Jack Layton ... RIP

[Jo]

What I've noticed since Layton's death is that pretty much anyone who respects and loves Canada also respected Layton, because he truly loved Canada.

People who do not hold in high esteem the grossly overstated emotional reactions to Layton's death by the masses also respect and love Canada and, in large part, had some reasonable amount of respect for Layton. I'm pretty far left-wing, and I liked what Layton achieved, I think he was a reasonably good politican. But would I light a candle in my living room window for him? No. Would I weep and wail in public for him? No. Would I write rabid comments here or elsewhere against anybody who isn't in deep mourning over his death? No. Far too many people jump to sanctify any public figure who dies.

[Mr. Personality]

What I've noticed since Layton's death is that pretty much anyone who respects and loves Canada also respected Layton, because he truly loved Canada.

People who do not hold in high esteem the grossly overstated emotional reactions to Layton's death by the masses also respect and love Canada and, in large part, had some reasonable amount of respect for Layton. I'm pretty far left-wing, and I liked what Layton achieved, I think he was a reasonably good politican. But would I light a candle in my living room window for him? No. Would I weep and wail in public for him? No. Would I write rabid comments here or elsewhere against anybody who isn't in deep mourning over his death? No. Far too many people jump to sanctify any public figure who dies.

That's not what I'm talking about, please don't misunderstand me. I suppose if I had to put myself into the political spectrum, it's be centerist leaning left. With that said, I can't stand the NDP but at the same time, Layton was the only one in the last election I would have chosen as the PM.
I'm not lighting any candles or weeping, I'm also not saying anyone who doesn't didn't respect Layton. I'm saying the sentence I'm hearing most about this is, "I didn't like him or his party, but I respected him. He loved this country as much or more than anyone."

[Jo]

I'm saying the sentence I'm hearing most about this is, "I didn't like him or his party, but I respected him. He loved this country as much or more than anyone."

Yes, I think this is true. I think it is the over-the-top reaction (the weeping and the wailing, the candles, the vicious stabs against anybody who disagrees) is what is getting to a lot of people.

[Mr. Personality]

I'm saying the sentence I'm hearing most about this is, "I didn't like him or his party, but I respected him. He loved this country as much or more than anyone."

Yes, I think this is true. I think it is the over-the-top reaction (the weeping and the wailing, the candles, the vicious stabs against anybody who disagrees) is what is getting to a lot of people.

And they end up taking it out on the man himself, or at least, the memory thereof.
I really think he did deserve a state funeral. If others want to weep and gnash their teeth, what does it hurt you?

The people who seem to be speaking against it mostly seem to be conservative right-wing folk who are mad the NDP is getting screen time.

If Harper had passed away when he was leading the opposition, this exact conversation would be going on, but those against the state funeral would be for it and vice versa.

[Jo]

Most likely it would be the same, since it is the way things are done now. As for whether it hurts a person to have others weep and wail about it, it doesn't, of course. However, peopledo have a right to look on a societal trend and think it wrong, and to speak out about it.

I really don't think many are vilifying Layton as a reaction to the outpouring of 'grief', although clearly some will, and do.

*edited to add: But there would be no reasonable argument against a state funeral for Harper, as he is the prime minister.

[logicalview]

The people who seem to be speaking against it mostly seem to be conservative right-wing folk who are mad the NDP is getting screen time.

Maybe some, but others know that Jack (Olivia) are opportunists, they rode parasite. His grande finale, paid for by the taxpayers doesn't sit well with those who believe that he just wasn't that great, and the offering was designed more to placate his followers suffering from teddy bear syndrome.

[Mr. Personality]

*edited to add: But there would be no reasonable argument against a state funeral for Harper, as he is the prime minister.

Is there a reasonable argument against calling him "an eminent Canadian"? If not, who would qualify as an eminent Canadian?
Also, I did say "If Harper had passed away when he was leading the opposition". Regardless of which party it is, any seat-holding leader of the opposition party is deserving of a state funeral.

