Brainwashing
.... that is a strong word but I use it purposely, as I question the
sudden change in abductees' attitudes all over the country. I'm a
hypnotherapist in Santa Barbara and the director of CEIT (Contact
Encounters Investigation Team), an abductee support and research
group. I noticed a drastic change earlier this year in the attitudes
of several of the abductees from one meeting to the next. People who
had been traumatized all their lives by ongoing abductions and had
only anger and mistrust for their non-human abductors suddenly
started saying they had been told/shown that everything that has
happened to them was for their own good, that the abductors are
highly spiritual beings and are helping them (the abductee) to evolve
spiritually. By accepting this information, the abductees stopped
fighting abduction and instead became passive and controlled. When I
checked with other researchers, I found that this was a pattern that
was repeating itself over and over again around the country. I became
concerned that abductees were accepting these explanations from
entities that we know can be deceitful, use screen memories to mask
real memories, use virtual reality scenerios to implant images into
abductees' heads, and manipulate and abuse. I wrote an article for
the MUFON UFO Journal (September 1995) and encouraged abductees to
seriously think about what they were accepting as their truth, in
light of the evidence, not the explanations offered them by these
non-human entities. I invited comments from the readership.
The correspondence I received from other researchers reflected, for
the most part, my own observations and feelings about this abductee
attitude switch. But the letters I got from many abductees accused me
of insulting their wonderful space brothers. I'd like to give a few
quotes from some of the letters I received.
A non-abductee writes: "Growth is a personally achieved occurrence
from within one's own being, whether it is physical or spiritual. If
these aliens are wanting us to believe that they are gifting humans
with spiritual growth, I see this as a ploy for their own purposes.
If this is not a tactic of their doings and is, instead, the
abductees way of justifying what has happened to them, then they are
deluding themselves. Either way one looks at it, this is like
justifying a cult leader who uses his members for experimentation and
has sex with them for purposes he calls spiritual and sanctioned by
God. We have seen this type of activity in human cults ... and have
been appalled by it. What makes this same type of activity acceptable
with aliens? Their actions speak for themselves."
One of the few abductees who agrees with me writes: "I was of this
mindset a few years back and had to force myself to back away from
it. I knew myself enough to know that it was not "like me," a very
independent thinker, to be compliant or to trust so easily, but I do
know programming when I see it. I still find myself being "pulled"
down the path of the "Friendly and Caring" entity mindset, but the
reality is - they are not. Their actions are not ethical. Like
thieves in the night they have plundered our lives. If their intent
was noble, they would not have to hide it. I agree, a spiritually
advanced race would not behave as they do. It's pure logic and yet I
still have to keep reminding myself of that. Up until 1992, I was
incredibly compelled never to share my abduction experience with
anyone; to do so would be a "betrayal" of my "space friends." I
cannot express how strongly compelled I was towards silence....to
utterly, believing they were here for our benefit....Maybe it was
because I went so much with the feeling of infatuation that I got to
thinking, "Whoa....listen to yourself...you sound like some kind of
fanatic." That's when it clicked. If anyone should've known better,
it was me; and yet they still managed to manipulate me. I backed away
from the entire issue and grew mistrustful of these idealistic
proclivites both within myself and in literature I'd read. My only
goal was to change my attitude towards them, and to see them for what
they are. It took me 2 years to do this to the point where I could
come into a group setting and even TALK about it!! To do so would be
betrayal! It was not and still is not easy, but I knew I had to stop
protecting my "captors" ....my "abusers.".....no matter what they
said or promised me. It was hard for me to go from
"Special-Chosen-One" to "Intergalactic Mutineer" but the point is, I
had to FORCE the resistence. I still do....and will, until our little
cosmic terrorists fess up and become accountable for their
actions."
Another abductee writes: "Once you've been cut open and can see your
insides over and over, it becomes old hat. It's life!... Some people
who experience abduction are always under their control. They need to
be. How else can they be cared for? Or perhaps I should say
monitored?" A Native American wrote to me: "Native Americans are very
aware of the beings that are 'visiting.' I have been told that they
do not believe that these beings are extraterrestrial. In the old
days the Star People visited and interacted with the people. Today
the Wakan Sica (in Lakota), or the darker side, has come and has
impersonated the Star People. This way they (the dark beings) could
move into our culture, through the public fascination with UFOs." An
abductee writes: "Abduction is part of the grand plan ... the plan to
change humans genetically so we will be able to adapt to a changing
environment, such as that brought on by more radiation, more
pollution, etc. At present our genes are breaking down under the
stress but they are fixing all that. They will save us as a species
and make us able to continue living here. We should be terribly
thankful to them for all their help."
A MUFON State Director writes: ".... your article had an impact on
me, for it put into words my own approach to abductions .... I
suggest caution be the name of the game as we continue to explore the
phenomenon. I, too, am unable to equate spirituality with taking
someone against their will. Whatever the agenda may be surround-ing
alien abductions, I'm sure we are not being told the truth or, at the
very least, being manipulated into cooperating with it."
An abductee writes: "How can you say we are being manipulated and
controlled when we agreed to all this before we came into this life?
In a pre-life arrangement, the one you call an abductee agreed to
being used to aid his brothers from the other dimensions/planets. If
this means experimentation, fetus removal and the like, then that is
fine because it was all agreed to, the abductee has just forgotten
the agreement. It will further his spiritual growth to be of service
in such a manner."
Not an abductee himself but has an abductee in the family: "....
let's not be suckered into believing getting hit in the head with a
baseball bat is fun. It could very well lead to our demise as an
independent thinking race of beings. I feel one of the greatest gifts
we have is our independence as individuals. I won't give up my
independence without a fight."
An abductee writes: "If abductees are more at peace by accepting
their abductors as spiritual, what's wrong with that? Abductee
brainwashing? I don't think so. The body is controlled, not ones
feelings."
A researcher: "Your paper dovetails nicely with a lot of information
that I have gathered. I really appreciate your using the terms
'brainwashing' and 'kidnapping' because that is exactly what is going
on. Furthermore, the word brainwashing aptly describes the veracity
of this experience. One of your major theses is that abductees
themselves are changing their stories from feeling traumatized and
abused to finding new-found enlightenment and deep spirituality. What
is indeed amazing is not only the drastic change of the abductees'
new-found tolerance but that they themselves don't realize that they
have been deceived."
An abductee writes: "My first memory was so wonderful. At first I was
scared but then a woman (alien) lifted me out of my crib and held me
... and said 'You're my baby now.' ....They control my body and what
it does but they don't control my mind. I make my own opinions. ....
If there is a problem, they fix it. They watch over me. They are my
God." Feelings and opinions on abduction run the gamut and we
certainly have no set answers. However, I continue to question the
motives of the abductors and their behavior. I would strongly suggest
that every abductee do the same. The question was asked above - why
not believe that the abductors are spiritual if it makes you feel
better? My answer to her is "because it's not the
truth."
I welcome comments and thoughts regarding the above
article.
I can be reached at the following address:
Donna Higbee
Post Office Box 6404
Santa Barbara, California
93160
