The more I watch the reruns of the TV series Star Trek, the closer I get to think that Captain James T. Kirk was a bumbling idiot. Furthermore, I think he was a menace to every being of higher intelligence he encountered in his 5 year mission, to contact new worlds and new civilizations. He destroyed a few life forms, instead. In fact, he took pride in despising any creature that was more evolved or more powerful than him. He also destroyed inventions before he or somebody more capable could determine whether the invention in question could possess a beneficial side.

In most instances, Captain Kirk did not hesitate to blast any dammed contraction out of his Universe. His orders (Prime Directive) from Star Fleet Academy were not to interfere but interfere he did -- too often, paradoxically with Mr. Spock's blessings. Spock, his science priest, "logically" justified Kirk's destructive actions in galaxies where although inhabited "no one" had been before.

You don't believe me? I will give you some samples of what I am talking about.

*Salt supplies ran out in Planet M113. The entire intelligent population of the planet was gifted with an extraordinary ability for mimetism (origin of the present shapeshifters ideas). But they dwindled to the brink of extinction because they needed salt to survive and they did not have it. Only one member of this peculiar race had remained. Since the only source of salt available to the starving creature was in the bodies of the Enterprise landing party, it had no other option but to suck it out of them, unintentionally killing them in its desperate attempt of survival. However, it did not do it with its human companion thus showing compassion for. Does Kirk attempt to understand its needs and desperation. No. He is out to get it. In an unexpected end, it is Mr. Spock, who was expected to logically follow the Prime Directive by the book, the one who encourages McCoy to shoot the creature dead, thus extinguishing the species.

*Charlie is an adolescent with paranormal powers. In this episode Kirk is his father image. Does Kirk really try to teach the boy how to pipe his fantastic energies? No. He does not even dare (in that century!) to candidly talk to the kid about sex. He is not even curious about how the boy commands such an awesome psychological power. He yells at the boy and, in an unbelievable display of arrogance, he commands the boy to obey him -- or else? Kirk is happy at the end, because the incorporeal being who reared the kid, returns to take him away from the Enterprise and Kirk's hand.

*Commander Gary Mitchell, a friend of Kirk's, acquires supernatural powers. He develops a tremendous intelligence and a fantastic capability for learning (God forbids!). But such a "sin" is not allowed on board, while Kirk is in charge. Mitchell is jailed, following a tuned down Spockian advice.

All Mitchell wanted in the end was to use his powers for the benefit of his offsprings. He wanted to transform a deserted planet into a paradise. Mitchell finally persuades Elizabeth Dehner to start a new life with him on that planet. Because of his powers, Mitchell is indeed a god, more or less as we understand it to be. There are no negotiations, no reasoning on Kirk's side, just brutal rejection with only one purpose: destroy Mitchell. Nobody thought of talking over with the guy to, at least, gain him to their side.

Dr. Robert Corby tries to convince Kirk of the benefits from the humanoids he has invented. It could be a remarkable step forward for the human race. The human brain could be transfered to an almost perfect body with no sickness, need for food and with limitless energy and a long healthy life. Corby might have been too enthusiastic with his project and he tried to convince Kirk by force, yes. Still, the invention, although not perfect, could have been perfected. It needed more attention, and a decision of whether the humanoids were beneficial or not for the human race was not Kirk's alone. Kirk thought he himself was wise enough and he "burned" all androids.K

irk did not hate all aliens. He showed admiration for some of them, especially when they looked like pets. Do you remember The Corbomite Maneuver? Kirk loved the little twerp that commanded and manned Fesarius. He also loved that ugly looking Horta in the tunnels of Janus VI.

But should it be the case of humanoids with superpowers -- no way José. Apollo is out. It is a personal hate. No one is godder than Kirk. The hell with the god's feelings, or even Carolyn's. It was not that Kirk might have felt trapped what bothers here, but his adamant intimidation for her to change her feelings and welfare to stick to him instead of with her All Mighty God Apollo. Power and manifestation are both destroyed in this episode.

But the worst damage Kirk did was to destroy the androids in the episode I, Mud. The whole crew was very enthusiastic and happy with the offerings of the androids. Jim was not. What he offered was no better, just empty phrases. The androids offered eternal life. Kirk ordered them to accept death as if it were a human blessing. Old age? Great to enjoy. According to Kirk, intelligence was not a part of the human essence, only feelings were. Furthermore, through almost all the Star Trek episodes, intelligence is considered a Vulcan trait. Actually, the environment that best suited Kirk was that of the episode A Piece of the Action, on the planet Iota: a mob civilization.

Kirk matches his own idiocy with the genial stupidity of the creator of M5, a total computer, which ends up with a nervous break down. Golly!!

There are two episodes that clearly show -- thank the Force for them -- all the worst aspects of Kirk's wrongly defined "humanity." Somehow, stubbornness, violence, insolence and other similar beauties are presented as virtues: the best humans can offer. So, it is very pleasant to see how really intelligent beings put a stop to all that nonsense, and show a little real, not Spocky, logic to Captain Kirk. I am talking of course of Errand of Mercy. The second really intelligent episode is Assignment Earth. Kirk is messing around in modern times, but a more intelligent being put a stop to it.

I love all Star Trek episodes. I think they work with a delightful combination of logic and absurdity, our most precious components. They make us think and that is what really counts. They are mixed and blended in such an absurd way that they "make sense." They are presented in such a logical way that they become absurd.

The wholesome human was, of course, McCoy; the accelerated factor, Kirk, and the most difficult character Spock, the Priest of the Science Religion. He was worked out in progressive understanding. Something that cannot be said about him ending up in a technically advanced, but philosophically poor work, Star Trek, the movies, in which Spock was shown as a boorish snob, when the intention, I presume, was to make him look a man with no emotions. Manners do not have to be eliminated to show lack of feelings, and logic would have advised a better social behavior. . . But Spock is another story.

For all Kirk's human weaknesses, boy, did he have weaknesses! Captain Kirk lives forever in the minds and hearts of the trekkies. Although I do not think he would have lasted one month in a real Enterprise.