from my e-mail April 23, 2003

Dear Senators, Representatives, and citizens of the community of El Paso and the great state of Texas;

It has come to my attention that there is some reluctance and even outright resistance to seeing the I-10 highway being named for one of it's natively born icons, namely Eugene Wesley Roddenberry. Since I am not a resident of your city, nor state, I offer you my perspective as an outsider on this issue, and I sincerely hope you will greet it with due consideration in your deliberations.

The history of our nation is one rich in tribute to those that are forces for social, economic, and technological change and innovation. Dr. Martin Luther King is honored to this day for his celebration of the rights of all to equality regardless of race, creed, or color. General Dwight D. Eisenhower and John Fitzgerald Kennedy likewise have interstate highway systems, airports, and countless schools named after them. Here in my home town we honor those such as James S. McDonnell, Charles Lindbergh, Pierre Laclede, and many others that contributed so much to our military and space programs, aviation, city founding through commerce, and westward expansion. Cities that have such wonderful and rich histories with people that have had such impact on events should count themselves fortunate indeed to be able to pay such tribute, even if only for the recognition of the contributions made without regard to potential economic impacts and benefits. Such economic benefits would be realized, as many cities have come to realize. Las Vegas, Nevada has Star Trek: The Experience in the Las Vegas Hilton and is a major attraction there. Microsoft billionaire and co-founder Paul Allen is even planning a science fiction museum at the foot of the famous Seattle Space needle, among which he will feature the original Captain's Chair from the Star Trek series. He's investing some $20 million dollars to make that museum a reality, and you can rest assured that despite his riches, he would not make such a venture if he thought it would not be successful. The obvious economic benefits of increased tourism are just part of the picture, though for pragmatic reasons, they should likewise be factored into your consideration.

It is for this reason that I support Texas House Bill number 949 for consideration for passage. El Paso, Texas is very fortunate to have had a man born there that became not just a hero in the form of pilot and police officer, but also a visionary that is known literally worldwide. I ask that you look beyond any personal likes or dislikes for science-fiction as a genre, and instead think about and recognize that Mr. Roddenberry raised the social consciousness and awareness of many that were growing up in volatile times to embrace tolerance for differences among people while remaining strong and hopeful in times that often seemed hopeless. Many of the people, myself included, that grew up with Mr. Roddenberry's visions of future hope and tolerance took those lessons to heart, along with the ideas for technological advancements envisioned both by others and himself. If you ask many astronauts, doctors, and engineers today what their source of inspiration was in their career choices, many will tell you that they were inspired by Gene Roddenberry's Star Trek series. Dr. Martin Luther King also recognized the importance of the work of Mr. Roddenberry for the advancement of equal rights with having a lead character in a television show being not only an African American, but a female African American. Today we consider such things commonplace, but in the era of the mid and late 1960's it was unheard of. Rosa Parks would confirm this herself if you asked her.

I ask that you enhance the name and history of El Paso by recognizing one of it's native sons that helped lead the charge on equality, tolerance, social and technological change and vision, and do so with pride. Mr. Roddenberry created something that is known world over, and by your recognizing him in this manner, you will make El Paso even more legendary. By selecting Mr. Roddenberry for honor in this manor you are really selecting a brighter future of recognition and prosperity for the fine city of El Paso. I would say that as the public servants of your constituencies, you would be doing them a great service in this choice. A far better choice, in fact, than any of the other options currently under consideration. If your objective is branding, and therefore recognition of El Paso as a city for the future, what better way to communicate that than to use this world-renowned and globally recognized man of vision?

Respectfully,
Robert S. Greenfield, Systems Consultant and Software Engineer
St. Louis, MO

Additional Information:
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&ncid=581&e=3&cid=581&u=/nm/20030421/tc_nm/life_sciencefiction_dc

---