Margaret Thatcher

Just a question or 2:
Why is she having this BIG funeral? is it because she wanted it? are all PM's entitled to a 'ceremonial' funeral? Why is it only Churchill had this scale of funeral? I think even Gladstone had a small affair or the PM that died in the 60's had a small private funeral. What entitles her to it? and why is the Queen going?

Good post Sel. I notice it has gone quiet on here now after you mentioned 13 years of Labour!

I decided two days ago that I had said all I wished to say on this subject, but I will add that I think it has gone very quiet for many reasons, none of them to do with the fact that Sel mentioned 13 years of Labour. I hope the threads on Margaret Thatcher will die now.

Ana - I'm eternally grateful to you for telling me how to get é!

ninny If you look at the last few comments, they hadn't "gone quiet", although, given the way that Mrs T's critics and their comments have been characterised - as "negative", "haters", "the hate brigade", "vitriolic" "sheep", blinkered etc., it would be no wonder if they had.

Just come back on since about midday yesterday and I have to say some of these posts are very unpleasant.

I will just copy 2 of them as I am about to go out and don't have much time:

"Mrs T said "No government can do anything except through people and people look to themselves first ...the quality of our lives will depend upon how much each of us is prepared to take responsibility for ourselves and each of us is prepared to help those who are unfortunate." Her view is akin to that of the American view where taxes are kept very low and the role of the state to allocate money to various services is limited. Charities in the US have a much bigger role in providing help but "unpopular" causes like mental health, mental disability, etc., tend to miss out."

I think that is a very reasonable quote of MT and cannot see how anyone could possibly find anything wrong with it. To then go on and state that is is 'akin' to anything imo shows a distict prejudice.

"FO Ana. - I've had enough of your petty stupid moronic responses" I do hope it is not necessary to point out what is wrong with this one?

Is it really necessary to keep this going- it's starting to get very repetitive and I think we all know where we stand.

Grannylin

Thanks Cari, it needed to be said.

Cari

Ooh 'eck!

Donning my steel knickers to join in on this thread, I was interested this morning to see a picture of MT as a little girl with her sister Muriel. Never having heard of any siblings, I had always assumed she was an only child, so I went looking. MTs sister Muriel died in 2004 aged 83 so she was the older sister, I have no way of knowing whether she shared MT's strong will, her ambition, even her intelligence and education. She married a William Cullen and had a son, Andrew and a daughter, Jane. This may be less interesting than watching paint dry to most people, but I found myself wondering whether they were in contact with MT? How they "related" to her when in office and after her retirement? What do they thnk of all the fuss that is going on and if they are playing any part in the funeral?

It is quite probable Andrew and Jane would grieve for the loss of their aunt .
We have no way of knowing

I also assumed she was an only child. How very odd!

I would think her family would attend her funeral! Why wouldn't they? She was a person as well as a prime minister. She probably had the same relationship with them as we would have with nieces and nephews.

Graces mum Margaret thatcher sister who died few years ago lived near us she was different to Margaret not so ambitious obviously but they were close in case you still interested ! I find it so sad people are happy to disrespect the dead totally unnecessary and is disappointing that so many on here joined that band wagon!

Isn't there a grocery chain called Cullen?

Thanks celb - I was actually nosey curious interested in whether they were anything like each other. It gives another aspect on Margaret the woman not the political figurehead. I wonder how I would have felt with such a high-powered sister? (Or indeed how my poor sister copes now.....)

My sister and I were not at all alike in any way. Looked unrelated, thought differently, had totally different outlooks on life and got on brilliantly.

I for one am appalled at the response of the death of MT.
As has been said somewhere before, she has a family who have lost a Mum and a grandmother, friends who are grieving, whatever peoples views on her politics etc, I despair at this apparent hatred.
Has this country lost all respect for others at what is a time of loss to a family.

Yes, Minty for some it would seem it has.

Totally agree Minty.

Common decency about the dead seems to have flown straight out of the window .

I heard Carol Thatcher on the radio at lunchtime, saying how difficult it is when you lose your second parent.
I could really empathise with that, and feel so sorry that their grief must be compounded by all the vitriol that has been pouring out since her mother died.