Posted by
Dakotaranger on Saturday, July 28, 2007 1:53:38 AM
The National Day of the Cowboy started a couple of years ago as to honor a part of our heritage that includes the producers, rodeo, and those who settled this land.
The cowpoke of the 19th century 1 in 3 were white. That means there were cowboys of Mexican decent, African-Americans, and a few Indians. A ranch was a melting pot.
While a cowpoke from the old days were low paid, worked hard, and lived with a constant threat of death from stampedes, floods, rustlers, bandits, snakebites. The all lived with a code that no matter how historians want to degrade it can really be seen in western where the cowboy was the good guy.
I have said before that rodeos and westerns really represent the best of who we are as a people. While there were travisties that occurred there comes a point that you just accept them and remember the intestinal fortitude the cowboys and the settlers had to settle this land.
What a cowboy is-is honest, we don't back down from a fight that needs to be fought, we look out for our animals, and we love a big steak.
So Saturday watch a western, go to a rodeo, and eat a steak. Remember the cowboys represent the best of who we are as Americans.