Margaret Thatcher has died

Aww that's sad. I know some people have strong opinions of her but she was PM when I was born so she's the first one I'd really heard of

I just heard this but feel i might be the only one old enough to find this significant!

My only almost- experience of her was my Socialist Dad turning down an MBE as he "wouldn't accept anything of that woman"!!

I'm not very politically aware but I do know she was very unpopular.

I definitely can't remember her doing any good for this country. She bought the mining trade to it's knee's.

( I can't help but think of Spitting Image every time I she a picture of her. )

As a child of the Miner's Strike era, and the wife of a man born to a community absolutely ruined by the loss of this industry, I can't really feel anything other than a small amount of satisfaction.

Sorry.

Fair enough if you ask me.

I am quite 'meh, who cares?' about it.

Haha l know what you mean!

Other than her decision to try and cover up Hillsborough, I actually liked her. A lot.

RIP Maggie.

I'm seeing a lot of really vile comments on fb already.. quite sad really. You might not have liked or respected her but the woman is dead, she has a family who are grieving.

If people have nothing nice to say surely they should say nothing.

It's not about politics, it's about a person who like it or not played a huge part in the history of our country be that good or bad.

I think it must be very sad for her family. I think the fact that she was so disliked too must be very hard for them.

I also have to respect the fact that as a woman she made it to prime minister.

RIP Maggie

I actually quite liked her from the bits and pieces I have seen/read and I really liked the 'Iron Lady' movie.

I was too young to appreicate all what went on during her time 'in power' including the mining industry stuff but I guess all PM's have to make very difficult decisions to save the country money as the current govenment is doing.

My feminist side so desperately wants her to be a role model for young women. She overcame so much misogyny and prejudice to be Prime Minister. Sadly, her actions as PM will forever disgust me so the most I can manage as a reaction to this news is feeling sad for her family while they grieve.

I am quite sickened by the number of celebratory posts I've seen on facebook and Twitter already though.

The miner's strike cost the government £6bn in direct costs and a further £25bm in paid benefits/redundancy. Oh, and the loss of the coal mining industry, of course.

But perhaps this was still the most economically viable action. I can concede that.

But to close the major industrial bases in so many cities, leaving the massive workforce, already on their knees after the strike, with no jobs, no prospects, no housing and no future is utterly unforgiveable. It's short-sighted at best, heartless in the middle and vindictive at worst.

Some of these towns have quite literally NEVER recovered.

Although I'm aware that she was unpopular amongst many, I must admit I'm not hugely educated on her policies or why people held that view.

I am, however, appalled by the amount of people who have said "good riddance" and similar things on Facebook, especially my Welsh speaking, Plaid Cymru voting friends. Despite people's views of her, she was still a woman and she leaves behind a grieving family.

I agree with you knees. I am saddened that so many of my friends, who were in no way affected by her, have written disgusting comments on FB. I have hidden them as I don't want to read them.

I feel very sad for her family.

Um. I thought she was already dead....?!! ?

People can be idiots when it comes to the death of public figures- talk about kicking someone (or their family) while they're down. It's kind of sad when anyone dies; they all leave people behind.

But I think that people can go far too far the other way sometimes; the outpouring of national wailing, tearing of hair and gnashing of teeth when Princess Di died (and for the NEXT TEN YEARS) really got on my wick. Especially when Mother Teresa died soon after and there was barely a whisper.

With you on this. It's a shame she had to act so much like a man (even to the point of forcibly lowering her voice) to achieve it.

Like KB, I liked her. Hillsborough cover up aside.

Although I am not the most educated on the politics and impacts of 1980s politics, I do understand that some of her actions had bad effects. Therefore rejoicing after she was pushed/resigned from office is fair. Rejoicing her death is not. The death of this old lady changes nothing.

"I will mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy." - MLK

In principle, I agree. However, I would argue that the outpouring of grim satisfaction is a simple reflection of just how much anger and hatred people felt for her. It's not all ghoulish bandwagon-jumping (although, of course, some of it is).

Those who had their lives destroyed and saw their children starving are not going to worry about being "politically fair".

Exactly this. I've hidden a few people on facebook this afternoon as their comments are frankly disgusting.

Yep. The whole Princess Diana thing got right on my nerves as well! Total over reaction.

Definitely this. I don't condone all her actions and decisions whilst she was PM, but I liked her. She was a strong woman who fought her cause, and whether you agree with her policies or not, there is no denying she made a lasting impact on UK politics.

I'm also appalled at some of the comments I have seen on facebook, etc. Disgusting....

THANK YOU. When I express this opinion to most people (to THIS DAY) they look at me like I've just curled one out on their living room carpet....!

(Please make no link between this and my other post re: renting)

I'll also join the queue over the Diana, Princess of Wales thing. Total over-reaction.

I lived in south Yorkshire (as an adult) at the time of the Miner's Strike. I will never forget it.

I've been thinking about this and i wonder if there is a real difference in opinion and feeling bwetween those who were adults in the Thatcher era and those who were not?

Now, I know I am a lot older than most of the people on here (and very often feel it!) but having experienced Thatcherism throught the eyes of someone it really affected, i think I may well have a stronger view to those who were children/not born at the time. I think it is fair to make allowances for this difference in perception.

If I'd been a Cambodian, I might feel more strongly about the death of Pol Pot for example. (Have I got my country/dictator right?)

Agree. I was young at the height of her power (I was 13 when she was finally removed), and am therefore aware that many here were unlikely to have been even a twinkle in their Mummy and Daddy's eyes. Of course, that doesn't mean those too young (me included) should be unable to assert an opinion of her. However, it does mean that to many, events like the miner's strikes become slightly abstract, things that happened a long time ago, perhaps that should be forgiven.

I think geography plays a part here as well.

Agreed. There's HUGE difference between history and being there.

With all due respect, I just think this shows naivety about the depth of hatred felt towards her.

They don't care if it's sh*tty, and they don't care if you think it's sh*tty. There are people who would quite happily, to quote a famous Elvis Costello song, "tramp the dirt down".

I'm not sad she is dead, as I didn't know the woman. Thoughts are with her family though.

Judging by the conversation I just had with my colleague (in his 50s originally from Manchester) who remembers being at the protests I would say this is a very fair comment.!

Politics aside she is dead and leaves a grieving family. People will always have opinions and they will differ, but its horrible to read hate spewing on social networking. But freedom of speach and all that.