Death Is Not A Full Stop
A Grand Send Off…
Earlier today, the 17th of April 2013, people from the United Kingdom as well as countless millions around the world bid farewell to Baroness Thatcher, one of the world's great political leader of the 20th Century. Not since the 1965 state funeral for Sir Winston Churchill, has another British Prime Minister been bestowed the honour of such a ceremonial spectacle. Of her own choosing, the funeral was not that of a state funeral, but the pomp and pageantry was typically Brit. It also marked the second presence of Queen Elizabeth II during a funeral for one of her Prime Ministers since Churchill's.
Subject To Common Human Destiny…
Despite the more than two decades since her long reign as Prime Minister, there are her supporters and believers and so there are the many detractors. I am glad that the latter were adequately restrained from tarnishing the solemness of the occasion. Proper decorum must prevail! And I liked the speech given by the Right Reverend Richard Chartres, the Bishop of London at St Paul's. "Lying here, she is one of us, subject to the common destiny of all human beings" he said. "There is an important place for debating policies and legacy."
Death Is Not A Full Stop…
One must ask, and ask often of oneself. What are we here (on this earth) for? What legacy that we want to leave for our children and their children? And as my friend and mentor Robert G Allen, the New York Times best selling author, has often asked "What song would you want to sing, and on what stage." As human beings, we all make mistakes. You can't transform your country otherwise I think. Pursue the status quo equates to do nothing. And as Sir Winston has said, to improve is to change ; to be perfect is to change often
Transforming her country from the sick man of Europe of the 1970s and the 1980s to a nation of strength again, requires the kind of courage, political will and leadership of Herculean order. Those of us who had made mid-career switch in joining another organization would appreciate the level of resistance that Baroness Thatcher had to overcome.- and in the minefield of politics too. She was just amongst only 4% of the House of Commons not of the male sex. Bravo! Million kudos. The gun salutes earlier today pale by comparision to the echoes that you, Baroness Thatcher are leave behind. And as the Telegraph has so correctly summed up – The monument to her life is this country. R.I.P.
Related Posts:
1. Baroness Thatcher A Salute To Your Leadership ~ http://retiredowhat.com/wisdom/lady-thatcher-a-salute-to-your-courage-and-leadership/
2. Baroness Thatcher A Profile In Courage ~ http://retiredowhat.com/wisdom/baronness-thatcher-a-profile-in-courage/
Related Stories :
1. Margaret Thatcher funeral: she is one of us, says bishop ~ the Guardian
2. Margaret Thatcher funeral: as it happened ~ the Telegraph
3. Thatcher Funeral Look Back: Pics And Video ~ Sky News
4. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-22067257 ~ BBC
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