The Occupy protest at St Paul's Cathedral - a parable of our times - Telegraph: "The Blitz only closed St Paul’s for four days. By contrast, the Occupy London Stock Exchange protesters, camped outside Wren’s masterpiece, managed to put it out of business for a week. It has been a debacle . . . . what of the protesters themselves in this sorry story? . . . refusing to leave when asked. . . yet another blow has been struck against Christian worshippers. In this case, “anarchist” protesters threatened the freedom to worship – one of our most basic and hard-fought-for rights – by forcing the cathedral authorities to halt public access. . . . Yet the very fact that they are prepared to continue their own protest at the expense of Christian worship in one of our greatest cathedrals surely gives the lie to the protesters’ claim that they represent 99 per cent of society. Furthermore, their determination to engage in an open-ended campaign in the churchyard is opportunistic and cynical. If their protest is truly against the tax evaders of the City and reckless banking practices, why are they not protesting at Canary Wharf, or on the thresholds of the banks themselves? . . .And what was the cause anyway? “This is what democracy looks like,” claimed Occupy’s opening statement. It explained that it was engaged in a process of public assemblies in a democratic process. But it is making up its demands as it goes along – truly rebels without a cause."
Mathew Hulbert: It's Time for the Occupy St Paul's Protesters to go Home: "I believe the Occupy protesters outside St Paul's Cathedral in London have now made their point and should go home and allow the Cathedral to be able to function normally again. I have quite a bit of sympathy for their cause but, ultimately, there comes a time when such protests wear a little then and start to lose public support. I think that time has now come and that the protesters should return to the beds a number of them have been returning to overnight anyway (rather than staying in the tents) on a permanent basis. . . I've heard various people taking part being interviewed on TV and radio and very few of them have been able to clearly articulate an over-arching theme about what they'd actually like to see changed in the way we run our country and society. All you get are the same whines about capitalism you find at most far-leftwing rallies."
Or as was so deftly said in another time, in another context:
It is high time . . . to put an end to your sitting in this place, which you have dishonored by your contempt of all virtue, and defiled . . . ye are a factious crew, and enemies to all good government; ye are a pack of mercenary wretches . . . Is there a single virtue now remaining amongst you? . . . Ye have no more religion than my horse; . . . Is there a man amongst you that has the least care for the good of the Commonwealth? Ye sordid prostitutes have you not defil'd this sacred place, . . . Ye are grown intolerably odious to the whole nation; you were deputed here by the people to get grievances redress'd, are yourselves gone! So! . . . . In the name of God, go!
(with due respects to Oliver Cromwell’s dissolution of the Long Parliament, House of Commons, 20 April 1653)
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