Long before Zeldar, Zortan, Zartan and Zentar, space jockeys from planet Zardoz, searching for “intelligent life” far from their own orbiting rock, stumbled across our planet, each flabbergasted at the behavior of the dominant species known as Homo Sapien, there was Klaatu, who did not randomly happen upon us. He and his powerful robot, Gort, came here with a distinct purpose.

The year was 1951, just a half-dozen years after one race of Homo Sapiens decided it was necessary to drop not one, but two atomic bombs on a different race sharing our orbiting sphere. Why did those bombs get dropped? Ironically, the bomb’s intent was to obtain PEACE! Which it did. It ended World War Two. And there was peace.

But not for long. For Klaatu and Gort, they arrived fully aware that a year earlier than their arrival, another major conflict involving human kinds of different races had already started another war, the Korean War. Realizing that the atomic bomb-dropping race was again one of the combatants, and concerned that those incredibly lethal nuclear weapons were still available, and possibly increasing in number, their visit became necessary. Evidently, Klaatu’s planet already knew the potential of interplanetary conflict. Along with a legion of Gort robots, Klaatu and others like him (it?) had already visited other problematical planets, inhabited by aggressive life forms. Klaatu, as a kind of deep space cop, with seriously superior weaponry/technology landed on those hot spots and read them their spaced-out riot act of knock it off, or you will be rendered null and void.

Thus, planet Earth shows up on their troubleshooting radar. Their spaceship lands, right in Washington, D.C. Klaatu, just moments after leaving the spaceship in order to offer earthings sobering advice about continuing to find reasons for war, while armed with atomic weapons, is–ironically–shot and wounded by a soldier. One of many soldiers armed and ready to rumble. Backed up by tanks and rocket launchers. Not very hospitable, eh? By the time Klaatu is able to deliver the ultimatum that humans either live free of conflict or be reduced to a burned out cinder, he is–of course–shot again. And fatally so. But mighty Gort, along with their spaceship’s incredible regenerative technologies,  brings him back to life. Between being shot the first and second time, Klaatu (appearing as a standard human male of he species) does engage with a handful of friendlier humans. Including an astrophysicist, and a mother and son who have come to realize that his mission makes sense. However, in the bigger picture, he is from another planet, and to be assumed dangerous. Fear of the unknown. So, regardless of some effort to let him address the “leaders” of every country on earth, the military prefers to hunt him down. 

Klaatu and the space laser equipped Gort, after his “resurrection” from that second shooting, ultimately do  confront a United Nations gathering of various races, gathered near the spaceship, still parked near the noble monuments that are posed within sight of it . At last, humankind is told, essentially, that either it stops trying to kill one another, and the possibility that their nuclear age and desire to explore other worlds was too looming an interplanetary threat. In other words, feel free to destroy yourselves, but nuclear armed spaceships is a danger too great to tolerate. Having finally accomplished that objective, Klaatu and Gort return to their sleek space vehicle, rev it up, scattering their audience as its avionics engage in resounding fashion, Off they go, leaving humankind to decide either get stop advancing its penchant for warfare, now including the devastating nuclear weaponry along with looming ambitions to rocket into space, or expect to be reduced to that smoldering cinder.

Again, this was 1951, okay? Alright, they actually didn’t come here, other than to appear in movie houses of that post-WW2 era. The Day the Earth Stood Still. A classic sci-fi thriller, in ominous black and white. Well, here we are in 2025 and it’s a good thing that Klaatu and Gort are fictional, or they might be listening in (with ultra high-tech, super long range, digital sound). And not liking what they are hearing.  Not that anyone has dropped another nuclear bomb in anger. However, in 1951 it was the U.S. and U.S. alone that had developed the atomic bomb. Today there are nine countries that possess nuclear weapons. Much, much, much more powerful kinds of nuclear weapons. And wouldn’t you know it, not all nine of countries really like one another.  In some cases, the dislike is more a loathing bordering on hatred. Much blood has been shed. And we have gotten men to moon, and remote probes on Mars, and others as far away as 12.1 billion miles from earth. So, yeah. We’re out there. But so far, not equipped with nuclear warheads.

But remember, even if we aren’t interested in nuking Zardoz or Planet 9,  knowing that these bombs could literally destroy the planet, humans have been compelled to created both a “nuclear clock” and the meme/anagram M.A.D. Right now, the nuclear clock is just 89 seconds to midnight. At the stroke of that clock’s metaphorical hand reaching midnight its likely lights out, immediately or by way of widespread radiation, for life on our 3rd Rock From the Sun. Thus M.A.D. is its mimicking of Klaatu’s warning of FAFO . Mutual. Assured. Destruction. And there are some very dubious “leaders” who possess the launch codes that would push us to nuclear midnight.

2025 has been a crazy year already, 41 days in. Have you noticed that? And the craziness is so unnecessary. So obviously avoidable. So seemingly a need to prefer peace over war.

In theory, that is.

Not just the MAD threat, but even if there were no nukes (but that Genie is never going back into its atomic lantern) humans are at war with its host: Planet Earth. Climate science has become an avatar of  Klaatu’s wake-up message. If the nukes don’t croak us, Mother Nature will. Can’t we all just get along? At least try?  In spite of current events and chaos exceeding control? C’mon, let’s all think positive that ultimately sanity and safety will prevail. In the meantime, let us hope that–as it seems a lot lately–science fiction doesn’t become science fact. In that case, certainly before the worst happens, some variation of responsible leadership around the world will create calmer times. Maybe we can collectively step up and lead that charge. I mean, it would be crazy to let things continue in the wrong direction, right? Thus, a revolution of peace, love and understanding will ensue. Sure, we humans are batshit crazy but we’re not completely nuts .

So! Are we ready to engage the dystopia? Yes! I am trying to get that mojo working: with K&G, (in deference to those two fictional peacekeepers) Resistance LLC? Step right up. Please join in. As the Marketing Director of this revolution of reason and logic, I urge you to join by signing on to http://www.thetimeisnow.org. Or call toll free at 800-867-5309. And please DONATE! As you might have noticed, money makes things happen. Be generous.

Pitchforks and torches don’t come cheap.