Manifesto for Social Democracy

Nathan Phillips Square

Jack Layton, leader of the NDP was a man wreaked with optimism, and compassion; an idealist about the future of Canada. Yesterday I watched the funeral ceremony of Mr. Layton; a tribute that brought me to tears. His vision of an inclusive Canada was founded on his realization of our basic humanity and the belief of social justice. Whether you had faith in his political platform or not, I hope that people with different political creeds can at least acknowledge that he was a respectable man who just wanted to make Canada a better place. We need leaders who inspire us to do better because there is never not a time for improvement, justice and compassion.

People who are open to being inspired, and people who are not predisposed to cynicism will understand the feats of Jack Layton. I too am an idealist; I see and hope for a better world and a better me. Idealists are sometimes negatively portrayed as hopemongers who spend more time viewing reality as it should be rather than what it is. But my beliefs are on the premise that we have to keep on acting, moving, and changing in a positive way if we want to make the world a better place because it can be that way. However, just having beliefs soaked in sentimentalism and love is not enough when we want to create a new social reality. For more on the subject, read An Introduction to Power and Love: A Theory and Practice of Social Change as it demonstrates the importance of collective creation that utilizes both power and love. This book was given to me by a friend after Vancouver's riots. A beautiful quote that I pulled out of the book belongs to Martin Luther King Jr. - "Power without love is reckless and abusive, and love without power is sentimental and anemic".

In the light of the day, it is still possible to believe in the essential goodness of human nature. I cannot recall another time when I've seen so many Canadians moved by a loss of a public figure, let alone a political one. To see these Canadians remember and celebrate the life of a man who wanted social justice, gives me hope that there are still people who have a love for life, a love for people, and a love for their country. This year, whether it has been after Vancouver's riots or the death of Jack Layton, I find comfort that there are fellow Canadians that I can stand with in our hope for a better tomorrow. "Dream a dream that is longer than a lifetime"

Stephen Lewis Eulogy

Jack Layton State Funeral Tribute

Steven Page - Hallelujah

I was pleasantly impressed by Steven Page's rendition of 'Hallelujah", a personal favourite of mine. The setting to which I enjoyed this was quite fitting as I watched it with people I admire, on the same TV and in the same room where we once debated if Jeff Buckley or KD Lang's version is better (IMO, Jeff Buckley is still the remarkable winner).

Reverend Brent Hawkes Eulogy

Reverend Brent Hawkes - "When all of the talking is done, when all of the tributes are done, when the chalk is washed on the concrete at City Hall, when our crying finally stops, the legacy of Jack Layton will not be in how much power you have, it will be in how all of us exercise our personal power for a better world. It will be in our actions and how we take those actions together. Yes, bring your passion but also bring your compassion. Yes, bring your agendas of what you want to accomplish, but also bring a commitment about how we can accomplish that together. Yes, bring your seriousness about serious issues but also have fun – sing together and pick up a harmonica once in a while." 


Yours,

P. xo.