Civility? Not Applicable for a Conservative — Even When It's at His or Her Funeral

One leftist group, calling itself Good Riddance Maggie Thatcher, said it had sought prior approval for its supporters to turn their backs on the cortege [for the funeral of the Iron Lady], as they did when the gun carriage was nearing St. Paul’s Cathedral, Christopher Wren’s magnificent domed edifice in the heart of London’s financial district

Anybody wondering about whether the invitation to embrace civility, politeness, and the display of decent manners is only a one-sided affair, with the double standards applying to conservatives (international as well as American) alone, need only take a look at John F Burns and Alan Cowell's New York Times report of Maggie's London funeral (slideshow).

At Ludgate Circus, close to St. Paul's, a small group of protesters gathered, some with banners reading, Now Bury Thatcherism." Some jeered and shouted "Good riddance!" 

Just imagine the outrage had conservatives — again, British or other (say, Tea Party members) — done the same at the funeral (!) of some leftist icon.

Margaret Thatcher in Her Own Words

Happily, we learn that

the protesters’ rhythmic shouts of “Waste of money!” and “Rest in shame!” were overpowered in a countering wave of clapping, cheering and chanting of “Maggie! Maggie! Maggie!” by crowds straining for a view on the approaches to the cathedral.

Unfortunately, there is as follows — and the snub (if it can be called that) doesn't only seem to be the fault of American leftists:

One of the few jarring notes at the ceremony came from supporters of Mrs. Thatcher, who called President Obama’s decision not to send any senior members of his administration to attend the funeral a slight, in view of Mrs. Thatcher’s influential role as President Ronald Reagan’s partner in facing down the Soviet Union. The American delegation was led by former Vice President Dick Cheney and two other veterans of Republican administrations, George P. Shultz, 92, and James A. Baker III, 82. 

Funeral organizers said that they had invited all the former American presidents, but that none had accepted. Officials said they had cited a range of reasons, including poor health, in the case of the first President George Bush, and previous engagements, in the case of the second President Bush. Initially, organizers said there was a possibility that former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton would attend, but she, too, declined, as did Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. 

The absences drew critical comment from across the spectrum of British politics. Gerald Howarth, chairman of a Thatcherite group of Conservatives in Parliament, told The Daily Mail: “The bond forged between the U.K. and the U.S. through Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher was instrumental in ending the cold war and liberating millions of people. That the present administration feels unable to be represented as the world marks the extraordinary contribution Margaret Thatcher made will be a disappointment to those who served with her in that endeavor.”