Blevins - No White - Just Basic Black

Here we go again. It’s posturing and feather preening time, once more, for the Nazi’s. The National Alliance is in the toilet. The National Socialist Movement is barely treading water. Aryan Nations is genuflecting before the Klan in hopes of rejuvenation. You would think that the last thing any of the racist Nazi’s would be looking to do is puff out their chest, extol their virtues, or declare themselves viable. However, they are not really known for being rational or cognizant human beings.

Now, it is no secret that Michael Blevins, better known to most as Vonbluvens, has some serious mental illness problems, is a vicious racist, and just doesn’t know where home is. After leaving the NSM because of their Satanist connections, we lost track on how many new groups he attempted to start and how many times he hooked up with Bill White and left again. His rollicking declarations of loyalty and fealty to the white race and to the “cause” have been met with derision and contempt by others within the movement. The ambivalence displayed by Blevins has become the source of merciless scorn from his brethren.

And, he did it again. After joining Bill White’s American National Socialist Worker’s Party and being appointed Florida State Leader, it seemed that Blevins was on the road to recovering some sense of direction. Yesterday, he resigned once more. Actually, the handwriting was on the wall as he had been toying with another group for some time. Seeing himself as a “Christian,” he has decided to start a National Socialist group for Christians called “American National Unity.” Of course it is somewhat of an oxymoron – but we must consider the source.

Michael considers himself an artist and does a fair job at “cartoonish” characterizations. For awhile, he considered leaving the movement and devoting more time to his art. As he is unemployed, one must wonder how his wife Bernadette is coping through all of this. One must also wonder at his penchant for fashion.

Throughout all of the on-again off-again allegiances declared by Blevins, it appeared that his biggest concern was not the ideology or the make-up of the group, but what kind of uniforms they would wear – and what color.

While a member of the National Socialist Movement it became pretty obvious that he had a real hook for a beret and was a real stickler for correct placement of patches and insignias on the NSM uniform. He even dedicated a radio show to sewing and ironing of rally regalia.

In this recent bout over fashion, it also became clear that he coveted basic black. Of course, we can understand that this fashion guru was knowledgebale about the “slimming effect” that black seems to have, as well as the understanding that black can always be “dressed up” or “dressed down.”

Michael Blevins, whether unstable or controlled, lacks the aplomb, foresight, and leadership ability to ever be a major player in this thing the racists call a movement. Like an impetuous child, Blevins engages in childish impulses and knee-jerk reactions across the internet. He runs the gamut in attempts to fit into the racist enclave of our society. From hardened racist to remorseful Christian, Michael Blevins’ list of characters is a long one. Through the years, Blevins has provided us with great amusement and sometimes great anger.

It’s easy to laugh at the ambivalence and buffoonery of Vonbluvens. It’s equally easy to feel sadness and pity for the malady which prevents him from being a functioning part of society. And, it takes very little effort for us to rage at his preposterous and sometimes despicable calls to violence through his radio shows. Knowing that the radio show was coming from the same house which housed a day care center, gave us no trouble when it came to expressing outrage and anger.

It’s interesting to note that the racist right has been home to many unstable and emotionally disturbed people – far more than you find within the general mainstream population - proportionately, that is. Violence, mayhem, domestic abuse, drugs, alcohol, mental illness, self-loathing, and general dysfunction are far too prevalent to be mere coincidence. Watching people like Bill White and Michael Blevins self-destruct in that downward spiral of madness is never pleasant. One cannot help but wonder what could have been if that potential had been channeled in the right direction.

Yet, as someone once said – you have to laugh to keep from crying.

That Michael Blevins is an insignificant character in the bigger picture is a given. As a matter of fact, there are those who will wonder why I have even visited this non-issue. To them I would say, I visited it because often what is a non-issue today becomes a much bigger issue tomorrow. I am oft reminded of a young man who thought he was a Nazi. Plagued with a debilitating disability, Hardy Lloyd, much like Blevins, was deemed insignificant by those he tried so hard to impress. His website and his rants were met with the same castigation as is Vonbluvens. He was used by what he believed were his “peers” when it was beneficial, and cast out as a leper when he became what they believed was an “embarrassment.” Today, Hardy is spending his days weaving baskets and being medicated after placing a bullet through his girlfriend’s head.

I have witnessed many things from the racist right in my lifetime. I have seen, first hand, the carnage and the grief, and the fear that they leave behind as their calling card. As we watch these groups fall apart at the seams and clap our hands, we must be ready, not only for the fallout, but for the new species that is certain to evolve. And, we must be cognizant of the fact that there are more Hardy Lloyd’s and Michael Blevins’ out there – just waiting to be somebody.