As the hours drift down on Memorial Day, I found this by accident. The story goes Chumbawumba recorded this in 2005, and asked fans to pre-order it--with the promise to deliver it upon Margaret Thatcher's death. Thatcher died on April 8, 2013, nearly eight years later. The band dutifully sent out the extended play record (about 10 minutes total) though they had broken up. It is a compelling listen.
It is difficult for Americans not familiar with British history and politics to feel the abject and righteous hatred for Margaret Thatcher among those who have deep empathy and understanding of how destructive Thatcher was to entire communities, and how people there were set against each other. One connects the Brexit politics as rooted in Thatcherism, as well. If one is familiar with the various British films that deal indirectly if not directly with Thatcherism, her attack on the miners as an attack on the working classes, and her willingness to give succor to racism to further divide the working classes, one can begin to feel that again righteous hatred.
Britain's most respected modern writer, Hillary Mantel, wrote an essay she published only after Thatcher's death--due to obvious legal considerations--called The Assassination of Margaret Thatcher. In the first Kingsman film, the lead character, who learns how the Kingsman agent with whom he was speaking, had saved Thatcher from an assassination attempt, replied that may not have been a good thing after all. And then we have this EP from Chumbawumba. Thatcher was very smart, had important money and media backing, never won a majority, but won enough to govern, in a system where Great Britain suffers from overrepresentation from sectors that should not be so overrepresented (sound familiar?). With deep institutional support, and herding of the masses, she was effective in ruling. She is not like Trump in this manner, though the effects are similar and echo here and in Great Britain.
In the end, Thatcher was remarkably evil in both intent and action. I am not sure Great Britain has produced someone so terrible for its commonwealth and society in centuries. The effect of her rule is continuing to be felt and are dividing a nation forged together over centuries. It will be interesting to see how the Scots react in the next couple of years, and even how Northern Ireland reacts. I am also not sure if the post-Ian Paisley Orangemen and Orangewomen are wondering whether they are better off joining the rest of Ireland.
In the end, Thatcher was remarkably evil in both intent and action. I am not sure Great Britain has produced someone so terrible for its commonwealth and society in centuries. The effect of her rule is continuing to be felt and are dividing a nation forged together over centuries. It will be interesting to see how the Scots react in the next couple of years, and even how Northern Ireland reacts. I am also not sure if the post-Ian Paisley Orangemen and Orangewomen are wondering whether they are better off joining the rest of Ireland.
As we say, we'll see.
