“Perceptions,” by Gerry Warner

Op-Ed Commentary

Three weeks or so ago, the good citizens of Cranbrook arose as one and succeeded in getting a vulgar comedy act cancelled at the Key City Theatre even though the so-called “comedian” had a legal contract to present the disgusting trash on our local stage.

This isn’t as easy as it sounds because the law is the law and free speech is a sacred tenet of the law as indeed it is of society in general and so-called “right-thinking” people in numerous countries around the world including Canada’s.

In other words, if you mess with free speech, you do so at your peril because you’d be walking with the angels and those angels don’t take kindly to some guileless idiot who’s foolish enough to do that. Simply put, court cases are extremely expensive and comedian Ben Bankas couldn’t afford to fight the cancelation while the city couldn’t afford not to fight the foul-mouthed comedian because it would have been seen as an unreliable client to do business with.  So, all is well that ends well. Right?

Well, don’t be too quick to believe that because another raunchy show is headed to town April 16 at the York Country Cabaret formally known as the York Hotel featuring several punk rock bands whose names alone would offend many upstanding Cranbrook citizens if not completely outrage them. The Dayglo Abortions are just one of the punk bands appearing at the show which begins at 6:30 p.m. with advance tickets selling at $20 and $25 at the door.

A recent posting on social media said the show starts early in order to give parents a chance to bring their kids on a school night. But the posting seems to have since disappeared, as well it should as many would say and I’m one of them.

Meanwhile another social media posting says, “Canadian punk legends Dayglo Abortions return to Cranbrook for the first time in three years, bringing their signature raw sound and unapologetic style.”

But in another posting, Cranbrook doesn’t receive much respect with the Key City referred to as “Dinktown.” However, whether it’s Key City or Dinktown, local citizens will be treated to “a powerful mix of punk, rock, and local talent” according to the promoter. Others would be deeply offended by the “hateful rhetoric” and numerous obscenities used by the promoter to describe the ugly show.

I could say more, but I think you get my drift.

Obviously, there’s no easy answers to questions like this. Free speech is the bedrock that our democracy is based on. But how far does free speech go? Does it give us the “right” to yell fire in a crowded theatre that’s not on fire and endanger people being trampled? Does free speech give paedophiles the right to be published? Or Donald Trump to lie over and over again? Or Hitler to execute six million Jews? Or Stalin to starve millions of Ukrainians? The list goes on and on.

Obviously there has to be some limits on free speech but getting society to agree on these limits is next to impossible. That’s why I’m anxious to see whether the April 16 punk rockers event goes ahead as planned or if someone complains and it gets cancelled the way the Key City one did.

The choice is ours. Will it be Cranbrook the good or Cranbrook the intolerant?

– Gerry Warner is a retired journalist who believes in free speech but with some limits for the good of society.

Editor’s note: The colloquialism “dink town” is locally generated.

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