The myth of our convict past
Piers Akerman posits a novel take on our history:
Go back far enough and all of our forebears came from somewhere else because this was perceived to be a better place to be.
I understand some of them even insisted on being shackled to the ships so they wouldn’t accidentally fall out on the way.
I wonder if I can sue my high school history teacher for teaching me a lot of our forebears were sent here as punishment.
Labels: Australia, history, Piers Akerman
posted by Jacob A. Stam at 1/28/2012 08:30:00 PM
4 Comments:
Yes. Go back far enough and the great bulk were deported (sorry, transported) prisoners and their gaolers / keepers.
Most of them had no bloody idea what place they were being transported to.
Bit like those New Zealanders, English, Indians, French and Aussies who desperately attempted to claim the Chersonesus back in 1915.
Maybe Piers meant that the Brit penal authorities perceived Australia as a better place for convicts to be, from an objective middle-class English perspective. But still it somehow doesn't quite make the point he's reaching for.
When it comes to "points" to Piers' "prose", reaching is not quite the word; retching rather better suits.
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