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Wednesday, February 25, 2009

The American Cowboy Hat - Icon of the Old West

By Keith Walker

The American cowboy hat represents a looks that is a true American tradition. A variety of styles have come and gone over the years, yet the popularity of the cowboy hat endures. It's a rare object that can hold such symbolism for any culture. It's likely that the American cowboy hat will continue to be a potent symbol and a popular fashion statement since it represents so many traditional American qualities.

The primary reason for our attachment to this fashion item of the old west is that many people still believe that the values held sacred back then are still important to our culture today. Nothing is more American than the stories of hard working cowboys, moving out west to build better lives for their families. The ideals of the American dream strike home with so many.

The American cowboy hat is a reminder of this period of manifest destiny, when the nation we recognize as home today came to be. Thus the image came to remind us of our history and of the men and women that sought to move west, tame the land and create the nation we love.

In addition to our history, the American cowboy hat has become an icon for the type of values that continue to drive our nation. The people of the United States still pride themselves on a sense of hard work and ingenuity. Cowboys in the old west worked hard for everything they had. It was often a job that was dirty, perilous and exhausting, but it was an honest living. These are still important values to many people in our country today. This is why it's still fashionable for anyone from music stars to politicians to the average Joe to wear a cowboy hat. It is an iconic symbol that represents an undying national spirit.

The American cowboy hat also represents much about the image of our country. Americans hold a great sense of pride in strength of our international presence. Few images represent this spirit and toughness more than the old west. It's not difficult to imangine why some of our biggest icons have been actors from the wild west movies, like John Wayne and Clint Eastwood. Similarly, the cowboy hats worn by these legends have also become images of the toughness and grit of American culture.

America is seen as a land of opportunity for many people around the world. Beginning with the gold rush of the 1800's, people have wanted to move west to seek their fortune and a build a better life. This is when the American cowboy hat became popular. It's no surprise that it is an image of both the national and personal prosperity that has brought so many people from around the world seeking their own American dream.

It is no wonder that since our young nation, relative to the rest of the world, latches on to such a symbolic piece of apparel. Even though technology has come about and changed our nation for the better, eliminating the American cowboy of the past, it has ingrained an image that America clings to. While our culture has changed, the American cowboy hat has still found a place today.

The American cowboy hat will always be a popular fashion. No matter how much the country changes, it will always be a reminder of the qualities that created a nation and forever changed the world. It is wild and tough, it is cultured and dignified, and more than anything it is a symbol for the nation from yesterday, today and tomorrow.

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