#8. A Love Letter to Canadians

My favourite part of the letter is the last part... "...love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than dispair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we'll change the world." I think this quote is INCREDIBLE! It should jump off the page and smack everyone reading that letter right in the face! Those are three qualities that everyone needs in order to live a successfull and happy life! I also really appreciate that Jack expressed his appreciation for the younger generation. The youth. it was refreashing to read something about how he understands that we need to be in the centre of things. We need to stop hoping that the adults will just take care of everything for us. We need to take our own actions to ensure that we have a bright future. One thing that I also admire about the letter from a political standpoint (and I don't mean to be disrespectful) is that it is a very well-worded letter in throwing numerous pitches for the NDP party. He lists everything that is great about Canada, what we can do to improve it, and then BAM basically suggests that by voting for the NDP party, you will be helping this to be done! I'm not saying that Jack Layton didn't do amazing things with his party while he was leading them, sometimes it is just frusterating that everyone is suddenly a huge Jack Layton fan because of his death. I totally respect the man, I just feel like there is a false sense of appreciation by people. Like when Michael Jackson died, suddenly EVERYONE wanted his music to be played around the clock. However, I did like how inspirational the letter was. This is extremely important to me, especially since I did have my 18th birthday in May and I am now a registered voter, I will be voting in the upcoming election. I will take Jack's advice and give careful hearing and consider all alternatives before I make my decision. I think Jack's death was a tragedy. I think that he was did show incredible leadership skills and there is no doubt he would have brought even more positive change to his party.