I've become a bit of a connoisseur of the "both sides" obituary of American fascists...like this April 1976 one for Gerald LK Smith. Some say he was a fiery anticommunist Christian Patriot, his enemies say he was a fascist. [To be clear, Gerald LK Smith was indeed a fascist.] - ThreadSky

sethcotlar.bsky.social • 23 days ago

I've become a bit of a connoisseur of the "both sides" obituary of American fascists...like this April 1976 one for Gerald LK Smith. Some say he was a fiery anticommunist Christian Patriot, his enemies say he was a fascist. [To be clear, Gerald LK Smith was indeed a fascist.]

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aurelius2k5.bsky.social•22 days ago

Russell vought and these weirdo Christian nationalist goons like hegseth will be our entry in the ledger of fascist stupidityfor these times.

pacesinplaces.bsky.social•23 days ago

“a tireless fighter against atheism” tells me so much

#GodfreeAndFine

jackacid.bsky.social•22 days ago

I first heard about him in Roth’s The Plot Against America.

sethcotlar.bsky.social•22 days ago

Thinking back to 1970 when Nixon's commerce secretary ok'd a project that devoted $182K in taxpayer money to build a road so tourists could more easily get to Gerald LK Smith's shrine to Christian Nationalism in Eureka, Arkansas. Those poor fascists, always getting treated so unfairly by the feds.

blodeuweddcrone.bsky.social•22 days ago

📌

jaysully.bsky.social•23 days ago

🎶 only the good die young!!!!!! 🎶

johnturing.bsky.social•22 days ago

When the local "Exalted Cyclops" died less than a decade after his very public role running the local Klan, the local newspapers appeared to have forgotten their own reporting on that.

He was instead remembered fondly as "Urbana's Santa" a local judge and member of almost every other organization.

johnturing.bsky.social•22 days ago

The coverage also noted that the Urbana PD was having its shifts covered by officers from the city next door so they could attend his funeral.

The UPD having been notoriously thanked for its collaboration with the Klan over the years by none other than infamous Klan raider S. Glenn Young.

kevincarson1.bsky.social•23 days ago

I live a couple hours drive from Eureka Springs, which he played a major role in developing, but which is now disproportionately populated by hippies and has become something of an LGBT oasis in ultra-Red Arkansas.

rubyshoesinoz.bsky.social•22 days ago

And?

kevincarson1.bsky.social•22 days ago

And... that's it? People respond belligerently to the weirdest things.

rubyshoesinoz.bsky.social•22 days ago

I’m not belligerent. What’s the big deal about hippies and LGBTQ?

kevincarson1.bsky.social•22 days ago

...that it's pleasantly ironic in a town originally built around a Nazi tourist attraction?

rubyshoesinoz.bsky.social•22 days ago

Got it. I did not infer this from your comment. Interesting for sure!

sethcotlar.bsky.social•22 days ago

Smith would hate that...which makes me very happy.

kevincarson1.bsky.social•22 days ago

Yep. Christ of the Ozarks and the Passion Play are still tourist attractions, but they probably draw less money than the counterculture side of things, and are certainly marginal in comparison for most of the townies.

sensualkazoo.bsky.social•22 days ago

To be fair "fiery anticommunist christian patriot" is just a more wordy way of saying fascist maniac.

aurelius2k5.bsky.social•22 days ago

My precise thoughts.

peteraidanbyrne.bsky.social•22 days ago

Any 2 of those words in combination would raise red flags, let alone all 4.

orobharris.bsky.social•22 days ago

Was listening to someone of a podcast today- can’t recall the name- who said he was convinced people are the same as always. It’s just circumstances that change

peteraidanbyrne.bsky.social•22 days ago

"his enemies say he was a fascist" is such conspicuous phrasing coming from a professional writer - as if "fascist" is a label *anyone* applies to themselves or their friends in a post-WWII world, whether the label is accurate or not.

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