When ‘tradition’ becomes a clear display of hatred

[WhereIsMyJumper]

Am I being unreasonable to be aghast at the bonfires in NI? Burning the tri-colour as well as an effigy of a migrant boat. How can this be referred to as ‘tradition’??

https://m.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/firefighters-take-two-hours-to-extinguish-controversial-bonfire-topped-with-migrant-boat-and-irish-flag-in-co-tyrone/a1274789953.html

Perhaps do a little research as to why an effigy of that particular Pope is burned? (And it is always the same historical Pope)

Those poor boys. Horrific.

As were the murders of the children slaughtered by the IRA yet some idiots continue to glorify them.

All as bad as each other.

They absolutely shouldn't.

@BlueyNeedsToFuckOff I know the history thanks. Catholics don’t go around burning effigies of Trevelyn and that piece of history is far more recent. Nor do they burn those of Henry viii if we are only interested in Tudor times . Everyone needs to move on with their hate

It did yes. Maybe because of that fact they are now so incensed by irregular immigration that has come from the rest of the UK. Then those migrants cross NI border to Ireland, which pisses the Irish off too.
Those who remember IRA heyday are well aware of the troubles. It doesn’t take a genius to see that the influx of irregular immigration is only adding to unrest.
Bottom line is that whether you’re Irish or a UK resident the influx of asylum seekers which are mainly young men needs to stop.

I thought most of the NI Protestants were Scottish descent?

I linked earlier to Firle bonfire (down the road from Lewes) burning a gypsy caravan with effigies of travellers inside. All good clean fun, apparently.

🤯. Whats wrong with people. The police need to intervene and these idiots and yes they are all idiots need to be prosecuted for hate crimes.

The pp has a point. What people did hundreds of years ago is not something that people in the present day can be ashamed of. It can be acknowledged, yes, but how far back do people have to go?

Should the sins of the great-great-great grand fathers be visited on the children?

Perhaps the world would be a better place if people stopped blaming others for the actions of their long-deceased ancestors.

Trolling? Is that what you call having an opinion that doesn’t align with yours?
Not very tolerant of you is it 🤷‍♀️

People have moved back and forth between Scotland and Ireland for thousands of years both Catholic and protestant and predating Christianity.

Absolutely. It's a lot more complicated than 'clan warfare' - though it's very similar to the aftermath of British occupation elsewhere, and in that respect is fairly simple to interpret (though not to resolve).

In Lewes in previous years, they've had effigies of Boris Johnson, Katie Price, Jacob Rees Mogg, Katie Hopkins to name a few.

You're spot on. And many people from NI are still looking from the outside in many senses - you don't get a free pass to 'understanding' just by living there.

You may not. There’ll be a fruitloop out there somewhere who will though, when they see this stuff.

In your opinion of your own personal experience.

Beyond that, it is an opinion on a part of your country about you are woefully ignorant. It has zero basis in knowledge, history of the region and even recent, basic facts.😳

I get it, burning effigies doesn't inspire you to burn people out. Or murder them.

That is not the case in NI atm. This year numerous Catholics and immigrants have been intimidated /burnt out of their homes by the self same paramilitaries and their hate filled, self serving politicians.

Are bonfires that threaten homes, lives, energy supply to hospitals and cost millions of £££ to the taxpayer OK by you for your community?

No different to any fruit loop. Doesn’t make everyone else the same.

Well I’m neither religious or stuck in the past

You're not making much connection to reality and the present either.🙄

I mentioned Lewes way back in the thread. I don't like the burning of any effigies.

Not a pleasant thing to do, but not much different from encouraging a crowd to kill their local MP or inciting support for terror at groups that have killed thousands.

I suspect the same people who defended those on the basis of freedom of expression or 'art' will have a different view on this one. It would've been a different story had there been an effigy of Nigel Farage though!

Both of which have resulted in investigations and the case involving Kneecap is going to court.
But a giant unsafe bonfire that risks the electricity supply and dispersal of asbestos that incites violence against immigrants and the Catholic community is absolutely fine!
I’ve only had the misfortune to experience OO idiots once and that was more than enough. Never felt so unsafe in my home city as I did that day (Edinburgh). Merely being ginger is enough to raise their ire.

This is a new one on me. Being ginger? What about you owe me a tenner dickhead?

https://www.thejournal.ie/bonfires-northern-ireland-6761064-Jul2025/

if it’s not much different I presume we’ll see the British establishment move quickly to try to prosecute. I am not a massive fan of kneecap (although the movie did change my opinion of them) but you’ll note their response to being included in a bonfire calling for their death, as outlined in the attached, was not to call for prosecution or stoke sectarianism.

do you appreciate why @GrammarTeacher mentioned the ginger reference ?