The Modern Day Albatross

The Ancient Mariner made a terrible decision and for it he was punished. But the punishment was not simply shame and ridicule but a curse on him and on those around him. The Albatross itself was a temporary punishment and burden that existed as a sign of things to come.
I wonder personally if there was something modern that could reflect or be considered parallel to the Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner. Perhaps not because the author gave thought to it, but simply through the emotions and the process by which the Ancient Mariner made the mistake, and was punished to the point of which he told the story to others, perhaps for the rest of eternity.
But what could fit humanity as a curse that at first may have seemed like a good idea, and today continues to haunt us and forces us to retell stories and warnings? If such a thing were to exist, who would we tell besides our children? Would it matter all that much, or is it simply worth it to leave the message where it is and when it was?
Now you may laugh at this, but from a modern perspective it does not seem like a stretch to find nuclear weaponry as a modern day version of the albatross. While obviously it does not live, the act of using a nuclear weapon sends a clear message, to the point that a countries power becomes, or can become, relative to how many nuclear bombs they have in their arsenal.
The single act of creating this bomb changed the face of an entire war (World War II) and then the course of history by adding a new and more global threat to the negotiating tables. A new form of raising the bar as far as equality went, and of course a curse that hangs over our heads.
Of course, no supernatural creature is watching over us and throwing dice in order to decide on our fate and punishment, but that's what the leaders of our government are for. At the same time, we are not responsible for the first creation of the nuclear bomb that eventually became produced and infamous today. But the same can be said of the crew of the Ancient Mariner, who were not responsible (directly) with the death of the Albatross.
What does this all mean? I find that it could mean that using old poetry and connecting it to the modern day world is possible, and sometimes can actually fit pretty well. Just seems like a good way to garner more interest in poetry that seems out-of-date in the eyes of many people.