Religous Holiday Displays: love 'em or hate 'em?

United States
December 23, 2006 7:34pm CST
Across the United States, city and state governments,and even private companies are wrestling with how to decorate for the holidays. If they put up a Christmass tree, should they be required to also display a Menorah, and maybe a kinara (Kwanzza candle holder) on top of that? And what about the fact that the Christmas tree isn't about Christ at all, any more than Easter eggs or bunnies are, the ubiquitous tree, holly boughs, evergreen wreaths, and yule log-- are Pagan in origin. Recently, the Seattle-Tacoma airport put up holiday decorations, inluding those Christ- I mean Pagan trees. A local rabbi approached them about putting up one menorah, next to the largest tree. He threatned to sue if they wouldn't allow it. So the SEATAC airport took down all the trees in public areas. The rabbi was shocked at their actions, and after getting death threats, withdrew his minorah demand. The airport got a lot of bad press, and the trees went back up. What a waste of everybody's time. As a pantheist, I believe the many faces of diety. I love holidays, celebrations, and decorations. I don't object to those lovely, lit-up trees, that have come to symbolize the Christmas season. I don't fault anyone else's religous beliefs or practices, and certainly not their holiday decor. Put 'em all up, I say. The Washington governer's mansion, by the way, had a tree, and a menorah-- but no kinara. I smell a lawsuit.
2 responses
@Ashida (1370)
• United States
26 Dec 06
I neither love nor hate religious holiday displays, and I'm always puzzled by those who get so offended by them. What bothers me the most is that in our desire to offend no one, we offend everyone.
• United States
27 Dec 06
I don't see anything wrong with religous holiday decorations, and I firmly believe in the separation of church and state. I attended public school, and I enjoyed singing Christmas carols, and making decorations for the classroom tree. As far as I know, there were no Jewish or Muslim kids in my school. I can understand how it might be lonely for a kid who feels left out because they are surrounded by a holiday that they don't celebrate, but why should all the other kids lose out on the celebration?
@Ashida (1370)
• United States
27 Dec 06
Well said. It can be hard on kids who feel left out, and I'm not sure there's a good solution. I'd say that participatory activities are much more alienating than displays.
• United States
29 Dec 06
I read a letter to the Seattle Times from a local Korean woman who was offended that a Salvation Army Santa said "Merry Christmas" to the blond later in front of her, and then said "hello" to her. He was trying to be PC, and ended up offending her anyway.
• United States
26 Feb 07
I think more is made of this issue every year than it really deserves. People should put up whatever decorations pertain to them. If the company owner is Jewish, the company should display a menorah, etc etc. If it is a public area or the place in question has multi-cultural roots, than the choices are to a. represent all or b. decorate without reflecting origin. Personally, I absolutely Hate the senseless destruction of trees every year. I can't think of anything more depressing and against all that the Christmas season is meant to represent than cutting down a living thing, dragging it into your home, decorating the carcass and watching it slowly die over the holidays. That's just My opinion though lol. Wishing You Laughter