Steven Rice
WILLIAM SHATNER HAS CHANGED THE WORLD
William Shatner has changed the world.

He has. I mean that. It's all because of him. That was the premise of a television show watched during the summer: William Shatner, Captain Kirk from Star Trek, has changed civilized life as we know it.

Sounds crazy? Maybe, but I'm drinking the Kool-Aid. I am too young to have watched the original Star Trek series when it aired in the 60s. But as a child who grew up without cable television, my staple of shows consisted of Andy Griffith, Bonanza, Petticoat Junction,

the Beverly Hillbillies and Star Trek.

And while I liked Barney, Hoss, loved Betty Joe and Ellie Mae, Captain Kirk was my favorite.

Sadly, I am the only one in my household who has this grand appreciation for Star Trek. If I ever want two and a half hours to myself, all I have to do is throw "The Wrath of Khan" in the DVD player and the house clears. But think with me for a moment about all the things William Shatner has done for us. He was the one who inspired us to have communicators that would flip open so we could talk to people from far away. Got a cell phone? Does it flip open? William Shatner.

How convenient was Lt. Ohura's earpiece? Sure it looked like a pinecone sticking out of her ear, but she could hear and talk to folks hands free! Ever see someone walking down the sidewalk talking to themselves? They're not crazy; they're just using a slicker version of Ohura's earpiece. William Shatner. Perhaps the most humane innovation in Star Trek was the phaser, especially the stun setting. Want to stop someone but not kill them? We don't have a phaser, but we do have a Taser! Phaser- Taser…coincidence? I think not. William Shatner.

Did you ever watch Star Trek and think how wonderful it would be if we could walk up to a computer and speak to it and any information would instantly be available? It's now a reality. If you really want to know the birth weight of the extinct dodo bird, just Google it. Give thanks not to Al Gore, but to William Shatner.

Finally, there is the transporter. I know we do not have a device that can break down our atomic structure and beam it to another location at the speed of light and then reassemble our atoms, but I still have hope. One thing I do know. If I were writing this article in the 60s, I would have to print it out and mail it to the newspaper or hop in my car and drive to hand deliver it. Not anymore. As soon as I'm done, I save the article and electronically send it to the paper. You may call it email … but I call it a transporter. I even make the transporter sounds when I click 'send'. I really do.

Thanks Billy Shatner. Thanks for everything! You can reach, the Rev. Steve Rice at www.episcopalians.info.