The Spirit of the West Returns… America Returns to Her Roots…

January 12, 2026 by  
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Over the past several years, there has been a resurgence of the American cowboy archetype– evident in cultural phenomena like the TV series Yellowstone, rodeo events, and broader Western imagery—as a reflection of a deeper shift in the American spirit.

Confirming this point, in a March 2025 monologue, a well-known podcaster described this “comeback” as a positive change, saying, “something has changed in America, for the better.” He argued that the cowboy represents an innate, long-dormant quality in Americans: fierce independence, unyielding grit, and a commitment to honor, faith, and self-reliance. He reasoned that there is a Reawakening of Core American Values: saying the cowboy embodies “a handshake that means something” and “a promise you don’t break, because your word is the only thing you own.” This spirit includes gestures of respect like “taking your hat off for a woman” and saying “Yes, ma’am” and “No, sir.”

 

Long before radio talk show hosts extolled the virtues of the American cowboy, Harper’s Weekly captured the essence of these men in stunning imagery proving that in fact, a picture is worth a thousand words, whether printed or spoken on the radio.

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