I’ve put today’s column on the blog, because it seems to have touched a nerve. I have received a huge, huge number of e-mails today, and almost all of them are supportive. I think people were battered into silence by the CBC-led mourning-fest, but now feel the need to speak out with common sense:
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Far too much has been written about Jack Layton and Jack Layton’s funeral, so I apologize for one last comment. That in itself makes me one of the “unfeeling,” a new class of modern creature who, like “climate change deniers,” really should disappear. Instead of being judged on the good we may have done, we are now emotionally and morally classified by how much we weep for people we did not know. That the childish reverence shown to Layton was grotesquely inflated is surely self-evident, as was the rudeness and crudeness of Lord Pompous, Stephen Lewis, and his political creed screamed at a captive audience. It was rather like the family bore cornering some poor soul at a social gathering and not allowing them to escape until the tedious lecture was over. Layton was a friend of mine, I liked him, I am sorry for his death, now move on. He was a deeply flawed man and a professional politician. Not always a successful one either, losing several elections at the municipal and federal levels. Indeed, the positive NDP results from the last election came as an enormous surprise to many in the party and to more than a handful of incredulous winning candidates. Can we also please stop this nonsense about his uniting the country. If that were true, why did the country not vote for him? Outside of Quebec, the NDP vote was that of a minor party. The politician Canadians wanted was Stephen Harper, and that drives wealthy socialists like Lewis and his friends completely crazy. A few observations about the funeral itself. How do people called Layton, Lewis and so on always find jobs in the public sector, paid for by tax dollars, often being the same or similar jobs as their fathers? Why do we listen with cosmetic respect to a native leader uttering spiritual banalities that if made by a Christian priest would make us laugh out loud? The answer is the racism of lowered expectations. A wooden bird, a feather and mentioning “dreams” and “healing” are not exactly Thomas Aquinas and C.S. Lewis. On the subject of religion, how interesting it is that people who are otherwise outspokenly atheistic and anti-Christian — and that accounted for many of the Layton acolytes — become religious fundamentalists when a guru dies. We saw the silly attempts to look all deep and supernatural, the closed eyes and the odd hand movements, sometimes from activists I have personally seen mocking and abusing evangelicals and Catholics. We also need to ask just how much this funeral cost, and why the money was not given to good causes. And wonder if a truly humble man would have planned down to the last detail — as we are told he did — such a grand, Hollywood ceremony. In short, we need to be able to ask respectful questions without being condemned and threatened by leftists who a moment earlier had cried on camera and told the world how much they felt the love. This wasn’t about Jack Layton. It was about naked exploitation of a death by political extremists. Doesn’t get much more sordid than that. Enough to make you weep.
Coren’s Comment
Award-winning author and broadcaster Michael Coren shares candid comment on the issues of the day and invites you to respond in kind.
Bravo Michael. I chose not to watch the televised funeral. I admired Layton for his consistency but I disagreed with his politics completely.
I am not surprised that his followers [acolytes?] used this government funded stage to preach their world view. Socialists just can’t hellp themselves when a camera is turned on.
What I found the most unsettling when watching clips on various news channels was the cheering. Who cheers at a funeral? Perhaps that aspect of the event reminded us all that the attendees who did this are immature and do not know how to behave in social situations.
You had the decency to hold off writing this until well after the funeral. I’m impressed. I hope your critics will show the same respect when the bell tolls for you.
While watching your new show I realized I had almost given up on a Canada where views from the right are freely expressed. I am now hoping enough like-minded Canadians — and surely there is hope for a burgeoning movement given SunTV’s ratings — will rally to the cause.
Canada needs to be saved from these so-called progressives whose perversities and banal proclamations are shamelessly paraded in our media every day like a pair of grandpa’s filthy y-fronts.
Michael,
You should refrain from speaking ill of the dead. Let Mr Layton rest in peace.
