The Rules of the Gentleman

[Deirachel]

Finally, with regards to all the other cowboy codes, etc...I find it quite remarkable the amount of "social programming" that was inserted into TV shows and other forms of media in the 50's and 60's (though I guess it's no different today...many of us just don't like the modern messages). This was clearly a concerted effort to shape the values of a generation (or two)...much the same that the Scouting movement aims to do that very same thing. The difference between them, however, is that in Scouting, this is a stated objective of the program...it's quite overt. In these other programs/codes, it's almost subliminal and covert. Who was behind these efforts? Was it just the great idea of a bunch of producers? Was it an orchestrated effort by the US Government? I'm not a conspiracy theorist...but I do find this to be interesting food for thought.

It is all a part of McCarthyism. Just look at the various visual and textual arts from prior the 50s and during the 50s/60s. It was part of making the enemy evil (at the time the USSR. Make communism more atheist and it's more evil, because everyone knows we aren't atheists!). If the show had a clear cut pro-(Christian) American push, then McCarthyists wouldn't target it.

We see effects of this today (look at the inclusion of "Under God" in the Pledge in 1954, "In God We Trust" as the official motto in 1956, et al.). It's still a pretty common thing today. (Look at the somewhat common, and unfortunate, demonization of Islam today.)

[BoldHighlander]

It is all a part of McCarthyism. Just look at the various visual and textual arts from prior the 50s and during the 50s/60s. It was part of making the enemy evil (at the time the USSR. Make communism more atheist and it's more evil, because everyone knows we aren't atheists!). If the show had a clear cut pro-(Christian) American push, then McCarthyists wouldn't target it.

We see effects of this today (look at the inclusion of "Under God" in the Pledge in 1954, "In God We Trust" as the official motto in 1956, et al.). It's still a pretty common thing today. (Look at the somewhat common, and unfortunate, demonization of Islam today.)

This could quickly slip unto thin ice, so the only comment I'll make is that Gene Autry's code (as well as Hopalong & Roy Rogers) pre-date the 50s & McCarthyism. I also have a Junior G-Man code (that is all about law & order) that is circa 1936.

Cheers.

[BoldHighlander]

About four minutes ago I received the following from my sister (via email) with a note attached that read: "I thought of you when I read this."

"Being manly is not being macho. Manliness is the positive qualities of decisiveness, strength in one's convictions, confidence, self-reliance, high moral qualities, self discipline, honesty and integrity. A man who is manly has courage to be able to deal with difficulty, pain or danger without backing away despite his fear." - Unknown

Sounds like the epitome of a gentleman to me.

[CopperNGold]

About four minutes ago I received the following from my sister (via email) with a note attached that read: "I thought of you when I read this."

"Being manly is not being macho. Manliness is the positive qualities of decisiveness, strength in one's convictions, confidence, self-reliance, high moral qualities, self discipline, honesty and integrity. A man who is manly has courage to be able to deal with difficulty, pain or danger without backing away despite his fear." - Unknown

Sounds like the epitome of a gentleman to me.

Your sister obviously adores you, BoldHighlander! That was a great quote!

[BoldHighlander]

Your sister obviously adores you, BoldHighlander! That was a great quote!

Thank you!

[Meggers]

speaking of gentleman,

I was walking to the drinking fountain and a man got there before me. He stopped and held out his hand in invitation for me to drink first. I smiled and said "Oh no, you go right ahead" and he simply said "ladies first"

What a gentleman. atta boy

[Alan H]

"Being manly is not being macho. Manliness is the positive qualities of decisiveness, strength in one's convictions, confidence, self-reliance, high moral qualities, self discipline, honesty and integrity. A man who is manly has courage to be able to deal with difficulty, pain or danger without backing away despite his fear." - Unknown

Sounds like the epitome of a gentleman to me.

Nice. Sounds good to me.

[GoodGirlGonePlaid]

I like this one:
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ALL I REALLY NEED TO KNOW I LEARNED IN KINDERGARTEN

(a guide for Global Leadership)

All I really need to know about how to live and what to do and how to be I learned in kindergarten. Wisdom was not at the top of the graduate school mountain, but there in the sand pile at school.

These are the things I learned:
Share everything.
Play fair.
Don't hit people.
Put things back where you found them.
Clean up your own mess.
Don't take things that aren't yours.
Say you're sorry when you hurt somebody.
Wash your hands before you eat.
Flush.
Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you.
Live a balanced life - learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some.
Take a nap every afternoon.
When you go out in the world, watch out for traffic, hold hands and stick together.
Be aware of wonder. Remember the little seed in the Styrofoam cup: the roots go down and the plant goes up and nobody really knows how or why, but we are all like that.
Goldfish and hamsters and white mice and even the little seed in the Styrofoam cup - they all die. So do we.
And then remember the Dick-and-Jane books and the first word you learned - the biggest word of all - LOOK.
Everything you need to know is in there somewhere. The Golden Rule and love and basic sanitation. Ecology and politics and equality and sane living.

Take any one of those items and extrapolate it into sophisticated adult terms and apply it to your family life or your work or government or your world and it holds true and clear and firm. Think what a better world it would be if we all - the whole world - had cookies and milk at about 3 o'clock in the afternoon and then lay down with our blankies for a nap. Or if all governments had as a basic policy to always put things back where they found them and to clean up their own mess.

And it is still true, no matter how old you are, when you go out in the world, it is best to hold hands and stick together.

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and I've said it before, "Have fun and don't bite anybody"