Posted on 12/11/2006 9:56:06 PM PST by XR7
Airline workers put Christmas trees on ticketing counters Monday at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, shortly after trees in public spaces were removed because of a rabbi's complaint that holiday decor did not include a menorah.
Customer service agents with Frontier Airlines pooled their money Monday morning to buy four 1-foot-high Christmas trees, which they placed on the airline's ticketing counter. Atop a Delta counter, workers put up a tree several feet tall.
The airlines lease space for ticket counters from the airport and can display trees there if they want, said the airport's director, Mark Reis. He said he didn't mind the merry rebellion one bit.
"The passengers and the meeters and greeters are all happy about it," he said. "They provide a festive spirit."
Fourteen plastic Christmas trees were removed over the weekend after Seattle rabbi Elazar Bogomilsky threatened to sue if an 8-foot menorah wasn't also added to the display.
Commissioners from the Port of Seattle, which oversees the airport, believed that if they allowed a menorah, they would also have to display symbols of other religions and cultures, which was not something airport workers had time for during the busiest travel season of the year, Reis said.
Bogomilsky said he was appalled by the airport's decision to remove the trees.
"Our goal was to include a menorah in the airport as well so that we could bring extra light with Hannukah's universal message of hope," Bogomilsky wrote Monday on behalf of his organization, Chabad of Greater Seattle. "Our discussion of possible legal action was never about removing Christmas trees _ it was about protecting the right to add menorahs."
GOOD on them!
Merry Christmas, God Bless all of you!
I felt a bit uncomfortable because we put up our own tree in the TWA baggage service office in St Louis. Since most people came in there in a very bad mood, I was concerned that it wouldn't reflect well on the whole Christmas spirit thing we were shooting for. I really shouldn't have been surprised at how many people visibly brightened when they walked in and saw it!
I suppose I should have felt bad about all the presents we stole from the luggage to put under the tree though......(j/k)
Funniest line I've seen all night!!!
"Commissioners from the Port of Seattle ..&..airport's director, Mark Reis"
Knee-jerk cowards who totally caved in to a lone looney and brought down nothing but derision on themselves from a fed-up public.
Merry Christmas, and straighten up your backbones for the New Year, Port of Seattle!!!
As Bugs Bunny would put it, "Wotta maroon."
Travel these airlines! Yes!
*snicker*!!!
I worked as a doctor's receptionist years ago. Many of our patients were seriously ill, and when we put up the Christmas tree and decorations it sure brought a lot of smiles to our patients' faces!
BREAKING NEWS
Monday, December 11, 2006 8:07 PMThe Christmas Trees are returning to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
Port of Seattle officials said they decided tonight to put the trees back up after Rabbi Elazar Bogomilsky and his Central Organization for Jewish Education Lubavitch said they would not file a threatened lawsuit.
For more, see http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003473083_webtrees11.html
YER KIDDIN' !!
Wonderful news.
Sanity returns.
"I felt a bit uncomfortable because we put up our own tree in the TWA baggage service office in St Louis. Since most people came in there in a very bad mood, I was concerned that it wouldn't reflect well on the whole Christmas spirit thing we were shooting for. I really shouldn't have been surprised at how many people visibly brightened when they walked in and saw it!
I suppose I should have felt bad about all the presents we stole from the luggage to put under the tree though......(j/k)"
My sister who was a F/A with TWA (St. Louis based) from the 70s until her layoff with American really appreciated your post. She just read it and chuckled. God, I miss TWA.
I was a F/A for my last year or so also, St Louis based too. I wonder if we knew each other. I was pretty junior so I mostly did short hops around the Midwest. It was a fun life, though stressful, being a straight, single, male in that job!
My sister's name is Kyle. Her hubby was also a F/A. Both taught as well.
Happy Birth of Jesus Day to you too!
I thought that the most important feature of the Christian faith was forgiveness, particularly of someone who has admitted making a mistake. But I could be wrong.
"Our discussion of possible legal action was never about removing Christmas trees _ it was about protecting the right to add menorahs."
Get bent.
It was about getting your way and only your way.
Trees are not a religious symbol. a menorrah is.
Did the good rabbi offer to donate a menorah to the display in a gesture of good will?
I didn't think so.
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.