I am a geek.
I am in fact a super geek. Not only do I think that everything related to frugality is fascinating. (Have I told you about my homemade laundry detergent? Really, I already did? Can I tell you again?) I also have exactly zero interest in being cool. Clothing, makeup and even popular music hold little interest for me. (This has been frustrating to my friends, who think I could be so pretty if I "just wore a little bit of makeup.")
My lack of the cool gene is actually quite freeing.
It means that I'm free to pursue interests that others wouldn't touch with a ten foot pole. For example: Star Trek
I rediscovered the different Star Trek TV series through my local library, (The Next Generation, Voyager, Deep Space Nine, Enterprise and, of course, the original series) and I've felt great watching these shows with my young sons. And I came to realize that the ethics I'm trying to impart to my kids are perfectly mirrored within the Star Trek universe.
Higher Education: All the officers worked hard to go to Star Fleet Academy. It was grueling and difficult work, but worth all the studying.
Conflict Resolution: The crews of the various ships are constantly trying to find diplomatic solutions to their various conflicts.
Non-Consumerism: Future Earth has done away with money. The one species obsessed with money and profit, (the Fereng) are written as greedy and unappealing.
Tolerance: The main mission of The Federation is to, "Seek out new life and new civilization." Accepting and embracing one another's differences is the main theme of all the shows.
Intellectual Curiosity: The characters are constantly striving to expand their knowledge base.
Environmental Responsibility: The various starship crews are always focused on environmental concerns. Helping the various planets to reverse environmental damage and respect for nature is a dominant theme.
So go ahead and call me a geek, you can even go so far as to call me a Trekkie. Just don't call me a money-grubbing Ferengi. That would be simply going too far.
Live long and prosper.
Katy Wolk-Stanley
"Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without."