Seattle rabbi: go #### yourself

[BeeR]

I for one am offended as hell that he didn't mention kwanza. sniffle

 

 

Dobbs: A tree grows in Seattle

By Lou Dobbs

CNN

Editor's note: Lou Dobbs' commentary appears every Wednesday on CNN.com

 

NEW YORK (CNN) -- Merry Christmas! That's right, Merry Christmas. Whether you're Christian, Jewish, Muslim, agnostic, pagan, barbarian or whatever, Merry Christmas!

 

It's what most of us say in this country come this time of year. It's about who we are, where we are and where we've been. And all the namby-pamby, little sensitive darlings among us who can't handle this verbal assault on their delicate senses should immediately begin seeking emergency psychiatric care.

 

This week we were treated to the spectacle of an easily offended and highly offensive rabbi who walked into an airport, gazed upon Christmas trees all around him and suddenly was overwhelmed with an immense, and apparently irresistible, urge to sue the management of the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport because nowhere among all the Christmas trees was a single menorah. Rabbi Elazar Bogomilsky of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement of Seattle even delivered to the airport's management a draft of a lawsuit he would file if they didn't sprinkle menorahs around the Christmas trees.

 

Political correctness in this country reached an entirely new level of absurdity some years ago. But occasionally, and the situation at Sea-Tac is just such an occasion, we exceed ourselves. The militant fundamentalist rabbi so flummoxed Sea-Tac management with his threat and their perceived obligation to be "politically correct" that, rather than think rationally or simply tell him to stuff it, they started hacking away at all those artificial Christmas trees and quickly descended into a public relations nightmare in which they managed to offend reason, cultural values and the vast majority of Americans.

 

As CNN senior legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin told me, "The Supreme Court has held since 1984, the famous 'Reindeer Rule,' that if a symbol of Christmas is mostly secular, like a reindeer or a Christmas tree or Santa Claus, that is not a violation of the separation of church and state."

 

The irony that escaped the rabid rabbi and the timid Sea-Tac management team is that the Christmas tree's likely origin dates back to pre-Christian pagan cultures. The Christmas tree is not by any means a religious symbol, and when we're honest about it, the tree's become a purely commercial symbol more closely associated with shopping, roasting chestnuts and guzzling eggnog than a nativity scene with baby Jesus.

 

And hang on, Christians, because you're in 21st Century America, and our culture celebrates your holiest day of the year with such insensitive gusto that our economy would suffer a serious setback if your religious sensibilities were as easily offended as those of the litigious rabbi.

 

More than 140 million shoppers spent an average of about $360 on Black Friday alone, the day after Thanksgiving and the unofficial kickoff to the Christmas shopping season, according to the National Retail Federation. And all those Christmas shoppers are expected to spend nearly a half-trillion dollars this shopping season.

 

Now if I were a fundamentalist Christian, that might strike me as a little politically incorrect. And I think all of you folks should think about suing somebody. You know, get in the spirit of the season.

 

This mindless movement of political correctness at all costs is one of the most un-American and crazy twists in our culture as anything we've witnessed. Remember, we're Americans, and we have freedom of speech, that whole life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness thing. Or at least we did.

 

And I hope you'll celebrate the Christmas season by offending someone. If you're Jewish, how about a hearty "Happy Hanukkah" to a good Christian? If they're offended you've revealed a fool, not such a good Christian and someone you shouldn't waste your expression of good will upon. But get ready for a few robust "Merry Christmas" calls to be thrown your way as well.

 

The operators of the Seattle-Tacoma airport quickly righted a potentially dreadful wrong. The rabbi decided not to file a suit, Christmas trees have sprung back up throughout the concourse, and no, not a single menorah has been spotted. I can only hope this is the beginning of a major movement in America, one that regards thinking as paramount to phony feelings and heightened self-centered sensitivities. Common sense and judgment should always reign supreme over political correctness, no matter what the current trend.

 

And, my gosh, even Wal-Mart this year has abandoned its generic, politically correct "Happy Holidays" greeting in favor of "Merry Christmas." I'm starting to think this may be the season to be jolly after all. Ho, ho, ho.

 

To all, a Merry Christmas. OK, and a Happy Hanukkah, too.

[spain]

Welcome to the politically correct world that the liberals have created! Special thanks go out to the Squeegibos and Skins of the world.

[junebugz]

Here's a nice politically correct song

[BeeR]

Welcome to the politically correct world that the liberals have created! Special thanks go out to the Squeegibos and Skins of the world.

 

God bless it. OOPS OMG I apologize to atheists and agnostics everywhere.

 

PS I am offended by your name. It implies a dislike for non-Spanish people of nonspecific whatevers. racist SOB.

[BeeR]

Here's a nice politically correct song

 

....which you have to be registered to get.

[junebugz]

....which you have to be registered to get.

 

I thought it used to be free ... maybe I'll see if I can find it somewheres else.

[Squeegiebo]

Welcome to the politically correct world that the liberals have created! Special thanks go out to the Squeegibos and Skins of the world.

 

As if.

 

There is a very important disctinction between government and non-government entities: the First Amendment applies to the former, but not the latter.

 

I don't give a crap if private entities want to display crucifixes and manger scenes and show the Passion of the Christ 24/7. Probably bad business, as it will alienate potential customers, but that's their business.

 

When the government endorses a particular religion, however, I have a problem.

Edited December 13, 2006 by Squeegiebo

[junebugz]

....which you have to be registered to get.

 

Ok ... go here and click on RamaHanuKwanzMas Song (Direct Link) ... that should work.

[junebugz]

As if.

 

There is a very important disctinction between government and non-government entities: the First Amendment applies to the former, but not the latter.

