The recent death of Lady Margaret Thatcher, former prime minister of Britain, aroused strong, polarized feelings in her country. Her admirers were saddened by the loss of their iconic and world-respected leader, but the elation at her demise and violent reactions of many of her countrymen against a state funeral were bewildering to some nations.
Lady Thatcher’s hate brigade emanated from the people who were disenfranchised by her policies, including the sale to the private sector of companies that the government (hence, taxpayers) subsidized, resulting in the closure of some companies and subsequent loss of jobs, particularly of miners and car industry workers. Union members (and the next generation that remembered hard times during their childhood) who had a powerful presence in these industries and whose back she broke were strident with glee at her death.
There were robust protests against the money spent on her ceremonial funeral; the protesters forgot that she herself had declined a state funeral. They were reduced to proposing to line the streets where the funeral procession would progress and turn their backs when her casket passed by. Fortunately, there was none of this disrespectful spectacle on that day.
Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip honored Lady Thatcher with their presence at St. Paul’s Cathedral. Their attendance was very telling. She last attended the state funeral for Sir Winston Churchill. Six prime ministers died during her rule but she stayed at home.
I can’t help but zoom in on the huge cultural difference between our peoples. Lady Thatcher was never tainted by any financial or corruption scandal during her leadership. On the other hand, Ferdinand Marcos was an odious dictator who stole billions from the national coffers (which we taxpayers filled) and salted these away. He and his family were ignominiously run out of the country. Years later we welcomed his wife and children back, and now, incredibly, they are in government again, dipping their fingers into the trough (pork barrel).
If Lady Thatcher went the same way as Ferdinand Marcos, the only way to come back home is to serve appropriate time in jail and return monies owed to the government.
Britons will not forgive Lady Thatcher for the jobs they lost because of her policies. Why do we let the Marcos family and other trapo wipe their feet on us over and over again?
—ELEANOR PLAN POPPLE,
pucci_plan@yahoo.co.uk