This past Thursday marked the eightieth anniversary of D-Day—what we have since come to know as the beginning of the end of World War II in Europe but, at the time, far from a foregone conclusion. Remember, it is possible to reflect on that sacrifice, and the world we’ve been able to make for it, without also being a hawk or even having an interest in military history.

To repeat: Do not let your boss make a potentially career-ending announcement alone in the pouring raining—and, definitely do not let him leave the Normandy anniversary service early. There will be no coming back from that “he left them on the beaches” campaign advert.

Wesley Wark is right to call the recent allegations about Canadian politicians what they are. The problem now, aside from affirming the validity of the intelligence (never a given) and the subsequent prosecution of any crimes committed, is for parliament to safeguard its own institutional integrity.

The more I think about it, the only comprehensive and conclusive way to do that is this: the government must resign, form a unity coalition with all parties, exclude any member named in the report, investigate fully and transparently, formally expel any member eligible for prosecution, establish a bipartisan framework for the next parliament to manage such issues effectively, and then call a general election.

It’ll never happen but it’s the right thing to do.

Farewell to astronaut Bill Anders, he of the eternally humbling 1968 “earthrise” photograph.