B6. Terrace Review — Wednesday, January 30, 1991 gM eee wes From another world Leonard Maltin gave it fot stars. ‘He describes it as a "landmark science fiction drama... more timely than ever." It’s the 1951 film The Day the Earth Stood Still. ’ More timely than ever, he says. What does he mean? Well, if you've ever seen the film, you know. If you haven’t seen it — check it out at the Terrace Public Library. Watching this film on video tucked between news updates on the Gulf War gives it a power beyond being just timely. Not as a sci-fi movie specifically, but because of the message. Yes, it’s a message film. And the message is a vital one. A messenger The film is not one of those special effects adventures with ray guns and three-eyed monsters, It is an intelligent drama well acted and well presented. Its message is unmistakable. The astute and benign visitor to our world is KLAATU. His protector, although one of the most interesting characters in the story, does not have a major part. He does, however, have a ma- jor role to play in ‘‘policing”’ events. These days he would be a handy fellow to have around — GORT is a weapons-destroying robot. One “‘look’’ and the guns are gone. Great guy, that GORT. What If... All of this, of course, is in the realm of fiction and not likely ever to be part of our reality. But it might be interesting to speculate. What if an alien race were indeed observing the-actions and ~ reactions of us Earthlings? What if there were an alien space’ probe circling our world, up there, undetected among all our space junk. What might it, or its occupants, transmit back to their homeworld... An intercepted transmission from an alien space probe explor- ing our solar system might report something like this: EARTH: Third planet from spectral class G2 star designated Sol. Average distance from parent star: 149,597,870 terran kilom- etre measurements (tkm). Length of one revolution: 365.26 terran - days. Planet equatorial diameter: 12,756 tkm, Rotation period of 23h/56m/04s time segments. Atmosphere: nitrogen-oxygen. Li- quid H20. Average mean temperature: 15C degree units. _ Planetary conditions: Of the nine significant planets and their major satellites in this stellar system, only the third planet has the required proportions of fundamental environmental factors necessary for life support and sustainment. On this world there is an intelligent species that calls itself col- lective — human being. And although what we know of this species qualifies it to be included in the category of “‘intelligent life’’, we observe some anomalous traits that create some dis- turbing questions. It is interesting to note that on this planet the intelligent civilization that developed has thrived for perhaps several Earth millenia. However, our observations reveal the curious fact that this advancing civilization does not always act or behave retionally, or even intelligently. | To illustrate, on several of their land masses time cultures have developed. These cultures seem to be greatly influenced by time parameters, For example: in their time-dependent behaviour be- tween members. They exhibit marked — and in some instances, extreme — impatience, and intolerance. Another disturbing at- tribute is that of a strong, and sometimes overwhelming, desire to gain — possessions, position, power. In the pursuit of this quest for acquisition, they have devised the ability to annihilate all life forms on the planet. This potential persists as a violent and dead- ly possibility. Of all the planets in this system, only Earth presently possesses what is needed to sustain life. All the other neighbouring worids are barren and inhospitable. ' As incomprehensible as it may seem, these hurnan creatures seem determined to make this planet, this most beautiful of worlds, as void and dead as its neighbours... The message How might such an observer reach out across space to a civilization threatening to destroy itself? If it had the means, how might it prevent some other world from destroying itself... Hefore KLAATU left in his spaceship to return to his home- wotld somewhere out there among the asteroids, he said this to the gathered Earthlings: “You will forgive me if I speak bluntly. The Universe grows smaller every day. And the threat of aggression by any group, anywhere, can no longer be tolerated. There must be security for all or no one is secure. Now this does not mean giving up any freedom, except the freedom to act irresponsibly. “Your ancestors knew this when they made laws to govern themselves and hired policemen to enforce them, We of the Other Planets have long accepted this principle. We have an organiza- tion for the mutual protection of all planets and for the complete elimination of aggression. The test of any such higher authority is the police force that supports it. “For our policemen we created a race of robots. Their func- : tion is to patrol the planets in spaceships like this one and pre-. serve the peace. In matters of aggression we have given them ab- solute power over us. This power cannot be revoked. At the first sign of violence they act automatically against the aggressor. The penalty for provoking their action is too terrible to risk. “The result is — we live in peace, without arms or armies, secure in the knowledge that we are free from aggression and war. Free to pursue more — profitable enterprises. “We do not pretend to have achieved perfection; but we do have a system, and it works. “I am here to give you these facts. It is no concern of ours how you run your own planet, but if you threaten to extend your violence, this Earth of yours will be reduced to a burned-out cinder. Your choice is simple: join us and livé in peace or pursue your present course and face obliteration. “We shall be waiting for your answer, The decision rests with you.”’ To live in peace, Without arms or armies. Secure. Free. I'd like to believe that we can accomplish peace, security, and freedom ourselves. But thousands of years of human history sug- gests that we can’t. GORT, where are you when we need you? “KLAATU.BARADA.NIKTO.”’ I don’t know what it means. But it worked in the movie. | A pout that fire... In a Jan. 9 fire report, the Ter- race Review indicated that the owner of a Kroyer Ave. mobile home may have made a mistake in not taking an electrical problem seriously. In fact it was not the owner of the mobile home but the tenant, who according to the land- lord who never indicated there was an electrical problem, who was in error, This particular electrical fault was, according to Thornhill fire chief Art Hoving, the cause of a fire that destroyed the mobile home and nearly took the neigh- bour’s as well. The fire began at about 6:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 5, Hoving told the Terrace Review earlier this month, after the tenant had experienced electrical problems the previous evening; his stereo wouldn’t work so he strung an extension cord from an outlet in the kitchen. The lesson: If you experience problems with an electrical circuit, don’t ignore it. Do something about it... immediately. : 7 : Advertising that works: the Terrace Review et Furnitur wo Low COST WAREHOUSE OPERATION NO COMMISSION SALES STAFF o NO COSTLY FRILLS OR GIMMICKS [A vo memBerstir FEE TRE ree Prices as low as 1 38 Locatlo®? 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