RIP, Sir Ed

Well. A week since Sir Edmund Hillary has gone to climb the mountain in the sky, and the hysteria remains.

Don't get me wrong. In addition to getting to the top of Mt Everest, and walking across ice caps and the like, he, by all accounts, was a genuinely nice guy who worked hard to better the lives of the Nepelese people. Good on him, and all that.

I can't help but wonder though, if he was as genuine and modest as people claim, would he not be embarrassed by the hoopla surrounding his death. Especially since I suspect most of it is for cheap political gain. (What other type of political gain is there?)

Now, I like public holidays as much the next lazy slob, so I'm all in favour of an "Ed Hillary" day. I do wonder if that's the most appropriate way to honour his memory.

RIP, Sir Ed. You were truly one of the last of the generation for who Political Correctness was an unknown term. You went and did whatever you had to do. You will be missed.