PAUL:	I was going to talk to you today about democracy and my 
	take on the whole sorry mess, what with oppressive regimes 
	recently usurped and consigned to the dust heap in places 
	like South Africa, Scotland and Higher Volta.

	But with the death of Sir Freeman Crotty, I've been driven to an 
	extemporaneous mode, to muse about longevity, habit, history - in 
	short, the lessons we learn in this life.

	You know, Sir Freeman oversaw all aspects of broadcasting here in 
	Nfld. for sixty two years.  Admirable in a way.

	But if you analyze that situation coldly, you realise he kept at 
	least two people from gainful employment.  I look around me in the 
	cafeteria at lunch time and think, "there's another old geezer we 
	could throw in front of a truck and no one would notice the difference."

	I ponder my position here at the BCN, a position nowhere near as 
	influential, nor as remunerative, nor as protected by bloodlines, 
	as Sir Freeman's was.  Sitting in this chair, I can see the vultures 
	circling overhead.  I was born before confederation - well, just 
	hours before, actually, so it's not really that long ago, 50 years 
	April after next - and there's a younger set of broadcast wannabes 
	waiting for me to go.  They're sitting in the front seat of that 
	"death to geezers" truck with the motor running and the gearshift 
	in neutral.  No offense, Erling.

	Sir Freeman's life here has been exemplary in other ways.  

	His dictum, "doing nothing is doing the most", while superficially 
	simple, is penetratingly profound and deeply wise.  Let's face it - 
	you collect all the information, distill it with the present conditions, 
	water it a little with the perceived and possible results and 
	ramifications, and then decide to do nothing.  That is brave.

	When action is called for, and after consideration you let the 
	predicament play itself out ... well, I mean.  It's a lot like God 
	creating the world and giving us all free will, then standing back 
	with almighty restraint.

	Come to think of it, it's exactly like that.

	Not only do we bemoan the loss of Freeman Crotty and his legacy, 
	we dread his successor.

	Not because we know who the successor is, but because we fear they 
	might upset the apple cart and do something.