MUFON Minnesota Journal - No 108

Magazine Overview

This issue of the Minnesota MUFON Journal, dated July/August 2004 (Issue #108), features a "Directors Report" by Dick Moss, MN MUFON State Dir., titled "Must We Stand Idly By?" The report summarizes a presentation by Ron Westrum, PhD, a Professor of Sociology and Interdisciplinary Technology at Eastern Michigan University. The journal also includes articles on the Roswell incident, witness intimidation, and contact with the government.

Directors Report: Must We Stand Idly By?

Ron Westrum's presentation, given at the 1976 MUFON Symposium, is summarized, focusing on his premise that UFO sightings and physical effects do not stem from psychological or social causes. Westrum views UFOs as an anomaly in modern life, leading some to dismiss them as imagination or fraud. He discusses the "extraterrestrial theory," which posits UFOs originate from another planet with intelligent beings, but notes the variety of vehicles and occupants seen challenges this. He also examines Carl Jung's "collective unconscious theory," suggesting UFOs are psychic projections dependent on humans, but questions this by noting that UFO waves don't always correlate with periods of intense psychic turmoil, citing the French UFO wave of 1954. Jacques Vallee's "control system theory," which suggests UFO phenomena guide human evolution, is also mentioned, though its origin is unknown. Westrum argues that UFOs pose a potential threat, capable of causing panic and riots, and that studying them can be dangerous, unlike scientific research. He believes humanities offer the best resources for understanding UFOs, cautioning against seeking "exterior meaning imposed by the phenomenon itself."

John Keel's "superspectrum" theory, which posits UFOs as one manifestation of a broader phenomenon that includes occult events, is presented as appealing to Westrum. This theory suggests human psychic powers can be stimulated by UFO events, leading to psychic activity. However, it's noted that UFOs themselves often appear to be psychic manifestations.

Westrum also commented on the government's perceived lack of interest in UFOs and the scientific background of UFO investigators. The article provides information on how to find more of Ron Westrum's work and suggests ordering MUFON Symposium proceedings.

Minnesota MUFON Meetings

The journal lists upcoming Minnesota MUFON meetings on Saturday, July 10th, and Saturday, August 14th, both from 1:30-5pm, at the New Brighton Family Service Center. Parking is free, and the building is designated as non-smoking.

On Witness Intimidation - The Debunkers' Basic Weapon

By Budd Hopkins of the Intruders Foundation, this article addresses the "ill-informed and often cruel nature" of debunkers' attacks, particularly against abduction experiencers. Hopkins argues that by ridiculing abductees, debunkers discourage others from sharing their accounts and diminish the credibility of their testimony. He outlines common debunking tactics: branding abductees as "mentally ill," "little nobodies," "gay and lesbian," and "publicity hounds." Hopkins counters these claims by citing research that shows no evidence of mental illness in abductees and noting that many experiencers are professionals. He also disputes the claim that abductees are primarily seeking attention, stating that few are willing to appear publicly on TV. Hopkins concludes by praising courageous abductees who have risked their reputations to share their experiences, calling them heroes.

Roswell: 52 Years of Unanswered Questions

This extensive article by Donald R. Schmitt and Thomas J. Carey examines the Roswell incident of 1947, questioning how such an event could be kept secret for so long. It draws parallels to other government secrets that have been revealed, such as the F-117 Stealth fighter and Project Ultra. The article highlights instances of government secrecy, including CIA mind-control experiments and radiation experiments.

The authors present several key questions and points of contention regarding the Roswell incident:

