By Steve Hammons
As the U.S. takes a second look at benefits and advantages of the use of "soft power" in international affairs, we might consider some unconventional elements that could fall within this general concept.
Soft power is usually considered to be the ability to attract friends and allies and mitigate adversarial situations by way of the attraction of your nation, society or group.
This attraction may be based on cultural, historical, psychological, emotional, spiritual, political, economic or other kinds of assets or features of a given country or people.
Recent efforts to market or advertise positive aspects of America and the policies of the previous administration through public relations projects were not perceived to be especially successful.
What else can be done now as we move forward?
ABOUT AMERICA
Conventional elements of soft power can be communicated through media platforms such as films, TV, music, books and other creative endeavors. Positive aspects of these creative activities can provide understanding and insight that result in constructive perception about the America.
In some cases, for example, the themes of Hollywood movies may run counter to official U.S. Government policies at a given time. This tells people around the world that some Americans do not always agree with certain government activities and policies.
In other cases, movies, TV and books may just delve into the complexities and gray areas of a range of topics that shed light on the many aspects of American society and the diverse history and nature of the American people.
For example, there has long been international interest in Native American Indians and the rich cultures they represent. This history since the arrival of Europeans is somewhat well known. The more ancient background of the original Americans is less-well understood.
Deeper and more complex aspects of their experiences in North America (and South America) are still being explored today. And, more understanding about their perspectives might be helpful now.
Of particular interest is the growing awareness in U.S. society about the Native American Indian DNA many American families have within them from long-forgotten ancestors. Many Americans who self-identify as white, black, Hispanic or even Asian actually have native ancestry in their genetic make-up. Some are aware of this and some are not, though they may suspect it.
In other fields involving the sciences, natural phenomena and the human experience, the international interest in certain unconventional research, speculation and discoveries might also be assets for the U.S., especially where there has been American involvement or leadership.
This may be one of the areas where we can find interesting, nimble, innovative and outside-the-box unconventional elements of soft power that can be used to good effect.
HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
One example of unconventional areas in which Americans and the U.S. Government have been or may have been involved include the military and intelligence communities' Project STARGATE. This effort conducted research and operational activities in the 1970s, '80s and '90s regarding human perception and intelligence gathering.
Although much of the operational elements of Project STARGATE remain classified, there is a rich resource of information available on the program's interesting findings about human awareness and perceptual abilities.
Americans provided significant leadership in the research and subsequent public communication and education about these findings which may impact human development in very constructive ways.
What about the controversial topic of unidentified flying objects or UFOs? Interest in this topic seems to transcend international borders because these kinds of unusual objects have reportedly been sighted and encountered around the world.
Several national governments have recently released historical documents about the subject. More such documentation and information probably remains classified.
In the U.S., information on this seems to come out in discreet and indirect ways, and reportedly may be part of gradual acclimation and disclosure for the public about a complex and sensitive situation.
Is U.S. involvement in this area something that can be utilized to enhance American soft power? Do we have insights, technologies and expertise that can be helpful for the international community, the human race and planet Earth?
When considering ways to transcend international conflict and find solutions to pressing challenges faced by the human race, it may be wise to not rule out unconventional approaches.
These kinds of efforts can complement conventional soft power elements and contribute to transcendent power.
Deploying information, communication and education on interesting unconventional subjects may unify people, nationally and internationally, and help bring transcendent viewpoints, perceptions and awareness into focus.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
More UFO acclimation in new movie 'Race to Witch Mountain'
By Steve Hammons
Opening in theatres on Friday, March 13, the new movie Race to Witch Mountain continues the acclimation process for the public on the possibility or probability that we are being visited by extraterrestrial and/or extra-dimensional intelligent beings.
Interestingly, March 13 is also the anniversary of the 1997 "Phoenix lights incident" when a huge V-shaped craft reportedly flew slowly, silently and at a low altitude over Phoenix in the early evening hours.
Films, TV shows, books and other media platforms have long been part of an alleged effort to prepare Americans and people internationally for the idea that some unidentified flying objects (UFOs) are piloted by intelligent visitors to Earth.
Race to Witch Mountain will bring moviegoers a new opportunity to wrap our minds around these concepts.
Director Andy Fickman has stated that the idea of such visitation to Earth is something he finds very interesting and plausible. UFO experts and personnel associated with the U.S. military and the CIA reportedly helped in the research for the movie.
