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From: Jenny Randles <nufon@currantbun.com>
Date: Fri, 30 Jul 1999 20:44:22 +0100
Fwd Date: Sat, 31 Jul 1999 00:06:53 -0400
Subject: Re: 'Self-Proclaimed Leaders Of Ufology'


 >To: UFO UpDates - Toronto <updates@globalserve.net>
 >From: Jerome Clark <jkclark@frontiernet.net>
 >Subject: Re: 'Self-Proclaimed Leaders Of Ufology'
 >Date: Thu, 29 Jul 99 11:51:47 PDT

 >>From: Jerry Black <blackhole60@hotmail.com>
 >>To: updates@globalserve.net
 >>Subject: 'Self-Proclaimed Leaders Of Ufology'
 >>Date: Thu, 29 Jul 1999 07:02:01 PDT

 >Hi, Jerry,

 >>I would now like to refer to remarks you made about my comments
 >>concerning the "self-proclaimed leaders of ufology".

<snip>

 >>As you stated, Mr. Jerome Clark, your organization does not have
 >>the time or money to really get into investigating current cases
 >>out there in ufology, besides the fact of putting your opinion
 >>of cases in your monthly journal. So I am not accusing you of
 >>not doing a good job of investigating current cases, because as
 >>you have told me: you are not doing "any" job of investigating
 >>current UFO cases. You are simply making small reports in your
 >>journal which are merely opinions.

 >Actually, not.  IUR, which I'm sure you don't read or you
 >wouldn't have typed the above nonsense, carries investigative
 >pieces as well as insightful analytical overviews.  For example,
 >the current issue (available from J. Allen Hynek Center for UFO
 >Studies, 2457 West Peterson Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60659 --
 >thanks for the opportunity to put in the plug) carries a 14-page
 >investigative review, by Bill Chalker (prominent, well-regarded
 >Australian ufologist who has never to my knowledge proclaimed
 >himself to be a "leader" of the field), of apparent biological
 >evidence associated with an abduction case.  The same issue
 >carries two first-rate analytical essays by Mark Cashman
 >("Behavioral Classification System for UFO Occupants") and
 >Thomas E. Bullard ("Abductions and Researcher Bias: How to Lose
 >Your Way").  I happen to think we're putting out the best UFO
 >magazine in America, and a lot of people agree, if we can credit
 >the comments and letters we get from readers who appreciate our
 >sober, balanced, informed approach.

Hi,

Let me chip in here to defend the IUR and Jerry Clark - as it
may carry some weight with the other Jerry given that I am not
(and would never wish to be) a leader of ufology. Not even a
leader of British Ufology. Heck, not even a leader of ufology in
Dove Holes. Politics in ufology is one of the reasons for our
various problems and we are served best by researchers and
investigators (both inside and outside of groups) doing a good
job and publishing it through the handful of excellent
magazines. There are not that many. But there are some.

There are only three UFO associations I have ever been directly
involved with. My local team (now called NARO and of which I
have only ever been, or wanted to be, an ordinary member),
BUFORA, which even though I have no current role (I am not a
council member let alone a leader) I have been on council from
time to time in the past, and CUFOS - although I am not overtly
in any way with the group, only as a contributer to the
magazine, but I am associated in the very real sense that I
uttterly support its ideals, sober approach to the subject and -
most importantly - its professional output. This includes the
superb (and unrivalled) Journal of UFO Studies for in depth
analysis and the IUR, which under Jerry's editorship has been
and is, in my estimation, the best UFO publication we have got.
This is why he and the IUR and CUFOS have had my complete
backing.

As you have seen from the discussions in this list, Jerry and I
do not agree on everything. We disagree as often as we agree, in
fact. But we share a common approach to the problem and I have
utmost respect for the extensive work he has done that has
contributed so much. ufology has benefited from his
documentation of cases, historical research and skilful editing
(not to mention his own writing - of which the encylopedia
project has to rank amongst the two or three most important
pieces of UFO literature we have ever had). All across four
decades (which means Jerry must have started very young!)
(Sorry, Jerry, I first read one of your articles in FSR when I
was at school and its only recently I figured out that you
cannot have been much out of there yourself)

Although he has never used the term of himself or even hinted at
it, I regard Jerry as a leader of ufology - and thus take note
of what he says on any issue - but I mean a leader in the sense
that he guides us through example not through self proclamation
or ego. I doubt he would even dream of thinking himself by that
description.

You might think this is flannel, or the old pals act. It isnt.
There is no other organisation I would defend like I do CUFOS
(regularly on interviews over here) and very few ufologists I
would support openly in this way. The remarkable thing is that
so many of the others are associated with the IUR and CUFOS. If
Jerry Black is unaware of all this fine material dating back 25
years and is not reading the IUR then I am sorry, but its a loss
I would suggest that he rectify.

Of course, ufology has its own version of what you might term
the ego has landed. The media inevitably focus on the people
they think will give them the biggest story and that usually
means those with the most positive (or even outspoken) views.
Its how life is. The loudest get heard and the wisest keep their
mouths shut. But as Jerry C notes many of those you may not see
often on TV are still out there making their voice heard by
other routes. I dont get on TV much myself these days, much less
than a few years ago as new blood has come along like Nick Pope
and gets most of the interview requests, but its not a cause of
despair. I have had my share of appearances and still do them
from time to time, but am happy these days to say no more often
than I say yes.

Age brings the wisdom of holding ones council I guess.

So we all do what we do best in our own way and for some thats
banging a drum on TV, for others its writing books and for
others still just getting on with the job pleases them most such
as case investigation or pressing the government to wake up or
come clean. The difference is between the UFO organisational
structure, which by its nature requires a hierarchy and
leadership system to function, and so attracts that kind of
personality to lead, and ufology, per se, which involves the
groups, of course, but is more than just groups. Jacques Vallee,
for instance, told me quite categorically once that nothing of
much value emerges from groups. I think thats an over reaction,
but it has a degree of truth. He, of course, has steered well
away from the UFO hierarchy but it has not stopped him
contributing in his own way.

Ufology, as a movement, is much more a team of equals working in
loose partnership, disagreeing, of course, but working towards a
common goal. The internet well illustrates that. There is no
hierarchy here. It doesnt matter two hoots whether you have
written 100 books, made 1000 TV appearances and received the
award for the years most voluble UFOlogist, or whether you saw a
UFO last night and are about to read your first book. Equanimity
rules and we all have our say.Thats how it should be.

The real essence of ufology does not require leaders. In fact
they would get in the way. In the UK right now a few of us are
trying to forge a UFO community that is not a group. It will
have no members, no leaders, no committees, no conferences, no
lectures, no money. It will just be a loosely forged alliance of
like minded UFOlogists getting on with researching the cases we
think will contribute most to our knowledge. It will not be
distracted by the things that too often can dominate some groups
(not all groups I should emphasise) - that is power politics,
membership numbers and finance.

The media does not always reflect ufology as it is in its
entirity but I dare say the same is true of any area of life. So
we just have to forget about any perceived unfairness and get on
with the job. Thats what really matters, not how often we appear
on Sightings, surely?

Best wishes,

Jenny Randles