Airport's trees stoking "war on Christmas". (SEATAC Update)

Seattle Times ^ | 12-11-06 | Stuart Eskenazi

[Leftism is Mentally Deranged]

Stupid situation. But I don't blame the Rabbi. I blame the weak owners of "public" places for giving in to all requests to eliminate Christian symbols.

[Convert from ECUSA]

"Hanukkah was celebrated during the time of Jesus. As a Jew, Jesus would certainly have celebrated Hanukkah. He would have observed the Hanukkah festival according to the laws and customs of his community. The festival would have been celebrated, at least, with the lighting of a Hanukkah lamp."

Amen and right on, TaraP!

[nkycincinnatikid]

Okey Dokey, I guess the courts and the media have changed a lot since the events here in Cincinnati. Yeah! ,that's the ticket!

[daviscupper]

Thanks.

[Libertina]

You refuse to place any blame on the shoulders of those who planned & executed, but all ire on the ones who reacted? Not a very defensible philosophy.

[Steve_Seattle]

"Okey Dokey, I guess the courts and the media have changed a lot since the events here in Cincinnati. Yeah! ,that's the ticket!"

Well, the USSC has zigzagged all over the field on this issue. I think it was Bork who said "good luck" if you want to see any coherence to their successive rulings on church/state issues. But I do know that some courts have ruled that Christmas trees are permissable because they have become basically secular symbols.

[JoyjoyfromNJ]

Why should Christians honor a Menorah?

Because Jesus did. Read John 10:22 ff, which states that "at the time of the Feast of Dedication. . .in Jerusalem. . .Jesus was walking in the Temple. . ." The word "Hanukah" means "dedication"--Jesus was at the Temple during the celebration of Hanukah. Part of the festival at the Temple involved a menorah larger than the one the rabbi wanted to install at the airport.

Further, Hanukah commemorates the DEFEAT of an attempted to wipe out all Jews which occurred approximately 125 years before Jesus was born. If that genocide had occurred, there never would have been a Nativity, the birth of the promised Jewish Messiah. Therefore, Hanukah should be honored by every Bible-believing Christian as yet another example of God's awesome faithfulness in keeping His promises to the Jewish people.

Lastly, in regards to Jewish people having to sue the "establishment" to have their religion honored, you might want to check out the history of the two-day American weekend--how Saturday came to be included. This rabbi did NOT request the "cancellation of Christmas" or the avoidance of religion; he was seeking to be included. I for one have no problem with his having to seek legal action to achieve that.

[daybreakcoming]

I think I'd rather not see anything than see any Islam icon!

Agreed. Next would be all the different symbols pertaining to paganism, satan worship, etc.

Looking at a Christmas tree, elaborately decorated or not, gives one a moment of beauty and peace and if anyone needs that moment, it is holiday travelers. Shame on that silly rabbi twit. He knew what he was doing.

[Suzy Quzy]

Amen.....Put up the Menorah or Christians can put up the Nativity scene!!!! The more Menorahs the better because the more Manger scenes the better!! Both of those are the symbols for the two holidays!!

[B4Ranch]

To each his/her own beliefs. Let's leave it at that.

[Wormwood]

I for one have no problem with his having to seek legal action to achieve that.

And I for one have no problem with the Port deciding it wasn't worth the effort to slug it out in court with one malconent.

[GovernmentIsTheProblem]

"Hannukah, meanwhile is not a holy day like Yom Kippur or Passover."

Yeah, it only celebrates miracles that led to the restoration of the Temple.

Not a big deal, right.

If the temple hadn't been restored by the Maccabees, Jesus wouldn't have had anywhere to throw his temper tantrum.

[GovernmentIsTheProblem]

"Idiot. You brought a lawyer into this, you get to live with the results. Jerk."

What does a decorated tree have to do with your messiah?

It's an adopted pagan symbol...

[TaraP]

Excellent Post!!

[TaraP]

I suppose Moses was also throwing a temper tantrum whe he saw his people worshipping a Golden Calf???

[USMCWife6869]

I never suggested that the Menorah shouldn't be put up, nor did I speak a negative word about it. My only comment was in regards to the Rabbi not being able to handle the fallout of a situation that he created and crying about all the mean people picking on him.

My father's best friend is Jewish, and when they were roommates, both holidays were celebrated in his house. I loved learning about a different culture, and I have a great respect for the Jewish traditions I had the opportunity to learn about from him.

I do not, however, have respect for people who back off of what they believe in when the heat gets turned up. The Rabbi started this whole mess by threatening a lawsuit. If he feels so strongly, then all power to him, but this whiny, crying "I never meant for it to happen this way, so why is everyone picking on me" thing bugs me. Exactly what did he think would happen if the trees came down, which may not have actually been his intent, should cleary have been a possibility he should have considered before acting.

[the OlLine Rebel]

I was just clicking on the key word "ISLAM", and noted this thread came up.

WHY?

[M. Espinola]

Double - Amen and right on, TaraP!

[thinking]

Hanukkah, is the celebration of a victory, in a war...in other words it is the celebration of the defeat, of a enemy....NOW, Christmas is the celebration of the birth a baby, who, would become a Saviour....please tell me how one can compare the two occasions...how do we celebrate in a "joyous" frame of mind for two very different situations....