Naked exploitation of a death by political extremists is terrible. Reminds me of the on again off again blame game after the Norwegian Massacre. Talk about pot calling the kettle black! Do the disparaging remarks about the First Nations ceremony signal a new attitude on the part of Catholics toward aboriginals? For some time it looked like the last couple of Popes were starting over with joint prayer sessions and reconciliation. Mocking them hardly advances that process and displays only arrogance and bigotry but hey, if it brings in ratings, great.
Anybody catch the final tally for donations to the Broadbent think-tank? Surely Saint Jack must have raised millions, if not billions for the cause. Anybody?
Franklin, Michael spoke ill of those who turned Mr. Layton’s funeral into a shameless spectacle.
Aside from stating that Layton’s successes as a politician were limiited, I didn’t see anything unkind in the piece about him. And I hardly think that pointing out a man’s limitations could be equated with speaking ill of him. I think you missed the point of the column altogether.
Excellent article Michael!As you can see from my own article (below) published this week in the Saint John Telegraph Journal I fully agree with your comments.
Reaction of a Lost Society
The outpouring of grief demonstrated at the funeral of the most recent and untimely death of Jack Layton, I believe, epitomizes the vacuum that exists in society today for any supernatural authority.
Death is always a sad reality and difficult to comprehend at times but such adulation that was heaped on the leader of the NDP Party, I felt, was excessive. As one commentator phrased it, “they made Jack Layton a secular saint”.
The greater society today has moved away from our Christian roots, having become mostly secular in their worldviews, endorsing all manner of worship based on anything other than God’s revealed Word found in the Bible. When this happens, god comes in many various forms, even humanistic.
Mr. Layton was a polished Politician who was gifted with an engaging personality that charmed many of those he met but he was a sinful mortal in the eyes of God, just like all the rest of us, requiring a Saviour. Adulation of the type demonstrated at Mr. Layton’s funeral and for any human must be reserved for our Saviour alone, Jesus the Christ.
As the saying goes “The ground is always level at the foot of the cross.”
I watched all 3 hours of the funeral and thought I must be the only person in Canada to harbour a few negative thoughts about the ceremonies. I tried to look at it in a positive way: it was obviously very meaningful to the family and I thought that Jack Layton’s son a daughter spoke very well of their father. It was overall a very good example of our modern, multicultural, inclusive (except for orthodox Christian, Jewish and Muslim clergy) Canadian society, where tolerance is the supreme virtue. But it did seem as if the only person missing (apart from the orthodox etc. etc.) was a one eyed, one armed violin player playing “How great we are.” (Sorry couldn’t resist). I don’t like modern funerals in general, I preferred the old ones where we commended the soul of the dearly departed to God’s mercy.
Jack Layton was an excellant leader of the NDP but not necessarily a good leader for the people of Canada. He was typical leftist who believed in big government, big taxes, politcal correctness and massive nanny state intervention. How fitting that a gay minister gave the sermon. That staged metaphor was more about being pro-gay than pro-God. I’m surprised Obama, Castro and Chavez didn’t show up to say their goodbye’s to Mr.Layton the way our liberal media was carrying on. Lets put Jack’s political policies & ideologies of marxist-socialism into coherent perspective before we start naming high schools, national parks and libraries after the man. RIP Jack.
Re: Funeral Fiasco
Mr Coren; To say that Mr Layton was a friend, then say he was a deeply flawed man says alot about you. Did he know you felt this way about him when he was alive?
Yes the funeral was over the top but you did not have to watch it. I was very disturbed by this comment as Mr Layon is not here to defend himself, what a hypocrite you are, with a friend like you who needs enemies, as for the native blessing you seem to forget that they were here long befor your Catholic religion damn near wiped them out. You should take a long hard look in a mirror at who you call deeply flawed.
D.F.F.
@ Dan Fletcher
First of all, there is nothing wrong in recognizing the flaws of those we call friends. My friends know my flaws and I know about theirs, so what? Coren is not offside here. And there have been more than a few rumors about Jack’s sexuality in the last few years — maybe that’s what he meant.
As for the funeral, it was a political event staged by Layton itself, therefore criticism of it is completely valid. Your statement that “the Catholic religion” harmed the Natives may contain a kernel of truth, but it doesn’t change the fact that the “spiritual” comments made at the funeral by the Native leader were banal and superficial.
