Wednesday, April 15, 2020

Para-Luxury



It's all fun 'n' games 'til real problems come along. 

The United States is far and away the global leader in number of annual reported UFO sightings and similar such phenomena. It could be debated whether my country has so many UFO researchers and organizations because we're such a hotbed of activity, or whether we have so much reported activity because so-called researchers and pop culture manufacture it, directly or indirectly. As a friend of mine used to say, "If you don't want to be abducted by aliens, move to France." 

To cut to the chase, many of our fellow UFO buffs throughout the world would be justified in asking if Americans tend to so frequently perceive brushes with aliens and Bigfoot for reasons that include we have enjoyed a relatively spoiled and entitled existence. In other words, when your nation is not being occupied by a hostile invader or food supplies are not cut off, you have the luxury to begin suspecting you're menaced or blessed by paranormal creatures.

This is not to necessarily suggest there is no unknown phenomena worthy of deeper investigation, or that people may not on occasion cross its path. Maybe they do.

However, a valid point can be made that many Americans have indeed enjoyed several decades of having the resources to travel to interesting places to attend UFO conferences and such. We then discuss the perils of government cover-ups and alien agendas with friends while dining in upscale restaurants. Perhaps while this has been taking place, we allowed real problems to gain traction, and the bill has come due. 

The UFO genre is obviously not the only aspect of American culture with leanings towards neglecting issues of higher priority. It is arguably an American characteristic that many believe our country is simply exempt from substantial epidemics and similar life-altering hardships. "It just doesn't happen here," many seem to continue to believe in the face of all evidence.

An attack on science and fact-based information has been underway, the likes of which would require the mention of disturbing regimes of years gone by to offer analogies of such propaganda and populism. The UFO genre most certainly has done more than its share of dismissing qualified experts and critical thinking in lieu of entertaining empty and unfounded claims, subsequently contributing to the 'stupidification' of America. This is often done by people claiming to be professional reporters and trustworthy experts.   

While much of the rest of the world has been rolling its collective eyes over the last three years at what us crazy Americans got ourselves into this time, teams of disease experts - experienced scientists - were dismantled. They would have really come in handy lately.

We also managed to turn our Department of Justice, a fundamental government branch designed to operate independently and uphold, you know, justice, into a counterproductive, partisan-led agency. Inspectors General, traditionally charged with conducting oversight, have been under partisan attack, as have heads of intelligence agencies. The consequences are many and broad, including but by no means limited to the appalling treatment of immigrants, travel bans, and human and civil rights movements lost decades of progress. Unless we all matter, none of us matter.

These are just some of the issues now at stake for Americans. We should each, as individuals, act responsibly on a daily basis, whether that means respecting social distancing recommendations to protect ourselves and communities, or working in potentially dangerous situations for the common good. Many people were suffering hardships even before the pandemic, so our abilities to isolate and take care of ourselves vary, depending on socioeconomic conditions and responsibilities. Stress levels are high and stand to get worse before things get better. This is as good a time as any to do something kind for someone or pad a few extra bucks on a tip for a service worker if you are able. 

Then, when the opportunity presents itself, we should vote, and vote responsibly. Each and every one of us. Please register and vote. Perhaps, at some point, we may then resume arguing about intergalactic travelers stalking the U.S. Navy.

6 comments:

  1. I won't go into politics here (doesn't seem the time or place) though I don't disagree with you. Instead, I'll stick with UFOs.

    The financially failing New York Times and the Discovery family of often insultingly low-brow cable channels notwithstanding, the bulk of Americans hardly seem captivated by UFOs, especially the ever-growing percentage of the population represented by Millennials. They shrug off UFO stories and go right back to playing whatever game they’re currently addicted to.

    TTSA hasn’t caught fire with them, but instead has with the UFO old guard, a demo that doesn’t seem to have ever been TTSA’s target market. UFOs will hang around until Boomers and Gen Xers die off. Then the IC will have to create a new, more relevant straw man to hide behind for Millennials.

    If, as you have often postulated, UFOs are a valuable tool for the US intelligence community, is it not possible that many US UFO reports as well as purported witnesses and “experiencers” are bogus, “plants” meant to keep UFOs in play because they’re still useful for a variety of clandestine activities.

    Widespread belief isn’t necessary; just a carefully tended community of believers who can be manipulated into keeping the UFO pot boiling for as long as it’s needed.

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    1. Yes, I agree it’s feasible some UFO reports may have been planted for specific reasons. James Carrion makes a pretty convincing argument in his work, not just related to ghost rockets, but other events that grabbed some degree of public attention as well, such as reports surrounding the Kenneth Arnold sighting.

      And there’s the report of a crashed saucer in Spitsbergen, literally labeled a “plant” in a file at NSA!:

      http://ufotrail.blogspot.com/2017/07/crashed-saucer-misinformation.html

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  2. "An attack on science and fact-based information has been underway, the likes of which would require the mention of disturbing regimes of years gone by to offer analogies of such propaganda and populism"

    This. Though, some of these attitudes can be traced back to the 60s counter-culture (tune in, drop out, etc.) Vallee, among others, has shown that the 60s and 70s also saw a general turn away from, indeed a distrust of science with also a rise in fringe cults. This was by no means just an American phenomena, as it was also occurring in England and France.


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    1. I would indeed question how anyone could fail to see how the often unsubstantiated beliefs inherent to fringe topics, and the ways they’re amplified on cable and such, have detrimentally affected their followers, i.e., UFO buffs. Rather than accepting the input of scientists and qualified experts, opinions are sought until the answers meet the hopes and expectations. As others point out, it is then not the truth which was found, but someone wanting our ear.

      As always, Adam, thanks for your interest. Best to you and yours.

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  3. I'm quite worried that Bigfoot may contract Covid 19. And what would be the appropriate therapeutic dose of hydroxychloroquine for the big fella? Perhaps the Orange Man can create a task force to study this.

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  4. 10cc Clorox bleach IV
    1 UV Flashlight Enema
    2 Tabs Fish Aquarian Cleaner
    Call me in the morning

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