More here:
http://collidinguniverses.blogspot.com/search?q=extraterrestrials
Do you have to be an American liberal to believe in extraterrestrials?
Yes, folks, I thought this was Hoax News at work too.
But Michael Medved reports,
These clashing opinions on extraterrestrials amount to more than a trivial split on an arcane topic; they connect, in fact, both logically and emotionally to big conflicts over worldview, culture, politics and America’s role in history.
In Colorado, these conflicts erupted in a recent battle over a proposed Denver commission to investigate visitations from alien life forms. Initiative 300 won enough signatures to qualify for the ballot in November 2010 but lost in a landslide, with conservatives leading the derision of the “ET Initiative,” as a loony waste of taxpayer money. The chief support for “greater transparency” regarding sightings and encounters came from the city’s Bohemian left, with advocates proudly citing the interest in flying saucers from liberal icons like Jimmy Carter and John Podesta, Bill Clinton’s former chief of staff.
Polls show that Americans remain closely divided on attitudes toward extraterrestrials, with a 2008 Scripps Howard/Ohio University poll reporting 56% who believe it is “very likely” or “somewhat likely” that intelligent life has developed in other worlds. Self-described Democrats (according to the same survey) are far more likely to say they have personally seen “visitors from another world” than are their Republican counterparts, who remain distinctly skeptical.
Well I am not a dem and I kow there are UFO’s.
Anyone else find the rash or recent articles (i.e., liberal vs. conservative; thick brains, dna traits etc..) a little curious?
Response: They voted a person from another "world" into the office of president.
I hope they are smarter than we.
I tend to believe there are aliens. I seriously doubt we have been visited by them, nor do I believe we will ever have interactions with them.
What an idiotic straw man definition.
Of course America is a "a flawed nation state like many others, displaying a maddening mix of admirable and appalling characteristics."
The question is not one of whether American history, actions and values has been perfect and of unmixed goodness, it is one of the net effect and value of America as compared to the net effect and value of other societies/nations. While both are mixed, 70% good vs. 30% bad is significant when compared to 30% good vs 70% bad.
IMO, by that definition America is quite exceptional.
This "there is no black and white, only shades of gray" argument is a common one on the left, and is fallacious. While it is technically correct when dealing with any human activity, the purpose of making the argument is to imply, without saying so explicitly, that there is no real difference between dark gray and light gray, which is just stupid.
I really hope there is intelligent life in space... because there sure as hell isn’t any here on Earth!
Dems???
Hell, we have a whole UFO-rapture-ready contingent here on FR! (We’re just one more UFO or earthquake away from the rapture!)
I propose another root cause for the difference in the belief in extraterrestrial intelligence and specifically alien visitations. There is likely a better understanding of fundamental principles of math & science on the right as a lot of your lefties were educated in liberal arts colleges where math stops at Algebra II and Intro to Geometry.
As a conservative with an engineering background I think I have a better grasp of the technical problems associated with long-duration space flights. While I allow for the possibility of a great leap in scientific insight that might invalidate my opinion, I think that it's exceedingly unlikely that UFO's represent alien spacecraft visiting our planet. You're average Lefty believes that the oil industry has been hiding technology (at Area 51, no doubt) about an automobile engine that will get 100 mpg on tap water. It is this ignorance that has allowed our energy policies to become badly distorted.
How can anyone look at James Carville and NOT believe in aliens?
While I do think that this Colorado initiative to create a panel dedicated to greeting extraterrestial life is an absurd waste of tax dollars and I absolutely would of voted against it, I do tend to believe in ‘Ancient Astronaut’ theory.
While I of course do not have all of the answers I find ancient works such as the pyramids and other megalithic works, the Holy Bible and other ancient texts, and other ancient anomolies to lead towards alien visitation as being the most simplistic and logical answer.
Honestly I think that you will find a fairly equal share of conservatives and leftists who believe that this planet was visited by some other life form but you will still find the most kooks on the left by far who will exaggerate their knowledge on the issue.
Regardless of one’s opinions about UFOs, from a quality of writing perspective I have rarely seen a more desperately contrived argument and article... /g
At the end of his talk, one of the Generals asked, "If we're being visited by aliens, how come they never crash? How come we never find any wreckage?"
With one of the most charming smiles I've ever seen on a human face, the professor answered, "Maybe their Zero Defects Program really works."
P.J. O’Rourke’s famous line “Republicans believe in God, Democrats believe in Santa Claus”, though said in jest, applies here.
All humans aspire to the transcendent, but leftist ideology requires its followers to hold God in contempt. So leftists always find themselves worshipping bizarre analogs of God...with too many examples to list. Aliens would definitely qualify.
I believe in the exceptionalism of the United States and of planet Earth. We’re more likely to discover a planet shaped just like Alfred E. Newman’s head than we are to find life somewhere else in the universe.