Air Carl

Misguided BP Protesters June 12, 2010

I am certain that no one with a pulse likes big oil spills. Myself included. Just about everything has been written about the spill itself, and the blame game that follows. Especially comical are the people who see this as a chance to get in a dig at President Obama. Today there will be a protest against BP in my town. Will it be at a regional BP office? No. Will it take place in a park where thousands can vent their frustration? No. It is taking place as I write this, at a local privately-owned BP gas station.

I have a few issues with this move.

Number one, the owner of this gas station has nothing to do with any oil spill.  Why should an independent businessman be punished for the actions of the brand of gasoline that he sells? That’s like protesting the Israeli raid on the relief flotilla in front of a kosher delicatessen.

My second problem is the more irritating one. The protesters themselves. Sure, everyone has a right to protest. However, in our town,  which is not very big, pretty much all protests on all matters are well covered by our TV news and our local “newspaper.” I have seen many photographs of the protesters themselves. A lot of the faces look familiar. In other words, these people are “professional” protesters. After today’s BP protest, the same group of protesters are headed to another protest, cause to be named later. Listen to the list of people expected at the protest: UNC-C Students For A Democratic Society, CODE PINK: Women For Peace-Charlotte, International Socialist Organization, and AL-AWDA, a Palestinian rights group. Palestinian rights?

I get it. This is a chance for anyone with a cause to get in front of a camera. Remind me to protest in front of the Al-Awda office next time a Palestinian commits an act of terror. After today’s BP protest, this same group of people (expected to turn out by the tens) will go home, get out their magic markers and their poster board, and make new signs for their next protest. Take your pick: World Bank (G8), anti-fur, pro- gay marriage, anti-war (which is one legitimate reason to protest) and anything else that does not coincide with their way of life. There is nothing wrong with being angry with BP. But what kind of person takes food off someone’s table who is in no way involved with the cause or the handling of the worst ever oil disaster in North America?

There’s nothing wrong with protesting. It just needs to be carried out in a fair manner. Anger needs to be directed at the ones who were irresponsible enough for this catstrophe to happen in the first place, as well as the somewhat casual attitude of BP officials and some members of our government cozying up to a foreign oil company.  Holding a protest at a local gas station is extremely misdirected and more innocent people are being harmed.