First contact: UFO lawyer style
I asked for a "sign" and I received one that spoke my language

5/27/2000

Reality Check showcases UFO lawyer Peter Gersten's rare perspective, one that combines legal expertise and cosmic awareness.

I have often been asked whether I have ever been "contacted." My answer is always, "I believe so," for what is the truth, other than our individual beliefs? But my "contact" was not one of the typical types that one reads and hears about. No face-to-face encounters for this UFO lawyer.

Around March of 1982, I considered further legal action regarding the U.S. District Court's decision denying Citizens Against UFO Secrecy (CAUS) access to approximately 135 UFO-related documents in its lawsuit against the National Security Agency. There is usually a time during each of the CAUS lawsuits when I become frustrated and disappointed with the results and question the efficacy of any continued future litigation. During this particular period of UFO soul-searching, I decided that I wanted a "sign" that I was not merely on a delusional course to satisfy my ego's need for some alien gratification. I asked the Universe for a "sign" that would leave little doubt that some other intelligence, in fact, existed with us in this reality. I wanted evidence that this other life form not only existed with us, but could also control and manipulate our reality. Within a few months, I had my "sign" in the form of two highly synchronistic "messages." Each began with a telephone call.

"Mr. Gersten, my name is Judy Benson. I am Tom Benson's wife," stated the voice when I picked up the telephone one night in early May. "I don't know if you remember me, but I met you at a party at our home in New Jersey a few weeks ago. Sorry to bother you, but I thought you might be interested in what I just saw." "Okay," I answered, trying to place the name with a face. "I think you should pick up a copy of the latest issue of New Yorker magazine and look at page 41." I thanked her and hung up the telephone, now intrigued by the unusual advice.

Discover back cover ad

Needless to say, I was up early the next day and off to the nearest magazine stand. Page 41 of the May 1982 issue of New Yorker magazine contained the typical fiction story while the upper right hand portion of the page contained the typical enigmatic cartoon/illustration. The story and the illustration are always unrelated and this page was no exception. The illustration pictured a man sitting behind a desk telling a man standing in front of the desk: "Gersten, how do you think you'd perform in zero-gravity environment?" Pretty interesting, I thought, considering the illustration made no sense in any context. Also, I noticed with fascination, that in the second paragraph of the story the name "Peter?" appears. The similarity in punctuation for both references did not escape my attention. To take matters to the edge of credibility, in the same paragraph as "Peter?" is the name "Lainie" (quotations added here), which in the story is the nickname for a person named Elaine. As a friend pointed out to me several years later, "Lainie" is an anagram for "I Alien" which happens to be my license plate.

A week later, another telephone call brought me face to face with the improbability of random chance and the strong probability that my wish of only a few months earlier was being granted. Whereas the first call mentioned was from a stranger, this one was from my brother. "Take a look at the back cover of the current issue of Discover magazine," came the familiar voice. "Excellent," I thought as I hung up the telephone after exchanging the usual pleasantries. First a stranger and now a close relative. From page 41 to the back cover. New Yorker and Discover. I just loved all the symbolism.

A closer look

The back cover of Discover magazine contained an advertisement for United Telecom and featured the headline, "Is anybody out there listening? United Telecom asked Isaac Asimov." The narrative of the advertisement had to do with our attempts at contacting intelligent life in the Universe. In the center of the narrative was a caricature of Asimov holding a typewriter with a robot sitting on it. On the typewriter was written one word: "Gersten."

The fact that only one person ever mentioned either magazine to me is also revealing. Without either call, I would not have known about my "sign." But then again, what is a message without a messenger? This other intelligence, whatever it is, can certainly influence, if not completely control, our reality.

I asked for a "sign" and received one that spoke my language and one that I could appreciate. Needless to say, 18 years later, I am still pursuing the
CAUS.