The influence of Margaret Thatcher's entry into politics 1 1 year on British life and culture

Memories: We remember that Thatcherism forgot Mrs. Thatcher.

Ye Li

1979 On May 4th, Margaret Thatcher led the Conservative Party to win the general election. She stepped on the steps of Downing Street 10 and said a famous sentence to her supporters: "We bring harmony in chaos, truth in mistakes, trust in doubts and hope in setbacks."

This high-spirited "Iron Lady" may not have thought that in May 2004, when Britain commemorated the 25th anniversary of Thatcher's reign, the British "Guardian" wrote in a sarcastic tone when recalling that historical moment: "Even her staunchest supporter may find it difficult to cite an example to prove the" harmony "brought to us by her reign1kloc-0/year.

Although Blair declared on the anniversary of Thatcher's stepping down 10/0 on October 22, 2000, "the Thatcher era is over." But at the same time, he had to admit: "We are in a new era today ... but we must deal with the problems left over from the past." Today, many British people still feel that their lives are closely related to this old woman who has lived in seclusion all the year round-she still affects the country.

"She divided Britain."

"Blair's New Labour Party and Thatcher's legacy-good and bad-have shaped Britain today." A British media wrote, "Although Thatcher has been in power for only 1 1 year, her influence will last for decades." Classifying Thatcher's legacy as a negative factor in Britain's development stems from her conservative economic thought, which is also Thatcher's most controversial policy. Before Thatcher came to power, under the leadership of the Callahan government of the Labor Party, many areas were paralyzed by strikes.

Twenty-five years ago, when the "Iron Lady" faced such a Britain, her prescription was to limit the strength of trade unions and implement privatization. After that, the British economy did improve, but in the words of john ray Tu, a writer of the British Independent, "in those years, the gap between the rich and the poor in Britain increased sharply. Some people's lives have indeed been greatly improved, but British society has paid a great price for this, the crime rate has risen, and the community has broken down and divided. "

Thatcher brought about not only the division of British society, but also the division of British thought. When she left Downing Street 10, her tears caused an uproar among the British people: supporters thought that she had led Britain out of economic difficulties and improved Britain's international status; Opponents believe that she is an out-and-out dictator and megalomaniac, which almost ruined the British welfare system. Actor and social activist Ricky Tomlinson still remembers that moment. "This is one of the happiest moments of my life."

More than ten years later, Thatcher's split image among ordinary people still exists. In 2002, she was ranked16 in the "100 greatest Englishman" organized by BBC-Churchill, Diana and Shakespeare were ahead of her.

Only one year later, British TV Channel 4 conducted a poll of "100 worst Britons you hate the most". The condition for participating in the election is that "he is currently alive and has nothing to do with people who are in prison or prosecuted". Mrs Thatcher is honored to explore flowers-ahead of her are current Prime Minister Blair and actress Jordan, who is famous for her big breasts. Until now, many people still remember this "judgment"-"She failed the British".

"Can men also be prime ministers?"

The British love and hate Thatcher, but most people in other countries in the world respect Thatcher very much. Especially in the hearts of women in many countries, Thatcher was the most outstanding woman in the 20th century. She proved that women can not only do what men do, but also accomplish what men can't. Everyone remembers Thatcher as a professional suit. Her daughter once recalled that her mother had no casual clothes at all because she was never "idle".

When Margaret Thatcher was in power, there was a popular joke in Britain: a girl asked a boy, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" The boy said, "Be Prime Minister." The girl was surprised: "Men can also be prime ministers?"

