“The Lone Ranger” was first aired by WXYZ radio station in Detroit, Mich., on Jan. 31, 1933.
Over the past 92 years, while opinions vary as to whether the leading character was based on a real person or not, the consensus is that the “good triumphing evil” theme is one of the key reasons the classic western is considered an enduring icon of American culture.
The main character and storyline have sparked a television series and left a trail of novels, toys, films and comic books. Considered one of the most popular children’s television shows of all times, millions of children have tuned in to watch good overcome evil.
Born at the end of the baby boomer generation, I recall watching television reruns that unfolded Hollywood’s version of the Wild West and the enthusiastic, “Hi ho (or yo), Silver, away.”
While learning more about the Lone Ranger, I stumbled across a moral code that caught my attention. The code was written by the creators of the popular series.
To my surprise, the closing statement of the code is “In my Creator, my country and fellow man.”
As I unveiled the moral code of “The Lone Ranger,” I discovered many Christian undertones. For instance, “God put the firewood there, but that every man must gather and light it himself” and “That all things change but truth, and truth alone lives on forever.”
Researching the story behind the story, I wondered if the writers were influenced by scripture found in the Bible. Were they aware of Romans 12:21 that states, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” or John 14:6 that clarifies the truth?
In my research I could not find proof of what or who the writers of “The Lone Ranger” referenced. One can only hope that they aimed to create a hero and a storyline that was aligned with their own upbringing based on “religion, history, culture, or a mix of those sources.”
As for our own story, unlike “The Lone Ranger,” we are encouraged to shed our masks and be reassured by Isaiah 41:10 that we are not alone.
And when it comes to living according to a moral code, the good news is that it is clearly outlined in the Ten Commandments found in the best-selling book of all time, the Holy Bible.
This column may include both fiction and nonfiction, and views expressed do not necessarily represent those of The SUN. Submissions can be sent to editor@pagosasun.com.