“D.F.F.”
Does that mean “Deeply Flawed Fletcher”?
Jack Layton was a pagan period.His funeral held at a music hall not a church? tells it all including a gay protestant minister…….enough said…..
Michael,
Could you please share with us why you think he was “a deeply flawed man”?
I like to know why you feel this way.
I think every decent person would like to let Mr. Layton rest in peace, regardless of their political stripes. Personally, I didn’t find his politics appealing but he certainly was utterly devoted to making Canada a better place, as he saw it. People can disagree about the merits of his ideas, but in his sincerity to try to do good, he was indeed a patriot.
However the crass, disgusting way the NDP used Layton’s memory and even his corpse for political proselytizing and continues to do so necessitates articles like this.
Mr. Coren. Your comments about Layton and his passing say so much more about you than they do about Jack. I guess in your life; it’s all about you. Can’t really see past your nose,can you?
JACK LAYTON is best summarized as having a heart of gold, and a head—of utter, combustable, straw.
There’s a rumour going around and ’round (and I believe it) that NDP party advisors watched “Weekend at Bernies”, several times, in the days leading up to smiling Jack’s death.
That certainly explains the suddenly emerging apostolic “letter” to Canadians, and the ridiculous *state* funeral. It also explains the silly and weepy Canadians who mobbed cameras everywhere with their tears—and who then rushed home to watch themselves on TV.
Sure Jack was a nice guy.
And so is the retarded kid who lives in the cul-de-sac, half way down the street.
Thankfully, neither one of them, will ever be Prime Minister.
For those slamming Michael for his honesty, I say this: “Love is better than anger”……… as is Coke is better than Pepsi, the Leafs are better than the Habs, Celtic is better than Rangers, Ginger is better than Mary Ann, ans so on…..
Never Was an Arrow II
“Thankfully, neither one of them, will ever be Prime Minister.”
News flash: that little retarded kid grew up and is our current PM.
@ Goulet – Dave, spare us your pathetic attempts at humour. Just take your notepad and pen and go stand outside Olivia’s residence and wait for her to emerge and give you her autograph. While you’re with her congratulate her on the media’s failure to remind us, during the interminable Jack Layton “santo subbito” week, of the fact Olivia and Jack once lived in a subsidized housing apartment. It was a scandal then and it’s still scandalous, as is the over-weening public display of grief over the death of a homosexual politician who in his career veered between failure, ineffectuality, and sheer luck.
Soulman,
I’ll spare you my attempts at humour when you spare me your attempts at presumption. I do not disagree with many of the comments here. I am not an NDP supporter and didn’t watch the Funeral.
But if someone is going to use a handicapped child as a set up for a punchline, then turnabout is fair play I’d say.
I understand grief…I even understand how empty most people are in a way that leads to grief whoring as a public spectacle. Personally, I found Jack’s politics appalling in the extreme but I could see the charisma.
No…the most revolting spectacle in the entire affair was that gasbag Stephen Lewis. Try to imagine more undeserved pomposity on any scale, anywhere. Gadhafi? Maybe. He was just the first person who came to mind.
Mr. Coren. I think you may have erred when you called yourself a friend of Mr. Layton. He must be rolling over in his grave at the idea that you could have a friend. You must have a real perverted notion of what friendship means but I’ve see your new show and it’s a perverted concept itself about the model of informative, interesting T.V. so it’s no surprise that you could delude yourself about friendship. I’d be your friend but the backstabbing would kill me.
@Soulman
You call Jack Layton a “homosexual politician”. Care to offer some evidence of this? The two decade love story of Jack and his wife Olivia can be attested to by all who knew them.
Jack Layton was probably a good man and a great leader (of the NDP) not Canada. I guarantee you that in the next federal election in 2015 the NDP will be quickly be demoted back to third party status again and that would have been with or without Jack Layton at the helm. The recent election results were more about the incompetence of the then Liberal leader Iggy and a poorly run campaign machine and the implosion of Gilles Duceppe in Quebec than it was about Jack being a true voice for the people of Canada. He was only a voice for the lazy, criminal element, politically correct classes, anti-American lefties, radical feminists and the homosexual community. Together they make up a very small fraction of Canadian society. Professional protestors & hooligans rarely seem to work for a living, why is that? Because Jack loved government grants, not taxpayers.