Thatcher's own point of view is "if you want to say something, find a man;" If you want to achieve it, find a woman. "She is the female prime minister first, and then the prime minister. Many media like to use a photo of Thatcher cooking breakfast for her husband to prove that a strong woman must also take care of her family. But in fact, Thatcher has always been a feminist. In college, young Margaret (then Margaret Robert) wrote: "If Queen Elizabeth's accession to the throne can really eliminate the last prejudice against aspiring women to the highest power, then a new era of women's liberation will really come. "When she was elected Prime Minister, she was very nervous when she met the Queen of England." I know that if I can't be a good female prime minister, there will be no other female prime ministers in Britain. "

However, conservative British people don't like a woman giving orders in the political arena. Women are always stronger than men. At that time, she was criticized for ignoring the situation of unemployed workers. "As a woman, you should have compassion", and Thatcher's husband Dennis responded that "the word sympathy never appeared in her dictionary". Until now, when discussing Thatcher's merits and demerits in British forums, there are still people who openly praise and secretly derogate from "what is lost, what is gained." As a female leader, I still admire it. Some people even analyzed the reasons why Margaret Thatcher finally gave in to Deng Xiaoping on the Hongkong issue and said, "Compared with Deng Xiaoping, she is just a woman." . "

Columnist Paddy Shennan wrote in commemoration of the 25th anniversary of Thatcher's administration: "Twenty-five years ago, she was the most powerful woman in Britain. Now, this honor belongs to Anne Robinson (a famous British TV presenter, famous for her black dress and cold expression). "

Just a concept.

Although at the beginning of May, almost all the British media heated up Thatcher's name again, their focus was on Thatcherism, Thatcher era, Thatcher economy and baby Thatcher .../kloc-what happened to the old woman who left Downing Street in tears four years ago is no longer a topic of public discussion.

Since the death of her husband Dennis at the end of last year, Thatcher, who has been terminally ill, has hardly appeared in public. Since last year, many people who had access to her claimed that Thatcher had completely lost her former "Iron Lady" demeanor. Linda McDougall, an old friend who has been friends with Mrs. Thatcher for 30 years, wrote in the Sunday Times that she was "shocked" by the changes of Mrs. Thatcher: "I have always admired her self-confidence for so many years, but now, what I see from her is fear and anxiety. She felt these changes herself, and she was afraid because she wanted to stop them but could do nothing. "

Thatcher's daughter Carol once said that when she was old, her mother often looked confused, always asking her father the same question over and over again, and always chattering.

Linda wrote sadly that on the day she visited last year, it was only three days before Mrs. Thatcher's 77th birthday, but the well-connected former political strongman only received four birthday cards. The lonely old man carefully put these poor birthday cards on the mantelpiece, although she had expected to receive at least dozens.

Linda finally wrote: "Margaret Thatcher's name appears on newspapers, magazines and TV screens almost every day, but the owner of this name has received little attention." People just use it to refer to "Thatcherism" or the historical period named after her ... Although Mrs. Thatcher is regarded as a public idol, the real Mrs. Thatcher has long been forgotten. "

Margaret margaret hilda thatcher was born in Grantham, Lincolnshire, England. 65438-0943 entered Somerville Women's College of Oxford University to study chemistry. He joined the Conservative Party in college and served as the chairman of the Conservative Party Association of Oxford University.

From 1947 to 195 1, she worked as a chemical researcher in two chemical companies and studied law in her spare time. From 1953, Lincoln Bar Association approved her as a lawyer.

Margaret Thatcher was elected as a Conservative MP with 1959. 196 1 was appointed as the Deputy Minister of Government Affairs of the Ministry of Pensions and National Insurance. 1964 as a Conservative Party spokesman in the House of Commons. 1970 minister of education and science. 1975 was elected leader of the conservative party in February. 1979 In May, the Conservative Party won the general election, and Margaret Thatcher became the prime minister, becoming the first female prime minister in British history. June 1983, June 1987 re-elected as prime minister. 1990165438+10 resigned as prime minister. 1June, 992, he was made a lifelong aristocrat. 1993 May served as the 2nd1honorary dean of William-Mary College. On June 65438+1October 65438+March 2005, Margaret Thatcher celebrated her 80th birthday. Many people, whether friends for many years or former political enemies, specially sent birthday wishes and spoke highly of her. The Queen of England and Prime Minister Blair attended her birthday celebration.