Flying Saucers

I just finished watching an interview with Dan Ackroyd involving his theories and beliefs about UFOs and extraterrestrials and such. Surprisingly it wasn't that spectacular, although a lot of the footage was interesting. It did however make me wonder why this still hasn't been cleared up yet. Why has the government not bothered to put this baby to bed? Most people that are out there seem to believe in life beyond the Earth's boundaries, and many still believe that the government is involved in some kind of cover up. So why not just admit it?

I have to wonder if the policy makers believe that if it got out there were aliens visiting earth, that the general populace would drop everything, start praying to extraterrestrial deities, and break out the tinfoil hats. That would be extraordinary indeed. Imagine the ruckus that would ensue, with new age hippies coming out to party, and conspiracy theorist running henny-penny through the streets shouting "I told you so!"

Ridiculous. Most people would probably sit around for a while and say "Huh. Guess I should have seen that one coming. I wonder what's on TV tonight?" Life would continue. The only conceivable interruption would be if the aliens were invading, or if they showed up right then and there on television rocking the Vulcan greeting or some such. Chances are most people, even though they may believe in E.T., do not go through the day thinking about it too much. It pretty much isn't going to be talked about at work, or come up in a church sermon (unless you're a Raelian maybe), or even be discussed at your local comic book store. Popular culture has given us so much fantasy on the subject that even if you had the information handed to you by the President of the United States, you would likely not freak out. The Alien Autopsy video, Area 51, Roswell, and a slew of other topics have become so ingrained in our social fabric that revelation of an other worldly civilization would incite debate if anything, but not mass panic. Someone would laugh, someone would cry, and many others would use it as an excuse to party if anything. Fringe spirituality would take off like a rocket and the 'crazy people' would come out of the woodwork. People would get over it, and gas prices would still be high, 'Friends' would still be on the tube, and TV diners would still suck.

The governments unwillingness to reveal any and all information on the subject was probably one of the worst decisions ever made. Not only did they have to waste money keeping it under wraps, honest people have been made to be publicly discredited and their lives ruined. It's no wonder that no one trusts the government when they spend time making the problems they fight against. When you create war, lies, misspend tax dollars and engage in shady dealings who is going to trust you to take care of them? Public service, in Canada at least, is a sham with a good cover story. The UFO thing is the tip of the iceberg, because if the public ever found out what the government was actually doing away from prying eyes there would likely be revolt. Or maybe that's why they haven't confirmed the existence of alien beings, because as the song goes 'one thing leads to another.'

So let's get past this trivial thing. Come on Mr. Prime Minister. Let's go Mr. President. It's time to tell us what we already know: that we aren't alone, that aliens have been visiting us for a long time, that you've made a mistake and have told us mistruths that you want to set right. No more bullying, or coercion, just the truth. I'd like to know what's coming so I can get my tinfoil hat ready.

Freeman