I’m sure everyone’s heard about the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport Christmas trees that were removed when a Rabbi threatened to sue if a menorah weren’t also displayed with the Christmas decorations. The airport, not wanting to put up the menorah only to open themselves up into having to accomodate every wiccan, Islamist, Kwanzaan, and multiculturalist under the sun, opted to simply remove all Christmas displays in the airport,
And that is not what Rabbi Elazar Bogomilsky wanted.
"I am devastated, shocked and appalled at the decision that the Port of Seattle came to," he said Sunday. As news coverage about the airport’s trees spread from CNN to ABC to the Paris-based International Herald Tribune, Bogomilsky on Sunday began to receive hateful messages from people holding him responsible for the removal of the trees.
Like Mary at Freedom Eden, I think it is unfortunate that people found it necessary to send hate mail to the rabbi.
While I was at a client’s home Monday morning, I caught Tammy Bruce on the FOX morning show with that Democratic strategist (whose name escapes me), and both thought the removal of the trees was outrageous. I thought Tammy Bruce had the most eloquent way of expressing it, when she mentioned about the narcissism of multiculturalism, and how we don’t need to see ourselves reflected in everything. Christmas after all is about Jesus Christ. Can you imagine different interest groups wanting to push their identity to be recognized during Cinco de Mayo or Black History Month? It shouldn’t be "all about me". It’s okay to be exclusive. During Nisei Week, I’m not interested in seeing Chicano pride marching in the street parade alongside surviving members of the 442nd, the highly decorated all-Japanese-American WWII battalion. I expect to celebrate the beauty of Japanese-American cultural heritage. You might say that’s different: it doesn’t concern religion. I disagree about the difference. Religious culture is still culture; and true tolerance means you allow any given culture to celebrate in peace, without demanding that your culture also take center stage.
Here is what Tammy Bruce wrote on her blog:
The rabbi should have simply asked, and not threatened to sue. I have no problem at all with the idea of a menorah going up, but the bottom line is, 95 percent of Americans celebrate Christmas. This growing obsession with everyone everywhere needing to see their representation is the impact of narcissism and its increasing control of people’s lives.
As everyone knows, the trees have since been restored in the airport; and we may now all sleep restfully with visions of sugarplum dancing through our heads. Aaah….the wonders of YouTube. God bless the uploader of this:
"It really is narcissism run amok; there’s a point where we don’t need to see ourselves in every single thing- and real multiculturalism, frankly, is being able to enjoy another representation without necessarily seeing yourself in it."
And the Democratic strategist is Bob Beckel…of course! One comment he made which I liked was in pointing out that a menorah is a religious symbol (although, Linda Chavez points out it also represents a cultural and historic celebration in its own right); whereas the Christmas tree, arising out of pagan tradition, is largely secularized. It is a religious symbol, yes; but also, so much more. It is a part of American tradition. And as such, means something to an even wider audience.
My family was never a Christian family; but we honored and celebrated the Christian holiday without feeling alienated or threatened by it; we always had presents under a tree and mailed Christmas cards; and in our own way- with feelings of peace on earth and good will to all, I think that brings honor to Christ….and to American solidarity, as exemplified by being bound by a common tradition: the tradition of Christmas.
A former fetus, the “wordsmith from nantucket” was born in Phoenix, Arizona in 1968. Adopted at birth, wordsmith grew up a military brat. He achieved his B.A. in English from the University of California, Los Angeles (graduating in the top 97% of his class), where he also competed rings for the UCLA mens gymnastics team. The events of 9/11 woke him from his political slumber and malaise. Currently a personal trainer and gymnastics coach.
The wordsmith has never been to Nantucket.
And here I thought multiculturalism was more of a problem in Canada while the USA was all about the melting pot.
I am very impressed by your blog, I got to it through Michele’s link. I am a Jewish American and I am appalled by what the rabbi has done. The rabbi doesn’t know what he is talking about. The menorah is the Jewish symbol of Chanukah which is a very minor and unimportant Jewish holiday. It is in the remembrance of a Jewish historical event, and it is not a religious holiday. There are other holidays of much more importance for Jews to observe. The only reason it is blown out of proportion is because of the time of year it falls and Jewish parents want their children to have a holiday with presents. Growing up Jewish in this country, I sometimes felt left out due to the large emphasis on Christmas. But, we NEVER would have thought to request the removal of a Christmas tree! I am very lucky to live in a Christian country. Yes, America is a Christian country to all those who deny it. In all of Jewish history, Jews have never been given as much freedom, autonomy and opportunity as in this country. I am tired of hearing liberal, arrogant Jews (and other lucky minorities) try to bite the hand that feeds them. I just want to clearly state my STRONG dissaproval and disgust with the arrogant and ungrateful rabbi from Seattle. He *should* be ashamed of himself, but because of the current culture, he probably won’t be. Thanks, hope to check out your blog in the future!