"Klaatu," his puzzlement with humans

Human beings are the most intelligent creatures on the planet. That we can assume. Yet we do things that defy understanding so often. No wonder the character "Klaatu" from "The Day the Earth Stood Still" was conflicted about us. 

In the 2008 version he showed thumbs-down and was willing to wipe us out. We were clearly reckless with our environment and were killing the planet. In the end, the hero human character and her young son were able to prevail on the visitor (played by Keanu Reeves) to lighten up. "Klaatu" saw hope in us after all. 

But sometimes I wonder. No matter how ridiculous, amoral or offensive is the behavior of Donald Trump, he is to be taken very seriously for getting back into the presidency. He has just now spoken at a fundraiser for Jan. 6 defendants. We might watch with astonishment about what such things are teaching us about the human organism. 

We took in the news about the sub implosion incident in the Atlantic Ocean. It happened because some people were so incredibly careless as to think it would be fun to go way down in that obvious death trap. But should we be surprised, as we also consider how so many people find it cool to try to climb Mount Everest? A place where so many dead bodies are literally lying around? 

The people in the sub paid $250,000 to have this experience. A quarter of a million to go under water in the Atlantic with the very real chance you'll never come up again. I understand how "Klaatu" was able to become so puzzled about us. 

Under the water we might get to observe the very ugly and deteriorated wreckage of a ship that sank in 1912. We are entranced partly because of the movies about Titanic. Our entertainment culture does indeed cast a spell. I submitted a comment on Yahoo News to the effect that many people are guilty of underestimating the danger of water. Other readers responded positively. So I'm not just thinking of the Titanic exploration incident. 

Danger with water can occur anywhere like on a simple river or stream where you'll have a current. We learned early in May of the drowning of a premier physician in the U.S., Richard Brasington, age 71. He was out fishing. 

Sometimes I wonder about the lure of hunting and fishing, whether we are ready to confront the risks. My father chose to take me hunting a lot. He meant well. I think hunting was a bigger part of the male culture when he had been young. Thus we had the many fatalities with the Armistice Day blizzard of 1940: men out in the sloughs or rivers to pursue ducks. It is hard for me to understand the enjoyment of this activity. 

Dad and I were in our little duckboats wearing lots of outerwear to stay warm on many fall days. We'd go out there before dawn to be ready to start knocking ducks out of the sky after sunrise. 

I am bothered thinking back to how we were in small boats and wearing such heavy clothing. We survived. But why take risks in the midst of such cold weather and to handle guns which by their nature present risk? Remember the young Melchert boy who lost his life when out hunting with friends? It hurts to remember him by name so many years later, but I'm trying to underscore my point about danger. 

Why do we not adequately recognize the extent of danger? Why do we not recognize it in activities that are arguably not very much fun in the first place? Dad meant well but I really wish he had steered us both toward more rewarding, more enjoyable activities. Was it just the old male culture? Perhaps. 

Is it the male culture of today that promotes support for Donald Trump? Trump has been found guilty by a jury of sexual assault. He has paid off at least one porn start to try to keep her quiet. Does the male culture of today brim with satisfaction about such behavior? Are these "conquests?" Allow me to suggest this is abhorrent. 

I will complete my summary of what happened to Dr. Brasington who had a stellar reputation as a physician. News reports proclaimed he was "known as one of the best doctors in the country." Why did he choose a personal pastime that was fraught with risk? Did he just not know? Rivers are dangerous in many ways. They look harmless when viewed from a distance. All these people who live on the banks of the Mississippi River: what are they getting for being at that location? Just a view of the river? That is probably the extent of it. 

Dr. Brasington was fishing in the Ozarks. It was on the North Fork River. He drowned on April 30. A news report at the time had it that he went underwater "for unknown reasons." He was wading when he was in pursuit of whatever fish he was after. I for one see no personal enjoyment in this. I wish my father hadn't bothered to take me hunting, though I'll repeat he meant well. 

I doubt that the reasons are unknown for how the doctor met his end. We can sure narrow it down. To what did this internationally known clinical rheumatologist succumb? Very easy to speculate, to end up with a very short list. Easy advice: stay the hell out of swift rivers. The doctor/fisherman was wearing waders. 

"Waders will kill you folks," a commenter on Yahoo News noted. This individual cited the air that can get trapped in the feet of the boots. In this situation you can get turned upside down in the water. "If you wear waders, wear a life jacket." 

Better yet, I would suggest staying out of the damn river. 

Keanu Reeves in movie

"Klaatu" could not understand why humans could make such irrational choices. In the case of the Earth, to toss aside science and allow climate change to begin destroying the planet. 

We are tempted to go to the very deep ocean depths in a tiny sub to see old wreckage, and to climb Mount Everest where we literally see dead bodies. If the bodies do not convince us of the folly, then what? And people pay a quarter million to go way down in the ocean in the little contraption. 

Another issue with waders in a stream was pointed out by another Yahoo News commenter: ". . .swamping them with water coming over the top, either wading in too deep, or bending down." 

These risks are taken for what benefit? Catching fish? For crying out loud. Am I to surmise that the genius doctor did not know the risks? A different commenter stated how the risk was so obvious after the fact. Then, the question of whether the doctor could have been sufficiently aware. "As bright as he was renowned to be, I would surmise that he was," "Ray" commented. 

So bright, so motivated, so recognized in his advanced field. Yet he chose to go fishing in a stream wearing waders. So abundantly sad. So abundantly needless to have happen. 

Hunting. Fishing. Climbing a tall mountain. Going way underwater in a questionable little container. "Klaatu" was profoundly puzzled about us. The movie gave us a happy ending, making us think there is hope. We had to get our act together with climate change. So maybe that would happen in this science fiction scenario. 

But in reality, we face the prospect of Donald Trump coming back to really rule America. Next time he'll push aside even more the protections of democracy and our justice system. When his wave of heartless retribution begins, will we realize too late what we have done to ourselves? Will we need a space alien like "Klaatu" to rescue us? 

Why could not those fools have chosen not to climb into that "Titan" sub? Why can't the mountain climbers just stay home, find another pastime? Why couldn't my father have eased me into a safer, more constructive pastime? We are supposed to be intelligent, us Earth humans. Dr. Brasington has now been lost to his profession. For what?

 

Addendum: I was reminded again just this afternoon of man's wayward ways with our thoughts/attitudes. Legalization of marijuana? Probably logical. But people my age hear the term and it hearkens back to when this substance was like a badge for a generation. You just had to try. You'd experience profound social rejection if you said you didn't want to. I'm concerned the social consequences could last right up to the present day. 

I had to be honest when talking to a friend today: Of course a dabbled a little in pot-smoking, under the overwhelming expectations. However "I got nothing out of it." My friend said he went through the same thing, came away with the same thoughts as me. So again "Klaatu" would be puzzled by how these sociological memes develop. Boomers had to try "pot," to perhaps indulge in it. Why?

 

- Brian Williams - morris mn minnesota - bwilly73@yahoo.com