America's judicial system is based on the idea that someone is innocent until proven guilty. This is one of the most basic principles that someone learns about law. Does this apply only in the context of a trial? Or does this transcend the law and become a general principle of life?
Before anyone thinks I've gone completely insane that's all the talk of law I will do. I'm not a lawyer and never wanted to be one, I leave that for my cousin and my other cousins husband. No, the reason I brought it up is the fact that to prove something you have to have evidence to back it up. However, it seems that in the fields of esoteric studies such as Ufology, cryptozoology, and the paranormal the supporters have to provide all of the evidence while the debunkers and skeptics just have to say the words "hoax" or "fake" to seemingly denounce and disprove in the eyes of the general population any and all evidence that the esoteric researcher might bring forth.
To quote Shane "Hurricane" Helms. "Whatsupwitdat?"
What is the proof that researchers can provide that would be considered substantial enough to get past the cry of scam from the list of debunkers? Ufology seemingly provides proof on a daily basis, be it video or photograph, only to have no less than our own government claim the always popular "flare" excuse. The advent of computers and programs such as "photoshop" have done nothing but give skeptics one more piece of heavy ammunition to use in their war against anyone who doesn't think like they do. To them, every photo or video is now painstakingly reworked on a high end computer with an operator who can make a Madonna picture not look like a dried up husk.
Really, what would it take? It seems that even if their was a landing on the White House lawn, someone like The Amazing Randi would say it was all done by George Lucas's ILM Studios. The big question is why is it like that? Maybe we as a community aren't as dedicated in our beliefs as we like to say we are. Maybe it's just something that has been instilled in us that since our beliefs go against the norm we are used to it and think it's to be expected.
Maybe if enough people say that the skeptics have to prove us wrong, maybe then, they will have the burden of proof on them.
