That Iron Lady...

This just in from a friend: My wife and I watched Iron Lady last night by ourselves after about an hour of watching Chariots of Fire with the children. It was an all British Friday night, I guess. I wondered how someone so conservative as Thatcher could gain and hold power for so long. My guess was that she was liberal on morality, especially since the movie didn't mention "social issues." Her Wikipedia bio, which looks like an excellent summary, noted that Thatcher before her "premiership" supported other British MPs' attempts to de-criminalize sodomy and abortion in 1960s. The movie didn't mention any of this.

There is an awful scene of her fresh off her first election victory pulling out of her driveway on the way to Parliament. Her twin children ran after her car screaming... She didn't look at them but scooped up the candy and toy offerings they left in the passenger seat and deposited them in the glove department. I wouldn't be surprised if it's fact. Anyway, help mothers (and fathers) feel better about dropping the kiddos off at daycare.

My wife noted that Thatcher's husband got he wanted. When he proposed, Margaret conditioned marriage on her ability to pursue something important beyond the kitchen and raising children. The movie hints and my wife thought that in the end he may have regretted his enlightened magnanimity. The moral: for want of a wife and mother the kingdom was gained.

Her father was a grocery store owner, mayor, and Methodist pastor.