Falklands War had a lasting impact

The death of Margaret Thatcher will prompt some local reflection despite the geographical distance and the passage of time since her heydey in the 80s as a progressive and controversial Prime Minister of Britain.

I've already heard plenty of people in Wairarapa with English accents. There will be some who will condemn her for destroying the power of the unions and dividing the country over the miners' strikes.

Being younger, I tend to remember Mrs Thatcher in parody. The 80s television show Spitting Image, more of a comedy to 20-somethings like myself at the time, made the most of extreme characters like Mrs Thatcher, and I suspect much of the clever political satire went over my head. The comedy The New Statesman, headed by comedian Rik Mayall as the conniving Alan Beresford B'stard, was also a deadly commentary on the nasty side of Thatcher's Conservative reign.

But for me, the most profound aspect of Thatcher's rule was the Falklands War.

Up until that time, wars were either something my grandfather had experienced, or something involving the Middle East.

It was something that touchy, militant, despot countries did all the time, but supposedly 'great nations' showcased their military might but never needed to exercise it.

The idea of Britain going to war freaked me out.

For the first time, I realised that putting on a cool uniform could involve more than just playing with guns, painting your face, learning a trade and enjoying cheap booze.

Thatcher's choice in declaring war on Argentina was a growing-up point for me because it made me realise wearing a uniform meant, regardless of nationality or remote likelihood of war, you signed up to kill people, and in turn, get shot at.

I'm sure there would have been a lot of British military personnel who would have thought: what the hell? I'm actually going to war?

Today, British and New Zealand personnel are involved in theatres of war in Iraq and Afghanistan and there is a measure of pride in that.

But Thatcher taught me one thing: never, ever volunteer to wear a uniform.

Because shot at is definitely not cool.