Jack Layton is dead
- Thread starter JLM
- Start date
Well, I thought Jack was a classy dude before but that letter had more class than I thought possible. He knew he was going down for the count and he chose to spread hope instead of taking a few opponents with him - not a disparaging word for anybody, just optimism. Sad day for Canada.
There is a gathing on the hill now, a candle light vigil.
They've been leaving flowers, notes and cans of Orange Crush by the centential flame.
Orange Crush, I love that.
They've been leaving flowers, notes and cans of Orange Crush by the centential flame.
Orange Crush, I love that.
I have watched Jack Layton since he took the reigns of power from outgoing leader Alexa McDonough in 2003. During that time, Jack did things that at times angered me a great deal. I won't go into detail, but I will say that coming from a military family there were many points in time when I was left mad enough to spit by the late Jack Layton.
It is funny over time when you see someone you so vehemently oppose achieve so much. He will forever be remembered as the leader who turned the corner and brought the NDP to official opposition status. He will be remembered for showing great courage in the face of a horrible disease that strikes down many. Cancer touches so many.
Not to make this about me, but today I got a little taste of the reality surrounding cancer as I sat across from my 22 year old son and he poured out his heart about his girlfriend who is about to undergo chemo-therapy for melanoma. She is just a young woman and her life is only beginning, but she has this battle ahead of her. As the tears spilled down my sons cheeks he told me how he loves her and he feels completely helpless, I could not help but get choked up myself.
Cancer has touched my family on more than one occasion. I hope in the case of my sons girlfriend that it will be beaten back by treatment and of course my heart breaks for my boy as he struggles with this. In the closing words of his open letter Jack Layton showed great courage and his words of encouragement to others fighting for their lives should be a beacon of hope.
For all the anger, all the disagreement, all the debate I feel that we who sit on the right of Mr. Layton lost a friend with whom we opposed only in opinion. I will miss his fighting spirit, that funny little cookie duster and his smile which was quite genuine.
He was a man who believed in Canada and I for one tip my hat to him.
It is funny over time when you see someone you so vehemently oppose achieve so much. He will forever be remembered as the leader who turned the corner and brought the NDP to official opposition status. He will be remembered for showing great courage in the face of a horrible disease that strikes down many. Cancer touches so many.
Not to make this about me, but today I got a little taste of the reality surrounding cancer as I sat across from my 22 year old son and he poured out his heart about his girlfriend who is about to undergo chemo-therapy for melanoma. She is just a young woman and her life is only beginning, but she has this battle ahead of her. As the tears spilled down my sons cheeks he told me how he loves her and he feels completely helpless, I could not help but get choked up myself.
Cancer has touched my family on more than one occasion. I hope in the case of my sons girlfriend that it will be beaten back by treatment and of course my heart breaks for my boy as he struggles with this. In the closing words of his open letter Jack Layton showed great courage and his words of encouragement to others fighting for their lives should be a beacon of hope.
For all the anger, all the disagreement, all the debate I feel that we who sit on the right of Mr. Layton lost a friend with whom we opposed only in opinion. I will miss his fighting spirit, that funny little cookie duster and his smile which was quite genuine.
He was a man who believed in Canada and I for one tip my hat to him.
I didn't look at Jack the person first, which wasn't right. And I was reviling which was also wrong. And it was inappropriate.
That's life though, it's not the first time I've put my foot in my mouth, and I'm sure it won't be the last.
A memorable Jack Layton moment for me would have been the time I shook his hand and said hello, or during the last debate when he put Iggy in his place so poignantly.
I'm truly sorry to hear about that. I wish her, and your son, well and send all my hopes.
Jack was a class act and, if I may say, so are you.
You know, it's really not whether we err (because we all do) but it's whether we take ownership of ourselves and our behaviour that speaks to our character.
Good for you.
Jack was a man who fervently believed he had the right philosophy to make this a great country. He never seem to waver from his belief.
I guess if you fight for what you believe and you can convince others that you have the correct philosophy, then I suppose you can be considered successful.
I vehemently disagreed with his philosophy but at least he was honest about what he believed.
