Temba, His Arms Wide

Star Trek has always been a favorite of mine. I remember watching the Star Trek marathon every Thanksgiving before football came on. I was excited to watch The Next Generation when it started. More Star Trek? Heck yeah!

One of my favorite episodes of TNG is “Darmok.” That is the episode where Picard is stuck on a planet with a Tamarian. They speak English words, but they speak in metaphors, so you don’t know what they are saying. “Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra”, “Temba, his arms wide”, and “Shaka, when the walls fell.” What do those even mean?

Picard tries to figure it out, but gets frustrated. He doesn’t understand, because he doesn’t have a common ground to start from, a frame of reference. Only when the Tamarian gives him a weapon to help defend against the beast they encounter, does he start to put it together. “Temba, his arms wide” means to give something, openly, in friendship.

Back on the Enterprise, Data and Troi are tasked with finding out how to communicate with them as well. Troi finally figures out something that brings the meaning of something together for them. Finally, Picard is able to return to the Enterprise and communicate with the Tamarian ship, and they all go their merry ways.

I love this episode, because it shows how words, even though not in a context we may understand, can be figured out if we just keep an open mind, and try to learn what the other is saying. In our own language, keeping an open mind while someone is speaking, and really listening, can help us understand one another. You may hear what the person is saying, but you must pay attention and listen in order to fully get their meaning.

If we take the time to listen, we could avoid hurt feelings, or arguments and fights. "Uzani, his fists closed."