World atlas of UFO's - Globale-Evolution TV

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LAST BASTION OF ETH
The number of annual UPX) conferences and
symposia is on the rise as well, though the quality of
the presentations varies widely. After a lengthy
absence, there are now two national news-stand
magazines devoted to the subject, though again the
contents of each issue fluctuate dramatically in terms
of reliability. So called tabloid TV programmes regularly
feature UFO stories, and of course the taller
tales remain a favourite staple of the supermarket
press. Jacques Vallee has returned to the publishing
fold with Dimensions and Confrontations, studies
which link folklore with UFOs. We have also seen, in
1990, the hardback appearance of Ed Conroy's well
received Report on Communion and The Gulf Breeze
Sightings by Ed and Frances Walters. An eagerly
anticipated study by reporter Howard Blum, Out
There, was also published towards the end of 1990.
Other books that impinge on or envelope the UFO
subject, favourably or critically, are too numerous to
mention, but balance would hardly be served if we did
not refer to the revised paperback appearance of UFO
Abductions: A Dangerous Game, by skeptic Philip
Klass. Several English titles have also received limited
distribution here, although Timothy Good's Above Top
Secret was picked up by a major American publisher.
The amateur press has been extremely preoccupied
as well, and both MUFON and CUFOS, the Center for
UFO Studies, continue to produce monthly and
bi-monthly journals respectively. Journals back in
business include The Journal of UFO Studies along
with Caveat Emptor, a local equivalent on a somewhat
more folksy scale than England's Magonia. No doubt I
have left much out in this brief summary, and my
apologies to anyone particularly offended.
Just as in the political arena, ufology has its own
extreme elements. The more vocal of these have
begun to raise rumours abroad of a secret diplomatic
treaty between our government and the diminutive
(one is tempted to say, demonic) 'grays'. What is
encouraging about the present picture is the unlikelihood
of any extreme minority, however vocal or
active, assuming the mainstream mantle. There is a
certain inertia or gravity in human affairs which may
well work to our advantage, although in the meantime,
strikes me as a by-product of human nature and
behaviour as opposed to anything fundamentally
inherent to ufology, American or otherwise. Although
sheer cantankerousness can be distracting and wasteful
of both precious time and energy, it also demonstrates
that US ufology is anything but moribund, and
that the spirit of American individualism is alive and
well, if not particularly inclined towards harmony and
co-operation.
Unfortunately, there is at least one other alarming
proclivity that should be addressed, and that is the
temptation, in this most litigious of societies, to settle
some issues in a court of law rather than through open
dialogue and public opinion. These civil actions to date
have mostly been lodged against other nationals,
whose laws allow for financial retribution in the case of
libel. Some of us here wait with bated breath and
crossed fingers for similar suits to be filed in this
country. While the prospect of legal action may
indicate to some people a 'coming of age' for ufology, it
is safe to say it is not the one most American
ufologists have in mind as they continue to court public
opinion and scientific respectability.
Now, where do we stand vis-a-vis our contemporaries?
Despite the difficulties of the science involved
(the distance between stars, the unlikelihood of so
many extraterrestrials suddenly showing up on our
doorstep, etc.), the ETH must remain a viable theory.
Theories, after all is said and done, are all we have.
But if one theory can be convincingly shown to be
better than another, then Americans will be among the
first to welcome it and applaud. So far this has not
been the case. Arguing that abductions, for example,
are predominantly psychological in origin, and therefore,
so is the science of ufology at present is a far cry
from an overall viable theory. In fact, so scarce is our
scratch on the surface, that hard and fast facts are
difficult to come by that would support any overall
theory, including those of mass psychokinesis,
psychotronic control systems, and a number of other
hypotheses, half- or full-baked, that have been offered
up over the last half century. I also include here the
ultraskeptical, Shakespearean notion that all this has
been 'much ado about nothuig'.
It may behove us all to keep an open mind, be
patient, and remember that the U in UFO stands for
unidentified. That may not be an especially popular or
American point of view, but neither w-as the twominute
hamburger until we won the war.
the rumour mongers are not exactly perfonning a
public service in our best interest.
In-fighting and factionalism abound, but this
Dennis Stacy is both a full-time writer and the editor of
MUFON Journal, the house magazine of the Mutual UFO
Network. His editorship is characterized by impartial and
well-informed commentary so vital in a country where
extreme views and high passions often run free.
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