That would be these dolls
And at the risk of offending anyone else, if there's a voodoo holiday late in the year, they can probably display what they like as well.
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.
Who is "wounded"?
I noticed that. I think suing to have a Menorah displayed is stupid.
Who is "wounded"?
Recently I hear it's the Chinese with Rosie's statements.
The world is about someone getting offended daily...
Multiple, but look for Allegheny County vs ??? in 1989, maybe 1988. It's not really that simple, they recognize that various symbols, Christmas Trees, Menorahs, and Creches have both secular and religious characteristics, with a great deal of importance placed on the nature of the display.
I think it was Alleghany. They ruled it was OK in a mixed display including a Christmas tree (!) and a secular "liberty" sign.
They did refuse to hear an appeal of a case, but that means nothing legally.
Perhaps it was a lower court?
County of Allegheny v. American Civil Liberties Union, Greater Pittsburgh Chapter
http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/historics/USSC_CR_0492_0573_ZC.html
Thanks for the info!
Thanks to you, too. :)
That would be these dolls
And at the risk of offending anyone else, if there's a voodoo holiday late in the year, they can probably display what they like as well.
I think the Rabi got a raw deal. He did not want the Christmas trees removed. He did not ask for that. Now some idiots will throw a fit. Well as a Christian the problem I see is we are getting upset over dang Christmas Trees. I would rather see a cross or angel or something religious like the Jewish Menorah instead of Christmas Trees. I think Jesus would think us MAD like silly in the head. The Menorah represent Jesus much better than a Christmas tree. After all he was Jewish and kept the Jewish laws and traditions. The Menorah is Christian also in a certain aspect.
Outstanding. Kudos to Rabbi Lapin.
Everyone should sign -- and forward -- his petition.
you....need....to....take....a....pill........
i am entitled to express my opinion without being diagnosed by a briiliant intellectual.
your "rabbi" was worshipping at the altar of secular power. he invoked the
power of the state as defined by secular power. he fully intended to exert his power endowed by his beloved secular state by way of a secular lawyer.
so i am not allowed to express my opinion in the face of such overwhelming secular power...?
you....sound....like.....a.....spoiled....despot....who.....needs.....to....get.....a...
grip........so......get....a.....grip.....and.....take......a........pill..........
why....would....he.....threaten.....a....lawsuit....in.....the.....face....of.....just....a.....bunch.....of......decorations????????
mr brilliant, secular intellectual????????????
HAHA..Well thank goodness we have no voodoo posters with are names on those dolls...:0)
Precisely, it's money in the bank for any lawyer who represented any group who then sued for being excluded. The Authority's money.
An idiotic comparison. America has no official religion. Also, Jews didn't "suddenly appear" in America. How stupid and insulting. Why shouldn't there be menorahs in public along with Christmas trees? Why should one asshole rabbi and his scumbag lawyer cause a metropolitan airport to censor ALL religious displays? They should have told him to go to hell. Don't blame "the Jews", blame this jerkoff rabbi. The way this idiot handled it was disgusting, and he should be driven out of town. But Jews have every right to have their symbol right along side the trees.
"now some idiots will throw a fit..."
oh, how brilliant you are. you say the word idiot, and you become transformed.
The guy in charge of this was on John Gibson's show this afternoon. Not the brightest bulb on the tree. John told him three times the SCOTUS determined in 1992 a Christmas Tree is Secular, not religious, and why didn't he just put up a menorah... the guy absolutely didn't catch on.
O.K. I'll bite. Who the hell is "we".
Who are we???
We are the people here in the USA that remember a country that was founded on Judeo Christian Principles....
We are a people that remember Christmas and Hannukah Plays in the Public School System....
We are a people that remember when GOD was loved in Public and not despised....
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.