Quote:
Originally Posted by RougeUnderoos
Usually when someone is "working a political angle", they are doing it with some sort of personal benefit in mind. This guy knew he was dying and knew he wasn't going to gain anything. He asked people to continue working towards something he believed in after he died.
The bashers in this thread sound like ideologues in the vein of Rush Limbaugh.
You didn't like him. We get it.
|
Layton's personal angle was to be remembered and beloved. He probably had visions of the NDP rising to power and changing Canada for the better. Perhaps his letter would rally the troops to finish the job and he would be immortalized as what inspired them. Maybe he invisioned "Jack" tea shirts replacing "Che" tea shirts in popularity.
I don't begrudge him his letter. Nothing wrong with dying wishes. I just don't see many folks rising to the leadership of a party without convincing themselves that their best interests are the Party's best interests. Jack Layton never appeared to me to be a humble man. He was what he was.
I have no problem with Harper giving Layton a State funeral. There are enough Canadians on side to warrent it and after all funerals are for the living; not the dead. If millions of Canadian's want Layton honoured then by all means honour him.