultant. He is a trained Mediation and Conflict Resolution Specialist. He conducts sermons and training for various religious and Nonprofit organizations. Working with effort to increase Muslim and Islamic awareness in Communications, Public Relations (PR), Public Speaking, Political Strategy, Media, Marketing, and many  other fields as they relate to the integration of Muslims in the United States of America and around the world.

Saleem Siddiqui has undergrad degrees in Arabic and religion from the Middle East and attended Law School in Houston,Texas. He has consulted with the FBI and testified on behalf of the District Attorney of Virginia on cases relating to National Security and “The War on Terror”.

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Comments

[Breukellen]

Religion is quite a different thing in the Star Trek future. You know the John Lennon song "Imagine"? I always think of Star Trek when I hear it. Voyager probably had one of the most racially integrated crews, but the only religions that are ever really discussed are alien ones. Anyway, who cares about the race and/or religion of Captain Kirk...we have a half black/half white agnostic President, in real life!

[Frank]

I have a problem with the fact all of these people are so attractive. Maybe its me but are people of the future going to be.... Oh, thats right. This is a movie. Here I thought it reflected some real world sense of proportion and insight. Do we really believe there will be hard-line definition of race in the future? I realize at the rate we are having sex most everyone will be sort of darkish and likely just cynical as Hell with little use for major religions as we know them now. Get real nerds.

[james]

Wow, that would be absolutely amazing to see, but it won't ever happen, instead we have demonizing movies like 300, which are basically western rationalism versus eastern mysticism and evil. I think recent science fiction has started to incorporate minorities in more than simple token roles however. I really enjoyed Danny Boyle's Sunshine with a Japanese Captain and an Indian/Arabic second in command. Very progressive and futuristic. I think though that by the time the human race reaches the star trek era, we will all be a hodge podge of different races anyways, and the world order will be a very different place. I do think that someone who is multilingual, multi-ethnic and has faced discrimination because of belonging to a minority--could probably empathize and comprehend the the varying interests of the inhabitants different worlds better. This perosn would truly be a future man.

[Sy]

"Even with all of that, is it too difficult to include a Muslim on the Enterprise? Imagine having the new Enterprise lead by a Muslim."

Kirk wasn't Christian or Jewish. He was simply the Captain of the Enterprise. He had no identifiable religion and we never saw a Star Trek Captain as a member of a specific religion. So having a Muslim be Captain of the Enterprise makes no sense. Shatner and Stewart are hardly observant Jews or Christians either.

Why not just have a good ethical human being in charge of the Enterprise who doesn't need to alienate people by being a member of some specific religious subgroup

[Kimmie]

While I do agree with you that Star Trek has been on the forefront of putting people of all backgrounds on the screen, and that they should move forward and try to incorporate people of different religious backgrounds too, I just really want to see Shatner as Kirk. It's his role, and always will be in my mind.