[FireWire]

From CNN this morning:

http://edition.cnn.com/2006/US/12/10....ap/index.html

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.

"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.

This is getting ridiculous.. First, business had to stop wishing "Merry Christmas" in favor of a generic "Happy holidays", now we cannot display christmas tree. First of all, correct me if I'm wrong, but the whole Santa Claus/gifts under a fir thing has nothing to do with Jesus/religion, so I don't see the relationship with the jewish community being upset... What's next? Stores will have to sell Jewish pastries side by side with gingerbread men in order to be fair? This is becoming ridiculous...

Strangely, we never hear from American/Christians living abroad threatening to sue if their country of residence doesn't display Christian symbols alongside the country's own... "When in Rome, do as the Romans do", we used to say...

[IceBreaker]

sad, but such is life now.

I wonder how many more years before the Rockafeller Center Christmas tree is given the ax.

[Nicko]

Since when is a Christmas Tree "Christain" anyway?

[ghporter]

Originally Posted by Nicko 

Since when is a Christmas Tree "Christain" anyway?

Christians "adopted" the Pagan Yule tree (ever green to signify the promise of spring's return of life) way back. But it, like many other symbols (the Easter Bunny is a great example) was indeed first a Pagan symbol long before Christ.

[Wiskedjak]

I'm waiting to see what Abe has to say about this. The fact that this was initiated by a rabbi might cause his brain to explode.

[Person Man]

Originally Posted by Wiskedjak 

I'm waiting to see what Abe has to say about this. The fact that this was initiated by a rabbi might cause his brain to explode.

If you read the story the rabbi said his intent was not to make them to take down the Christmas trees, but he said the magic word "lawsuit," and they got scared. So they overreacted.

[Uncle Skeleton]

Maybe they're a bunch of anti-semites, and this was the only solution they could think of that didn't involve endorsing Judaism.

Or maybe they saw this request as the tip of the iceberg of requests by other groups, and they didn't want to deal with any of it.

[Goldfinger]

You americans have a serious problem with political correctness.

[ink]

Naw, the people who run the Seattle airport are just a bunch of pansies. There is nothing illegal about having a Christmas tree on display without including every other religious symbol.

[nonhuman]

Why are people so attached to their public Christmas decorations? They're bright, garish, annoying, and a waste of public money. I have no desire to fund someone else's bullshit with the tax money I don't want to be paying in the first place.

[ink]

It's part of the culture.

We waste far more tax money on real money sinkholes than to necessitate worrying about Christmas trees at the airport.

[nonhuman]

Originally Posted by ink 

It's part of the culture.

We waste far more tax money on real money sinkholes than to necessitate worrying about Christmas trees at the airport.

Yes but Christmas decorations and especially music are so much more annoying and prolific that they very easily verge on (or move entirely into) rage inducing for those of us that have no desire to see them. In December I do my best to not go into any shop whatsoever, and I never turn the TV on (as opposed to the maybe once or twice in other months). I get enough of that crap that I can't avoid when dealing with family. I don't need it when dealing with perfect strangers or even no one at all.

[Atomic Rooster]

Damn Jews!!!

Mel.

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by nonhuman 

Why are people so attached to their public Christmas decorations? They're bright, garish, annoying, and a waste of public money. I have no desire to fund someone else's bullshit with the tax money I don't want to be paying in the first place.

Nostalgia.

[Dark Helmet]

"Land of the Free"

"Freedom of speech"

[tie]

Originally Posted by nonhuman 

Why are people so attached to their public Christmas decorations? They're bright, garish, annoying, and a waste of public money. I have no desire to fund someone else's bullshit with the tax money I don't want to be paying in the first place.

I agree (perhaps less emphatically). I like Christmas trees at home, but dislike most commercial ones. I hate being bombarded with the music, too, wherever I shop in late November and all December. They're trying to take the religion out, and turn Christmas into just a shopping holiday.

