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A Genealogy of the Extraterrestrial in American Culture

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consciousness to Christian elements <strong>of</strong> North America as a new racial consciousness has<br />

been <strong>in</strong>spired <strong>of</strong> late <strong>in</strong> Germany under Adolph Hitler.<br />

You are asked to fully <strong>in</strong>form yourself about <strong>the</strong> true purpose and<br />

accomplishments <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Nazi Party before pass<strong>in</strong>g judgment on it for <strong>in</strong>stigat<strong>in</strong>g race<br />

hatred or religious prejudices. We also ask that you permit yourself to be fully <strong>in</strong>formed<br />

regard<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> tenets <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Christ Democracy, which this Great Silver Legion is<br />

sponsor<strong>in</strong>g. 165<br />

As we shall see, his anti-Semitism was also quite apparent throughout much <strong>of</strong> his writ<strong>in</strong>gs. His<br />

disda<strong>in</strong> for modern mass culture mirrored Nazi rum<strong>in</strong>ations on <strong>the</strong> sully<strong>in</strong>g effects <strong>of</strong> same.<br />

Have you listened to so much as<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>e jazz over <strong>the</strong> Jewish-owned air that you can’t hear<br />

<strong>the</strong> voices <strong>of</strong> those Revolutionary heroes call<strong>in</strong>g to you across <strong>the</strong> years to honor <strong>the</strong>ir<br />

sacrifice and uphold <strong>the</strong>ir ideals…Have you watched so many gangster movies, made by<br />

Jews and exhibited <strong>in</strong> Jewish-monopolized <strong>the</strong>atres, that you can’t see Ethan Allen <strong>in</strong> that<br />

greatest drama <strong>of</strong> modern times, thump<strong>in</strong>g on <strong>the</strong> door <strong>of</strong> Fort Ticonderoga and cry<strong>in</strong>g,<br />

“Open <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> name <strong>of</strong> Great Jehovah and <strong>the</strong> Cont<strong>in</strong>ental Congress.” 166<br />

Yet <strong>the</strong>re were elements <strong>of</strong> his “Christian Economics” that hearkened back to <strong>the</strong> Socialist ideals<br />

<strong>of</strong> The Philosopher, discourag<strong>in</strong>g any full identification <strong>of</strong> Pelley’s vision with fascism. Pelley’s<br />

keystone work on Christian Economics, No More Hunger: Present<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> Christian<br />

Commonwealth recalled <strong>the</strong> social gospel’s condemnation <strong>of</strong> exploitation as well as <strong>the</strong> Marxist<br />

formula <strong>of</strong> from each accord<strong>in</strong>g to his ability, to each accord<strong>in</strong>g to his need. As much as he<br />

derided Roosevelt, Pelley’s vision had more than a whiff <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> welfare state. “We say, we<br />

people who believe <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> pr<strong>in</strong>ciples <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Liv<strong>in</strong>g Christ beh<strong>in</strong>d this f<strong>in</strong>er and better form <strong>of</strong><br />

democracy, ‘<strong>the</strong> weak are with us to be made strong!’ We make it our bus<strong>in</strong>ess to set up<br />

permanently a system whereby <strong>the</strong>y can get <strong>the</strong> help <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir fellows <strong>in</strong> becom<strong>in</strong>g strong—nor<br />

earn <strong>the</strong>ir odium because <strong>the</strong>y cannot, with <strong>the</strong> strength given <strong>the</strong>m, keep up with <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>human<br />

pace for which <strong>the</strong>y were not equipped by nature.” 167 His language <strong>of</strong>ten recalled <strong>the</strong><br />

165 William Dudley Pelley, Silver Shirts <strong>of</strong> America: To All Christian M<strong>in</strong>isters. Undated material recovered from<br />

Noblesville, Indiana Public Library’s vertical file archive on William Dudley Pelley <strong>in</strong> July <strong>of</strong> 2005.<br />

166 William Dudley Pelley, The Silver Ranger, Bullet<strong>in</strong> No. 3, (Oklahoma City). Undated material recovered from<br />

Noblesville, Indiana Public Library’s vertical file archive on William Dudley Pelley <strong>in</strong> July <strong>of</strong> 2005.<br />

167 William Dudley Pelley, The Silvershirt Weekly, Asheville V1, No.1 (Asheville NC: Aug. 29, 1938).<br />

99

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