In this oh so lovely juncture of time and space, we find that the current soical fabric of our great nation is changing, and the opnion as to if it is for ill or good is very much devided, polarizing as the status of things are, given recent events, a small, and vital part of our history and traditions is once more the subject of almost hateful and possible life altering debate.
No, I will not launch into some social-political commentary about gun control, I will, at a later date, post my thoughts on the matter and shall be undully judged for it I'm sure.
What I aim to speak upon here today, is something a bit more personal, yet related, and likely echoed within a few select preceding posts. I am, at heart, a cowboy.
Shocked?
No?
Drat...
Okay, admitedly, I'm an urban cowboy, I don't wear a Stetson, I'm not fond of riding horses, and I have a Glock M17 rather than a Colt Peacemaker, but I maintain my cowboy status based on my personality and mannerisms.
Addressing the idea that a cowboy is some yahoo reckless puke who charges in to situations and bruteforces his way to an end, who is only looking out for his own selfish wants, is stubborn and old fashioned and set in his ways and who might also be of dull or simple intellect, I want to set things straight by saying that such ideas are simply not factual.
A true cowboy, traditionally and historically speaking, is a hard working, steady handed, reliable and honest person of the male persuasion who is a trusted and vital part of society, counted on to carry on and uphold the moral, practical, and logistical norms of the world around him.
He is paid a meager but fair wage for his work, the long hours in the saddle, the squinting against the suns glare, the peering into the dark, the braving of the storm. All to safeguard his area of responsibilty against harm, against loss, and against the underbelly of society.
He is as honest, true, and loyal as the sunrise, so long as the respect due him is paid, and his efforts are recognized in some fashion. And there is, in the traditional, and romantic ideology, no kinder neighbor, more ferocious advisary, or faithful friend than the cowboy.
Quiet, of few words or many, always kindly and well spoken, comfortingly polite yet sometimes scaldingly profane, a cowboy is prized for being a true and authentic gentleman and saying just what he is thinking or feeling with as much respect and calm as he can muster.
It is this masculine ideal that I have always held in great favor and aspired to, for much of my life, because our society, our nation, our family's, even our whole world, needs this, far more than the lilly fingered, pencil pushing, rubber necked, "domesticated" post-modern, no account, little lost spineless boys masquerading as "men" that have turned away from the fundemental truths of hard work, responsiblity, loyalty and honesty that made our men, and thusly our families and nation so very great so long ago.
We all wanted to be a cowboy once upon a time, why not now? You "grew up"?
Bullshit, you forgot how to dream...
-Caleb
