Posted on 12/11/2006 5:52:47 PM PST by Mr. Mulliner
Well here we go again. It is so utterly predictable. Like clockwork. It’s December and time for another skirmish in the annual battle against Christmas. What compels me to comment is that this time it's not the usual secular fanatic who's responsible for doing things that evict Christianity from the culture. No, on this sad and alarming occasion it's a deeply religious, well-intentioned rabbi who has unwittingly stumbled into a situation that will place his denomination (and mine) —Orthodox Judaism— in a terrible, negative light.
For at least ten years, Sea-Tac Airport near Seattle has displayed several large, beautifully decorated Christmas trees each December. With lawyer in tow, a local rabbi recently threatened to sue the Port of Seattle if the airport didn't add a Chanukah menorah to the holiday display.
Yielding to the ultimatum was not an option for airport management, skittish at the best of times since 9-11. Understandably, they interpreted the rabbi’s threat as only the first. It would not be hard to imagine Seattle’s Islamic community stepping forward with their own lawyer to demand a Moslem symbol be included as well.
With deft turn of phrase, Sea-Tac public affairs manager Terri-Ann Betancourt explained that at the busiest travel time of the year, while Sea-Tac was focused on getting passengers through the airport, she and her staff didn’t have time “to play cultural anthropologists.”
Threatening a lawsuit, I feel, violates the Jewish principle known in Hebrew as Kiddush HaShem, interpreted in the Talmud, part of ancient Jewish wisdom, as an action that encourages people to admire Jews. One need only read the comments on the Internet following the news accounts of the tree removal, to know that most people are feeling indignant and hurt. They certainly are not feeling more warmly toward Jews as a result of this mess.
Here I disclose that I know the rabbi involved, am friendly with him, and am sure that he didn’t intend this outcome. I like him, which makes it painful for me to point out that when one throws a punch (which is what bringing a lawyer and threatening to sue is equivalent to) and one gets decked in return, one cannot plead that one didn’t intend that outcome.
The outcome, whether intended or not, is that now vast numbers of passengers, most of whom are probably Christian, will be deprived of the cheerful holiday sight of pretty Christmas trees. What is more, they will know that their deprivation was caused by a Jewish rabbi. The rabbi’s lawyer told a television reporter, “There is a concern here that the Jewish community will be portrayed as the Grinch.”
No, Mr. Lawyer, it is not that Jews will be “portrayed” as the grinch. Sadly, now we are the grinch. You made us the grinch.
Now what is to be done? I have three requests:
I am asking every reader of this column to sign a petition on the Toward Tradition website beseeching Sea-Tac management to restore the Christmas trees.
I am asking every reader of this column to forward it to others who might be willing to sign this petition.
I am asking Jews in the Puget Sound region to join national radio host, Michael Medved, and me in offering our volunteer labor to Sea-Tac. We hope they will allow us to provide the labor necessary for replacing the trees so that airport staff need not be deflected from their important duties.
This WAR started a long time ago.
Religious vs. Secular
Target throwing the Kettle off thier property (Salvation Army)
Removing the cross off Mt Soledad, Taking the Ten Commandments out of the Courthouse..
Taking God off money, No Christmas NO GOD...
Maybe one day God will just bow out and where would be then...
If you think that all the indignation over this scumbag, lawsuit-happy rabbi is coming only from the "religious right", you're nuts.
That's like saying "the gun wasn't loaded". The airport didn't know that.
The airport could have displayed his menorha if it weren't for the Supreme Court's interpretation of the First Amendment.
SCOTUS ruled that the menorah is not a religious symbol either. The Port spokesman did not know that (or pretended not to know that).
The airport folks could have taken time to investigate instead of shooting from the hip.
Not true...the Sea-Tac officials simply did not want to spent taxpayer money on a lawsuit.
Faced with the threat, I think they did a good job.
Should pressure come to bear on this rabbi...yes.
Last first. I won't accept your bet. Chabad supplies the Menorahs, you'd lose. They set them up by the thousand. Generally with no problem at all.
Like it or not, the airport is a public facility, and the government, which includes the courts, decides issue like religious displays. Not the 6 person council running the port authority. That could be solved with a Constitutional Amendment, but it's really not worth the time or effort. Most people aren't bothered by seeing a Christmas (sorry Sea-Tac, there's no such thing as a Holiday Tree) Tree or a Menorah or a Crescent displayed. I haven't mentioned it, but my guess there are totems displayed at Sea-Tac as well, which frequently have religious connotation.
No, they freaked at the prospect of a lawsuit. As others have noted, if SEA-TAC put up a Jewish symbol, then the Muslims would have started in. And some lawyer would have called representing some pagan group that wants to celebrate the Winter Solstice Festival. Airport management didn't want to open that can of worms even a little crack
Well, if he doesn't, I will. Because it's NOT a PR setback for the Jewish faith. You need to chill and stop trying to make more of an issue of this that is really there. Don't be so imflammatory concerning Jewish/Christian relations. What's the point of that? I don't see any Christian posters here making as much of an issue of that as you are.
Really, this is America? Thanks for the clue.
At least we know you're on the side of the Rabbi. I'm not exactly shocked.
Tell me honestly, if you went into the airport and saw Menorrah's, would you instantly demand Christmas trees? I'd think 'Charlie Hustle' got his displays up and leave it at that. I understand why you think it was the media and ractionary airport staff, but I can't quite agree with that.
Once an attorney was involved, they had little choice but to either put up Menorrah's or take down the trees. Not knowing what Muslem symbols, what Wicken symbols, what Quansa symbols and a myriad of others would be demanded as a result, I don't think they had much choice but to act as they did.
While this guy probably was surprised by the reaction, he is the guy that instigated the whole situation whether you, I or anyone else likes it.
Druids and wiccans would have been next. Followed by lunatic humanists and atheists demanding the removal of all such symbols.
But since there was the threat of a lawsuit perhaps some would like to explain what law was violated by the visible display of Christmas trees[???].
The jist of the matter.
On the side of the Rabbi?
Spell out the other side.
I believe the Idaho International Airport displayed the Ten Commandments but they also had to remove it...
This issue has been decided for over two decades. If you put up a Christmas Tree, you have to allow a Menorah. I know it bothers people, but that's the way the courts have ruled. And it's nothing new. The Sea-Tac people knew that, no one is that incompetent.
Yes, Muslims generally get access too if they ask, though there's a bit of a seasonal disconnect with Ramadan That's also how things are.
For a controversial example, I suggest using the KKK. They claim to be a "Christian" organization, claim to "celebrate" Christmas, and "claim" the cross as a symbol. They've been only marginally successful. That's were the "can of worms" takes us.
Look up the definition of "established church". One important characteristic of an established church is that it is supported by tax money. This is the level that lawyers have been using to cancel all religious symbols in the public sphere, that tax money and governmental resources may not be used in religion. SEA-TAC knew where this would go if they ever allowed it to go to court, and they didn't want to risk it
The Supreme Court has ruled that the menorah is not a religious symbol.
There are Christmas trees and Menorahs all over the place. Public places. Stores. On TV. Everywhere you look. For years.
Tell me where you've spotted Wickens?
No, they didn't.
They've ruled that under some circumstances a display which includes a menorah is allowable.
They have ruled that Christmas trees are not religious symbols.
Not true.
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