As I mentioned in my last regular post of the summer, I will post a blog on occasion when something catches my attention. The UFO report due out in a week or two definitely fits the definition.
It’s almost impossible to believe.
I’m not talking about UFOs, which I find easy to believe. I’m talking about Republicans and Democrats agreeing on something. At this point in our history, it seems like the possibility of UFOs zipping through the skies of the world is much higher than the possibility of Republican and Democrats working together in the public interest. (Hopefully, I’m wrong.)
And now, both Democrats and Republicans are speaking out about the need to crank up our intelligence on Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs), or Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAPs), to use the modern term. Obama, Trump, and Biden all agree. As do Adam Schiff and Marco Rubio. A report is scheduled to be released this month that will detail what we know, or at least what the government is willing to share with us.
Leaks have suggested that the report will admit that not all UAPs can be explained away with the usual claims that they are the result of some type of natural phenomena or an over-active imagination. The fact that many of the sightings have come from military pilots makes such claims particularly difficult to maintain. These folks hardly fit the definition of delusional eccentrics. One pilot noted that sightings have been reported almost daily for the past two years— often around military installations. No wonder the government is excited.
So far, America’s political leadership seems focused on the possibility that another government may have developed a technology far superior to anything the US has— at least publicly. It’s more palatable than admitting to the existence of extra-terrestrials from outer space (or Earth). And also easier to obtain funds for. The first hypothesis is merely scary. The second is mind-boggling and will forever change our perspective on who we are.
I doubt the viability of the ‘other government’ scenario. For one, can you imagine how difficult it would be to keep such a secret? Then there is the temptation to exploit such technology to gain political advantage. It’s hard to imagine any modern nation failing to do so. And finally, we are talking about a technology that would have been available for over 80 years given modern day sightings. And probably much longer.
Our present day governmental efforts to get a handle on what’s out there, date back 14 years when Harry Reid, (D. Nevada and then Senate Majority Leader), persuaded two colleagues, Ted Stevens, (R. Alaska) and Daniel Inouye (D. Hawaii) to join him in sponsoring a bill that would dedicate $22 million to assessing whether UFOs posed a threat. Reid said it took him about ten minutes to persuade the two to go along with him. Stevens, who claimed to have seen a UFO when he was a pilot during WWII, signed on at once.
Assuming the existence of aliens for a moment, three questions come to mind: Who and/or what are they, where do they come from, and what are their intentions regarding humanity? Our initial vision of bi-pedal greenish creatures with big eyes is based on original claims of the Roswell crash of 1946 which may— or may not— have happened. (If you want to watch a hilarious but R-rated view of the crash, check out the movie, Paul.)
The where raises an interesting question. If they are frequent visitors from another galaxy, then their technology has taken a quantum, faster than light leap. Or maybe they use worm holes in space. Or come from a parallel universe. All are popular subjects of science fiction and modern speculative physics. Or maybe they operate from a base on earth. I could see a mother ship dropping them off eons ago and urging them to observe evolving species, particularly the one that liked to go around bashing each other’s brains with large clubs.
The intentions question may turn out to be the most important. As far as we know, the aliens have taken a hands off approach, monitoring but not interfering in our evolutionary and technological development. Why? Is there some kind of Star Trek ethic of not interfering with primitive societies. Or are they making a determination about our behavior. Are we intelligent beings who should be welcomed into the galactic community at some point in the future? Or are we a nasty virus that poses a threat to the Universe and needs to be destroyed? Apparently, the jury is still out. Do they see us on the edge of self-destruction and foresee a need to step in and alter our path? Their focus on military installations suggests a concern on what damage we might cause in outer space or what damage we might do to each other. Or what if they are scouts, preparing for a future invasion. Lots of questions and no real answers. Yet.
As for my sighting of a UFO in the fall of 1968, I was in Sacramento at the time. I had just returned from my stint as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Africa and a Peace Corps recruiter in the South. I had moved to Sacramento to open a Peace Corps Public Affairs office for Northern California and Northern Nevada. One evening, I stepped outside my apartment on La Riviera Drive next to the American River when a round, saucer shaped object caught my attention. It disappeared into a cloud. Before I could think of the implications, the object came out of the cloud going in another direction, accelerated and quickly disappeared from view. The UFO was not something fuzzy I saw in the distance on a dark night when I had been indulging in a hallucinogenic drug. It was still light out and my view was crystal clear. There was no doubt in my mind as to what I had seen. And I have never doubted the existence of UFOs since.
