Comments on: Seattle Airport Removes Christmas Trees

Rabbi's Request For A Menorah Ignored; Instead, Officials Take Down Christmas Display

[afubar69]

I think SEATAC made the right decision. Instead of bowing down to a bully, they turned the tables and put the blame of that decision, squarely where it belonged, on the Rabbi and his willingness to sue. Now he's afraid that he and the Jews will be blamed, go figure. Bravo SEATAC officials.

[japjxp]

I have difficulty understanding why the airport felt the need to remove the trees. Christmas trees have far more to do with the secular side of Christmas than the religious side. Christmas trees, Santa Claus, Frosty, et al. have, for many years been more about the secular celebration than about the birth of Christ. This would be akin to removing the Easter Bunny from National view in fear of offending another' religion.
Although they are incorporated into Christians' celebrations, they are just as relevent to many non-Christians.

[joehill101]

It wouldn't be Christmas anymore without this kind of thing, would it? P

First of all, Christmas trees are NOT symbols of Christianity. You can look at all the paintings in the Vatican you want and I can assure you that there are many Christian symbols in them, but a Christmas tree is not one of them. This is because the Christmas tree is not a Christian symbol. It is PAGAN in origin, and to me, simply symbolizes the Winter Solstice, when the days go from being shorter to being longer. Strange how Christ's birthday and the Winter Solstice fall on the same day, isn't it? Unless, say, the Christians just coopted the Pagan Winter Solstice celebration for Jesus, "the light of the world."

So I think of the Christmas tree as about as Christian as Santa Claus, who doesn't show up in any of the Vatican's paintings either. Can you image? With Rudolph? Santa, too, is just an old pleasant tradition that Jews often misinterpret as a Christian symbol.

But since a lot of people do think of Christmas trees as Christian, I think the Rabbi had at least enough of a case to file it, but he and his lawyer would have been wise to act as Jesus advised and turned the other cheek instead of acting like Christmas-season bullies.

[winsors1]

Once again the feathers are flying because of differing religious ideologies...Can we go back to 1492, 1776, how bout 1956....Doesn't anyone see what's going on?????? Guess not!!!! Jesus "IS" the reason for the Season...but...Not for some!!!

[nicoleanna]

I will be arriving at my hometown airport of Seatac, a few days before Christmas.. and I have to say it is just not going to be the same without the Christmas trees.. i miss them already

[dbstevens]

Threatening lawsuits is disgusting. I'm so ashamed of what our country has become. In my book, these sorts of lawsuits and threats of lawsuits are one person's attempt to thwart the freedom of another, and should be illegal.

I completely agree with respecting religious beliefs. I've always felt that the primary focus being on the Christian religion was ironically against our country's supposed principles.

I also agree that we can't be anthropologists and cater to EVERY religion.

I lived in New York for many years...where there are more Jewish people than in Israel. During that time, I began to observe the holidays from a generic standpoint. I now wish people "Happy Holidays."

My solution is simple and obvious. Simply decorate for the HOLIDAYS with motifs that are not specific to any religion. Lights, garlands, ornaments, etc. Just avoid anything with a religious connotation, and they could even avoid too much red and green. My home is decorated this year with tons of lights and silver tinsel, but no tree.

I wish I could just grab the world by the ears, shake them like my Mom used to do and tell them "get a clue!" But people are basically confrontational. No matter WHAT someone does, SOMEONE is going to cry "foul!"

But I have lost any respect for a *** RABBI...a religious leader who's supposed to be teaching love and respect...threatening to sue. He's no leader, he's an idiot with no understanding of the thing he's supposed to be leading.

[jt92202]

I live in the Seattle Area, on talk radio this morning they had the Rabbi on to tell his side of the story. He did not threaten to sue, his lawyer did to see if he could get the Airport to act faster, he is extremely upset by the decision the Airport made and wants them to put the trees back up even if the menorah doesn't go up too. The fact is the Supreme Court has already decided that a Christmas or Holiday Tree and the Menorah in itself is not sufficiently secular to promote a secular religious belief. So whats the big deal on either one!! And if other cultures with holiday's around this time wants to show their symbols let them thats how we learn about other cultures!! This is stupid, every year someone complains and we react by taking the tree or what ever down then it hits the news papers and we have to hear about it for the rest of the season. It's time WE THE PEOPLE decide what we want and don't want and tell our GOVERNMENT the majority wins!!!!!!!

[johnmag]

I do believe that this is a great country built on diversity however people just have too much time on their hands and forget why the masses escaped other countries to become citizens of a free country. I do think it%u2019s important to observe other ways of thinking however when does it end? My fear is for the future of our country, lets face it, in the past 7 years our freedoms have become a bit more limited. This issue at the airport will only spark religious groups to examine other public displays of the season and jump on the bandwagon. My concern is will the day come when all public holiday displays are governmentally regulated, displaying all religious views in equal proportion and not to include extra decorations to over power any other display of the season? This could be achieved with a governmental approved poster which would be the only display used by law. I know this may sound a bit outrageous however lets look at our history , not only in this country but world wide.

[dbarjim]

I am sick and tired of people threatening to sue because they are offended by something. 96% of the people in the United States celebrate Christmas. Why is a 1% group given the POWER to dicate would goes on, this is UTTERLY stupid. The Rabi knew what he was doing when he made the threat that he was going to sue the airport. The Rabi did the wrong thing here, he should respect others rights to worship, as we do to respect his right to worship.
Jim

[mreberry]

I will be glad when the day comes when things like this don't get so much attention. A Jewish educator was trying for recognition of his own holiday this time of year. I think he was wrong in his judgment, but we have all done things we have regretted. The decision by the airport was probably right because there might be more lawsuits from other groups. It is not a big impact on anyone. I consider a Christmas tree as secular symbol like Santa Claus. But it is no big deal. I just don't like giving publicity to Jews, Christians, Moslems, Atheists, or any other type of person that make these kinds of controversies.