Tuesday, April 09, 2013

Half-breed Origins

H is for Half-breed! Although absent from common conversation today, dictionary.com defines "half breed" as the "offspring of parents of different racial origin, especially American Indian and Caucasians. The term "half breed" which Mr Spock finds insulting, was I believe, in fairly common usage during the 1960's.


Early movie fans heard the term "halfbreed" expressed quite often in big screen westerns and occasionally with classic Star Trek. Although the term is almost never heard of today, its effect once spoken is powerful.

The reason Captain Kirk used "Half breed" in Star Trek's classic episode of "this side of paradise" was to deliberately infuriate his pointy eared First Officer, Spock who had mutinied aboard the USS Enterprise NCC 1701 over a beautiful woman. Spores from Omicron Ceti III infected the vulcan's pure logical reasoning which actually made the unlikely happen. Spock and botanist Leila Kalomi fell totally in LOVE.

Its weird seeing Nimoy smiling in this episode but Kirk has to snap him out of it, somehow, and how poor Spock hated him for it.

In the universe of Star Trek, Spock is biologically, emotionally and even intellectually a son torn between two worlds! Much more diplomatic don't you think!



Mind your own business, Mister Spock. I'm sick of your half breed interference, do you hear?


Live Long and Prosper, Trekkies, and Trekkers.

7 comments:

Jenny said...

That is an awful term...

It always creeped me out when Mr. Spock showed his emotions :-)

Jenny at Choice City Native

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Actually I used it in my third book. Not out of style with Cassans although just as derogatory.

Tony Laplume said...

Like "mudblood" in Harry Potter. Not cool.

Susan Kane said...

I hated to see Spock lose that sweet experience with Jill Ireland. Dammit, Jim.

Mark Means said...

I remember that episode as well as the song by Cher..."Half Breed". Not the same, I know... :)

Left and Write

Julie Jordan Scott said...

Oh, you made me laugh. I love the conflicts between Spock and Kirk. Some of my favorite moments from the original Star Trek. I think one of my brothers thought he was Spock's brother, minus the ears!

Like Mark, I remember Cher's song and how in Middle School PE we did a dance to it. It must've been AWFUL!

Have a fantastic day!

Happy A to Z-ing!
Julie Jordan Scott
Our Literary Grannies from A to Z:I is for Isabelle Eberhardt
tweet me - @juliejordanscot

SpacerGuy said...

Half breed really is an archaic term which is unacceptably insulting and derogatory in todays social media circles. The 1960's really was a different era unfettered by social diplomacy.

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