Well Dr Scully of UNE might be right in his views on post modernism. To me it usually refers to philosophy, literature, art, religion etc., I didn’t think it applied to non-fiction history or scholarly papers that pretend to include historical facts and then the authors’ interpretation of the issues contested. Particularly when others can present primary sources that can offer a more scholarly alternative argument “if’ allowed to be heard.
A fictional book is a fictional book period! Be it inspired by a true story or interpretation of known facts. Greg Hamilton’s book was not privy to some of the primary sources available when he wrote it, yet he was promoting a justifiable fictional argument. These became available only after the Standing Order 53 was rejected and the ALP Minister ordered the compilation of a file on Thunderbolt be made available to the public. Two years after his book was published. So studying that file and others there is a prima facie case the wrong man was killed as Thunderbolt taking into consideration those primary sources and the political, social and natural landscape and time frames at the time.
But when the basis of the UNE’s academic argument is to discredit a fiction book and family researcher publicly, stating the authors and those that disagree with their research are compared with conspiracy theorists it goes too far. (The Sydney Institute, 27/3).
There is a DVD regarding Thunderbolt about to be released and the producers are rubbing their hands in glee about what they believe they are uncovering and it will be controversial.
Pat Lightfoot,
Armidale
