Obit: Jack Layton

Subject: Obit: Jack Layton
From: Beer
Date: 22 Aug 11 - 08:58 AM

A good man has just passed away. A sad day for Canadians and those who new him personally.
Sympathies to his wife.
Adrien

Subject: RE: Obit: Jack Layton
From: Beer
Date: 22 Aug 11 - 09:01 AM

http://www.edmontonjournal.com/news/Jack+Layton+dies/5288302/story.html

ad.

Subject: RE: Obit: Jack Layton
From: gnu
Date: 22 Aug 11 - 11:27 AM

Nothing. Simple mistake.

"Good man" indeed. RIP and thanks Jack.

Subject: RE: Obit: Jack Layton
From: bobad
Date: 22 Aug 11 - 11:35 AM

Canada has lost a good son -- it is a poorer place today. RIP Jack.

Subject: RE: Obit: Jack Layton
From: Beer
Date: 22 Aug 11 - 11:48 AM

GUEST.
In following the rules I went to where you post the threads and clicked the Obit section then posted my comments. I agree it has nothing to do with music and should be below the line. Maybe there should be a distinction when posting an obit. One for music and one for the BS section. If a clone would like to relocate it I certainly don't have a problem with it.
Ad.

Subject: RE: Obit: Jack Layton
From: GUEST,999
Date: 22 Aug 11 - 12:05 PM

I just emailed each of you guys. Then, saw the thread.

Sad indeed.

Subject: RE: Obit: Jack Layton
From: gnu
Date: 22 Aug 11 - 01:22 PM

He did a hell of job(s). Glad he saw the NDP do so well in the last election.

Subject: RE: Obit: Jack Layton
From: PHJim
Date: 22 Aug 11 - 01:32 PM

Jack showed us that the term "honest politician" does not have to be an oxymoron.
Condolences to Olivia and the rest of his family.

Subject: RE: Obit: Jack Layton
From: GUEST,bankley
Date: 22 Aug 11 - 02:07 PM

I guess he's with Tommy Douglas now....
a sad day, an unforgiving disease

Subject: RE: Obit: Jack Layton
From: bobad
Date: 22 Aug 11 - 02:47 PM

Jack Layton's last letter to Canadians

August 20, 2011
Toronto, Ontario

Dear Friends,

Tens of thousands of Canadians have written to me in recent weeks to wish me well. I want to thank each and every one of you for your thoughtful, inspiring and often beautiful notes, cards and gifts. Your spirit and love have lit up my home, my spirit, and my determination.

Unfortunately my treatment has not worked out as I hoped. So I am giving this letter to my partner Olivia to share with you in the circumstance in which I cannot continue.

I recommend that Hull-Aylmer MP Nycole Turmel continue her work as our interim leader until a permanent successor is elected.

I recommend the party hold a leadership vote as early as possible in the New Year, on approximately the same timelines as in 2003, so that our new leader has ample time to reconsolidate our team, renew our party and our program, and move forward towards the next election.

A few additional thoughts:

To other Canadians who are on journeys to defeat cancer and to live their lives, I say this: please don't be discouraged that my own journey hasn't gone as well as I had hoped. You must not lose your own hope. Treatments and therapies have never been better in the face of this disease. You have every reason to be optimistic, determined, and focused on the future. My only other advice is to cherish every moment with those you love at every stage of your journey, as I have done this summer.

To the members of my party: we've done remarkable things together in the past eight years. It has been a privilege to lead the New Democratic Party and I am most grateful for your confidence, your support, and the endless hours of volunteer commitment you have devoted to our cause. There will be those who will try to persuade you to give up our cause. But that cause is much bigger than any one leader. Answer them by recommitting with energy and determination to our work. Remember our proud history of social justice, universal health care, public pensions and making sure no one is left behind. Let's continue to move forward. Let's demonstrate in everything we do in the four years before us that we are ready to serve our beloved Canada as its next government.

To the members of our parliamentary caucus: I have been privileged to work with each and every one of you. Our caucus meetings were always the highlight of my week. It has been my role to ask a great deal from you. And now I am going to do so again. Canadians will be closely watching you in the months to come. Colleagues, I know you will make the tens of thousands of members of our party proud of you by demonstrating the same seamless teamwork and solidarity that has earned us the confidence of millions of Canadians in the recent election.

