VERSION|0.5.1|NAME|Dinah|DATE|1368534931|CONTENT|It is true we can learn things from the past, and if we forget it we are in danger of repeating its mistakes.  But this doesn’t mean we should be shackled to the past or condemned to forever live by its rules.  One obvious example of this are religious dietary laws.  Even if we give these laws the benefit of the doubt and accept there was a reason and a purpose behind them when they were created, there is absolutely no reason to adhere to them now given the way food production and preservation have changed and improved over the centuries.  To condemn millions of animals to be slaughtered in a cruel way because of something that was written down in a book thousands of years ago and has no relevance today is utterly immoral.  To insist certain foods should not be prepared together, if not for hygienic purposes, may not be immoral but is silly and pointless, as is insisting some foods are ‘unclean’ and should not be eaten.  The same can be said for other practices such as dress codes.

That people want to celebrate their festivals and remember certain events, even if they are of doubtful historicity, is fair enough.  But to justify something merely on the grounds that it is ‘traditional’ can lead to the glorification of all sorts of dodgy practices, including circumcision.  Public executions used to be a tradition too in this country, but they were eventually abolished, presumably on the grounds of humanity and compassion.  Humanity, compassion and plain common sense should be allowed over-ride any slavish adherence to past practices.  By all means don’t forget them, but do please consign them to a museum.
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