Seattle airport removes Christmas trees to avoid lawsuit

[Scairp]

SEATAC, Washington (AP) -- All nine Christmas trees have been removed from the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport instead of adding a giant Jewish menorah to the holiday display as a rabbi had requested.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/12/10/airport.christmas.trees.ap/index.html

This really stinks. They don't want to "clutter up" their airport with things like menorahs, or any other non-Christian religious symbol, but they have no problem putting up 9 Christmas trees to begin with? They are begging for a lawsuit with this mess.

[Kutjara]

1. You just know the usual media windbags will...

...be using this as further 'evidence' of the 'War on Christmas.'

[Counciltucky]

2. I guess I don't see why the trees needed to be taken down.

If there are just regular ornaments and tinsel on it, then it's pretty secular for a holiday decoration.

[DRoseDARs]

5. In the TRUE Bible, there's a whole book devoted to the proper observance of Christmas...

Humanists and secularists and homosexuals have been suppressing The Truth, didn't you know?

[Tellurian]

47. I agree...whats the big whoop about Christmas Trees?

Management needs to have legal advice on retainer.

Foolish decision caving into Religious pressure/threatening.

[zann725]

61. Totally agreed. Last year, all the shopping malls in the area I lived then,

had ONLY trees with blue and silver (or silver ONLY) decorations. Some had NO trees at all...just
"neutral" color non-traditionally- holiday-related decorations. (Shopping malls, which for 20+ years ALWAYS had the traditional Christmas decorations, AS WELL AS other religious-holiday-related decorations (and colors), i.e. Channukah.

This ommission of a long-time major symbol and colors of the holiday (the Tree...particularly in red & green dec.)...while NOT "neutalizing" holiday spending, is hypocritical AND hysterically absurd.

[DRoseDARs]

3. Bill-O will call for terrorists to bomb Seattle. Don't you worry, they'll get their comeupances...

:sarcasm:

[krispos42]

15. No, Jesus will strike down Seattle with an earthquake

Or maybe a fetus-shaped hurricane.

Because Jesus is a kick-ass kinda dude, don't ya know? I mean, Bush is a man with a personal relationship with Jesus, a man who has Jesus in his heart, and seeks to do Jesus' will through his actions as President of a great nation, a position of great authority. So I guess the Jesus that Bush has in his heart looks something like this:

[VTMechEngr]

4. The rabbi said this will likely cause people to dislike Jews.

I agree with him. The airport took the trees down to make people hate him, rather than just add a decoration for another important holiday also about to occur. They claim they did it to avoid a lawsuit, but that is a cover. They know people will get angry that a minority "caused" their holiday decorations to come down, and they want to stoke that feeling.

[spoony]

17. so...

the airport wants people to hate Jews. Yeah, that makes sense.

[VTMechEngr]

31. not so much Jews, as just a "vocal minority"

Most right wing spin on this issue highlights the "vocal minority". By doing what the airport did, it threw a negative light on them.

[pnwmom]

39. The rabbi seemed to admit that he had been bluffing about the lawsuit.

If he did, that was his mistake. Most Seattle people would much rather throw down the cards than get into a big religious battle.

[pnwmom]

22. Sorry, but that's ridiculous. You obviously don't know Seattle, if you

honestly think the airport people are doing this out of anti-Semitism.

Anyone who knows Seattle realizes that this action came from an over-abundance of political correctness -- that's all. There are very few Jewish people in Washington, or any religious group other than Christian -- only 2 % of people in Washington who claim a religious faith are anything other than Christian, according to www.wikipedia.com. There could easily be more Buddhists or Muslims here than Jewish people, from my observations -- there could even be more Wiccans! This is not one of your east coast states.

For example, Washington state has the highest percentage of people in the country, 27%, who identify with no religious faith.

