This Pisses Me Off ! ! ! airport removes Christmas trees

[fullauto]

http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/12/10/airport.christmas.trees.ap/index.html

 

Seattle airport removes Christmas trees to avoid lawsuit

 

POSTED: 8:49 p.m. EST, December 10, 2006

 

SEATAC, Washington (AP) -- All nine Christmas trees have been removed from the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport instead of adding a giant Jewish menorah to the holiday display as a rabbi had requested.

Maintenance workers boxed up the trees during the graveyard shift early Saturday, when airport bosses believed few people would notice.

"We decided to take the trees down because we didn't want to be exclusive," said airport spokeswoman Terri-Ann Betancourt. "We're trying to be thoughtful and respectful, and will review policies after the first of the year."

Rabbi Elazar Bogomilsky, who made his request weeks ago, said he was appalled by the decision. He had hired a lawyer and threatened to sue if the Port of Seattle didn't add the menorah next to the trees, which had been festooned with red ribbons and bows.

"Everyone should have their spirit of the holiday. For many people the trees are the spirit of the holidays, and adding a menorah adds light to the season," said Bogomilsky, who works in Seattle at the regional headquarters for Chabad Lubavitch, a Jewish education foundation.

After consulting with lawyers, port staff believed that adding the menorah would have required adding symbols for other religions and cultures in the Northwest. The holidays are the busiest season at the airport, Betancourt said, and staff didn't have time to play cultural anthropologists.

Hanukkah begins this Friday at sundown.

"They've darkened the hall instead of turning the lights up," said Bogomilsky's lawyer, Harvey Grad. "There is a concern here that the Jewish community will be portrayed as the Grinch."

 

[Komrade Vostok Hazard]

what crawled up this rabbi's ass bad enough to cause him to get his panties in a knot and consider a fuckin fake spruce tree to be religious favortism. CHRISTMAS TREES AREN'T CHRISTIAN SYMBOLS.

[phreakwars]

Hmm, good point.. and Marijuana plants are NOT symbols for hippy's ??

 

Break the word down "CHRISTMAS TREE"

 

CHRIST<---That Jesus dude, MASS<--- assembling of many to worship, TREE<---- Uhm, plant representation ??

 

Know your history dude: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_trees

 

You are very correct, the Christmas Tree, if anything, is PAGAN !!

 

OOPS, SORRY IF I JUST RUINED SOME OF YOU CHRISTIAN TYPE'S OUT THERE'S CHRISTMAS.

.

.

[Outlaw2747]

I heard the pentagram and Easter are stolen Pagan symbols/traditions that Christians utilize.

[Phantom]

Pentagrams are Christian symbols? When did THIS happen?! As for Christmas trees, Easter Eggs, mistletoe... all old news, all of pagan origins. Many Christian sects will not utilize them during the various holidays.

[phreakwars]

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but, THERE IS NO SANTA CLAUSE EITHER !!

.

.

[Phantom]

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but, THERE IS NO SANTA CLAUSE EITHER !!

 

Bastid!

 

As for the original post, that is hysterical. The rabbi bitches, threatens to sue, makes a great ado about nothing- and EVERYTHING gets taken down.

 

"They've darkened the hall instead of turning the lights up," said Bogomilsky's lawyer, Harvey Grad. "There is a concern here that the Jewish community will be portrayed as the Grinch."

 

No shit! Instead of just letting things be and having some Christmas trees on display, one group bitches which would generate more bitching from other groups. The airport cannot be blamed for taking it all down to avoid the headache. People are too damned sensitive.

 

Note: Are airports private property? I do not recall them being government owned. Have things changed? If it is private property, how would anyone have grounds for a lawsuit?

[Jhony5]

Shit like this makes me remember why I hate God.

[smutt butt]

http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/12/10/airport.christmas.trees.ap/index.html

 

Seattle airport removes Christmas trees to avoid lawsuit

 

POSTED: 8:49 p.m. EST, December 10, 2006

 

SEATAC, Washington (AP) -- All nine Christmas trees have been removed from the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport instead of adding a giant Jewish menorah to the holiday display as a rabbi had requested.

Maintenance workers boxed up the trees during the graveyard shift early Saturday, when airport bosses believed few people would notice.

"We decided to take the trees down because we didn't want to be exclusive," said airport spokeswoman Terri-Ann Betancourt. "We're trying to be thoughtful and respectful, and will review policies after the first of the year."

Rabbi Elazar Bogomilsky, who made his request weeks ago, said he was appalled by the decision. He had hired a lawyer and threatened to sue if the Port of Seattle didn't add the menorah next to the trees, which had been festooned with red ribbons and bows.

"Everyone should have their spirit of the holiday. For many people the trees are the spirit of the holidays, and adding a menorah adds light to the season," said Bogomilsky, who works in Seattle at the regional headquarters for Chabad Lubavitch, a Jewish education foundation.

After consulting with lawyers, port staff believed that adding the menorah would have required adding symbols for other religions and cultures in the Northwest. The holidays are the busiest season at the airport, Betancourt said, and staff didn't have time to play cultural anthropologists.

Hanukkah begins this Friday at sundown.

"They've darkened the hall instead of turning the lights up," said Bogomilsky's lawyer, Harvey Grad. "There is a concern here that the Jewish community will be portrayed as the Grinch."