[Uncle Skeleton]

You know what's funny, most of Seattle has been pretty understated and tasteful (but still Xmassy).

[itai195]

Who let Bill O'Reilly in here?

But seriously, I'd like to see other religions represented more, but suing is not the right way to go about it.

[Nicko]

Trees Being Returned to SeaTac Airport
Christmas Trees Being Returned to SeaTac Airport After Rabbi Says He Won't Sue Over Decoration
By GENE JOHNSON
The Associated Press

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

Pat Davis, president of the Port of Seattle commission, which directs airport operations, said late Monday that maintenance staff would restore the 14 plastic holiday trees, festooned with red ribbons and bows, that were removed over the weekend because of a rabbi's complaint that holiday decor did not include a menorah.

Airport managers believed that if they allowed the addition of an 8-foot-tall menorah to the display, as Seattle Rabbi Elazar Bogomilsky had requested, 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, Airport Director Mark Reis said earlier Monday.

Port officials received word Monday afternoon that Bogomilsky's organization would not file a lawsuit at this time over the placement of a menorah, Davis said in a statement.

"Given that, the holiday trees will be replaced as quickly as possible," he said.

Davis added that the rabbi "never asked us to remove the trees; it was the port's decision based on what we knew at the time."

There were no immediate plans to display a menorah, airport spokesman Bob Parker said, saying restoration of the trees was expected to take place overnight Monday.

"A key element in moving forward will be to work with the rabbi and other members of the community to develop a plan for next year's holiday decorations at the airport," the port statement said.

The rabbi has also offered to give the port an electric menorah to display, said his lawyer, Harvey Grad.

"We are not going to be the instrument by which the port holds Christmas hostage," Grad said, emphasizing the rabbi never sought removal of the trees, but addition of the menorah.

The rabbi had received "all kinds of calls and emails," many of them "odious," Grad said, adding he was "trying to figure out how this is consistent with the spirit of Christmas."

Thirteen trees had sat above foyers that lead outside to the airport drive. The largest tree, which Reis estimated to be 15 or 20 feet tall, was placed in a large lobby near baggage claim for international arrivals.

After the removal, some airline workers decorated ticketing counters with their own miniature Christmas trees.

Customer service agents with Frontier Airlines pooled their money Monday morning to buy four 1-foot-high Christmas trees, which they placed on the airline's ticketing counter. Atop a Delta counter, workers put up a tree several feet tall.

The airlines lease space for ticket counters from the airport, and can display trees there if they want, Reis said.



Copyright © 2006 ABC News Internet Ventures

This is hilarious

[ebuddy]

Originally Posted by Goldfinger 

You americans have a serious problem with political correctness.

Thank you. I couldn't have said it better myself.

[RAILhead]

Originally Posted by Goldfinger 

You americans have a serious problem with political correctness.

Just the fags, wetbacks, and God-haters do, mostly.

/Couldn't resist

[Sky Captain]

Originally Posted by Nicko 

This is hilarious

What's that?
When the country is so afraid of political correctness, it stumbles over itself?
Yes this is silly.

[Zeeb]

I don't know but it seems that taking the trees down was a clever move. That act created a certain amount of publicity surrounding the issue. In most people's heads, all they hear is that some Rabbi sued to have the trees(and Xmas) taken away(not what happened but that's how people will remember it).

Realizing this could create anti-semitism and a backlash the Rabbi withdraws the lawsuit and maintains that he never wanted them taken down in the first place. Taking the trees down ironically turned out to be the easiest way to "resolve" the issue.

[Dakar²]

What the hell were those coffee sipping elitists doing with a Christmas tree in the first place?!

[Sky Captain]

The ACLU empowers fear over such decisions.

[Dakar²]

Update

[turtle777]

Originally Posted by Dark Helmet 

"Land of the Free"

"Freedom of speech"

This thing got so perverted, it's not even funny anymore.

-t