Re: In Memorian: Margaret Thatcher | Forum

Thatch falls

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Merrick Jun 16, 2009 10:16:26

Replying to geoffrey_prime

jshell wrote:

Ironically, the people who brought us peace in Ireland were the 9/11 terrorists

Not sure how you work that out. The Good Friday Agreement was signed more than three years befroe 9/11.

Popel Vooje wrote:

I agree with everything you've said except for one point - the Blair administration did introduce a new points system for means-testing incapacity benefit claims

That's not really disagreeing with me, though. I certainly didn't mean to say that Labour have made the nation - or even just the benefits system - fair. There is a long list of really fucking awful things they've done.

In the bigger picture, their war crimes far exceed Thatcher's. However, she should still be convicted at The Hague.

But I was saying that domestically they've not really done anything bad that the Tories wouldn't have done, and they've done a whole load of measures that improve life for the poor that the Tories would never have done.

geoffrey_prime wrote:

We'll see...when the time comes. If you and a minority are out jigging and defecating, on that fateful day, I predict you will be totally eclipsed by the vast numbers who will choose to pay their respects.

I love the sneeriness of 'minority'. Geoffrey, I could say that if you and a minority vote Conservative I predict you will be eclipsed by the vast numbers who vote for someone else.

But I don't really think that a view being a minority position means it has less meaning.

I only pay respects to people who deserve respect. If you don't want to dance on her grave, you dance on the graves of everyone who died because of the hospitals she closed, the grave of the self-esteem of everyone whose education she ruined, the graves of whole communities that the devastated with her war on trade unions. Would you 'pay your respects' to Richard Nixon too? How about Thatcher's friend Pinochet?

What I really like about the Thatcher thing is this unprecedentedness. When has there ever been a grounswell of people waiting to celebrate the death of a public figure before?

At 6pm on the Saturday after she dies, people are planning to meet in Trafalgar Square to celebrate. I suspect they'll be obstructed and beaten by police. Even then, fine. That in itself is a great image for us to send around the world. I know where I'll be.

PMM Jun 16, 2009 18:03:11

Replying to Merrick

Old bitch will probably snuff it at 5.30pm on a saturday, so that nobody can get down to London in time.

geoffrey_prime Jun 17, 2009 11:32:29

Replying to Merrick

I hope you are free to protest/celebrate as you like. I will be interested to keep an eye on whether there is a "groundsewll" of support emerging for this...personally, I doubt whether it will come to anything..but then you would expect me to say that anyway!

I am concerned that you seem to blame Thatcher for the sinking of the Belgrano, as something other than a legitimate act of war - which is what I thought had been agreed, by both sides?

jshell Jun 17, 2009 12:25:14

Replying to Merrick

Merrick wrote:

jshell wrote:

Ironically, the people who brought us peace in Ireland were the 9/11 terrorists

Not sure how you work that out. The Good Friday Agreement was signed more than three years befroe 9/11.

The real peace only came about after 9/11. When 'W' & 'Dick' decided to start the War on Terror, they had a problem: The US had been financing terrorism in the UK for years through the Noraid organisation and preventing extradition of IRA suspects to the UK. So, Bushs' speech: "If you feed, clothe, finance or harbour a terrorist - you ARE are a terrorist!" was an exercise in abject hypocracy. Before the WoT started, McGuiness and Adams were hauled in, told their budget was being cut as the US now had to be seen not to sponsor any terrorist activites, and so the money and protection (particularly from extradition) was cut off. The Republicans had no option but drop the violent struggle and pursue other means.

Now, that's perhaps a simplistic view, but fairly accurate nontheless.

PMM Jul 11, 2010 00:50:57

Replying to Merrick

sorry to drag this old thread up again, but something cropped up and I found this link and it seemed relevent.

http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2004/10/298639.html

I know class war are the kind of people some on here would find distasteful, but I'm sure they're not limiting participation to class warriors.

texlahoma Jul 29, 2010 12:20:13

Replying to Merrick

Merrick wrote:

That would be quite fitting in it's way, I'm sure she'll be sneering in approval if that's the case. At least those celebrating will know that the world has one monster less to share air with.