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"Do you believe there are aliens amongst us?"
(asked at Crossroads Shopping Center on 06-25-98; published in the EJ on 06-28-98)

Brandi Weber, Assistant manager, Seattle

"No, not yet. I think it would be naive and egocentric to think we're the only living creatures in a universe as large as ours. But do I think there are aliens amongst us? No. Actually -- I don't really know, one way or the other."

Ralph Schultz, Corporate finance, Chicago

"I think it's possible. I had an encounter and I've been reading books like Harvard Medical School psychiatrist Dr. Mack's "Abduction," books that have to do with alien abductions and people with experiences similar to mine. In my own mind, the question I'm trying to answer is "Are these actual abductions, or psychological covers?" ... I'm not sure what my encounter was but I've had a series of dreams over the past few years with a particular theme... I think it's very possible for people to have had alien encounters or be touched in some way. And all these people, including me, who have been touched by this phenomenon, have similar attitude changes -- to 'take care of the Earth and every living thing.' "

Karen Brown, 11th grader, Bellevue

"No. I don't see any reason to believe so. I think it's cool if people want to believe it -- maybe they know something I don't."

Brittany Anderson, 12th grader, Bellevue

"No, not at all. Because I've never come upon something that has to do with an alien. And all of the TV shows and stuff are fake. I think everything that's here is here -- there's nothing hiding."

Bulent Aki, Restaurant owner, Renton

"I don't know. I think it's possible and I think they'd be smarter than we are if they can travel all the way here. I watch the UFO stuff once in a while... I do believe there's intelligent life out there."

Dorothy Forsythe, Retired aerospace R&D, Bellevue

"I don't know. Possibly. I think the "X-Files" is terrific, but it's entertainment. If the government knew and didn't release information about aliens, it's for the best. Some people can't handle some information -- it would be upsetting. And this would be frightening."

© 1998 by the Bellevue, WA-based Eastside Journal (née Journal American) newspaper.

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