Wrong Doorstep

It goes without saying that when the economy is suffering from problems, institutions have to suffer protests.  However, whatever the protesters gripes are they are very often directed at a specific institution, and while one may not agree with the protesters action, one can see why it is that institution being targeted.

This however is not the case with the current protest going on outside St Paul’s Cathedral.  The ‘Occupy London Movement’ against the usual suspects of bankers and capitalism has for the past two weeks camped outside not RBS, not the London Stock Exchange, but a cathedral.  A religious monument which upholds strong moral values against greed and other such perceived ‘sins’ of which these protesters claim to be campaigning against.

There are many contradictions within this movement and protest, namely the fact they are complaining about taxpayers money being used to finance bankers bonuses, when it seems quite obvious these people do not pay tax as if they did they would be at work earning it, not protesting.  But that aside, the most fundamental contradiction is plainly and simply that they are sat outside the wrong place.  This protest has not affected the people they are meant to be protesting against one bit, instead it has caused St Paul’s Cathedral which is not a capitalist symbol, but a religious one  a lot of pain and caused three religious leaders to step down.

The even sadder fact is there is talk these protesters could disrupt Remembrance Sunday.  Disrupting such a service clearly has nothing to do with what they are protesting against.

Unless these protesters are cleverer then we initially thought and have purposely chosen a religious place because they knew it would be controversial for a church to order their removal.  The result being that they would be able to stay longer?  If this is the case then they are clearly abusing the Church’s good nature and should be dealt with accordingly.

Although I suspect this is giving the protesters more credit than is due in the tactics department.