I just read Christie Blatchford’s column on Jack Layton.
I know there’s always room for a difference of opinion, but this one comes across as a little too dark.
The subtle jabs against the media, Layton, and the NDP, strike me as someone who has a bit of an axe to grind.
Not that she should shed tears for someone she obviously cares little about, but she could at least recognize the public sentiment.
Layton was no saint, but it’s only natural for a swell of public grief when someone is taken suddenly, particularly at the pinnacle of his career. He was more popular now than he had ever been; to suggest that he wouldn’t garner such attention is naïve.
This is a politician we’re talking about. Not exactly a rock star. It can be tough for a politician to get a handshake in a crowd, let alone have good things said about him postmortem.
The attention he has received shows he made a difference. While at once a shrewd politician, he could also show compassion. Few politicians have written a book on homelessness. This was not missed on the public. While not perfect, he should be credited for at least trying to make society a better place.
The letter he “allegedly” penned aimed to inspire. It had a political point, like in everything he did. It was needed – for many Canadians, Layton’s death means the death of a political alternative. His shoes won’t be easily filled.
The public “spectacle” will end, much to the relief of certain people. It may take a week of watching American news to avoid it, but it will end.
For those who placed hope in Layton and his movement, the mourning is just beginning.
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