Where have all the hero's gone?

In the words of a sad country song, "My hero's have always been cowboys."

We could really use a few John Wayne, Jimmy Stewart type hero's right about now to lead us back to the path of our past. A path that has seemingly been forgotten where morals and traditional American values taught us the meaning of honor, respect, responsibility, righteousness, and dignity. A path that has been hi-jacked by anti-American, politically correct, guns and hero's are bad, anti-Christan, anti-freedom of choice, free the criminal, huge your enemy, enslave the truth, adopt socialism, toss out the constitution, far left liberals.

I think back to when I was a kid and I weep like a school girl. I genuinely find myself filled with utter regret over what we have all lost. No, not lost, but rather given up.

When I was a boy playing cops and robbers, cowboys and Indians, army, and such was good. Now its evil. You could ride in the back of dads pickup, now thats child abuse. You could buy firecrackers and bottle rockets and play all day long without ever having to worry about some pedophile watching you.

A time when your parents could punish you for doing wrong and it made you stronger, a time when TV and video games were less important than getting out side and riding the horse or dirt bike around the property. Property that today is either a walmart or track housing.

A time when everything seemed fun and free, when we loved our parents and didn't need therapy. When being a man who spoke his mind didn't get him labeled as a redneck racist or sued for not being politically correct. A time when disputes were settled with fists and not lawsuits. A time when we had open spaces and could go camping without having to make reservations six months in advance. A time when you could go swimming in a public lake which is now closed to the public because its now a private lake. A time when a child could whistle at a cute girl and not be expelled from school and charged with a sex crime.

A time when being a kid meant that you didn't have to worry about what you ate, watched, or played with. When you could drive for miles in any direction and not have to worry about traffic, red lights, or speed traps. A time when family disputes were settled in the family and not on Jerry Springer. A time when we knew that homework was to be done, school was important, and we respected our elders. A time when hunting was a sport and not a privilege. A time when you could ride your horse down the road and not have to have it diapered. When the dog could run free and be a dog. A time when it was ok to play with bb guns, be a gun owner, and not be labeled as a danger to society.

A time when Christmas meant more than commercialism and your birthday meant getting a real home baked cake instead of some store boughten thing. A time when the family sat down together every night for a home cooked dinner instead of hitting the local McDonald's. When spending time with your family was a good thing filled with love and fun. A time when you could hear the crickets out side and not the freeway 10 miles away. A time when the city lights didn't fill the night sky and you could look up and actually see the stars. A time before rap music and gang bangers.

A time when a man could defend his family without being prosecuted and criminals set free and aloud to sue their victims. A time when you could post a sign in your yard, 'this home protected by Smith & Wesson,' and criminals knew exactly what that meant.

A time when there wasn't a fucking McDonald's or Walmart on every corner. A time when mom and pop joints were all over the place and they all knew your name. A time when greed was good but practiced with restraint and Gas was only $0.99 cents a gallon and it was ok to drive the lawn mower down the road while drinking a cold beer.

A time when being an American was a good thing, and not a dirty word.

*My Heroes have always been cowboys - Willy Nelson - Waylon Jennings.