From Star Trek, the Original Series, we learn that Vulcans believe in a concept called Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations, or IDIC. The Vulcan symbol is actually the symbol for IDIC – a triangle intersecting a circle and creating a gem. Completely different, yet when combined together they make something beautiful.
This concept is something I think gets lost, especially in today’s politically charged climate.
Now, we all have different opinions, and sometimes those opinions are at odds, but we also have a love of Star Trek – otherwise we wouldn’t be in this fanclub, would we? The thing we need to remember is that 1. our clubs are a place to come together, not to tear each other apart, and 2. politics has no place in our clubs because of how divisive it can be.
That said, we need to remember Gene Roddenberry’s himself wrote about diversity in TOS:
“We’ve each learned to be delighted with what we are. The Vulcans learned that centuries before we did.”
“It is basic to the Vulcan philosophy, sir. The combination of a number of things to make existence worthwhile.”
– Kirk and Spock, “The Savage Curtain”
IDIC represents the belief that beauty, growth, progress, etc. result from the union of the unlike – even opposites. In other words, that we are better together than we are apart.
(See this article about IDIC from Women at Warp, a Roddenberry Podcast.)
So, whether we meet in person or on social media, please remember that we are all fans of Star Trek. The Great Bird of the Galaxy himself would agree that it’s better to build one another up than to tear each other down.