Ten Years After: An Ungentlemanly Act

Abstract

The tenth anniversary of the Falklands War was a curiously muted affair. Because of its new-found sensitivity towards the feelings of former foes become potential allies in oil exploration, the still-ruling Conservatives decided not to use the occasion as an opportunity to ‘glamorize’ the war. The Party’s new leader, John Major, was also presumably less than eager to rekindle memories of the recently deposed Margaret Thatcher’s finest moment. Neither, though, did the print or visual media approach the anniversary with much enthusiasm. Thus, the euphoric spirit so widespread in 1982 is seldom to be found in what tend to be rather sombre commemorative pieces.