Layton's Last Letter

[Smallc]

As we can see, everyone has their own interpretation. Yours is just as valid as mine.

The letter itself, especially the part to other cancer patients, nearly brought a tear to my eye. I can't even imagine having to write it. I don't judge him for the content of his final thoughts. It's possible to respect and admire Jack the man, even though you didn't like Jack the politician. I never liked his politics, but this final letter has given me far more insight into the man.

Edited August 24, 2011 by Smallc

[capricorn]

The letter itself, especially the part to other Cancer patients, nearly brought a tear to my eye.

Yes, that part was very touching and many cancer patients will find solace in his words. Yet, it is not unusual for dying patients to leave a message of hope for other sufferers.

I don't judge him for the content of his final thoughts.

But are they really in total Jack Layton's final thoughts? You see, I can't discount the fact it was admitted that NDP president Brian Topp, his chief of staff Anne McGrath and NDP MP Olivia Chow each had a hand in crafting the letter. Given the letter's contents, save the words for cancer patients, the letter seems to me to be primarily a political message and part of a party strategy. I'm not saying there's anything wrong with that just that it is what it is.

It's possible to respect and admire Jack the man, even though you didn't like Jack the politician.

Of course.

[cybercoma]

Now do it without selectively removing parts of what I said.

I figured it was your topic sentence, since it was the first sentence in your paragraph. Maybe I shouldn't assume that everything else followed from that point.

[g_bambino]

Maybe I shouldn't assume that everything else followed from that point.

If you assumed that, then you assumed correctly. Still, your subsequent comment about me "tell[ing] others when they can and can't feel a sense of loss" was totally misdirected. The salient part of what I said, particularly in regards to the retort you gave, was this: "Breaking down and sobbing over a mound of soggy teddy bears and wilting flowers is not the only way one can express upset over the end of a certain individual's life." Nothing in that set down any limits on when one can and cannot feel a sense of loss. It had more to do with the way grief is becoming more commonly expressed: over-dramatised public spectacle. "Grief porn", as another poster so aptly described it.

[cybercoma]

Would you prefer I said, "telling others how they should express their sense of loss"?

[g_bambino]

Would you prefer I said, "telling others how they should express their sense of loss"?

It's a little better, but still not apt, since nobody told anybody how to do anything.