Where did all the skeptics go?
by Billy Cox
ARTICLE HERE:
John Alexander’s UFOs: Myths, Conspiracies and Realities rolled off the presses last month at about the same time the democracy asteroid slammed North Africa. Which was followed by Japan’s quake/tsunami/nuke trifecta. Meaning any attention Alexander’s book might’ve swung his way was pretty much shot.
And that’s too bad, because like Leslie Kean’s UFOs: Generals, Pilots and Government Officials Go On the Record, Alexander’s book established a provocative set of talking points that should make everyone joining this debate a bit more alert, no matter which way they come down on it. Alexander, who held security clearances in both military and civilian sectors, chronicled his decades of trying to solve the riddle. And he reported a few things you won’t read in Politico or Congressional Quarterly, like about how former congressman Tom Davis attempted to get the GAO to study the impact of UFOs on air-traffic safety.
But Alexander knew his bottom line would agitate people on all sides of the aisle: UFOs are unequivocally real and undeniable, but no super-secret agency is hoarding any classified information. Not surprisingly, the retired Army colonel has been loudly called out on that second point in many corners, most notably by UFO historian/author Richard Dolan, and Alexander expected that.
What he didn’t expect was a total noise blackout from the so-called skeptics, whom he intentionally baited in UFOs. “There is an underlying primordial issue with most skeptics/debunkers. That is fear,” he wrote. “At risk are the foundations of their belief system. In attending their conventions, you will find that atheism is a quite common theme. The manifestation of those thoughts runs from a simple personal belief to overt hostility toward religion.”
“My goal was to elevate the discussion, to get people involved in this dialogue who are not traditionally involved,” Alexander says from his home in Las Vegas. “I knew the tinfoil hat crowd was going to be upset. But I’ve heard nothing whatsover from the skeptics, and I even mailed a copy of the book to Jim Oberg. What are you supposed to infer from silence?”
At least Oberg made a token effort to trash Kean’s book last August. But none of those other non-traditional voices are joining the discussion Alexander hoped to jump-start, either. For instance, Davis, the Virginia Republican now retired from public office, hasn’t uttered a peep on Alexander’s allegations about his having had a UFO sighting. After all, Dennis Kucinich’s halting confession during a 2007 primary debate invited an almost incoherently rabid media response.
“[Davis] may be interested in returning to office some day,” Alexander says. “If you’re a politician, this is extremely toxic. Part of my effort was to figure out how can we alter the degree of toxicity surrounding this subject. I’ve talked with congressmen who are interested in UFOs, and the first thing I ask them is, can you take a 20-point hit in the polls?
“Politicians will not come on board, despite their belief systems. First of all, you have to have moral courage, and that’s a virtue lacking in all politicians.”
No news peg there.
by Billy Cox
ARTICLE HERE:
John Alexander’s UFOs: Myths, Conspiracies and Realities rolled off the presses last month at about the same time the democracy asteroid slammed North Africa. Which was followed by Japan’s quake/tsunami/nuke trifecta. Meaning any attention Alexander’s book might’ve swung his way was pretty much shot.
And that’s too bad, because like Leslie Kean’s UFOs: Generals, Pilots and Government Officials Go On the Record, Alexander’s book established a provocative set of talking points that should make everyone joining this debate a bit more alert, no matter which way they come down on it. Alexander, who held security clearances in both military and civilian sectors, chronicled his decades of trying to solve the riddle. And he reported a few things you won’t read in Politico or Congressional Quarterly, like about how former congressman Tom Davis attempted to get the GAO to study the impact of UFOs on air-traffic safety.
But Alexander knew his bottom line would agitate people on all sides of the aisle: UFOs are unequivocally real and undeniable, but no super-secret agency is hoarding any classified information. Not surprisingly, the retired Army colonel has been loudly called out on that second point in many corners, most notably by UFO historian/author Richard Dolan, and Alexander expected that.
What he didn’t expect was a total noise blackout from the so-called skeptics, whom he intentionally baited in UFOs. “There is an underlying primordial issue with most skeptics/debunkers. That is fear,” he wrote. “At risk are the foundations of their belief system. In attending their conventions, you will find that atheism is a quite common theme. The manifestation of those thoughts runs from a simple personal belief to overt hostility toward religion.”
“My goal was to elevate the discussion, to get people involved in this dialogue who are not traditionally involved,” Alexander says from his home in Las Vegas. “I knew the tinfoil hat crowd was going to be upset. But I’ve heard nothing whatsover from the skeptics, and I even mailed a copy of the book to Jim Oberg. What are you supposed to infer from silence?”
At least Oberg made a token effort to trash Kean’s book last August. But none of those other non-traditional voices are joining the discussion Alexander hoped to jump-start, either. For instance, Davis, the Virginia Republican now retired from public office, hasn’t uttered a peep on Alexander’s allegations about his having had a UFO sighting. After all, Dennis Kucinich’s halting confession during a 2007 primary debate invited an almost incoherently rabid media response.
“[Davis] may be interested in returning to office some day,” Alexander says. “If you’re a politician, this is extremely toxic. Part of my effort was to figure out how can we alter the degree of toxicity surrounding this subject. I’ve talked with congressmen who are interested in UFOs, and the first thing I ask them is, can you take a 20-point hit in the polls?
“Politicians will not come on board, despite their belief systems. First of all, you have to have moral courage, and that’s a virtue lacking in all politicians.”
No news peg there.
