Segments of this piece were originally published on the internet portal "Light" (Svjetlost) in November 2008. A modest ufological exhibit caused a big controversy. From August 30, 2008, to January 9, 2009, Mary Brogan Museum of Art and Science in Tallahassee, Florida, (permanently closed in 2013) presented historical insights into the Roswell Incident – controversial July 1947 crash allegedly related to ET craft and bodies recovered by the US Army Air Forces. In the 1990s US government released 2 additional explanations to resolve the matter. One from 1994 emphasized that the object was just a surveillance balloon from the secret Project Mogul. Another one from 1997 noted that test dummies dropped from high altitude where the most likely cause for stories of "crashed bodies in the desert". Museum grabbed controversial tiger by the tail. Old newspaper clippings and audio recordings were part of the Roswell exhibit. However, on November 7, 2008, the event culminated. Nuclear physicist and original civilian researcher of the incident, Stanton Friedman, presented two lectures. Frist one was titled "The Real Roswell Story". It was followed the next day with another lecture titled "Star Travel? Yes!". Friedman’s lectures sparked local interest towards Roswell controversies. However, this public scrutiny also brought loud objections against the event. On November 4, 2008, local newspapers „The Tallahassee Democrat“, published a letter from Dr. Paul Cottle of University Florida to the editor. He was upset. Cottle’s letter caused a prompt reply from Chucha Barber, executive director of the Mary Brogan Museum. The reply was also published in „The Tallahassee Democrat“ on November 5, 2008. Clash of ideas didn't end there. The mic was quickly picked by Dr. Gregory Boebinger, the director of the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory in Tallahassee. He jumped into the debate to support his colleague Cottle. His letter to the editor in part states the following. Due to the overall controversy, Sarasota Herald-Tribune investigative journalist Billy Cox also covered the affair in his November 14, 2008, piece titled "Scientists decline to defend themselves". He offered Cottle and Boebinger opportunity to back up their disputed claims. This was the outcome. Within the Billy Cox's piece, Chucha Barber, executive director of the Mary Brogan Museum, also commented on the entire controversy. Retired UK journalist David Haith also got involved with the affair. He personally wrote to Cottle referring him to the Billy Cox piece. On December 28, 2008, Stanton Friedman was a guest on a radio show Coast to Coast AM where he was interviewed by investigative journalist George Knapp. Here is the relevant transcript where Staton reflects on the museum controversy. GEORGE KNAPP: Few people in the world have been studying UFOs for as long as Stan Friedman. He is widely described as UFOs cop on the beat, sorting out the wheat from the chaff. And he just recently got himself embroiled in a controversy - which a Stan is likely to do over the years - with an academic institution that objected - some of their members-- I guess faculty objected to the consideration of a UFO exhibit in a museum. I think it's in the state of Florida. And Stan has been going back and forth with these guys. … And we're now joined by a nuclear physicist, Stanton Friedman. … I could not help be drawn by the story about what happened in Florida, I guess. Can you bring us up to date, how this started at the Mary Brogan Museum of Art and Science in Tallahassee? And what kind of flak you took from some of the academics down there? STANTON FRIEDMAN: Well, you have to understand that's the home of FSU, Florida State University. They not only have a fine football team, but they've got a fine Physics Department. And the museum brought me in because they were displaying the Roswell exhibit for several months. This was put together by some guys over in Texas, And you know, stuff on the walls and big pictures and clippings, and the whole business. And I was at a previous Florida museum in Fort Myers, Southwest Florida Museum of History. They had had the exhibit. They decided to bring me in to give a couple of lectures, sort of icing on the cake, if you will. And it was very well received. We had great crowds and they sold a lot of tickets. … Anyway, the Brogan museum brought me in, and decided to bring me in to speak twice, “The Real Roswell Story” and “Start Travel - question mark - Yes!”