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Taboo/Permitted:
Taboo: verb - to place under a literal taboo; to
debar or forbid by influence; to place under a social ban; to ostracize or
boycott; to award a sacred status to something, thereby restricting its use; to
prohibit.
Permitt(ed): verb - to allow; to give permission; to consent
to a person doing or experiencing something.
'In many religions, the
eating of certain foods is taboo. These restrictions stem mostly from ancient
observations of health risks associated with the consumption of the foods, but
modern methods of cooking, along with other safeguards, now render the taboos
irrelevant. However, the religious organisations concerned, having built the
prohibitions into the very structure of their dogma, find themselves incapable
of admitting the truth and freeing up their adherents to sample foods that are
now known to be safe to eat.'
'Long before Natalie
discovered that nude swimming was permitted in the private pool, she'd abandoned
her costume and taken to the waters in her skin to enjoy the delights of skinny
dipping.'
1777 - Kiritimati, also
called Christmas Island, was discovered by James Cook, who therefore decided to
name it after the celebratory day of his chosen moral leader.
1939 - World War II: Pope
Pius XII made a Christmas Eve appeal for peace. The war had been under way for
only a few months, so perhaps the world in general, having conveniently
forgotten the mass death and destruction of the previous world war, wasn't yet
ready to gang together to defeat the evil that was Nazi aggression led by the
madman, Hitler.
2011 - It's Christmas Eve,
and the occasion for joy, celebration and merriment the world over for all
those who live in a state formed or dominated by Christian beliefs. As an
agnostic, I no longer follow the man who became unwittingly responsible for
this once wonderful celebration of goodwill and peace. It doesn't prevent me
enjoying the ideas held within that celebration, however. Much as I detest the
absolute commercialism that's now replaced any form of spiritual awareness for
the mass of the population, I still enjoy the idea of giving. And my past, as a
once active member of the Church of England, catches up with me to make me
enjoy the music and spiritual richness of the occasion.
So, I wish all
peace-loving, caring and kind individuals, whatever their faith or philosophy,
a very Merry Christmas, and hope they receive those things they most desire.
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