The boomerang effect of religious bigotry
From WorldNetDaily...
There's been a huge uproar over the Christmas trees at the Seattle airport being taken down – and then put up again – when a rabbi asked to have a menorah included in the facility's seasonal display.
But WND has discovered that neither side had any dispute with the Christmas trees themselves, and the whole disagreement stemmed from the fact the airport considers the trees secular ornaments to the season.
That means, airport spokeswoman Terri-Ann Betancourt says, they are allowed under airport policy. But the menorah, which is a "religious" display, is not.
There shouldn't be a problem even with the Menorah.
Not to belittle the efforts of Jews like Don Feder, Michael Medved and Dennis Prager, who argue against the typical anti-Christian bigotry we see so often, many of those the ACLU types get to complain about "religious displays" are Jews (and of course the "religious displays" are pretty much always Christian displays). Now we see the results of their idiocy.
Even many Christians argue that the Christmas tree isn't actually a Christian symbol, but more of a cultural symbol that emerged as part of a regional celebration of Christmas as it itself was being pulled from it's position as a Christian holiday to a secular holiday. But, at the same time, the Menorah is also more of a cultural symbol, even while it does have religious significance.
End the end we have the ACLU and their minions encouraging a system of intolerance. And here we see the results.
Posted by Danny Carlton at December 20, 2006 8:28 AM
I disagree with the statement that the Menorah is also more of a cultural symbol; it signifies the miracle that the oil lasted eight days.
However I have absolutely no problem if they let the Rabbi put up a Menorah. Just let some Christian organization put up a Nativity Scene.
SeaTac does not have to pay for either the Menorah or the Nativity Scene, just allow others to provide them, and add them to the secular decorations.
I guess it comes from the difference in Judaism and Christianity, in that Christianity crosses such a wide number of cultures, while Judaism has more or less become it's own culture. Therefore the Menorah can be seen as representing a culture, while the various Chrostian elements do not represent a single culture. But you're right, inasmuch as the Menorah is as much a religion symbol as the Nativity is, they should be treated the same, with respect and tolerance, not intolerance and censorship.