The people who seem to be speaking against it mostly seem to be conservative right-wing folk who are mad the NDP is getting screen time.

Maybe some, but others know that Jack (Olivia) are opportunists, they rode parasite. His grande finale, paid for by the taxpayers doesn't sit well with those who believe that he just wasn't that great, and the offering was designed more to placate his followers suffering from teddy bear syndrome.

I don't think Jack was that great a politician. I didn't agree with a lot of his ideas and, while he was the party leader who I honestly though was the best person of the bunch, the party he led is a complete joke.

I don't doubt Harper offered the funeral for that reason, and he might be right, but that doesn't say anything about Layton. It speaks to the NDP supporters as well as Harper himself. The reaction from those who don't think as highly of Layton speaks a lot about them. Not only are they contributing to the funeral becoming a sideshow, they're also (if they are right about the "opportunistic " couple) feeding the beast, so to speak. You have the right to voice your opinions and I won't ever say otherwise. I just wonder, if Jack (Olivia) is such an opportunistic attention-seeker, why keep giving him(her) attention?

Also, show me a politician who isn't opportunistic and I'll show you a politician who died 5 minutes ago.

[RR24K]

I really don't get whats the big deal so PM Harper made a choice to honour Jack Layton, just that simple. No different from Quebec giving Maurice Richard a Provincial state funeral in 2000.

They did not agree with each other on political issues, I do believe they did respected each other and out of that respect came this last act Stephen could do honour a fellow politician.

[Bestside]

I'm saying the sentence I'm hearing most about this is, "I didn't like him or his party, but I respected him. He loved this country as much or more than anyone."

Yes, I think this is true. I think it is the over-the-top reaction (the weeping and the wailing, the candles, the vicious stabs against anybody who disagrees) is what is getting to a lot of people.

I never noticed over-the-top except perhaps CBC's Evan Solomon....

Of course a few girls shed tears when the goldfish dies...

Quite normal reactions except for some on blogs... nailing him to the cross ... but not in a good way
Actually no surprise there either...

[The Green Barbarian]

I haven't seen or heard anything from Elizabeth May. Has anyone else heard or seen her?

No, but I was just thinking that I really don't care what she thinks about Jack Layton. Or pretty much anything else for that matter.

[Queen K]

Jack is looking up

I'm not sure if you know what dead means, he's not feeling, looking, smelling, tasting, hearing....... Okay.

Funny, but in some cultures it is believed that people's spirits stay around for a few days before going on into the next realm, whatever that may be.

And Logicalview, I believe that in western culture, if we believe he went up to heaven, then he's looking down. From "up" would imply the "other" place people go.

[oneh2obabe]

Excerpt from article:

Addressing the media in Yellowknife earlier Thursday, Prime Minister Stephen Harper said he wasn’t surprised by the public tribute to Layton in the past few days.

“Part of the reason I declared this to be a state funeral was my belief that Mr. Layton is an important political figure — obviously very well known and liked, widely liked, by the Canadian people, including by people who did not vote for him,” he said. “That’s been my view all along.”

Harper cut short his trip to the North so he and his wife Laureen can be in Toronto for Layton’s funeral.

http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/arti ... rning?bn=1

[Rwede]

I haven't seen or heard anything from Elizabeth May. Has anyone else heard or seen her?

No, but I was just thinking that I really don't care what she thinks about Jack Layton. Or pretty much anything else for that matter.

I expect her to condemn the greenhouse gases from the hearse for causing the deaths of 600 polar bears.

[Jo]

Back on topic.

[Mr. Personality]

Jack is looking up

I'm not sure if you know what dead means, he's not feeling, looking, smelling, tasting, hearing....... Okay.

Funny, but in some cultures it is believed that people's spirits stay around for a few days before going on into the next realm, whatever that may be.

And Logicalview, I believe that in western culture, if we believe he went up to heaven, then he's looking down. From "up" would imply the "other" place people go.

I wouldn't bother.
Layton died for publicity, you know...