• Lack of immediate recovery: Why was there no search operation until rancher Mac Brazel reported the debris, given the size of the debris field?
• Brazel's reaction: Why was Brazel reportedly angry about the debris, which was unlike previous weather balloon finds, and why did neighbors encourage him to report it for a $3,000 reward instead of the standard $5 for a balloon?
• Military expertise: How could experienced military officers mistake a conventional weather instrument for an actual "flying saucer," especially when a radar interpretation officer was assigned to the intelligence office?
• Debris characteristics: What type of balloon and instrument package could scatter debris over a large area and create a significant gouge in the terrain? What kind of balloon required such extensive cleanup efforts?
• Radiation checks: Why were radiation checks conducted if it was just a weather balloon?
• Brazel's detention: Why was Mac Brazel detained for seven days after reporting the find and subjected to a physical examination?
• Media pressure: Why did the FCC threaten a radio station's license and a Senator persuade the station to comply with FCC orders regarding Roswell reports?
• Security measures: Why were extreme security measures, including armed guards and riflemen, employed at the crash site of a supposed meteorological instrument?
• Bud Payne's removal: Why was a ranch hand physically removed from the site?
• Flights for debris: Why were seven (possibly eight) flights required to transport the remains of a balloon, and why was it done under high security?
• Colonel Blanchard's involvement: Why would the commanding officer of the 509th Bomb Group be involved at the recovery site if it was just a balloon?
• Circleville incident: Why was a weather balloon device in Circleville, Ohio, immediately identified by locals, while the Roswell incident was kept secret?
• Debris description: Why did the debris displayed in General Ramey's office differ from that of a Mogul balloon, and why were hieroglyphic-like characters on I-beam structures not evident in photographs?
• Colonel DuBose's affidavit: Why did Colonel DuBose attest to switching balloon wreckage for genuine material as a "cover story"?
• FBI refutation: Why did the FBI refute General Ramey's claims about debris being flown to Wright Field, stating it was being transported by special plane?
• Special photo team: Why did a special photo team from Washington, D.C., photograph the event, bypassing the base's photo lab?
• Secret Service agents: Why were two Secret Service agents dispatched from Washington to represent the president?
• Unknown doctors/nurses: Why were unknown medical personnel observed at the base hospital?
• Media retrieval: Why did the military retrieve press releases and documents from media outlets if the story was insignificant?
• Sheriff's office retrieval: Why did the military surround the Sheriff's Office to retrieve a small box of debris?
• Northrop flying wings inquiry: Why did the Pentagon inquire about missing Northrop flying wings days after the crash?
• "Bodies" talk: Why was there talk of "bodies" and a surviving crew member, and why does the Air Force now deny such talk took place?
• Witness testimonies: The article cites numerous witnesses, including Edwin Easley, Patrick Saunders, O.W. Henderson, Melvin E. Brown, and others, who on their deathbeds denied the weather balloon explanation and confirmed a "flying saucer" crash and recovery of bodies.
• Material characteristics: Eyewitness descriptions of the material are consistent and do not resemble common weather balloon components, exhibiting unusual properties like memory capabilities.
• Lack of interviews: Why were first-hand witnesses not interviewed for the 1994 Roswell Report?
• Government response to requests: Why did Secretary of Defense Les Aspin refuse to respond to requests for Roswell files from Congressman Steve Shiff?
• Project Mogul secrecy vs. press coverage: If Project Mogul was highly classified, why was the press invited to photograph it, and why was the entire project revealed in the Alamogordo News?
• "Crash dummy" explanation: Why did the 1997 "crash dummy" explanation not consider that witnesses to bodies would likely no longer be in service or in New Mexico?
• Civil rights violations: Why did the US military resort to intimidation and death threats against civilians and their children?
• Refusal to break oaths: Why do retired military personnel still refuse to break their oaths of secrecy years later?

The article concludes that the Roswell case rests on circumstantial evidence and calls for a complete account, suggesting that without public support, the truth may remain hidden. It also includes a letter from Jim Hickman of Skywatch Int., Inc., posing additional questions about the Kilner-Lindbergh Board and Charles Lindberg's interest in "foreign" aircraft.

Contact and Disclosure: A Coverup of the Ambiguous

This section, by Craig R. Lang, MS, CHt, discusses the prospects for government disclosure of UFO-related information. It questions the likelihood of such disclosure and the dynamics of interaction between humanity and "Visitors." It also references an article from Whitley's Journal about the reality of the Visitor.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the nature of UFO phenomena, the challenges of investigating them, the role of government secrecy, and the impact of witness intimidation. The journal strongly advocates for transparency and the disclosure of information related to UFO events, particularly the Roswell incident. The editorial stance appears to be one of skepticism towards official explanations and a belief that a significant cover-up has occurred, with a strong emphasis on the importance of witness testimony and the pursuit of truth, even in the face of official denial and public apathy.

This issue of the Minnesota MUFON Journal, identified by its page number '13' and containing contact information for Minnesota MUFON, delves into the complexities of the UFO phenomenon and the alleged government coverup surrounding it. The content appears to be a compilation of articles and discussions, with a strong focus on the nature of the phenomenon, the motivations behind secrecy, and the potential implications for humanity.

The Phenomenon and Its Reality

The journal begins by presenting arguments for the reality and physicality of the UFO phenomenon, citing personal experiences and those of others. The author concludes that the phenomenon is very real, physical, and potentially non-benevolent, building a strong case for its existence.