The religious affiliations of Washington's population are:
Christian – 71%
Protestant – 45%
Episcopal – 7%
Lutheran – 7%
Methodist – 4%
Presbyterian – 3%
Other Protestant or general Protestant – 24%
Roman Catholic – 22%
LDS – 5%
Other Christian – 1%
Other Religions – 2%
Non-Religious – 27%

[VTMechEngr]

32. I think they did it in spite, not so much on religion, as just anger over the threat..

of a lawsuit. But it does make the man and his religion look bad to a majority of travelers.

[pnwmom]

35. You should read more about this before making judgments

about the motivations of the people involved. The woman who made the decision, the airport commissioner, didn't sound spiteful at all. On the other hand, the rabbi sounded as if he had meant just to bluff them (by bringing in the attorney), and hadn't realized they'd just fold their tents and back off.

If they were trying to make the rabbi look bad, then why did they have the employees remove the trees during the graveyard shift, hoping that few people would notice?

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003471726_airport11m.html

SNIP

"We thought the Port was going to make the right decision to support diversity and Hanukkah," Stein said. "The lawsuit was only a way to get their attention."

Davis said Port commissioners, however, first heard of the issue on Thursday — a day before Grad's deadline for filing a lawsuit.

SNIP

"Our thought was if we remove the trees and stave off this decision until after the holidays, which is our busiest season of the year, then we can give more careful thought and discussion to this," she said.

SNIP

"What we have are holiday trees," she said. "If we are going to display symbols representing other cultures, we have to think what that means and what's respectful and what would make a good display. Maybe it would be 'Holidays of the World.' Or maybe it's snowmen."

SNIP

[Zhade]

67. Support Hanukkah? Clearly Mr. Stein hasn't heard of "separation of church and state".

Arrogant theist asshole - as if religious beliefs deserve special consideration!

[Megahurtz]

95. Wholeheartedly Agreed.

You took the words right out of my mouth.

[Eagle_Eye]

37. They took down the trees. Big deal. They are a waste anyway

If you want to see Christmas, see it at home. Putting up Christmas trees in public places is a waste of time, money, and effort that could go go better things.
Christmas should be at home with friends and family.

[spoony]

45. What a grey world you must envision

because by your logic no public place should "waste" time and money by decorating any place for anything.

If you want to see New Year's, see it at home.
If you want to see Valentine's, see it at home.
If you want to see Thanksgiving, see it at home.
If you want to see Independence Day, see it at home.
...

And that's not even to mention the "waste" of time, money and effort of aesthetic architecture. Everything should just be a white stucco cube, right?

[jahyarain]

77. none of your examples are religious holidays

think

[spoony]

80. Think? Think again.

Maybe you didn't notice that "saint" goes in front of several holidays. And what in the hell is religious about an evergreen?

[Red Zelda]

44. OK, if it's such a minority...

why do we need a menorah display??
Just asking, I mean.

[Tellurian]

49. Hmmm...I dislike mgmts lack of foresight...

and untimely access to legal advise. Nothing to do with the Jews. Atheists would have a field day with this issue.

[trogdor]

59. Naah.

It was about power and turf. I'd be upset if some schmuck with no power and a squad of attorneys tried to tell me what to do. Rabbi Soandso tried it, and the Man got all Scrooge about it.

[Diane R]

6. The Rabbi only wanted a menorrah, too. This is not being reported fairly. n/t

[DRoseDARs]

7. What do you mean? That he wanted the trees removed and JUST a menorah up?

That would put this story in a new light, pardon the pun. But still, it was stupid of the airport to remove the trees instead of just including a menorah in its display.

[VTMechEngr]

10. No, he wanted the menorah added to the tree displays.

The Airport chose instead to take the trees down and blame him for it. The guy who complained is not happy about that, and I don't blame him. The airport chose to make him a bad guy to everyone rather than just add a menorah to the display, which would make sense considering the date.

[pnwmom]

24. So then did he need to buy 9 Menorahs?

And nine Buddhist symbols? Nine Muslim symbols? Nine Kwanza symbols? Nine Wiccan symbols?

