Baroness Margaret Thatcher's Funeral

Today my family attended Baroness Margaret Thatcher's funeral procession on it's way to St. Paul's to pay our respects to the first female Prime Minister of the UK. She is one of the most controversial politicians of the modern age, some people loved her, and some hated her. She had great plans for England, and she made Britain a stronger nation during her 11 year term, one of the longest terms in the 20th Century. Mrs. Margaret Thatcher earned her nickname the Iron Lady because of her determination to stick to her decisions. She believed in doing the right thing, and she wasn't afraid to do it just because she might not remain popular. This tough determination is one of the most endearing traits of Margaret Thatcher.



 She believed that private companies and individuals were better than big government. She wanted more power for the people and less to the state. She wanted people to keep more money than pay more taxes. Just like our president, Ronald Reagan. One of her amazing accomplishments was her military policy. In 1982 she sent British aid to the Falklands when Argentina invaded these tiny islands. Though the islands were British owned, Argentina continued to claim them as their own, so on April 2, 1982, when Argentina invaded, Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher sent the British Troops to defend the island. Although many men died, it was an amazing victory and was celebrated all over in the UK and in the Falklands. Some think this war is her best accomplishment. She also supported NATO and helped end the Cold War, and bring down the Berlin Wall. But her popularity dropped when she decided to shut down many coal mines which also cut many jobs. This resulted in a year long protest in 1984. Then in 1990, fighting broke out in the streets of London due to the Poll Tax, which was an equal tax levied on every adult. People claimed this tax hit the poor harder than it hit the rich. Mrs. Thatcher  made Britain a respected and powerful nation once more. One of the most interesting factors about Margaret Thatcher is that she was the first and only female Prime Minister of the UK, and she was one of the most successful women of the 20th Century. She did not believe that there would ever be a woman prime minister in her lifetime. Then, in 1979, she herself was elected Prime Minister. She was surrounded by men in the government, and she didn't give preference to either gender only qualifications. She believed that hard work could get you anywhere, and her life proved that. During her funeral, I thought it a lovely sentiment when people began clapping as her coffin went by. I think it is amazing that one woman could leave behind so great a legacy and affect so many people. As an American, I am grateful of her friendship to America and Ronald Reagan and for aiding us in the Cold War. So, all my little political readers out there, what do you think of Mrs. Margaret Thatcher?  Please leave me a comment!

Mrs. Thatcher's funeral