We'll miss ye, ye big (Canadian) Scot

[draconis]

I've been thinking about James Doohan all day today, ever since I heard he passed away this morning.

Several years ago, I read an article which indicated that if you asked a typical engineer, especially in the aerospace industry, to name the one person who had the greatest influence on them going into that field, the person they would most likely name is Mr. Montgomery Scott, or "Scotty," of the starship Enterprise. I find it ironic that the Engineer's Avatar for the last two generations never actually existed -- except, of course, in the hearts and minds of a few million devoted fans.

I am also struck by the fact that Doohan passed away on the anniversary of one of the milestones in our journey into space -- the first successful moon landing, by the Apollo 11 crew (Neil Armstrong, Edwin Aldrin, and Micheal Collins). This is the second time in a year that we've had major space-related personalities die on the day (or anniversary) of a major space-related event -- the other one being Mercury 7 astronaut Gordon Cooper passing away on the day that Space Ship One made her second successful 100-km-plus flight and claimed the Ansari X-prize.


Actually, I never knew "James Doohan" very well, but "Mr. Scott" was a friend of mine since childhood. Whenever I think of him, two scenes in particular come to mind, both from the original series.

In the first, I think Scotty has recently been injured, but I'm not sure (Hey, this was 30 years ago, okay?). Kirk has just ordered him to take it easy and relax for a while, at which point Scotty walks over to the shelf, pulls out some sort of technical manual, and sits down at the table to read it. Kirk looks at him, and says something to the effect of, "Mr. Scott, I thought I just ordered you to go and *relax.*" Scotty looks up at him, perplexed, and says, "Aye, sir. I *am* relaxin'!"

The other is when Scotty is sent along to keep an eye on a couple of junior crewmembers during a bit of R&R on a "neutral ground" space station. A fight breaks out, and Scotty has to explain to Kirk that he threw the first punch -- not when the Klingons on the station insulted the Enterprise's captain (which you can tell Kirk was perfectly ready to forgive) but when they called the Enterprise a "garbage scow" ::G::

And he was a bit of a rogue, too... as evidenced by the time they basically stole the Enterprise out of the spacedock, and were worried that the Excelsior would just come out and catch them -- at which point Scotty just grins, holds up a handful of some sort of components, and says something to the effect of, "Well now... they'll be having a wee bit o'trouble doin' that without these...."


James Doohan, heaven knows that after 85 years you've earned a rest... but you'll be missed, and I suspect that engineers and other fans the world over are mourning your loss, even as they continue to pursue the dreams you helped plant within them.

Warp speed, Mr. Scott.

Second star to the left, and straight on 'till morning...

Comments

I heard this in the news on the way home from work

[irishkate.livejournal.com]

I'm an engineer and I think Scotty may have some hand of blame in that. We'll miss knowing he is there.

Re: I heard this in the news on the way home from work

[themouseketeer.livejournal.com]

I think Scotty will *always* be there. In the minds and attitudes of all the engineers who have a part of him in their soul. Or who were amalgamated and condensed to *become* him.

But definitely, "Warp speed. Mr Scott."

Re: I heard this in the news on the way home from work

[jcbdragon.livejournal.com]

It is my belief that as with any of those who have left this world, he'll still always be there, so long as even one person remembers.

I'm finding that there is a side effect of growing older that I'd never considered before -- seeing more and more of my "heroes" die.

Honestly, I'm not much into heroes any more -- I feel less need for them than when I was younger, and the few to whom I am still willing to apply that label are rarely *personal* heroes, but more of a generic variety, if there could ever be such a thing. Not the comic-book or movie style of hero, but the real people who, through one means or another, have achieved a higher strata of humanity.

People like those seven souls aboard Discovery right now, who had the courage to strap themselves into a fragile shell atop a mostly-controlled ongoing explosion... even though the last group that did so never made it home. (We could've really used you on that one, Scotty....)

People like those who not only survived the attack of 9/11, but who did everything humanly possible (and sometimes more) to help others make it through the aftermath as well. Or those on the plane over Pennsylvania who chose to almost certainly die, but to do die as humans, rather than live as sheep.

Or people who become part of something larger than themselves, and make the world -- or even just their little corner of it -- a little better.

Doohan fit into this last category. Almost no one even knew that he enlisted in the Canadian armed forces in WWII. Nor did they know that he was a writer, or a linguist. In a sense, *he* won't even be remembered by most people -- they will remember Chief Engineer Montgomery Scott.

Scotty may have only been a fictional character, but for his legacy, I'm certainly willing to grant him a place in the Hall of Heroes. And if James Doohan happens to be sitting in Scotty's chair... well, I'll accept that, too. 8-)

And I'll admit, I'm enough of a sentimentalist that I'd like to think that those people responsible for the design and maintenance of the constructs to which we entrust our lives might find themselves with a certain Scot looking over their shoulder, taking them to task before the mistake they didn't see can manifest itself, and occasionally whispering a bit of inspiration into their ears.

Scotty, we've let seven more lunatics temporarily get away from this asylum we call Earth. Look after them for us, will you?