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Thread: Xmas trees removed from Sea-Tac

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    Xmas trees removed from Sea-Tac

    December 9, 2006
    No menorah, no tree

    SEA-TAC Airport - All of the Christmas trees inside the terminal at Sea-Tac have been removed in response to a complaint by a rabbi.

    A local rabbi wanted to install an 8-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.

    Sea-Tac public affairs manager Terri-Ann Betancourt said the trees that adorn the Sea-Tac upper and lower levels may not properly represent all cultures.

    She said that since this is their busiest time of year and they don't have time to add a fair representation of all cultures, her department decided to take down all of the decorations, review their policies, and decide if they need to make a change for next year.

    "You know, our focus is on customer service, getting our passengers through the airport, and we thought if we could take the trees down and avoid litigation because we don't want to littigate with this individual, we want to reach some kind of solution," Betancourt said. "But that is going to take some thoughtful discussion and we would like to have time to have that thoughtful discussion."

    Until then, no Christmas decor at Sea-Tac.

    The same decorations have been put up for at least 10 years, she added.
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    Moderator USAF Pilot 07's Avatar
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    Ridiculous! Why didn't the airport just agree to put up the Menorah?

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    Senior Member hiss srq's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by USAF Pilot 07
    Ridiculous! Why didn't the airport just agree to put up the Menorah?
    Agreed! Totalbull $hitif you ask me too but unfortuneately people like to make a big deal.
    Southwest Airlines-"Once it pop's it's time to stop" Southwest Airlines-"Our Shamu's are almost real" Southwest Airlines -"We blow our top real easy" Southwest Airlines- "You can't top us..... really"

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    The Christmas tree doesn't even represent the Christian side of Christmas, it represents the secular side of it. What's the big deal with a Christmas tree? Well, according to a recent poll, 95% of Americans celebrate Christmas, majority rules.
    nwa FOREVER!

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    Majority rules? Are you kidding?

    That's like saying "well, my neigborhood is 80% white and you're black, so you can't come in this supermarket since it's in my neigborhood." I know that's a bit of an extreme analogy, but what you said was a bit off-color.

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    Senior Member hiss srq's Avatar
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    I have to agree yet disagree............ Tree stays in my opinion and yes the majority do celebrate Xmas here in the states but if we are going to represent one end I guess we should represent the other end as well......
    In Long Beach they do a good job for the most part hitting all ends. Than again Long Beach is packed full of Jewish people as well as a heavy Italian and Irish presence so I guess people would go up in flames if it was not equally represented......... We have trees in LGA and when passengers ask about the tree and no other symbols of other faiths I kind of just shrug....... It is not my job to decorate......
    Southwest Airlines-"Once it pop's it's time to stop" Southwest Airlines-"Our Shamu's are almost real" Southwest Airlines -"We blow our top real easy" Southwest Airlines- "You can't top us..... really"

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    Senior Member N790SW's Avatar
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    i mean if there is a x-mas tree there - then u should put the menorah there too i am sure there is room somewhere??
    -Bobby Catone

    ALL views, opinions expressed are mine ONLY and are NOT representative of those shared by Southwest Airlines Co.

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    Senior Member moose135's Avatar
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    You are right Bobby, but until someone complained, they didn't think there was a need for one. After they received a complaint, they said they didn't have time to put one up, (being their busy time of year, and all) and instead spent the time taking down the trees.

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    Mel: Not at all, what I am saying is that we don't need to have a decoration in an airport for every single holiday. You can celebrate whatever you want but this is getting crazy.

    Out in Detroit, there is a statue of a black mans fist (Joe Louis' statue) , the area it's in is about 70% black, so what? Just because it isn't a white persons hand (Say, Steve Yizermen (sp?)) doesn't mean that you have to take it down because it doesn't represent everybody.

    I wouldn't object to putting up a menorah, but I do object to taking Christmas trees down because someone wasn't happy (It was a Christmas tree, not even a Christian reference, call it a holiday tree if you want!)
    nwa FOREVER!

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    The only thing I found offensive about what you said was "majority rules." It seemed as though you were saying "tough cookies" to the 5%.

    I'm not saying I agree or disagree 100% with either side of the original story, but I just think it's a bit rude to take the overruled stance.

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    Moderator USAF Pilot 07's Avatar
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    Couldn't the airport have worked with the Rabbi, or local synagogues, to get a suitable menorah for airport display? It seems "silly" the airport couldn't come to a solution on how to represent all religions celebrating during the holiday season...

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    Sorry Mel, it probably came off wrong, I wasn't saying "Tough Luck", I was just saying I don't think that they should have had to take down the trees because a single person complained about it.
    nwa FOREVER!

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    Senior Member RDU-JFK's Avatar
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    20 years ago this wouldn't have been an issue. We're too PC now.
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    --Joe Namath

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    Quote Originally Posted by USAF Pilot 07
    Couldn't the airport have worked with the Rabbi, or local synagogues, to get a suitable menorah for airport display? It seems "silly" the airport couldn't come to a solution on how to represent all religions celebrating during the holiday season...
    Christmas has gone beyond any Religous & Christmas Trees do not have an Religous meaning.

    By displaying the Menorah, then the Federal Airport would be endorsing a Religion, which is a no-no.
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    Senior Member cancidas's Avatar
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    WTF!! this is getting to be ridiculous! how much time does that rabbi spend in the airport? why are people so damn scared of doing what they want to do anymore?


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