A farewell to Dames

If there was any more stunning news Monday than the death of Margaret Thatcher it could only have been the death of Annette Funicello. And could there be any two people who represented human culture in more disparate ways?

While Maggie and Annette represented different parts of the human experience, they both held sway over the public like nobody’s business. The Iron Lady, as Ms. Thatcher was known all over the world, set a rigid standard for British Prime Ministers that hadn’t been seen since Winston Churchill’s days. Dogged and demanding, she was the kind of political figure who instantly cut the wheat from the chaff. And the chaff railed against her as she continued to ply a course through the political turmoil of the 80s.

She was a steady right hand and solid influence and support to our country’s own revered Ronald Reagan, who both parties today cite as a dominating figure in post Iron Curtain politics. There is no question that Ms. Thatcher’s leadership brought England out of a series of doldrums that reached back to the early 60s. In much the same way, Reagan pulled the American spirit up by its boot straps, dislodging the hideous recollection of Vietnam and setting a course that put America back on top in terms of political prowess.

Thatcher took over as Prime Minister in 1979, won a second term in 1983, and a third term in 1987. She became England’s longest serving prime minister of the century on Jan. 3, 1988 and resigned the position in November of 1990 after a party revolt.

A great number of quotes have been attributed to her, among them the following:

·        If you want something said, ask a man; if you want something done, ask a woman.

·        If you just set out to be liked, you would be prepared to compromise on anything at any time, and you would achieve nothing.

·         Being powerful is like being a lady. If you have to tell people you are, you aren't.

·         I love argument, I love debate. I don't expect anyone just to sit there and agree with me, that's not their job.

·         I seem to smell the stench of appeasement in the air.

In the other extreme we have the passing of every boy’s first love in those days, well okay, mine anyway, Annette Funicello. If you were a youngster in the 1950s how could you not have fallen in love with Annette? I mean, after all, Disney brought her into your home every week. And, at 13, she was a plumb knock out.

Even after her years with the original Mickey Mouse Club, she continued to grace the big screen in that series of beach party films that were fun, frolicsome and just a little bit hokey. But it was still Annette up there, big and beautiful and coaxing us out of our youth.

Annette passed at 70 from complications due to multiple sclerosis.

Disney Chairman and CEO Bob Iger said that Annette will always be synonymous with the word Mouseketeer and I would have to agree. I don’t remember any of the other members of the troupe, but I will never forget Annette.

And so it is that on the very same day the world loses two of its most prominent women—one a political firebrand worthy of the title the Iron Lady, and the other the fair damsel of children’s television. All I can say is goodbye sweet ladies; I know the world will miss both of you in equal measure.