Seattle airport removes Christmas Trees to avoid lawsuit...

[CountryWolf07]

Ok I wasn't sure where to post this.. but I thought. "Hmmm.."


"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 at Chabad Lubavitch, a Jewish education foundation headquartered in Seattle's University District.

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 his lawyer, Harvey Grad. "There is a concern here that the Jewish community will be portrayed as the Grinch."

[RedHedd]

AGH. Sad isn't it? These people really DO need to get lives! As was explained on my talk radio show this weekend, the Trees are a non-denominational symbol of the season of giving. It's a sad state of affairs when we have become so fear driven of offending anyone that we have to take such extreme measures. I guess they're going to "politically correct" all the joy out of the season. Bah humbug! May they all get lumps of coal in their stockings - if they deign to even hang such offensive items of festivity in their homes!

[RICHARD]

I saw this rabbi on the news this morning and he wants the trees back up...
he used the "S" word...

Instead of the Jewish community being portrayed as a "grinch" why not lay the blame on an over zealous rabbi?

[lizbud]

Ok I wasn't sure where to post this.. but I thought. "Hmmm.."


"There is a concern here that the Jewish community will be portrayed as the Grinch."

This man should have thought about that before he ever opened his
mouth in the first place. Bah, Humbug.

[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.

[RICHARD]

Richard, What's the S word?

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

[JenBKR]

oh geez.......PC is going just a bit too far.......

[Husky_mom]

I respect as I want to be respected.......If someone said Merry Christmas and I were offended, they would be too if I said Happy Hannukah......but I think a better world is one to bend the rules a little and have more consideration to some other people´s beliefs, I particularly celebrate Christmas, but I would have no problem calling my tree a winter tree or adding a jewish celebration item to my decor......

And as for Happy Holidays I tend to use that as for ALL the holiday season.....so I see no wrong in that......Merry Christmas for THE day, and Happy Holidays for the rest of the season...........I don´t get why people are so.............(fill in word here).......

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.

Now had their been a nativity scene at the airport but they refused a menorah, that'd be a whole other can of worms.

exactly!!

after all the season is to be happy, in peace and full of joy......why do they want to change that??

I feel sorry about jews being brought into the stage with this rabbi statements.......I´m part jewish........

[moosmom]

I just wish people a happy holiday. It's generic and covers just about everybody.

[gini]

Just think...............

In our future we may not be able to use the color red - it might be associated with Christmas.

We shouldn't use green - it might remind us of Christmas trees.

Of course, we couldn't use blue - it could having something to do with Hanukkah.

Pink would be out - and probably yellow and lime - that would be so close to Easter colors.

And God forbid, orange or black - you might be referring to Halloween.

Grey - yes, a drab grey - that will be our new world.

But, for me, I simply have to say MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU ALL!

while I still can............without being sued.

[Cinder & Smoke]

Airport workers get around Christmas tree tiff

Mini-trees appear; Jewish group plans no lawsuit over menorah’s exclusion

MSNBC News Services
Updated: 10:44 p.m. ET Dec 11, 2006

SEATAC, Wash. - Airline workers at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport took the holidays into their own hands Monday, decorating ticketing counters with miniature Christmas trees after officials decided to remove all of the trees from the main terminal's public spaces.

The airport's director, Mark Reis, didn't mind the merry rebellion one bit.

"The passengers and the meeters and greeters are all happy about it," he said. "They provide a festive spirit."

There's a much larger UppyDate to the whole issue ...
See >>>

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16150563/

/s/ Phred

[Pam]

Just think...............

In our future we may not be able to use the color red - it might be associated with Christmas.

We shouldn't use green - it might remind us of Christmas trees.

Of course, we couldn't use blue - it could having something to do with Hanukkah.

Pink would be out - and probably yellow and lime - that would be so close to Easter colors.

And God forbid, orange or black - you might be referring to Halloween.

Grey - yes, a drab grey - that will be our new world.

But, for me, I simply have to say MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU ALL!

while I still can............without being sued.

Good observation Gini! There is a cute song on Brad Paisley's Christmas CD which deals with political correctness in the songs that we sing this time of year. Of course it substitutes use of the word holiday over Christmas. It also pokes fun at the song white Christmas and how it discriminates against the color black. Also Little Town of Bethlehem might offend people of Bethlehem by claiming that their town is little. Of course it is just meant to be a silly song, but it is like you said, Gini. It makes you wonder where we go from here?

Now I think I will join you in wishing everyone a Merry CHRISTmas!