Lest you think that only American partisans are capable of over-the-top, name calling political hackery which reflects on them when they go over the top, just look at this controversy swirling around Great Britain’s Tweet about former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher leftist George Galloway has provoked criticism after writing a ‘distasteful’ comment following the death of former Conservative Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.
Only a few minutes after the death of the 87-year-old was announced the Respect MP for Bradford West took to his Twitter writing ‘Tramp the dirt down.’
His response after her death from a stroke earlier today, was met with disgust by many users on the social networking site.
When one user wrote that the MP was ‘unbecoming’ in his choice of phrase, the 59-year-old fired back ‘You’re obviously a teenage scribbler then? Or one with no memory.’
It is thought the MP was referring to an Elvis Costello 1989 song in which the singer vows to dance on Thatcher’s grave.
In a further message on the social networking site, Mr Galloway said: ‘Thatcher described Nelson Mandela as a ‘terrorist’. I was there. I saw her lips move. May she burn in the hellfires.’
Although the internet was flooded with tributes to the Iron Lady, it also showcased venom for Britain’s first and only female political leader.
And, yes, indeed. The Internet now often serves as a kind of couch where people can act out their own little issues — something that’s clear when you see the anger, rage and ungraciousness with which they go after others.
Galloway is a prime example.
The National Review on this story:
The global Left, likewise, has strong motives to disparage her: She realized that decline was a choice (“I can’t bear Britain in decline, I just can’t”), unashamedly believed that the Anglosphere was crucially important to the world (“During my lifetime most of the problems the world has faced have come, in one fashion or other, from mainland Europe, and the solutions from outside it”), and was possessed of an unwavering belief that America and Britain were forces for good and must lead. Today, I feel particularly for my father, who came from nothing and made something of himself. He abhorred the patronizing socialism of the Labour party and credited the opportunity society in which Mrs. Thatcher believed with making his social mobility possible. She was his hero.
In death, her enemies will be vile about her — that is their right, and there is no need to pretend that they liked her just because she is dead. Indeed, the usual suspects have already started. But, ultimately, who cares what they say? She was right and they were wrong. While they blathered, she helped to defeat Communism, restored democracy to the Falklands, and saved Britain from the reds at home. She was, without doubt, our finest post-war premier and she made an incalculable contribution to the life of my country of birth. So, “what did the #ironlady do to advance Great Britain and the world?” Everything. Rest in peace, Mrs. T.
Joe Gandelman is a former fulltime journalist who freelanced in India, Spain, Bangladesh and Cypress writing for publications such as the Christian Science Monitor and Newsweek. He also did radio reports from Madrid for NPR’s All Things Considered. He has worked on two U.S. newspapers and quit the news biz in 1990 to go into entertainment. He also has written for The Week and several online publications, did a column for Cagle Cartoons Syndicate and has appeared on CNN.