Yesterday A Lib-Dem, A Tory and A Labourite walked into a restaurant. It sounds like the start of a bad joke, but it was in fact my dinner last evening and when these facts came to light things got rather animated, possibly to the discomfiture of the rest of the table. Now I'm not here to recount whatever arguments we were having, but I will observe that according to the Tory Austerity is both working and still the only way, and according to the Lib-Dem, the party was being absolutely 'principled' in going into coalition and has made a huge difference to the present government. I suppose somewhere in the midst of this conversation I, the hapless labourite forced to listen to just how well this country is doing with inflation, unemployment and flatlining economy, had an enlightened moment and felt if labour were in power, in coalition with the lib-dems, exactly the same things would be said, though by slightly different people. What I was told by an MP once holds true; it really is just a game.
I found myself in a funny position defending Labour, seeing as I dislike most of its trajectory over my lifetime, in effect, apparently unlike the other two, I sort of look a bit uncomfortable with being seen under a particular banner. However for all my cynicism of the theatrics of political life, I more than met my match in Neil Jameson, Mr. Citizens UK himself, who was meeting with some Jellicoe interns in the afternoon, who even managed to dismiss the events in Tunisia as a false dawn and the Occupy protests as a fruitless distraction from real change.
I bring it up though because also at that meeting there were a lot of gloomy comments concerning St. Paul's decision to lock its doors and potentially find ways of evicting protestors from the Cathedral area, ostensibly on health and safety grounds, yet just happening to mention the lost revenue from half-term and of course all Giles Fraser came out and supported their right to protest. The Occupiers are not the only ones who are baffled. As the article linked to goes on to indicate, many seem to think the Cathedral is in cahoots with the Corporation of London, and I have read one or two commentary pieces saying as much outright. I have no idea myself behind those Cathedral doors, but it certainly allows me to find my idealistic voice:
These actions not only make the Church look incredibly stupid, saying one thing, doing another, saying something different about it, seemingly not have considered the camp as a longer term project at all but it's just a completely wasted opportunity to engage with people who clearly have a lot of passion for a just cause, many of whom probably do feel done over by the system and who care deeply for others disenfranchised by our political and economic systems. Exactly the sort of people, one might say that Jesus would want to meet with, invite to the wedding feast. Perhaps an established Church is fearful of picking a clearly partisan side, but I think few would deny which side a Church following its principles would, should come down on.
Many have pointed out that if they're worried about blocked walkways, the Cathedral could always open its doors to the tents. At the very least, they could be out there meaningfully talking over what should be a huge wealth of common ground, sharing the gospel, showing the protestors their own marks of the divine in their current commitments. But it is not to be. A wonderful opportunity fully wasted and done with as gracelessly as possible. I have seen people on Twitter saying the protestors should be reasonable and move on, but an institution that wishes to walk 'the narrow way' who prays for the will of God to be done on earth, as it is in heaven, has no business putting the pragmatic considerations first.
Hang the cost, support the cause, or if not the cause, then at least the people who still need supplies and must be perishingly cold out there, why accrue animosity with them instead? I think there was some guy in the religion somewhere, quite important, who said 'strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness [and] do not worry about tomorrow' ..?
I will say it's good advice, for the vexing actions of the Cathedral certainly have brought sufficient troubles to worry about today. And though I may not have much belief in Party politics, I certainly still believe in doing the right thing without counting the cost, and I just wish that St. Paul's would share that view.As for the meeting with Neil Jameson, he eventually revealed his idealist colours as he talked proudly of the changes brought about in Newham hospital thourgh organized civic pressure. Although the Occupiers may have less realistic asks at the moment, but every good Community Organiser knows the publicity can make a big difference to achieving one's aims. Stand firm protestors, and we shall wee what tomorrow brings...
