Margaret Thatcher was a Great Person

Before I begin, I'd like to remind my opponent that this debate is not about whether or not Margaret Thatcher was a "good" person, but whether or not she was a "great" person. Therefore this debate will not be focusing on her political ideals but her as a person. I'd also like to thank my opponent for accepting this challenge and I look forward to a very interesting debate.I'll now begin my argument. It will be split into four sections; 1) First Female Prime Minister of Great Britain, 2) The Iron Lady, 3) Lasting Impact and 4) A True Patriot.1) First Female Prime Minister of Great BritainThatcher was, as stated in the title, the first and, to date, only female Prime Minister that Britain has ever had. She battled through sexist prejudices in place at the time to become the longest serving Prime Minister for Britain. This immediately shows that she was a great woman; she wasn't elected because she was the best woman candidate for the place, she was elected for being the best candidate.2) The Iron LadyMargaret Thatcher was nicknamed the "Iron Lady" by a Russian reporter. She responded with this famous quote:"They were right. Britain needs an Iron Lady." - Margaret ThatcherAnd how right she was! She was a convicted politician, standing by her decisions even whe she became unpopular. Few politicians had done it before and even fewer have done it since. Just look at David Cameron; while I have respect for him and his policies, he doesn't have the coviction and the dedication that Margaret Thatcher triumphantly brought back to politics. What's more, she took her beliefs to the grave. She did not take back her policies once in her lifetime and stood by them.3) Lasting ImpactDays after Thatcher's death, a protest began. Hundreds of people began to "celebrate" her death, a disgusting act that is utterly disrespectful no matter what she stood for. People also began to riot and protest, apparently ignorant to the fact that it would do nothing to change what had happened.However, in contrast, her funeral ceremony rivalled that of a member of the Royal Family, with thousands lining the streets to pay their final respects.Both these acts, though contrasting in nature, show what a lasting impact she had on society. Most important of all, she was, and will be, remembered unlike many of the politicians we see in power today. She was a great person who had an impact then and, arguably, a greater impact now.4) A True PatriotThatcher stood out from the crowd as being a politician who, rather than focusing on personal gain, was dedicated to her country. This is shown by her conviction, as stated in my first point and her devotion to doing what she believed was right. Whether that benefited the country or not is for a different debate, but the fact is that she stood for what she believed in and did it for Britain. How many politicians can we say that for today? Conclusion Therefore, Margaret Thatcher can be considered "great" chiefly because she was Britain's first woman Prime Minister, an overwhelming achievement in itself, because she was convicted, she had a lasting impact and was totally dedicated to her country. I look forward to my opponent's reply. Please note that your argument should not contain rebuttals of my points as they shall be saved for the next round.