OCCULT VIEW

Chicago Sun-Times columnist Neil Steinberg slammed those who have an open mind about the reality of UFOs.  In his column’s “opening shot” he wrote about those who deny global warming as being plain stupid.  I agree.  He ridicules those who see a snowstorm as proof that global warming is a fantasy.  I’ve heard the same thing from global warming deniers.  “Look at all that snow” the deniers say, ”Where is global warming?”  Obviously the deniers don’t understand or ignore that the ice caps are melting, the true evidence of global warming.  His article:

http://www.suntimes.com/news/steinberg/2038672,CST-NWS-stein10.article

However, as an analogy, Mr. Steinberg compares those who ponder the reality of UFOs as having the same mentality as the global warming deniers.  He dismissively pooh-poohs UFOs with this quote:

 “But those other people. Jeez! The basics of physical reality elude them, and they form world views based on their patchwork misunderstandings.  Every flash in the sky is a friendly UFO blinking out “Howdy” and the arguments against it being so — the vast tracts of space to be crossed, the enormous spans of time required — mean nothing to them. “

Well now!  I don’t think Mr. Steinberg understands anything about the topic of UFOs.  While there is inconclusive proof of UFOs, they remain a possibility.  Outside of the mentally ill does ANYBODY look at EVERY flash in the sky as a UFO?  That is setting up a straw man.  The concept of extraterrestrials may or may not be reality, but the possibility exists.  Outside of visitors from other worlds, there is also the possibility UFOs could represent spiritual entities, beings that have coexisted with mankind since we‘ve evolved.  Mr. Steinberg’s dismissive view of Ufology is not much different then the attitude of the global warming deniers he criticizes…an opinion based on ignorance of the topic.

A better analogy would’ve been to compare the global warming deniers to those who believe in the literal reality of Noah’s Ark   Perhaps half the American population accept this story as literal truth.  If so, how did the kangaroo get to Noah’s Ark?  It had to swim across an ocean.  Then once on the continent it had to survive a trek across a landscape filled with hungry dinosaurs, since fundamentalists believe the dinosaurs lived before the flood.  And why bother to return to Australia?  Why not just settle down around Mount Ararat? 

I like this conspiracy theory.  Perhaps the true reason behind global warming denial is the intention to warm up the planet so the snow and ice on Mount Ararat will melt, revealing the location of the ark!  The lack of logic fits, I suppose.

Accepting that the paranormal might have a basis in reality is not a sign of ignorance.  There is a difference between denying science, and understanding that science does not have all the answers yet.

Update:  Mr. Steinberg had an excellent article about  religious tolerance.  I agree with him 100% .  Maybe he is not so terrible, regardless of his sour view of UFOs.     Tolerance a virtue in my worldview