And did they all have to be EIGHT FEET TALL? (Like the Menorah the rabbi wanted on display?)

I think the airport people are asking reasonable questions.

[customerserviceguy]

33. But a menorah

IS an overtly religious symbol. A decorated tree is much less obviously so. On the other hand, the damn Christmas shoppers have made it a pain in the ass to get out of my neighborhood, which is across from a major department store, so anything that makes Christmas fade away is a good thing, in my opinion.

[smirkymonkey]

53. The Christmas tree has its origins in Pre-Christian Pagan traditions

particularly the Germanic tribes.

Besides, it's pretty and it smells nice. What's the big deal?

[customerserviceguy]

87. Well

I'm an athiest, and I couldn't care less about holiday bushes or candlelabras, but I don't blame the airport for wanting to face the rabbi's lawyers in court. Their job is to run an airport, not give us things that are pretty and smell nice. Except for those damn bathrooms!

[pnwmom]

38. The airport wasn't trying to blame him.

They TRIED to keep this quiet, taking the trees down during graveyard shift in order to avoid controversy. It was some of the laborers who decided to call in the media -- NOT the Port Commission.

[pnwmom]

36. An eight foot tall Menorah and a lighting ceremony. n/t

[pnwmom]

8. They said they're trying not to be "exclusive." I think their response

was reasonable. It's too late for them to figure out how to treat all the different religions that might want a symbol up this time of year. Rather than make any other group also feel left out, they're going to put the decorations aside for this year and have a policy in place for next.

The Christmas trees are an artifact from a couple hundred years of public celebrations of Christian holidays; public institutions have been putting them up from habit as much as anything else. So now the airport will rethink the practice. Good for them.

P.S. I remember walking through the heavily decorated mall when my daughter was 7 or 8, and she asked: "How come there are Christmas decorations in the stores? I thought Christmas was a RELIGIOUS holiday. And not everybody's Christian."

Out of the mouths of babes . . . .

[fortyfeetunder]

11. But the rabbi asked about the menorah in October--

--at least a couple of months ago. I can't believe POS I mean Port of Seattle sat on this request until now.

[pnwmom]

21. The article says "weeks ago." In any case, I think the Port of Seattle,

during the busiest traffic season of the year, has a lot of things to worry about that are higher priority than this. Plus, there is always extra time when lawyers are involved.

[fortyfeetunder]

55. In October?

October is a slow travel month at Sea-Tac! That was at least 8 weeks ago. Something could have been resolved then.

[depakid]

9. CNN fueling the flames again

with a non-story designed to work everybody up.

I guess there aren't enough "shark attacks" this time of year.

[bling bling]

12. Bwaaa haaa haaa!

Another dagger in the heart of Christmas!! The liberals are winning the war. Take that Christians!! Ah ah aaaaahhh.

Just kidding, naturally. But you KNOW O'Reilly, Limbaugh, and the others will manage with a straight face to use this to support their retarded argument that the republican Christians are being persecuted by the Christmas hating democrats.

What the Seattle airport wants to do in terms of decorating for the holidays is about 3rd from the bottom on my list of what to spend my time being concerned about. They can put up Christmas trees. They can put up Menorahs. They can put up both. Or not. I'm not into any organized religion so I don't care. Although, I wouldn't care even if I was into any organized religion. I think the whole mass-obsession about who and how and where businesses decorate is detracting from the spirit of the holidays and I wish everybody would just be reasonable for the sake of the population at large. Probably the airport should just have put up a Menorah and called it a day. Wouldn't that have been in everybody's best interest? But no, the airport just ruins it for everybody and now we have to listen to the whole war-on-xmas griping some more.

I'm tired of this fight. When people stop being free to practice their religion, you won't need to ask me twice to jump in and be concerned. But as far as I understand it, the mere presence of symbolic ornaments of one religion does not interfere with a person's right to practice another religion. But whatever.

[Zhade]

70. As long as the airport receives not a cent of government funds, your argument is okay.

If it does, though, nope, no religious symbols like Stein wants.

