View across the Outer Harbour of Stornoway

Wednesday, 17 April 2013

Wednesday 17 April

The funeral for a former prime minister, who served between 1979 and 1990 took place in London today. Some were celebrating the death, on account of the consequences of the policies of said PM. Some were mourning her passing, on the same account; others for personal reasons.

The whole ceremony cost £10m. Big Ben was silenced. The Queen attended, as did 2,000 others.

When James Callahan and Edward Heath died in 2005, nobody took much notice. They too were prime ministers, enacting controversial legislation and policies which had both positive and negative consequences. Yet their funerals were private affairs. So what was so different about Margaret Thatcher? She was a woman? I believe women are capable of any jobs that men do. She served for 11 years? Well, that was indicative of the political scene, with an ineffectual opposition. She went to war over the Falklands? If it hadn't been for that, she would have been booted out at the 1983 elections. So I don't see what the fuss is about.

1 comment: