Remembering Thatcher: Dialogue can get nasty in civil societies

Wednesday former UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher was laid to rest.

 

(The BBC reports)

 

The Queen has led mourners in St Paul's Cathedral at the funeral of Baroness Thatcher, Britain's longest serving prime minister of modern times.



Lady Thatcher

More than 2,000 dignitaries from around the world paid their last respects at the biggest such occasion since the Queen Mother's funeral in 2002.

Lady Thatcher's coffin was carried through streets lined by mourners and members of the three armed forces.

PM David Cameron said it was a "fitting tribute" to a major figure.

Margaret Thatcher: Queen leads mourners at funeral

Remember "Thatcherism" led to a privitazation of many aspects of the UK Welfare State.

That legacy has been remembered in the past few days, in much less flattering terms by protests and music played on BBC 1: As Teaching Comparative posted on Friday:

While many people have been making a point of saying nice, or at least kind things about Margaret Thatcher, others have been working to point out how divisive she was as a political leader.

There's an organized attempt to get enough people to buy the song, "Ding Dong the Witch is Dead," so it will be played on the BBC radio Top 40 countdown.

Will anyone in Russia do anything similar when Gorbachev dies? Was there any protest when Mao Zedong died?

BBC to play Ding Dong in chart show despite anti-Thatcher Facebook push

BBC Radio 1 is planning to play "Ding Dong the Witch is Dead," the Wizard of Oz track being bought by anti-Thatcher protesters in the wake of the former prime minister's death, on its chart show on Sunday.

However, in what is thought to be a first for the BBC chart show, the corporation is considering having a Newsbeat reporter explain why a song from the 30s is charting to Radio 1's target audience of 16- to 24-year-olds – none of whom will remember Margaret Thatcher's controversial premiership…

The Official Charts Company said on Thursday morning that "Ding Dong the Witch is Dead" was on course to reach number four, up from 10 the previous day…

Radio 1 insiders said if the song does make it to the top five, there would be no reason not to play the track.

However, it is understood The Official Chart Show presenter Jameela Jamil might have to invite a reporter from Radio 1's Newsbeat to explain to listeners why a track they are unlikely to be familiar with has charted.

"Among the 16- to 24-year-olds, a lot of people are saying they are not 100% sure who Thatcher is. Even though this seems extraordinary, they may not understand who that song would chart," said a BBC source…