Seattle airport removes Christmas Trees to avoid lawsuit...

[lizbud]

Richard, What's the S word?

[Cookiebaker]

I can't even begin to express how sad I am about how Christmas has become so POLITICALLY charged. A guy at our Church handed out Christmas cards to his co-workers, and one put up this huge fuss (making a scene and everything) and insisted that he take it back.

For myself, I am stable enough in my beliefs that it does not offend me if somebody wants to hand me something that is outside of my beliefs. And I can't fathom others who want to just be a constant downpour on other's traditions and beliefs.

I just don't get it.

[ramanth]

Agreed the rabbi should of kept his mouth shut. Trees and wreaths are ambiguous to the season. Now had their been a nativity scene at the airport but they refused a menorah, that'd be a whole other can of worms.


Anna, that's just insane!! I feel bad for the guy you know.

[CathyBogart]

Bah, the tree is a pagan symbol anyways.

[Pembroke_Corgi]

This reminds me of a story one of my former professors told me. My professor was a school librarian for a long time, and one of the students in the school actually cut down a tree from her house to bring into the school library.

Well, the principal told her that they couldn't have a Christmas tree...some people might get upset. So, instead she decorated it differently and made it a "winter tree." How could she really get rid of it when a kid had cut it down and brought it in for her?

The Seattle airport should just put up a sign that says "Happy Holidays tree" or something. Of course, then some people would get upset because it doesn't say anything about Christmas (there are actually people boycotting stores that use the slogan "happy holidays")....it's all a bit ridiculous.

[wolflady]

....it's all a bit ridiculous.

Isn't it? I just find it sad that everything has to be so bloody PC these days. Personally, I feel like I can't express my freedom of speech when there's the possibility of offending someone and getting sued. It's all too rediculous.

Do you know how hard it was for me to find "holiday cards" for my company? We have so many restrictions because we can't offend anyone, so I had to be as bland as possible. To me, that's not the meaning of this holiday...


I don't get offended if I see other religions depicted, or if someone gives me a greeting card for one of their religious holidays. In fact, I feel honored that someone felt like including me for their special occasion. I have many Indian friends, and I get wishes for Diwali, Pongal, Holi and other holidays, and I think it's great!
Trees have always been put up during the holiday season in stores, companies, airports etc. It's one of the many reasons why I love the holidays...because the trees, the lights and the festive mood is lovely, until the big PC brother raises his ugly head.

It only takes one person to ruin it for many...

[critter crazy]

people wonder why most just dont get as excited when christmas comes around anymore!! It used to be about love and family, ect... now it is about nothng but making money, and people being rediculous!! Geesh, you cant even do your shopping without someone being mean and nasty!! I dont get it!!

[elizabethann]

We actually had this issue at work. We put up a Xmas Tree for years and then we added a menorah for all our Jewish co-workers. They complained that they felt left out...so we purchased a menorah and they would light a bulb each day.

But now we just don't put anything up....don't know why really. I think the tree got to be too much work. The menorah was easy...just plug in a light.

[momoffuzzyfaces]

Well, I for one am totally shocked not about the complaint about the trees but because no one has yet complained about stars on the tops of Christmas trees. The stars represent the star that lead the wise men to the manger. I guess so far no one has noticed.

Whether people like it or not Christmas is about the birth of Jesus Christ. They should celebrate their own holidays or not as they choose and leave mine alone!!! If they want a holiday where they exchange gifts, they should pick a different date. Then they can call it what they want. I promise not to complain about their decorations they display and wish them the best on their holiday!!! After all, no one forces anyone to celebrate Christmas and there are at least 5 different directions they can look in besides the direction of any Christmas decoration.

[RICHARD]

Well, I for one am totally shocked not about the complaint about the trees but because no one has yet complained about stars on the tops Christmas trees. The stars represent the star that lead the wise men to the manger. I guess so far no one has noticed.

Astronomers around the world are OK with that....


