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stroller

Note that the article is about an incident in the US, a rabbi sueing for the right to put up a menorah. That's got little to do with Islam, Afro-Caribeans or immigrants, Sir Burr.
Excuse me, but citizens born in the country do not choose, they simply stay where they are, as the majority of people do.

Neither the US nor the UK are religious republics, what's good for the goose is good for the gander, there is no reason why one religion should be allowed to flaunt their celebrations in public places, and others not.

stroller

Lil' Chuch, my question for a source was pointed at Meepho's comment:

Little Chuchok

I dearsay that Christmas has ceased to be anything but religious for 90% of the people that celebrate it.It's more a way of life...a bit like going to the pub for a couple of drinks on a Friday night(A very religious experience in my book!)

Mr Earl

The article says the Rabbi has no intention of suing. (I know english isn't your first language so perhaps this is an honest mistake )
And what was the purpose of baiting this thread with the "Iran" comment?(see post #2)
Never mind I know the answer from post #5!

I might be wrong but it seems slightly inappropriate for any member and especially a moderator to be baiting and then throwing insults.

ChiangMai noon

with that post, are you advocating the banning of christmas celebrations stroller?

RandomChances

Christmass trees have nothing to do with christianty. Neither do Christmass decorations or Santa. I'm suprised the Christian Fundamentalists have'nt tried to get these things banned

man with no head

Airports in the United States are typically governed by a semi-quasi government agency. This means they are public venues paid for by taxes and therefore displays of religious symbols are not allowed.

It's not the fault of the airport director. The rabbi ought to be chastised for pulling this stunt.

Christmas trees shouldn't be banned, however, since people don't associate trees with Christianity.

Sir Burr

Of course they choose! Are you saying that they don't have the choice of moving, or, staying? If they stay in the area they grew up in, then that is a choice.

As for the display of religious symbols, don't you find the blatant intolerance of other religions other than Islam in most Islamic countries a bit hypocritical when Muslims in Britain scream for religious tolerance?
I know that two wrongs don't make a right, but, as I have stated in another thread; the problem is too much tolerance for the intolerant. Maybe it's a coincidence that the most intolerant of immigrant groups to come to the UK are Muslim.
I don't think so. The UK, France, Spain, Holland, Switzerland and Australia are all having integration problems with their Muslim communities. How do you explain this?

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stroller

The rabbi threatened to sue through a law firm, the chain of events evolved from there. Perhaps you missed that bit while trying to find something to have a go at me for?

You have been getting your knickers in a twist over precious little quite a bit recently while continueing to 'dish it out' to others and conveniently ignoring the offensive remarks your pals post.

keda

In that case should all public places depicting religious symbols be compelled to promote the symbols of all religions, equally, and will that be according to local, national or global population, distribution relative to site location, perceived victim stature, tendency towards militancy, and or other measures?

Where does politically palatable fairness and equality end? Should cathedrals and churches be compelled to remove external symbols of Christianity in order not to offend religions that cannot afford luxuries like a large building from which its followers may connect with their object of reverence? Should mosques be threatened with closure if they persist in offending local infidels with early morning noise pollution, or are complainants to be viewed as racist, and what's the proposed maxumum for a second or subsequent offence?

How far do we need to go before even the thickest skinned pc fundamentalist suffocates in the rarified atmosphere of the perfect society he so brazenly and foolishly demands of us all? How about closing down all religious places of learning or worship that offend or may at some time and or under certain conditions offend observers of other faiths?

Terminal mugs!

keda

A nondescript tree in some bleak field may be associated with nothing in particular, but a Christmas tree by implication and also its prominence in the 'festive season' is associated with Christmas, the celebration of JC's traditional birth, which is at the very heart of Christianity.

keda

They're all racist.

man with no head

The tree itself has nothing to do with being a Christian or celebrating the birthday of Jesus. It is a hijacked symbol associated with Chrismas but is not a required feature of Christians celebrating the season, is it?

The menorah, on the other hand, is a symbol of Judaism as would be a manger scene depicting a baby Jesus unless you are suggesting that the menorah is simply a fixture hijacked by the Jews to celebrate Hannakah.

The fact that the rabbi in question is trying to equate a decorated tree on display to a religious symbol such as a menorah is in itself offensive and he's getting the hate mail and threatening phone calls he so richly deserves for pulling this frivolous shit.

I delivered a package yesterday to a couple who were obviously Hindu due to their name and depictions of various Hindu gods above their doorway, outside, etc. Inside the house? A decorated tree. A tree that represents a seasonal holiday. It has nothing to do with religion or being a Christian if one has such a tree as a decoration. A menorah, on the other hand, is a long standing symbol of the Jews and as such should be excluded from public places as should mangers and other such symbols.

Milkman

The reason why SeaTac airport (Port of Seattle) removed the trees is because if they included the Menora, then several other religous groups could have filed lawsuits or requested they have symbols put up also, and ther wasn't enough time to do it.

I don't really have an opinion on it.

But this is what you get when the public gets into religious symbols.

Anyway, Jews don't really celebrate Hannuka. Yom Kippur is a big holiday. The American PC crown rammed Hannuka down the American Jewish communities throat for inclusion and now Jewish folks in America make a bigger deal out of it than other parts of the world.

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stroller

No, but in a secular, multicultural society, if you permit one religion to display their wares, others should be granted the same priviledge, within reason. This, as I understand, was the basis for the rabbi initially threatening to sue.
While removing all Christmas decorations may seem like an overreaction, there is a larger issue here, specially in the States with their sueing-culture.

Personally, I enjoy seasonal decorations and fancy lights, for me it is more about culture and tradition, religion secondary. On the other hand, not everyone wants to fund what they see as religious displays with their tax money.


Of course not. These are privately run and funded places of worship, by contrast, airports are not.

raycarey

people should be required to keep these types of religious fetishes in private.

i don't want to see your candles, listen to your say your prayers, or hear your songs....especially in the tax-payer funded public square.

it's hard to argue against people being allowed to wear crucifixes, yarmeulkes and hijabs, but the rest of this pageantry is an affront on my rights.

i respect your right worship in practically any manner in which you see fit, but you don't have the right to force me to endure it.

it's simple really.....keep it at home and in places of worship.


btw, i'm a US citizen, referring to the USA.

stroller

To have the choice of moving to a different country to live in is the privilege of few, though it's been getting easier over the last few decades.
But anyway, I feel this is going to a different topic - immigration and assimilation.

Milo2

Glad to see common sense prevailed and they're putting the christmas trees back up. Next thing you know, they would've been banning the giving of christmas presents. The long arm of the law is sometimes ludicrously employed.

man with no head