The Christmas trees are back at the Seattle airport. I’m glad to see that cooler heads have prevailed in what had become a silly and sensationalized situation.

A key element in moving forward will be to work with [Rabbi Elazar Bogomilsky] and other members of the community to develop a plan for next year’s holiday decorations at the airport,” the [Port of Seattle commission] statement said…

“We are not going to be the instrument by which the port holds Christmas hostage,” [Bogomilsky's lawyer, Harvey Grad] said, emphasizing the rabbi never sought removal of the trees, but addition of the menorah.

The rabbi had received “all kinds of calls and emails,” many of them “odious,” Grad said, adding he was “trying to figure out how this is consistent with the spirit of Christmas.”

I’m glad that everyone involved appears to have looked for a reasonable solution to this dilemma, even if it was a bit late in coming. I agree with Mr. Grad, too: Why are we so quick to defend Christmas and react in anger when it is “threatened,” yet so quick to abandon the values (generosity, goodwill, hope and love) that it celebrates? Christmas is not a defenseless child, as Jesus was in the manger. It can be a reminder that we belong to something much greater than ourselves and that reaching out with compassion and kindness is the best way to live.

A few years ago, I heard a story on NPR entitled, “Volunteering on the wrong day.” It explained how well-intentioned people inadvertently make the holidays tougher on nonprofit organizations, especially soup kitchens and homeless missions, by donating their time on Thanksgiving or Christmas. Instead of receiving much-needed help, the organizations have to try to find responsibilities for the volunteers because available hands heavily outweigh the amount of work to be done.

Jeffrey at The Gathering raised an interesting and related question recently: The Christmas Spirit–Why Not All Year? I don’t know the answer, but I do think the challenge is for us as individuals to look for ways to help others out of sincere desire, not just because the calendar suggests that it’s the right thing to do. Soup kitchens are often desperate for help and for financial support in July, not in December.

Many people remember people in need and good causes when the holiday season reminds us. There’s nothing wrong with that, and I’m not suggesting we stop promoting that element of Christmas. Maybe the concept of Christmas in July, which is generally more punchline than passion, can teach us something: Help when the need is there, not when it’s convenient.

Uh oh. The War on Christmas, which had previously been thought to be retreating this year, is rearing its ugly head in the Pacific Northwest.

All nine Christmas trees have been removed from the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport instead of adding a giant Jewish menorah to the holiday display as a rabbi had requested…

“We decided to take the trees down because we didn’t want to be exclusive,” said airport spokeswoman Terri-Ann Betancourt. “We’re trying to be thoughtful and respectful, and will review policies after the first of the year.”

Rabbi Elazar Bogomilsky, who made his request weeks ago, said he was appalled by the decision. He had hired a lawyer and threatened to sue if the Port of Seattle didn’t add the menorah next to the trees, which had been festooned with red ribbons and bows.

I personally think that this “War on Christmas” bit is quite silly. The overwhelming majority of our population claims Christianity as its faith with varying levels of devotion, and I see nothing wrong with acknowledging and respecting other traditions during what is intended to be a peaceful and warmhearted time of year.

This situation in particular seems like it could have easily been avoided. Why did Rabbi Bogomilsky resort to the threat of legal action? Surely a conversation could have been had in June–or in January 2007–about adding a menorah for the next holiday display. Would it have really hurt anything to go one more holiday season without a menorah when the airport has displayed only trees for decades?

Here’s the sticking point that appears to have motivated the airport’s decision to remove its trees: Its lawyers advised displaying symbols from various religions, not just Christianity and Judaism. I have no issue with that, but surely the airport could have agreed in writing to begin displaying symbols for other faiths starting with the 2007 holiday season and showcased only the trees and the menorah this time around.

This just seems to me like a lot of silliness, wasted anger and, worst of all, more fodder for the culture wars to me. Let the boycott on flying to Seattle begin!

I’m encouraged by the recent news that Washington state is mandating that all state agencies communicate in plain English. I have loved writing from an early age, and I think we as a society are sorely in need of simplifying how we communicate with each other in written form.

Talk to the public as you would talk to any other person–simply, and in plain language. In the 18 months since Gov. Christine Gregoire ordered all state agencies to adopt “plain talk” principles, more than 2,000 state employees have attended classes on writing letters, announcements and documents in everyday language. So words such as abeyance, cease and utilize are out, replaced by suspension, stop and use.

“Simple changes can have profound results,” said Janet Shimabukuro, manager of the Washington Department of Revenue taxpayer services program. “Plain talk isn’t only rewriting, it’s rethinking your approach and really personalizing your message to the audience and to the reader.”

[Gov.] Gregoire says it’s “a long-overdue initiative, but it’s bearing fruit … When we just talk in a way that takes our language, government language, and throws it out, and talk in language everyone understands, we get a whole lot more done.”

Legalese and “corporatespeak” have really hurt our ability to communicate with each other, in my opinion. I think these forms of writing have become popular, perhaps, because of a general lack of trust between the person or organization communicating and their intended audience. I’m concerned that we’ve generally become more focused on covering our own asses than on sharing our thoughts and ideas. I hope that can change.

I was glad to see this today. I have been very saddened by this story, and I know many others have, too.

No kidding. Great picture from the top of the Viridian. What a view. By the way, why is there water in the pool right now, 13 days before winter?