(I think it can be argued that trees decorated exclusively with non-religious ornaments and the like are a secular social tradition, so they're probably okay.)

[Odin2005]

13. That rabbi is a moron, Christmas trees arn't sectarian symbols.

As long as there are no religious ornaments on the trees I don't get the problem.

[NMMNG]

19. He didn't ask for the trees to be taken down,

He only asked that a mennorah be put up along with the trees.

And Christmas trees are to some extent a religious symbol considering they are associated with Christmas, a Christian holiday. If they weren't would we see so many fundies screaming that they be called a "Christmas tree" rather than a "Holiday tree"?

[pnwmom]

26. Did you see that the Menorah he wanted was eight feet tall?

What about other religions? There were 9 decorated trees. Should there be 9 symbols of every other possible religion, all eight feet tall? Should there be 9 giant crosses, too? Or 9 giant mangers? (Since trees really are more of a pagan symbol.)

The Port Commissioner, according to her statement in the Seattle Times, only learned about the threatened lawsuit one day before the filing deadline. Under the pressure of time, she did the easiest thing -- remove the trees. I don't blame her.

[NMMNG]

27. He wanted one menorah. One.

And the trees are technically a pagan symbol but they've been taken over by Christians as a symbol of Christmas so they're generally seen as a symbol of Christmas. Ask any average person on the street what a decorated pine tree is and they'll say it's a "Christmas Tree".



And the Rabbi made the request weeks ago. It's not his fault they decided to sit on it so long. :shrug:


There are four holidays celebrated during December (Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and Eid Al Adha) . What would be so hard about having four symbols/displays up on the walls or standing on the floor? They found a way to fit nine trees, so they obviously have the space.

[pnwmom]

28. The basic facts are in dispute.

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/295428_trees11.html

"A representative from Chabad Lubavitch started talking with airport officials in October, and a lawyer informed them of a possible lawsuit at least a week ago, Bogomilsky said.

"But airport officials said the threat of litigation was much more sudden.

"It was either, 'put up the menorah,' or they would go to federal court and sue us 18 hours later," Port of Seattle Commission President Pat Davis said. "They wouldn't wait."

No matter what happens, Chabad Lubavitch has no intention of filing a lawsuit anymore, Bogomilsky said.

SNIP


-- So this Rabbi threatened a federal lawsuit, on a week's notice (or maybe less than a day) and then was shocked when they decided to quietly take down the trees (in the graveyard shift) rather than deal with a contentious issue. He obviously doesn't know Seattle.

Who says there are only four holidays celebrated during December? Are you sure? What about Wiccans? Don't they celebrate the winter solstice? And if we mark the December holidays, aren't we discriminating against other religions that don't celebrate anything in December? What about the spring equinox? Should we be celebrating the Chinese New Year? But what about the Scientologists? Do they celebrate holidays? Or the religious people of faiths that believe that NO holidays should be celebrated? (I invited a little boy to a birthday party once and was informed that the family were members of a Christian faith that opposed birthdays or any holiday celebrations.)

Etc., etc., etc. When this out-of-town rabbi threatened a lawsuit about a multi-cultural issue in process-oriented, oh-so-conscientious Seattle, he had no idea what he was getting into. Obviously.

I'm sure the airport people thought it was much easier to take down some trees than to get into all these complicated, contentious issues at a busy time of the year.

[NMMNG]

29. Four, five. Small difference.

And since when is it discrimination against those who don't celebrate holidays to acknowledge those who do? I'm an atheist who doesn't have any holidays to celebrate and I find that idea preposterous. :crazy: However if we're going to have seasonal displays up in public places we should be prepared to equally represent everybody, not just one group. (And there is no such thing as a "Holiday Tree", it's a Christmas Tree regardless of what contortions people like to go through to relabel it, just like a cross is not a secular symbol and "In God We Trust" is not a secular expression on our currency).

