'Goats’ movie helps us stare at human mind

By Steve Hammons

The new fact-based fiction movie The Men Who Stare at Goats deals with more than meets the eye. Or at least, we see some subjects touched on in quick and sometimes subtle ways that might trigger more thought.

In other scenes, certain topics are dealt with at length or even hit viewers between the eyes with a cinematic sledgehammer.

Incredibly funny parts of the movie are juxtaposed with the troubling, tragic and frightening.

Besides looking at the concepts of the First Earth Battalion and its real-life outside-the-box leader Army Lt. Col. Jim Channon (played by Jeff Bridges), we also get a glimpse at the Vietnam War years and post-Vietnam U.S. Army. These were dark and difficult times in the military and in America.

Yet, the 1960s and ´70s also brought forth the "human potential movement" which included a variety of touchy-feely human encounter activities, experimentation with mind-altering substances, a renewed interest in planet Earth and the natural environment, as well as the value of peace and human love.

From the troubled years after the Vietnam War to the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, moviegoers are asked to consider some basic questions about human beings, the U.S. government and military, and even the forces of good versus "the dark side."

THE HUMAN MIND

The movie, and the book upon which it is based, bring together various subjects in ways that give us the opportunity to reflect further about the larger, deeper and more complex aspects of the real-life material.

For example, the research and operational activities of Project STAR GATE, probably the most widely-known U.S. remote viewing program, was not part of Channon's First Earth Battalion.

However, as indicated by the scene when George Clooney identifies the contents of a small closed box as "a man sitting in a chair," remote viewing did turn out to be a real and valid human skill.

Generally speaking, it is a sub-type of ESP, but conducted according to specific and scientific research and operational protocols.

Remote viewing-type skills are related to what we call intuition, gut feelings, instincts and the sixth sense. We probably all have these abilities and can practice and develop them further.

Some of the Project STAR GATE personnel reportedly had quite excellent results at times.

On a separate topic, in the movie an entire Army outpost in Iraq is slipped a mind-altering substance, LSD, via the food and water. In fact, during Army and CIA research of LSD a couple of decades ago, unwitting troops, intelligence officers and civilians were reportedly given this substance to test its effects.

The dangers of this and other mind-altering substances are clearly demonstrated in one troubling and shocking scene. This danger is real and was an unfortunate result for many people in the '60s, '70s and beyond. In fact, certain mind-altering drugs continue to cause severe health, social and legal problems today.

The often valuable research into human consciousness, from the '60s to the present, has been marred in many cases by excess, ignorance, misuse and dangerous behavior.

Defining, understanding and separating worthwhile and constructive approaches from stupid and destructive behavior continue to be a challenge now.

VICTORY WITHIN REACH

In the movie, we also get glimpses of the positive potential of human beings, our military and our society.

When the Jeff Bridges character has a near-death experience in Vietnam after being shot, we might wonder about the many reports of similar encounters that have been thoroughly researched and documented. And we might wonder what conclusions can be drawn from them.

The reverence for the Earth through various rituals by some of the characters can also be interpreted as a valid perspective that connects humans with Nature – and helps keep our feet on the ground as well as offering benefits to mental and spiritual health.

Mention in the movie of U.S. military humanitarian operations, peace operations, conflict resolution and similar activities might seem whimsical. However, these activities are now considered important parts of American foreign policy and important missions of the U.S. armed forces.

How fitting that the movie portrays some recent activities in Iraq and Afghanistan as being part of "the dark side."

The Men Who Stare at Goats is a funny, thought-provoking and very entertaining movie. It moves along quickly, but not like the rapid-fire pacing of a thriller. It is more like a gentle roller-coaster of humor and tragedy, action and more contemplative moments, with representations of good and evil, light and darkness.

Perhaps most importantly, the movie gives us insight into human nature at its best and worst.

The lessons that can be learned from the film, and the stories upon which it is apparently loosely based, are probably more valuable than we might think.

Human consciousness is now changing and evolving in ways that might result in developments so positive that the goals of people like Col. Channon may finally be within rea

TV show ‘V’ may reflect real UFOs, ET visitors

By Steve Hammons

The new ABC TV series “V” seems to be drawing a solid audience and may be helping us consider important issues facing our society today.

The original 1983 miniseries was reportedly related to a novel by Sinclair Lewis about the Nazis coming to power in Germany.

Yet, what if we look at the more literal context of the show – that extraterrestrial or unusual visitors of some kind have arrived, perhaps quite some time ago, and are among us?

In the original 1983 two-part miniseries, the 1984 three-part miniseries and the TV series that aired from 1984 to 1985, the visitors were portrayed as reptilian evil-doers who wanted to take over the Earth. Their human and friendly appearance was a cover for a more sinister agenda.

The new 2009 series, a “reimagining” of the 1983 TV miniseries, portrays a similar scenario.

What if there is some truth to a development like this? What if extraterrestrial or other kinds of visitors might arrive on Earth, or already have? Are they hostile? Are they friendly? Are there more than one kind? What might be their goals here? What activities are they conducting?

