Bah. Humbug!

The Hydrogen Sonata by the late Iain M Banks.

Yes, The French are only good for one thing, I’ll let you know when I can think of what it is!!

Building aircraft carriers and the aircraft to operate from them, perchance?

Their combat types are all ‘Made In France’, AFAIK.

Must have been a disgruntled member.

‘The Iron Lady’ or ‘Mrs. T’ died a long time ago. You might say she ‘died’ in the run up to leaving office. The person who died yesterday was a frail 87 year old who had suffered a series of cerebro-vascular accidents and was in the grip of dementia.

I shall neither celebrate her life nor mourn her death. However, there are few personalities in this world who polarise public opinion as divisively or decisively as she has done. Just like everyone who has ever lived she has done good and bad things in those 87 years. One thing is certain. She was not the saviour of this Country as suggested by Cameron, nor was she the personification of evil.

But for all those who have openly wished her harm over the years or are professing a degree of glee and satisfaction over her death, think on this. I am confident that the person who would be most grateful for the passing of Margaret Thatcher yesterday would be the lady herself.

Regards,

kev35

The voice of reason amid the rantings and mutual recriminations.

Well said, Kev.

Not being a UK citizen, I’ll avoid giving opinions realizing I don’t have direct knowledge of them (though I do wish UK citizens here would show the same restraint when it comes to America bashing based on prejudices and what the BBC tells you).

Aren’t you USAnians supposed to be rather keen on freedom of speech? 🙂

Apparently an Atos medical examiner has just passed Baroness Thatcher as fit for work.

On a serious note: I had no time for her as a politician but, before the mutual mud-slinging starts in earnest, let’s not lose sight of the fact that it was an elderly lady in poor health who devoted the prime of her life to the service of her country (for better or for worse, depending on your point of view) that passed away today, not Mrs T in her handbag-brandishing prime.

No man is an island,
Entire of itself.
Each is a piece of the continent,
A part of the main.
If a clod be washed away by the sea,
Europe is the less.
As well as if a promontory were.
As well as if a manor of thine own
Or of thine friend’s were.
Each man’s death diminishes me,
For I am involved in mankind.
Therefore, send not to know
For whom the bell tolls,
It tolls for thee. John Donne

Grey – should it also be the case that we have to pay for parents who have no responsibility for the children they produce ?? I am sure if he had a larger house he would have had more children -should we just keep giving cash on the basis that the more kids you have the more entitled you become??

So society should do nothing and let some procreate their way to a life of idleness at society’s expense?

Back in the the old days, people had shame to prevent them from having children they wouldn’t/couldn’t support. Today, there is no shame.

These are fair points.

As I said, it’s a difficult equation to balance and I certainly don’t pretend to have the answer.

I think we can agree, though, that the kids themselves have no choice about the identity and circumstances of their parents.

Is it fair or just to penalise children for the actions and life choices of their parents and, if so, where do you draw the line?