Seattlest: The War On Holiday Trees

JOSH

Wed, 13 Dec 2006 08:44:22 -0800

WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO EVERYONE? IT SEEMS LIKE EVERYONE TAKES OFFENSE TO EVERYTHING. I FEEL LIKE I LIVE IN A WORLD OF BABIES, BECAUSE PEOPLE CRY AND WHINE ABOUT EVERYTHING. GROW UP PEOPLE. SOME OF YOU ARE TAKING AWAY THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT. IT'S A CHRISTMAS TREE, IT ALWAYS HAS BEEN AND IT ALWAYS WILL BE. AND IF YOU SEE ME, I WILL SAY MERRY CHRISTMAS AND IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT, WELL TOUGH. I'M NOT RELIGIOUS, BUT THIS IS GOING TOO FAR. THE REST OF US NEED TO GROW A PAIR AND SIMPLY SAY, IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT....TOO BAD. CRY TO SOMEONE WHO GIVES A CARE ABOUT YOUR PATHETIC LIVES IN WHINYLAND.

Keith "No-No-Boy" Gormezano

Mon, 11 Dec 2006 23:49:20 -0800

First, the airport is a publicly funded and supported facility (not a church although there probably is a lot of praying at take off and landing.) Religious displays of any religion do not belong in a public space as this is a form of government endorsement of religion. Our tax dollars should not be used to put up any these kind of religious displays or pay for the lighting of them. To a non-Christian like myself, a Jew, they are religious displays. Why do you think people call them "Christmas trees? If we truly believe in the concept of the separation of "church" or religion and state, then the decision is correct. Second, if we accept the equal opportunity position of allowing Christmas trees, Menorahs (celebrating a Jewish religious military victory), or Kwanzaa (some family values there, whew) displays, then we would have to allow a display from alleged devil worshippers with an upside down broken crucifix, the numbers 666, the words "believe in Satan and yee shall be saved" and a sacrificial altar filled with human blood. It is only fair, after all. If you are going to allow one, then you must allow all. Is that what you really want? Third, imagine what it would be like to live in a country (like Saudi Arabia, Israel, Iran, or Afghanistan to name a few) where Christians are the minority and/or are not allowed to put up their symbols and have the dominant religion shoved down their throat. Then maybe you would understand how the rest of us feel about these so-called secular but religious displays. We are a diverse country. Putting up displays like this separates us. Religion belongs in the home and in the appropriate religious institution. Public buildings are for public use. Period.

robe

Mon, 11 Dec 2006 19:55:45 -0800

This is going too much, I mean, this country was built on Christian principals, and the bible was the symbol that used to swear people to public office, so i don't care if 10 million jewes live here and 20 million muslims live here, so people come out and say it out loud and don't be affraid of what you beleif in, this is too much, let other faiths here from you as much as you hear from them , enough is enough, those christmas trees should go back where they belong,

win

Mon, 11 Dec 2006 19:55:29 -0800

Holiday/Christmas Tree's are not a religious observance, they are a holiday tradition. Further, there was to be a lighting ceremony with the menorah. Religious. To the first poster: What about Thanksgiving and other American Holiday's. Are they ok with you? We should just keep the holiday's and be nice to others. We deserve our holidays as much as any other country, we even need them.

Dill

Mon, 11 Dec 2006 19:35:29 -0800

I think that many well-meaning Christians really just want us non-Christians to feel comfortable embracing the tree, and so they take the crosses and santas and all other identifying features off and call it a "holiday tree." I want to say "Thanks, but no thanks." It's really not necessary, as we have our own cultural traditions and will always see it as a Christmas tree. (If I draped a menorah with green and red tinsel and painted it candy cane colors, would you for one minute believe it was anything other than a badly decorated Jewish menorah?) But the more important point is that no one should have to disguise their holiday symbols to make them acceptable! That's not fair to Christians, Jews, or any other group. What would make me happy is if anyone wanting to would just put up a kick-ass holiday display on their own property or the property of their houses of worship. Let's all eave the public spaces alone. Besides, I think putting up displays in stores and malls is a crass misuse of religion and just cheapens the religious significance of the holidays. My two cents. Peace to all, Merry Christmas! Happy Hannukah! Joyous Kwanza!

Suze

Mon, 11 Dec 2006 17:19:55 -0800

I'm just happy that the tree shown in the story is topped by a representation of the Flying Spaghetti Monster. I think all holidays (and everyone posting here) should be touched by his noodly appendage. That is all.

Jason

Mon, 11 Dec 2006 16:33:08 -0800

My comment about the tree being co-opted was in response to the original comment about Christmas being "the only holiday this time of year that has a tree". Given that the solstice is a few days before Christmas, that would be incorrect (If I'm right in remembering that the tree was used in solstice celebrations).

jason

Mon, 11 Dec 2006 15:46:15 -0800

while it's fun to point out that the tree was co-opted from pagans, there is no question that it is universally recognized as a symbol of christmas. i really don't care if someone attaches a religious connotation to their own tree, or just bows down at the altar of santa, a decorated tree in the public square is for christians. there is no such thing as a 'holiday' tree. nobody else uses it to celebrate... sukkot was months ago. i'm personally not offended by the trees as i'm cynical enough to expect it by now. it's a christian country and this time of year sucks. that said, the rabbi made a reasonable request & the port freaked out. it was tremendous PR on their part to make the rabbi look like the bad guy for their own incompetence. if they'd just put up the menorah, nobody would even have known it was ever an issue.

Jason

Mon, 11 Dec 2006 14:24:12 -0800

Didn't the custom of the Christams tree come from co-opting the "pagan" rituals centered around the winter solstice?

drrew

Mon, 11 Dec 2006 12:06:16 -0800

What frickin nonsense. As if anyone is harmed because they put up a Christmas tree. It's long since stopped being a religious holiday among most celebrants, myself included. The actual tree has absolutely no religious context. The fact that the Rabbi threatened a lawsuit just takes the cake. The man obviously has too much money at his disposal if this is what he chooses to spend it on. As far as the indignation of 'Charlie', my holiday belief is that you should be forced to sit in front of a television watching a loop of The Christmas Story, Scrooged, the Santa Clause (part 2!) and whatever other christmas movies I can scrounge up you oversensitive uptight buffoon.

Jebus

Mon, 11 Dec 2006 11:49:14 -0800

There is no such thing as a holiday tree? You and rabbi tit are ignorant my beliefs, so hi kettle I am black. No one is stop infringing Christmas on everyone, the problem is the weak and stupid always threaten law suits to get their way, no matter how stupid their beliefs are.

Charlie

Mon, 11 Dec 2006 11:23:40 -0800

there is no such thing as a 'holiday tree'. the only holiday this time of year that has a tree is christmas. if you don't celebrate christmas then there is no tree in the holiday. stop infringing christmas on everyone. we do not all celebrate your holiday...we don't even care and we don't believe in it. if you want to celebrate the holidays then you should put up decorations for all holidays, period. don't be ingnorant of other peoples beliefs. thank you