GOVERNMENT EFFORTS

In the new show, Elizabeth Mitchell plays FBI agent Erica Evans. Each week, she and her allies discover more about the visitors.

Does our real-life FBI take an interest in this topic? According to some UFO research, J. Edgar Hoover definitely had an interest and FBI agents have been involved in these kinds of investigations over the years. Hoover reportedly complained that he was cut out of the loop by other U.S. military and intelligence organizations on this subject.

The Air Force’s “Project Bluebook,” based at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio, investigated UFO sightings for many years. But some researchers claim that his project was a cover story for other research and activities regarding real UFOs and unusual visitors.

Some researchers say that a group of military and scientific officials called “Majestic” was formed in the late 1940s to investigate and handle an alleged real and serious UFO and visitor situation.

When audiences watch the “V” TV series, many viewers probably reflect on some of these reports and accounts of actual government interest in UFOs and alleged extraterrestrial visitation.

We might also wonder if this TV show, and many other movies, TV programs, books and related communications efforts are simply entertainment or something more.

GET READY

According to some researchers, efforts to prepare, orient and acclimate the American people and people around the world on this subject have been going on for decades.

Through carefully-crafted efforts by psychological operations experts to creative endeavors in the entertainment community, we may have been exposed to a wide array of orientation materials to get us ready to deal with surprising or even troubling situations in this area.

Are we ready? Are we prepared?

The impacts of such a situation could be mental, emotional, spiritual, social, governmental, military, economic, technological and maybe even biological. There could be many important, complex and sensitive aspects to such a scenario that would need to be handled carefully and safely.

If something like this was really going on, who are the good guys and bad guys? Who can we trust? What is the end game?

These are the same questions and developments playing out in the TV show “V.”

We also see these kinds of elements in apparently increasing numbers of movies, books and other information platforms. Surf your TV channels, scan the movie section of your newspaper or check out the internet or local bookstore and you will find a significant number and variety of materials addressing these subjects.

If there is any truth to the reports and tales about UFOs and unconventional visitors to Earth, we might want to watch “V” with a perspective that helps us prepare for the possibility that this TV show might reflect reality more closely than many people now realize.

Remote viewing and more in documentary film ‘Something Unknown’

By Steve Hammons

The new movie The Men Who Stare at Goats is bringing expanded awareness to the general public about unconventional and anomalous topics involving human consciousness and the nature of “reality.”

Another film, this one a documentary, is doing the same.

Dutch filmmaker Renée Scheltema’s film Something Unknown is Doing Something We Don’t Know What, like the “Goats” movie, looks at discoveries in modern physics and psychology, remote viewing, telepathy, precognition, psychokinesis, unconventional healing, therapeutic touch, psychic detective work and related subjects.

Scheltema has a background in Dutch TV and has created other documentaries. After her bachelor’s degree in law, she also earned advanced degrees in journalism and criminology.

INTEGRATIVE RESEARCH

In the film, various scientists and researchers give their views about the possibility or probability that unconventional and unusual forces are at work in the Universe and Nature – or at least they seem unusual to many of us.

Some of the people featured in the film include former Apollo astronaut Dr. Edgar Mitchell, former Project STAR GATE researcher Dr. Harold (Hal) Puthoff, University of Arizona professor of psychology Dr. Gary Schwartz, University of California professor emeritus of psychology Charles Tart, parapsychologist Dr. Dean Radin and several other prominent scientists and investigators.

Something Unknown explores reports of phenomena and aspects of human consciousness that seem to defy logic and our general understanding of ourselves and our environments.

Yet, much research into topics like near-death experiences, remote viewing, ESP and other subjects seems to indicate that something truly is going on that should be thoroughly investigated. In addition to any understanding of these phenomena that can be attained, the film serves as a vehicle to communicate to and educate us about these discoveries.

As the title of the film seems to indicate, there is “something” in the Universe and Nature, or perhaps many “somethings,” that are behaving in ways that are unique, puzzling and at times, amazing.

Physicists, psychologists, biologists and other investigators are changing their views of how things work around us and within us – and the interesting connections between the two.

Are these unconventional phenomena really “paranormal” or simply normal and natural?

GETTING UP TO SPEED

Different human cultures certainly approach human consciousness, dreams, visions, the afterlife, Nature and other common experiences in different ways. The modern scientific approaches of Western civilization have often created and reflected a different view of how things work and how Nature operates.

In addition, the divide between “science” and “spirituality” seems, at times, to define a separation that may not really be present at all.

The trends and trajectory of our understanding about human consciousness, biological systems, quantum physics and a wide swath of other studies seem to be moving toward a new way of looking at things – at the “something” and what it is doing.

The general public is now being exposed to more kinds of films, TV programs, books and other information that are getting all of us up to speed on the discoveries and developments in these fields that affects each and every one of us.

These communications efforts, like Something Unknown, seem to be part of the process to inform us, deepen our understanding, enhance our consciousness and … well, “we don’t know what.”

Something Unknown will be shown at the Santa Fe Film Festival on Dec. 3 and 5. The film is also available on DVD. For more information and to view the movie trailer, go to SomethingUnknown.com.