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to quote from my own self:
The winter solstice has been celebrated by many cultures of longer tradition than the Christian. The Christians, in fact, piggy-backed the celebration of Jesus' birth onto Saturnalia which in its nature was more like Carnivale. I don't suggest any flaw in that, but it is damn cheeky to now claim the season as all theirs!
Furthermore, Channukah celebrates a miracle of faith, manifested through the candles of the menorah, and remembered with reverence annually, at this time of year.
December is a season of many traditions. Christmas trees represent most specifically, originally, Luther's vision of Christianity. We have enshrined them as a tradition not because we are all Lutherans, but because we all respond to beauty and wonder, and see something there akin to any spiritual sensitivity.
This is a season of lights and miracles, by all accounts.
So-- Lighten up!
posted by
Ciel
on December 11, 2006 at 7:33 PM
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Passion.......
I was hurt that I didn't get blocked like everyone else on her list.........I hope she doesn't go and hurt herself now....but blogging had become almost unbearable.
posted by
Corbin_Dallas
on December 11, 2006 at 4:42 PM
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Corbin_Dallas - I agree, if the truth be known christmas trees are not
representative of any specific religion.
But the grounds for litigation were based on religious representation.
posted by
gomedome
on December 11, 2006 at 4:40 PM
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I heard some REAL SHIt went down today...
Have you been a bad boy???? LOL--
posted by
Passionflower
on December 11, 2006 at 4:13 PM
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gome.......
What religion is the trees? Aren't they more of a cultural object rather than a religious one.....to me the best route would have been to offer a place for the Rabbis display.....but no ceremony.........
posted by
Corbin_Dallas
on December 11, 2006 at 3:22 PM
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Corbin Dallas, if the majority in this country don't get up off their
backsides and protest the few vocal (bigmouth) minority bullies who have discovered how easily they can now "make all the calls", then America is going to become the "land of the "flee" and the home of the "cave". What is going on here?! America has (had?) a culture that was expressed for most of her two hundred thirty years, and our culture includes Christmas, school Christmas pageants, nativity scenes, wishing passersby "Merry Christmas!"...and Christmas tress, reindeer,carolers,and snowmen... Yes ,we are a melting pot; we welcomed others into our country to experience freedom...it seems more and more at the expense of ours.
Max and I lived in Indonesia for almost two years. During that time, we did not mount any affort to have them change their customs because they didn't embrace ours. It is time for America to stand up for our culture, cultural icons, and customs... like other countries around the world do!
posted by
muser
on December 11, 2006 at 3:14 PM
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Corbin_Dallas - I put myself in the shoes of those running the airport and
I love the decision made and the grounds behind it.
From a purely pragmatic standpoint and leaving emotions out of it; the airport authority was in a position of weighing the known costs of removing the trees versus the unknown costs of the threatened litigation. The decision also makes a dramatic statement which no minority group from any religion can argue with. "No religious group is now represented, nice knowing ya, goodbye, quit bothering us, we are in the people moving business, not the representation of all religions business." This however is only viable as an immediate solution and the can of worms it potentially represents may pose a huge problem in the future for all properties with public access. What are the solutions? Who knows, as the problem is not easy to deal with once a society has headed down this path. There seems to be 3 possible solutions. Representation of all religions, representation of no religions, or inviting each and every religious group that is interested to bear the costs of their own representation. If I was managing that airport, I would opt for number 3 as both a cost saving measure and a practical solution. A "put up or shut up" scenario that should be pertinent only to locally represented religions, guarantees access to any religion and avoids litigation at the same time.
posted by
gomedome
on December 11, 2006 at 12:51 PM
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CD
Maybe it was "The Grinch" ????????
posted by
Offy
on December 11, 2006 at 9:13 AM
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Glennb
Merry Christmas!
posted by
Corbin_Dallas
on December 11, 2006 at 9:10 AM
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Corbin Dallas,
I am still confused where "Jews" get the notion that Menorah lighting is equivalent to Christmas! Maybe some of you geniuses can follow that history!
posted by
Glennb
on December 11, 2006 at 9:09 AM
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I heard about this yesterday
and thought..... what's the world come to? And all the doing of one person! Looking at the top half of the glass, maybe it's a reminder that ONE voice CAN make a difference.
posted by
Troosha
on December 11, 2006 at 7:23 AM
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That really stinks!
Really!
posted by
Whacky
on December 10, 2006 at 8:33 PM
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Corbin
I have little to add to what has already been said by most of you, except that I am surprised and disappointed this should have come from a rabbi, who is obviously an idiot!
Here in Toronto we get all kinds of nonsense from all kinds of people on these occasions, but rarely if ever from the Jewish community...
posted by
Nautikos
on December 10, 2006 at 7:43 PM
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Amen Passionflower....
posted by
Offy
on December 10, 2006 at 5:03 PM
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I think what most people fail to realize is that it's
CHRISTMAS....the birth of Christ,that we're celebrating. Not some Jewish Holiday.
There's a time and place for celebrating the Jewish holidays. We don't complain when they do either,do we?
WE don't complain when the blacks celebrate their holidays....do we? Or any of the other religions or cultures....Everyone can celebrate however, whereve and whenever they want and the Christians don't say a word.
