June 24, 1997
Phantom Surgeons, Part 3: More Theories
by guest author Amber Hearn
Last week I said that if I were a rancher with an unusual death on my hands, I'd be insulted if someone told me that the death was from a predator. Well, what if I was a rancher with a reason to lie? Some real pessimists have suggested that all or a good portion of these deaths are the result of dishonest herders who try to make the death appear like vandalism so they can collect insurance. Insurance companies will not pay for death by natural causes, but most have clauses covering vandalism. I'm sure it happens. But the same MO - 10,000 times over 48 states and several other countries? Come on. Despite that, these ranchers couldn't all be skilled surgeons could they? Not to mention the fact that these mutilations are restricted to cattle, but have been found, albeit rarely, in domestic pets and even a couple of zoo animals.
There are several other theories. Such as the crimes being the work of satanic cultists who steal the organs and blood from dead animals for their rituals, the government or governmental employees testing high technology weaponry or perhaps performing secret experiments, black market researchers stealing the blood to replicate human plasma (Cow blood is very similar to human blood) and of course there is the theory that aliens are stealing the parts.
None of the theories sound very plausible. The theory of satanic cults would only make sense if you could reconcile the apparent use of high technology and the apparent ability to leave no physical evidence and of course be invisible. In researching this article, I found only one incident where there was evidence suggesting a link to cults. In 1975, a forestry service employee reported seeing several people in hooded black robes in Blaine County, Idaho. The following day, several mutilated cattle were found in the local area. In the same general area the following month, a motorist also reported seeing black robed figures forming a human road block on U.S. Highway 95. No cattle mutilations were found in the vicinity. A second case that might possibly be cult-related was the discovery of a blue valise found by a rancher in the summer of 1975 by a Colorado rancher. Upon opening it, he discovered a cow's ear, a tongue and a scalpel. However, it must be noted that I have not done an exhaustive study and there may be other evidence.
The government? Well, the government has its own land and its own cattle. Why would they need to go and cut up someone else's? Why invite publicity? Unless they want publicity. Perhaps in true X-Files fashion, it's misinformation. Plots within plots designed to keep us going in circles instead of asking the right questions? If you believe this I'd say either you watch too much TV or you're still living in the sixties along with J. Edgar Hoover and his neurotic theories.
Aliens? Hmmm. What would aliens want with cow parts? There are many interesting species on this planet besides humans. If there are aliens, surely we cannot be so arrogant as to assume that they are only interested in abducting and experimenting on us. But cows? What would they want with placid, ugly, completely unintelligent cows? Genetic engineering? Checking out our food sources? Certainly a possibility, especially when paired with the crop circles. But wouldn't they have learned all they needed to know with the first cow? Why not take the whole cow? Hell I don't know, but as one writer pointed out "We can't explain why our next door neighbors do the things they do. How are we supposed to guess what drives the behavior of an alien species?"
This much I know to be true. "Whenever you eliminate all the possibilities. Whatever is left, however improbable, must be the truth" (Spock, Star Trek VI, The Undiscovered Country). The big problem is that no state or federal government agency is actually trying to do that. Don't you wonder why not? We've spent millions investigating all sorts of stupid stuff. Why not this? Meanwhile, the incidents continue....
Check out these sites for more information :
Dreamland Interactive Cattle Mutilation Sound Off
The Skeptic's Dictionary
Mootilations at the UFO Folklore Center
Until next time, THE TRUTH IS OUT THERE!
By guest author Amber Hearn
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Terminal X Now Accessed
This is a well constructed site with a wave file for listening to the X-Files theme song while you browse. In this easy to navigate site you'll find a picture gallery, video gallery, FAQs, Fan Fiction, episode guide, links, and articles. Lot's to do here!
The Digital World of Simon Wright - The X-Files
This site is aimed at Australian audiences. Australian X-philes are about 15-episodes behind American audiences. This would be a good place to review past episodes without spoiling future shows. There are FAQs, an image gallery as well as links to other pages and video clips.
The SciFi Site - The X-Files Resource Page
Just what it says: Resource page. Everything from links to gif files and FAQs can be found here. Plus, access info about newsletters and discussion groups
The X-Files Homepage
The official X-Files homepage. This site has a fan forum, case files (episode guide), and reviews of other shows that air on Fox Television Network
The X-Files
Probably one of the first stops for most searches, this is the Foxhome webpage for the X-Files. From here you can order video, preview the episode guide or even register to be an FBI agent and solve cases in a game of X-Files.
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X-Files and the Unexplained
