JUST CAUSE

Magazine Overview

Title: JUST CAUSE
Issue: NUMBER 51
Date: November 1997
Publisher: Citizens Against UFO Secrecy
Editor: Barry Greenwood

This issue of Just Cause, published by Citizens Against UFO Secrecy, is dated November 1997 and is edited by Barry Greenwood. The cover features the magazine's title and an illustration of a classical building. The issue is priced at $15 US and $20 Foreign.

Editorial

Editor Barry Greenwood apologizes for the significant delay in the newsletter's publication, attributing it to his work schedule, which has limited his ability to engage in UFO research. He anticipates that this trend may continue, leading to further lapses in regularity, and expresses a need for financial support to dedicate himself full-time to UFO history research. Greenwood notes that the summer of 1997 was filled with events that, while interesting, were largely perceived as "dumb, stupid and foolish," representing a poor celebration of the topic of unexplained phenomena.

May 1997: Media and UFOs

The prelude to the fiftieth anniversary of UFOs saw the release of Walter Boyne's book, "Beyond the Wild Blue: A History of the Air Force, 1947-1997." Although the book does not focus on UFOs, Boyne was inundated with questions about UFO cover-ups and Roswell during its publicity. The editor notes a Portland, Maine Press-Herald article (5-31) suggesting that distractions from the Lt. Kelly Flinn sexual affair and flying saucers would obscure the Air Force's achievements.

Another widely publicized event on May 20 involved a C-SPAN broadcast where cosmonauts aboard the Russian space station "Mir" were asked about sex in space and UFOs during a live call-in session. Greenwood cites a "TV Guide" idea that sex and UFOs are reliable ways to score TV ratings, appealing to a "lowest common denominator." He observes a common attitude among media interviewers who, while appearing fair on camera, dismiss UFOs as a "nut" topic off-camera.

Columnist Dale McFeatters of the Scripps Howard News Service referred to a "daffy percentage of the population" believing in alien visitation, using terms like "gullible weirdos" and "UFO nuts." A cartoon in the Sacramento, CA Comic Press News (5-97) depicted UFO cultists boarding a spaceship, humorously illustrating the removal of their brains. The editor concludes that while there are varying levels of seriousness within the UFO community, outsiders often perceive little distinction, and the actions of some can damage the reputation of all, leading to UFOlogists being labeled as "nuts."

June 1997: The Roswell Controversy

June began with the release of Philip Corso's book, "The Day After Roswell," which claimed to reveal secrets of the Roswell crash and the subsequent technological advancements derived from it. The book was initially supported by Senator Strom Thurman, Chairman of the Senate Armed Forces Committee. However, on June 6, Thurman publicly retracted his forward, stating that Corso had not informed him of the UFO material and that the book did not resemble the proposal given for review. The editor views this as a deliberate deception by Corso to sell books, noting that controversy, rather than credibility, often drives sales in today's world. The book sold well, and the Thurman controversy likely increased its visibility.

Greenwood reflects on how easily the public can be manipulated and molded. He contrasts those who adhere to integrity in UFO research with those who seek financial reward through sensationalism. He argues that while compensation for honest work is acceptable, UFO research has historically prioritized drama over documentaries, leading to a "business age" where novelty tires and capitalization becomes the focus. The commercialization of UFOs is evident in the merchandising of flying saucer-related items, with headlines from various newspapers illustrating this trend, such as "Roswell Profits from UFO Fixation" and "Roswell Going for UFO Gold."

On June 24th, the Air Force released its report on the Roswell incident.

The Air Force Report on Roswell Continued

This summer saw unprecedented press coverage of UFOs, potentially leading to a surge in UFOlogist memberships. However, the editor characterizes this wave as "substanceless," with coverage focused primarily on the Roswell incident, diverting attention from other 1947 events. The Air Force's "Roswell Report: Case Closed" (dubbed "Roswell 2") was released as a "final" dismissal of UFOs.

Unlike the 1994 report ("Roswell 1"), which addressed the debris from a "Project Mogul" balloon train, "Roswell 2" focused on the issue of reported alien bodies. It offered numerous explanations, attributing sightings to anthropomorphic dummies used in high-altitude air drop experiments over the southwest during the 1950s. These experiments, involving parachute testing for potential space travel, began in 1953, six years after the Roswell incident. The Air Force suggested that memories of these dummy drops, occurring years later, were misremembered as being connected to the 1947 event, with memories surfacing in the late 1970s.

Greenwood notes that, aside from anecdotal testimony, no documentation (news reports, photos, letters, etc.) supports the alien body claims. The Air Force argued that existing testimony correlated with observations from later 1950s accidents (an air crash and a balloon accident), suggesting these earthly incidents, rather than an extraterrestrial landing, were the source of the stories. Witnesses favoring an extraterrestrial explanation insist they saw aliens, but the Air Force maintains they were victims of "time compression."

