Radio: Ray D’Arcy’s cultural exchange raises tricky questions

At a time when tolerance for those flocking to Europe in search of a better life is being tested, stories of outsiders receiving wholehearted welcomes are refreshing. Certainly, the kind of unbridled enthusiasm for economic migrants heard on The Ray D’Arcy Show (RTÉ Radio 1, weekdays) seems rare in some quarters. But there it is, an ordinary Irish person who is ignoring the lukewarm media reception given to one group of hard-working visitors from foreign lands to instead embrace them.

On Tuesday, D'Arcy talks to Declan, a Dublin-born Kerry resident, who praises the presence of a film crew on Skellig Michael, the isolated island once inhabited by medieval monks and being used as a set for the new Star Wars movie.

There have been questions about the wisdom of a Unesco World Heritage site being appropriated for a blockbuster movie, but D’Arcy’s guest has only good things to say. Declan feels the film crew isn’t doing any damage. Moreover, he thinks it can only bring more tourists to the area: he is already experiencing the benefits, by selling T-shirts bearing the legend “Skellig Wars”.

If nothing else, it’s an example of how local interests can conflict with more abstract heritage concerns. And, as is often the case, money seems to be the decisive factor.

Unfortunately, such benign receptions aren’t afforded to everyone hailing from cultures far, far away. In the next item, D’Arcy talks to Mashael, a Saudi Arabian PhD student and mother who was assaulted on a Dublin bus. Mashael recounts how a middle-aged man first verbally abused her for being a Muslim – her headscarf made her faith obvious – and then punched her on the arm. She alerted the driver and called the guards, who removed her attacker but did not arrest him. No one else on the bus intervened.

Mashael recounts her experiences in a calm, even courteous manner. “He maybe had some anger and negative feelings towards Muslims,” she says, by way of polite referral to the man’s insult that she was a terrorist. In fact, Mashael is horrified that she or her religion should be equated with Isis. “It is good we are here so cultural information can be exchanged,” she says.

It’s an ugly tale, to which D’Arcy gives a sympathetic hearing. But the presenter doesn’t shy away from exploring those aspects of Islam that sometimes cause unease with non-Muslims. When he notes he cannot shake her hand, Mashael talks about the importance of modesty in her faith. Placing borders between her and those outside her family, she says, shows respect for women.

“I do not understand the new generation, who are wearing anything not modest,” she adds. “Then when they face anything or rape, they accuse men. Women should always be modest.” D’Arcy sounds taken aback. “In my mind, it’s always the man,” he says, with real conviction.

It is an uncomfortable moment, which highlights the conundrum of those who rightly ask for toleration of their differences but seem oblivious to those principles when it comes to others.

D’Arcy, who is never anything other than respectful, does not try to proffer easy answers or glib soundbites. But it is enthralling radio, raising troubling issues for both sides of the multi-cultural debate. It’s a sign that D’Arcy, since his move to RTÉ, hasn’t quite lost the grasp of the public mood that once made him the populist king of the morning airwaves.

More difficult questions about the issue of migration arise on The Anton Savage Show (Today FM, weekdays). The host speaks to Darren Scully, a Fine Gael councillor who caused controversy with a letter to a Sunday newspaper claiming that the family of Aylan Kurdi, the Syrian toddler who drowned while trying to reach Europe, were not fleeing for their lives.

As Scully complains that the paper didn’t print his full letter – as is the prerogative of any newspaper – Savage firmly probes his guest’s opinions. He notes his statement that since Aylan’s family were living in Turkey, they were not in danger, and that in a similar position he would not have put his children at such risk.

“I don’t know the man,” says Scully of Aylan’s father, while musing that he probably wanted to make a better life for his family “when the message went out from Europe, that we will take you”. Savage gives his guest the space to lay out his rationale, but asks quietly devastating questions. Does the question of motives “materially change the horror” of the tragedy, the host wonders, while inquiring whether Scully feels that “culpability lies with the father”.

Scully obfuscates, saying instead that it was wrong for the media to blame Europe’s immigration policies for the tragedy. Savage then refers to Scully’s previous comments on race – he resigned as mayor of Naas after saying he wouldn’t pass on representations from “Black Africans” because he found them rude – and asks if it was wise for his guest to wade back into such matters. Scully again fudges, saying he wrote his letter as an “emotive” private citizen, who feels we should “discourage people from taking these chances”.

Savage, who handles this tricky item well enough to wonder why he doesn’t deal with such issues more often, asking nothing more, letting his guest’s sentiments speak for themselves.

Moment of the Week: Yates takes the lead

Tuesday’s Breakfast (Newstalk, weekdays) features a wide-ranging interview with Dr David Brown, investor, scientist and co-creator of Viagra, with suitably stimulating results. As well as recalling how he invented the pill that changed the lives of millions of men with erectile dysfunction, Brown talks about a “third industrial revolution”, partly fuelled by a solar energy made more efficient by graphene panels. “What is graphene?” asks Ivan Yates, the cohost. “Lead in the pencil,” answers his guest. “Yeah, lead in my pencil, I know about that,” says a guffawing Yates. Clearly, he doesn’t need a blue pill to raise a laugh.

radioreview@irishtimes.com