He did not support the west much, in fact he even tried to harm it, ie oil etc
Anyways he is a Canadian and he won the support of many people. For this I wish him RIP !!
I guess if you fight for what you believe and you can convince others that you have the correct philosophy, then I suppose you can be considered successful.
I vehemently disagreed with his philosophy but at least he was honest about what he believed.
He did not support the west much, in fact he even tried to harm it, ie oil etc
Anyways he is a Canadian and he won the support of many people. For this I wish him RIP !!
How can you tell from their names if they are christian or muslim or no religion?
Now if you could just tell their political leanings the same way we could do away with the cost of elections.
I don't. Jack was definitely one of the few honorable and well spoken politicians around. Unfortunately he was so very wrong so much of the time.
He will be missed by friend and foe alike.
You must be talkin' names like Goldstein or Rosenburg! :lol:
I suppose up until 20 years ago a lot of Commies might have names ending in "off". :lol:
I suppose there is a possibility that when you take exception to a philosophy you could be aiming at a "moving target". I think Jack probably realized that to become Prime Minister he would probably have to fine tune his ideals a little..........perhaps trade off some charity for some funding.
Rest in peace, Mr. Layton.
While I did not belong to the NDP politically, this is sad news. Cancer is a horrible way to die, and I would not wish it on any politician. I despise Dalton McGuinty for what he has done to Ontario, but I would never wish this to happen to him. It is a painful, awful way to die.
I would hope that everyone in this thread realizes that in the end he was a husband and a father, rather than just a politician.
I'll send some good vibes and prayers to your son and his girlfriend and hope that she makes a full recovery.
While I did not belong to the NDP politically, this is sad news. Cancer is a horrible way to die, and I would not wish it on any politician. I despise Dalton McGuinty for what he has done to Ontario, but I would never wish this to happen to him. It is a painful, awful way to die.
I would hope that everyone in this thread realizes that in the end he was a husband and a father, rather than just a politician.
I'll send some good vibes and prayers to your son and his girlfriend and hope that she makes a full recovery.
I love some of the reaction on this board for this topic. Jack was a Christian a Catholic I believe.
In fact he was a man of great faith. Personally I am at heart a Christian also, a retired Catholic
all be it but I believe the universe is about more than nothing. I don't begrudge anyone Else's
beliefs either.
Jack had an amazing faith that propelled him on to better things. I myself believe in the left
social agenda and the fiscal right, when it comes to financing that agenda. I find it hard to think
that some don't believe in a fair and just society, that does not mean a welfare state or some
getting things that don't belong to them it just means a belief that people should have an equal
opportunity to get ahead. The truth is, there is no equal opportunity, and we have been fixated
on our delusions for a long time.
While I didn't always agree with Jack on a few issues, I understand he was a great man who did
believe in this country, he believed in our young people, and most of all he was an idealist who
believed with hard work, idealism could become reality.
Here is something to ponder, most say the left is made up of people who are atheists and non
believers, those Godless socialists as it were. What is the truth however? most of the early
New Democrats were indeed very religious men, for example Tommy Douglas was a Baptist
Minister, Woodsworth was a Methodist Minister, so was MJ Caldwell.
Of late Loren Calvert, the past Premier of Saskatchewan was a United Church Minister by trade.
I would suggest, that most of the anti social democratic propaganda, that does not hold water.
It is also the reason these people expressed such passion and devotion to the cause of their
ideology.
I think it can now be said, the New Democrats can go as far as any other party when it comes to
forming government, anyone of three parties can become government and that is good for Canada
we have some real and serious choices as citizens. Rest in peace Jack you pushed the envelop
right over the edge, and fought for what you believed in. This is truly a sad day for Canadians,
even though some don't realize it. I would also like to make the point that Steven Harper showed
some class today when he proposed and enacted a State Funeral for a well respected Canadian.
In fact he was a man of great faith. Personally I am at heart a Christian also, a retired Catholic
all be it but I believe the universe is about more than nothing. I don't begrudge anyone Else's
beliefs either.