Walt Disney Pictures brought Fickman onboard to help create a newer and different version of the 1975 Escape to Witch Mountain. It is not a remake, but described as "a modern re-imagining." Mark Lopez and Mark Bomback worked on the screenwriting for the project.
HOLLYWOOD AND ACCLIMATION
There have long been reports that Hollywood was recruited to help prepare people for a scenario in which we would need to be ready to deal with the idea of unusual visitors to Earth.
This is consistent with the cooperation between Hollywood and the U.S. defense and intelligence communities during World War II and in subsequent years on a variety of subjects.
Walt Disney allegedly was approached by the U.S. military in the 1950s about creating a movie on this subject. Work was reportedly begun on the film, but the plug was pulled for reasons that remain unclear.
Decades later, Steven Spielberg created Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Rumors still circulate that he, too, had government-related sources who whispered in his ear about real-life aspects of the UFO situation.
There is a long list of movies, TV shows and books that address the topics of UFOs, visitors from elsewhere and a range of other unconventional topics that could be related.
Even Army Air Corps veteran Jack Webb of TV's "Dragnet" created the series "Project UFO" which ran on NBC for two seasons in 1978 and 1979. The show followed the activities of two Air Force investigators of Project Bluebook, the real-life program of UFO case investigation, and/or part of the cover-up, according to some observers.
Project Bluebook was based at southwestern Ohio's Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton. As many people know, Wright-Patterson AFB is alleged to be the location where wreckage was taken after the "Roswell incident" in the summer of 1947.
CAST OF HUMANS
And now, Race to Witch Mountain will continue this process of sparking the imaginations of movie audiences, and possibly helping us get ready for more understanding and insight about UFOs and unconventional visitors.
Dwayne Johnson stars as a Las Vegas cab driver who meets two kids – or are they? AnnaSophia Robb and Alexander Ludwig play the extraterrestrial kids who must get to the super-secret U.S. facility at Witch Mountain.
Johnson and the ET kids encounter some open-minded and visionary scientists (Carla Gugino and Garry Marshall) while being pursued by "men in black" who want to stop them ... or worse.
The cast includes actors from the original 1975 movie. Kim Richards, who played the girl, is a roadhouse waitress in the new film. Ike Eisenmann, the boy, plays Sheriff Anthony.
Real-life UFO researchers Whitley Strieber and William J. Birnes have cameo roles.
Race to Witch Mountain is sure to be a fun movie-going experience for kids, teens and adults who will enjoy the fast-paced and thoughtful script.
And, maybe we will be more prepared for new realities dawning in the 21st century.
Opening in theatres on Friday, March 13, the new movie Race to Witch Mountain continues the acclimation process for the public on the possibility or probability that we are being visited by extraterrestrial and/or extra-dimensional intelligent beings.
Interestingly, March 13 is also the anniversary of the 1997 "Phoenix lights incident" when a huge V-shaped craft reportedly flew slowly, silently and at a low altitude over Phoenix in the early evening hours.
Films, TV shows, books and other media platforms have long been part of an alleged effort to prepare Americans and people internationally for the idea that some unidentified flying objects (UFOs) are piloted by intelligent visitors to Earth.
Race to Witch Mountain will bring moviegoers a new opportunity to wrap our minds around these concepts.
Director Andy Fickman has stated that the idea of such visitation to Earth is something he finds very interesting and plausible. UFO experts and personnel associated with the U.S. military and the CIA reportedly helped in the research for the movie.
Walt Disney Pictures brought Fickman onboard to help create a newer and different version of the 1975 Escape to Witch Mountain. It is not a remake, but described as "a modern re-imagining." Mark Lopez and Mark Bomback worked on the screenwriting for the project.
HOLLYWOOD AND ACCLIMATION
There have long been reports that Hollywood was recruited to help prepare people for a scenario in which we would need to be ready to deal with the idea of unusual visitors to Earth.
This is consistent with the cooperation between Hollywood and the U.S. defense and intelligence communities during World War II and in subsequent years on a variety of subjects.
Walt Disney allegedly was approached by the U.S. military in the 1950s about creating a movie on this subject. Work was reportedly begun on the film, but the plug was pulled for reasons that remain unclear.
Decades later, Steven Spielberg created Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Rumors still circulate that he, too, had government-related sources who whispered in his ear about real-life aspects of the UFO situation.
