In our continued avoidance of anything actually important...

It is my humble opinion that people take the wrong things too seriously. Here in Seattle, our airport removed nine Christmas trees because a rabbi asked to put a menora up next to them, and the airport authorities decided they didn't have time to think through all the other religions that would need to be represented too. I'm all for separation of church and state, I think the so-called "War on Christmas" is a crock of hooey, and I am in vehement disagreement with the Christian right's assertion that the US is a "Christian nation." However. HOWEVER.

I wish people would lighten the frak up a bit about the holidays. First of all, Christmas trees are not Christian religious symbols. They have nothing to do with Jesus, and I seriously doubt there were any Douglas fir trees anywhere remotely close to Bethlehem. They're a pretty holdover from northern European pagan cultures, folks. Just enjoy them for the pretty lights and the nice smell. I know plenty of Jews who do. And if somebody wants to put a menora up too, fine. Both symbols are really about creating light in the darkness of ever-shortening days, and the symbolism thereof. I'm not particularly sympathetic to either party getting their panties in a bunch over this one.

I'm sure you all know about this story, wherever you might live, since it has been all over the news. Obviously there is nothing more important going on in the world at the moment.