An Open Letter To Mr. William Shatner

Posted: 2nd March 2015 by J. Marcus in Up on The Soap Box

Dear Mr. Shatner,

You won’t remember me.  We met but once.  It wasn’t the best of times.  You were busy preparing for an interview and I was in a group of staff members clamoring to see you.  You were preoccupied.  That’s OK.  You were getting ready and the last thing you needed at the time was another fan of that show.  But maybe you need one now.

One silly fan who can tell those who would turn their backs on you to get a life.  And that perhaps they should look back to the very stories they love for the answers.

You were hosting a charity event that was booked well in advance and could not break away to get to Mr. Nimoy’s funeral in time.  A wise man once said that the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few… or the one.  They’re just words.  But GOOD words.  That’s where ideas begin.  Maybe everyone else should listen to them.  How many people did your presence help?  How much attention did you attract to a charity by being there?  One would assume that these are the very reasons you were asked to host.

As a fandom, we are all mourning the loss in our own ways.  But how many of us knew the man?  We watched you and him for many, many years on screens big and small but that does not mean that we know what is in your heart or in your mind.  You’ve spoken out online about your feelings and tried to pay your respects even by not being there.  Isn’t that one of the things that make this “future” so great?  That instead of stalwart silence, you can express your feelings even without being there?  You’ve been kind enough to share your thoughts with the world.  At a time like this, can’t that be enough?

For me, the death of Mr. Nimoy plays back in my mind much like the death of his beloved character so many years ago– I watched as a child watching in the theater.  I can’t help that.  As devastating as that may be for me, I can only imagine the many feelings that the loss of Mr. Nimoy must bring to you.  Now is not the time for recriminations, but for support and healing.

Regardless… this shouldn’t really be about you.  Those who make it so are lashing out.  This should be about paying final respects to our honored dead.

I am sorry for your loss.  As I am sorry for the loss to this world.  He seemed like an incredible person–  Even without the ears.

Sincerely,

J. Marcus

“Star Trek” Fan

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