Rabbi Sues, Christmas Trees Removed from Airport.

As I recall, the Rabbi actually asked the port to put up a menorah and allow/hold a lighting ceremony. They decided it was easier to take down the trees. The rabbi has since said that he's appalled that they removed them.


Isn't it great how you can omit or include certain details and make completely different points? I've only read a couple of pieces on this, and neither include enough details to know who is being an nice person in this situation. Noone gives a damn, though, probably because they'd already made up their minds on whether they support the Port, the rabbi, or the folks who miss their trees. They only need enough details to support that opinion, and certainly wouldn't want any details that might conflict.

::sigh::

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Mystery Squid @ Dec 11 2006, 11:56 AM) [snapback]360369[/snapback]</div>

Why would you hold the actions of one or a few people Jews against the entire population of them.

Maybe I can make it better. I think they should have the right to display whatever Christmas ornaments they want to. So now, does the world like us better - speaking as a Jew that is?

Why in your humble opinion can hate be fomented to such a large degree as to cover ALL Jews as exemplified in your post, by the verbal expression of an opinion of one or several Jews?

And not knowing the Rabbi I would say he drove himself in a 5 to 7 year old Toyota product - probably not a Prius though.

The deeper insight should be provided by you in reponse to my question above. Thanks

 

I love it... you put up a tree with lights on it and suddenly it's a religious symbol and everyone has to have something representing them sitting next to it. What would the rabbi have said if the trees were permanent, year round fixtures at the airport, and they were then strung with lights and holiday bows when the season arrived?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Mystery Squid @ Dec 11 2006, 12:56 PM) [snapback]360369[/snapback]</div>

Again, with most stories it all depends on how you spin it. The original AP press release on this story portrays the rabbi as completely unhappy with this decision, and notes that he brought up his suggestion to the airport weeks ago:

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AIR...EMPLATE=DEFAULT

But the O'reilly's of the world are going to have a field day with this.

Seattle Airport Removes Christmas Trees
SEATAC, Wash. (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.

Maintenance workers boxed up the trees during the graveyard shift early Saturday, when airport bosses believed few people would notice.

"We decided to take the trees down because we didn't want to be exclusive," said airport spokeswoman Terri-Ann Betancourt. "We're trying to be thoughtful and respectful, and will review policies after the first of the year."

Rabbi Elazar Bogomilsky, who made his request weeks ago, said he was appalled by the decision. He had hired a lawyer and threatened to sue if the Port of Seattle didn't add the menorah next to the trees, which had been festooned with red ribbons and bows.

"Everyone should have their spirit of the holiday. For many people the trees are the spirit of the holidays, and adding a menorah adds light to the season," said Bogomilsky, who works in Seattle at the regional headquarters for Chabad Lubavitch, a Jewish education foundation.

After consulting with lawyers, port staff believed that adding the menorah would have required adding symbols for other religions and cultures in the Northwest. The holidays are the busiest season at the airport, Betancourt said, and staff didn't have time to play cultural anthropologists.

Hanukkah begins this Friday at sundown.

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

 

I would not cite this as a significant cause of anti-semiticism - a long and complex story.

Having said that, the rabbi was ill-advised to protest a Christmas tree - it's not a Manger Display.

I see nothing wrong with it as it had no overt religious overtones. There is a mosque next to my workplace - I don't let it bother me. Others need to be a bit more tolerant of spiritual expressions.

I'd tend to think in general the ones objecting to Christmas displays and the like are of a secular orientation. At any rate, the attempt to complety ban such displays and expresssions brings a backlash of resentment.

 

If anything, the Christians are the ones who should have complained since the "Christmas" tree is really a Pagan symbol. The Christians should be GLAD this Paganism was removed!

 

Religion = stupidity. It is a dangerous virus infecting billions around the world. The only cure is intelligence.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Mystery Squid @ Dec 11 2006, 12:12 PM) [snapback]360383[/snapback]</div>

Since you did not anwer my question above and you responded to another post in form - I must wonder what secondary gain you were trying to illicit by the way you posed this post?

Why are you trying to spin a story in such a way as to castigate an entire religion?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Stev0 @ Dec 11 2006, 12:44 PM) [snapback]360399[/snapback]</div>

Thank you for mentioning this, Stev0! So many people don't realize how many Pagan symbols and traditions were co-opted by Christianity. Even the resurrection of Christ has its roots in Paganism (http://www.religioustolerance.org/easter1.htm).

As for the "Christmas" Tree ...<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Origins of the Christmas Tree @ http://www.religioustolerance.org/xmas_tree.htm)</div>

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Mystery Squid @ Dec 11 2006, 09:12 AM) [snapback]360383[/snapback]</div>

The Rabbi did not sue. He wrote a letter and said he had a lawyer. The trees were removed while the board is making a decision and a general policy on the subject of holiday decorations. They did not have one. Everyone take a deep breath and let us talk. I still would like to see a big bond fire in the main lobby but I am not holding out much hope for that. Peace.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(jared2 @ Dec 11 2006, 12:46 PM) [snapback]360400[/snapback]</div>

In one line you just dissed BILLIONS of human beings - one or two of whom are probably more intelligent than you.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(hdrygas @ Dec 11 2006, 01:04 PM) [snapback]360411[/snapback]</div>

This is probably a great example of alterior motives laying behind a smoke screen - how this entire incident was probably misrepresented, intentionally or not, by the author of the original post.

You see hate all the time. All you need do is open your eyes - maybe even by reading a post or two here...........

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Mystery Squid @ Dec 11 2006, 01:19 PM) [snapback]360423[/snapback]</div>

The name calling and the sudden lack of time to respond to a post YOU INITIATED is all you have to do anyway.

Defense Rests.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Delta Flyer @ Dec 11 2006, 01:35 PM) [snapback]360393[/snapback]</div>

It's funny how many people are getting this one all wrong. If you read the AP report that's included in this thread you'll see that the Rabbi seems like a pretty well-intentioned guy who asked for a menorah and was disappointed when they took down the Christmas trees instead of honoring his request. For those of you who think he was out of line, imagine how the same airport might have reacted to a priest asking for a Christmas tree to be put up if they didn't have one already. I have to imagine that they'd have put up a Christmas tree or two.

I agree that that's a pretty disappointing response on the airport's part. The response to the story is equally, if not more disappointing. I'm Christian, with several Jewish and some Buddhist friends and I say, the more, the merrier!

Not only am I "not bothered" by a mosque down the street, or a synagogue, I just can't understand what a person could be bothered by. If you're harboring any ill feelings, you're not being very Christian, and if you're in a foot-race to heaven with your Jewish or Muslim neighbors, you probably have the wrong attitude.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(dbermanmd @ Dec 11 2006, 01:22 PM) [snapback]360426[/snapback]</div>

Interesting point of view from someone who in other threads has decided not to respond to well-reasoned respectful questions because the person "hates" too much.

And never mind ignoring request for clarification of your own claims by saying you're too busy and we should look it up ourselves.