Yeller

A man much smarter than me once said courage ain't a lack of fear but the ability to do what you gotta while bein' afraid. Courage is an admirable quality but it's a rare find in a person. It's easy to claim to be brave. Anybody can say if there were a school shootin' or a hijackin' or some monster in the shadows they could be brave. When it comes down to it could anybody you know really do anything like that?

It's hard to say. Those things don't really happen a lot. I don't think you could really blame anyone for seekin' cover in a shootout or if some real life monster showed up. The real test of courage is in the everyday situations you do encounter.

Does a person have the courage to do what needs to be done? Does a fella have the courage to be a real man? Does a person have the strength of character to sacrifice themselves for the well bein' of others or for their own success? Everyone wants to be brave enough to do what it takes to make it through the day but problems in people's lives come from them or the people around them not havin' the courage to do what they need to.

There's a western movie you might've heard of based on a japanese film by Akira Kurisowa. The Japense black and white flick is called "Seven Samurai". American audiences might recognize it as "The Magnificent Seven".

There's a scene in "The Magnificent Seven" with Charlie Bronson and some kids. The movie is about seven gunfighters that come to a town of farmers to defend them. Charlie Bronson is admired by the boys in the town for his bravery and willingness to fight. The boys say their fathers are cowards because they won't fight. Charlie gets mad and spanks the boys sayin' that their daddys are braver than he is 'cause they don't fight one fight and then run, they fight the same battles everyday so their families can have food, clothes, and be taken care of.

He's right. It takes an insane amount of courage for a man to be a man and say "I'm gonna be resposible for everything you eat, wear, and sleep on. I'm gonna do everything I can to make you as comfortable as possible." It's stressful. There will always be fightin' whether it's 'cause you forgot an aniversary, or 'cause the kid doesn't understand why he has to do math homework, or 'cause bill collectors keep forgettin' they got the payment you sent last week.

If you can get past that fear and hang in there, bein' a father is a rewardin' thing. Too few men stick around to find out. It's a weak man, in my opinion, that leaves his responsibility all up to the mother of his children. I know marriages don't always work out but it's a coward that shucks his duty to his kids. Even standin' up to your faults and weaknesses from the beginnin' I'd say is preferred over that. Just say, "I'm not ready to be a daddy. I don't have what it takes. I am too weak and unreliable to take care of someone else for the rest of my life." Just say it if it's true. Get it out in the open and take responsibility for it. Make sure you don't have babies you can't care for. If you do have 'em better get yourself a plan too. What can you really do? What can you do to provide the best life for you and your child?

There's lots of people that show courage like that and it's rarely recognized. Everybody remembers the good cops, soldiers, nurses, doctors, and firefighters as they should. No doubt that all these people are courageous in tight spots and desperate situations. Do you recognize your parents as courageous for stickin' by you when you were actin' bad? Or feedin' and takin' care of you when you were a kid and unable to provide for yourself? Yeah, there's mother's and father's days but aside from that do you say thanks?

And how 'bout for all the friends and neighbors that look out for each other. All the people that ain't afraid of bein' themselves, cool or not. There's a lot of everyday courage that gets swept away like it's not even worth havin'. It's bein responsible. It's so expected and common it ain't courage anymore.

Maybe it's not a brave thing to do what's needed of you.

Maybe not.

But somebody has to do it. Somebody's gotta be a shepard. Somebody's gotta fend off the wolves. Even if those wolves are only hunger, bills, and lack of shelter.

A coward is someone that can do nuthin' but disappoint you. Is he there to pick you up after practice? No. Is he there to help you balance the check book? No. Is he ownin' up to his faults, takin' responsibility for 'em, and tryin' his best to do things right? No. Well ladies and gents, that bastard's a coward. He's yeller.