[pnwmom]

30. A cross or a manger would be much more equivalent to

a Menorah, in terms of a religious symbol.

Who says there is no such thing as a Holiday Tree? Maybe not where you come from. We have them all over the place. Also, "Giving Trees."

But you don't have to go through any contortions to call an evergreen tree an evergreen tree -- and Washington is the "EVERGREEN STATE." And the trees were decorated with red ribbons, not religious symbols. But, threatened with a federal lawsuit, I'm not at all surprised that the people at the airport quickly backed down. It just wasn't worth the fight. They probably agreed with you: "we should be prepared to equally represent everybody" -- but also realized that that would be practically impossible, given the diversity of cultures around here. (More than 100 different languages spoken in Seattle schools and NO ONE KNOWS how many religions.)

The other thing to remember is that Judaism is not a major religion here. All non-Christian religions, (according to wikipedia) add up to only 2 percent of the population. (Whereas atheism is 27%.) So I'm sure the airport people were wondering how they were ever going to figure out all the other religions that are adhered to by tiny numbers of the state population, so that no one would be offended.

Or, more importantly, threaten another federal lawsuit.

[Lilith Velkor]

65. How about a giant spinning dreidl?

That would be festive, as well as inclusive.

[slackmaster]

68. I vote for giant inflated snow globe with a spinning mirrored disco dreidl inside!

Just picture it for a moment.

[Lilith Velkor]

75. That would totally rule

I just had a seizure picturing it. :freak:

[Contrite]

14. I guess if the Airport had up only menorahs

it would seem pretty strange to most of us. We've gotten so used to seeing trees and wreaths we just somehow expect it. I think the Airport management should have just put up a menorah or maybe some menorah ornaments on their trees. But taking the trees down is just making matters worse.

[HuffleClaw]

16. sounds like bullshit to me

can't they simply call 'em HOLIDAY trees? isn't that the usual solution? seems to me the airport is more worried about having to include OTHER faiths (read: ISLAM) than about a menorah.

[pnwmom]

23. I honestly think the airport is trying to be fair.

And this was the quickest, easiest way to make sure that everyone was treated the same. I don't think this is some devious way to promote either anti-Semitism or to discriminate against Muslims. Seattle area people, by and large, are live-and-let-live with regard to religion.

All non-Christian religions -- Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, Wiccans, etc -- COMBINED only amount to about 2% of Washington's population, according to www.wikipedia.com. They are hardly perceived as a threat.

A much larger group than non-Christians, who may or may not care about Christmas trees, is the 27% of the population that doesn't claim a religious faith at all.

[JCMach1]

18. I get tired of all this BS... honestly, let's all learn some tolerance

BTW: there are giant Xmas trees in the Dubai airport and the Malls and decorations in public (read government places).

Oh, and seasonal decorations always go up here. They put them up for National Day and they will remain through Christmas (the Xian holiday), Dubai Shopping Festival (for worshipers of mammon), and Eid coming in a few weeks (for Muslims).

Seriously people, let's just never do ANYTHING cultural AT ALL EVER just because it might offend someone...


We need tolerance in the states, not more vitriolic PC behavior.

[rodeodance]

20. a tree is a symbol of Peace to me--glad tidings. Not Religious. This is

NUTS (taking them down) and NOT with bill o'Lielly thinking.

[pnwmom]

25. The Seattle Times article gives a much more balanced account

of the controversy. The rabbi threatened a lawsuit, in his words, in order to get their attention. It appears that this backfired, however, because the Commissioners only found out about the issue one day before the filing deadline for the lawsuit -- and their response, under the pressure of time -- was to immediately take down the trees.


http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003471726_airport11m.html


SNIP

"Our thought was if we remove the trees and stave off this decision until after the holidays, which is our busiest season of the year, then we can give more careful thought and discussion to this," she said.

SNIP

"What we have are holiday trees," she said. "If we are going to display symbols representing other cultures, we have to think what that means and what's respectful and what would make a good display. Maybe it would be 'Holidays of the World.' Or maybe it's snowmen."