@roger I can see coke or ginger but the Leafs? Sorry but the leafs superiority only exist in episodes of Fringe.
I was amazed at the hatred spewed at me for telling the truth about Lewis and Layton. When did Layton get exalted above Muhammed and Jesus?
Lewis fooled the useful idiots for his faux-compassion about AIDS because when it was the millions of non-white/straight/african/females and babies that died from it he stayed mute and it wasn’t a problem….BUT, the moment it was killing white/middle class/gay/males in N.American…THEN it was a crisis. Today it is really a shame that AIDS is now hijacked by the PC Police and given the Label of a “Social Crisis” for all genders, and yet the highest increase and existing cases still show the truth that one group of Males have AIDS and spread it.
People on the NDP side mocked Bush as the moron from Texas and yet he gave $19’000’000’000.00 to African for the AIDS crisis which Clinton and now Obama have yet to do,but let
look at Jack because he almost had a Pro-Shariah Law Palestinian-Canadian ,anti-gay marriage,anti-feminist,pro-Life, female Sunni muslim in an Ottawa seat as an MP and yet they booted out a Christian/Aboriginal/female because she dared to oppose the Party Vote to endorse the Same-Gender ruling for status equal to Marriage.
Lets not elevate Jack to the god status , nor Olivia because she was at a UofT meeting for Galloway and she stood and clapped when he praised the 19 Muslim hijackers that slaughter 24 candians. Yes folks,Galloway asserted that Muslim’s DID do it and that the Palestinian issue caused it from the injustice.
The Reporter for the STAR made no mention of Olivia Chow walking out from disgust to hear someone gloat at the murders of 24 Canadians, no sir…she clapped because her hatred for the west and the USA oozes out and the Leftist yahoos eat it up while making Gods of their leaders .
Even if I posted the STAR article I would get the “Out of context” crap or that Olivia misunderstood the mood and clapped out of respect. She never predicted she would become a MP one day and have to answer for clapping at the murdering of 24 Canadian civilains by 19 muslims as she picks up her MP Check and hops in her Limo to fly back to Toronto by soot-spewing jets for a GREEN rally about saving the Earth as Jack would wants us to do.
My gawd….I can’t even calculate the Carbon-Footprint for jack’s flight from Ottawa to Quebec, Quebec back to Ottawa, then Ottawa to T.O and back to Ottawa and THEN the energy to Creamate him and spread his ashes. WOW. and I thought Al Gore was a snake-Oil sales person with his 5 houses and private jets as he tells me that I’m the problem and must change my ways .
Not to pick on the departed or upset his bereaving friends and family (the one’s who actually knew him and not any photo op phonies) but the reason for all the fanfare is simple; despite the traditional picture of the anti-religious left and the pro-religious right, the political left, especially the far left are very religious. They try to expel traditional organized religion, Christianity especially, from the public square but this is only because they crave a single state religion, though few of them would ever admit it in those terms, especially to themselves. If this is not so, explain the veritable worship of Lennin’s corpse in Soviet Russia, The Cults surrounding Kim Il Sung and Mao, the posthumous deification of Che Guevara and the endless effective piety surrounding various “pivotal” events, such as the inauguration of President Obama and here in Canada, the recent departure of Mr. Layton. The mass pagan festivals of antiquity, apotheosis, triumphs et al, are alive and well in the high holydays imposed on us by the secular left, Earth Day being the most prominent example.
Love is better than hate and winning a majority is better than democracy as robo calls give new meaning to being stabbed in the back. Canada’s prime minister wins a deceptive majority as robo calls give voters directions which put Canadians beloved democracy on speed dial and their privacy under investigation and their votes some where in hell. The prime minister should be under investigation himself and a new election should be called and Jack, may he rest in peace knowing he was the better man.