Full-Size Christmas Trees to Return to Seattle Airport [all trees going back up!]

Fox News Online ^ | 12/12/06 | AP

[TheBigB]

SEATAC, Wash. — The Christmas trees are going back up at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.

Port of Seattle officials had ordered the trees taken down over the weekend after a local rabbi threatened a lawsuit if a menorah wasn't also displayed at the airport.

Airport officials say they took that action out of concern that if they allowed the addition of a menorah, they would also have to display symbols of other religions and cultures, which was not something airport workers had time for during the busiest travel season of the year.

Rabbi Elazar Bogomilsky says he never asked that the trees be taken down, and the threat of a lawsuit was withdrawn.

With the threat of the lawsuit gone, airport spokesman Bob Parker says all 14 trees will go back up -- hopefully by tomorrow morning.

[ohioWfan]

One more point. The vile comments by 'Christians' is definitely a warped interpretation.

I stand by my original statement.

[juliej]

the airport could easily have put in a menorah - a kid could have figured that one out. Instead they blew it and wanted to punish everybody.

[Vermont Lt]

I wish I was in the meeting where they decided to tear them down. I imagine that the actual conversation went along the lines of, "we are not going to start this s^&t. Pull 'em down."

The only part of this that I wish happened is that when the spokesman was told that the Rabbi never "intended" for them to pull the whole thing down, he responded with, "Perhaps he should have thought about that before he sued us."

Finally, I am so tired of the arguments from the left about court rulings that define what is secular or not secular. The commentators last night were telling the spokesman that "the trees and menorah are considered secular items, why not just explain that to anyone else that complains." Have these commentators EVER worked with the public? if they put a menorah up, they would have been dealing with the Christians, the Shintos, the Druids....and the public doesnt care about the mumbo jumbo court rulings.

[TaraP]

LOL...Thanks for thinking of me:)
Well yes I hear the tree is back, and yes during the month of December people will call the trees they decorate Christmas Trees but come Jan they go back to thier rightful name
Douglas Fir
Scotch Pine
Douglas Pine
Blue Grotto

Have to go answer your other posts now....

[Jrabbit]

They didn't want to deal with a lawsuit.

[musician]

Michael Medved wrote an apologetic column regarding this incident, which I can't find a link to at the moment. It seems he knows the rabbi in question.

As a Jew, I was dismayed to hear about such poor judgement, and quite surprised to hear it involved the Lubavitch organization. Orthodox rabbis in general and the Lubavitch movement in particular have a history and reputation for tending to their flocks and avoiding controversy.

I'd say the incident is illustrative of a number of things, among them:

1) The litigious nature of American society.

2) The freedom of expression that is part of the American ethic, and that this freedom can be taken to extremes.

3) The freedom enjoyed by Jews and other minority groups in America, that can sometimes be taken for granted and even abused.

For those American Jews that are strongly attached to their Jewish identity, I suggest you to consider living in Israel, from where I'm writing this. Such a move is not for everyone, but you know who you are. We can always use good men and women in business and finance, as technicians, in the health services industries, as educators, as parents. The Hanuka lamps seem to burn brighter here.

Happy holidays to all.

[A. Patriot]

"They've darkened the hall instead of turning the lights up," said his lawyer, Harvey Grad. "There is a concern here that the Jewish community will be portrayed as the Grinch."

As they say, "If the shoe fits, wear it."

[moehoward]

Yes, it looks like some people want to help this guy sweep it all under the rug. I agree with you, removal was the best course, it seems to have have diffused the whole affair.

"See my post at #39.."

Your post?

[AZHSer]

I love the "Grafted In" jewelry and other things. Picked some up on a tour of Israel. It would be a nice addition to your store.

[TNdandelion]

If they were smart, they'd offer up "ad space" for groups to rent and put their displays up. They'd have the ability to weed out any obscene or hateful displays while giving everyone equal opportunity to pay and display.

[AZHSer]

My necklace is a Menorah, Star of David and Fish symbol. I haven't seen the other.

[Polybius]

Sorry, Rabbi, but the Menorah, like the Cross or a Nativity Scene, is an overtly religious symbol and Christmas tress are not....If you want the Jewish equivalent of Christmas trees put up at the airport, you are going to have to settle for giant dreidels.

I would agree, but the courts have consistantly disagreed with that position for decades.

Be that as it may, that does not change the fact that we are right and the Courts are wrong. :-)

The way I interpret the First Amendment, the Free Excercise Clause does allow the public display of overtly religious symbols such as a Nativity, a Menorah or a Koran as long as no religion is specifically prohibited.

Once the Courts take it upon themselves to declare that a Menorah is "secular" and allowed but a Creche is "religious" and needs to be excluded, that crosses the line into arbitrary judicial tyranny that the Founding Fathers would be appaleded at.

Common sense dictates that Nativity Scenes, Menorahs and Korans are religious symbols and that Christmas trees, Santa Claus, dreidels and latkes are not.

[Polybius]

We need to celebrate, and allow the celebration, of positive things, not be at each other's throats. MORE speech, not less.

Agreed. See Post 172 for my interpretation of the First Amendment.

[Zionist Conspirator]

The group he is part of, the Lubavitchers, goes around suing different places to put up menorahs every year

They go around putting up menorahs, they do not go around suing people. Sometimes they have been sued by the ACLU for putting up the menorah.

