Under Assault Again

Western culture is under assault again. The latest attack on our culture came over the weekend when the Seattle airport removed all of its 14 Christmas trees rather than also put up a menorah to recognize Hannukah, as asked by a rabbi. Airport officials claimed that they removed the Christmas trees because they feared that if they put up a menorah other religious groups would ask that their symbols be displayed, too. Rather than having the courage to stand for Western culture and its Judeo-Christian religious heritage, the officials caved in to anti-Western, anti-Christian, anti-semitic multiculturalism.

If the airport officials in Seattle had decided to display other religions' symbols in addition to those of Christianity and Judaism, that would've been fine. However, if the officials had decided to NOT display other religions' symbols while keeping the Christmas trees and the menorah, that would've been fine, too. The problem is that in our politically correct, multiculturalist world very few people would understand why. Here's why.

Christianity is the religious heritage of Western civilization, including America. Hindus didn't build Western civilization. Bhuddists didn't build Western civilization. Muslims didn't build Western civilization. Christians built Western civilization. The display of Christmas trees at Christmas time is, therefore, totally appropriate. The display of menorahs is also appropriate because Judaism gave us Christianity and helped to build the West in an indirect way. Putting up symbols of Christianity and Judaism for all to see is not only a show of holiday spirit but also a celebration of Western culture. There's no need to celebrate religions that had nothing to do with creating that culture.

Yes, we have freedom of religion in America and all other Western countries. But freedom of religion doesn't require that we Westerners deny or disown our own heritage. In Western lands non-Christians and non-Jews have absolute religious freedom; they should just understand that their faiths had nothing to do with building the civilization in which they now live. So when they see us Westerners celebrating our religious heritage in our own countries, while not celebrating theirs, they have no right to be offended. After all, they're in the West. And that's not politically correct, but it's the plain truth.

Merry Christmas and Happy Hannukah!