From: Ray Stanford <dinotracker@earthlink.net>
Date: Thu, 8 Jan 2004 19:01:37 -0500
Fwd Date: Fri, 09 Jan 2004 09:47:56 -0500
Subject: Re: Friedman & McGaha To Debate - Friedman 


>From: Stanton Friedman <fsphys@rogers.com>
>To: <ufoupdates@virtuallystrange.net>
>Date: Wed, 7 Jan 2004 20:55:17 -0400
>Subject: Friedman & McGaha To Debate

>Listers may be interested in knowing that there will be a
>full-fledged formal debate between myself and James McGaha,
>a CSICOP affiliate, at Middle Tennessee State University in
>Murfreesboro, Tennessee, less than 40 miles Southeast of
>Nashville, at 7PM, Wednesday, January 28.

I have no insight concerning McGaha on UFOs or his debate
tactics, but the fact that he claims to have been investigating
UFOs for 35 years and I have heard nothing of him in a UFO
context makes me suspicious that he may exaggerate and 'guild
the lilly'.

It is a fact that McGaha has spent a heck of a lot of time
searching for comets over the years, which makes me wonder just
how much time he would really have had to seriously investigate
UFO cases. If he is like most 'skeptics', he probably lacks
detailed knowledge of the best cases, so I suggest asking him
during the debate for specific details of important cases. My
bet would be that he will miserably fail to supply such, and you
shall have scored a point about his ignorance of important
cases. Sure, there's a slight gamble in that tactic, but
'nothing ventured, nothing gained', and I am confident you are
orders of magnitude better-informed about the most important
cases than is McGaha.

In dealing with McGaha, I would steer clear of debating Roswell
(which he is likely expecting you to bring up) and deal with
only multi-witness 'distinct object' cases (with highly credible
scientist or military witnesses) with good electronic and/or
optical back-up. You might also bring in some case like one I
have in mind (from the USA), wherein a boy was burned (right
through his thick jacket and sweatshirt) by a columnated, red,
laser-like beam from a device sticking out the bottom of 20-foot
red UFO, as witnessed by the boy's mother and grandmother who
extinguished the burning jacket by rolling the boy in the snow!
He was quickly taken to a doctor who verified the round burn on
the boy's upper arm.

Stan, you may be familiar with the case to which I am referring,
but if not (it dates back several decades), and if you are
interested, I will provide you with details, privately, for the
asking. I don't see how McGaha or anyone else could put that
case down to hoax, misperception, hallucination, an ionized owl,
or even to ball lightening. :)

Of course, I realize you don't need my advice, but want you to
show that I wish you an overwhelming victory in the debate.

May we know who is sponsoring this sure-to-be-exciting event?


Every good wish,

Ray Stanford

"You know my method. It is founded upon the observance of
 trifles." -- Sherlock Holmes in The Boscombe Valley Mystery