Dancing on graves

GEORGETOWN, Guyana - Margaret Thatcher and Hugo Chávez came from opposing ends of the political spectrum but, in a curious way, they shared a common trait: both were capable of arousing, in death as in life, great admiration and devotion, on the one hand, and deep loathing on the other. In the latter respect, reactions to their death in their respective countries make for an interesting comparison. Mrs Thatcher’s funeral on Wednesday was a grand affair, just the type of thing at which the British excel. In the lead-up to the £10 million official funeral, however, there were serious concerns that it would be disrupted by protests against the former prime minister’s legacy and the cost to the British taxpayer. That the funeral went off without major incident was perhaps due to the many calls for respect – not so much for her political philosophy but rather for the passing of a fellow human being who left an indelible mark on history – and, at the final reckoning, a triumph of decency over hatred.