Jack had an amazing faith that propelled him on to better things. I myself believe in the left
social agenda and the fiscal right, when it comes to financing that agenda. I find it hard to think
that some don't believe in a fair and just society, that does not mean a welfare state or some
getting things that don't belong to them it just means a belief that people should have an equal
opportunity to get ahead. The truth is, there is no equal opportunity, and we have been fixated
on our delusions for a long time.
While I didn't always agree with Jack on a few issues, I understand he was a great man who did
believe in this country, he believed in our young people, and most of all he was an idealist who
believed with hard work, idealism could become reality.
Here is something to ponder, most say the left is made up of people who are atheists and non
believers, those Godless socialists as it were. What is the truth however? most of the early
New Democrats were indeed very religious men, for example Tommy Douglas was a Baptist
Minister, Woodsworth was a Methodist Minister, so was MJ Caldwell.
Of late Loren Calvert, the past Premier of Saskatchewan was a United Church Minister by trade.
I would suggest, that most of the anti social democratic propaganda, that does not hold water.
It is also the reason these people expressed such passion and devotion to the cause of their
ideology.
I think it can now be said, the New Democrats can go as far as any other party when it comes to
forming government, anyone of three parties can become government and that is good for Canada
we have some real and serious choices as citizens. Rest in peace Jack you pushed the envelop
right over the edge, and fought for what you believed in. This is truly a sad day for Canadians,
even though some don't realize it. I would also like to make the point that Steven Harper showed
some class today when he proposed and enacted a State Funeral for a well respected Canadian.
I'm not a Conservative or a Harper supporter (and I make a difference between the two). But i agree. It was a fine gesture on Harper's part. Harper rarely makes a move a I agree with, but occasionally does. I only wish the other major thing I agree with him on (Senate Reform) was so easy to push through.
Man, I certainly don't know what to say...... Jack Layton, regardless of other's views on his political beliefs, was simply an inspiration for what a human being should be, both in spirit, attitude & determination.
He certainly inspired me..... and very..... very few people do that.
The word Cancer has an echo of fear or determination when ever it is mentioned in reference to
any of us. I have had relatives who did not survive the torment of this disease and some faced
it better than others. I know that it stuck in the back of his mind as he moved on down the road
to the future of Canada. I do hope the young lady gets the treatment she needs and gets to live
a long and happy life.
the center of gravity changes when the diagnosis is cancer. I faced it myself in a small way. This
spring I was diagnosed with a low grade bladder cancer that was successfully operated out of the
picture. Jack was not so lucky it returned with a blaze of revenge and claimed his future making
him an unforgettable part of our history. Regardless of party or political outlook, today we face
a longer and more bumpy road but we will get through it.
any of us. I have had relatives who did not survive the torment of this disease and some faced
it better than others. I know that it stuck in the back of his mind as he moved on down the road
to the future of Canada. I do hope the young lady gets the treatment she needs and gets to live
a long and happy life.
the center of gravity changes when the diagnosis is cancer. I faced it myself in a small way. This
spring I was diagnosed with a low grade bladder cancer that was successfully operated out of the
picture. Jack was not so lucky it returned with a blaze of revenge and claimed his future making
him an unforgettable part of our history. Regardless of party or political outlook, today we face
a longer and more bumpy road but we will get through it.
Yes that sick ideology embracing human decency and a fair chance for everyone. Mr. Layton was worth a thousand average toe-the-line politicians. This is not just a loss for the House of Commons; it is a great loss for Canada.
I don't usually get affected by the passing of people, especially politicians, but I find myself actually feeling a loss over this, even though I'm halfway around the world in Australia.
To be honest, he was the one person, the only politician, who actually got me interested in politics and what was going on in the country & our government..... and got me to actually give a damn & start voting.... and after all the accomplishments he has made while leading the NDP, he's now gone.
It's a real kick in the nutz, that's all there is to it.
To be honest, he was the one person, the only politician, who actually got me interested in politics and what was going on in the country & our government..... and got me to actually give a damn & start voting.... and after all the accomplishments he has made while leading the NDP, he's now gone.
It's a real kick in the nutz, that's all there is to it.
Woulda been real nice if he could have stuck around long enough to enjoy the fruits of his labour.