But when WE want to celebrate the birth of our Saviour, we have to listen to so much SHIT from other races/cultures that it isn't even funny. We have to take down our trees, our nativity scenes, etc.
What would happen if Christians began to file protests every time an African American tried to celebrate Kwanzai (or whatever it's called)???
The next time I see a guy with a booth of palm fronds in his front yard, I'm going to file a protest. Why does this guy get to celebrate Passover ??? It offends me! Take the crap down!
posted by
Passionflower
on December 10, 2006 at 5:00 PM
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kingmi.....that is correct......
and it really matters on the Left Coast.....
posted by
Corbin_Dallas
on December 10, 2006 at 4:16 PM
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Corbin, That's rediculous. the tree is a pagan symbol anyways!
posted by
kingmi
on December 10, 2006 at 4:14 PM
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I know this really makes the people in Western Washington angry.
As usually, Corbin. Very interesting post.
posted by
Joe_Love
on December 10, 2006 at 3:34 PM
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Janes.....
Much to the dismay of America’s Grinches on the Left,..........one or both of these two holidays have long continued to be celebrated by the vast majority of Americans. The rea question is how then, could the Left-handed Grinches prevail if they couldn’t steal the holidays?
The answer.........I believe, lies with the left-wing Grinches of the 60’s and 70’s. Filled with contempt for religion in general as well as for Judeo-Christian values..........they entered the worlds of academia, journalism, and judicial law.
Where are we today? We find that they have overrun the halls of higher learning as well as the public school system. Left lying in their paths are the ghosts of Christmas past. No more praying.........no more Christ.........and no more Christmas. Enter the left-wing alternative – enter Kwanzaa.
Kwanzaa is a manufactured “holiday” for African-Americans and was born in the 1970’s of racism, collectivism, and an “alternative to Christianity, Judaism, and Islamic holiday traditions”
posted by
Corbin_Dallas
on December 10, 2006 at 3:23 PM
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I wonder when the day will come . . .
when Christmas of any kind (or at least the Christian sort) will be outlawed, and Christians will be persecuted for celebrating this holiday. You laugh? I hope I'm being paranoid, but fear it may happen in the not too distant future.
posted by
JanesOpinion
on December 10, 2006 at 2:44 PM
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Corbin...
I'm 60 minutes south of Seattle and I didn't know about thnis, thank you. I think it is absolutely ridiculous! Who cares if it represents all cultures...Christmas is on the calander as a federal American holiday...Why is any more justification needed?
posted by
A_Norseman
on December 10, 2006 at 2:37 PM
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Who me Corbin??
Hehehehe...you could say that!!!
posted by
bel_1965
on December 10, 2006 at 2:28 PM
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Bel......
you seem to have a bit more spark and a bit of a bounce in your delivery........in a good mood are we???
posted by
Corbin_Dallas
on December 10, 2006 at 2:27 PM
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OK am I stupid or what?
When exactly did a freaking evergreen tree that does NOT grow anywhere near Bethleham have to do with religion? Now they could have put a palm tree up and then claimed something given those are the only dang trees that grow in that area of the world with any chance of survival. I am so tired of this crap.
posted by
bel_1965
on December 10, 2006 at 2:24 PM
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Our resolve has become like water........
seeking the path of least resistance........
posted by
Corbin_Dallas
on December 10, 2006 at 2:23 PM
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Soon it will just be one "winter festival" for all...no, that wouldn't work
for long..whats with the airport's legal people, I wonder?..they should have let the suit come and faced it headon..
posted by
Rumor
on December 10, 2006 at 12:57 PM
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I'll never understand intolerance of any religion. Who cares what an
airport decides to use as decorations... and how does it affect me? It just blows my mind.
posted by
-blackcat
on December 10, 2006 at 12:39 PM
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CORBIN
When and where will it end? Someone needs to strap them on and make a stand
posted by
TIMMYTALES
on December 10, 2006 at 11:35 AM
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I AM OFFENDED BY THE TREES BEING TAKEN DOWN!!!
!!!!
And does that mean anyone is going to reverse the decision?
We have become a natin of spolied crybabies who have to have everything our way. Sheesh . . .
posted by
WriterofLight
on December 10, 2006 at 11:16 AM
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That bites...
posted by
Offy
on December 10, 2006 at 9:47 AM
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Pretty soon we won't be allowed to have Christmas trees in our houses
posted by
SuccessWarrior
on December 10, 2006 at 9:45 AM
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Corbin I agree with you, the airport should have allowed it
this is the first time I have ever seen this concerning a Menorah. Normally it is the anti-Christmas whackjobs.
posted by
scoop
on December 10, 2006 at 9:38 AM
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Corbin, eventually we'll take bleach to all our old traditions and let
the fringe have their way with the blank landscape we're clearing for them
posted by
FreeManWalking
on December 10, 2006 at 8:35 AM
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the airport should have allowed it........
but instead.......sterilize it.......
posted by
Corbin_Dallas
on December 10, 2006 at 8:33 AM
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The menorah would not have been out of place. I think Hanukka and
Christmas go hand in hand. But once again all these damn inclusionist screw up something else for the majority.
posted by
FreeManWalking
on December 10, 2006 at 8:10 AM
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