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By Robert A. Vella

Before getting to today’s news, I’d like to revisit a theme addressed many times on this blog over the years.  It concerns how we humans formulate our opinions.  It draws a sharp distinction between what we subjectively believe versus what we objectively know.  It especially targets strong opinions stubbornly held in the face of contradictory evidence.

Yesterday’s post on UFOs spurred me to discuss this issue once again.  To summarize, the Department of Defense has publicly admitted that U.S. Navy pilots and personnel have observed and interacted with unidentified flying objects exhibiting technology far in advance of contemporary science.  The DoD has also publicly released supporting evidence such as video recordings taken from fighter aircraft, and it has participated in testimony given privately to Congress by high-ranking government officials and active-duty military officers.  This is not a joke or hoax, and if it is a conspiracy it’s one of staggering proportions and complexity.

In a nutshell, that’s all we really know.  We do not know who developed this technology nor who operated it.  We do not know for sure what purpose it serves nor the intentions of the intelligence behind it.  In other words, we are largely in the dark about what it all means.  Still, many people are quick to either ignore the profound significance of this story or to jump to conclusions about extraterrestrial “aliens” and other speculation.  It is my hope that the dialog doesn’t devolve into another futile believer versus disbeliever debate where personal opinions supersede known facts.

Since our ancestors began carving petroglyphs into rock and painting art onto cave walls as early as 40,000 years ago, we humans have depicted images of bizarre things which look very much like our modern concept of UFOs.  Numerous Renaissance paintings, for example, depict objects which cannot be honestly interpreted as anything other than UFOs.  And, observer reports of UFOs have been continuous throughout this history from all across the globe.  However, attributing all these images and anecdotes to a single cause is both an intellectual mistake and patently unscientific.  The UFO I personally observed a couple of years ago may have absolutely no relation whatsoever to those documented by the U.S. Navy in yesterday’s story.  The only truthful comment I can make is that I couldn’t identify what I saw.

∞

Today’s news

President Trump announced a two-week delay in his Gestapo-like anti-immigration raids which were to sweep across the country beginning today (see:  Trump announces delay of mass immigration raids that were to start Sunday).  Characteristically, Trump has been practicing favoritism in the disbursement of federal transportation funds to the states (see:  Trump states and rural areas grab bigger chunk of transportation grant funds).  George Conway has written an op-ed criticizing Republicans for hypocrisy regarding a new sexual assault and rape allegation against Donald Trump by a woman named E. Jean Carroll (see:  Opinions | Republicans believed Juanita Broaddrick. The new rape allegation against Trump is more credible.).

From:  McGahn’s chief of staff delays hill appearance, will answer written questions

The former chief of staff to former White House counsel Don McGahn has struck a deal with the House Judiciary Committee that will allow her to submit answers in writing rather than appear for in-person questioning on Monday, her lawyer said.

The aide, Annie Donaldson, had been subpoenaed to appear before lawmakers on June 24, but she has agreed to instead submit written answers because she is pregnant and does not live in Washington, according to her attorney Sandra Moser. Donaldson agreed to appear in person on Capitol Hill after Nov. 1 if the committee considers it necessary, Moser said.

From:  Court Nixes Federal Approval For Cadiz Pipeline To Suck Water Out Of The Mojave To Sell

A federal court has ruled that an environmental review exemption by the Trump administration for a pipeline to extract water from the Mojave Desert is illegal.

The 43-mile pipeline planned by Cadiz Inc. would cut through Mojave Trails National Monument and other public lands in southern California to suck ground water out of the desert aquifer and sell to cities. It would pump an estimated 16 billion gallons a year from the fragile desert ecosystem.

California U.S. District Court Judge George Wu ruled Thursday that the federal Bureau of Land Management failed to provide sufficient evidence for its 2017 decision to reverse its own 2015 decision requiring an environmental review for the pipeline. A full review could take at least and year and could open up Cadiz to even more litigation.

From:  Boeing hit with lawsuit for ‘unprecedented cover-up’

Boeing was slapped with a class-action lawsuit from more than 400 pilots who say the company covered up design flaws in its 737 Max planes.

The Australian Broadcasting Company (ABC) reported Saturday that the lawsuit alleged that Boeing engaged in and “unprecedented cover-up” of the “known design flaws” in the 737 Max planes, which were grounded worldwide following two deadly crashes that killed more than 300 people in total.

8 thoughts on “Sunday Discussion: To believe or disbelieve, that is NOT the question”

  1. Good post. I find it odd that people take the phrase, “Unidentified objects were sighted in the sky,” to mean, “Space aliens are REAL and are visiting us right NOW!! You MUST believe this!” This is silly and it is NOT what is meant by the word “unidentified.” How can one not believe people have seen things, very credible people, mind you, that were unidentified to them? Making fantastic claims about said things with no proof is just as ridiculous as saying everyone who sees unidentified objects in the sky is lying. Some might be, but I gather many, such as yourself, are not. They simply do not know what they saw. That being said, why in hell’s name is there not more effort going into finding out what exactly is being seen? At the least, the military should want to know if our enemies have got some sort of fantastic technology that we know nothing about. WTF are these things? I truly want to know. I’m betting the “real” answer will be quite less spectacular than the conclusions that far too many jump to prematurely.

    Liked by 3 people

    • Exactly Jeff, and thanks. If I worked in the Defense Department or in the military and ignored evidence of advanced unknown technology which by definition could pose a national security threat, I’d be in dereliction of duty and should be fired. Fortunately, we’re starting to see a change in that attitude.

      Liked by 3 people

  2. On the boring side: drones being tested by the military with other branches not being told.

    On the fun side: aliens! Although I can’t see why they would have to bump around in the atmosphere to study us when they could do it from the utter safety of Pluto.

    Liked by 3 people

  3. I think there is almost a natural tendency to want to believe these UFOs are from somewhere else and not just some advanced military technology right here. At least it is for me.

    It further supports my view that man is a mere speck in this vast universe and to think we are it and so all important and special, is arrogance of the extreme. I also like that alien idea because it would go along way towards eliminating religion, at least our kind of small minded religion here.

    Of course none of us know just what they are and we may never.

    Liked by 3 people

    • Thanks for your candor, Mary. Yes, many people want to believe in something greater than humankind just as there are many people who flippantly reject the idea because it doesn’t fit with their philosophical perspective. I have more respect for the former (such as yourself) because it’s more honest than the latter. You see, to wish for something to be true is sincere. To refuse to consider that something might be true is disingenuous.

      And, you’re so right. We are a mere speck in this vast universe.

      Liked by 2 people

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