An open letter to Christie Blatchford

Hey Blatch!

The reason that Layton's death is so upsetting isn't because he's a celebrity we're fawning over. It's because not all of us are Conservatives. In fact, believe it or not, half of us very strongly disagree with what our current PM's regime is doing. The whole reason the NDP were elected in such unprecedented numbers is because we don't like the Conservatives, and the Liberals weren't doing shit to stop them. Jack - yes, I'll call him Jack - eat it - Jack connected with a demographic that wants to see real change, and recognized him as someone who would stand up to Harper and not shy away from calling bullshit. If you don't rightly recall what I'm referring to, please re-watch the federal debates. The death of Jack Layton is exacerbated by the fear that a very important balance will be gone - that there won't be anyone with the same tenacity to oppose Harper and the terrible things that he is doing to this country. If you are unaware of Canada's reputation going to shit in the eyes of the rest of the world, then read a newspaper, please. I would be happy to send you links to some different titles. We lost our seat in the UN security council, we are on par with America for environmental initiatives, we're deliberately exporting poisonous substances abroad - there are many reasons we're not too popular right now. To pretend not to know this is ludicrous.

I never knew Jack Layton personally. I'm not upset because I've lost a friend. It's a political thing. I am chided by family and friends for being 'too big-picture'. But this death isn't a public spectacle for the fun of making a spectacle. This is actually nothing at all like the death of Lady Di or Amy Winehouse. Their deaths, though tragic for some, had little real impact on the lives of those not close to them. Layton's could. This death is mourned because of the very real fear that comes with it, the loss of one who was a light for the very many who do not agree with Conservative politics. And just because you do agree with them does not mean that our grief is less real, or undeserving of respect. I'm absolutely certain that had someone you respected passed, you would not be thinking about what is an appropriate way to honour him/her. You would feel what you feel, because that's the human thing to do.