God knows, we honour everybody else; even those who don’t deserve the respect. We have Children’s Day; as if there can be kids without parents. SWEET MOTHER by Mbaga remains a favourite song guaranteed to get even old people on the dance floor everywhere. We have Lover’s Day; Veterans Day etc, etc. What we have never had is a day set aside to say “thank you” to the Elderly, meaning our parents, who, for better or worse are responsible for our presence here on earth.

“Honour your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord, your God, has given you, (Bible, Exodus 20:12)

“The climax of every tragedy lies in the deafness of its heroes”. Albert Camus, I903-I960. (VANGUARD BOOK OF UOTATIONS p 90).

“THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A FREE LUNCH”. Fundamental law of Economics.
This series ended last week with the observation that whereas in Awolowo’s days as Premier of Western Region, virtually all kids enjoyed government sponsored primary education, today only a tiny minority of kids attend state schools. It was the same, even at the secondary school level.

The Spanish author of that hilarious piece, whose name escapes my memory at the moment, was commenting on the Falklands/Malvilands war involving Britain and Argentina in I982. The remote and virtually useless cluster of islands, captured by Britain from Spain, in an earlier era of colonial expansion, became the reason for carnage in that year.