Jack Layton funeral shows the NDP leader's spark won't be extinguished for a very long time
Anyone who saw Jack Layton's funeral—either live or on television—had to came away with a higher regard for the man who led the federal NDP from 2003 to 2011.
I think my favourite line was when Rev. Brent Hawkes said: "If the Olympics can make us proud Canadians, maybe Jack's life can make us better Canadians."
Former Ontario NDP Leader Stephen Lewis also hit all the right notes, highlighting Layton's basic civility.
The closing performance of "Get Together" by Julie Michaels and the Metropolitan Community Church choir was a show-stopper. It left me wondering if Layton's death will energize average Canadians for many years to come and perhaps transform the political landscape.
Judging from the reaction of the audience, Jack's spark won't be extinguished for a very long time.
Comments
4 Comments
Taxpayers R Us
Aug 27, 2011 at 2:37pm
*thumbsup* Charlie, starting watching at 10am :)
Mark Fornataro
Aug 27, 2011 at 4:50pm
The lyrics of Get Together(one of my favorite songs from the 60s, the one big hit of the Youngbloods) nicely summarize Jack's message of love in his last, wondeful letter.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WybIhLJjlTY
Ke Dongshan
Aug 27, 2011 at 6:32pm
I live in Taiwan, and watched the webcast of the funeral at 2am local time. I felt a compelling urge to watch it. It was the best early morning viewing experience of my lifetime.
D. Zaster
Aug 27, 2011 at 6:42pm
I have no doubt Jack was a good guy - but enough, already. Enough hero-worship, enough fawning.
Jack Layton achieved much as a Toronto city councillor and he made the NDP unified political force at the national level. Fair enough. But he didn't change the country. He didn't survive to leave a mark on future policy at the federal level.
He died before he could prove he was a prime minister in waiting. He died before he could propose a set of national policies to deal with Canada's economic and fiscal issues. He died before he could demonstrate whether he had the skill to channel the hopes and ambitions of dozens of nationalist Quebecois NDP MPs.
RIP Jack. But not St. Jack, please.