When Jack Layton fell sick and later, passed away, I was quite circumspect because much of my writing on him had been critical (given I had higher expectations for him than many others), and I thought it would be wrong – I know it would bother me – to have one of my apparent critics turn around and start praising me when I fell sick (not against it, just understanding the dynamic). I knew that any who took an interest and knew how to read me would know how much I cared about the NDP and his leadership. Whence my passion for the subject – this blog is called “Eugene Forsey Liberal”, after all. I’ve noted before that having grown up in the CCF-NDP tradition, I have higher expectations for the NDP than others, and it gives me fits, unlike the others – I’m a Liberal now.
Tonight, on the anniversary, I just want to note his closing words, like so many before me. It is the simplest and least obtrusive way to pay tribute to a man I admired so much that he drove me to fits of irritation, given my expectations for him. I know the timing may seem blockheaded to some. But it is not. I never wrote much at the time, out of, in my logic, respect. So, for Mr. Layton, in genuine respect:
“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.”
pierreeugeneforseytrudeaugreenliberaldemocrat 