"Hi-o Silver!"

I wonder how many of my readers recognize that title. Or “Kemo Sabe” or “Git-‘em up, Scout!” or “Who was that masked man?” Or hear the William Tell Overture and immediately are drawn back to the world of … the Lone Ranger! *

Last night, I dreamt I was in a modern flying car with the actor who played the Lone Ranger and woke up wondering what that dream was all about! So I naturally went to Wikipedia and discovered some interesting things. Amongst them: 

"As generally depicted, the Lone Ranger conducts himself by a strict moral code, as follows:

I believe that to have a friend,
a man must be one.

That all men are created equal
and that everyone has within himself
the power to make this a better world.

That God put the firewood there
but that every man
must gather and light it himself.

In being prepared
physically, mentally, and morally
to fight when necessary
for what is right.

That a man should make the most
of what equipment he has.

That 'this government,
of the people, by the people
and for the people'
shall live always.

That men should live by
the rule of what is best
for the greatest number.

That sooner or later...
somewhere...somehow...
we must settle with the world
and make payment for what we have taken.

That all things change but truth,
and that truth alone, lives on forever.

In my Creator, my country, my fellow man."

Not bad! I like the firewood image, the reminder to make the best use of the equipment one has and the idea we have to settle with the world for what we've taken.

And then some other features of this TV show that ran from 1949-1957:

1) Whenever the Lone Ranger was forced to use guns, he never shot to kill, but instead tried to disarm his opponent as painlessly as possible.

2) The Lone Ranger always used perfect grammar and precise speech devoid of slang and colloquialisms.

3) Criminals were never shown in enviable positions of wealth or power, and they were never successful or glamorous.

How far we’ve fallen. Our police force could pay attention to number 1, POTUS to number 2 and his supporters to number 3. 

“Hi-o Silver!”

* For you youngsters, Silver was the Lone Ranger’s horse. Tonto was a Native American sidekick, played by Jay Silverheels, an actual Native American. "Kemo Sabe" meant "trusted scout" and is what Tonto called the Lone Ranger. Scout was Tonto’s horse. Usually at the end of the episode, after saving the day, the Lone Ranger would ride away without taking any credit and the bystanders would say, “Who was that masked man?” The William Tell Overture by Rossini was the theme music at the beginning of the show.