Things in Common

[ChiefAdmin]

The title "Things in Common" refers to life in Billy's era - mid 19th Century United States - particularly in the western states and territories.
What are these?

Horses, cows, and a heck lot of snakes and other creatures and critters slithering and crawling around out there at night of which "modern folks" would rather not even think about let-a-lone actually be out there on the trail, bedded down with just a dirty, smelly blanket - complete with a saddle for a pillow!
But that is exactly what most cowboys had; and if they got lucky enough somehow to afford a night or two in a "hotel" in one of the few western towns of those early years, they appreciated the change of pace.

As with other topics and posts in this forum, you should be familiar with the forum Administration's position on Billy, e.g., that he got a bum rap.
Just as importantly though, is how people think and judge Billy in our current time frame: the 21st Century.
Additionally, every individual reading this should read and try their best to understand the following, and how and why it influenced Billy's life.

Life in those days was very tough, and it offered FEW amenities. For an individual in those days to stay strictly on the narrow and lawful path was also NOT easy - not for anyone; but in Billy's case it was made extremely difficult. So much so that in today's society, if such an ordeal that Billy was subjected to, were to befall someone of similar circumstances in these current times, they too would be hard pressed to become a "model citizen" and remain "lawful".

With Billy, he had the deck stacked against him from the very moment of birth!
Sit back for a moment, whereby you can think quietly to yourself, without interruption or sounds of modern life interfering with your thoughts:
How would YOU feel if you were placed into those same circumstances of which were forced upon Billy?

What were those circumstances?
a) The birth of Billy occurred via a mother who was not married - a strict no-no in those days!
b) The man who got her pregnant couldn't have cared less that he would be responsible for the birth of a young baby boy, later to be known as Billy.
c) "Billy", given up to "adoption" of sorts, to a family who was dirt poor, and whose natural son was still-born, and a husband / father who later would abandon her, and by then, two young boys, i.e., Billy and Joseph.
d) Billy was raised as their son, but in truth was never of any blood relation to them (i.e., Catherine McCarty and her husband).
e) "Billy" lived a life from nearly day one - which resembles something on the order of a Hollywood Horror Movie - as a young (infant) baby boy given up my his real mother to a different "mother" of whom there was no blood relation whatsoever, to moving from one local to another after another, and with each move leading to emotional "scars" along with it presenting additional hardships - of which many of us can't even begin to imagine what it must have been like for Billy!
f) Thus, Billy grew up with practically no real parental discipline, no positive ethical and moral standards of conduct were taught, given no real love, no compassion, no ..... well, you get the "drift" here, right?

If YOU have never experienced what Billy was forced to experience, then count yourself as being a very fortunate individual - and when the next time arises in which you may have a thought or two of which is not exactly positive or constructive about someone like Billy, try to be a bit more understanding, caring, and hopefully not too much inclined to think or say something in haste or without due forethought.


ChiefAdmin