 

Just another reason for me to hate fukkin lawyers.

 

The minority will always win in America..... how sad.

[Outlaw2747]

Pentagrams are Christian symbols? When did THIS happen?! As for Christmas trees, Easter Eggs, mistletoe... all old news, all of pagan origins. Many Christian sects will not utilize them during the various holidays.

 

Some Christians believe the pentagram symbolizes Satan. And it used to represent the 5 wounds of Jesus.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pentagram#Christianity

[eddo]

You are very correct, the Christmas Tree, if anything, is PAGAN !!

 

OOPS, SORRY IF I JUST RUINED SOME OF YOU CHRISTIAN TYPE'S OUT THERE'S CHRISTMAS.

.

.

 

 

You mean Jesus didn't have a Christmas tree next to the stable? How can this be? Phreak has ruined my Christmas!!!

 

...

 

 

dumbass...

[Feckless Wench]

It would be a happier and calmer world if we all accepted and respected other's religions instead of being so damn 'politically correct' that nobody is allowed to celebrate what they believe in.

[Outlaw2747]

I love being an atheist.

[RegisteredAndEducated]

I love being an atheist.

 

And I respect that. You are an adult, and as such, free to believe what you wish!

 

I on the other hand...

 

Love being a Christian. I don't often air my Christianity or practice as I should, but I am a believer none the less.

[tiredofwhiners]

And further more how the fuck did Santa get into the hole Christmas thing?

 

Did the wise men get tired of caring there shit, so they got some drunk guy to carry there shit. I never read anything about the B.C.ers smoking dope, and thinking a fat fuck in a red suit with flying reindeer, helped them out.

[ParasiteGod]

I have a real cool essay I wrote about how Santa is actually Satan... If I find it I'll show you guys, if you want.

 

...Maybe I'm a jackass, but I'm having trouble getting upset over the removal of a Christmas tree.

[Komrade Vostok Hazard]

Not only they aren't christain symbols; WHY AREN'T THE CHRISTIANS BITCHING ABOUT THEM?

 

Source: wiki article posted by phreak

 

Usage controversy

 

Some Christians, albeit a minority, feel that the practice of having "Christmas Trees" is prohibited by the Book of Jeremiah 10:1-5 which says,

 

For the customs of the people [are] vain: for [one] cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not. They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good. KJV.

 

Interpreting those verses as a ban on Christmas trees may be more common among individuals and Christian denominations that are part of the King-James-Only Movement.

 

In other English translations of the Bible the verses more explicitly refer to the practice of making idols to be worshipped:

 

For the customs of the peoples are worthless; they cut a tree out of the forest, and a craftsman shapes it with his chisel. They adorn it with silver and gold; they fasten it with a hammer and nails so it will not totter. Like a scarecrow in a melon patch, their idols cannot speak; they must be carried because they cannot walk. Do not fear them; they can do no harm nor can they do any good. (emphasis added) NIV

 

A full study of the passage shows that the people would cut down a tree and work it with a chisel to engrave an image in it. They would also carry it from place to place as an object to be feared and worshipped. The only consistencies with Christmas tree customs seem to be that both are made of wood and both are decorated.

 

Some Christians, again a minority, feel that since "Christmas Trees" are not biblically ordained, they should not be used. Such individuals and Christian denominations are unlikely to celebrate Christmas at all, for the same reason, such as the United Church of God.

 

Most churches however use Christmas trees as decoration at Christmas time. Some churches use the same stripped Christmas tree as a Christian cross at Easter. See the The Dream of the Rood described above. Both Ezekiel 47:12 and the Book of Revelation 22:2 use trees as a symbol of new fruitful life, comparative to the Tree of life denied Adam in Genesis 3:22-23. Paul makes the link between Adam and Christ clear in Romans chapter 5:

[Ahhlee]

staff didn't have time to play cultural anthropologists.

 

Exactly. They had no choice but to take down everything to avoid the threat of another lawsuit from another pissy religious group.

 

We're becoming a goddamn oligarchy.

[Kryptonite Man]

News Flash: The trees are back up, and the rabbi in question did NOT want to sue, but asked if he could put up a mehnorrah with the Christmas tree, but the airport officials took it the wrong way and freaked out and took the trees down for a while. Political Correctness fucked up the Holidays yet again.

[ClassyMissFancy]

I love being an atheist.

 

 

Yup.

[fullauto]

News Flash: The trees are back up, and the rabbi in question did NOT want to sue, but asked if he could put up a mehnorrah with the Christmas tree, but the airport officials took it the wrong way and freaked out and took the trees down for a while. Political Correctness fucked up the Holidays yet again.

 

Please vote for me! 2008!

 

I pledge to make PC illegal!

[ParasiteGod]

Can I run with you, FA?

[fullauto]

Can I run with you, FA?

 

I will choose my Cabinet based on a few criteria...

 

1. ruthlessness

2. ability to operate alone

3. ability to carry out an objective

4. ingenuity

5. mental capacity

 

It's up to you!

[Msixty]

I will choose my Cabinet based on a few criteria...

 

1. ruthlessness

2. ability to operate alone

3. ability to carry out an objective

4. ingenuity

5. mental capacity

 

It's up to you!

 

I'm your man for Sec. of Offence!

[Msixty]

I love being an atheist.

 

screw religion