[Oe List ...] Canada in Mourning

[Jeanette Stanfield]

Hi Marge, 
You might like to see the wonderful poem Maya Angelou wrote and read today to celebrate Martin Luther King Memorial
in Washington DC.  Go to www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/08/26/maya-angelous-abundant-hope

Peace,

Jeanette


On 2011-08-27, at 12:43 PM, Marge Philbrook wrote:

> Thanks, Jeanette.  It is so seldom that we hear tributes in the U.S.
> Mostly we hear grips and complaints and "oh,ain't it awful."
> Hopefully we can begin to change the U.S. climate to begin to publicly
> honor people like Jack Layton. Pray for us.  Marge
> 
> On Fri, Aug 26, 2011 at 1:35 PM, Jeanette Stanfield
> <jstanfield at ica-associates.ca> wrote:
>> Dear Colleagues,
>> 
>> I thought you might wish to know what is happening in Canada this week.  The Canadian flag is flying
>> at half mast.  A casket has been viewed by thousands of people in Ottawa and beginning today
>> in Toronto.  A state funeral will be held tomorrow in Toronto where most of the dignitaries of Canada
>> and many local people will be present.  The square outside city hall is covered with tributes on its cement walls and floors, all done
>> in coloured chalk.  The person is Jack Layton, the people's politician if there ever was one. He fought for social justice throughout
>> his life time and took on many "risky" issues other politicians were afraid to touch.  Never a mayor of Toronto but well loved here
>> never a prime minister of Canada but well respected across the country.  I think it is the first time that an opposition leader who has
>> not been prime minister will have a state funeral.
>> 
>> He changed the landscape of politics in Canada just last spring when he became the leader of the opposition.  Over a 10 year
>> period under his leadership his party the National Democratic Party grew from relative federal obscurity to a major Federal party.
>> The biggest change in last spring's election happened when Jack captured the dreams and aspirations of many people in Quebec
>> and a huge number of voters in Quebec voted  NDP  rather than for candidates of the separatist party.  Suddenly Quebec had become
>> part of the larger Canadian conversation in a whole new way.
>> 
>> During the campaign, Jack was in remission from cancer and  recovering from hip surgery but the whole time he remained cheerful,
>> optimistic and determined.  Some people voted for the NDP not  perhaps because they were in total agreement policy wise but
>> because of the integrity of Jack Latham.  At the end of July, a gaunt whispering Jack announced that he had a second unnamed cancer.
>> 
>> I spent two hours today reading the tributes at City Hall and watching the people lining up for hours to pay their respects.  I saw young and
>> old of all cultures there in the square just quietly being present .  Jack gave people and young people in particular hope and determination to
>> create a just and loving world for everyone. He wrote a letter of encouragement to all Canadians and to the young people in particular just a
>> few days before he died.   I experienced awe in the heart of Toronto today.  Tomorrow that will overflow across the country.
>> 
>> If you wish to know more about Layton and the ceremonies happening, go to cbc news:  www.cbc.ca.
>> 
>> Peace,
>> 
>> Jeanette Stanfield
>> _______________________________________________
>> OE mailing list
>> OE at wedgeblade.net
>> http://wedgeblade.net/mailman/listinfo/oe_wedgeblade.net
>> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> OE mailing list
> OE at wedgeblade.net
> http://wedgeblade.net/mailman/listinfo/oe_wedgeblade.net
>