Al Patterson
Ferroequinologist
Yep. Name calling the US by calling it a whorehouse. Such class. Are all of you over there as classy as you?
MartinP
Veteran
Unfortunately you appear to have not read the comment I made before you sent your reply. At no point have I insulted your nation. I will accept your apology however.
Sejanus.Aelianus
Veteran
I regret that you really have no idea what you are talking about, a not uncommon failing on the internet, as elsewhere.
I voted for Thatcher in 1979, as just one of the many millions who were suffering from the out of control trade unions at the time. She did exactly what we wanted, which was to challenge the unions' quasi-governmental status and restore the balance in this country.
The problem was that her success went to her head, as it has a tendency to do with some people. Instead of stopping and restoring balance to the country, she conceived a desire to change Britain's character entirely from a social democracy to a capitalist economy. In the process she destroyed the lives of hundreds of communities from Land's End to John O'Groat.
It is hardly surprising that many millions of people expressed pleasure at her demise and were angry at the use of public money to celebrate her life, something not done since the death of Winston Churchill.
pdh
Established
When did "protest the funeral" or "protest a funeral" become acceptable usage?
It's bad enough that "appeal the sentence/judgment/decision" has become commonplace.
I blame Thatcher
It's bad enough that "appeal the sentence/judgment/decision" has become commonplace.
I blame Thatcher
haempe
Well-known
A photozine!
What a lovely idea, Simon.
I'm so tired about all those internet galleries...
Thanks, order made.
What a lovely idea, Simon.
I'm so tired about all those internet galleries...
Thanks, order made.
Jamie123
Veteran
In that case I agree that it's a bit distasteful but I also thought the same when people celebrated Bin Laden's death. Even if one thinks it's good that someone died there's still something perverted about actually enjoying somebody's death.
As I said, I'm not from the UK and I wasn't even born when she came to power. I do have an opinion on her and it's rather unfavourable but I have no emotions invested in it whatsoever.
sar-photo
Simon Robinson
I was there all day and didn't see any protests, but then I pretty much stuck to the funeral route. Outside St Paul's there were some people with protest banners but it was all rather low key.
Thanks for the order Hendrik!
Cheers
Simon
Thanks for the order Hendrik!
Cheers
Simon
Michael Markey
Veteran
Bloody good shots Simon.
sar-photo
Simon Robinson
Cheers Michael!
BlackXList
Well-known
For Thatcher? No, I have no respect whatsoever, and contempt would not come close to describing my feelings towards her.
I didn't travel to London with a banner or anything like that, but I celebrated with my family by going out for a meal at the news that there was now a little less evil in the world.
Sadly those who have come since her have mostly continued her work, and the current lot are taking her creeds to their conclusion with some of the atrocities that are being committed.
All of that said, The photographs look great, as others have said the bowler hatted gents photograph is one that really grabs the viewer, and it's good to see people using this model of publishing to put their work out there for people.
I admit I won't be ordering this one because the subject matter makes it impossible for me to view objectively, but I will be keeping an eye on the site for future releases!
Gareth Rees
Established
I find the comments very interesting.
I remember the Thatcher years very well, living and working as a dentist in Edinburgh then.
People forget that when she came to power, there had been a Labour Government in power; the country was beset by strikes; there was rubbish lying in the streets and you could not find a grave digger who was working for love nor money; the dead had to lie unburied untill the unions agreed they could be buried. The United kingdom was in a mess; it was indeed the "sick man of Europe". The UK car industry was fast becoming a joke with labour withheld constantly.
Something had to change, and the country voted for a change and Mrs. Thatcher was elected. Of course, some people regretted that decision, but that's democracy and it's one of the prices you pay for living in a democratic country.
I, personally, was not a Thatcher fan, but you have to set these things in context and remember the circumstances at the time. She undoubtedly did a great measure of good but also a great measure of "not so good" in her later terms as Prime minister, but she did strengthen the links between the UK and the USA through her relationship with President Reagan.
As usual I suggest, history will deliver its verdict upon Margaret Thatcher, but it is always good to have discussion and debate.
