Monday, August 22, 2011

Jack Layton, 1950-2011

NDP leader, and the leader of the official opposition, Jack Layton, has died after a battle with cancer.

While I strongly disagreed with his progressive ideology, politics must be put aside during a moment such as this.  It cannot be denied that he accomplished a lot during his life.  He was very popular and very likable.  He contrasted starkly with the stereotypical elitist leftist intellectual.  He connected with voters, and his charisma is a factor in the NDP's surge in support in the most recent federal election.  Common descriptions of him are that he had a positive energy and was very determined.

While we may feel contempt for politicians, their deaths remind us that they are people, and are as every bit human as anyone else.  Sometimes, it may be difficult to look past the politics and see politicians as humans, but that ability is a powerful unifying force.  This is a time of national unity as we see Mr. Layton for his noble qualities, of which he had many, and not for his politics.

No comments:

Post a Comment

I will not tolerate irrelevant or inappropriate comments. Any such comments will be deleted. Please do not use sexually explicit language.