Has there ever been a female dictator?
Alice Reynolds, London UK
- My question is 'why are there so many left-wing comedians on here? And why do they only have one joke between them?'
Chris Brown, Reading UK
- Chris Brown, it's probably because this is the Guardian's web-site and not the Telegraph's.
Carmen Lichi, London
- If one accepts the concepts of hegemony and the 'tyranny of the majority' (or minority, given the foibles of our voting system), then Thatcher is a legitimate example of a dictator. Alternatively you could look back at Cleopatra and Elizabeth I. Contemporary examples more usually come in the form of dictators' wives, who have enormous influence and power to do evil (Does Mrs Mao ring any bells?) As for the reasons why we're all lefties with only one joke, can I ask the correspondent to try reading a copy of the Guardian. For a range of rightwing jokes try Jim Davidson.
Mark, Bristol, UK
- Aidan Randle-Conde of Crewe, I know you're going to say I, your mother, am the original female dictator. To your room NOW!
Carla, Crewe UK
- How about the Tang dynasty Empress Wu Zetian (AD624-705), the only woman in Chinese history ever to become Empress in her own right, as opposed to those who did so by marriage. She was completely ruthless in her climb to power and did the usual dictatorial things such as creating a secret police force and putting her enemies horribly to death. She was also something of an early feminist, challenging Confucian tenets against rule by women and attempting (unsuccesfully) to establish her own dynasty.
Clive, Sydney Australia
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