Old West violence mostly myth
Cooperation valued more than conflict
Jul. 17, 2005
Once again as summer progresses, tourists are trying to recapture the romance of the West. Recalling the violent images fostered by Hollywood, they seek out ghost towns, ride horseback at dude ranches and take part in exciting re-enactments of conflicts among vigilantes, sheriffs, cowboys and Indians.
What they don't realize is that the violence of the West is largely a myth.
Yes, there were isolated examples of violence, but the true story of the American West is one of cooperation, not conflict.
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This myth has been spawned by pulp novels, movies and television, all depicting a non-stop orgy of violence in the old West. It's all fictional romance and intrigue. The truth is quite different.
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