UPDATE NOVEMBER 2011
At times, I've been asked what I think of Ned Kelly. It's not an easy question to answer. When I wrote my book, Ned Kelly the Widow's Son, I tried to be unbiased and told things as they were recorded without attempting to take sides. I've noticed that the people who are pro Kelly are quick to overlook the bad things he did in his life. Those that are most critical of him usually make factually incorrect statements.
I think that Constable Fitzpatrick had a good explanation, and to paraphrase him: Ned was one of those larger than life characters who could have been a leader of men if he'd been brought up in the right environment.
Having always been interested in world history, it's interesting to compare one event with another.
I feel there is a similarity between the Kelly's, et al, and the Indian nations who fought against and killed General Custer. The Indians were not savages. They had their own structured cultures. They had had their land and power confiscated. They had had to live on a reservation; had been instructed in various (foreign to them) forms of Christianity, and European cultures. Some had visited 'the east' as 'guests' of the Government and Churches. Many were bilingual and could speak English. Some could read and write English. Which means they too had access to newspapers and thus policy information: "the way the wind was blowing." They left the reservation because of the overbearing, humiliating and unbearable way they and their views were treated. Eventually they set up camp on the Little Bighorn River. When they realised they were about to be attacked by the soldiers, they took the initiative and attacked the soldiers. They 'won', for a while. Some Indians involved were able to travel to Canada and were eventually forgiven. Sitting Bull went on to be a celebrity in the Buffalo Bill show. Life went on.
Today there is a monument to the Indians at the Custer Battlefield and both sides of the story are retold.
A lot has been written as to the causes of the Kelly outbreak. I tend to believe wrong was enacted on all sides. I have watched a number of old 'documentaries' about Ned recently and it's interesting how often recorded history is manipulated for entertainment's sake or to instill a particular political view. I believe if a movie had been made about Ned that was factually accurate; it could have been more popular than the fictionalized versions previously produced.
Historical fact is interesting enough for history's sake.
Stephen A McCarthy
10/11/2011
2011 S.A. & R.D. McCarthy all rights reserved.
