Many young teens around the world claimed that the idea to “raid” Area 51 was to expose the presence of extraterrestrial life supposedly hidden by the American Government. Hundreds of Americans found themselves outside the gates of Area 51 on the 20th of September this year. A man by the name of Matty Roberts started this whole predicament. Roberts posted a Facebook invite that said, “Storm Area 51, They Can’t Stop All of Us”. And, shockingly, over 2 million people replied with “going” while 1.5 million people were interested.

Well, the 20th has passed, and only a smattering of 200 people out of the 3 million interested in the event showed up. While many were aware that the supposed raid would end in disaster, it was interesting to witness just how serious everyone was. The Area 51 raid was circling the media for weeks as teenagers were even turning it into memes. Yes, there were jokes made about this situation, but thousands were truly curious behind the secrecy of extraterrestrial life.

It makes one question, why would Matty Roberts start this? Why do people actually believe that there is a possibility of intelligent life? There have been numerous reports on UFO or aliens sightings over the past years that play a huge role in people’s beliefs.

The possibility all started on July 1947 in Roswell, New Mexico. During a wild thunderstorm, something had crashed northwest in Roswell. When people in the area were asked questions such as: “What did you see? What was it?” Each one of them responded with “UFO.” Months passed by with no answers from the public, and people were left furious. Questions and worries were left lingering in the air until UFO researcher Stanton Friedman showed up to town. Friedman searched for information and witnesses and his research went so far that even interviewed military officers.

During this time, an officer named Lt. Walter Haut issued with the press stating that they were, in fact, in possession of a flying saucer. People went into a panic. However, this chilling and mysterious story was cut short when another press was issued the morning of by Roger Ramy. He claimed that it was just a weather balloon. It almost seemed too convenient, too perfect for it not to be true.

According to Roswellnm.gov, they claimed: “That was the start of the best known and well-documented UFO coverup.” After this incident, there have been many other minor sightings, proof, and stories. Many people have even found the time and courage to speak on their views on this topic or also share their experiences.

An American Astronaut named Edgar Mitchell (1930-2016), once said, “I happen to be privileged enough to be in on the fact that we have been visited on the planet, and the UFO phenomenon is real.” Some have even humored the topic like author Arthur C. Clarke (1917-2008) stated: “I’m sure the universe is full of intelligent life. It’s just been too intelligent to come here.”

An astronaut who has experienced the incredible wonders of space and seen things firsthand that the average man has not, states that the “UFO phenomenon is real.” There has been clear proof of a flying saucer since that mysterious night in Roswell, so why are people still dismissing the existence of extraterrestrial life?

Our government has shut down evidence of any flying saucers, repeatedly. And some people trust the government, but some people trust the things they’ve seen more or the things they claim to know. There will always be those who are skeptic, but even skeptics will be awed by the possibility.

This ultimately leads all of us who are wondering to our next question, why doesn’t the government just openly admit the existence of alien life?

Easy, because humanity isn’t ready for the discovery of extraterrestrial life, we would only go into panic mode. We are all so obsessed with the idea of intelligent life being kept in secrecy rather than the actual alien to human interactions. We haven’t thought of what we’d do if an alien were to be ordering a Caramel Frappuccino at Starbucks right in front of us.

Our society would go into anarchy. There’d be minor wars and disagreements that could someday lead to a catastrophic event. How will our society function colliding with another world, another breed in which we know nothing of?

If we are afraid of the possibility, imagine the actuality. Forming a conspiracy about alien life from alleged flying saucers and the reasonable proof is scary. However, knowledge can be more frightening. Once we know, there’s no turning back.

I don’t think humanity is ready nor ever will be prepared for the discovery of extraterrestrial life.

So maybe, we’re all just better off wondering.