SNIP

Betancourt said that while Port attorneys believed the rabbi has some sound legal points, Port officials did not believe they had the time or budget to put up a culturally sensitive and inclusive holiday display.

Betancourt said the Port "didn't want to be in litigation with the Jewish community."

SNIP

[quickesst]

34. It's just sad....

and pathetic to me that conservatives and liberals cannot put aside their political agendas. This whole issue is pure bullshit and only provides a soapbox for both sides to spew hatred, and to demean each other. Pure and simple. I cannot believe that actual adults are willingly engaging in a "war on Christmas". When I have my family together on Christmas, with the kids and grandkids having a wonderful time opening presents, drinking eggnog, and generally being a family, I will look out over the horizon, and raise a middle finger to all participants in this mockery. War on Christmas? Bullshit and no thanks.
quickesst

ps: I am not a religious person, and whether I believe it's a fairy tale or not, this shit is just beyond the pale, and I hope it does not intrude upon my families holidays. And for those who belong to the "I don't celebrate Christmas because it's prejudicial, not fair, blah-blah-blah, I say keep it to yourself because "I DON'T CARE!!!

[WillParkinson]

41. So...

Keep our thoughts to ourselves because you don't care? If that's the case why would anyone care about yours? That's the main problem here. No one cares about what others think. We all have our thoughts and belief on what is and is not acceptable.

I don't celebrate the holidays. If others do that's cool. Their choice. But don't cram stuff down my throat. (And please note: I am not saying you are or are not. I am merely making a statement.)

[spoony]

46. A tree in an airport is 'cramming' it down your throat?

Would you feel similarly unduly put upon when you catch sight of a leprechaun on St. Pat's day, or a heart on St. Valentine's?

[toshirajo]

52. I agree. It's sad

It's sad someone thought the solution was a lawsuit.

It's sad someone else thought the solution was to remove the trees.

It's sad this will generate negativity.

I may avoid talk radio today, and play Fela.

[bling bling]

84. Be careful....

Don't fall for the republican argument that this is a "conservative vs. liberal" war on Christmas. The republicans, for about 3 or 4 years now, have been insisting that the liberals hate Christians and hate Christmas. They use stories like this one about the Rabbi as "proof" of their accusations. Who knows whether this Rabbi even votes but you can bet either way the conservatives will group him in with the Democrats, talking about him as though he's the face of the Democratic party at large.

Make no mistake: this is not a part of a political agenda EXCEPT for the pundits. The Democratic party has not waged a war on Christmas. This is another clever yet highly manipulative tactic engineered by the right wing pundits to herd the sheep and keep them hating the liberals. It's pathetic, yet so very typical. It's also working very nicely as demonstrated by the fact that even Democrats are falling for it. You're celebrating Christmas this year, as you mentioned. Well, so do the majority of Democrats. How many Democrats do you personally know in real life that want to wage a war on Christmas? None probably, right? Me either. It's not a part of our party platform so don't believe the hype. Merry Christmas.

[Mountainman]

40. Relgions are so screwed up. Will they never stop battling it out?

[Vinca]

42. How about a compromise? A tree with menorah ornaments, perhaps.

Better yet, whaddaya say we all worry about IMPORTANT things? Like our soldiers dying in Iraq for nothing more than a maniac's ego?

[slackmaster]

69. Only if there can be Flying Spaghetti Monster ornaments too

[MGKrebs]

43. Wasn't Jesus supposedly actually born in March or April?

Let's just separate the Christian Christ-mas from the secular winter solstice celebration and we can end all this mess. The Christians have caused the confusion in the first place by trying to piggy-back onto other established holidays.

[crim son]

48. It sounds like Christmas has begun its war on the rest of the

holidays. What a shame that any of this has to happen.

[laylah]

50. Exactly!

Why didn't they just put up a menorah? Some things just don't make a lot of sense to this middle-aged brain, and this is one of them.

