Thatcher kicked the bucket.

[Something completely different]

I don't really have an opinion since I haven't researched them specifically. Suffice to say, one person's actions over one particular issues doesn't damn them for life in my eyes. I'm not saying Thatcher was a saint or even close to perfect; I've saying she was a good leader.

So you ignore the negatives?

Technically speaking, Nelson Mandela at one time was a terrorist.

terrorist. noun. A person who uses terrorism in the pursuit of political aims.

Mandela helped found Umkhonto we Sizwe ("Spear of the Nation", abbreviated MK). From Wikipedia:

Operating through a cell structure, the MK agreed to acts of sabotage to exert maximum pressure on the government with minimum casualties, [n]bombing military installations, power plants, telephone lines and transport links[/b] at night, when civilians were not present. Mandela noted that should these tactics fail, MK would resort to "guerilla warfare and terrorism." Soon after ANC leader Luthuli was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, the MK publicly announced its existence with 57 bombings on Dingane's Day (16 December) 1961, followed by further attacks on New Year's Eve.

(bolding mine)

So yes, at one point, Mandela was a terrorist. He isn't one now; in fact he's probably one of the people most likely to argue for peaceful resolution of conflicts...something he argued for a lot after his release.

Obviously one mans terrorist is another mans freedom fighter.

Yet this doesnt change the fact that Thatcher sided for a disgusting racist regime and also denounced those who stood up against that regime.

I have no belief either way. I believe that any country can become corrupt and fascist if they let it. Germany is no exception, and certainly has a history that reflects that. Germany today is a very modern civilization, but don't kid yourself by thinking that any modern country (Germany included) is immune from fascism, or even worse.

rephrase:

Do you believe that the correct way of engaging in international politics is to rely on national sterotyps to draw conclusions and to believe in preconsisting historic elements within a nations culture which causes certain patterns of behavior within that sociaty to constantly reemerge.