The Young Margaret

I thought that was a rather vapid reply to Ceesnan .

How nice that you follow me so closely, Ceesnan.

Greatnan you said "i don't tell you what where and when to post" etc etc. i refer you to your own thread regarding " inane banter". 'Nuff said.

I think I would disapprove of any man who was so selfish and who had so little time for his own family too. I wonder if she felt that she had to be self centred to succeed - NOT true of course! Generosity of spirit does not equal wimpishness does it?
She must have been a spoilt brat!!!

I've been podering for a long time how we would have felt about MT [both those who supported her and people like me who admit to loathing her] if she had been a man. I mean, we probably wouldn't be debating whether he/she should have been nice to his father/mother/sister. And, much as I loathed her policies do I loathe them even more because she was a woman and should have been nicer and more compassionate? Had she been a man I'm sure she wouldn't have had such a high profile funeral for a start [and I'm still confused about that given that she wasn't even the first woman prime minister the world has seen].

You haven't included the third category eloethan - maybe in a minority of one - people like me who had fewer problems with MT the statesman and her funeral than with finding out that her private life reflected self-aggrandisement and selfish ambition at the expense of those close to her. I suspect the boyfriends who "fell by the wayside" sussed her out early on - or else they were not "useful" enough to her life plan.
My usual take on celebrities is that their private lives should remain precisely that i.e. private, but this is a valuable insight into how MT "ticked". I do feel for her parents especially her father who clearly felt very neglected in his latter years and am not impressed by MT's meanness of spirit in this respect.
I also find myself thinking, when Carole is less than jind a bout her mother, that "What goes around, comes around". Hmm.

Eloethan There have always been some gransnetters who felt that they were entitled to decide what and who should post on some threads. It's never made any real difference to anyone.

The section of the population (and of Gransnet) that admired MT were pleased that a ceremonial funeral had been granted to MT.

By contrast, many people were outraged by the way in which the British establishment had joined ranks to lionize a woman that a significant proportion of the population felt had been a damaging and divisive figure in UK politics. The views of these people were totally disregarded.

On Gransnet, MT's admirers wanted only "positive" comments and any critical comments were treated as if they were an affront to human decency rather than as a legitimate expression of opinion. Subsequently, "The funeral thread - with no unkind comments" was started, which expressly discouraged anything but complimentary comments.

Comments on Gransnet relating to recent revelations in MT's official biography, etc., are now being portrayed by MT's admirers as being not worthy of discussion. The bigotry revealed in MT's letters to her sister are, I think, a totally legitimate and natural subject for discussion.

Once more Greatnan - just for luck

Thanks for bumping it, Sel! Much appreciated.

Nope, not at all. I agree with Ceesnan why post? I would have thought most people have had their say pro or anti MT so it seemed contentious. But, if everyone just agrees, it'll die a death.

You sound quite disappointed Sel?

I guess Greatnan if everyone just agrees with you it doesn't make for much of a discussion.

That'll teach me - I should have read the link first ! Clearly my view was not unique (rarely is) and as you say absent probably indeed why she didn't want to read it. If you "re-invent" yourself as a person it is uncomfortable to be reminded of who you starting out by being. I had wondered about the fact that her immediate famly were never mentioned on the media, don't know if they were at the funeral service presumably also airbrushed from the scene along with the humble origins. Not comfortable viewing OR listening (or reading, I imagine.)

I've just finished reading 'The Psychopath Test' by Jon Ronson.Interesting... She ticks quite a few boxes!

gracesmum This may be the official biography, but it didn't do her many favours!

Perhaps that is why she never wanted to read it.

I think what grated with me was MT's "upward mobility" - I have no particular problem with ambition, but she seemd both from the TV , to be so set on "rising above" her background that she hurt and neglected the people who had made her success possible for her, eg. her father. And as for her complaint at his memorial service that she as a Cabinet minister warranted a better seat! Well, I think her sister's retort that this was not *about her*was very restrained. Unlike many people on GN I had no particular problem with her politics (ducks for cover) but as an individual she comes across as a selfish, snobbish, self-centred social climber. My suspicion is that she married Denis for the status and position his money could provide and that love grew later (which I assume it did) This may be the official biography, but it didn't do her many favours!

Actually I don't mind that [quite] so much if someone is at least honest about it. But I never got over that St Francis of Assisi quote in the years that followed. In fact, it's one of those moments in time that are etched in my memory.

I consider somebody who is homophobic, snobbish and racist to be very nasty indeed.

Thatcher's biography shows her to be a rather self-centred person whose values are not some that I can admire. I have no problem with those who are driven to succeed in their chosen field. But I do have a problem with a public figure who quotes the prayer of St Francis of Assisi to make political capital but whose personal life and values certainly did not match it.

What please is "normal" for GRANSNET ?
I don't think those words go together!

Well, at least Gransnet seems to be back to normal now, after the strange atmosphere which has prevailed over the last few days...

Aka I don't think MT was nasty - politically divisive, yes ..... in my opinion.

Nasty.