Washblog

Why the Port of Seattle Should Not Allow Any Religious Displays in Their Public Space

In regards to the Port of Seattle removing their  Christmas Trees:

First, the airport is a publicly funded and supported facility (not a church although there probably is a lot of praying at take off and landing.) Religious displays of any religion do not belong in a public space. My tax dollars should not be used to put up these kinds of religious displays (and to a non-Christian like myself, a Jew, they are. Why do they call them "Christmas trees?) or pay for the lighting of them.  If we truly believe in the concept of the separation of "church" or religion and state, then the decision is a correct one and I support it 110%.

Second, if we take the equal opportunity position of allowing freshly murdered and turned into a fire hazard Christmas trees, Menorahs (celebrating a Jewish religious military victory), or Kwanzaa (some family values there, whew) displays, then we would have to allow a display from alleged devil worshippers with an upside down broken crucifix, the numbers 666, the words "believe in Satan and yee shall be saved" and a sacrifical altar filled with human blood.  So perhaps, it is best not to have any displays at all.

Third, imagine what it would be like to live in a country (like Saudi Arabia, Israel, Iran, or Afghanstan to name a few) where Christians are the minority and/or are not allowed to put up their/your symbols and have the dominant religion shoved down their/your throat. Then maybe you would understand how the rest of us feel about these so-called secular but really religious displays.

We are a diverse country. Putting up displays like this separates us. Religion belongs in the home and in the appropriate religious institution. Public buildings are for public use. Period.

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I keep hearing the statement that the trees are 'holiday' trees and they have no representation of Christmas, as far as the faith and religious aspect is concerned. I think wikipedia mentions the origin of the tradition came from pagans.

by Brian on Wed Dec 13, 2006 at 11:56:18 AM PST

night?

It wasn't until Monday morning that I finally grokked that MSM were calling the stupid trees "Christmas" trees, NOT calling them holiday trees,

and, but, and

the way the reporting was phrased, the way the words were used - to my dull brain there was a real

Jews Vs. Christians!

kind of theme going on,

the reporting had NOTHING to do with religous freedom or respecting diversity or anything half rational -

they spun the thing to

Jews Vs. Christians!

and after this ... perspective... took root

I REALLY REALLY felt like all the MSM coverage needed to round out its biased horsecrap was ...

ZOG?  

BTW #1 - I am an atheist, so I while I enjoy everyones' enjoyment and I appreciate them including me in their enjoyments, I don't appreciate anyone pushing their stuff on me or my neighbors.

BTW #2 - My background is Irish Catholic (see #1)... if I wanted to be involved in something as appallingly hypocritcally stupid as being stupid in the name of religion, I'd move to Belfast.

another dark day for thinking, and another bright day for the trogdolytes running our media monopolies.

rmm

http://www.liemail.com/BambooGrassroots.html

by rmdSeaBos on Wed Dec 13, 2006 at 07:44:20 PM PST

and I'm not a Christian, but I can't find any upsetness in myself over holiday trees - even if they are Christmas trees.  This seems to me a different issue than the intrusion of religion into government.  

Do we want to erase all signs of all religions and cultures and homogenize public life -- just in order to make everything exactly fair?  The trees are celebratory, not explicitly religious. Public life is becoming sanitized enough...  Let's call for the funding of more ornaments from more religions and cultures -- not for the erasure of culture.

by noemie maxwell on Wed Dec 13, 2006 at 07:46:58 PM PST

What I gather from reading probably the same published reports y'all have seen, the Port made a hasty decision after being threatened with legal action. The threat of a celebratory (even "holiday" is tainted, if you think about it. Chanuka? Christmas? Winter Solstice? good enough?) lawsuit having been avoided, the trees are going back up and the Port is going to meet with various groups to see what it can do.

I, for one, once, first and foremost, hope and frankly figure the Port is smart enough to figure out that it is in the business of international trade. In its small-minded and provincial way, this incident opens a door for the Port (not entirely small-minded and provincial) to celebrate all of its trading partners.

If that's the case, both Christmas and Chanukah could very well be swept away by next year to make way for the rest of the world. If not, then it is because they love ya.

by m3047 on Fri Dec 15, 2006 at 11:17:40 PM PST

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