 

I don't give a crap if private entities want to display crucifixes and manger scenes and show the Passion of the Christ 24/7. Probably bad business, as it will alienate potential customers, but that's there business.

 

When the government endorses a particular religion, however, I have a problem.

 

apostrophe use

pronoun use

[evil_gop_liars]

Welcome to the politically correct world that the liberals have created! Special thanks go out to the Squeegibos and Skins of the world.

 

 

 

Squeegi and Skins are rabbis?

[Squeegiebo]

apostrophe use

pronoun use

 

 

Must go fix it.

[godtomsatan]

Since when are trees religious?

[loaf]

apostrophe use

pronoun use

 

I blame the innernets. I've been dumbed down

[untateve]

organized religion is very good at creating anger, hostility and violence toward those of differing beliefs.

[spain]

As if.

 

There is a very important disctinction between government and non-government entities: the First Amendment applies to the former, but not the latter.

 

I don't give a crap if private entities want to display crucifixes and manger scenes and show the Passion of the Christ 24/7. Probably bad business, as it will alienate potential customers, but that's their business.

 

When the government endorses a particular religion, however, I have a problem.

 

 

 

Since when are trees religious?

 

The Christmas tree is a symbol of no religion so how is the gobment "endorseing a particular" religion by have a dam tree?

[AtomicCEO]

And now the battle between the uber-sensitive "all religions must be represented", and the equally uber-sensitive "There trying to take away Christmas" crowd.

 

You're both idiots.

[Dr. Love]

And now the battle between the uber-sensitive "all religions must be represented", and the equally uber-sensitive "There trying to take away Christmas" crowd.

 

You're both idiots.

 

Agreed. However, I think the people who go ballistic when they're wished a "Happy Holidays" versus a "Merry Christmas" are far more obnoxious. At least the "include my religion" folks have actual First Amendment ground to stand on in most cases (even if it is picking nits), whereas the "stealing Christmas" folks are a bunch of overzealous Christians pissed off that they're not being treated as the one and only ruling class that they view themselves as.

 

As you said, though, both camps are still tards.

[Bier Meister]

As if.

 

There is a very important disctinction between government and non-government entities: the First Amendment applies to the former, but not the latter.

 

I don't give a crap if private entities want to display crucifixes and manger scenes and show the Passion of the Christ 24/7. Probably bad business, as it will alienate potential customers, but that's their business.

 

When the government endorses a particular religion, however, I have a problem.

 

 

 

Agreed. However, I think the people who go ballistic when they're wished a "Happy Holidays" versus a "Merry Christmas" are far more obnoxious. At least the "include my religion" folks have actual First Amendment ground to stand on in most cases (even if it is picking nits), whereas the "stealing Christmas" folks are a bunch of overzealous Christians pissed off that they're not being treated as the one and only ruling class that they view themselves as.

 

As you said, though, both camps are still tards.

 

 

[spain]

I detest both groups equally.

[Furd]

I recall watching Fox News whilst I was waiting for my car at the dealership. An entire 1/2 hour segment was entitled: "Christmas: Under attack."

 

 

Ass holes.

[Squeegiebo]

The Christmas tree is a symbol of no religion so how is the gobment "endorseing a particular" religion by have a dam tree?

 

 

I didn't say it was.

 

Did you miss this part of the quoted commentary:

 

"The Supreme Court has held since 1984, the famous 'Reindeer Rule,' that if a symbol of Christmas is mostly secular, like a reindeer or a Christmas tree or Santa Claus, that is not a violation of the separation of church and state."

 

I don't see any Constitutional issue with trees or Rudolph. I do have a problem, though, with the fact that my local government's borough building has a nativity scene out front. I may have to sue them.

[detlef]

The Christmas tree is a symbol of no religion

 

How is the Christmas tree not a symbol of religion. You just called it the Christmas tree. As in a reference to a holiday created to celebrate Christ. I understand over time the specific association to religion has diminished. Case in point: I've had a Christmas tree every year and have been to church about 5 times in my life.

 

None the less, it is hardly a stretch for someone to view it as a religious symbol.

[TimC]

I put up a carbon-cycle tree every year.

[junebugz]

How is the Christmas tree not a symbol of religion. You just called it the Christmas tree. As in a reference to a holiday created to celebrate Christ. I understand over time the specific association to religion has diminished. Case in point: I've had a Christmas tree every year and have been to church about 5 times in my life.

 

None the less, it is hardly a stretch for someone to view it as a religious symbol.

 

So you try to point out that a Christmas tree is a religious symbol yet you have always had one and do not consider yourself religious ???? At least that is what I gathered from your case in point.

 

Does this mean that people who are in no way shape or form "religious" somehow become "religious" for a millisecond when they wish someone "Merry Christmas" because the word Christmas has the name Christ in it and some people celebrate His birth on that day?

 

Wouldn't the Easter bunny be a religious symbol then too? After all "EASTER" is a reference to a certain day which Christians use to celebrate the Resurrection.

[detlef]

So you try to point out that a Christmas tree is a religious symbol yet you have always had one and do not consider yourself religious ???? At least that is what I gathered from your case in point.

 

Does this mean that people who are in no way shape or form "religious" somehow become "religious" for a millisecond when they wish someone "Merry Christmas" because the word Christmas has the name Christ in it and some people celebrate His birth on that day?

 

Wouldn't the Easter bunny be a religious symbol then too? After all "EASTER" is a reference to a certain day which Christians use to celebrate the Resurrection.

 

My point is this. I'm not religious so I don't really care either way. I choose to embrace the season as an excuse to exchange presents and go to parties.

 

That said, if I did care about another religion enough, I may grow tired of having the symbols of a holiday that celebrates a religion that says I'm going to hell because I don't believe their version of how things went down to be rather annoying.