Wandering through Time and Place 
Curt, how amazing to have seen a UFO yourself? I’m almost envious! 😀 I was fascinated by the topic as a teenager and the level of secrecy only made it more interesting. It is hard to believe that there is a consensus to reveal documents hidden for so – I’ll scour them when released. As for the pictographs at Sego Canyon in Utah – these look like they’ve been made for a prank in modern days and nearly unfathomable created thousands of years ago. Any alien visitors here are very patient indeed!😀
🤗
🙂 🙂
One of the highlights of my life, Annika. 🙂
It certainly made a believer out of me. I can’t wait for the report. Simply admitting that a percentage of sightings can’t be explained by any natural phenomena we know is a huge step forward. I think that the increase in sightings is driving the desire to know more about what we are seeing… whatever it is.
Sego Canyon is one of my all-time favorite pictograph and petroglyph areas. It’s in Utah only 50 or so miles north of Arches National Park.
In terms of patience, I wonder if they operate on a different time frame? Thanks for commenting. –Curt
I have often wondered why we tend to assume that aliens will be a threat. I blame H G Wells. I remember Saturday morning pictures when aliens were always ugly creatures that were always after our women, which thinking about it now is a bit improbable. A scaly black lizard creature thing is probably more inclined to have the hots for another scaly black lizard creature back home on Mars or wherever else it came from and would be more inclined to run off with an iguana rather than an earth female.
Paul is one of my favourite scifi movies. And Starman and KPAX.
Laughing, Andrew, about the iguana scenario. And agree on your idea about threat. As I just mentioned to AV, part of the problem is we use ourselves as the yardstick to measure their behavior.
I haven’t seen KPAX. I’ll have to check it out. Thanks. –Curt
Aliens may not risk contact because they might be aware of this story…
People from the town of Hartlepool in north east England are known as Monkeyhangers because during the Napoleonic wars the residents of the town allegedly mistook a monkey for a Frenchman and strung it up from the town gallows.
According to the story a French ship was wrecked off the coast and the only survivor was the monkey, the ship’s mascot wearing a French uniform. On discovering the monkey, some locals decided to hold an impromptu trial on the beach and since the unfortunate animal was unable to answer their questions (and many locals were unaware of what a Frenchman may look like) they concluded that the monkey was in fact a French spy and had it put to death.
🙂 Sound like serious monkey-business to me, Andrew. If the aliens are out there, they probably have a very long list of reasons to let humanity evolve considerably before making contact! Thanks for the story. –Curt
Andrew, the “after our women” trope is all too common–and usually to undermine men of other races, who are current residents of the planet.
Interesting theory.
Love Starman
One of my go to movies.
The threat issue may not be one directed by UFOs towards humankind, but the dramatic effect that occurs whenever a more technologically advanced society rubs up against a more primitive society. The more primitive societies often collapse. It is such an assault on their gestalt and worldview, that they succumb. We’ve seen it repeatedly on this planet (though often accompanied by oppressive intent by the more advanced group.)
But, if any species deserved a bit of comeuppance right now, it’d be us. We’re on the verge of wasting a perfectly good planet.
Then, of course, there’s the Twilight Zone version…”To serve Man.”
If there is something, it will be a shock, no doubt about it, AV. So far, if the aliens do exist and represent an advanced civilization, they have certainly maintained a hands off approach. The yard stick we have usually applied to extraterrestrials is ourselves. I’m not sure I would wish that on anyone. 🙂 –Curt
Presumably advanced, and, understandably, keeping their distance. So, the oft repeated line about aliens locking the doors to their spaceships as they fly by the neighborhood.
Even more so, perhaps, when increasing technology is added to our behavior. I’m reminded of the old Chad Mitchell trio song, “Close the door, lock and latch it; Here comes Lizzy with a brand new hatchet.” –C
I am confident that whatever it is that people see is not a product of our or any other country- sightings go back too far in time to be something that could have been produced then- or now. Aliens? nearest possible home of other creatures it too far away to warrant traveling here repeatedly. With those facts in my mind the only thing left is some sore of natural phenomena, ball lighting?
