MUFON member — not just a member but “multi state director” John Ventre posted fearful racist posts on his Facebook page. Sad to see anyone post such paranoid and ignorant rantings, and it brings up questions concerning UFO research when it comes to a public figure involved in this area.
Why would this concern anyone? After all, he has a right to his opinion, his personal views are his and not reflective of MUFON. In fact, MUFON has issued an apology covering -one’s- collective -asse response.
To be fair, in the comments section, MUFON has posted that Ventre’s books have been removed from MUFON, and he has been disinvited from the 2018 MUFON Symposium, but, he has been “replaced as a Journal columnist” [MUFON.com] So it’s questionable how much MUFON cares. In fact, the following statement from MUFON smacks of an apologist stance on MUFON’s part, as author Robbie Graham pointed out on their site in the comments section:
Jan Harzan’s official statement here is an absolute disgrace. “Who is worse,” he asks, “the posters posting or the haters hating?” In the context of this issue, he’s actually implying that those who stand up to racism are as bad as (or worse than) the racists themselves, with the racist being merely a “poster” and the anti-racists being “haters.” He should be thoroughly ashamed of himself. Utter disgrace. If Harzan represents MUFON, then MUFON is a joke, and a sick one at that. (Robbie Graham, comments section, MUFON.com)
Ventre’s opions affects research and MUFON as well as the rest of us living in the fringe, and we should care about this. (Many of us do care, for example, Lon Strickler, of Phantoms and Monsters, has spoken out about this, among others. ) This goes beyond someone’s hateful views on race. If Ventre feels this way, how do his feelings affect his research? When investigating a case involving people of a class, race, religion or gender one has bias towards, these prejudices affects the quality of research.
David Jacobs, whose bizarre, off the rails misogynistic treatment of Emma Woods has been a wildly surreal contribution to UFO Land’s history, yet he is still accepted — including by MUFON — and support for Jacobs continues.
If these researchers want UFO research to be taken “seriously” by the mainstream and the infrastructure and institutions, these behaviors cannot continue. If certain professions demand that individuals within those professions be held up to a higher standard (and I do have issues with that assumption) , and, if some UFO researchers and pundits push for acceptability, then they should demonstrate those higher standards.
Of course, UFO research, like all aspects of paranormal/supernatural/Fortean things/conspiracy and other fringe dwelling topics will never be taken seriously by anyone in the mainstream. That fact, however, does not give those who blithely show off their racist and sexist beliefs the excuse they’re looking for to continue to do so.
One last thought: it does not matter how long ago this took place; the discussion needs to keep going, (as with Jacobs and all the aftermath) — it is not a forgotten, “get over it” type of thing.
May 24, 2017 at 4:20 pm
As I’m sure you know, MUFON has chosen to delete all comments posted in reply to Harzan’s message. Ventre’s repugnant behavior has become a trivial detail in this fiasco. The problem has been revealed to be the management of the organization.
It’s only MUFON, so what? Sadly, they are seen by the media as the voice of ufology. After this disgrace, I don’t want them speaking for me or anyone I know.
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May 25, 2017 at 9:39 pm
Apparently being open minded about unexplained phenomenon leaves some suceptible to being “open minded” to sinister forces and ideologies that NEVER go away.
Two relevant quotes come to mind-
“All the goodness and the heroisms will rise up again, then be cut down again and rise up. It isn’t that the evil thing wins — it never will — but that it doesn’t die.”
John Steinbeck
“Beware always of the loudmouth taking advantage of the situation and appealing to a crowd’s meanest nature.”
NYC Columnist Jimmy Breslin about Donald Trump in 1989
How soonly and sadly we forget….
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May 25, 2017 at 9:59 pm
My bad- “susceptible”
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May 25, 2017 at 9:54 pm
Ventre has showed himself for what he is, and if MUFON wants to retain any shred of respectability, even as a fringe organization, they need to stop covering for him and get rid of him. Accepting his actions only makes clear that most of the organization agrees with his racist rant. MUFON is a joke.
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May 25, 2017 at 9:57 pm
one more short point, MUFON says this…”Finally, it is okay to disagree with others, but let’s challenge ourselves to dialogue with that person to first understand their rationale for the opinion they are stating, and then begin a discussion with them on the subject. For only through dialogue and discussion do we advance as a civilization.” as it closes it’s own discussion thread on the matter
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June 27, 2017 at 2:08 pm
you failed to mention that I replied to a post that said blacks would benefit from white genocide; WHITE GENOCIDE!!!!
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July 30, 2017 at 6:52 pm
A comment for Mr. Ventre:
Re:” Nothing happened before the Brits, etc” Mmm…Egypt? An African civilization?
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