Cultural differences in death of leadership between UK and US

United States (US) and United Kingdom (UK) cultural differences are recognized in the media in how they each eulogize their political leadership.

Regarding the April 9, 2013 death of UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, a theater proclaimed "Margaret Thatchers [sic] Dead LOL", social media giant Twitter saw the song "Ding-Dong! The Witch Is Dead" surge upward immediately following the leader's death and on walls and tee shirts reflected the disdain of some in the UK for Prime Minister Thatcher. In the US, it is considered a sign of disrespect to publicly vocalize disrespect for the dead, even if they resigned in disgrace, such as former President Richard Nixon.

Chatham House Director Robin Niblett said when speaking of deceased Prime Minister Thatcher, "Having lived in both places, I can see the UK is far more deprecating, far more critical, and has far fewer taboos in criticizing leaders. In a way, her death is allowing people to vocalize the sense of frustration they are feeling with the current economic crisis." Niblett explains that this untimely criticism reflects how Britain does not need to build any patriotic myths about its leaders. "America is building itself still and needing to believe there is a higher goal to which all Americans aspire, despite the partisan battles," he said. "When I see the trashing of Thatcher, I think of how strong Britain is and how in a way we don't need to do that. We don't rally round the flag, except in the most desperate moments. We don't eulogize our politicians."

According to Gregory Katz in the article "U.K.'s attitude on political leaders' deaths vastly different from U.S., "Americans tend to put presidents on a pedestal and regard them with more respect. They are called "Mr. President" for the rest of their lives, but former Prime Ministers of the UK are not called "Mr. Prime Minister."

Lucie McNeil, a Briton whose brother still lives in the UK, explained the “difference between Brits and Americans writ large. Saying something critical of America could be seen as unpatriotic here, but we Britons are conditioned to be critical of our country.”

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