How we cite our quotes: All quotations are from Men in Black.
Quote #4
KAY: […] They were a group of intergalactic refugees. Wanted to use the Earth as an apolitical zone for creatures without a planet. You ever see the movie Casablanca? It's the same thing, except no Nazis. We agreed and we concealed all the evidence of their landing.
By comparing the refugees to the ones in Casablanca, Kay's implying that they came to Earth to escape persecution or other bad social and economic conditions, like a gravel shortage. The folks waiting around in Casablanca were escaping Nazi Germany. These aliens are doing likewise and immigrating to Earth to escape their, um… space Nazis?
Quote #5
KAY: […] Humans, for the most part, don't have a clue. They don't want one or need one either. They're happy. They think they have a good bead on things.
JAY: But why the big secret? People are smart. They can handle it.
KAY: A person is smart. People are dumb, panicky, dangerous animals, and you know it. Fifteen hundred years ago, everybody knew the Earth was the center of the universe. Five hundred years ago, everybody knew the Earth was flat. And 15 minutes ago, you knew that people were alone on this planet. Imagine what you'll knew tomorrow.
Do you think Kay's right or is he underestimating humanity on this one? To be fair, we're not just talking about people who speak another language here.
Quote #6
KAY: This map shows the location of every registered alien on Earth and any given time, some of them under constant surveillance. Everyone on those screens is an alien. In public, they are as normal as you are. In private, well… you'll get the idea.
On Kay's huge observation monitor are movie industry big shots like Steven Spielberg, Sylvester Stallone, and George Lucas, plus politicians like Newt Gingrich. They're all people who have shaped our society or culture in some fashion. Is the film slyly hinting that America would be worse off without its immigration heritage and pool of talented Others?