UFOs, or UAPs, remain a hot-button, divisive topic in the United States but not in other places such as South America. The contrast in just one week couldn’t be more stark. One reason is obvious: transparency or the lack thereof. Related to that secrecy has been a long-standing cultural stigmatization. It was put in place over 70 years ago to discourage openness. While recent reports suggest it’s changing, should we “bet our boots?” as the NASA Director suggests?
First, we have reports from Mexico and South America, where the subject has not been a “closely guarded government secret.” Then, we’ll contrast with the US and NASA’s recent first-time serious foray into the subject.
Consider this quote by a General in Brazil, where they “openly wonder about extraterrestrials without fear of derision.”
“The science of man is very small to be able to explain all phenomena,” said Gen. Marco Aurélio Rosa. “And our cultural and ethnic mixing has enabled Brazilians to have this curiosity about the supernatural, the mystical and transcendental, that ends up leading us to the question of ufology.”
Open Curiosity Versus Classified Knowledge
Notice Rosa understands the subject as covering more than the scientific. It ventures into the unexplainable and the transcendental, which must include the metaphysical or spiritual. In these realms, the scientific approach is rendered useless and moot.
Contrast this with the United States, where it’s known misinformation has been spread to the public about UFOs since the 50s. According to researchers, the motives for disinformation campaigns have been fears of “ceding a strategic advantage” when it comes to military interests. Have interests in keeping knowledge classified suddenly subsided in 2023?
“In the darkest days of the Cold War, the military lied to the American public about the true nature of many unidentified flying objects in an effort to hide its growing fleets of spy planes, a Central Intelligence Agency study says,” the New York Times reported in 1997.
ET the Extraterrestrial Goes to Congress
Meanwhile, Jaime Maussan, a reporter and journalist since the 70s in Mexico, is being called a “self proclaimed UFO expert” by the American press, despite his long-standing career. Maussan appeared before Mexican lawmakers to say, “we are not alone.” Unlike in recent US congressional testimony, he brought physical evidence of what he claims are extraterrestrial bodies. Notably, US Navy Pilot Ryan Graves, who appeared before the US Congress was also there in Mexico.
“The two tiny ‘bodies,’ displayed in cases, have three fingers on each hand and elongated heads. Maussan said they were recovered in Peru near the ancient Nazca Lines in 2017. He said that they were about 1,000 years old, analyzed through a carbon dating process by Mexico’s National Autonomous University (UNAM),” Reuters reported.
Although similar claims have been proven hoaxes, the Director of the Scientific Institute for Health of the Mexican navy, Jose de Jesus Zalce Benitez, claimed testing of the mummies showed they were not related to humans. According to Reuters, Benitez said the tests included X-rays, 3-D reconstruction, and DNA analysis. Obviously, we all want to see that evidence. Where is it?
The mummies look so much like ET from the Spielberg franchise, and have been quickly ridiculed by many in the media. Yet there they are on display in Congress, practically begging for scientists to examine them.
Video by The Times and The Sunday Times:
‘Everything is Mystical’ Says a President
Earlier in February, President Obrador revealed his openness to the similar subjects by claiming to have evidence of a “mythical elflike creature” called an “Aluxe” from Maya lore. Similar to a Celtic leprechaun, the Aluxe photo and his political motives were quickly called into question.
Fact checkers on Twitter, now X, found the picture of the Aluxe was taken at least two years before the post. But whether it’s authentic or not, the idea that a world leader shared it is remarkable in itself.
“Everyting is mystical,” the Mexican president tweeted.
It’s an extraordinary statement from a world leader, isn’t it?
Video by Vice about the Aluxe:
You Bet Your Boots
While the media and critics cast doubt on such claims from Mexico, the same mainstream skepticism doesn’t seem to apply in the US, as NASA weighs in about the UFO/UAP phenomena. We are to believe this is the space agency’s “first steps into serious UAP research.”
“We don’t know what these UAP are, but we’re going to find out,” NASA Director Bill Nelson said. “You bet your boots.”
An expert NASA panel’s report says they have no evidence of extraterrestrials. They’re “hampered by poor data collection,” and acknowledge “a small handful of studied sightings remain truly unexplained.”
“This is the first time that NASA has taken concrete action to seriously look into UAP,” NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said during a news conference. “We start this without any preconceived notions but understanding that we’re in a world of discovery.”
Video by New York Post with NASA Director Bill Nelson:
A Focus on (Classified) Data
While NASA aims to focus on hard scientific data, the expert panel suggests their primary role is not in data collection. As common sense would tell anyone, the data can remain classified. The newly-appointed Mark McInerney, who will lead NASA’s UAP research, was NASA’s former liaison to the Defense Department.
“NASA’s key value, the experts said, is helping explain atmospheric and space-based phenomena occurring as the objects are sighted, rather than capturing data on the objects themselves. That’s largely the domain of the military and intelligence community, which operates sophisticated sensors and imaging technology, though much of the information collected in those domains is classified because of the sensitive tools used to gather it,” reported the Wasington Post.
On the other hand, the experts suggested NASA should gather data from “citizen observers.” That means witness reports. Even so, the panel’s study chair David Spergel, said, “Existing data and eyewitness reports alone are insufficient to provide conclusive evidence about the nature and origin of every UAP event.”
It bears repeating:
“The science of man is very small to be able to explain all phenomena,” said Gen. Marco Aurélio Rosa.
A Toxic Atmosphere for UFOs
While the media is largely hailing the new attitude of “transparency,” early reports show there is much to overcome. For seven hours, NASA kept the name of their UFO director secret and officials said it was due to potential harassment and even “death threats.”
“NASA officials said that part of the reason for initially keeping Mr. McInerney’s identity secret was the harassment experienced during the period of the study by some of the 16 members of the independent panel, who included university professors, space industry officials and a science journalist,” the New York Times reported.
Such a toxic atmosphere for UFOs doesn’t seem to be present outside of the US, at least not in Brazil or Mexico and other places. What sets them apart is a long-standing culture of stigma and secrecy. But, as in other countries, the general public just wants to know the truth already. You bet your boots we do, but can anyone logical or reasonable expect it in the US?
Featured image via YouTube