09/01/2024: The Bell Riots

[Coexist]

Tomorrow is a big day for us Trekkies. August 30, 2024 is the first day of the timeline to catch up with us. And September 1, 2024 marks the Bell Riots. As the memes roll in from my friends, I'm re-watching it (because DS9 is some of Trek's finest storytelling. Don't come for me, I'm standing by that) and as always, I'm blown away by their forward-thinking.

While I'm glad we don't have Sanctuary Cities, it does mark the beginning of the 'Better Future" that I love so much about Star Trek, and is deftly woven through all the episodes. The Season 3 Past Tense episodes also clearly delineate the experiences, attitudes, and anger of the wealthy and the poor, and the 'otherizing' of good people. It's very timely.

This is also the first time I'd ever seen people who might be characterized as terrorists, as the good guys. It kinda rocked my world.

Anyhow, Happy Bell Riots day to those who celebrate!

[MLF1981]

1. I made an account just to post this...

So as I said, I made an account just to post this after over 20 years of lurking.

First of all, agreed, DS9 is by far the best Star Trek series. And I also am glad that we don't have Sanctuary districts, but the reality is actually much worse: we don't even offer the downtrodden and homeless that. Instead, they have to make encampments that the cops will go through and clear out, usually destroying what few possessions the dispossessed have.

They'll slash tents with knives so they can no longer be used, slash sleeping bags for the same reason, and thanks to our corrupt Supreme Court, it is perfectly legal to pass a "no sleeping in public" rule so that there is literally nowhere for the homeless to exist. I have spent time living in my car, and it's a really eye-opening experience. Where do you go to the bathroom? Sure, public restrooms exist, but not at all hours, and as well all know sometimes when you gotta go, you gotta go, as in immediately.

Where do you shower, where do you shave? I was lucky enough to find a sympathetic local gym owner so I could take care of those needs without having to pay full price on a membership, but not everyone is so fortunate. The simple fact is that as horrifying as the concept of a Sanctuary district is, it's actually a hell of a lot better than the reality for people who are struggling. At least the Sanctuary districts offered something approximating actual housing, our actual society looks at the unhoused as being lower than whale shit, and what little assistance is offered is woefully inadequate. I spent exactly one night in a shelter, when it was so damn cold that I was afraid I was going to freeze to death, and the amount of drug abuse and violence was so appalling, I never went back.

A lot of people find themselves, through no fault of their own, in a bad situation where they don't have the financial resources to get back on their feet. I've been there, and if things don't improve significantly for me in the next few months, I might be there again... I don't know if I have the fortitude to do it again. I'm not as young as I used to be, and I have some health issues (nothing major, thank God) that would make it a hell of a lot harder to live out of a car this time around. Anyway, rant off. I've always been a huge Star Trek, and especially DS9 fan, and I remember my horror at watching how early 21st Century America just threw these people away. Little did I know that the course of my own life would teach me that the reality is actually much, much worse.

[Coexist]

4. Wow. I am SO very glad you made your account to share your story

I can't pretend I've experienced what you have, and I'm very sorry that you, and everyone else in that position, has to suffer.

"Tell people the truth about what happened here". You just did that, and I thank you for the education and hope to see you around here, now that you're official

[MLF1981]

10. Thanks...

I really appreciate that I wasn't just shouting into the void here. What happened to me is that I lost my job in the crash of 2008, and eventually my savings ran out, I couldn't find another job, and I ended up living in my car. It definitely didn't help matters that I was living in one of the reddest of the red states (TN, where I still am now) because any social services that are offered are as I said before, woefully inadequate, and are usually restricted to people with young children.

For example, Tennessee politicians decided, in their infinite wisdom, that they didn't want any of that there Obamacare socialism crap, so they never took advantage of the opportunity to expand Medicaid access to the people who live here. Ironically, WV and KY both did, and those states are even more conservative and impoverished than my chunk of Appalachia.

Getting back on my feet took years, literally. I thought about ending it all more often than I'd care to think about, and thankfully I didn't. I'd love to be able to tell you that everything worked out hunky-dory, but sadly that isn't the case. I've been working blue-collar jobs for the past ten years, but as my health deteriorates, it's getting harder and harder to keep up with the demands of my job. I'm no spring chicken any more, and being on my feet for 12 hours a day or more is just killing me. Without getting into too much detail, I have conditions that make it impossible for me to do my work effectively in the long run, and maybe in the short run as well.

The saddest thing to me is that I have a great education, an MBA from a well-respected state school, and an MS in HR management. But the sad fact is that if you've had a non-traditional life that isn't just one white-collar job after another in an unbroken progression, that doesn't matter. You are damaged goods, and why in the world would someone hire you instead of the 25 year old person with stellar credentials? Forget the fact that I've actually done that kind of work at a semi-senior level, nope, I'm just not a "viable candidate" because I've experienced some setbacks along the way.

Anyway, apologies for making this all about me. I try not to be bitter and resentful, but to be honest life has taught me that it ain't fair, and that's not going to change in the foreseeable future.

[Coexist]

19. this part, " they never took advantage of the opportunity to expand Medicaid access to the people who live here"

that is the same thing DeSantis did in Florida. It does nothing but hurt people who have the least. It's cruel. I really hope you find solid footing

[electric_blue68]

23. Sometimes life isn't fair, and I hope something very good will come your way...

I also wonder if some gentle tai chi forms would help you at least some physically.

