Tis the season...

[jackofallgeeks]

This Article brings up some interesting things to think about. What happened was that an airport in WA set us some pine trees -- er, 'Christmas' trees, I guess. A Jewish Rabbi complained and asked that a large menorah be set up as well. the airport then removed the ribbon-decorated trees. Said Rabbi is now upset, and thinks it's a shame that the airport would remove all their decorations rather than concede his request. Really, was it that much to ask?

I'm not trying to pick on the Jews -- I think their great people. Some of my best friends are Jews. I think the same points would stand to be made if it was any other group requesting that they be recognized, too. But that's the point here, really. There *are* other groups out there. And they all want to be recognized. And when they aren't, they feel slighted and cry for reparations. If a menorah was set up, we'd have the Jews and the Christians, but who else might get bothered by the fact that *they* don't have decorations up?

I agree with the rabbi -- it's sad that they had to take the decorations down. But I think they *had* to take the decorations down because they really couldn't do *everything*. You can't please everyone, and somebody somewhere would feel left out. But I think that's the bigger crime, really. That people can't just be satisfied.

This case is a special one, I think, in that the decorated trees, unless I'm missing some detail, weren't ostensibly Christian in any way other than that's what we use to decorate. I don't see how 'Christmas' trees, devoid of crosses or angels or any of the other religious-specific bits, could be any different from, say, a Yuletide decoration or anything else. But even if it *were* religion-specific, even if it were, say, a nativity scene... -shrugs- I don't know. If it means that much, why not just organize a group yourself and offer to set up decorations yourself, instead of demanding The Stare (or airport, or whatever) does it for you? If they bar you from doing that, yes, make a social outcry. I'll be right there with you. But...

The thing is, it's sad that the decorations were taken down, but it's sadder still that they *had* to be taken down, because our society will be satisfied with nothing but complete and ubiquitous equality -- either everything at 100% or nothing at all.

Comments

[mmeubiquitous.livejournal.com]

The perfect is the enemy of the good.

[uhlrik.livejournal.com]

Attempts to satisfy everyone almost invariably succeed in satisfying no one. At that point, as sad as it is, the best bet is to start out aiming to please nobody from the beginning, given that the result is identical.