Along with the other differences about this episode (set on Earth in 1953; actors portrayed without alien make-up; etc.), this episode is very visionary! Sadly, it showed a vision for a society (ours, at the moment) that doesn't fully embrace that vision (acceptance and respect for peoples of all races and creeds). I think Sisko's comments at the end of the episode (to his dad, Joseph Sisko) sum it up best: Benny (Sisko's alter-ego character from 1953) is the dreamer (as was Gene Roddenberry and those of the Civil Rights Movement), and his vision for that world of total acceptance is the *AS-YET-UNFULFILLED* dream that is the "reality" of the Deep Space 9 universe of the 24th century! That's the beauty of this episode: a warning that, if we don't get it together, we'll stay stuck in the dark-ages-like society of 1953 (or 2012), rather than progress to the visionary, all-inclusive society that Star Trek advocates!
Review of Far Beyond the Stars
