(Note: This article originally appeared in the Washington Times on July, 2026. A subscription may be required to see it there.)
Sorry, Virginia, Space Aliens Have Not Visited Earth
If you’re a believer in visitors from outer space, this is your moment. The feds have declassified UFO files, there’s a new documentary on alleged UFO sitings, and of course, the new Steven Spielberg film, Disclosure Day, is doing boffo box office. If you’re convinced space aliens have visited and are even around us right now, I’m sorry to burst your space helmet bubble, but it’s all bunk.
UFO fascination is driven by our natural curiosity, spurred along by Hollywood’s monetization of it. Maybe part of our fascination with extraterrestrial beings is due to our dissatisfaction with earthly inhabitants. Whatever the reason, it seems we’re never satiated by the endless stream of mysterious videos and photos of alleged UFOs, and the entertainment it has spawned.
But if you look closely, the case for extraterrestrials doesn’t add up. In fact, the case is largely dependent on dumb tropes from the space dramas we love so much. For instance, we’ve been brainwashed into thinking that explorers from other planets adhere to a strict code of non-interference. These enlightened beings care about our freedom to make our own decisions, no matter how disastrous, because they are deeply committed to civilizational autonomy. If the aliens inserted themselves in our affairs, we might be tempted to emulate the peace and harmony they’ve achieved! Nonetheless, it must be really frustrating for them to watch us make a mess of everything. This theory holds up about as well as a tower of Rice Krispy treats in the Sahara.
Of course, there have been plenty of movies in the horror genre involving monstrous space creatures bent on destroying humans. Not to mention Star Trek’s depiction of a morally diverse cosmos. But I don’t think such portrayals are nearly as fixed in our minds as Spielberg’s vision of benevolent and superior space visitors.
Many if not most of us have bought into the idea of aliens like the ugly-cute E.T., who is intellectually as well as morally far more advanced than us. E.T. not only loves kids (and is loved by them in return), he can adapt primitive children’s toys into sophisticated communication devices pretty much at will.
But, apart from blockbuster movies, why should we think space aliens are benevolent? They may just as well be devoid of empathy for lesser beings, as we often are, when we callously step on bugs in our path. And even if they truly were virtuous, surely they’d be sickened by how we interact with each other on earth. They might well conclude that the human race is a threat to cosmic peace and destroy us for the good of the universe. In short, our expectation of kindly space aliens seems very much like a wish projection.
Another silly idea we’ve embraced is that space aliens just want to study us; they don’t intend to interact with us. We are merely a curiosity to them and they prefer to keep their distance. Besides, as noted, they don’t want to meddle in our affairs.
Scientists say that our nearest possible intelligent “neighbors” in outer space are a minimum of 33,000 light years away from us — just a stone’s throw across our galaxy! Assuming that these neighbors have the technological know-how to travel at the speed of light, it would take them 33,000 years to reach us. It would be odd if they traveled that far and didn’t introduce themselves, and at least stay for a cup of joe. Or, quickly conquer us and make us their supplicants.
Folks often insist that aliens have been to earth, only to have their presence concealed by our nefarious governments. But it’s preposterous to conclude that visiting space aliens are unable to bypass the U.S. government, or any other government, for that matter, if they so desired.
People who insist that the government knows of alien visits tend to be deeply conspiracy-minded, which tells you something in and of itself. Is it reasonable to assume that highly intelligent and advanced interplanetary visitors can’t reveal themselves directly to Sally and Joe Public, rather than having to go through a bunch of federal bureaucrats? Or that the feds could keep knowledge of an alien presence secret for so many years, as claimed?
It’s hard to believe that aliens can’t evade our military detection systems, if they so wished. So, if they didn’t want us to know they’re around, they could certainly stay hidden. And, if the scant evidence of their appearances is genuine, why would they bother to zoom off and disappear as soon as the military lays eyes on them? Surely, they have nothing to fear.
No doubt, any space aliens investigating the cosmos who came across us would be amazed to discover another intelligent life form in the universe. And they’d want to initiate contact and learn about us in person. Since they’d made the effort, they’d likely announce themselves to us with or without government approval – perhaps by taking over everyone’s TV simultaneously, speaking in each nation’s own tongue(s). Or maybe they’d take over the half-time show at the Superbowl, which would be vastly more interesting and less weird than recent half-time shows.
So, go ahead and enjoy the absurd speculation and entertainment about the existence of aliens. It’s all good fun and gives us a break from the problems on earth. And when real space aliens finally show up from some distant galaxy, you can be sure you won’t miss it.
SpoofsandProofs.com is written and produced by David Culver Brenner. For a free subscription to SpoofsandProofs.com, enter your email in the “Subscribe” box on the right sidebar. To learn more about his novella illuminating the dangers of socialism, The Un-Socialist Chickens. His most recent book is Are Evangelical Christians Hypocrites: How Being Born-Again Transforms People and Shapes Their Worldview.