They Can Hardly Wait But They Won't Be Waiting for Long

Isn't this nice, we're all agreed, even the Bloc Quebecois. Canada's lucky last survivor of the First World War will receive an all-expenses paid, state funeral. We're down to three finalists - Lloyd Clemett and John Babcock, 106, trailed by youngster Dwight Wilson, a paltry 105. The judges still haven't decided about Babcock, however. A cloud hangs over his chances of a caisson ride due to the fact that he had the nerve to become a naturalized American citizen not to mention that he lives way out in Spokane, Washington. Think what that's going to cost to ship Babcock back to Ottawa.

Let's not make a spectacle out of these wonderful, old fellows, especially in this time of highly-exploited images of military patriotism. Let's show them our sincere appreciation and leave them to go through this with their dignity untramelled by us, unexploited by us.

Here's an idea. Why don't we honour all of the 619,000 Canadians who served in that miserable and futile meat-grinder with a national minute of silence when we can all gather our thoughts in memory of their collective sacrifice?

But, if we have to go through with this faux pagentry, at least legislate a state holiday for the event. The idea of people having to come home after work to try to catch highlights on CBC Newsworld is nothing short of obscene.