Happy 40th birthday, Star Trek.

• Author: Barber, Jared
• Position: Letter to the editor

I was surprised to see seven-and-a-half pages of kudos to Star Trek in reason ("Happy 40th Birthday, Star Trek, August/September). Star Trek is a massive cultural phenomenon. But at the risk of dragging out the favorite dead horse of the pimply and pasty everywhere, I feel Star Wars fits your "free minds and free markets" moniker better.

Star Trek, in which the massive Federation can fulfill society's needs and wants through a replicator, sends out government agents to meddle in the business of others. Star Wars is the story of Luke Skywalker, who must fight back after the highly centralized Empire kills his family, mere farmers trying to live their lives on Tatooine. His journey from his home planet is made possible via private contract with one Han Solo. Along the way he learns of the ways of the Jedi, an oppressed minority religion sitting close to extinction due to Imperial genocide. We also meet Lando...