The English Genocide Corporation then chooses to explore in a little more detail exactly what had transpired. You see a former member of the colonial police explained that 

the risks for officers trying to “access something at the height” would have taken time and created tension in the community.

“It’s not something that police would have been able to react to with any great amount of speed given the complexity and logistical challenges,” he said.

Pity the poor police, who do not want any tension with the community they are there to police. Such a famously cautious group of people, the Royal Ulster Constabulary. There is something here that seems like a symbol of the whole sorry venture of Partition. The pile of pallets and tyres was not always 20 metres tall. It used to be less than 1 metre tall, then 2 metres, et cetera. And it is not as if the RUC did not know that the people of Moygashel would be committing this Crime, which is an environmental crime even absent the racism. They let this happen: they watched it become a bigger problem than they could deal with, and then whined that it had become too big a problem to deal with!

A Loyalist spokesperson explained that lighting the fire prevented violence from taking place. Doubtless all sorts of community leaders were worried about violence and said so a lot: so much worrying about violence from their own side, just as well we have senior community figures able to warn us about the inevitable violence that will break out if they do not get their way.

This spokesman offered a Schroedinger’s cat definition of anti-Muslim racism:

“I want to reassure the Muslim people that this is not about them as people. People disagree with their ideology, with their viewpoint, but it’s not about them,” he said.

Doubtless these gallant purveyors of free speech extend the same courtesy towards people who criticise them? Similarly,

Moygashel Bonfire Association said the display might “shock, offend or outrage”, but said those involved in making it were exercising their right to freedom of expression.

Rights-based discourse is another thing that colonists have stolen from us. Imagine someone has broken into your home, committed every outrage against you and your family; you criticise them and are told to respect their freedom of expression. Beware settlers talking about their rights!