Irshad and Me
An in-depth article on Irshad Manji, professional shit disturber, appears in the May issue of Toronto Life, which I have only just finished reading. You may have seen her on Global National, spouting off about something or another as a political commentator. I don’t know if her controversial book, The Trouble With Islam, is any good or even worth discussing because I have not and probably will not read it. But Irshad affected my life once, several years ago.
Back when CHML in Hamilton was a WIC station, the powers that be attempted an ill-fated move toward creating a network with what was then Talk 640 in Toronto. If there’s one thing Hamiltonians are passionate about it’s local radio, and the Horsman/Lederman show didn’t go over very well in Steeltown. It’s nothing against Karen or Marsha. It was just obvious they were being imported and that put the locals’ noses out of joint. But reaction to their show was nothing compared to the day Irshad filled in.
She was an unknown quantity at that time and she obviously didn’t know enough (or care enough) about broadcasting to realise that you have to win your audience over before they’ll come along on a ride with you, involving your special interests and quirks. There was no warm-up time with Irshad. She came right out of the gate with a rant about her ex-girlfriend and how she went skeet shooting on the previous weekend, imagining that each skeet was the head of the woman who broke her heart. It was not a subtle speech. She was blunt and blatantly feminist and in-your-face homosexual. (Not that there’s anything wrong with that._
This was followed by a declaration that Oh Canada! is a racist song. Irshad proceeded to sing – in a voice that should not be heard outside her own shower – her new, inclusive lyrics (or so she said) to our national anthem. And all of that occurred in just the first 10 minutes of the show. It was mayhem on the switchboard and our Program Director was in full panic mode. However, Irshad’s alienation of the Hamilton audience would be to my benefit as I was asked to fill in during that talk timeslot for the rest of the week. Toronto would continue to get Irshad (although I believe she was let go in short order) and Hamilton would get me.
The following morning I came out with whatever was the timely topic of the day and proceeded to do my schtick. Calls flooded switchboard again. My PD was taking more complaints despite the change in hosts. We were stunned! Callers to the on-air line were incensed. “Get that bitch off the air!” I was horrified! What was going on?
Simple. They heard a female voice and just assumed it was Irshad again. They didn’t even wait to be offended, they just reacted. It took some time to restore order to the airwaves and for me to reclaim my dignity.
I don’t know if Irshad’s desire to bring glasnost to Islam is genuine or if it’s just her latest attention-grabbing stunt. The writer of the Toronto Life article displayed a stunning lack of objectivity about her. It was an ass-kissing love-in for a seemingly shameless personality who is certainly not universally loved or even understood. I’ve never met the woman. But I did have a horrific few hours thanks to The Trouble With Irshad.
