What I learned from watching westerns

I like watching western TV shows and old movies.  Except for the violence.  That bothers me sometimes.  But I read once that watching TV violence helps purge people of their innate violent tendencies.  I also read that it encourages people to act on those tendencies.  

I like to think that westerns offset their violence with redeeming qualities that teach people valuable life-lessons.  Here are a dozen plus one lessons I've learned from Westerns that can be applied to the more modern world, in one way or another, if you just think about them in the right way.

1. Work hard, play hard.  It's the real cowboy way.
2. Take care of your horse, and your horse will take care of you.
3. Just about anybody can be a hero.
4. Accept and respect those who are different from you
5. Don't tolerate bigotry, dishonesty, or cruelty.
6. Don't lie, cheat, or steal.
7. Nobody likes a back-shooter.
8. Make friends with the sheriff, the minister (or pastor or priest), the store keeper, the bartender (or cook), and the school marm. And the stable hand, and the street urchin, and the town drunk, and the banker. And the ranch foreman, the ranch owner's daughter, the ranch owner's son, and the ranch owner. And the wagon master, the Indian scout, and the Indians. And the lady that runs the boarding house and the hotel clerk.
9. Know when to be kind and gentle, and when to get tough.
10. Don't draw a weapon if you don't intend to use it. And don't say anything you aren't prepared to back up.
11. If somebody is shooting at you, DUCK! Before you shoot back, before you stop to see who's shooting at you - for heaven sakes, DUCK!
12. Good guys don't always win, but they're always winners.
13. And never, ever get engaged to a Cartwright.