tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6233625.post8603333618321928379..comments2023-08-17T14:11:19.206+01:00Comments on Lisybabe's Blog: The Difference Between Relief and Joy #thatcherLisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16714918894319998184noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6233625.post-90020204734712425402013-04-09T17:42:24.479+01:002013-04-09T17:42:24.479+01:00I think it makes a difference whether there are fu...I think it makes a difference whether there are fulsome tributes being paid to the person who has died, as there have been lots of with Thatcher, with most of her political right crowing about how she saved the country, how she rescued the economy, how she made this country the wonderful place it is today and so on. It must be particularly galling to hear people shout about how wonderful she was when you were on the receiving end of police violence or your livelihood was destroyed. If she had died in obscurity, the celebrations would be as muted as the tributes and mourning. As it is, the tributes are far more voluble, most of her opponents have resisted the temptation to celebrate. The debate about celebrating Thatcher's death was had after the Billy Elliot musical included a scene of precisely that happening, so her children surely know this will happen and can avoid the papers or reports that mention it. Nobody's shoving it under their noses and nobody's "celebrating the grief of their family" - the family don't factor into it.<br /><br />I suffered abuse as a child as well (in a special boarding school, mostly from 1989-90 although I was there until 1993) and if the headmaster or either of the two thugs under him die, it's likely to be in far greater obscurity than Thatcher (particularly as there is no longer an active forum for old boys) but if I come across anyone saying they were great teachers and their loss leaves a huge hole or some such nonsense, I'll tell the truth as I saw it and call the men child abusers. (A lot of people, particularly those who were given the space to bully with impunity for years, thought the school was great.) If people call that celebrating, so be it. Then again, I'd prefer that they were exposed in life.Matthew Smithhttp://www.blogistan.co.uk/blog/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6233625.post-29817855325207809352013-04-09T17:17:26.178+01:002013-04-09T17:17:26.178+01:00I wonder whether some people appearing to celebrat...I wonder whether some people appearing to celebrate are actually expressing relief. To admit to feeling relief that someone who has caused you so much pain is gone means admitting that you were a victim once (or still are, if you have no problem with the word victim (I don't)). A lot of people still carry the idea that that is shameful, or that being treated as being that expendable is something that only happens to other people. I'm sure some people are genuinely celebrating, but with many who use the same words I sense so much fragility behind it that really I think they're just covering up the way they feel with a joke.<br /><br />I'm not celebrating, but I won't condemn people whose motives for expressing their lack of sorry are unclear.<br /><br />Wonderful link, thank you for posting it.Jannoreply@blogger.com