King-5 News reports that all of the Christmas trees inside the terminal at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport have been removed in response to a complaint by a local rabbi.
The rabbi in question wanted to install an eight-foot menorah and have a public lighting ceremony. He threatened to sue if the menorah wasn’t put up and gave a two-day deadline to remove the trees. The public affairs manager at the airport admitted that the trees might not properly represent all cultures, but since this is the busiest time of the year and they don’t have time to add a fair representation of all cultures, the airport has decided to remove all decorations and review their policies for next year.
The same decorations have been put up for the last ten years. The airport opted to avoid litigation and work for a solution next year. We are in favor of the theory of inclusiveness and believe that Christmas displays are a bit overwhelming each year, but we think the rabbi acting inappropriately and immaturely.
UPDATE: According to the Associated Press, the Rabbi, Rabbi Elazar Bogomilsky of Chabad Lubavitch was appalled that they removed all holiday decorations from the airport. The airport staff, after consulting with their lawyers over the threatened litigation if they did not add the menorah next to the trees, believed they would have to add symbols for other cultures in the Northwest, and ‘didn’t have time to play cultural anthropologists.’
“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.”
In reviewing the commentary on this over at Today in the Sky, we are disappointed in the responses. America is indeed a Christian country, but those who are not Christian are still Americans, and deserving of having their beliefs given respect and appreciation in public forums. Despite the Supreme Court on the subject, we believe a Christmas tree is a symbol of Christmas, which is on some level a Christian holiday, even if the connection has been diluted over the years.
For Seattle-Tacoma Airport…we hope next you achieve your goal of being as inclusive as you can. And lawsuits should be avoided when frank discussion and mediation are a much more pleasant way to express your opinion. A menorah can be put up with a minimal fuss, allowing those who celebrate Chanukah to enjoy it. And any other religion wishing representation can speak up. Is anyone unhappy with that theory?
If someone feels that including other people’s religions into the season diminishes their own, then that is the un-American attitude. It is a bad idea to suggest minorities grin and bear it or assimilate aspects of another religion into their own…it merely creates an environment where uniqueness itself is snuffed out. Minorities should also not significantly impede the majority because they are the majority.
It is merely logical sometimes that the majority spend a little extra time examining the needs of the minority because their needs are already met by default because of so many others who require them.