Opium of the Cannon Fodder

The death of a British soldier is unquestionably the most poetical topic in the world.
Edgar Alan Clark

The horrendous tide of war-kitsch which has infected the Tower of London's moat is to be removed on schedule, despite brays of protest from the London Haystack and Nick Clegg, both of whom share the perpetrator's view that the piece speaks to something jolly profound in the simple folk. The display consists of 888,246 ceramic poppies, one for every significant death in the First World War; as the Guardian's art critic pointed out, the idea turns one of history's filthiest global fiascos into a pretty little British tear-jerker. Doubtless this explains its popularity with the Haystack, who fancies himself the latest incarnation of Winston of Gallipoli, and with the leader of the Deputy Conservatives, who knows all about charging suicidally through mud on behalf of thick-headed fat men who barely remember his name. It is eminently worthy of them both.