And what is with the Nativity scene in your signature...







......It should be bigger!

[Pam]

Whether people like it or not Christmas is about the birth of Jesus Christ.

Agreed. Just look at the first six letters of the word! This is all so sad. Never in a million years would I have thought way back in my childhood that this world would have gotten so strange. I just can't relate to the crazies who are offended about something that has been tradition for 2,000 years.

[Luvin Labs]

Whether people like it or not Christmas is about the birth of Jesus Christ. They should celebrate their own holidays or not as they choose and leave mine alone!!! If they want a holiday where they exchange gifts, they should pick a different date.

Hon, this time of the season was originally about celebrating the winter solstice (Pagan tradition). Exchanging gifts, the tree, the log, carols, its ALL PAGAN. Religious scholars believe the JC was NOT born on Dec 25th but actually somewhere in April June timeframe.

I don't mean to sound rude but when you say what I quoted above, I say perhaps Christianity should have never taken away this time of year from the Pagans. Perhaps Christians should pick another date considering the Pagans have celebrated this time of year far longer than the celebration of Jesus Christ.

I'm sorry if I offended you but it irks me like crazy that many people do not know the REAL history behind this season.

I agree with everyone else with things becoming way TOO PC. I won't be offended if someone says "Merry Xmas" or any other religious blessing. I'll say it right back to them, or I'll just say "Happy Holidays". I find it rather pleasing that someone wants to wish me a happy around this time of year. Don't know why people want to be sooo offended in recent years.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays and Happy Hannakuh and have a great Saturnalia!

I just read a post, this morning, on another one of my groups (MSN), from a member who I like, but who does not believe in God. She was all aflutter because she isn't "ready" for Christmas!!! She hasn't read all of the Christmas books to her kids, she hasn't done her Christmas baking, she hasn't bought the Christmas gifts, etc. If you don't believe in God or the birth of Jesus, why in the world do you do Christmas at all?? Give me a break!!!!

Just because SHE does not believe in god does NOT mean that she should automatically have nothing to do with the season! This is a season for friends, family, kids, giving, receiving, caring. Just because one does not believe in god does not mean that one cannot celebrate. Give me a break!

As for the person who said we've been celebrating this for 2,000 years, well PAGAN tradition has been around a LOT longer than that, and has celebrated their holiday on Dec 25th for far longer:

On December 25 (the date of the winter solstice) pagan Romans, still in the majority, celebrated Natalis Solis Invincti, "Birthday of the Invincible Sun God," Mithras. The Mithras cult originated in Persia and rooted itself in the Roman world in the first century BCE, but by the early 300s CE the rising religion of Christianity was posing a formidable challenge to the sun worshipers, especially after the Edict of Milan issued by the Roman emperor Constantine I in 313 CE allowed Christians to practice their faith in the Roman Empire.

[Luvin Labs]

Bah, the tree is a pagan symbol anyways.

Yup it is

The rabbi didn't want the tree taken down... he wanted a menorah (sp?) put up beside it. I have no problem with that.

The Seattle airport should just put up a sign that says "Happy Holidays tree" or something. Of course, then some people would get upset because it doesn't say anything about Christmas (there are actually people boycotting stores that use the slogan "happy holidays")....it's all a bit ridiculous.

they should just call it a holiday tree and be done with it. Those who are boycotting stores because they say "happy holidays" instead of "merry christmas" really need to look at the history of the real reason for the season, considering its really a pagan holiday celebrating the solstice and a lot of traditions christians are calling theirs are actually pagan (carols, gift exchange, tree, yule log, etc). that or they refuse to admit the facts.

to me its a time for giving, a time for family, and especially for kids. no matter what my beliefs are. i've got a christmas/holiday/winter tree up, decorations, etc.

Merry Xmas and Happy Holidays

(sorry for the babbling)

[RICHARD]

Richard, What's the S word?

IT's code for "Contacted A Legal Professional to Make Me Famous/Money".