A specific example of memory fault is detailed in "Roswell 2," section 2.1, "The Missing Nurse and the Pediatrician." Captain James McAndrew demonstrated flaws in mortician Glenn Dennis's memory, showing that individuals Dennis recalled as involved in alien body recovery were not present at Roswell at the time, though some matched his physical descriptions and were present later in the 1950s. None confirmed a UFO or alien presence.

The editor defends "Roswell 2" against criticism from UFOlogists, suggesting much of the condemnation preceded the report's release and was based on press summaries. The press conference announcing the report was described as "poorly-done" and "over-cooked," doing more to undermine the report than promote it. Colonel John Haynes's evasive response when asked about confusing dates (1953 vs. 1947) further fueled skepticism. The press treated the "crash test dummy" explanation with skepticism, not accepting the alien landing theory. This situation is compared to the 1966 explanation of "swamp gas" for Michigan UFO sightings, with "Crash Test Dummy" now becoming the new comedic stereotype for debunking.

Greenwood questions the reasonableness of confusing a test dummy with an extraterrestrial, noting that while National Highway Traffic Safety Administration uses dummies for promotion, an intelligent person should distinguish between an inanimate object and an alien. He points out that proponents have failed to prove the existence of aliens, making acceptance of such claims an unreasonable belief. The report on page 36 of "Roswell 2" describes a dummy drop that caused a woman near Roswell to believe it was a dead body, suggesting that over thirty years, memories could be metamorphosed into alien encounters, especially with the suggestibility surrounding Roswell.

He reminds readers that the Roswell incident was not an issue until 1978, when Jesse Marcel surfaced, shortly after NASA's announcement about needing "one little green man" for a program. The editor questions the lack of Roswell-as-alien evidence predating NASA's late 1977 announcement.

July 1997: Commercialization and Reaction

With the release of "Roswell 2," attention shifted to reactions and festivities in Roswell, overshadowing thousands of other 1947 reports. The editor suggests that the Roswell/ET connection, a manifestation of the late 1970s, should be celebrated in 2028, its fiftieth anniversary. The Roswell celebration is described as a "bizarre commercial affair," with the city exploiting ET interest through merchandise like "UFO Glow Pops," alien dolls, and an "Alien Autopsy Game." UFOs and aliens have become "pet rocks" of the 1990s, entrenched in public consciousness regardless of reason.

The Scranton, PA Tribune (7-4) noted that loyal followers surround UFO writers like Stanton Friedman, Kevin Randle, and Donald Schmitt, seeking autographs and opinions. The article also highlighted infighting and ridicule among UFOlogists regarding their theories. Headlines from various newspapers reflect the ongoing "UFO craze," with some calling it "Complete, Absolute Bunk" and others linking it to Satan.

The Arizona Republic (Phoenix) (7-8) lamented the public's disinterest in the Pathfinder space probe landing on Mars, labeling the public as "sensation-addicted." Richard Hoagland of "Face on Mars" fame suggested the Pathfinder mission was a hoax, a claim the editor dismisses as lacking evidence. Greenwood proposes a humorous theory: the growth of professional wrestling is evidence of an ET invasion due to the wrestlers' appearance.

A significant development was Kent Jeffrey, a Roswell advocate, becoming a skeptic. Jeffrey, who launched the "Roswell Declaration" project, revealed in the June MUFON Journal that "It did not happen, period." The editor of the MUFON Journal agreed, and Dennis Stacy stated that no extraterrestrial vehicle was recovered. Stacy resigned as editor following complaints about publishing Jeffrey's revelation.

Discussion

Greenwood concludes that UFO research has become unrecognizable from scientific inquiry, with devotion to belief overshadowing the desire for answers and common sense, bordering on cult-like behavior. He expresses frustration that efforts to make UFO research serious have been futile. He has documented misconduct in the newsletter over his thirty years in the subject, but it continues to deteriorate. He anticipates stepping away from public UFO research in the next couple of years to focus on private research into the early years of the subject with a few individuals. He believes the UFO craze's strength depends on its foundational pillars and that the discussion of Summer 1997 will continue in the next issue.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the media's skeptical and often dismissive portrayal of UFO phenomena, the commercialization of UFOs, particularly surrounding the Roswell incident, and the perceived decline of serious scientific inquiry within the UFO research community. The editor's stance is critical and disillusioned, expressing frustration with sensationalism, lack of evidence, internal conflicts among researchers, and the difficulty of maintaining credibility in the field. He advocates for a more rigorous, evidence-based approach and laments the transformation of UFOlogy into something resembling a cult or a business venture driven by controversy and profit rather than genuine investigation.