These words are from today’s Washington Post regarding the Iraq Study Group report. I admit that I am biased against President Bush at this point, but regardless I sincerely hope that he will listen to outside counsel regarding alternatives for Iraq.

There’s only one reader who really counts, though, and I doubt he’ll be impressed. The Decider isn’t in the habit of letting mere facts get in the way of blind conviction…

The document concludes with 79 recommendations, most of which are eminently reasonable and none of which will get us out of Iraq overnight. The president will probably reject some out of hand — talking directly with Syria and Iran, for example. And while it would be good if the president finally realized that solving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict would lower the temperature throughout the Middle East, I’m pretty sure it will take more than a phone call to persuade the Israeli government to give up the Golan Heights.

[Group member Vernon] Jordan said that when the members of the panel met with Bush on Wednesday, the president’s attitude was encouraging. “My mama used to say that a lot of people listen, but they don’t hear,” Jordan said. “Bush both listened and heard us.”

I genuinely hope that the U.S. can made an authentic and innovative change in its Iraq strategy that will gradually and eventually lead to a safer, more prosperous and ultimately independent nation where Iraq now stands.

I just stumbled upon copyranter’s blog tonight, and his stuff is cracking me up. Granted, given that he posts frequently on Gawker, I may be the last person on the Internet to have found his blog. That doesn’t matter to me because his site is still hilarious. Yes, it appeals to my sandpaper-dry sense of humor, but here goes five things that nearly made me snort Coke (zero) tonight:

• Ketel One (I don’t like their ads, either.)
• Blackout advice
• Upgrade your relationship
• Tell us what you think (Boy, is he right about the initial thing. That bugs me everywhere I see it.)
• An Army of One Model/Actress

For the record, copyranter is the first person I am aware of who has referred to the Snuggle fabric softener bear as an “asswipe.” That has to count for something.

The Tennessean addressed the issue of homelessness downtown today in today’s issue. Local blogger Kevin Barbieux responded with some words of wisdom:

“[T]hankfully, we all are quickly re-learning that harassing the homeless, shooing them away, or trying to sweep them under the proverbial rug, just doesn’t get the results we want…

Hopefully, everyone will quickly get to the point of admitting that the best thing for everyone, the only true workable solution, is to give the services to the homeless that will actually lead to them getting off the streets and on to better lives.

The Rescue Mission has been on operation for more than 50 years, the Campus For Human Development for 20 years, and yet have we seen any real change in the homeless plight by these organizations? A new approach is needed, such as could become reality if the Nashville Homelessness Commission would actually achieve it’s goals. The best hope for all concerned lies with the Commission. If somebody would light a fire under their collective rear-ends, we’d see some real and positive changes taking place.”

I’m familiar with both the Mission and the Campus, and I think they do meaningful and important work. Kevin has a good point, though: There is still a sizable homeless population in Nashville that needs help despite all of this good work. My question to him and in general is what are these “real and positive changes” that are needed? Affordable housing often comes up quickly in discussions about the homeless, but what would that look like specifically? What specifics might help the problem that aren’t currently in place?

The quote of the day, in my opinion, comes from guitar manufacturer George Gruhn, who is quoted in the Tennessean story: “When someone’s sleeping at my back door and defecating there, do I like it? No.” I’d have to agree with that.

In honor of World AIDS Day (December 1), someone created the wedding gown pictured above by stitching together 12,500 condoms. I’m glad my wife opted for something more traditional, but this is a very creative method for raising awareness of AIDS and its impact.

Here’s a less dramatic means of raising awareness, sharing facts from the World AIDS Day web site:

Around forty million people are living with HIV throughout the world - and that number increases in every region every day. In the UK alone, more than 60,000 people are living with HIV and more than 7,000 more are diagnosed every year. Ignorance and prejudice are fuelling the spread of a preventable disease.

World AIDS Day, 1 December is an opportunity for people worldwide to unite in the fight against HIV and AIDS. This year, it’s up to you, me and us to stop the spread of HIV and end prejudice.

Wikipedia has more information about the history of World AIDS Day, and the WAD site has ideas if you want to take action against AIDS.

CNN reports that CNET executive James Kim has been found dead in the Oregon wilderness. This sounds like a horrible ordeal for the whole family and particularly for their two young daughters.

After leaving Portland on Interstate 5, search leaders said, the couple missed a turnoff that leads to the coast and took a wrong turn on a twisty mountain road they chose as an alternative. Authorities have said the couple fed their daughters baby food and crackers and used snow as water as they waited for help.

Kati Kim’s mother, Sandy Fleming, told CNN that her daughter, who had been breast-feeding the younger child, breast-fed both the children after their food ran out. The adults also ate berries, police said. They used their car heater until they ran out of gas then burned tires to stay warm and attract attention.

My thoughts and sympathy go out to all of them.

Yikes. Spam volume has taken a nasty turn upward this year, according to the New York Times, because spammers have adopted a series of new tricks to foil filters. It’s amazing that we receive any legitimate messages considering these details below:

Worldwide spam volumes have doubled from last year, according to Ironport, a spam filtering firm, and unsolicited junk mail now accounts for more than 9 of every 10 e-mail messages sent over the Internet…

“Imagine an archvillain who has a new thumbprint every time he puts his thumb down,” said Patrick Peterson, vice president for technology at Ironport. “They have taken away so many of the hooks we can use to look for spam.”