Seattle Christmas tree scandal

[enzfan]

Once again having the balls to stand your ground has lost out again to pc-ness and the threat of litigation. Since when has a Christmas tree become a religous symbol? I would think the menorah is a more related to religion than a tree.


Airport's trees stoking "war on Christmas"
By Stuart Eskenazi

Seattle Times staff reporter

Related

Sunday's story | Airport puts away holiday trees rather than risk being "exclusive"
What do you think about Sea-Tac Airport's decision to take down its holiday trees?

The departure of Christmas tree displays at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport — the Port of Seattle's response to a local rabbi's insistence that an electric menorah also be put up — is accelerating into an international spectacle in the so-called "war on Christmas."

And that is not what Rabbi Elazar Bogomilsky wanted.

"I am devastated, shocked and appalled at the decision that the Port of Seattle came to," he said Sunday. As news coverage about the airport's trees spread from CNN to ABC to the Paris-based International Herald Tribune, Bogomilsky on Sunday began to receive hateful messages from people holding him responsible for the removal of the trees.

Harvey Grad, the rabbi's attorney, said the vitriol against Bogomilsky is misplaced, emphasizing that the rabbi neither objected to the trees nor said he found them offensive.

"The last thing we need is anyone thinking that Jews want to end the celebration of Christmas on public property," Grad said.

Bogomilsky is spending today on the TV talk-show circuit, continuing a media frenzy that began Saturday.

Around 4 a.m. Sunday, Port Commissioner Patricia Davis was on the phone with CNN for a live interview, joined by Bogomilsky, who works at Chabad Lubavitch, an education foundation in the University District.

This morning at 5, Davis was to be interviewed on Fox News. The controversy likely will add fuel to what Fox talk-show host Bill O'Reilly and some Christian groups have deemed a "war on Christmas," — a secularization of the traditions and name of Christmas.

By 9 p.m. Sunday, www.seattletimes.com had received about 800 comments to a story that, in print editions, topped the front page.

The displays were removed from the airport's main arrival hall and various entries overnight Friday.




Port staff members were first contacted in October by Mitchell Stein, a consultant to the Port for the past five years, who wanted to install a menorah this year. Stein is also affiliated with Chabad.

"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.

Airport spokeswoman Terri-Ann Betancourt said the Port's decision was not as simple as whether to put up a menorah.

"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.

The airport has no policy governing the longtime holiday display because no one has ever challenged it before, Betancourt said.

"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."

Grad was set to file a lawsuit Friday morning on behalf of Bogomilsky if the Port did not agree to let him put up the menorah. Grad said he believes that the law is clear regarding Christmas displays in public places — anyone wanting to put up an alternative display must be accommodated.

"There is no debate on this anymore," Grad said. "The menorah is something the Port is legally obligated to put up. But the Port was either unwilling or incapable to do so and instead folded its tent."

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."

Grad said he cautioned officials that they were about to make a mistake by removing the trees.

"I told them that this story would have legs, that it would go national," Grad said. The publicity fallout is regrettable, Davis said.

"I'm sorry this has happened, but I hope people will take time to understand the dilemma we were in," she said. "Unfortunately, I don't think most people understand. That's why I think we're getting such an emotional reaction from across the spectrum."

Bogomilsky said he wants the Port to apologize for statements on Saturday that he says passed blame to him.

"I would hate to think it was just a way for them to cover up their poor call," the rabbi said. "This was totally a Port of Seattle decision. The Port should step up and say that

[WoodlandParkPunk]

Complete BULLSHIT!!! Christmas trees are no way affiliated with the birth of Christ or the true meaning of Christmas.

All "PC" mother fuckers need to shut the hell up!!!

[enzfan]

Just noticed something a little strange, the last four letters of the staff reporters name who wrote the story is nazi. That and a story regarding Jewish religous symbols doesn't go together very well.

[eight6]

Another in the long line of "My stupid religion is better than your stupid religion" battles. Fuck, don't they ever tire of it.

<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v647/dbince/eight.gif"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v647/dbince/number6.gif">

I was smellin' alright, and lookin' alright.

[phillyidol]

Decorating a christmas tree was done in december to please the spirits of the forest. It had nothing to do with Jesus. But in order to convert more to christianity, those in power let the locals still do the tree thing. So by having a tree, you are actually doing a pagan ritual. I could care less, I think it looks good.

[WolverineSyr]

I don't understand this line of thinking - why take everything down? The Rabbi wanted a menorah put up - big deal, what's the problem with that? Is it the mentality of "if we can't have it our way - then it's no way?" Why do organizations have to go so far over the top with this junk?

This anti-christmas crapola is beyond me...

[Frau_Blucher]

Aah, but what if the Mansonmas followers demanded plaster-of-paris caricatures replete with swastikas on their foreheads? Or Hindu vulva worshipers who demand...well, you know. I say this just nips things in the bud before we have to look at vaginas, penises and swastikas all christmas long.

[eight6]

[quote][i]Originally posted by phillyidol[/i]
<br>Decorating a christmas tree was done in december to please the spirits of the forest. It had nothing to do with Jesus. But in order to convert more to christianity, those in power let the locals still do the tree thing. So by having a tree, you are actually doing a pagan ritual. I could care less, I think it looks good.
[/quote]

I don't know Phil...I'm waiting until I get the definitive explanation from our resident theologian, djsoss.

<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v647/dbince/eight.gif"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v647/dbince/number6.gif">

I was smellin' alright, and lookin' alright.

[SwampThing]

Hmmm. Makes me wonder what group of people might be offended at having a menorah at the "airport". I have my ideas.

<font size="1"></font>

[hexicon]

[quote][i]Originally posted by phillyidol[/i]
<br>Decorating a christmas tree was done in december to please the spirits of the forest. It had nothing to do with Jesus. But in order to convert more to christianity, those in power let the locals still do the tree thing. So by having a tree, you are actually doing a pagan ritual. I could care less, I think it looks good.
[/quote]

This is why I don't understand what motivates a religious Jew to equate a menorah with mere seasonal symbol that is rooted in pagan, not Xtian, tradition. My ancestors were worshipping trees in the Black Forest before Jesus was born. I don't belong to any religion, but I put a tree up in the winter, the same as I decorate with flowers in the summer and pumpkins and autumn leaves in the fall (OK, actually I belong to the Church of Martha. Anyhooo...)

Why would a truly religious person want to cheapen the symbols of his/her religion by displaying them next to Frosty and Rudolf?

[marie3]

The news stated they are putting the tree back up.

[phillyidol]

People are just stupid. The more religious someone claims to be, the more they are against any other religion or belief. Duh! Any religion in its true form teaches to be tolerant and accept other religions. I love to hear about the different stories of gods from my hindu coworker. I respect all people as long as they are not idiots...meaning intolerant, ignorant, violent.....

(sorry for all spelling errors)

[MARV]

It's ok, I'm sure Panorama forgives you.

<a href="http://marvymarv.multiply.com/">[i]You on the guestlist?[/i]</a>

[abacab66]

It's Festivus for the rest of us.

Frank Costanza: Many Christmases ago, I went to buy a doll for my son. I reached for the last one they had, but so did another man. As I rained blows upon him, I realized there had to be another way.

Cosmo Kramer: What happened to the doll?

Frank Costanza: It was destroyed. But out of that a new holiday was born … a Festivus for the rest of us!

Cosmo Kramer: That must've been some kind of doll.

Frank Costanza: She was.

Here's an article for all you Wicca out there.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/usatoday/200612 ... divergence

"Everyone has a right to their own opinion, but no one has a right to be wrong about the facts. Without the facts, your opinion is of no value." —René Dahinden