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

I don't normally curse online but as this and other posters have pointed out, none of ye cared when it was just Catholic Irish people that not just "hatred" but homicidal and even genocidal violence was directed at and in our OWN land by interlopers, Planters, at that!
Also, the fact that these towering bonfires are seriously dangerous and could cause power cuts or even spread and cause mass destruction, injury and loss of life is surely the most worrying aspect of them and the reason they should be banned more than the burning of effigies, which the indigenous population of the 6 Counties has been enduring for decades, even Centuries!
The hypocritical outrage and virtue signalling is sickening me!
But yeah, never mind about Paddy and Bridie eh, they don't matter, not even in their own land! Feck sake!!

It is absolutely possible to hate everything about these bonfires. Not going to out myself to justify myself but this is far from the first time I’ve called for action on these.

What’s your point?
The only reason this is such a big news story and reached so many people is because it’s regarding burning boats.
It’s outraged people who usually wouldn’t GAF about NI bonfires.

So you’re a Catholic living in England?

Why do you say that as if it’s unusual?

Nah, they haven't bothered. Facts and knowledge aren't their thing.

Are you?

Why does it matter to you?

As it happens I was born in Scotland to a Catholic father and a Protestant mother (Kirk not Anglican) who later converted. Religiously now? A Christian with little truck with sectarianism who is grateful for her Catholic education (v useful for English Literature). However my MA in Political Theory and Public Ethics has more impact on my opinion on hate crimes and incitement to violence.

Edit to add: my father’s side of the family arrived in Scotland in the diaspora around the potato famine but the clan was based in Donegal.

That’s fab. Great bit of genealogy work you’ve done to trace it so far back.
So, are you in England now?

Again, why does that matter to you?

Just pointing out it was not a potato famine. The correct term is the Great Famine or the Great Irish Famine.

While the potato crop failed, that was not the cause of the famine as there was more than enough food produced in the country. The term potato famine is considered offensive by many.

YANBU - I live in Northern Ireland and every year we have to go through this nonsense. One bonfire was close to asbestos and electrical outlets that supplied electricity to a hospital. They were told it was too dangerous to light it but as the police have no power and the council were too frightened (& rightly so ) to dismantle it, they went ahead anyway. Many people escape down South or go on their holidays over the 12th.

happy to be corrected - blame my English focused education (only know any Scottish history where it intersects - James VI and I).
More than old enough to remember the Troubles and being bullied in England (and Scotland) for being a ginger Catholic though.

The council do an amazing job of cleaning it all up quickly though.

At what cost?

But the Romanians would have been white, and unlikely to have come across in boats. So burning effigies of brown people in boats seems nonsensical. Unless, they all come to the same thing "Not one of us = Catholic = Romanian = person on small boat =bad". And can interchangeably be blamed for anything done by any of them. And it's not just NI where that happens. It happens elsewhere too (in England, also in Ireland see the popularity for some of the anti immigration boxer who also happens to be a violent rapist hmmm). And America.
And when you analyse the thought processes, it is thick and racist. Doesn't mean everyone from the UK/NI wherever is thick and racist. But by definition, that behaviour is thick and racist.

Phrases like "there is a lot of anger" skirt the issue. Because there might be "a lot of anger" at a horrible crime. Thats not thick. Behaving horribly to a completely uninvolved person and excusing it with "there is a lot of anger" is where it becomes stupid and racist. But trying to divert it into "people have a right to be angry" is dishonest.

It was genocide

I don’t disagree that all of these bonfires should be treated as hate crimes - whether it’s effigies of immigrants or catholics/election posters/poppy wreaths etc being burned.

My point though was that BOTH sides have used bonfires to peddle hatred, rather than it being a one-sided issue as insinuated by the op. As I said, I think all bonfires should be banned.

And my point was the the authorities only prosecute one side.

There is also a big difference between burning poppies, which don't represent individuals, and burning effigies/posters which do.

Yes catholics don’t particularly like it but they tolerate because they understand it’s no longer about them anymore

Thanks for talking for all Catholics, it’s nice to know how they feel, I will disregard the feelings of my Catholic DH and children on the matter since you obviously talk for them too.

It has also been run as a hate fest and an opportunity to upset the local Catholic families by marching in the local area, closing businesses as it is unsafe to head to work mid July.

Judging by the recent ballymena events, it is clear why this issue cannot be raised with the streets burning and days of rioting.

Disgraceful thuggery.

Christ, why are you bothering to comment? You don’t have the foggiest notion what you are talking about.