Who has the burden of proof?

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.

The Boggy Creek Monster

As a lifelong resident of Arkansas, I have been told a lot of different stories about the state. I have heard the stories of Bonnie and Clyde having coffee with my great uncle, stories about the "Hanging Judge" (and if you've ever seen Rooster Cogburn, you know who I'm talking about), so basically I've heard just about every story that came out of the old west and the depression era from the state.

However, there is one story that to this day fascinates me. The Legend of Boggy Creek.

Yes, the same one that had the horrible movie made about it in the early 70's. The same movie that was immortalized in an episode of Mystery Science Theater 3000. As bad as that three film series was (only made watchable by the appearance of the late, yet always cute Dana Plato in the second film), the stories behind the films are as much a part of local folklore as Ted Williams and Babe Ruth in Boston.

During the early 1870's in the town of Fouke, Arkansas the Ford family was attacked by an unknown creature. During the same time period, the same creature was blamed for the death of local livestock. This creature is said to be from seven to ten feet tall, weigh anywhere from 250 to 800 pounds, has a chest 3 feet wide, long dark fur and bright red eyes the size of silver dollars.

Tracks have been found that give the creature a 17 inch foot that is 7 inches wide. However, unlike any other creature of it's type, it is claimed to only have three toes.

Since the 1970's there has been sporadic reports of the creature. In 1991, it was seen jumping from a bridge and in 1998 it was again reported in a dry creek bed. The biggest year for sightings was 1997 where there were 40 reported sightings.

As usual, with any type of creature that can't be labeled definitively, there is speculation that it is a bear or a mountain lion. Some claim that it is some type of unknown hominid. While others say it is a part of the Bigfoot family. Whatever it is, with the amount of wooded areas that are prevalent through the state, there are plenty of places for it to hide so we may never know and the naysayers can always claim hoax.