After last year's Christmas tree
brouhaha, Sea-Tac Airport officials took the safe and thoroughly benign approach to holiday decorating this year. Instead of Christmas trees (which were taken down last year after a rabbi threatened to file a lawsuit because the displays didn't include any menorahs), this year's holiday display includes wind chimes, a 'gentle' snowfall, birch trees laden with hanging crystals and environmentally friendly LED lights and migrating birds. Any religious references have been taken out.
Click here to view the full display. What do you think - nicely done or blandly politically correct?
Comments
I like it, but then I prefer simple, natural decoration themes during the holidays.
Posted by: noelle | November 12, 2007 3:58 PM
Blandly politically correct and inoffensive.
I should probably watch what I say as there are probably people out there that would take exception to my exception to the airport's political correctness and try to sue me for being insensitive to their personal sensitivities.
Posted by: Rob | November 12, 2007 6:05 PM
Christmas Decortations are fun, festive, and nice to look at. I can find much more offensive things than decorations that celebrate a religous holiday. If you are offended you are only thinking about yourself and not accepting of diversity. Being bland and trying to make everyone happy is boring. Shame on you Sea-Tac.
Posted by: Nicholas | November 13, 2007 3:34 AM
I agree. Christmas decorations shouldn't be replaced because other cultures wanted to put up symbols that represent their religious holiday. I think that if someone wants to put up the main symbols of their holiday then they should. The menorah was a good idea. They never complained about the Christmas decorations. They simply asked to have an addition put up to show some of their holiday spirit as well, not instead of. The only reason he was going to sue was if they said no to him. He didn't say that he wanted the Christmas decorations to be taken off. Therefore i think he did the right thing and that the Sea-Tac officials didn't make a very wise choice.
Posted by: Brittney | November 19, 2007 6:41 PM
creating a seasonal "art" display is the only option Seatac had to avoid future lawsuits. Once one religion sues and gets their way, all others will follow suit. sadly, we live in the most litigious country.
Posted by: anonymous | November 30, 2007 5:27 PM
for anonymous (November 30, 2007 5:27 PM) - "sadly, we live in the most litigious country."
You pretty sure about that? I've heard stories about tribal elders in Pakistan (and the constant stream of complaints with which they are forced to deal in some official fashion) that make me slightly skeptical about the completeness of your research.
Posted by: Bob S. | December 9, 2007 1:36 PM
anonymous - That quibble aside, I completely agree that the SeaTac folks dealt with this in a silly manner. Why on earth should they object to adding an endless pile of additional holiday symbols? The more, the merrier, I say!
Posted by: Bob S. | December 9, 2007 1:40 PM