Effusive eulogies also offensive

I found Songdej Prditsmanont’s letter to be off the mark. He claims Margaret Thatcher couldn’t have been so bad because Queen Elizabeth attended her funeral. Why should I believe that the queen’s view on greatness is any better than mine or yours? 

If it’s bad taste to rejoice when a leader dies, it is also bad taste to heap one-sided praise on him or her and thus show a lack of compassion toward those who suffered because of that leader.

I would have no objection if the death of a leader led to objective discussion about his or her strengths and weaknesses, with all points of view given equal representation. But I find it highly offensive when certain leaders such as Ronald Reagan, who was extremely cruel, are written about when they die as though they had been God. That is a thousand times more disgusting than dancing in the streets and celebrating.

Eric Bahrt

Pattaya