To my fellow Quebecers: On May 2nd, you made an historic decision. You decided that the way to replace Canada's Conservative federal government with something better was by working together in partnership with progressive-minded Canadians across the country. You made the right decision then; it is still the right decision today; and it will be the right decision right through to the next election, when we will succeed, together. You have elected a superb team of New Democrats to Parliament. They are going to be doing remarkable things in the years to come to make this country better for us all.

To young Canadians: All my life I have worked to make things better. Hope and optimism have defined my political career, and I continue to be hopeful and optimistic about Canada. Young people have been a great source of inspiration for me. I have met and talked with so many of you about your dreams, your frustrations, and your ideas for change. More and more, you are engaging in politics because you want to change things for the better. Many of you have placed your trust in our party. As my time in political life draws to a close I want to share with you my belief in your power to change this country and this world. There are great challenges before you, from the overwhelming nature of climate change to the unfairness of an economy that excludes so many from our collective wealth, and the changes necessary to build a more inclusive and generous Canada. I believe in you. Your energy, your vision, your passion for justice are exactly what this country needs today. You need to be at the heart of our economy, our political life, and our plans for the present and the future.

And finally, to all Canadians: Canada is a great country, one of the hopes of the world. We can be a better one – a country of greater equality, justice, and opportunity. We can build a prosperous economy and a society that shares its benefits more fairly. We can look after our seniors. We can offer better futures for our children. We can do our part to save the world's environment. We can restore our good name in the world. We can do all of these things because we finally have a party system at the national level where there are real choices; where your vote matters; where working for change can actually bring about change. In the months and years to come, New Democrats will put a compelling new alternative to you. My colleagues in our party are an impressive, committed team. Give them a careful hearing; consider the alternatives; and consider that we can be a better, fairer, more equal country by working together. Don't let them tell you it can't be done.

My friends, love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we'll change the world.

All my very best,

Jack Layton

Subject: RE: Obit: Jack Layton
From: gnu
Date: 22 Aug 11 - 02:54 PM

sniff

Subject: RE: Obit: Jack Layton
From: Beer
Date: 22 Aug 11 - 03:42 PM

Thanks Bob for posting this letter.

Subject: RE: Obit: Jack Layton
From: Ed T
Date: 22 Aug 11 - 04:47 PM

Regardless of your political views, it would be difficult not to like and respect this man for his dedication to his cause (one shared by many other Canadians, including me) and hfor is political accomplishments.

I have always noted that, IMO,he always spoke form a positive perspective, and looked for compromise, which is a good political trait. He always had a smile, seemed eager to talk with people and was a sharp dresser. I saw him at very close range in the Ottawa airport a few years ago, and he did have a "star" quality about him, and alot of charisma.

He certainly put a huge effort forward during the last election, when he was clearly in pain and fighting a huge physical battle.

I was shocked to see how the disease had progressed at the announcement when he stepped down.

A huge loss for Canada, especially at this time, indeed.

RIP.

Subject: RE: Obit: Jack Layton
From: Charmion
Date: 22 Aug 11 - 06:07 PM

Smilin' Jack. I miss him already -- and I don't even vote NDP. I used to see him around downtown, not a big guy, not demanding or pushy or loud, but wherever he sat was the head of the table.

Subject: RE: Obit: Jack Layton
From: ragdall
Date: 22 Aug 11 - 06:29 PM

Jack Layton's death is a great loss for our country. It's good that he lived to see his party's triumphant success. How sad that we'll never see what he could have made from it.   

Condolences to Olivia, the rest of his family and all who loved him.


rags

Subject: RE: Obit: Jack Layton
From: Charley Noble
Date: 22 Aug 11 - 08:35 PM

My condolences to all.

Another good man done gone.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Obit: Jack Layton
From: Cluin
Date: 22 Aug 11 - 09:21 PM

Jack fought the good fight. Right to the end. Rest in peace, sir.

Subject: RE: Obit: Jack Layton
From: ragdall
Date: 22 Aug 11 - 09:47 PM

There is an excellent video about Jack Layton here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=csvWQdxqh_Q

rags

Subject: RE: Obit: Jack Layton
From: maeve
Date: 23 Aug 11 - 09:46 PM

Words in chalk, here:http://www.cbc.ca/news/interactives/layton-wall/

Subject: RE: Obit: Jack Layton
From: Crowhugger
Date: 23 Aug 11 - 10:01 PM

Such an immense loss for Canada. It's too soon to say farewell to this tireless, honourable politician. A rare sort of person, yes always the head of the table, what a great way to put it. Godspeed to you, Jack Layton.