Word: taboo
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Dates: during 1990-1999
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...late 1988, as Emperor Hirohito lay dying, Nagasaki Mayor Hitoshi Motoshima broke a widely observed taboo by criticizing the once deified leader. "I experienced military life," said Motoshima in response to a question in the city assembly, "and I believe the Emperor had responsibility for the war." Last week the 67-year-old mayor paid for that statement, very nearly with his life. As Motoshima stepped out of city hall, a gunman shot him in the lung from behind. At week's end the mayor was in stable condition...
Though the Japanese constitution guarantees freedom of speech, the taboo against criticizing the royal family is almost never violated. Said Naoo Harada, who published a collection of pro and con letters written to the mayor after his remark: "I'm fearful that this incident could force out freedom of speech again...
Secession, long a virtually taboo word in Soviet politics, has become the avowed aim of several nationalist movements. Although the Baltic states have been granted a high degree of economic autonomy, they were rebuked by the Supreme Soviet in November for passing laws claiming the right to decide which legislation enacted in Moscow would apply in their territory. A week later, Georgia passed the same law. Ukrainian nationalists say they will soon try for economic and possibly political autonomy...