I think that there is a lot we don’t know, Don. Physics certainly hints at some possibilities. What I saw fits the description of what others have seen in terms of UFOs: The shape, the ability to change directions, and the rapid acceleration. Given the one relatively small, fluffy white cloud (maybe and acre or two to put a land size on it) that the UFO went into and came out of wasn’t a lightning producing cloud. And the object was grey. Anyway, it will be interesting to see what the report has to say. It will deal with natural phenomena. Thanks for you thoughts! –Curt
Once during catechism class as a kid, someone asked the nun if she, and/or the church believed in an alien species and ufo’s. The Nun thought for a little bit and then said, “I would be saying that God was only powerful enough to create one planet with life. It would also be very egotistical to think we were the only ones .
Sounds like a good answer for a Nun, G. She was at least admitting the possibility. 🙂
Wow Curt!! A very interesting story! Boy you sure have seen some things in your day and I’ve really been enjoying reading all your posts from the frontlines of history. Also I have to say the opener to this post had me bursting out laughing. Well done. An interesting day indeed when all Rs and Ds can agree on is aliens haha. I’ve never seen anything myself but I’ve also never really believed we’re totally alone out there. It will be interesting to see what the report says!
Thanks, M.B. It’s a strange world out there. 🙂 I, too, am eager to see what the report says. I worry a little bit on how much stress is put on the threat part of the equation. Not that it isn’t important to think of it as one of the possibilities.
Yeah, I found the Democrats and Republicans agreeing humorous. Maybe they will learn something… But I’m not holding my breath. –Curt
There are lots of aliens right here amongst us. We watched a program last night whereby our own Prime Minister’s close friend is a Qanon adherent, firmly of the belief that red shoes are worn by evil people so that the spilled blood of murdered children won’t be noticed.
https://www.abc.net.au/4corners/the-great-awakening/13387338
Hard to get much more weird than Q-anon, Gerard. I am going to bet if there are extraterrestrials, they are a lot more rational that the Q-Anon bunch. –Curt
Great post Curt! I have no doubt they are here, and have been for a long time. Like you I’ve had my own encounter, but believed long before that after reading Chariots of the Gods. The book made a pretty compelling argument. As for who, what, why, etc. one day we’ll find out. Or not 🙂
Alison
“As for who, what, why, etc. one day we’ll find out. Or not.” Hopefully, if we do, it will be for better rather than for worse! Thanks, Alison, for adding your thoughts. –Curt
Fascinating account. I wonder if we will ever really know?
I hope so, Peggy. In a good way. 🙂 Thanks. –Curt
Love this post. While I do think there could be life (as defined by us) on other planets, I don’t know that the UFOs we see are full of alien beings. But, who knows?
I suspect we will find out, one way or the other, one of these days, Juliann. 🙂 Thanks! –Curt
That particular pictograph set leaves little doubt for me in this context. Maybe back when they were painted, there were alien visitors and it was common knowledge among Earth-dwellers? So cool that you had your own UFO sighting.
Even if it was a shaman drug induced vision, Crystal, I would wonder about the basis of the vision.
It was a life-changing kind of view, Crystal, for sure.
I’m sure I’ve told you the story of my UFO sighting. Surely a bus filled with high school kids and chaperones on the Pennsylvania turnpike can’t be wrong, even if it was the middle of the night. When you’re being tailed by a fluorescent green, cigar shaped ‘something’ for miles, and then watch it lift up into the sky and disappear, you know you’ve seen ‘something.’
I’ll read any reports with interest. In the meantime, I’ll continue pursuing sightings of my unidentified flowering objects!
I remember the story, Linda. And a whole busload of kids is hard to refute. Maybe you should be glad that all it did was follow. It seemed to have a lot of interest in your bus.
There’s a much bigger chance of identifying a flower… If not, maybe it could be name after you, Linda. 🙂
Peggy ordered material for the African quilt last night, including the pattern you liked. –Curt