The other day, I watched one of my favorite movies, a black and white version of “The Day the Earth Stood Still” with the late actress Patricia Neal. If anyone hasn’t watched the movie, it is about a flying saucer that lands in Washington D.C. When the space ship opens, a strange dressed alien pops out and speaks English. Behind him is an 8 ft. robot. As expected, the army, camera crews, and curious by standers all rush to the sight. The alien is shot and killed but is revived by his robot with the help of one human. Seeing hopelessness, the space man reveals the purpose of his mission which is to bring earthly peace. He then leaves the same way he came.

There are several reasons I like the movie. First, it never gets old. In over six decades, people haven’t changed much, and it shows in the movie. Then there are the lessons learned. For instance the obvious, it is human tendency to pre-judge those who are different. Instead of seeing that the alien was a peaceful being, the human characters already had a fixed mind that he was a contender to war. And they hunted him down like an enemy. Second, humans are quick to use violence as a means for maintaining order rather than dialogue. If the earthlings had only taken time to listen to the space man, they may have discovered that his ingenuous plan for peace may have created a lasting peace in their own world. Instead, they shot him dead to silence him forever. And then there is the alien’s famous line: “There must be security for all or no one is secure.” Peace cannot be achieved without equality, fairness, and justice being served. Otherwise, there is no true peace. I really like this movie.