Jenn

[Pachamama]

51. Quick! Someone alert Bill O'Reilly! It's a full assault on Christmas!

:eyes:

PS: I think that SEATAC deciding to remove ALL Christmas Trees is a bit extreme of a response...But this will surely become fodder for the idiot boy on Fox.....

[OKthatsIT]

54. Germans worshiped 'groves of trees', long before Christmas

More the merrier..Menorahs are pretty. It's a 'festival if lights', which many ancient cultures celebrated during the winter soltice.

[baldguy]

56. They were a security hazard anyway.

All those packages underneath being left unattended, and all.

[KansDem]

57. Perhaps forcing Christianity™ onto air travelers is not a good idea...

Just remind the media windbags what happened with the Christians forced their religion into American politics.

[spoony]

81. ...

I don't know whether to be amused or astonished by people who say things like that. Some of you are so inordinately sensitive, and consider yourselves "forced upon" so easily it really is a wonder.

[KansDem]

89. Really? How insightful

We've spent the last 12 years hearing from the fundies. We've seen what they can do on the national stage. Where do I start?--Remember Schiavo? Remember "faith-based initiatives?" Remember the war against stem-cell research? Remember "family values" hypocrisy? Remember the school-voucher crapola? Remember the "My God can beat up your God" mentality that provokes violence and war? Remember the family-planning clinic bombings? Remember the murdering of doctors and staff who worked in these clinics?

And do you remember what the President's Chief of Staff said about the leaders of the fundie movement? He called them "the nuts." That's right, the very voters he relied on were "the nuts."

Inordinately sensitive? I don't think so... Forced on? You bet!

Remember I live in a state that tried to replace evolution with "intelligent design." essentially assuring that no Kansas high-school graduate would ever have a chance on going on to MIT or Stanford, or some other institute of higher education that values science. They might be able to get into Bob Jones University or Oral Roberts University or some other institution in the Bible Belt, but no where else.

So I'll leave you with these thoughts so you may decide if you are either amused or astonished...

[Matariki]

58. Last year they had alternating christmas trees and giant dreidels at SeaTac

so what was the problem this year?

[annabanana]

63. That sounds pretty!. . . . n/t

[Matariki]

90. It was - but I was confused - it was the Philadelphia airport, not Seattle

maybe Seattle should do that instead. Although I've heard that the Supreme Court ruled a couple decades ago that the Menorah *is not* a religious symbol but just a holiday symbol. So I guess a Memorah would be nice too.

I heard guys from the Seattle port authority speaking and they weren't happy that the airport took down the trees, nor do they have a problem with putting up a Menorah - apparently the whole fiasco was a bit of a mistake and miscommunication. The makes more sense here in ultra PC Seattle...

[Nye Bevan]

60. So according to the statistics above, Washington is less than 2% Jewish

If I lived somewehere that was less than 2% Christian, and they had decorated the airport for whatever holiday the majority celebrated, I would *not* be throwing a hissy-fit, demanding giant Christmas trees be put up, and threatening lawsuits.

[puffthemagicdragon]

62. So everyone should go to work as usual on christmas

Last time I looked it was a federal holiday. maybe that should not be the case anymore and we should all have to go to work as usual. halloween should go to because it leans to much towards paganism. I am not a christian but "holiday" trees are a warm sight during cold weather and they also signify people coming together and being Merry. It doesnt offend me to see kids getting excited about trees. jeesh

[ItNerd4life]

64. Nicely said, I like the idea. If we aren't a Christian nation, then why is it a holiday?

Christmas shouldn't be a national holiday and all government workers should have to work. Notice, I said government workers. Everybody else can keep it as a national holiday.

[Zhade]

71. Actually, I completely agree with this, sarcastic or not (I can't tell).

It's a violation of the 1st Amendment to have a federal holiday based on a religion.

Naturally, no one wants to acknowledge that fact. Heck, even I hesitate to mention it, because I really like that triple-time...!

But yeah, it shouldn't be a federal holiday.

