Offensive

From Ingamar, or Swede, now “Big Johansson” – a Billings, Montana farmer, posting at 4&20 regarding the news that George Ochenski was hired to write for the Missoulian:

Of course I still remember that Rodger Clauson left the editorial pages of the Billings Gazette to grace Crisp’s liberal beacon.

Where he’s now no body knows or frankly cares.

Mr. Big usually posts non sequiturs. This one was especially offensive. He went out of his way to take a shot at Roger Clawson, a Billings, Montana writer, who died several years ago. Roger was a gem, an independent thinker, a bit of a gadfly (if that causes no offense – none intended). When I think of him, the name Ed Abbey comes to mind. The two had much in common. Their writing was crisp (npi) and witty, full of insight and disrespect for their betters. They knew, after all, that their betters were not better.

Notice the shot here at the Billings Outpost (“Crisp’s beacon”)- it’s “liberal.” There’s more to understand here, but I’m not going to bother. It’s the black/white with-us-or-against-us authoritarian mindset that so many right wingers and Democrats exhibit. Kinda funny.

10 thoughts on “Offensive”

  2. Got a funny story ’bout old Rodger. Rodger spent a lot of time floating the Yellowstone between Columbus and Billings so we crossed paths (or wakes) when I took the kids fishing.

    It became a joke to the young boys and I because as soon as Rodger heard the roar of my jet boat he’d drop his paddle and cover his ears in protest.

    This happened quite a few times during one summer so the kids named him elephant ears.

    Great time, fun memories.

    Like

    Reply

    2. Wait a minute – is this humor? You’re deliberately putting yourself in a bad light as part of a larger joke showing the reader that you know what a boor is and that you are willing to look like one for the less observant reader to make the joke work?

      Bravo!

      Like

      Reply

  3. I can understand old Swede not liking (or understanding) Clawson; hell, he can’t spell his first or last name. But Mark, if you think so highly of Roger, why wouldn’t you have taken the trouble to continue reading him every week? I never miss him.

    Like

    Reply

    1. I haven’t read the Outpost or Gazette in years, don’t go to those websites. Only so many hours. I left Billings eleven years ago, after all. I recall reading of Roger’s passing, showing how reliable my memory is. I know he had cancer. He did, right?

      So if I thought he was dead, then don’t you think that’s a valid reason for not continuing to read him?

      Anyway, I hope all involved had a good laugh at my faux pas.

      Like

      Reply

Leave a comment