Having succeeded in driving out Seattle Airport's Christmas trees, the victor, Rabbi Elazar Bogomilsky of the Chai Center of Greater Seattle, is making some very congenial noises:

Elazar Bogomilsky, the rabbi who last month asked that a menorah be displayed, said he was "appalled" by the Port's reaction to what he believed to be a simple request...."Everyone should have their spirit of the holiday. For many people the trees are the spirit of the holidays, and adding a menorah adds light to the season," said Bogomilsky.

Bogomilsky...said he is not disturbed by holiday trees, but wishes that his own symbol was not excluded. He hopes the Port will reconsider, put the trees back up and install a menorah before Hanukkah. (Airport puts away holiday trees rather than risk being "exclusive" by Jonathan Martin, The Seattle Times, December 10, 2006)

At this rate, perhaps we will be seeing pro-Christmas columns from Bogomilsky like those written by the incomparable Don Feder.

But one does wonder why such a reasonable attitude did not appear so to the Port of Seattle (the owner of the Airport) in what were apparently several weeks of discussion. And the fact remains those who like Christmas trees have lost: those who like menorahs have not lost—in fact, they have gained, if they are of a more competitive cast of mind than the Rabbi appears to be.

Wanting shelf space for one's religious views is not in itself objectionable. What is really objectionable is the behavior of the Airport authority. Panic-stricken cowardice is one interpretation. Another is that a faction within the management seized the chance to eliminate the Airport's Christmas tree tradition - now said to be 25 years old rather than the ten initially cited by the Airport spokeswoman - because it, too, dislikes Christmas. On balance, I think the latter more plausible.

There is a silver lining. Commissioner John Creighton, apparently part of the Christmas-eradication faction

said he'd hoped the trees would come down "quietly." Instead, airline employees saw the trees being dismantled early Saturday and protested. By 2 a.m. TV crews were at the airport, and Creighton said he's received several irate e-mails.

(VDARE.com emphasis.)

VDARE.com salutes these Airline employees. Our readers will note that irate emails get attention.

Complain to Airport Managing Director Mark Reis. Also to the Port of Seattle Commissioners. (E mail addresses on the right)

The Commissioners, after all, are elected by the public.