150-Years after the events, it's easy for us to misplace the facts about historic figures and we begin honoring them as if they were some sort of heroes. We tend to forget that these people were, at their times, crooks, criminals, killers and scumbags. Case in point...

Soapy Smith was not an honorable gentleman. He was a low-life. Yet there are days celebrating his life and even festivals in his honor. It's strange, actual heroes from the wars of this country do not get their own holiday, but criminals do. The same goes for Bonnie and Clyde, John Dillinger, Jesse James, the list goes on. But there are no holidays, as far as I know, for John Glenn, James Stewart, John Lennon, Howard Woodford or any of the others that performed positive actions for our country. (You may wonder about John Lennon).

Why do we create such a hoopla over these criminals? Because the hero may have done one thing that we can remember. The bad guys lead a life of events. Wild Bill Hickok, Billy the Kid, Al Capone, Doc Holiday, the Younger Brothers, Baby Face Nelson, etc. It's fun reading about their exploits. It's fun watching the documantaries about them. Just like Jack the Ripper. Can anyone name one detective who worked on that case without looking them up on Google?

So, reading about Soapy Smith can be fun and interesting. But we can not lose sight of the fact that he was no good. Just another wart on the ass of the world. Now, with that said, check out the following blog all about Soapy Smith. Yes! I guess I'm no better than the rest. I'm exploiting him.