By: T.F. Stern | Self-Educated American

You might recall a wonderful black and white movie from the early 1950s, The Day the Earth Stood Still, with Michael Rennie playing the part of Klaatu, an extra-terrestrial humanoid type being who came to visit Earth.  Don’t confuse this movie with the environmental alarmist garbage movie made in 2008 that had the same title.

(Image courtesy of Hulu.com)

After circling the globe at phenomenal speeds (bear in mind that in 1951 when this movie was made 4,000 mph was considered beyond our capabilities), everyone was glued to their broadcast radio station as it headed toward the Mall in Washington, D.C.  In its day the movie captured the imagination and praise of moviegoers.

As the movie unfolded, the alien’s spaceship having landed with media outlets covering the event along with most every available military unit on hand ‘just in case’ the alien wasn’t friendly…where was I…  Oh, yes, there appeared an opening in the spacecraft as a ramp presented itself to everyone’s unified gasp of hysteria.  Every weapon in the Army was trained on the alien as he ventured onto the ramp holding some unknown object out from his body.

Ka-blam!  A shot rang out striking the object and injuring the alien visitor.  The soldier who fired the shot was simply too frightened of the circumstances and accidentally pulled the trigger.  He’d been told all his life to be afraid of the unknown and his reaction almost got the alien killed.  The object that he’d been holding was an interstellar encyclopedia, for lack of a better term, a means of understanding the mysteries of the universe that mankind had been seeking ever since leaving the safety of the cave.

It’s been a long time since viewing that movie so I can’t remember exactly how the scene was presented or the order it was shown; however, Klaatu looked at the destroyed object and remarked how important that item was, how it was intended to help all mankind.  There was a look of disappointment on his face that said more than words could express.

Why do I bring this scene of an old Sci-fi movie up today?  Good thing you asked; I was about to explain that.

Yesterday I posted a comment on a friend’s Facebook page that contained my testimony of the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ and the Book of Mormon being the word of God.  Instead of thanking me for sharing something personal and of great spiritual value; the comment was erased as if it had never been shared.

There was no explanation given, no text message asking me to buzz off, no reply to my email inquiring what happened.  My first thought was of anger, but that quickly changed to one of sadness.  I’d offered something that had been in the making for thousands of years and protected by the Lord Himself to be brought forth in our day; but instead of learning or reaching out to accept the gift, it was tossed away like an unwanted Kleenex.

While watering the garden this afternoon, back in the recesses of my mind came the image of Klaatu looking at the object which had been destroyed, the galactic encyclopedia of science secrets that had been prepared for all the Earth.

The loss of information doesn’t have to be permanent; but for now, it is unavailable to anyone who doesn’t see the value of a gift, much less a gift from an old friend.  Perhaps one day…


t-f-stern-1Self-Educated American, Senior Edi­tor, T.F. Stern is both a retired City of Hous­ton police offi­cer and, most recently, a retired self-employed lock­smith (after serving that industry for 40 plus years). He is also a gifted polit­i­cal and social com­men­ta­tor. His pop­u­lar and insight­ful blog, T.F. Sterns Rant­i­ngs, has been up and at it since January of 2005.