Just a few weeks ago, this country was at war with Iraq. During all this time, gas prices were up. The stock market was stuttering. A man was charged with murdering his wife and unborn baby. A newly-discovered disease was threatening Asia. North Korea declared it not only had a nuclear program, but nuclear weapons as well. New cases of AIDS were on the rise, especially in young men and heterosexual women.

Yet, if any of those issues had residents in El Paso, Texas fired up, you couldn't hear it outside of that city located near the Mexico border. Instead, what was heard loud and clear, was that one man -- who has been dead for nearly 12 years -- was a horrible man. He hated Jesus. He never did anything for El Paso. He probably never would've ever found El Paso on the map, despite being born there.

They were talking about Gene Roddenberry, the late creator of Star Trek -- a man most people consider the father of modern science-fiction. It was because of Gene's ideas that science-fiction, at a space-travelling entity, was able to make the transition from big-budget motion pictures in the 1960s to smaller-budget hour-long dramas. (Yeah, yeah, "Lost In Space" came first, but it is widely believed that CBS figured out how to produce it low-budget after a lengthy meeting with Roddenberry when he was still trying to pitch "Star Trek.")

All Texas legislators wanted to do was honor the man -- an El Paso native -- by naming a portion of a cross-country interstate after him. It's not like it would no longer be named Interstate 10 ... that's how it would appear on all the maps. But El Paso, which is probably at the bottom of most people's lists for tourist attractions, had an opportunity to really make a bold statement, and to find out exactly what a simple name on a road could do for their economy.

It looks like plans to rename the road are dead. The El Paso Times has reported that it is unlikely the measure is going to pass because the El Paso City Council refused to endorse the idea, or any other idea for that matter. Members of the council apparently were not happy with the belief that Roddenberry was anti-Christian (which is untrue), and never made a direct contribution back to his birth city (which probably is true). And apparently, they could care less about Star Trek, too.

Gene Roddenberry was not a perfect man. I mean, seriously, who is? There really are some fans out there, who if you tell them something true about Gene Roddenberry that's negative, they will blast you. But even Roddenberry's son, Eugene W. Roddenberry, will tell you that his father was very flawed -- but you know what? It's the fact that people are flawed that help us love them more, because they are more like us. And I have no doubt in my mind how much Rod loves his father.

Rod was not a quiet bystander during the debate in El Paso. He was very active. He was in regular contact with me, asking about the latest on the effort, and he wanted to make his voice heard. Last week, Rod sent a letter to the Texas legislature and senate, asking that they seriously consider moving forward with the renaming of that portion of I-10.

"I'd like to assure not only the members of the house committee, but also those opposed to this proposal that our intention is not to 'take away' from the local residents who have benefited the El Pasoan community," Roddenberry said in his letter. "Our objective is simply to offer a name that has, for nearly 40 years, symbolized an optimistic view of the future, and more specifically, one that has embodied the unconditional acceptance of diversity. Star Trek not only encourages those who watch to accept, but to embrace, differences in humanity. It has stirred optimism and toppled notions of prejudice in millions all over the world."

Roddenberry's son is not just giving lip service. Anyone who knows anything about Star Trek and about Gene Roddenberry know that this is just the tip of the iceberg. Did Roddenberry give up on religion? According to the biographies on his life, yes. But we're not naming a church after Roddenberry ... we're simply naming a stretch of road that happens to go up and above El Paso.

I live in Tampa, Fla. It's a very diverse city, and we have names after streets and highways. We have Dale Mabry Highway, named after some guy I know nothing about. We have the Lee Roy Selmon Expressway, named after the only Tampa Bay Buccaneer to be inducted into the football hall of fame. We have Bruce B. Downs Boulevard, named after another guy I know nothing about. And the list goes on.

None of those roads develop outside interest in Tampa. They are familiar to those who reside here, and maybe a tourist or two may stumble on the Selmon road, although all the signs still refer to it as the Crosstown Expressway. But then again, being so close to Orlando, and having Busch Gardens Tampa Bay and Ybor City right here, we're not exactly crying for tourists, either. We have plenty of other things that bring out-of-towners here, investing a lot of money into our economy.

I don't see El Paso bringing home any major sports championships in the near future, hosting major games or tournaments, or anything of the like. If the El Paso City Council is fine with that, then great. But if they really want to do something to help bring attention to their city, to create the appearance that it is not some Puritan society that seems to embrace the stereotype that many put on it, why not try to honor its most famous native-born son.

Gene Roddenberry may have done little directly for El Paso while he was alive, but who says he can't do a lot for El Paso after his death? Gene's only son says it best.

"Admittedly, Star Trek was only a television series, and Gene Roddenberry was an entertainer and not a political leader. However, he was a creative spirit who not only dreamed, but also gave a look at a better future.

"The Roddenberry family did not bring Bill 949 to the forefront. The individuals who believe in the bill's significance, as well as the human potential, are the ones responsible. No matter whether Texas House Bill 949 succeeds or fails, I am proud beyond explanation of those who brought it forward."

Michael Hinman is the co-founder and news editor of Airlock Alpha. He can be reached at michael@airlockalpha.com.

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