Perhaps Mrs. Thatcher would have been wise to consider that the world is not exclusively viewed as black or white; it is perfectly possible to see in shades of grey as well.
Regards
Gareth
I remember the Thatcher years very well, living and working as a dentist in Edinburgh then.
People forget that when she came to power, there had been a Labour Government in power; the country was beset by strikes; there was rubbish lying in the streets and you could not find a grave digger who was working for love nor money; the dead had to lie unburied untill the unions agreed they could be buried. The United kingdom was in a mess; it was indeed the "sick man of Europe". The UK car industry was fast becoming a joke with labour withheld constantly.
Something had to change, and the country voted for a change and Mrs. Thatcher was elected. Of course, some people regretted that decision, but that's democracy and it's one of the prices you pay for living in a democratic country.
I, personally, was not a Thatcher fan, but you have to set these things in context and remember the circumstances at the time. She undoubtedly did a great measure of good but also a great measure of "not so good" in her later terms as Prime minister, but she did strengthen the links between the UK and the USA through her relationship with President Reagan.
As usual I suggest, history will deliver its verdict upon Margaret Thatcher, but it is always good to have discussion and debate.
Perhaps Mrs. Thatcher would have been wise to consider that the world is not exclusively viewed as black or white; it is perfectly possible to see in shades of grey as well.
Regards
Gareth
sar-photo
Simon Robinson
If you are interested in being notified of new releases, you can sign up for the mailing list on the home page.
Cheers
Simon
Al Patterson
Ferroequinologist
I know lack of class when I see it. From where I sit, every PM or President deserves to have public money spent to thank them for their service. That is class.
There are many people on both sides of the pond who think she was moving the country in the right direction. Pun intended...
Al Patterson
Ferroequinologist
Calling her evil shows lack of class. I don't like Obama, but I have enough class not to call him evil.
If you cannot find respect for the resident of the office, then you don't respect the office.
Al Patterson
Ferroequinologist
Thank you for a thoughtful classy post...
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Vics
Veteran
Looks like very fine work. I'll be ordering one.
semilog
curmudgeonly optimist
Abject nonsense.
Take, for example, Richard M. Nixon.
Hunter S. Thompson's obituary was written with utmost respect for our nation and our system of governance at its best, and absolute contempt for Nixon the man and the way in which he tarnished the seat to which the people had twice elected him. It is not always true that in a democracy the people get the leaders they deserve. Sometimes they get far worse.
mugent
Well-known
Thatcher was unpopular with some, certainly, but she was re-elected, with a large majority, so obviously, not everyone thought this.
I can imagine celebrating the death of a genocidal tyrant, but Thatcher was an *elected* (and not some hanging chad situation, a fair, substantial win, on more that one occasion).
I can imagine celebrating the death of a genocidal tyrant, but Thatcher was an *elected* (and not some hanging chad situation, a fair, substantial win, on more that one occasion).
semilog
curmudgeonly optimist
That's factually incorrect.
44% of the popular vote in 1979. 42% in 1983. Pluralities are not majorities, large or otherwise.
"During her premiership Thatcher had the second-lowest average approval rating, at 40 percent, of any post-war Prime Minister. Polls consistently showed that she was less popular than her party. A self-described conviction politician, Thatcher always insisted that she did not care about her poll ratings, pointing instead to her unbeaten election record." [Wikipedia]
MartinP
Veteran
Not quite.
In 1979..
Registered voters =41093264
Voter Turnout = 30180452
Conservative & Unionist votes = 13697690 (ie. Thatcher)
Hence only one third of eligible voters supported Thatcher, and over 56% of those who actually voted did so against Thatcher.
Her first election was actually her best result in terms of votes, the second was worse but nevertheless saw the majority of House of Commons seats increase from 71 to 188 in some large part due to having changed the boundaries used to delineate critical seats throughout UK. This did not improve her personal popularity and unfortunately reinforced her growing messiah-complex. Remember that her own party disposed of her leadership, brutally, after repeated attempts.