REALL News - Vol 03 No 08 - 1995

Magazine Overview

The REALL News, Volume 3 Issue 8, published in August 1995, is a newsletter from The Rational Examination Association of Lincoln Land (REALL). This issue prominently features an article titled "Echoing Arnold" by Martin Kottmeyer, which delves into the intriguing parallels between General H.H. Arnold's 1945 predictions of advanced secret weapons and Kenneth Arnold's 1947 UFO sighting. The issue also includes editorial notes, a "REALLity Check" column, and discussions on related topics.

Echoing Arnold

This extensive article by Martin Kottmeyer examines the striking coincidence of two prominent "Arnolds" making headlines with visions of advanced, potentially civilization-ending technology. The New York Times reported on August 18, 1945, that General H.H. Arnold, head of the Army Air Forces, disclosed plans for "robot, jet-propelled atomic bombs" and a "monster bomber" that could target anywhere in the world, warning of the destruction of civilization if such weapons were used.

This was further amplified in a November 19, 1945, Life magazine article, "The 36 Hour War," which illustrated catastrophic scenarios of nuclear war. General Henry Harley "Hap" Arnold (1886-1950) was a respected figure in aviation, credited with making the Army Air Forces a separate branch and holding numerous flying records. His final report predicted rocket bombs launched from spaceships within 30 years.

Kottmeyer notes that Kenneth Arnold's 1947 sighting of "flying saucers" was newsworthy due to their unbelievable speeds, and Kenneth Arnold himself expressed concern about these aircraft being used with atomic bombs to "destroy life on our planet." The author finds it highly coincidental that one Arnold predicted apocalyptic technology and the other witnessed UFOs that could be used for destruction.

Several theories are explored to explain this phenomenon:

• Mystical Mode/John Keel's Theory: The idea that the UFO phenomenon is reflexive, creating experiences to reinforce existing beliefs. However, Kottmeyer finds this stretches the concept, as General Arnold was not theorizing about UFOs.
• Psychohistorical Oracles (Jerry Kroth): The notion that General Arnold's prediction was a "numinous big dream" foreshadowing the flying saucer mystery. Kottmeyer finds this recursive and ultimately pointless.
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): A more rational interpretation suggests a collective PTSD response stemming from the trauma of Hiroshima. Symptoms of PTSD, such as a numbing of general responsiveness, a glassy calm, a sense of foreshortened future, and exaggerated startle responses, are observed in the cultural atmosphere of the time and potentially in the reactions to UFO sightings.
• Identification and Fixation: A theory that Kenneth Arnold was fascinated by his namesake, General Arnold, and fixated on his technological dreams and fears. Kenneth Arnold's near-collision experience in 1947 provided the right setting for these beliefs to influence his interpretation of the sighting.

However, Kottmeyer raises objections to these theories. The actual sequence of events reported by Kenneth Arnold during his experience doesn't fully align with pre-conceived notions of secret weapons. He initially described unusual dipping maneuvers and speeds that didn't impress him until calculations revealed their impossibility. The idea of a government testing a jet or rocket-propelled ship was attributed to an Army Air Force pilot in Pendleton, Oregon, not a direct thought of Kenneth Arnold's during the sighting.

Kottmeyer concludes that while apocalyptic visions of super-secret superplanes arising in the post-Hiroshima cultural environment might be a natural expectation, the fact that two Arnolds received significant page-one attention for different versions of the same concern remains a "very weird coincidence," with no clear causal mechanism readily apparent. He invites readers to share better explanations.

From the Editor

Bob Ladendorf, the Newsletter Editor, introduces the "Echoing Arnold" article, noting that August marks the 50th anniversary of the atomic bombings of Japan. He highlights the article's exploration of the legacy of these bombings and subsequent predictions of future "superweapons" in relation to UFOs. Ladendorf also mentions an upcoming discussion on a local psychic's connection to a murder investigation and a more in-depth look at the matter in a future newsletter.

From the Chairman

David Bloomberg, Chairman, explains that his busy schedule had previously interfered with his writing, but this month, he was actively involved in responding to media inquiries about "psychic" Greta Alexander. Alexander had gained media attention for her predictions allegedly leading police to a missing boy's body. Bloomberg recounts his efforts to disseminate accurate information, including providing comments to a reporter from the State Journal-Register and participating in radio interviews.

He notes that REALL's purpose is to disseminate information, often reactively when media outlets present inaccurate stories. This instance was different as a reporter actively sought REALL's input. The resulting article was well-received by some, while others complained about its skeptical tone.

Bloomberg also announces that the Greta Alexander case will be the focus of the September meeting, featuring a video of a discussion with Bruce Walstad and Greta Alexander herself, along with his own discussion of her earlier adventures as investigated in "Psychic Sleuths."

He also reminds readers about the upcoming Illinois Science Teachers Association convention and requests volunteers.

REALLity Check

David Bloomberg's "REALLity Check" column briefly touches on several topics:

• Greta Alexander Claims: He predicts a longer article on this case and similar ones in a future issue.
• The Other Side of Skepticism: Bloomberg criticizes a talk show called "The Other Side" for its lack of skepticism, quoting TV Guide's Jeff Jarvis who called it "TV's latest low" and noted the host's gullibility.
• Alternative to Health: This section discusses a Dateline NBC report on alternative medicine, focusing on the dangers of L-tryptophan. The supplement was marketed as a "health food" to bypass FDA drug testing, but one company's version contained an impurity that caused immune systems to attack the body, leading to over 5,000 illnesses and at least 36 deaths. Bloomberg warns that the FDA's process for removing such supplements is difficult, and similar issues are likely to arise again. He also briefly mentions the trend of drinking one's own urine as an alternative medicine practice, expressing disgust and quoting Dr. Marc Micozzi's view that it's a bad idea if the body is trying to eliminate something.

Masthead Information

The newsletter provides information about REALL, identifying it as a non-profit educational and scientific organization dedicated to rational thinking and the scientific method concerning paranormal and fringe-science claims. Its primary region of coverage is central Illinois. REALL aims to conduct research, convene meetings, publish a newsletter, and disseminate information. It emphasizes that the scientific method is the most reliable system for obtaining knowledge and that it does not reject paranormal claims a priori but engages in objective, critical inquiry. The REALL News is its official newsletter.

It lists the Board of Directors and Editorial Board members, including Chairman David Bloomberg and Newsletter Editor Bob Ladendorf, and provides contact information for REALL via mail and email.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around skepticism, the critical examination of extraordinary claims, and the importance of the scientific method. The "Echoing Arnold" article exemplifies this by dissecting a seemingly coincidental event through various analytical lenses, ultimately concluding with a call for rational explanations. The "REALLity Check" column directly addresses media sensationalism and the dangers of unverified claims in alternative medicine and paranormal phenomena. REALL's editorial stance is clearly one of promoting rational thought, scientific inquiry, and a healthy dose of skepticism towards unsubstantiated assertions, while remaining open to objective investigation.