. You think that would be the one of interest of physicists. But anyway, out of the blue, four days before I was due to speak, a letter appears in the Tallahassee Democrat, the local newspaper. That's the capital of Florida. I mean, it's not a huge city, but it's not a tiny town either-- In which a professor of physics Paul Cottle - whom I don't know-- I did check, he is also a member of the American Physical Society, as I am-- writes a letter in which he complains about, they're bringing in a well known charlatan. Me! And a pseudo scientist. And you know how terrible it is that they did that. Now, somebody sent me a copy of the article and I immediately emailed him because I went over to their University website. No response from him, of course. The next day, the head of the museum, defends their choice, gives some of my background. And the day after that, another professor of physics who's head of the National magnet laboratory, which is a major world class facility there-- FSU is big. They got about 45,000 students. We're not talking about a little Podunk school. And he doesn't mention my name, but he does mention pseudoscientists and with regard to Roswell and UFOs - and you know - is we are going to be doing something on other far out crazy things. Anyway, we had a good an overflow crowd, actually, at the first lecture, and a full house on the second lecture. And they bought a whole bunch of books. There were some going back and forth. And I sent copies of these letters. I mean, I'm accustomed to taking on anybody, George, but in an equal situation. I had in critic College in New York State, who at the end of my lecture stands up and says, 'I've never had heard so much nonsense in one night in my life'. Fortunately, I said: 'Can you be a little more specific?', and he rattled off a bunch of you said that, which I had to correct each time. He said that I said that Betty and Barney Hill were taken to Zeta Reticuli and back in two hours. And what I had said was they were on board the craft for two hours, they didn't go anywhere. I mean, you know, a little bit off in his comments. Anyway, went through a bunch of these and somebody shouts out: 'How about taking some sensible questions?' This guy leaves and I say: 'Who was that?' He was a professor of physics. [lough] So I mean, that's the connection with this story. And, I sent the letters to Billy Cox who does a fine blog about UFOs. Sent copies to him. He contacted both of these guys. 'Well, I was just making my comment for the local communities', says Paul Cottle, and he doesn't want to get involved in this. The second guy didn't respond. Then Billy did another column later, and the second guy responded a little bit. Billy tried to talk to him about Stephenville, would you believe? Billy keeps up on the UFO scene very well. And the guy didn't want to hear it. It's not my job to explain any sightings. You know, a totally irrational kind of response from both of these guys. And I'm still-- what's the word I want? I am considering suing for defamation because it's liable per se. Calling me a well known charlatan is not cricket when I'm not. And I gathered together, you know, hundreds of comments from satisfied university respondents who've heard me speak and so forth. I have to two years to decide whether to sue or not, but it was one of those strange, totally unexpected things. Neither one came to my lectures of course. GEORGE KNAPP: What is your inclination though? I mean, for them to call you a charlatan? That sounds actionable. STANTON FRIEDMAN: It is actionable. I've talked to a couple of lawyers. And I'm sitting on it for a while because, and you'll love this, George. I mean, you're in Vegas, you know about these things. They made it clear, the university guy, the magnet guy, to the head of the museums, that they would work together with them on exhibits, but if any more trouble comes up then that will stop that. I call that blackmail from where I come from. GEORGE KNAPP: Jeez. Readers are encouraged to check these companion pieces about the museum affair. November 14, 2008 - Billy Cox: Scientists decline to defend themselves November 16, 2008 - Frank Warren: UFOs & Science: If One Can't Attack the Data, Attack the People - It's Easier! November 17, 2008 - Kevin Randle: Science and Charlatans Giuliano Marinkovic July 11, 2021
2 Comments
Roger Borroel
7/12/2021 02:10:50
Mr. Stan Friedman has not worked as a physicist since around 1970 until he died, hence, he should not be called physicist but a FORMER physicist.
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L Garou
7/15/2021 23:45:06
Atheistic communists (is there really any other kind) poorly disguised as (fill in the blank) are soooooo pathetically insecure and afraid of being found out they always eventually resort to their Mommy Government to force people to Fuggedaboutit. And yes this includes by every means up to and including bloody murder. There are precedents.
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