A little light-hearted commentary for a Friday…

Here in Montana, we hear a lot of I’m a “fourth generation Montanan” or I’m a “fifth generation Montanan” and so on.

Frequently, we hear this line from politicians who must be thinking they will corner more votes from native Montanans.

Note to politicians: There are a lot of Montanans who were not born here and by the way, we vote. Just so you know our votes count the same, too. This isn’t Chicago.

Frankly, I think most Montanans are smart enough not to accept this fourth or fifth generation line. They elected Mike Mansfield a few times. Mansfield was born in New York City. Conrad Burns was elected three times. Burns was born in Missouri.

Like many of us, I imagine they got to Montana as quickly as they could.

Most of us picked Montana. It did not pick us.

Sometimes hearing the “generation” thingy makes those of us who were not fortunate enough to be born here feel that we’re not worthy. Sadly, there’s nothing we can do about it. I’m sure that’s exactly how the person telling us about their vast Montana roots wants us to feel.

Montanans may remember the quote from the defecting Soviet Capt. Vasili Borodin in the movie, “The Hunt for Red October” when he said:

I will live in Montana. And I will marry a round American woman and raise rabbits, and she will cook them for me. And I will have a pickup truck… maybe even a “recreational vehicle.” And drive from state to state. Do they let you do that?

Unfortunately, Capt. Borodin died in the movie, but even if he had made it to Montana he would be a non-native. But he did pick Montana – of all the states!

For sure, we non-natives just can’t love the state as much as those who were slapped on the butt for the first time at a local Montana hospital. Continue reading →