My friend Robert Knight, columnist for the Washington Times, has written an interesting article about how the "Cowboy Way" is under fire. In his March 18 column, Knight writes: "In 1949, as part of its "Riders in the Sky" promotion, a film studio released Gene Autry's 10-sentence Cowboy Code. The code resurfaced in 2007 in a biography of the movie star by Holly George-Warren, a prolific chronicler of America's popular culture. The reason it's included below is because cowboys are being thrown under the horse, along with "farting cows." They're the latest targets of the political correctness that seeks to replace American grit with a nihilistic creed of wimpery." I grew up a cowboy and try to live by The Cowboy Code.
Knight's column describes how activists in Orange County, CA want to rename John Wayne Airport and remove his statue over what they deem as "insensitive" remarks he made in 1971. In addition, Knight notes, "Meanwhile, the University of Wyoming is facing a leftist uprising over its new slogan, "The World Needs More Cowboys." The sports teams have long been called the Cowboys. Wyoming's license plates feature a cowboy on a bucking bronc, and the town of Cody boasts perhaps the world's most famous rodeo. Nonetheless, the slogan should be "shelved" according to the UW Committee on Women and People of Color, and replaced with one that "represents the diversity of the people and cultures" at the college."
Isaiah 5:20 says, "Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
" Isn't that just what these crusaders of the politically correct do? Here is the Cowboy Code:1. The Cowboy must never shoot first, hit a smaller man, or take unfair advantage. 2. He must never go back on his word, or a trust confided in him. 3. He must always tell the truth. 4. He must be gentle with children, the elderly, and animals. 5. He must not advocate or possess racially or religiously intolerant ideas. 6. He must help people in distress. 7. He must be a good worker. 8. He must keep himself clean in thought, speech, action, and personal habits. 9. He must respect women, parents, and his nation's laws. 10. The Cowboy is a patriot. How can anyone in their right mind disagree with this?
Knight concludes: "If they could just get enough power, the cultural vandals would wipe out all mention of white males in U.S. history - except for the self-hating ones in today's Democratic Party, including the Virginia governor and attorney general who appeared in blackface but, well, they're Democrats, so all is forgiven." How true. But what they fail to recognize that white males have, and continue to, contribute wonderful things to the global society. Cowboys represent part of that contribution, and they were and are not all white men. To men around the world: It's all right to be a man irrespective of what color you happen to be born. Follow the Cowboy Code, which is also God's code, and you will lead a blessed life, even though the politically correct will curse you.