There is a long list of movies, TV shows and books that address the topics of UFOs, visitors from elsewhere and a range of other unconventional topics that could be related.
Even Army Air Corps veteran Jack Webb of TV's "Dragnet" created the series "Project UFO" which ran on NBC for two seasons in 1978 and 1979. The show followed the activities of two Air Force investigators of Project Bluebook, the real-life program of UFO case investigation, and/or part of the cover-up, according to some observers.
Project Bluebook was based at southwestern Ohio's Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton. As many people know, Wright-Patterson AFB is alleged to be the location where wreckage was taken after the "Roswell incident" in the summer of 1947.
CAST OF HUMANS
And now, Race to Witch Mountain will continue this process of sparking the imaginations of movie audiences, and possibly helping us get ready for more understanding and insight about UFOs and unconventional visitors.
Dwayne Johnson stars as a Las Vegas cab driver who meets two kids – or are they? AnnaSophia Robb and Alexander Ludwig play the extraterrestrial kids who must get to the super-secret U.S. facility at Witch Mountain.
Johnson and the ET kids encounter some open-minded and visionary scientists (Carla Gugino and Garry Marshall) while being pursued by "men in black" who want to stop them ... or worse.
The cast includes actors from the original 1975 movie. Kim Richards, who played the girl, is a roadhouse waitress in the new film. Ike Eisenmann, the boy, plays Sheriff Anthony.
Real-life UFO researchers Whitley Strieber and William J. Birnes have cameo roles.
Race to Witch Mountain is sure to be a fun movie-going experience for kids, teens and adults who will enjoy the fast-paced and thoughtful script.
And, maybe we will be more prepared for new realities dawning in the 21st century.
Monday, March 9, 2009
Phoenix lights UFO anniversary brings fresh insights
By Steve Hammons
The "Phoenix lights" UFO incident on March 13, 1997, has sparked the same kind of questions and discussion as the 1947 "Roswell incident" and many other similar cases over the years in the U.S. and internationally.
Here in America, we can also look at the many 2008 sightings in the Stephenville, Texas, area or the Nov. 7, 2006, O'Hare International Airport case as recent examples.
Most people agree that "something" happened in these locations and on these dates. But what?
Was the Roswell incident a top-secret U.S. balloon-type device? Was the Phoenix lights case a series of military flares dropped in a nearby military aviation test range? Were the apparently reliable witnesses in the Stephenville region and at Chicago's O'Hare airport totally mistaken about what they saw?
As the anniversary of the Phoenix lights incident approaches, this may be a good time to take another look at this particular case and see if it provides any insight about the whole situation regarding UFOs and possible visitation to Earth by extraterrestrial and/or extra-dimensional intelligent beings.
AN ARIZONA EVENING
In the early evening hours of March 13, 1997, people from Henderson, Nevada, (near Las Vegas) reportedly spotted something unusual in the sky moving toward the Arizona state line. Then, Arizonans living in the northwest region of the state also allegedly sighted a very large V-shaped or boomerang-shaped object and/or large lights consistent with that shape.
The object/lights continued heading in generally a southeasterly direction over the central Arizona mountain region and eventually into "the Valley of the Sun" of the metro Phoenix area on the northern edge of the Sonoran Desert.
As the object/lights entered the Phoenix area, they might even have been visible to the naked eye from Luke Air Force Base on the far west side of the Valley of the Sun.
By this time it was about 8 p.m. as the object/lights reportedly cruised slowly and silently at a relatively low altitude over the northwestern suburban cities and neighborhoods toward the central downtown Phoenix area and Sky Harbor International Airport.
Some Phoenix-area residents stated they saw just the formation of large bright lights. Others said they could see a huge V-shaped or boomerang-shaped object that blocked out the stars.
The object/lights continued on a southeast path, moving diagonally across metro Phoenix and on into the desert countryside on the southeast side of town, heading in the general direction of Tucson, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base and the town of Sierra Vista, home of the Army's Fort Huachcua, a major defense intelligence center near the Mexican border.
WHAT WAS THAT?
In Phoenix, there were unconfirmed reports that phone calls flooded into local police departments, TV and radio stations and even Luke AFB. Citizens wanted to know what they may have seen.
At approximately 10 p.m., another series of lights were seen to the southwest of Phoenix, over one of the mountain ranges that surround the Valley of the Sun.
