The sad commentary of my summary statement above is one many people come to realize after spending enough time on this planet. This episode aired over fifty years ago, and things aren't any better, OR different in the world today. In fact, probably worse. Rod Serling had a uniquely cerebral approach to setting such things right in his fifth dimensional approach to life and entertainment. Where men of the homo sapiens variety gather, it's only a matter of time before strife and discord follow. Science fiction writers of the era found various ways to handle that enigma; one of my favorites was 1951's "The Day The Earth Stood Still". That film puts the inhabitants of Earth on notice, and leaves it up to the viewer to decide what the outcome would be. No such ambiguity here with 'Elegy', Earthlings must be contained because of the eventual threat they will ultimately present.
It's kind of amusing to watch this story today, as it references the future of 1985 (from the vantage point of 1960) as a time 'before peace on Earth became impossible'. The atomic war envisioned by writer Charles Beaumont of course never took place in reality, but it seems the deterrence of mutually assured destruction is about to go the way of the dinosaur as well. Things do not bode well for planet Earth with each passing day, as maniacal despots around the world threaten arming their countries with nuclear weapons. One hopes that a visionary set of world leaders emerges to prevent the planet from becoming an asteroid cemetery.
It's kind of amusing to watch this story today, as it references the future of 1985 (from the vantage point of 1960) as a time 'before peace on Earth became impossible'. The atomic war envisioned by writer Charles Beaumont of course never took place in reality, but it seems the deterrence of mutually assured destruction is about to go the way of the dinosaur as well. Things do not bode well for planet Earth with each passing day, as maniacal despots around the world threaten arming their countries with nuclear weapons. One hopes that a visionary set of world leaders emerges to prevent the planet from becoming an asteroid cemetery.