In Defense of Cowboy Culture

with cowboys. Are you gay or something? ;-)

Seriously, this is 4U -

http://technohippie.com/geeklog/public_html/mediagallery/me dia.php?s=20070130191541166

Why would I let myself be led around by someone so presumptuous, classless and clueless? Zero interest in wherever that link might go.

One other mention about the great movie "Shane", not only does Shane fall in love with Marian (Jean Arthur); but he does not break the inherent trust of Joe (Van Heflin).

Joe is an honorable man, a man that Shane could be close friends with. In his own way, Joe is a "Cowboy". He stands for something. Perhaps he is not the gunman that Shane is; but who would Shane rather have next to him in a fight, Joe or Jack Wilson (wonderfully played by Jack Palance)? The answer is given in the movie when Joe stands side-by-side with Shane in the saloon fight.

Here is where our "legends" are different than Great Britain's Arthur or Homer's Illiad. Our "Lancelot" does not break the trust of his friends or of his own belief/moral system. Shane even makes sure that Joe (who would be hopelessly out-matched by Jack Wilson) does not go into town to face this gunman. Shane does it alone, knowing he faces certain death.

There is a great lesson for our young in this classic movie.

I forgot to say I enjoyed your article.

Wister's "The Virginian" is as close to perpetual motion as man will ever get.

The book encouraged the movie. The movie portrayed the strong, few words cowboy, "Smile when you say that.." I read the book. The passage is not as dramatic in the book. But all western movies derive from Wister's original hero and "Smile when you say that.." has been used by everyone from action movie directors to Red Skelton.

Wister was also writing "The Virginian" as a eulogy to a time gone by. Remember in the preface he talks about the prairie being littered with empty stewed tomato and peach cans and Arbuckle Coffee tins?

Okay,

I was interested in checking out your blog because of some comments on other blogs, and in seeing yours listed in the blog roll at other sites.

Now that I'm here, I have to say I'm glad I made the effort.

I have printed off all your Cowboy essays to read at my leisure. (I get precious little time to actually sit at the computer, usually I have to print off what I really want to read)

Thank you for writing them, they have brought back many good memories of all the cowboy movies I watched as a kid, especially with my grandfather.

My favorites?

The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly

Big Country. If you haven't seen Big Country, you absolutely have to find a copy and watch it. It really displays the strength of the cowboy figure, and all the morals and honor thereof. Absolutely powerful movie, and beautifully filmed as well. I can't recommend it enough.

Anyway, I will be back to check your blog for new essays, and will be adding you to my blogroll. Again, thanks, and keep up the good work.

Some things on my blog are my own work and some are others.
If I bring another's here, I provide a link to where I got it or some kind of credit, of course.
I'll stop by your blog.
Love those old westerns too!
Thank-you again.

Thanks for an easy to read, enjoyable post. I just caught a glimpse of Magnificent Seven last night. My favorite line- Steve McQueen's character to bandit leader "We deal in lead."

As a teenager, I started to fall for the liberal claptrap that americans are naive for their idealism and optimism. I have since traced the roots of this cancer in my life (born 1960) to John Kerry, Jane Fonda and their ilk. Now I am duty bound to resist and destroy these people and their "ideas".

True Grit.

Of course, I am a John Wayne fan, but this one was one of my favorites.

I love the famous scene where he puts the reins in his teeth while charging the bad guys so he can fire two guns at once.

Great stuff.

She Wore a Yellow Ribbon (John Wayne and John Ford)

At least in my humble opinion.

"I ain't like that no more."

Thanks everyone for stopping by.
I'll endeavor to keep it worth your while, and check your stuff out too.
Really good to be here. Really good.
We intend to do this thing, don't we.
We intend to take this country back.

And to that end,
We stand for goodness.
We stand liberty.
We stand for truth, justice and the American Way.

Amen.

Couldn't have said it better.

Great essay!

I must concur with Gray Ghost. "Shane" is the ultimate Western, at least for me. I remember sitting with my dad, and watching it, dubbed in Spanish. I knew THEN, I was an American, PERIOD.

However, I must confess to having a soft spot for John Wayne!