Thatchers head on the deck

+I have just read and signed the online petition: + + 'Clemency for Paul Kelleher (the man being charged with criminal +damage for decapitating a statue of Margaret Thatcher)'

So if someone visited your exhibition you wouldn't mind him smashing all your works just so long as he claimed he did it because he feels you've done irreparable harm to the art world?

Condoning public vandalism on grounds of political comment is akin to ethnic cleansing.

Some people think Thatcher was a saviour - perhaps they should be lined up and shot?

Andy D.

'I'm a great speller - but a hopless tpyist!'

Now don't get us all going there. N.H

Nik

I am never sure to what extent petitions work, but there are only three options available: 1. Endorse it 2. Ignore it 3. Denounce it

There is no question that the man who did the act was totally aware of the consequences. He is one of the few people in this world who have the guts to do what others don't. He didn't hide behind a mask and commit a cowardly crime that he could joke about in the pub later - but he could so easily have. The crime will undoubtedly result in a conviction - possibly a custodial one - and will effect him for the rest of his life, and there is no possibility of getting away from it. It will effect everything from credit and mortgages to the type of job he can get. So I think the petition is aimed at damage limitation and to show support for his cause. That is what effects the decision the judge will make in regard to punishment for the crime.

I have absolutely nothing to do with this petition - it was forwarded on Artlives and a number of us chose to sign it. I signed it because I was a victim of Thatcher's fascist rule. Tens of thousands of people in England were forced into bankruptcy because of her recklessness. My own business went from a valuation of 95,000 pounds to 3,000 in 12 months when leasehold properties lost all value. Like thousands of others, the bank, who under Thatcher rule had loaned money to young entrepreneurs like myself to purchase leasehold properties at extremely high interest rates, recalled the loans. The courts were full of such cases and the hospitals heaving with suicide cases and serious stress related illnesses. It's taken over a decade for those people to rebuild their lives and the damage to the country after 1990 is still being felt. Same way as the aftermath of Sept 11th will not impact us fully for several years.

So when they erect a statue in honour of her, you can be sure that there is outrage across this country. The woman was driven by self - she wanted to be another Churchill. Many say that her ally Pinochet, who was responsible for the deaths of over 10,000 people, saved Chile. They choose Capitalism over humanity and are generally ill informed or supporters of fascism (without often being aware of it). So those who choose to sign the petition in their real name, endorse the actions of a man who has a valid grievance to make and had the guts to do it. Those who ignore it through apathy believe that they cannot impact on the world. Those who denounce it by objecting - whether cowardly vandalism of the petition for their own kicks, or written objection (maybe even in the form of a petition) - support capitalism, fascism and everything that goes with a power driven world where humanity takes second place.

I am sure this petition will fail, but it might heighten awareness and raise support from people who are able to make some sort of impact. It will certainly ressurect awareness of the devastation to so many people as a result of Thatcher rule. In that, it will be a success.

Alison A Raimes

Maybe you're unaware of this. Ethnic cleansing is not the act of grabbing foreigners on the street and forcing them to bathe. It's the act of rounding them up and killing them. A decapitated statue is not the same thing as a decapitated human being. If you see the two as equal, something has gone terribly wrong in your brain.

History isn't certain

+> Condoning public vandalism on grounds of political comment is akin to +> ethnic cleansing.

+Maybe you're unaware of this. Ethnic cleansing is not the act of +grabbing foreigners on the street and forcing them to bathe.

Ahh, well you see that's where I've been mislead - obviously.

+ It's the +act of rounding them up and killing them. A decapitated statue is not +the same thing as a decapitated human being. If you see the two as +equal, something has gone terribly wrong in your brain.

Maybe it's the way I've 'learned to see'.

I've seen your portraits Nik (and your onsite dedication to foul language), so let's not go delving into each others phsychological state eh?

You're supporting a criminal act on the grounds that you don't agree with a particular politician - who left power a very long time ago by the way. If your view ruled, we'd have people roaming the streets burning down mosques and getting away with it.

+> Some people think Thatcher was a saviour - perhaps they should be lined up +> and shot? + +History isn't certain

Life is amazing: We find ourselves on the same side of this issue.

keith

It's too late - there is no going back - once the pen has written ....

keith

You are, of course, right. However they are too insignificant to worry

My passion is based upon principle not upon the insignificance of those morons - for those morons appeal to hate and hate is never insignificant.

keith

Again, I agree with you. Moron is quite a good description of pinkos who are unable to think as well.