I didn’t agree with many of his political views, but nevertheless with all good will I direct you to this:
A letter to Canadians from the Honourable Jack Layton
If you, or anyone you know, is battling cancer, you might like to read the section headed A Few Additional Thoughts. And anyone can take inspiration from the last paragraph.
State Funeral and live coverage Saturday, August 27, 2011, on the CBC of course.
Thanks for posting this, Ricardipus. I admit I shed a few tears when I first read the letter, and then again a few times through the week as I watched the lying in state and the vigils and other responses on TV.
I think it’s a measure of the man that almost every Canadian I know on social media, whatever their political leaning, has blogged, tweeted, posted on Facebook or Google+ about their respect or even affection for Jack Layton. I know many of these people have never voted NDP in their lives. I don’t remember a response to the death of a politician that’s come close to this one – not John Smith, not even Donald Dewar (I lived in his constituency in Glasgow when he died and some people were genuinely upset, but it wasn’t as widespread as this).
It’s been a sad week and a terrible loss for Canada.
I’ll admit to watching the first part of the funeral procession on TV today, although not the whole service/ceremony itself. It was nicely done. Well done Toronto Police, and everyone else involved.
I watched about five minutes as I was packing for my trip before leaving for the airport, started blubbing, and selfishly turned it off so as not to spoil my holiday mood…
I was somewhat amused by the appearance of a jazz combo fronted by saxophonist Richard Underhill, playing Van Morrison’s Into The Mystic. The performance was well done, but I am old enough to remember Mr. Underhill as Demon Rich from The Shuffle Demons. A lunatic but highly entertaining band indeed.
Watch, and be amazed:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZnLjRi_g9o