12/13/2006 Pretty Lights or Bah Humbug?

Welll I'm no Scrooge but as a dark-sky lover I cannot help but notice the brightening in the sky during the month of December each year.
It's that season again, where homeowners everywhere decide to ignore the utility bills and do their best to outdo the neighbor with Christmas displays. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate them also. My family enjoys nighttime walks in the winter to see what different houses have to show. We live close enough into town that houses are on tightly packed lots, so there are lots of yards to see. I've also noticed a huge increase in the bright blow-up Santas, Snowbowls, etc. - it seems like the bar gets raised a bit higher each year.
However, all these lights add to the already distressing level of light pollution. So when I think about it from the astronomer point of view, I get that sinking feeling in my gut. Does that make me a "Bah-Humbug" type of person?
Some years I join the fray and put up a few outdoor lights (of course we always have the indoor decorations). This year I have not had time (or maybe I have not made it a priority) to put them up, although I think the kids would like me to.
I guess I need to take the half-full approach and realize that many of these displays include a prominent star, representing probably the most famous star of all time. Stars are everywhere at Christmastime. Most Christmas trees have one; our family's tradition is to put the star on top after the entire rest of the tree has been decorated.