Well, it's been a while since I blogged, but yesterday's news brought back a lot of memories and emotions, that I have been spending time trying to "process" for want of a better phrase. I was, I suppose, one of Thatcher's children. Born in the sixties, I remember her election very clearly, and remember my grandfather's reaction. He was one of a dying breed of socialists, from whom I received a lot of my principles. He said she was a "Wrong un" from day one. I do not intend on an in depth list of reasons why I shall not mourn her passing. I think her record speaks for itself. I spent a few minutes last night and raised a glass to me departed grandparents, knowing that both of their deaths were tarnished with the legacy left behind by the sickening ideologies of Margaret Thatcher. I will not join in with street parties or celebrations. She was someone's mother, and whatever I thought of her, I didn't know her, or her family. They should be given some degree of respect. I only hope that they are able to mark her passing without the deep burning sense of injustice felt by my grandparents as a result of her policies.
My social media timeline remains full of divisive opinions on the woman. The frothing Daily Mail types will always be the same, and therefore, not worth concerning myself over. It is interesting to note that many young people seem to have bought into this "Strong Woman" image that Thatcher contrived for herself. I do not see bullying, as strength. I do not see narrow mindedness as strength. I do not see exclusion of women from her cabinet as strength (Or as feminism, which some are bizarrely crediting her with). Many of the supporting arguments go along the lines of "Well she repaired all of the bad that Labour did". That is a totally irrelevant argument. There are ways and means of solving any problem, and her brutal approach still resonates on the words of her party today.
So I shall look back at her time, and look on at her legacy with loathing for what she destroyed, and created in our "Society" (Although that, apparently, did not exist). I will not sit back quietly, and listen to ridiculous foaming tributes to her without arguing my case. I shall try to do it with due respect for the death of an old lady, but with less respect for those who hold her up to be our saviour. She was nothing of the sort. She was, a manipulative, war-mongering bully. This is not to say that other have not done the same since, and perhaps worse, but that should not diminish her own crimes and failings.
Finally, I will say that whilst I find the street parties being held to be distasteful, I am reminded of Margaret Thatcher's own words after British forces too South Georgia..."Rejoice". I will not take her advice in this instance. I shall make it part of my business to encourage young people to look behind the headlines, the images and the soundbites, and look at the real legacy for themselves...to make up their own minds, without fear of being bullied onto having an opinion. By all means give her due respect, but lets not hide away all that she stood for, and all of her deeds and acts.
