Speaking ill of the dead
Anne Diamond
When did it ever become ok to speak ill of the dead? I find it deeply uncomfortable how vitriolic some of the comments are about Lady T, only 48 hours after her death.
In more respectful days, one used certain phrases to subtly speak critically of the dead.
If someone was a 'tireless and dedicated worker' it meant they never saw anything of their family.
'A tireless raconteur' translated into a crashing bore.
'He was good company', meant he was an alcoholic.
'Held robust views' meant he was a bigot.
He was a 'Bohemian', meant he was an alcoholic who lived alone in the most disgusting flat you have ever seen!
And so the euphemisms go on. A cleverer and rather more respectful way of expressing a view and summing up a life, don't you think?
