Why We Protest (or Scientology is A Cult)

We had, one could say, an interesting aside on our D.C. trip.

Earlier, I’d blogged about the anti Scientology group Anonymous’ plans to protest at Katie Holmes Broadway debut. You all know I think Katie and Suri are darlings (even if Suri does sometimes remind me, in the odd way some small children have, of Marvin the Martian, but she’s cute, so it works), and Tom Cruise is just odd.

We’re strolling around in front of the White House, and Mr. Manners is snapping photos like mad. I’m admiring the great job the secret service and Homeland Security have done putting in cameras that give them a view of every inch of the square in front of the White House and every angle coming and going. At one point, Mr. Manners and I both look up at a lamp post and wave. I mouthed “Hi, President Bush!”.

Just like us, everywhere there are tourists, and only a small amount of protestors. Some protestors are carrying signs and walking around silently, while others are dressed in long robes, or are wearing wigs and carnival masks and handing out…anti Scientology literature! We’re approached by a woman in a wig and carnival mask (yes, I have the brochure, and no, I won’t put it up). I’ve had my first real life introduction to Anonymous!

In reading my site tracker, I noted that my blog article had gotten picked up on a message board that seemed to sympathize with the group. That tickled me, and the periodic subsequent hits made me want to leave little messages that said HOWDY!

Later, we’re driving through D.C. and yet again I am lost (and swearing because there is no such thing as traffic flow in that city), we stumble upon a Scientology center with a cross on the building. I’m rather offended by this, because I really think they are a cult, and I’m not sure a cult should….well….demean the cross by using it. Mr. Manners was offended as well, and as we were stuck at the light, and a bit overheated and badly tempered already, well….

Let us just say the words, with the windows down, were uttered at high volume and not necessarily in this order “CULT…..ALIENS……MOUNTAINS!!!!”