I agree with Wente's comments:  "And if they are stirred to thoughts of service, pride in country, even – dare I say it – patriotism, Canada will be a better country because of it."  What seems to be missing in so many of the critiques and supposedly sophisticated putdowns is an understanding of Canada as it was at the beginning of WWI.  

The majority of people lived in rural communities and the majority were either born in the U.K. or had direct ties.  Many were farmers, miners or labourers, but they all felt as strongly about their duty to the King and England as did the people in the cities.  They didn't ponder the right of it, they felt they had to 'do their bit.'  My wife's grandfather was 37, with a wife and 5 children, but he joined up and died at Vimy, as did my great-uncle, who was 21.  Perhaps by today's standards their patriotism was misplaced, but no one questioned it then, and if I may suggest, nor should we now.