When overreaction is encouraged

Someone once said that in the Victorian era, people made a lot of over-the-top fuss about death and never talked about sex, whereas in these enlightened times, people make a lot of over-the-top fuss about sex and never talk about death.

Go to a modern funeral, especially a secular one, and there's more fumbling, awkwardness and confusion than a virgin's wedding night. People have no idea what to say, what to bring, how to dress, whether to cry, or even how to feel.

It's no surprise, then, that the 'First Australian Soldier To Be Killed In Iraq', otherwise known as Private Jake Kovco, has elicited an entirely inappropriate, drama queenesque display of grief from the Australian media, and to a lesser extent from the Australian people. Instead of a quiet expression of condolence for his family, they've reacted as if he'd been gunned down while single-handedly rescuing a busload of nuns and orphans from Osama bin Laden, Kim Jong Il and Lex Luthor. The word "hero" has been mentioned more than once.

Private Kovco died, in his tent, apparently by his own hand. The only notable thing about it is that it happened in Iraq. If it had happened in Indooroopilly, it would barely make the local paper.

To add further indignity to his ignominious end, Private Kovco's coffin was accidentally swapped with another in Kuwait, and the casket of a Bosnian carpenter was sent to Australia. The error was realised by the time the airplane landed, and the correct coffin was identified and rushed home. But to judge from the reaction of the media, you'd think Kovco's body had been stuffed with candy and then turned over to junior members of al-Quaeda to use a human pinata. Even ordinarily sensible pundits are declaring that the delivery of the wrong coffin to Australia was some sort of unforgivable travesty. Frankly, it's not as if the Australians who are in charge of repatriating the remains of dead soldiers have had much practice. It was an error, it certainly wasn't deliberate, and the people involved are extremely sorry that it happened. What more could anyone want? It certainly shouldn't be a front-page scandal.