A Hideous Practice

(7)

The New Religion prospered for many years until the advent of Science. Apparently some uppity new 'scientist' suggested that nose amputation in the interests of 'enlightenment' was ludicrous. This new scientific idea began to spread among the masses and eventually began to threaten the National Religion. The new religion began to suffer as eighteen-year-olds started to refuse circumnosision en masse. Riots broke out everywhere in the Kingdom as healthy people everywhere began to rebel against the practice of 'nosectomy in the interest of enlightenment.'

The eventual result was that the New Religion declared that Nosectomy was to be limited to infants who were eight days old. All nosebearing folks over the age of eight days were to be granted their noses.

There was a tremendous celebration as a result of that ruling. The people thought that they had won a significant victory against their (Stupid) religion of Nosectomy.

But most folks were noseless by that time. And as they viewed their newborn children they were torn: 'Should we circumnase them on the eighth day?'

And what about the cases where the nosebearing child confronts the noseless parent at the age of three, saying, 'My nose is bigger than your nose!'

And so, regrettably, many parents began the practice of circumnasion on the eighth day. It was a hideous practice which offended many other nations.