Luis Elizondo for Medium: Like most other biological systems on the planet, humans are largely motivated by self-preservation and the avoidance of conflict.
As a species, we tend to avoid associating with anything that isolates us from the larger group, makes us sound strange, or that might draw negative attention from our peers.
Essentially, stigma results in a paralysis of communication.
And if left unattended, it exerts a chilling influence on society and across generations. This is true whether we are trying to find the cause of disease, reasons for environmental change, or the trigger for global conflict.
Throughout history, there have been times when we as a society have found it more convenient and socially acceptable to ignore uncomfortable topics. The results were often catastrophic, both for our moral values and for the health of our species. Stigma regarding certain psychological conditions once led to life sentences in an asylum and forced lobotomies simply because the stigma prevented families from having a conversation about mental illness.
There has been a similar social stigma in recent decades surrounding the topic of Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAPs), or UFOs – a topic that has been relegated to conspiracy theorists, B-Movie villains, and the weird uncle no one wants to talk to anymore.
As with other topics that carry a stigma, many people would rather look the other way than be associated with what is labeled as ‘crazy’ or ‘edgy’.
When I was appointed director of the Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program (AATIP), my colleagues and I experienced enough to know with absolute certainty that UAPs exist. Furthermore, they don’t seem to care whether we believe in them or not, and they are here with or without our permission.
How can we have an honest conversation about national security and humanity when we can’t even discuss the topic of a potential threat or opportunity?
Take this example from pop culture. In the famous Harry Potter series, the evil wizard Voldemort is so evil that other wizards are afraid to even pronounce his name. The idea is that if you don’t mention his name, the threat is minimized and he becomes less real. But ironically, the stigma of his name only makes him more powerful.
Refusing UAPs in our airspace is no different.
If we don’t overcome and address the social stigma about UAPs, we could end up on the wrong side of history. Only in this case we are not talking about fantasy and wizards, but about reality and national security.
This is why we cannot afford to let stigma drive our fears and bury our heads in the sand:
Social stigma hinders government processes.
Social stigma is often the product of fear over topics that have no answers and are poorly understood.
Project Blue Book provides a useful example.
From 1952 to 1969, the United States Air Force conducted a series of studies on UAPs. The objectives of Project Blue Book were to determine whether UAPs posed a threat to national security and to scientifically analyze UFO-related data. Over 17 years, Project Blue Book has compiled reports of tens of thousands of UFO sightings, classifying 700 of these incidents as ‘unidentified’.
In 1966 the Air Force requested another committee, headed by Dr. Edward Condon, to investigate these observations. Two years later they released the ‘Condon Report’, which concluded that the sightings they examined showed no signs of unusual activity. This prompted the Air Force to discontinue Project Blue Book the following year.
At the time of decommissioning it was announced that despite almost a thousand unidentified sightings there was no evidence of extraordinary phenomena in our airspace.
These negative conclusions in the public versions of both Project Blue Book and the Condon Report were simply not supported by the facts. There were hundreds of credible eyewitness accounts from trained observers, many with high security clearances, who witnessed these objects. Our country has put people in the electric chair based on the testimony of just two corroborating witnesses who are not particularly trained in the art of observation.
As is the case with other controversial topics, this verifiable evidence has been suppressed and diluted due to the stigma surrounding the topic of UAPs.
But there are always two sides to an argument.
At the time of the investigations, the US government was in the midst of a cold war and, in all honesty, could not afford to be distracted by a wild goose chase for which they had no answers. As long as the Americans were not attacked by these unusual phenomena, attention was rightly turned to more tangible matters. I don’t necessarily agree with that line of thinking, but I understand it.
A self-imposed stigma often makes a problem worse.
Tabloids and social media have certainly not contributed to the stigmatization problem. These outlets often provide their consumers with sensational stories that only reinforce the stigma of certain topics.
The rise of social media means that everyone now has a voice.
But many of these voices are less motivated by the truth and instead seek to spread their own agenda. A simple Google search for the program I once helped run, AATIP, results in hundreds of hits, many of which come from apparently reputable “Deep-State” resource sites.
These sites are run by the same individuals who claim to have inside knowledge of UAPs, but have never provided any proof or evidence that they have access to government insiders.
But not all social media sites or YouTube channels are wrong. The sites that emphasize data collection, facts, and objectivity are usually on the right track.
Surprisingly, some sites seem to have a good understanding of the bizarre nature of the phenomena and have a few well-placed sources of information. One specific example I found is “UFOJesus,” a humorous YouTube channel that appears to have credible insider knowledge and insights.
Regardless of the medium, frank and honest conversations are crucial to moving forward as a society.
Overcoming stigma is key to our survival as a species.
If there’s one thing nature has shown us time and time again, it’s that we either adapt or go extinct.
As a species, understanding the things we cannot explain is critical to our survival. And that means being open to new ideas, possibilities and data. It has always been that way, dating back to the time when humanity lived in caves. If you heard something wandering around outside, you had to investigate. If you didn’t, you and your family would be unaware of a potential predator.
At the same time, an animal wandering outside your cave can also mean food, keeping your family alive so they can thrive. If you stayed in the cave and never went out, you might survive the night, but in the long run you probably wouldn’t.
When it comes to UFOs, ignoring the unknown is just as damaging because it could mean not taking advantage of the opportunities and new insights.
As a society, we must recognize that stigma only serves to keep our heads in the sand. Our future depends on transparency and truth.
Author: Luis Elizondo, former US Army Counterintelligence Special Agent, source Medium
