Last Words

Usually when a person passes away, people express their condolences to those that knew them best, and remember happier times together.  When a public figure dies, everything is increased by a hundred fold because grief is universal and can be felt by those who had no discernible connection whatsoever.

It rained today in Vancouver, which wouldn't normally be news, but it seemed fitting as news broke about the death of Jack Layton, leader of the New Democratic Party (NDP).  Putting aside political views, the country came together to mourn Mr. Layton's passing and to spread his final message for all of us.

"To other Canadians who are on journeys to defeat cancer and to live their lives, I say this: please don't be discouraged that my own journey hasn't gone as well as I had hoped.  You must not lose your own hope...You have every reason to be optimistic, determined, and focused on the future...


"To young Canadians...I want to share with you my belief in your power to change this country and this world...I believe in you.  Your energy, your vision, your passion for justice are exactly what this country needs today...


"And finally to all Canadians: Canada is a great country, one of the hopes of the world.  We can be a better one - a country of greater equality, justice, and opportunity...We can offer better futures for our children.  We can do our part to save the world's environment.  We can restore our good name in the world...we can be a better, fairer, more equal country by working together.  Don't let them tell you it can't be done.


"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."


(The full letter can be viewed all over the web, but I took the above excerpts from the NDP website)

Fitting words from a man who just wanted to make Canada a better place for all of us.  Like the other public figures we lost this summer, Jack Layton will be missed, mourned, but not forgotten.  I didn't know Mr. Layton, but tonight I feel a connection with him through the message he left.  It's a sad truth that our words sometimes carry more weight once we're gone, but that doesn't mean we can't make them last beyond our grief. 

Even in his final moments, Jack Layton believed that we can each make a difference in our home and around the world.  Time will tell if we were able to take that message to heart and do something about it. 

Jack Layton, 1950 - 2011