The lights were southwest of Luke AFB and in the general direction of the Barry M. Goldwater Range, a large training area operated from Luke AFB for aerial gunnery, electronic warfare, tactical maneuvering and air support, equipment and tactics development and other defense activities.
The lights appeared to be military flares.
Some additional reports from the public and researchers alleged that additional lights may have been seen that appeared to be neither the large V-shaped object at approximately 8 p.m. nor the apparent military flares to the southwest at approximately 10 p.m.
What was going on that night?
Because of the apparently large number of witnesses who state they saw a large, solid object, many people seem to conclude that a craft of some kind did fly slowly over the Phoenix area.
Former Arizona governor Fife Symington, who was governor at the time, has come forward on the record and said he saw a very large object that did not appear to be any kind of U.S. aircraft that he was familiar with. Symington is a former Air Force officer and pilot.
As for the apparent military flares that the Air Force later said were from training exercises of a visiting Air National Guard group, it seems to be the case that flares actually were dropped in the area of the Goldwater Range, but possibly further north and nearer metro Phoenix than may be standard operating procedure.
Were the flares a coincidence in timing and location or were they some kind of deception activity to provide disinformation and a cover-up of the alleged boomerang-shaped object? This remains unclear to many researchers and interested people.
If there was a huge object cruising slowly and silently – but very visibly – over Phoenix that evening, what could it have been?
OURS OR THEIRS?
A few answers seem to be possible. It was an advanced U.S. craft of some kind or it was something else. The "something else" could have been a craft from a a foreign country, a private company or group, or from a more exotic and mysterious location – extraterrestrial and/or extra-dimensional.
On the topic of the first option, people have naturally asked that if the U.S. had a huge, secret craft, why would they fly it over Phoenix on a clear and pleasant Arizona early evening?
Since it was first sighted near Henderson, Nevada, and there actually are secret U.S. testing areas in that region for advanced aircraft, this scenario might be worthy of more consideration.
Why would such a U.S. craft (if it was that) be made intentionally visible to a huge American metropolitan region? One of the answers that may come to mind is that it was a test of some kind to see how people would respond to such an incident. Would there be widespread panic? How would the media and local public safety officials handle it?
The same could be said if the object was an extraterrestrial and/or extra-dimensional visiting craft. How would the humans handle it? Would they scramble F-16 fighter jets from their air defense bases?
Or, could it have been some kind of joint U.S.-extraterrestrial activity? Could the craft have been non-human-made but flying over Phoenix with permission of some elements of the U.S. Government? Could U.S. personnel have been onboard a non-human-made craft in such a joint activity?
Think this is far-fetched? Maybe not.
There have long been rumors that specially selected and trained U.S. military personnel have flown with extra-terrestrial visitors. Our relationships, liaison and rapport with such visitors might be more longstanding and further along than many people realize.
The Phoenix lights incident remains a mystery in many ways. As March 13 rolls around again in 2009, we might look into the skies, and into ourselves, and ponder the possibilities.
Are we ready for continuing acclimation and disclosure about this potentially larger sensitive and complex situation? We probably will be finding out.
The "Phoenix lights" UFO incident on March 13, 1997, has sparked the same kind of questions and discussion as the 1947 "Roswell incident" and many other similar cases over the years in the U.S. and internationally.
Here in America, we can also look at the many 2008 sightings in the Stephenville, Texas, area or the Nov. 7, 2006, O'Hare International Airport case as recent examples.
Most people agree that "something" happened in these locations and on these dates. But what?
Was the Roswell incident a top-secret U.S. balloon-type device? Was the Phoenix lights case a series of military flares dropped in a nearby military aviation test range? Were the apparently reliable witnesses in the Stephenville region and at Chicago's O'Hare airport totally mistaken about what they saw?
As the anniversary of the Phoenix lights incident approaches, this may be a good time to take another look at this particular case and see if it provides any insight about the whole situation regarding UFOs and possible visitation to Earth by extraterrestrial and/or extra-dimensional intelligent beings.
AN ARIZONA EVENING
In the early evening hours of March 13, 1997, people from Henderson, Nevada, (near Las Vegas) reportedly spotted something unusual in the sky moving toward the Arizona state line. Then, Arizonans living in the northwest region of the state also allegedly sighted a very large V-shaped or boomerang-shaped object and/or large lights consistent with that shape.
