Uncivil behaviour

Dissent in civil society is about ideas and policies; it should never entail namecalling or personal attacks. And when a controversial public figure dies, people need to respond in a dignified and respectful way, regardless of whether they admired that public figure in life or not. There is a certain dignity that death accords to the deceased person, and which is automatically observed by the living, out of sympathetic consideration for the grieving family and friends.

That’s why it’s sad to witness the disgraceful, disrespectful incidents that have erupted since former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher died. These ranged from jubilant dancing in the streets in Britain to the display of signs saying: “The witch is dead.” It’s hard to imagine how painful this type of thing must be for Thatcher’s relatives and close friends.

There is absolutely no excuse for such behaviour. The late Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau was not well-loved by many Albertans; yet, when he died in 2000, those who had been vehemently opposed to his policies spoke of the characteristics about him they had respected; they spoke of the man, not the politician. Likewise, with the recent passing of Ralph Klein — there are many in Alberta who did not share his politics, but they, too, deferred to the family’s grief and tactfully kept any remarks low key.

Those celebrating Thatcher’s death show an atrocious disregard for the mores of civil society. Universal censure should be their lot.