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[EnderD_503]

Originally Posted by betenoire

Stupidest thing I've ever heard of. God, I hate Rob Ford.

(And yes, I have been following this closely)

A big part of Ford's motivation in this is his dislike for our community. But you know what? He should be leaning close and kissing Our Queer Asses considering the amount of money the city makes during Pride Weeks. I mean look at all of the out-of-towners who shack up in Toronto hotels and eat at Toronto restaurants and spend their money in Toronto shops and drink in Toronto bars during Pride week! The tourism revenue around Pride is fucking HUGE and he OWES us.

(By the way, colour me sad that I won't be able to make it back home for Pride this year. I just started a new job and I'm not able to take any vacation days for 6 months. BOO!)

Boo, indeed! That sucks hard that you can't make Pride this year!

I agree, he should be supporting Pride if he gives a shit about bringing money into the city and helping local businesses. He goes on with his "champion of the taxpayer" facade claiming he won't "waste our money" on a parade that supposedly supports a "hate group" (despite that the city's executive council ruled otherwise...), yet if he were really such a "champion" he would realise that the money Pride makes for the city outdoes the funding it receives by leaps and bounds. Either his hatred for our community is so strong that even his greedy ass won't support a festival that is good for the city financially just because he hates queers, or he and his cronies are so clueless on finances that they just don't get it. It could be either one, really, given the financial fiasco that has been "Ford Nation" since he got in.

[foxyshaman]

I did not know that was going on. We had huge opposition with our previous mayor, he could barely say Gay, let alone put any city monies towards Pride activities. The new mayor however loves Pride and heck even goes in the parade. I am heading off tonite for the Queer Film Festival. Which I always enjoy. And then June 10 is our official kick off.

[betenoire]

Originally Posted by EnderD_503

Boo, indeed! That sucks hard that you can't make Pride this year!

2011 has been a real bust for me. I haven't been back home since early January, I just haven't had the time (I need at least 3 days off in a row to make it worth my while, since the train ride is like a 5 hour fiasco.)

Although, to be perfectly honest I don't really enjoy Pride. I do like the Dyke March on Saturday, but that's about it. It woulda been nice to see my sister (and parents) and friends sooner rather than later, though - and Pride is always a really good excuse for me to go home. Next year!

How many more years of Ford do we have? And can we trust the suburbs to not act stupid next election?

[betenoire]

A letter to Canadians from the Honourable Jack Layton

August 20, 2011
Toronto, Ontario

Dear Friends,

Tens of thousands of Canadians have written to me in recent weeks to wish me well. I want to thank each and every one of you for your thoughtful, inspiring and often beautiful notes, cards and gifts. Your spirit and love have lit up my home, my spirit, and my determination.

Unfortunately my treatment has not worked out as I hoped. So I am giving this letter to my partner Olivia to share with you in the circumstance in which I cannot continue.

I recommend that Hull-Aylmer MP Nycole Turmel continue her work as our interim leader until a permanent successor is elected.

I recommend the party hold a leadership vote as early as possible in the New Year, on approximately the same timelines as in 2003, so that our new leader has ample time to reconsolidate our team, renew our party and our program, and move forward towards the next election.

A few additional thoughts:

To other Canadians who are on journeys to defeat cancer and to live their lives, I say this: please don’t be discouraged that my own journey hasn’t gone as well as I had hoped. You must not lose your own hope. Treatments and therapies have never been better in the face of this disease. You have every reason to be optimistic, determined, and focused on the future. My only other advice is to cherish every moment with those you love at every stage of your journey, as I have done this summer.

To the members of my party: we’ve done remarkable things together in the past eight years. It has been a privilege to lead the New Democratic Party and I am most grateful for your confidence, your support, and the endless hours of volunteer commitment you have devoted to our cause. There will be those who will try to persuade you to give up our cause. But that cause is much bigger than any one leader. Answer them by recommitting with energy and determination to our work. Remember our proud history of social justice, universal health care, public pensions and making sure no one is left behind. Let’s continue to move forward. Let’s demonstrate in everything we do in the four years before us that we are ready to serve our beloved Canada as its next government.

To the members of our parliamentary caucus: I have been privileged to work with each and every one of you. Our caucus meetings were always the highlight of my week. It has been my role to ask a great deal from you. And now I am going to do so again. Canadians will be closely watching you in the months to come. Colleagues, I know you will make the tens of thousands of members of our party proud of you by demonstrating the same seamless teamwork and solidarity that has earned us the confidence of millions of Canadians in the recent election.