The person you are responding to is a rightwing Roman Catholic and would love to see pro-Israel Fundamentalist Protestants return to the "mother church." Naturally such a person is going to do everything in his power to exploit this situation.

Meanwhile, once 12/25 passes, this person will go right back to being a favored minority in a majority Protestant country and will benefit from the same double-standard that all minorities do. This person will routinely accuse Protestants of "anti-Catholic bigotry" while never considering for one moment that a member of the Catholic minority could possibly be guilty of bigotry against the Protestant majority.

Don't worry Alouette. Any pro-Jewish Bible chr*stians who are tempted to "return to the womb" during this time of year won't survive once the season passes and their new "co-religionists" keep shooting off their mouths about "brain-dead Bibliolators" and calling people "Cletus."

[7thson]

On Jan 01, there is an Islamic Religious Holiday – Eid al Adha. Should we put up symbols for the small minority of Muslims in this country? For the small minority of Jordanians in this country, should we put up symbols for Tree Day, which fall on MKL, Jr. day in Jan? Greece, Luxembourg, Uruguay, Ecuador, Venezuela, Brazil, Hong Kong, Canada, and Korea all have special days on the same day as Presidents Day. Should we put up symbols for those groups? Greece, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Iceland, Norway, Hungary, Belgium, Luxembourg, Austria, France, and Sweden all have special days on the same day as Memorial Day. Should we put up symbols for those groups? Canada has a Labour Day the same day as ours. Should we recognize their Labour Day? Peru, Japan, Croatia, and Canada have a special day on the same day as Columbus Day. Should we put up their symbols? Lebanon has an Independence Day the same day as Thanksgiving. For the small minority of Lebanese people in the U.S., should we recognize their symbols during this day? For Veteran’s Day, should we recognize the special days for France, Belgium, Poland, and Canada? Next year, Hanukkah begins on Dec 12. From the 12th to the 25th, should we put up symbols for Russia, Mexico, South Africa, Bahrain, Turkey, Japan, and Egypt; all who have special days during that period? All this in the spirit of diversity and getting along and recognizing other minority groups.

[SJackson]

I don't disagree with anything you've said. However common sense and the courts don't always co-exist well. And they recognize both religious and secular components of all these things, latkes aside, I've never seen those mentioned though I'm sure they've come up somewhere.

The religious nature of the display isn't really the issue. Sea-Tacs contension that the Holiday Trees aren't religious whereas a Menorah is wouldn't have held up. The real problem they would have faced in court was barring the Menorah while allowing the trees, which have a religious component regardless of what Sea-Tac says. That's borne out by the outrage by Christians on this site over the removal of non-religious Holiday Trees.

BTW, a Creche is OK in public displays and is making a comeback, partially due to the inclusion of Menorahs. It all depends on the nature, and inclusiveness, of the displays. Note the link in post 145.

[CharlesWayneCT]

Well, those comments were mostly asteriks, read what you want. But there have been some pretty hateful comments, and more simply negative comments in general.

Here's one that was pretty offensive: "I'm offended that this so-called "Jewish religious leader" is infesting my country like some kind of perverted parasite. He needs to pack his bags and move his goatsmelling ass somewhere else. America doesn't need maggots like him. And don't let the screen door hit you in that ass Mr. "Leader."

Or this one, which was later removed: "I got an 11 foot real Christmas tree in my living room this year and if the Jews want to crucify me on it, It wouldn't be out of character for them"

There more:

Like: "Yeah, sounds like you guys are as bad as the liberal Jews. Far worse than the secular ones, who buy Hanukah bushes."

Or: "The Rabbi was an A$$HOLE, period. And like most Jews in this country, he is most likely a Democrat."

Or: "The group he is part of, the Lubavitchers, goes around suing different places to put up menorahs every year, and they usually win. I doubt he paid for that lawyer himself"

Or: "yet another attack against christianity."

Or: "it was just another Seattle leftist using his status as rabbi to remove even a secular symbol of Christmas."

Or: "This Rabbi reminds me of the mohel who was supposed to circumcise my buddy way back in the 50's. He was arrested for drunken driving on the way to the event."

Or: "Rabbi Bogomilsky is now the official Grinch who tried to steal Christmas"

Or this one: "When I think of the HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF CHRISTIAN AMERICANS who paid the ultimate price to defeat Nazism and liberate Jews all over Europe; I think what this rabbi did is DISPICABLE! And where are ALL THE JEWS IN AMERICA who should be voicing their support for Christians & Christmas; and yet I haven't heard a word from any of them..."

Or: "this rabbi is also a member of the local ACLU and his congregation extremely liberal in their views"

How about: "They want a war, we'll give it to them."

A few more: "I'm tired of leftist Jews"




Anyway, there was an outcry against the Rabbi, and some of it (here) and some of it out in the mainstream media and blogs and internet WAS anti-jewish in nature, and meanspirited in particular.

So I believe the characterization shown, while not representative of ALL the responses, was indicative of particular responses.

What else about his description do you think is opposed by facts?

[CharlesWayneCT]

Ping to a comment about you that didn't include you, livius, in case you wish to respond.

[rlmorel]

Sorry...instead of typing it all again to explain why I thought it might have been genuine, I thought I would just direct you to the post...but as I said, I don't know the whole situation.

[MotleyGirl70]

They can have "Holiday Candelabra" but that's as far as it goes...

ROTFL!

How about hundreds of these peppered throughout Sea-Tac airport:

It reads:

Have a nice day. Anything else might offend someone.