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Volume 12: Number 1: Article 5
A Different View of "Roswell — Anatomy of a Myth"
Michael D. Swords, Science Studies, Western Michigan University,
Kalamazoo, MI 49008
The article, "Roswell - Anatomy of a Myth," is a literate, smooth,
and emotive presentation of what Kent Jeffrey honestly believes to be
true. Its craftsmanship is such that it can convince people that it
deserves a wide audience (despite appearing previously in other venues).
Kent is to be congratulated for presenting a strongly-worded case that
nothing of ufological interest occurred at Roswell. Having said that,
I must (as he already knows) disappoint my colleague and state that
I disagree with about 90 percent of the analysis and conclusions that
he presents.
Kent Jeffrey is a good fellow, and I have neither need nor intention
of attacking him. I am a bit concerned, however, that the materials
and analyses which will be presented below may be interpreted as such.
They are not so intended. My concern grows from the emotive language
which appears in and out, woven throughout Jeffrey's article: "beyond
all doubt," "completely baseless," "totally illogical," "absolutely
no doubt... I repeat, no doubt," and "case closed." It indicates the
fervor with which he believes his position, and I am anxious that an
attack on the position will be seen as unduly personal.
Having declared that concern, I believe that the readership should
be made aware of my own biases and limitations. My interest in UFOs
stretches back many years, and I am a member of the governing board
of the J. Allen Hynek Center for UFO Studies (CUFOS). I hold the belief
that there are only about three, four or five persons on the planet
who could be designated as ufological experts on Roswell (in its many
facets), and that neither Jeffrey nor I are among them.
FULL TEXT:
A Different View of ''Roswell-Anatomy of a Myth''
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