There's Right and There's Wrong

This old cowboy has something to say, and I hope some of you will find it useful.

In The Alamo, Davy Crockett (John Wayne) was saying how he was feeling empty and useless. He was looking for something, and found it in Texas:

"To hit a lick against what's wrong, or say a word for what's right even though you get walloped for saying that word. I may sound like a Bible-beater yelling up a revival at a river crossing camp meeting, but that don't change the truth none. There's right and there's wrong. You gotta do one or the other. You do the one and you're living. You do the other and you may be walking around, but you're dead as a beaver hat."

Aren't we all searching for something? One thing you often see in the classic Westerns is the individual who is trying to make a difference, to stand up for what's right. I know I want to stand up for what's right, and that can be in daily life, whether big things or small. Even when I write my articles ('specially in the other Weblog so I can keep politics out of this one), I want to speak out against injustice and say what I believe is the truth. It causes me "great annoyance and displeasure" when I see someone unfairly attacked, whether it's God or a good person. I'll get slapped down sometimes, but that's the price I pay.

Isn't that what we all have to do? I believe that we do. We can help each other out, and not take advantage of someone else, especially in these uncertain economic times. After all, how would you feel? Lousy, and angry. Or, how do you feel when someone has helped you out? It's pretty good. (I remember a cashier giving me too much change for my twenty. When I pointed it out, she said, "Oh, I thought you gave me a fifty". Or the time I lost my wallet. It turns out that it was at the post office, and someone turned it in and the people put it in my post office box. Wow!) There's a good feeling in doing what's right, and sometimes, that's the only reward that you'll get.

But it's more than just good feelings. It's doing something just because it's the right thing to do, and being ready to take some heat because you stood up for your principles.

America has had a long history of helping the helpless, defending the defenseless, feeding the hungry, giving to the poor — and not just within our own borders. No, we help people around the world. Sure, we've messed up sometimes. As Duke said, "We've made mistakes along the way, but that's no reason to start tearing up the best flag God ever gave to any country."

So, let's help each other out in small ways as well as large. We can't expect to change the world, but we can brighten some corners of it once in a while. And maybe that will add up to something bigger. Who knows? There's no reason not to try.

OK, that's enough. Maybe I'm sounding "like a Bible-beater yelling up a revival at a river crossing camp meeting, but that don't change the truth none". (Do you want your four bits back? See the cashier on the way out.) I want to be (and feel) useful. How about you?

Oh, and if you want to see some YouTube material from The Alamo, including the quote above, here 'tis: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xaPA8fGeRUc