The Coverup: Motives and Dynamics

A significant portion of the content is dedicated to exploring the concept of a government coverup. The author discusses various potential motives, suggesting they are largely driven by fear rather than malevolence. One theory posits that in 1947, world governments were warned that sharing knowledge of 'Visitors' could lead to global destruction. Another motive is the fear of the consequences of exposure to advanced alien technology, which could lead to societal collapse or absorption, similar to how lower-tech civilizations are affected by more advanced ones.

The article questions the composition of this 'inner circle' responsible for the coverup, pondering whether they possess true understanding or merely more data. It suggests that many researchers believe governments hold significant data, physical evidence, and possibly even living entities, but this does not equate to comprehension of the phenomenon itself.

The author's hypothesis is that government entities like MJ 12 or the Department of Defense have data but lack genuine knowledge and control over the phenomenon. The coverup is seen as a way to hide the apparent truth that human authorities are not in control of their skies, and they may be as baffled as the public. This denial is framed as a natural human response to fear and confusion, and a mechanism for authority to perpetuate itself by 'circling the wagons' against a challenge it cannot control or understand. It is characterized as a coverup of ambiguity and weakness.

The Ambiguous Nature of the Phenomenon

While Whitley Strieber is cited as claiming the phenomenon is real and physical, the journal emphasizes that it is not necessarily understood. The phenomenon is described as ambiguous, like a 'hall of mirrors,' with many unresolved aspects. A critical element highlighted is the overlay of the physical and metaphysical. Experiencers, often under hypnosis, report being physically taken aboard UFOs, followed by metaphysical events such as encounters with spirit guides or experiences related to past lives, including being an E.T. This continuum of spiritual and metaphysical events is linked to 'nuts-and-bolts' UFO encounters.

Another phenomenon discussed is the 'Oz Factor,' described by Jenny Randles. During a close encounter, surroundings can become surreal, with experiencers finding themselves in non-physical locations or on roads that do not exist. Other anomalies include instances of windows that appear to open outward but are actually fixed glass.

These examples illustrate how the phenomenon can manipulate reality. The author concludes that the phenomenon is an 'intractable and intrusive mystery' that affects citizens and invades the sky, leaving us knowing less the more we learn.

The Government's Role and Relevance

The journal questions the government's role and relevance in the dynamics between humanity and the Visitors. It proposes that the government has very little relevance, as the phenomenon can act at will, flying over restricted airspace and abducting citizens. This implies that human authorities' knowledge or actions are largely irrelevant in this interaction.

Using a 'National Park' metaphor, human society is compared to a pack of animals, and Visitors to naturalists managing the preserve. The 'alpha male' (human authority) is confronted by the Visitors' actions but cannot prevent them or form a relationship. The author hypothesizes that human authorities, the 'alpha structure' of society, have little more control than this alpha wolf.

The Deardorff article is cited, suggesting that human authorities are more of an obstacle than an agent of contact. Visitors may be bypassing them, presenting absurdity to decrease credibility, and witnesses may be silenced by the strangeness rather than by repression.

Disclosure and the Future

Despite the coverup, experiencers are increasingly 'coming out of the closet,' forming a community. Contact is occurring one person at a time, increasing towards a critical mass, with little that authorities can do to stop it. The natural response of human authority is denial, to maintain comfort.

The theory presented is that government coverups will become increasingly untenable. 'Heroic' efforts may be made to keep the phenomenon out of public view, but there will also be an increasing leakage of information, creating a sense of absurdity. The core truth is that human authority is not in control.

The contact process continues, touching humanity one person at a time, fostering a new awareness and understanding. Humanity is seen as grudgingly moving towards a day when it is ready for more open interaction with the Visitors.

Regarding disclosure, the author suspects the phenomenon itself will disclose its presence when humanity is ready to accept its role in the cosmic community.

UFO Quote

A quote from The New York Times, dated January 17, 1957, attributed to Admiral Delmer S. Fahmey, states that no agency in the US or Russia can duplicate the speeds and accelerations of observed flying objects entering the atmosphere at very high speeds.

Minnesota MUFON Information

The issue includes contact details for Minnesota MUFON, including its State Director Richard Moss, Assistant State Director Bill McNeff, Field Investigation Coordinator Craig Lang, Journal Editor Joel Henry, and MUFONET information. A national hotline for reporting UFO news and sightings is also provided.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the existence and nature of the UFO phenomenon, the dynamics and motivations of government coverups, and the potential for future disclosure. The editorial stance appears to be one of critical inquiry into official narratives, emphasizing the ambiguity and potential metaphysical aspects of UFO encounters, and suggesting that human authority's control is limited. There is a belief that the phenomenon is real and intrusive, and that public awareness is growing despite official efforts to the contrary.