Margaret Thatcher

Well, if they mean that they would agree that criticising Pol Pot or Hitler was wrong. I suppose what I'm trying to understand is the issue about whether or not it is OK to criticise someone immediately after their death - or OK to want to celebrate their death? So, when posters talk about it being disrespectful to talk ill of the dead or whatever phrase they use, do they mean all dead people or just MT? I suppose it's a matter of being clear - if I said we should be respectful of the dead I would mean all dead people in all circumstances, if I didn't mean that I would say why with this particular person we should be respectful or not - soop you are right. But I was really trying to understand but all that happened, as usual, was people jumped down my throat

bluebell I have followed what you said. After all it's not rocket surgery. That's why I made that post about Jimmy Saville. Because I was thinking of those people who feel it is not right to speak ill of the dead I didn't include a fairly gentle criticism of a man who turned out to be a disgusting sexual predator and exploiter. A blanket instruction not to speak ill of of the dead or "if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all" really doesn't make sense. I also think that just become someone was elected to political office during their life doesn't put them beyond criticism in death – especially with our unrepresentative voting system.

I don't know whether they mean all dead people or just MT - that was my point. I don't think it's unreasonable to ask someone to explain their post - how is that jumping down your throat, bluebell?

My point was, equating a politician, who's views differed from your own to a criminal was not a fair comparison.

You can hardly put vile people like Jimmy Saville in the same category as Mrs Thatcher. Yes you may not have agreed with her policies but she wasn't a criminal monster was she?

I wasn't equating as you well know - I was exploring the concept of the global application of the-not-speaking-ill-of the-dead-rule. Thanks absent -but have now lost the will to live so will retire gracefully from this thread - not that I know which one it is any longer - at the moment it's a bit like all road lead to Rome

IMO " if you can't say anything nice don't say anything at all" makes perfect sense. Is the alternatve to be spiteful and offensive because however much hurt you cause is over ridden by the desire to have your say?

Just come across this surprisingly interesting (to me) article by Russell Brand:www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2013/apr/09/russell-brand-margaret-thatcher

I feel we should celebrate Margaret Thatcher for being the first female prime minister and the longest serving one at that!

That is exactly what I feel , Ninny ,

Whatever one"s views on her politics , she was a FIRST

Shirley Williams was nice about her.

Shirley Williams gave her credit for being the first, not being a toff and still hacking it, being frank, being personally kind etc etc BUT she also said that Maggie stopped listening to people and was convinced of her own rightness. Don't forget it was her own party that sacked her. And now they are making all this fuss. Any connection do you think?

And of course it would be OK for her not to have a quasi state funeral!

I suspect that most people would have little animosity towards the little old lady, suffering from dementia, that Russell Brand talked about in his recent article.

People who are not admirers of Mrs T are responding to their memories of how she behaved when she was in power, to the repercussions still being felt today and to her influence on current policies.

It seems fairly evident that, whilst there is a large amount of support for Mrs T, there is also a significant number of people who believe that her policies were divisive and damaging. So, she can't really be considered to be a generally "uniting force", as Churchill was, and some people feel that the lavish funeral arrangements are therefore inappropriate. In addition, the unprecedented attendance of the Queen, who is meant to be politically neutral, is seen by many as providing tacit support to past and present Conservative policies.

Personally, I think it's spiteful and stupid to jump around "celebrating" anybody's death, but I do feel that people should have the right to express disagreement without being called "nasty hate campaigners".

Nothing that is said can hurt Mrs T now, but, as Lilygran said, it was her own party that plotted to overthrow her and it was they that made her cry when she was alive.

I most certainly do not harbour any ill feeling toward the "Boadicea in Pearls" .

Russel brand certainly did not cover himself with glory when he pulled that stunt with "Manuel" and the gran daughter , why would right thinking people ^consider" anything he says now .

This is out of character , but i think he is a T____R.

did I actually say that ?

I read this on Fb and thought it worth sharing:

http://m.londonlovesbusiness.com/7-most-annoying-thatcher-myths/5218.article

m.londonlovesbusiness.com/7-most-annoying-thatcher-myths/5218.article

Ana, Tweedle24

Well it would be good to think the closed minds would read it but I very much doubt it.

Sel Then they would have to admit they were wrong and that's not going to happen!

"London loves business" marvellous post !

Mrs Thatcher gave Dennis the title, many said at the time with a view to it being passed down to Mark on Dennis's death.

There you go again, Sel, making derogatory remarks about any posters who don't agree with you. Are you sure your are so open-minded yourself?

I thought SELs remark , fairly innocuous .

Yes, Nonu, I am sure you do.