Brendan O’Regan
Bambie Thug Some days I get more confused than others – it could be the weather; it could be the politics but Wednesday of last week it was the law.
Listening sleepily to Morning Ireland (RTÉ Radio 1) I heard an interview with Padraic Jones, Chief Superintendent of Community Engagement with An Garda Síochána on foot of news reports of a rise in the figures for ‘hate crimes and hate incidents’, which puzzled me. It seems confusion is caused by the Gardai recording ‘non-crime’ hate incidents, based on an alleged victim’s subjective perceptions. According to Garda Jones, 103 of the 651 reported incidents did not feature an ‘underlying crime’. The whole thing made me even more concerned about the proposed ‘hate speech’ legislation. Are there not enough real crimes to be investigated – even by the ‘diversity officers’? Of course, promoting hate is offensive and I get it that if someone is attacked for what they are it can feel extra damaging, but I wonder if we’re not too hung up on polarising and divisive identities rather than on our common humanity, a concept that unites. I’ve always thought the law supposed to be objective, so I’m uneasy about ‘hate crime’ getting so much more attention than, say, ‘greed crime’ or ‘lust crime’.
Divisiveness caused by identity issues was certainly a feature of last weekend’s Eurovision Song Contest, which was among the items discussed on Sunday (BBC Radio 4). It was pointed out that the contest which was supposed to be a source of unity had produced plenty of controversy and divisiveness – particularly over the inclusion of an Israeli song, which entry gained considerable support from the public, though not from the juries. Reporter Sophie Yardley described the event as ‘highly charged’ and told us that the Israeli singer had to be confined to her room for her protection. It was a lost opportunity for this religious affairs programme not to confront decency issues and the demonic imagery used in the Irish entry. Was the song’s presentation just provocative theatrics or something darker? On the Nine O’Clock News (RTÉ One, Sunday) coverage of the contest aftermath was celebratory in tone, with chants of ‘Crown the Witch’. Supporters declared that Bambi Thug’s song represented modern Ireland (God help us, literally). Strangely I couldn’t find any trace of this segment in the catchup version on the RTÉ Player.
Facing demons, in a metaphorical sense, was a theme in The Real Story of Hacksaw Ridge (Virgin Media Two, Sunday), a moving docudrama about American soldier, medic and conscientious objector Desmond Doss whose story was told in the film Hacksaw Ridge. Like many conscientious objectors he faced ridicule and bullying – in this case from fellow soldiers, until he saved 75 of them during the World War II battle for Okinawa and subsequently received the Medal of Honour, the only conscientious objector to receive the award. He was motivated in his determination to serve only as a medic and never carry a gun by his intense religious faith – he was a Seventh Day Adventist. In training he was saved from total isolation in his unit by the support of a Catholic fellow soldier Clarence Glenn. The story of his later life was particularly interesting – including struggles with what we now know as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and personal tragedy with the death of his wife in a car accident.
On an entirely different note, Michael Kelly has certainly not been idle since leaving The Irish Catholic. Contributing to Prayer for the Day (BBC Radio 4, Monday), he spoke of how the new week brings fresh promise, but sometimes fresh anxiety too. As a teen he wanted life to go faster, but now at 40-something and ‘somewhat grown up’ he wanted life to slow down. He admired in today’s teens their ‘passionate and intense impatience… often aimed at making the world a better place’. At a time when we can become too cynical, he recalled Jesus calling us to be more like children – to be childlike rather than childish. He was impressed by the wonder of his 8-years-old nephew when something special happened – ‘the best day of my life’ was his frequent expression. He prayed that day for an open heart, an open mind – he wanted to view the world with the wide eyes of a child and embrace the opportunities ahead. A good start to the week – available on BBC Sounds.
PICK OF THE WEEK
Night of the Prophet
EWTN Sunday May 19, 9pm
Through the eyes of a Roman journalist, a dramatisation of Padre Pio, who is unveiled as a man of purity and Christian charity.
Better Off Dead?
BBC One Tuesday May 21, 9pm (also BBC 2 Tuesday night 2.50am)
Actor and disability rights activist Liz Carr on why she believes we shouldn’t legalise assisted suicide. As a long-term campaigner against that change, Liz fears disabled lives will be put at risk if the law is altered.
EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND
Channel 4 Wednesday May 22, 7.45pm
The whole family meet the school counsellor and their parish priest to uncover what – and who – is to blame for the constant bickering between them and Michael’s parents.