1997 07 21 Time SUFOG scan SUFOG DVD

Magazine Overview

Title: TIME
Issue Date: July 21, 1997
Volume: 150
Cover Headline: The Roswell Files

This issue of TIME magazine features a collection of letters to the editor responding to previous coverage of the Roswell incident. The letters showcase a range of perspectives, from those who believe in extraterrestrial visitation and government cover-ups to those who advocate for skepticism and critical thinking.

Letters to the Editor

"We Used to Laugh..."

Olav Doksum of Tomter, Norway, reflects on humanity's fascination with the inexplicable, drawing parallels between primitive peoples' beliefs in spirits and witchcraft and modern beliefs in UFOs and extraterrestrial visitors. He notes the accusation that U.S. authorities are hiding the truth about the Roswell incident and finds the idea of hiding reality from the aggressive U.S. media to be a mystery in itself. Despite this, he views the preoccupation with the inexplicable as a harmless one.

"I Usually Take My Copy..."

Stormy Jade Wong from Lawndale, Calif., humorously admits to using TIME magazine as a disguise for reading tabloids during lunch. She jokes that the Roswell cover did not provide much of a disguise and wonders if Elvis sightings will be the next topic.

"Perhaps the Real Cover-Up..."

Bruce C. Jewett of Belmont, Calif., proposes that the real cover-up concerns the Air Force's alleged waste of taxpayer money on spy balloons and the dropping of dwarf dummies. He suggests that if extraterrestrials do land, humanity should sue them for damages caused by the resulting "mindless hysteria."

"We May Never Know What Happened at Roswell..."

This section, likely an editorial or introduction to the letters, frames the Roswell incident as a point of contention. It states that while the truth of what happened at Roswell may never be known, the Air Force's statements about dummies are typical of misinformation that fuels the belief in a major cover-up. The author argues that any dummies used to study high-altitude falls would need to replicate the human body in size, weight, aerodynamics, and vulnerability, making the idea of tossing small, soft stand-ins from balloons "patently absurd."

"For Believers, the Strange Events at Roswell..."

Oscar Mann of Nairobi comments on the absurdity of the Air Force's explanation regarding dummies.

Doug Parrish of Howell, Mich., likens the Roswell believers' stance to that of Christians, suggesting that both seek to make sense out of senselessness. He notes that recent events, photos of unusual craft, and accounts of abductees support the Roswell belief.

"As Executive Producer and Co-Writer..."

Paul Davids of Los Angeles, who was involved in the 1994 Showtime film *Roswell*, defends Philip J. Corso's book *The Day After Roswell*. Davids calls it the most important breakthrough on UFOs in half a century, highlighting Corso's background in the National Security Council and his alleged revelations about a UFO cover-up. Davids asserts that Corso provides the best justification for the secrecy surrounding Roswell, suggesting that the U.S. government used this secrecy to achieve scientific breakthroughs that define the modern world, implying that the debris from the Roswell crash was not of Earthly origin.

"Your Report Raised the Age-Old Question..."

Gerry Graham of Weston, Canada, questions whether intelligent life exists in the universe, concluding that based on evidence on Earth, the answer is no, unless intelligence standards are set very low.

"I'm Not Sure What an Air Force..."

Karl Mamer of Toronto expresses doubt that an Air Force or General Accounting Office investigation can convince true believers of the Roswell incident. He observes that some people believe science-fiction shows are fact and actual events like moon landings are science fiction, leading him to advocate for critical thinking courses at the grade-school level.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in these letters include the persistent belief in the Roswell incident as evidence of extraterrestrial visitation and a government cover-up, skepticism towards official explanations, and the role of media in shaping public perception. There is also a strong undercurrent of debate about the nature of belief itself, with some advocating for critical thinking and scientific reasoning as a counterpoint to unsubstantiated claims. The editorial stance, as inferred from the framing of the letters and the inclusion of the critical thinking argument, leans towards a cautious, evidence-based approach, while acknowledging the public's enduring fascination with the unexplained.