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.
you're god-like too.
"to rebut the roman propaganda once more...."
a real-life, honest to goodness, psychiatric case.
"to rebut the roman propaganda once more...."
a real-life, honest to goodness, psychiatric case.
I, as probably most Seattlite Freeper's, greatly miss "The Rabbi's Roundtable" from the late 90's. Rabbi Lapin is a great one.
Make sure your friend knows that there are plenty of us Christians that lose sleep at night over the Moon Cult's intentions (especially in combination with the last election). We're all in the same boat, and I find it to be outstanding company.
I think most of you are missing the point. The folks at the airport did not want to be bothered with every religion coming in and getting their symbol put up.
My guess is these people have enough on their plate that they just want to get on with every day work and not have to worry about someone coming in with a lawyer. So they simply said, "F-it, take the whole thing down."
The proper answer from the PR people should have been, "if the rabbi is offended, perhaps he should have thought about that first."
I respect the folks at Sea-Tac for dealing with it this way. Now if the Delta counter at Sea-Tac was good for something, that would be a Christmas Miracle.
And you apparently haven't studied the Roman history of your own religion.
Thank you for that Christian Menorah story! This was no waste of bandwidth--- it was something beautiful to tell every year forever and ever.
I really hand it to this rabbi for doing what he's doing. And it looks like many Jewish people are starting to figure out they need to stick together with Christians.
Wow. You haven't even seen me naked yet you know this. Impressive.
apparently you condemn me for holding a grudge.....but you hold your grudges and nurture you hatreds with your research that perpetuates your paranoia and lust for revenge.
good luck my friend. may your burning hate keep you warm.
apparently you condemn me for holding a grudge.....but you hold your grudges and nurture you hatreds with your research that perpetuates your paranoia and lust for revenge.
good luck my friend. may your burning hate keep you warm.
it is known because arrogance is predictable.
Merry Christmas Is NOT Offensive (Rabbi Daniel Lapin Urges Respect For Christian Holiday Alert)
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