Just a thought.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

32. Welcome to DU

[Takket]

2. fun fact......

my username is actually based on a card from the Star Trek Customizable Card Game. Every year a still very loyal group of players holds a world championship for the game, alternating between the USA and Europe. This year's world championship is happening THIS WEEKEND in San Francisco in honor of that episode, and they released a few new cards based on those characters...

https://www.trekcc.org/1e/?cardID=7530
https://www.trekcc.org/1e/?cardID=7532
https://www.trekcc.org/1e/?cardID=7533
https://www.trekcc.org/1e/?cardID=7534

and.... me lol

https://www.trekcc.org/1e/?cardID=377

[Coexist]

5. That is so cool!

I'm gonna head to Nashville TrekCon .. and ... (SO EXCITED!) I'll be on the cruise next March!

[electric_blue68]

24. Have a great time. 👍

[RidinWithHarris]

3. I got an unpleasant reminder of this from a right-wing troll in a Star Trek group...

...showing pictures of the Bell Riots captioned "Kamala's America".

Never mind, of course, that poverty and crime are worst in red states.

[Coexist]

7. I never get right-wing Trekkies. Trek has been woke as hell since 09/1966

and it wasn't liberals who have historically rounded up "undesirables"

[SocialDemocrat61]

11. They are drawn to the fact that Star Trek

is about a military organization. That’s what they see and ignore everything else.

[Coexist]

12. Captain Picard: "Do you remember when we used to be explorers?"

Sigh ...

[electric_blue68]

25. Yuck. Effer.

[SocialDemocrat61]

6. Gabriel Bell looks just like Captain Sisko

[Coexist]

8. So strange??!!

[MLF1981]

9. Lol...

All hyoo-mons look alike, so sayeth Quark!

[orthoclad]

13. Wasn't the earliest timeline Kirk in the Depression?

A Harlan Ellison, iirc.

[MLF1981]

15. Yep...

City on the Edge of Forever, starring Joan Collins as Edith Keeler. One of my faves.

[orthoclad]

20. One of the great episodes

I think Harlan Ellison had problems with some of the rewrite, but he was a thorny (and brilliant) character.

TOS blew me away with episodes by the brightest lights of SF.

[electric_blue68]

26. Great episode (der, or was it two)!

[Coexist]

16. well yes, you are correct. I guess in our lifetimes?

[muriel_volestrangler]

33. Were you born after Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home was set?

Or there's "Tomorrow is Yesterday", (TOS) where they're back in the 1960s and they have to beam an air force pilot aboard.

[SocialDemocrat61]

34. Although not on earth

Kirk went back further in time in All Our Yesterdays

[Ilsa]

14. I didn't watch DS9 when it originally aired. Just too

much of my life was happening then.

I watched it all about 5 years ago and loved it as much, maybe more, than NextGen. I have too many favorite episodes. Wonderful story arc.

[Coexist]

17. Right? I didn't watch it because of my dumb "how can explorers stay still" attitude

and when I did - wow! Avery Brooks in "Far Beyond the Stars". Omg.

[MLF1981]

21. Far Beyond the Stars is a masterpiece...

Close second is "In the Pale Moonlight". Dark, but realistic when you consider the stakes.

Far Beyond the Stars is just on another level though. Avery Brooks' direction was amazing. Nobody could have done a better job of bringing that script to life. When he goes down to the ground screaming "IT'S REAL!" and sobs for his very soul, you'd have to have a heart made of stone to not cry with him over the injustice of it all...

[Ilsa]

22. Are these DS9 episodes? I never remember their titles. nt

[BumRushDaShow]

29. Yes

The DS9 storylines were done in multi-episode "arcs" during the latter years of the series, notably during the Dominion War backdrop.

There was a lot of controversy when the series ran because one group of the fandom were virulently against the idea of the Federation being engaged in a "war" and believed that Roddenberry would object.

But Majel Barrett (-Roddenberry), who managed to appear, either "in person" as a character or through her voice, in all the series prior to the latest set that came out after she passed, gave her blessing to DS9 (as did son Eugene).

[Coexist]

41. Great background, thank you!

[Coexist]

40. Just epic acting, writing, direction, everything

that episode is everything

[MLF1981]

18. Well, I figured that since i like this thread, I might as well shsre this:

[electric_blue68]

27. Far Beyond The Stars - Magnificent work! So Poignant!

And, yes, The Bell Riots was so good, and poignant!

Two of my favorite DS9, and over all Trek episodes.

And as far as Comedy goes two of my favorite Trek eps are from DS9. The Tribbles 2.0 one. Hilarious! 😄

Having grown up on baseball The Niners vs The Vulcans baseball team is fabulous!
😄 ⚾️ 🥰

[Coexist]

28. Death to the Opposition!!!

and that crossover is one of the best things ever created! that and the Lower Decks crossover

[electric_blue68]

36. Oh,what was the LD crossover? A tribble one?!

I've seen a bunch of them, but not all

[Coexist]

37. LD with Strange New Worlds

Oh my gosh you have to see it! Keep in mind that Jonathan Frakes directed it when you see the ad lib from Boimler. You'll recognize it when you see it

[electric_blue68]

42. Ty. 👍

[BumRushDaShow]

30. "The Tribbles 2.0 one. Hilarious! 😄"

Worf and his fury at the "Tribble homeworld".

[electric_blue68]

35. Ty! 😄🥰 "glorious chapter"

[Coexist]

38. and his "we don't speak about it' about the missing forehead ridges of the Klingons in the past

[electric_blue68]

43. Yeah! They did a great job.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

31. I also love Deep Space 9

[Coexist]

39. So nice to find Trekkies on here!!