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

[NewKid]

Hey guys! this is really spot on!

It just happens I agree with you about Billy getting a 'bum rap' - this is really cool because it is also how I feel about him .....
way too many people are so ready to make him out to be a stupid cowboy who was just another outlaw.
so good to read something POSITIVE about Billy!!

just had to add this too..............
what you said about parents and not a part of McCarty family - never did believe that BS.

[ChiefAdmin]

Hey guys! this is really spot on!

It just happens I agree with you about Billy getting a 'bum rap' - this is really cool because it is also how I feel about him .....
way too many people are so ready to make him out to be a stupid cowboy who was just another outlaw.
so good to read something POSITIVE about Billy!!

just had to add this too..............
what you said about parents and not a part of McCarty family - never did believe that BS.

Thanks so much for your comments NewKid!

Yes, it definitely appears (by viewing some of those many sites out there about Billy) that many people think:
a) Cowboys only know about cattle and horses ..... and nothing else; so there "stupid".
b) And unfortunately many people believe Billy was nothing more than an outlaw who didn't have "brain one" -
NOTHING could be further from the truth; and it is way past due that someone speak out about these two points and "set" people "straight"!
[Oh my God! I can't believe I used that phrase - no doubt the "haters" will come out of the wood-work.]

As stated within "a" and "b" above:
That's REALLY the main reasons why TAB - Truth About Billy Forum - was established to educate people about these issues.
The "historians" are not going to; the townspeople connected with the past historic events of the "old west" are not going to; the Catholic Church in the Parish of Manhattan, New York are not going to; city, county, state, and Federal government people couldn't care less; so that leaves TAB Forum to clean up the atrocities, half-truths, deception, lies, cover-ups, and deliberate suppression of TRUTH.

Chief Admin for,
TAB Forum

Post Script Notes:
There is an excellent post about 'suppression of TRUTH' in another post on this forum - please take a few minutes to read it!