Old movie remains relevant

I recently saw on television the classic sci-fi movie “The Day the Earth Stood Still.”

A modern remake of this 1951 film has just been released in theaters, but other than updating the special effects, the message of the original remains as vital and as relevant today as it did nearly six decades ago.

For those who are unfamiliar with the movie, or saw it so long ago that they don’t remember, the basic plot revolves around Klaatu, an alien from a distant planet who arrives on Earth in a spaceship, assisted by an 8-foot-tall robot named GORT. Klaatu, who is human in appearance, has come in peace, but he issues a dire warning to the inhabitants of Earth — cease to do violence, or suffer the consequences.

In the galaxy where he comes from, violence no longer exists. Peace is enforced through a race of robots like GORT who punish evildoers so severely, they never commit any crimes again. Should human beings wish to destroy themselves through continued violence, Klaatu warns, so be it. But if they ever attempt to extend their violence beyond their own sphere of habitation, into the larger universe, they will be annihilated.

To demonstrate his ability to carry out this threat, all sources of electrical power on Earth are shut down for 30 minutes and every mode of mechanized transportation across the globe grinds to a halt.

The adage “The more things change, the more they stay the same” certainly applies here. Isn’t it sad that despite the tremendous advances we have witnessed in science and technology since “The Day the Earth Stood Still” was made, the human propensity toward violence has only increased with time?

Acts of violence and aggression fill our newspapers on a daily basis, yet the movie was made particularly poignant by the horrific loss of life that resulted from the recent terrorist attack in Mumbai, India. With nearly 300 people killed and hundreds of others wounded, this senseless tragedy stands as an unspeakable infamy. Each life lost was a precious soul created in the image of God. Among the dead were beloved parents, devoted husbands and wives, loving sons and daughters, cherished colleagues and dear friends.

There was one Jewish target in particular that has caught the attention of the world. A small synagogue in Mumbai was attacked, its rabbi and his pregnant wife were killed (but not, apparently, before being tortured), and the only survivors were an Indian woman and the baby of the rabbinic couple that she managed to smuggle out of the building.

When Osama bin Laden, whose beard masks the face of the ultimate religious hypocrite, attacked the World Trade Center in New York, the target was purportedly chosen as the very symbol of American materialism and excess. But what could these so-called “religious” Islamic extremists have been thinking in exterminating a twentysomething couple with two babies who moved from the world’s richest country to India to provide religious services and faith to the poor and the needy? What blow against Western decadence were they striking by targeting a Chabad house whose entire purpose is to spread spirituality to people who lack it?

Terrorism presumes that there is an ideology underlying the acts of violence and destruction that are committed. One man’s terrorism is another man’s patriotism. To call these men terrorists confers upon them an element of idealism and even dignity. But what can we say about people who target hospitals, or go around a hotel for the purpose of murdering tourists who have little or no knowledge of whatever grievances these murderers claim to have? Better yet, maybe we should call them cowards.

Whenever a cataclysmic event such as this occurs, the same questions inevitably flood our troubled minds: Why do such tragedies take place? Why do we live in such a violent world? What hope is there for human beings to live in peace with one another? When will we ever learn that violence is not the answer? These are undoubtedly the same questions Klaatu must have pondered in his observations of human behavior.

In the movie, Klaatu visited the Lincoln Memorial and became inspired by honest Abe’s words inscribed on the inside of the building. Ever optimistic that if a human was capable of such profound thoughts, then perhaps, the alien reasoned, there might be hope for humanity after all.

At the end of the film, it took three words — “Klaatu mirada nikto” — to save the world. Are there any special words or phrases from our own respective religious traditions that might help to save our world today, that could possibly steer us away from the path of self-destruction that we so often seem to be barreling down? My answer is absolutely yes.

The majestic phrase from the Book of Leviticus — “Ve ahavta lereacha kamocha” (“You shall love your neighbor as yourself”) — comes to mind. So do these immortal words from the Book of Deuteronomy: “Uvcharta ba Chayim” (“Choose life”).

At this season of the year, as Jews celebrate Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, there is one very special teaching from the prophet Zechariah that we always read on this holiday. It is a teaching that rings out like a clarion call to all those who are receptive to its message.

“Lo b’chayil v’lo b’koach ki im b’ruchi” (“Not by might and not by power, but by My Spirit, says God”) (Zechariah 4:7). While people tend to think that the forces which control the world are primarily material, the Prophet’s words strengthen the conviction that we can have recourse to a greater power in order to accomplish our goals.

There are those who believe that only through might and power is peace possible. In the case of terrorism, retaliation and punishment of those who perpetuate evil deeds are the best means to achieve justice and restore genuine peace. That may be necessary, but it is not a sufficient response.

Perhaps the best response to acts of violence is the performance of God-inspired acts of kindness. Evil hates goodness. Every time we treat another human being with generosity of spirit and a heart of compassion, we not only increase the amount of goodness in the world, but we influence others to pass it along, creating a chain reaction that could potentially tip the scales toward loving, moral, responsible behavior that will fill the earth with divine glory and bring about God’s kingdom for all of us. That is what this season of the year is all about, for Jews, Christians, Muslims and all people of faith.

Like Klaatu, let us hold onto hope that humanity can get its act together and save itself before it is too late.

XRabbi Franklin W. Muller leads Congregation Rodef Sholom in Youngstown.