Posted on 04/17/2013 10:04:17 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
Lady Thatcher, Britain's first female prime minister, was borne to St Paul's Cathedral for a ceremonial funeral as thousands lined central London's streets to witness her final journey.
With full military honours, the coffin bearing the body of one of Britain's most divisive politicians of modern times was escorted by members of all three armed forces to a service before a congregation of 2,300 from across the globe and led by the Queen.
Although not officially a state funeral, as accorded to Sir Winston Churchill, the event was conducted with a level of pomp and ceremony not witnessed in London since the death of the Queen Mother in 2002.
Her children, Sir Mark Thatcher and his twin sister Carol, and her American grandchildren, Michael and Amanda, listened as the bishop of London, acknowledging the bitter debate over her legacy, said this was not the time or place for such matters.
In a powerful address, the Right Rev Richard Chartres, a friend of Thatcher, who died last week aged 87 following a stroke, defended her and firmly rejected the assertion that she did not believe in society. She had overcome hurdles and experienced many rebuffs, and applied herself to work with "formidable energy and passion", he said.
"Her later remark about there being no such thing as 'society' has been misunderstood and refers to some impersonal entity to which we are tempted to surrender our independence," he said.
Acknowledging her as a polarising figure, he told the congregation: "After the storm of a life led in the heat of political controversy, there is a great calm.
"The storm of conflicting opinions centres on the Mrs Thatcher who became a symbolic figure – even an 'ism'."
(Excerpt) Read more at guardian.co.uk ...
“W coming off back surgery”
I'm not trying to snark, but on a recent thread it was posted that W has recovered enough to play golf. In my opinion, if he can do that, he could have made the trip to Baroness Thatcher's funeral. After all, she was hardly well when she forced herself to come to Reagan's service.
interesting if true
"According to published reports, Bush 43′s doctors told him to give up golf until his back healed, but he managed to sneak in some chipping and putting in Florida and has now been seen back on the links at a Dallas country club."
http://trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com/2013/04/george-w-bush-on-the-mend-after-back-surgery.html/
Add to that he has to rested and ready for the dedication of his Presidential liberary.
That’s why Baker and Schultz went? At O’s request? You sure wouldn’t know it. Seemed all this time they did it on their own. Not a peep from this admin.
Bottom line, no state-side current official was there?
I grow more embarrassed. After what happened for Reagan.
SKY NEWS Interviews Congresswomen Marsha Blackburn and Michelle Bachmann after the funeral:
I’m with you. Huge snub and an f-you to our greatest ally.
Much mending of fences will need to be done if we ever get this pond scum out of office.
Godspeed Lady Thatcher
From an grateful American.
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