Gunslingers by Najeeb Alam

Looking at the title, what do you expect? An article about a gun-wielding character? Death at his willful disposal? Maybe her disposal? Perhaps immoral and irrational killing? A cowboy challenging a punk to a shootout? If that is what you expect; consider this:

In the old times, the term “gunslinger” was given to both outlaws and men of law respectively; but what separated the two? Outlaws rebelled against the set laws they saw as oppressive, while men of law sought to protect the virtues of sensible law that governed the land; both justified in one another’s mind. What brought the two together is the idea of the gun and the fight. One can’t help but respect both aspects of a gunslinger as a mercenary of death or a protector of life for they had the drive to put their emotion into action; fighting for what they believed in. All the while, taking and making the actions that others would hesitate to act on.

In one way or another we all represent the theme of a gunslinger for we all hold the gun (mind) to point whichever direction we believe to be right and simply fire our rounds (ideas), with only one question: Will we fire successfully? If you ask me, the term “gunslinger” in context can be translated to another word: Leader. Leaders have no need for a gun, for their ammunition lies in their thoughts, visions, and ideas; pointing them towards a desired direction and firing them at will. As the “bullets” fly, they gather counter forces from oppressors and various other forces, but inevitably hit their target: success. The valiance of the scene is depicted only through the actions and characters of the gunslingers that so boldly and bravely fired towards targets they wished; knowing that their ammunition was unsurpassable.

~ I reached towards the sky and said my good-byes, my heart’s always with you now~ R.I.P Ronnie Cruz