The object/lights continued heading in generally a southeasterly direction over the central Arizona mountain region and eventually into "the Valley of the Sun" of the metro Phoenix area on the northern edge of the Sonoran Desert.
As the object/lights entered the Phoenix area, they might even have been visible to the naked eye from Luke Air Force Base on the far west side of the Valley of the Sun.
By this time it was about 8 p.m. as the object/lights reportedly cruised slowly and silently at a relatively low altitude over the northwestern suburban cities and neighborhoods toward the central downtown Phoenix area and Sky Harbor International Airport.
Some Phoenix-area residents stated they saw just the formation of large bright lights. Others said they could see a huge V-shaped or boomerang-shaped object that blocked out the stars.
The object/lights continued on a southeast path, moving diagonally across metro Phoenix and on into the desert countryside on the southeast side of town, heading in the general direction of Tucson, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base and the town of Sierra Vista, home of the Army's Fort Huachcua, a major defense intelligence center near the Mexican border.
WHAT WAS THAT?
In Phoenix, there were unconfirmed reports that phone calls flooded into local police departments, TV and radio stations and even Luke AFB. Citizens wanted to know what they may have seen.
At approximately 10 p.m., another series of lights were seen to the southwest of Phoenix, over one of the mountain ranges that surround the Valley of the Sun.
The lights were southwest of Luke AFB and in the general direction of the Barry M. Goldwater Range, a large training area operated from Luke AFB for aerial gunnery, electronic warfare, tactical maneuvering and air support, equipment and tactics development and other defense activities.
The lights appeared to be military flares.
Some additional reports from the public and researchers alleged that additional lights may have been seen that appeared to be neither the large V-shaped object at approximately 8 p.m. nor the apparent military flares to the southwest at approximately 10 p.m.
What was going on that night?
Because of the apparently large number of witnesses who state they saw a large, solid object, many people seem to conclude that a craft of some kind did fly slowly over the Phoenix area.
Former Arizona governor Fife Symington, who was governor at the time, has come forward on the record and said he saw a very large object that did not appear to be any kind of U.S. aircraft that he was familiar with. Symington is a former Air Force officer and pilot.
As for the apparent military flares that the Air Force later said were from training exercises of a visiting Air National Guard group, it seems to be the case that flares actually were dropped in the area of the Goldwater Range, but possibly further north and nearer metro Phoenix than may be standard operating procedure.
Were the flares a coincidence in timing and location or were they some kind of deception activity to provide disinformation and a cover-up of the alleged boomerang-shaped object? This remains unclear to many researchers and interested people.
If there was a huge object cruising slowly and silently – but very visibly – over Phoenix that evening, what could it have been?
OURS OR THEIRS?
A few answers seem to be possible. It was an advanced U.S. craft of some kind or it was something else. The "something else" could have been a craft from a a foreign country, a private company or group, or from a more exotic and mysterious location – extraterrestrial and/or extra-dimensional.
On the topic of the first option, people have naturally asked that if the U.S. had a huge, secret craft, why would they fly it over Phoenix on a clear and pleasant Arizona early evening?
Since it was first sighted near Henderson, Nevada, and there actually are secret U.S. testing areas in that region for advanced aircraft, this scenario might be worthy of more consideration.
Why would such a U.S. craft (if it was that) be made intentionally visible to a huge American metropolitan region? One of the answers that may come to mind is that it was a test of some kind to see how people would respond to such an incident. Would there be widespread panic? How would the media and local public safety officials handle it?
The same could be said if the object was an extraterrestrial and/or extra-dimensional visiting craft. How would the humans handle it? Would they scramble F-16 fighter jets from their air defense bases?
Or, could it have been some kind of joint U.S.-extraterrestrial activity? Could the craft have been non-human-made but flying over Phoenix with permission of some elements of the U.S. Government? Could U.S. personnel have been onboard a non-human-made craft in such a joint activity?
Think this is far-fetched? Maybe not.
There have long been rumors that specially selected and trained U.S. military personnel have flown with extra-terrestrial visitors. Our relationships, liaison and rapport with such visitors might be more longstanding and further along than many people realize.
The Phoenix lights incident remains a mystery in many ways. As March 13 rolls around again in 2009, we might look into the skies, and into ourselves, and ponder the possibilities.
Are we ready for continuing acclimation and disclosure about this potentially larger sensitive and complex situation? We probably will be finding out.
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