I WISH I could figure out some way to make people understand that I do not hold Kraith to be some sort of ultimate truth.

I WISH I could figure out some way to make people understand that I do not hold Kraith to be some sort of ultimate truth. is a 1975 essay by Jacqueline Lichtenberg.
It was printed in Mind-Meld, a publication of the Society for Earthbound Vulcans, v.2 n.8.
==Context: The Kraith Focus in Early Issues of Mind-Meld==
 
The Society for Earthbound Vulcans had taken the highly influential Kraith fanfiction series as the model for its conception of Vulcan culture and history. Naturally, Kraith was the focus during the first year's Mind-Meld issues, and that universe's creator, Jacqueline Lichtenberg, was a member and frequent contributor. 
That is, until a flurry of fan responses likely deflated her enthusiasm, and Lichtenberg encouraged fans to move on from emulating Kraith, at least in this fan club and its publication. From her last contribution to Mind-Meld: "SEV should adopt some NEW ideals, not Kraith Vulcan ideals," thus withdrawing her attention and support.
Some of Lichtenberg's contributions and fan comments in early issues of Mind-Meld:
* Lichtenberg's comments in v.2 n.1, March 1975 which was a response to the editor's comments in v.1 n.2, October 1974 
* Why a Human Should Not Desire to Become Vulcan by Lichtenberg (dated August 1974, printed April 1975)
* I have been unable to determine whether or not the Council wishes to adopt Lichtenberg's philosophy as pertains to Vulcans as it is. by Carmen Dexter (v.2 n.5, August 1975). Dexter's letter also addressed Lichtenberg's controversial author's preface to Kraith Collected #1
* I think that it is important for Jacqueline Lichtenberg, as the creator of the series, to hear from those who are KRAITH fans, who enjoy the works, but can still see their faults. by Amy Falkowitz (v.2 n.7, October 1975)
* Darkover and Kraith by Amy Falkowitz (v.2 n.7, October 1975)
* I WISH I could figure out some way to make people understand that I do not hold Kraith to be some sort of ultimate truth. by Licthenberg (her final comment) (v.2 n.8, December 1975)
Lichtenberg's last contribution to this newsletter was in December 1975. She, however, remained on the membership roster until at least March 1979.
==Some Topics Discussed in the Essay==
* the recent discussion of Kraith, truth, and Lichtenberg's rigidity and control
* Lichtenberg wrote about how benevolent she is by allowing fans to write in it 
* that other fanworks are inferior because they do not take into account all the canon she does, that fans discard things they don't like and blame production errors and choices
* that the fan club, Society for Earthbound Vulcans, should perhaps not concentrate so much on Kraith
* logic is beautiful and it should rule all
* no sane human can live without emotion Lichtenberg stated in Mind-Meld that she considered herself Vulcan: "In fact, many people suspect I am Vulcan, and I never claimed to be human." and "It is no secret that I consider myself half-Vulcan & half Darkovan..." are both quotes from her 1974 essay, Why a Human Should Not Desire to Become Vulcan. 
* humans should strive for IDIC, but it is not an easy task
* Lichtenberg, of course, always has several self-promotional plugs, this time for Quartet Plus One, Spock's Argument, Surak's Construct, and Star Trek Lives!. A comment about the latter: "STAR TREK LIVES has now entered its fifth printing, after being out for only four months. The[re] are more of 'us' than 'they' ever thought there were -- and 'their' mouths are dropping open."
==From the Essay==
==References==
Category:1975 Meta
Category:Meta in Print
 
Category:Star Trek Meta