Merriam-Webster’s Online Dictionary gives the following definition(s) for the verb, “believe”:
intransitive senses
1 a : to have a firm religious faith b : to accept as true, genuine, or real -ideals we believe in- -believes in ghosts-
2 : to have a firm conviction as to the goodness, efficacy, or ability of something -believe in exercise- | By Frank Warren
The UFO Chronicles
© 2006-2009 |
3 : to hold an opinion : THINK -I believe so-
transitive senses
1 a : to consider to be true or honest -believe the reports- -you wouldn't believe how long it took- b : to accept the word or evidence of -I believe you- -couldn't believe my ears-
2 : to hold as an opinion : SUPPOSE -I believe it will rain soon-
be·liev·er noun
not believe : to be astounded at -I couldn't believe my luck-“Intransitive,” by the way means: not transitive; especially: characterized by not having or containing a direct object.
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When associating the verb, believe or the noun believer, "one who has a firm religious faith,” or “one who accepts something as true or genuine,” etc., with any given subject, it puts the onus on the individual; that is it gives rise to doubt, it leaves room for skepticism, contestability—it isn’t accepted as an established fact.
More often then not, when one comes across a news report concerning a UFO, by a main stream media source (one of the networks, CNN etc.) it usually melds the verb, and or noun, “believe," "believer(s)” into the story. Those of us who pay attention see this as a common theme, and for the layperson who can recall anything on UFOs, I’m sure you remember the connotation implied.
Although the acronym UFO for “U.nidentified F.lying S.aucers” can be found in declassified Air Force documents, prior to 1952–it is “Capt. Edward J. Ruppelt,” Chief of the Air Force's Project Blue Book who takes credit for making it the popular
official term, for then, “Flying Saucers.”
The underlying importance of this action is that the description of what was flying in US airspace (as well as all over the world) at the time went from being a definitive object, i.e., a
flying craft in the shape of a “flying saucer,” to that of an unknown.
There is most certainly a psycho-sociological impact when an administrative body (particularly back in the 50’s) in essence goes from describing what these objects are, to stating, “they’re unidentified.”
Of course we later would see the Air Force’s transparent objective in giving a
conventional explanation to these
now unknown objects. To that end, it is much easier to argue that an
unknown was actually “ball lightning” e.g., then to change a flying saucer into the same.
Many Ufologists have theorized that this seemingly small word change was indeed a calculated psychological move, in part to de-emphasize the
unusual activity over American skies—whether this is true or not, there certainly was an impact nonetheless.
Although the term,
UFO was introduced to the American lexicon in the early 50’s, it’s sibling
Flying Saucer wasn’t quick to leave—in part because of so many reports describing a “disc” or “saucer” shaped craft in regards to UFOs.
I think it important to note that the media in the early days of Ufology took the subjects of UFOs very seriously, which was of course a direct reflection of our society; in fact the largest press conference post WWII was in July 1952, and the topic was, you guessed it
UFOS!
In a previous article
(UFO Ignorance) which describes the a fore mentioned event (UFOs flying over Washington for weeks) a reader wrote in to say:
"I was fascinated by your account of the 1952 UFO flap around DC. I'm 68 now, but at age 13, I was there, living with my family -- temporarily -- in the sedate, colonial Alexandria home of my mother's sister and her husband. (My father was an Army officer. En route to Bogotá, Colombia, Dad was going through Pentagon briefing.) What I recall as most striking about this flap was the ubiquitous excitement on local television, newspapers, and so forth. You didn't mention this in your piece, but individual sightings seemed to be all but continuous. Cars were piled up along the shoulders of the Mt. Vernon Parkway. Crowds gazing out across the Potomac toward DC and National Airport came and went. [Emphasis added]. I remember my grown cousin -- Jim (a broker in the family real estate business) -- arriving at the house one day all but breathless with excitement over a sighting.
As a sociologist I've long been fascinated by how civil authorities are able to virtually erase the direct experience (in this case) of literally hundreds of witnesses. Years would pass before my own inquiries would lead me to understand that "UFOs" represent a vital dimension of the human picture -- hidden though it is behind smoke, mirrors, disinformation and sheer ignorance."
It’s safe to say that the media back then didn’t associate the phenomenon with terms, such as “believe," "believers," "enthusiasts” etc., they
reported the events as they happened, in a clear and concise manner. And as evidenced by the declaration from the reader above—it was quite a hair-raising experience!
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