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January 18, 2002
Venue backs out on David Icke
British conspiracy theorist is an unwelcome visitor at Ridge Theatre.
PAT JOHNSON REPORTER
One of the world's most successful conspiracy theorists - dubbed
a "New Age Nazi" by a British magazine - will be searching
for a new venue to spread his views in Vancouver after the Ridge
Theatre backed out of plans to host David Icke this March.
The British extremist is expected here March 23 and 24, but it is
unclear whether there will be a venue in which he can appear. Julie
Marr, a spokesperson for the Ridge, said the theatre does not generally
shy away from hosting controversial events.
"We had talked to the promoters and they did provide us with
some information and, while we think what he has to say is ludicrous,
the Ridge has always hosted controversial events - freedom of speech
and all that stuff," she said.
However, external forces intervened.
"What we did find out is that it actually contravenes our lease,"
she explained. "Any speaking engagement that we have has to
be cleared through our landlord and the landlord does not want this
happening at the Ridge."
A spokesperson for the landlord, Porte Realty, did not want to comment.
"We weren't trying to be offensive to anybody," explained
Marr about the engagement. "I think [Icke is] just saying really
ridiculous, inflammatory things and making a whole pile of money
off it."
However, the Ridge, which has a significant student clientele due
to its proximity to the University of British Columbia, was prepared
to host the speaker.
"We just sort of thought, in a democracy, even if you don't
like what people are saying, that is freedom of speech," said
Marr. "But it's not happening anymore."
Icke (pronounced "Ike") has been in Canada several times,
including a visit to Vancouver two years ago. A handsome former
soccer player, Icke has apparently developed a certain following
among New Age adherents, who find his theories of extraterrestrials
interesting. Tickets for Icke's presentation here are or were for
sale at Banyen Sound, a New Age retailer on West Broadway. It is
not clear whether the bookstore and music retailer were sponsoring
the event or merely selling the tickets. Store management did not
return calls from the Bulletin.
Icke's appearance was advertised in Common Ground magazine,
amid advertisements for yoga classes, holistic medicines and soy
dairy substitutes. According to Vancouver writer Brian Salmi who
wrote about Icke in the Georgia Straight in 2000, Icke appeals
to some people who need an explanation as to why some people can
be so evil to one another. The idea that bad people are not people
at all, but rather reptiles in human form is apparently comforting
to some. In addition, Icke promotes ideas that appeal to a large
number of people at both ends of the political spectrum. He opposes
free trade, the Multilateral Agreement on Investment and the World
Trade Organization. For many people on the left and right, he comes
to the correct conclusion, regardless of the method of getting there.
Icke's views, as expressed on his Web site, contend that the world
is controlled by a cabal of "Illuminati" - reptiles who
take human forms. As an example of the tenor of his ideas, these
reptilian figures replenish themselves through a process distinctly
similar to the Medieval anti-Semitic blood libel, in which Jews
were purported to use the blood of gentile children in the making
of matzah during Pesach.
"To hold their human form, these entities need to drink human
(mammalian) blood and access the energy it contains to maintain
their DNA codes in their 'human' expression," Icke has written.
"From what I understand from former 'insiders,' the blood (energy)
of babies and small children is the most effective for this, as
are blond-haired, blue-eyed people. Hence these are the ones overwhelmingly
used in sacrifice, as are red-haired people also, it appears."
Though this science fiction may appear ridiculous and humorous,
Icke's ideas take a more perverse turn when dealing with the Holocaust,
Jews, Muslims and Catholics. The material on his public Web site
is fairly careful not to name social or religious groups specifically,
employing typical euphemisms used by anti-Semites such as references
to international banking cartels and the Rothschild family.
Though many find it tempting to laugh off the outrageous claims,
Canadian Jewish Congress has expressed concern repeatedly over Icke's
presence in Canada. His numerous books are available on Web sites,
including one based in Salmon Arm, B.C., and his supporters apparently
had expectations that they could sell enough tickets at $45 per
seat to cover expenses at the Ridge Theatre.
For an in-depth analysis of Icke's ideas, see "Revisionist
History" in the Jan. 18, 2002, Web archives.
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