August 19, 2026
Have you ever noticed that when you know more about any subject, it gets even more complicated?
—Old Vaquero Saying
And, by extension, ditto for our country and the entire world.
10 New Westerns I Am Dying to See
Let's face it, the current crop of Westerns has kind of mushed out in terms of tired themes and the same old same ol' hackneyed characters. That's why it's time for mine.
This just in: The History we were taught when we were growing up was, to say the least, flawed. The good news is, this ain't the first time, nor will it be the last.
Where Is The True History of Anything?
It has been my life goal to show some truth in our past, but it has been mighty tough and mighty thin. The good guys won every single time? Ha. ("History is written by the winners.") There is the joke right at the front end of the explanation.
Here I am at the end of the road and what exactly did I discover about the "true" West?
The past is almost unknowable because of all the endless details that keep popping up and upsetting the "accepted" version of events. Who said it and why? And when? And what was their ax to grind?
The one positive aspect of the journey has been the people I have met who had a similar passion. Of course, some were flaming assholes, but enough about me.
"The infighting among historians is so vicious because there's so little at stake."
—Academic Truth #1
"Western History" now starts in the post-WW2 era. Enough with Wyatt Earp, Jesses James, Billy the Kid, etc. There's nothing new to be said there -- and nobody under the age of 80 wants to read it.
ReplyDeleteMarshall Tucker Wyatt Earb Marshall Tucker Willie Nelson
DeleteHere we go again. Someone wants to ditch the Old West icons for stories exploring solar power, urban planning, race riots, the western national parks in crisis, etc., etc. Oh, I almost forgot range grass! Snooze....
ReplyDeleteI wholeheartedly disagree with the above statement. True West is really the only magazine out there that still deals with the OLD west and that is why I continue to read it. There's a lot of people I would like to read about that lived in the same time period as Wyatt, Jesse and Billy. Such as John Wesley Hardin, Clay Allison, Pawnee Bill, Chief Joseph, etc. And there are still a lot of Classic Gunfights to be covered. Mark TW Maniac 235.
ReplyDeleteWhen I said I disagree with the above statement of course I meant the original (top) statement about Western history starting in the post-WW2 era. The post WW-2 era is NOT one I would like to read about. Keep True West about the Old West!
ReplyDelete