To my fellow Quebecers: On May 2nd, you made an historic decision. You decided that the way to replace Canada’s Conservative federal government with something better was by working together in partnership with progressive-minded Canadians across the country. You made the right decision then; it is still the right decision today; and it will be the right decision right through to the next election, when we will succeed, together. You have elected a superb team of New Democrats to Parliament. They are going to be doing remarkable things in the years to come to make this country better for us all.

To young Canadians: All my life I have worked to make things better. Hope and optimism have defined my political career, and I continue to be hopeful and optimistic about Canada. Young people have been a great source of inspiration for me. I have met and talked with so many of you about your dreams, your frustrations, and your ideas for change. More and more, you are engaging in politics because you want to change things for the better. Many of you have placed your trust in our party. As my time in political life draws to a close I want to share with you my belief in your power to change this country and this world. There are great challenges before you, from the overwhelming nature of climate change to the unfairness of an economy that excludes so many from our collective wealth, and the changes necessary to build a more inclusive and generous Canada. I believe in you. Your energy, your vision, your passion for justice are exactly what this country needs today. You need to be at the heart of our economy, our political life, and our plans for the present and the future.

And finally, to all Canadians: Canada is a great country, one of the hopes of the world. We can be a better one – a country of greater equality, justice, and opportunity. We can build a prosperous economy and a society that shares its benefits more fairly. We can look after our seniors. We can offer better futures for our children. We can do our part to save the world’s environment. We can restore our good name in the world. We can do all of these things because we finally have a party system at the national level where there are real choices; where your vote matters; where working for change can actually bring about change. In the months and years to come, New Democrats will put a compelling new alternative to you. My colleagues in our party are an impressive, committed team. Give them a careful hearing; consider the alternatives; and consider that we can be a better, fairer, more equal country by working together. Don’t let them tell you it can’t be done.

My friends, love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we’ll change the world.

All my very best,
Jack Layton.

[imperfect_cupcake]

that made me sad yesterday when my mom told me.


My father in law died of cancer three weeks ago. He told us ever since the facist Geert Wilders got into power in the netherlands, that if he came down with a terminal disease, he'd kill the fucker on his way out. When he became ill he said "the shittiest thing is now that I do have a terminal illness I'm far too sick and weak to kill Wilders..." lol I did love my Father-in-law a lot

One of the things I did think when my mom told me about layton was "too bad he didn't take Harper with him on the way out..."

But I'm not a very nice person.

[betenoire]

Originally Posted by honeybarbara

that made me sad yesterday when my mom told me.


My father in law died of cancer three weeks ago. He told us ever since the facist Geert Wilders got into power in the netherlands, that if he came down with a terminal disease, he'd kill the fucker on his way out. When he became ill he said "the shittiest thing is now that I do have a terminal illness I'm far too sick and weak to kill Wilders..." lol I did love my Father-in-law a lot

One of the things I did think when my mom told me about layton was "too bad he didn't take Harper with him on the way out..."

But I'm not a very nice person.

Lol, I guess that just wasn't Jack's style.

And really, I would hate to see Harper martyred. Ick. The news coverage would be so annoying.

I hope the NDP can come up with a leader who is as....likeable as Jack.

(It's so embarrassing that I've bawled like a baby on several occasions since finding out that he died. He had something that Canadian politics needed and it hurts me that we don't have that thing/him any more. Now what?)

[imperfect_cupcake]

I agree. I've been an NDPer for a very long time (federally. I did vote socialist party but they don't run federally) and for a while I was despondent with what they had done. But I understand Layton had been doing very good things and frankly I think he would have taken the next election. I sincerely hope they come up with someone just as good. I am quite sad about his exit. My mom, who works for an NDP MP was beside herself.

I still wish that canada would have word with itself and get rid of harper before I come home. Honestly. I leave and the country falls to shit. Next thing you know, they'll be asking Van Der Zalm for advice on how to run a province or sumthin. Oh. wait....

CRAZY STUPID



LYING BASTARD

and being both crazy and a bastard, I know what I'm talking about.

[betenoire]

Originally Posted by honeybarbara

Honestly. I leave and the country falls to shit.

Thanks bunches.

I agree. I think that the NDP would have had a good shot of taking the next federal election if he had lived another four years to do so. We'll see who they come up with.

I've also always voted NDP, aside from once when I lived in a riding that was real close between the Liberals and the stupid Conservatives. I voted Liberal that time. (And I actually DO like the Liberal MP from that riding, so I don't feel bad about it.)

[betenoire]

For those who are interested, cp24 has live coverage of Jack Layton's funeral.

[Linus]

Whoa. I didn't know he passed! Dis sucks! I will say one thing he remained true to himself and his conscience when he ran for office and kept it.