Appreciating May the Fourth Be With You

In May 1977, the original Star Wars film (now known as Star Wars Episode 4: A New Hope) premiered at movie theaters.  Practically no one expected the tremendous  success of Star Wars, as it grossed $775 million at the box office.   But the George Lucas film became a sustained cultural phenomenon.

When Tory politician Margaret Thatcher first became British Prime Minister, the London Evening Standard published a punny congratulatory ad from the Conservative party which played off of Star Wars rebel imagery vis-a-vis Labour's deathgrip on UK politics after 1978-79 Winter of Discontent.

While the politics of the pun's origination may have faded, the slogan became a geek touchstone.  It was a catch phrase on Facebook for "Luke Skywalker Day" in 2008.  The first organized grassroots holiday was in Toronto, Canada in 2011.  Since Disney took over Lucasfilms in 2013, it has become a celebrated ersatz holiday.

It might make you want to sing.





Like lounge singer Nick Winters on Saturday Night Live so many moons ago?


Almost.

But it might inspire the Boogie Storm to make some mad jumps. 

Margaret Thatcher on Being Liked

Margaret Thatcher on a United Europe

As a good Tory, MP Margaret Thatcher campaigned for continued inclusion in the European Common Market in 1975 (but note that her Euro Jumper still had the Union Jack most prominent).  

However, regarding British sovereignty, transparency and free markets, Thatcher would be an unrepentant Eur-skeptic, as demonstrated by her 1990 Prime Minister question time colloquy. 

Margaret Thatcher on a Moral Society

Margaret Thatcher on Liberty

Margaret Thatcher on Society

Margaret Thatcher on Constitutions

Margaret Thatcher on Consensus

Margaret Thatcher on Success

Margaret Thatcher on Temperament

Margaret Thatcher on Power

Margaret Thatcher on Socialism

It is worth noting on the day of former UK Prime Minister Baroness Margaret Thatcher's British state funeral that the Obama Administration sent a low level delegation of Republican former Secretaries of Stake, George Schultz and James Baker, ages 92 and 84 respectively, to represent the United States.

In sharp contrast, when socialist revolutionary dictator Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez died in March 2013, the  Obama Administration had the US Charges d'Affairs to Caracas as well as Congressman Gregory Meeks  (D-NY 5th) and former U.S. Representative William Delahunt (D-MA 10th) representing the Obama Administration.

Of course, President Obama  has a history of snubbing its long-time allies, particularly the United Kingdom, as Mr. Obama returned  the bust of Winston Churchill presented to the American people after the 9/11 terror attacks as well as the history of  ham handed state gifts to Britain during the reign of Obama.    

But this snub at Margaret Thatcher's funeral seems more ideologically driven.  Rather than respect our Special Relationship will longtime ally Great Britain and recognize the first British woman prime minister, one who saved the free market in England, Obama sent aged Grand Old Party standees.  Yet Mr. Obama had the temerity of sending active Obama Administration officials and a current congressional representative to a Chavista socialist who has caused much mischief in Mezo-America as well as among its neighbors in South America. 

It tells you something more about socialism and the Obama Administration. 

Margaret Thatcher on Freedom

Margaret Thatcher on Raison d'etre