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The Box

I used to introduce lessons in my classroom with stories, which I would then try to connect to the skill we were focusing on. Sometimes I would do a decent job, and the story would relate to what we were studying. Other days-- and this is funny-- the relationship between my story and the lesson we were learning would be so distant that it was sometimes hard to tell why I told the story in the first place. I look back on that now and laugh, but some of the things I learned were interesting. Here is just one example of a story I told my students (here, it was to introduce distinguishing fact from opinion).

There are so many stories that seem unbelievable, and yet many people will swear that they are true.

This might best be demonstrated by conspiracy theories. One of the most well-known in our country comes from an area in southern Nevada known as Area 51. On this tract of land sits a military airfield where aircraft and weapons are tested; it’s supposed to be one of the most secretive places in the world. The airspace around this field is restricted; military pilots, in fact, refer to this area around Area 51 as “The Box.”

Because it is so secretive (apparently the U.S. government “barely acknowledges” its existence), many people hold that it is a center for several activities regarding UFOs. It’s said that there is currently a UFO being stored and examined at the site, along with its occupants (meaning aliens, alive or dead); that meetings are being held with extraterrestrials; that “exotic energy weapons,” or technology aimed at controlling the weather, are being developed; that time travel technology is being created; that unusual propulsion systems (engines, for example) are being developed; and even that there are activities related to the creation of a one-world government. It’s also said that underneath Area 51 is a transcontinental railroad and that there is a disappearing airstrip that can be seen only when water is sprayed on it (called the “Cheshire Airstrip"). Here, others claim, the environment of the moon is simulated, and that Area 51 was in fact the location where the 1969 landing on the moon was faked (it is claimed that the moon landing never occurred). There’s even a person who says he was able to smuggle out a video of an interview with an alien out of Area 51. The alien in the video is in a dark interrogation room, using telepathy to communicate with scientists and military personnel.

To be an informed reader, it’s crucial that you be able to tell the difference between fact and falsehood, between something that can be proven and opinion. Knowing the difference between the two will help you understand what you should believe and what you should either ignore or investigate further. If you have this ability, it will give you a sense of confidence in your why you think something is true or false.

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