Stinging Bad Publicity

"We are satisfied that with this development, Dieudonne and like-minded individuals will receive the message that in Quebec, hateful agitation is not deserving of an honourable platform.  While we support freedom of expression, we have a responsibility to relegate anti-Jewish rantings and all expressions of hatred and racism to the margins of society.  Luciano Del Negro, Quebec vice-president, Centre for israel and Jewish Affairs

Although Evenko, Quebec's largest concert promoter, after claiming it could not possibly cancel the four-day engagement in Montreal by controversial comic Dieudonne M'Bala M'Bala, they've now determined otherwise.  They have obviously thought hard and long about this one, and decided to pull it off stage, after all.  The kind of viciously derogatory racism that has become the man's specialty draws too much unfavourable press.

And while it's often been said that public notice of any kind; good, bad or indifferent, is still publicity, still draws attention, and in the end is useful, there is nothing particularly useful about the sting of racist-inspired opprobrium that has been so enthusiastically earned by Dieudonne M'Bala M'Bala.  Belgian authorities compelled the cancellation of two Brussels performances, and police in France stopped a performance due to a contravention of local laws.

"It was Dieudonne who went overboard, first with xenophobic comments and then by inciting hatred", according to Brussels mayor Freddy Thielemans who responded to a Facebook challenge by the comic insisting he would take Belgian "censorship" to court.  "It is well known that Dieudonne's trademark is not humour but hatred toward Jews", commented Mr. Del Negro.

"That is why the French courts have on several occasions found him guilty of inciting hatred."  What a pity, Dieudonne will not be able to promote his first feature film while performing on a Montreal stage.  "It's clear the Jews control everything  the media, finance, politics.  We no longer have a choice.  We must exterminate them", blithely states the character portrayal in the film L'Antisemite.

Although that sentiment is quite in accord with his sponsors, the theocratic government of Iran, which put up seed funding for the film, perhaps it doesn't quite meet the parameters of decency that Evenko could promote, given the reaction to date.  For one thing, far too much publicity of a negative kind in response to anti-Semitic provocation of the direst kind.

"Due to contractual conflicts, the Corona Theatre has decided to cancel Dieudonne's performances scheduled for May 14, 15, 16 and 17" read the statement issued by Evenko.  Seems it was able to exercise a choice, after all, rather than 'honour' its agreement.  How can something utterly devoid of honour be responsive to the principle of honour, to begin with?