Ray Kowalski walked into the house he shared with his partner. "Hey,
Fraser," he said, "something really weird is happening in town. Everyone's
glued to the TV. Some people are crying! Everyone's talking about some guy
named Trudeau. You got any idea what's going on?" 

"Pierre Trudeau has died," Benton Fraser said quietly.

"Who's he?" asked Kowalski curiously.

"He was Prime Minister from 1968 until 1984 - except for about nine months
in 1979. He was a great statesman, often controversial, but never dull." 

"Sixteen years? That's a long time, like four terms for an American
president. So, what was so great about him?" Ray inquired. 

Fraser was thoughtful. "He patriated the Constitution," replied the
Mountie. 

"Patriated?"

"The Canadian constitution used to be in Britain, the British North
America Act. Trudeau was responsible for drafting the first true Canadian
constitution, which includes the Charter of Rights, which, like your
American Bill of Rights, protects the rights and freedoms of all
Canadians." 

"Wow," said Ray. "What else?"

Ben thought for awhile. "In 1969, someone asked him what he thought of
homosexuality. His response was that 'there is no place for the state in
the nations' bedrooms.' He repealed the sodomy laws. That means that you
and I cannot be arrested for making love," Fraser added with a slight
smile. 

"You said he was controversial. What made him controversial?" asked his
partner. 

"He was a somewhat abrasive character. One time he was accused of using a
vulgarity in the House of Commons, and he said that he had been misheard -
he claimed what he had actually said was 'fuddle duddle.' In 1970 some
terrorists abducted two politicians and Trudeau imposed the War Measures
Act, which suspended all civil rights in the country, until they were
caught. There were many disputes with the French Canadian population
regarding language rights." 

"Sounds like he did a lot," observed the American.

"Indeed he did," replied Fraser. "He will be missed. He was a great
Canadian." 

"Hey, Fraser?"

"Yes, Ray?"

"I think you're a great Canadian, too."

"Thank you kindly, Ray. But I doubt anyone can come close to his
greatness."

R.I.P. Pierre Elliot Trudeau, 1919 - 2000