[spoony]

82. Wow.

So people should have to take vacation days to spend Christmas with their families?

[puffthemagicdragon]

85. it was sarcasm

my initial post was sarcasm. I do not think that anything that makes kids happy be cancelled.

[xxqqqzme]

66. I can already hear

Keith Olberman mocking o'lielly's disgust over this.

[Pastiche423]

72. I find the majority of comments

on this thread unbelievable!

The rabbi wanted a menorah put up, along w/the trees. I watched the tv report. I heard the rabbi.

As to the comment upthread about Washington having only 2% Jewish population, did you even stop to think that SeaTac is an airpot, w/people of all beliefs flying through it?

This is nothing but MSM hype, to continue the "fight against xmas".

And many have fallen for it.

So sad.

[rsmith6621]

73. I Wonder If theJewish Rabbi Has Made

.....A F%CKIN FUSS at every airport he went through during his travels that had Trees up or did he just pick on the hometown airport....he is the only frigging jewish Rabbi to ever make a fuss in the USA.....he has admitted to he local media he has traveled through SEA-TAC during the holiday season for many years....so WHY!!!....did it finally strike him this year to want to challenge it..... In my opinion he has had a year to discuss this with Sea-Tac so why do it in the middle of the holiday....He's a SCROOGE!!!!

Ive already called my friends who are in administration at Sea-Tac to tell them I want the trees back up.

[superconnected]

74. I don't remember trees in the Christian christmas story

They're pretty generic.

Interesting the Jewish rabbi is trying to make them bring religion into it.

But I expect there to be people like that in every religion.

[rsmith6621]

76. The Face Of Scrooge....

[jahyarain]

78. this is just fucking stupid

so if i go into an airport in Israel and demand a fucking xmas tree be put up or i'll sue, how fucking far do you really think that'll get. do you think they'd take down their menorah or star of david or whatever ridiculous SYMBOL OF SUPERSTITION THEIR FUCKING ANCESTORS DREAMED UP? it's a fucking xmas tree (ok, NINE of 'em). i'm by no means a xtian or jew or muslim or any other superstition, but you better believe there's a tree in my living room right now with presents FOR THE KIDS under it. some see this as a religious holiday but let's get honest about this. it's simply capitalism at it's finest. and the one time a year that i don't mind it because of the joy it brings many many children (i know i used 2 dig it, til i had 2 start paying 2 be "Santa Claus"). and the rabbi deserves nothing less than to be bitch slapped for being a complete and utter dick. that is all.

[brentspeak]

79. If the rabbi was afraid this would stoke anti-Jewish sentiment...

...why did he threaten a lawsuit? That was just plain stupid; it never occured to him that maybe, just maybe, the airport will call his bluff?

[suston96]

83. Somebody check it out.....

...I read that they are going back up.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003473083_webtrees11.html

[gravity]

86. Christmas trees are not a religous symbol

A Menorah is a religious symbol.

[FyurFly]

94. agreed n/t

[bklyncowgirl]

88. Just put up a damn Menorah and be done with it. This is stupid.

This whole issue could have been easily resolved. If the have the space to put up nine (count-em) nine Christmas trees, surely they could have provided a bit of space for symbols of other religious or cultural persuasions.

If someone recoils in horror before a Menorah (eeek a religious symbol) how about a giant dreidle?

[underpants]

91. Good news brothers and sisters from the War on Christmas Western front!!!

:bounce:

[gulfcoastliberal]

92. Christmas trees are an obnoxious rememder, nt only approving christianity, but also

Reinforcing the message topiss away money on useless trinkets. Good for sea-tac.

[Megahurtz]

93. Pathetic.

Dude, it's not your fucking Airport!

Hell, I don't go around whining about other people's choices of Holiday decorations
and threaten to sue if them if they don't put up what I want!

:nopity:WAAAA!:cry: WAAAA!:nopity:

And threaten a lawsuit just because I want money.:eyes:

Seriously, what an Ass.