Chase Bank told a businessman to remove the Christmas tree he donated to a local branch because it could offend people

[Sandra]

http://www.star-telegram.com/2010/12/02/2676274/jpmorgan-chase-orders-southlake.html#ixzz1763wHyN3

By Terry Evans

[e-mail]

SOUTHLAKE -- Chase Bank told a businessman to remove the Christmas tree he donated to a local branch because it could offend
people.
Antonio Morales, owner of Bellagio Day Spa in Southlake, had
assembled and decorated a 9-foot-tall tree in the lobby of the Chase
Bank branch at 1700 E. Southlake Boulevard as a favor to the branch
manager, who is one of his clients.
The tree remained in the lobby from the Monday before Thanksgiving
until Tuesday. Morales said his friend called him Wednesday to tell him
the tree had to go. She later showed him an e-mail from JPMorgan Chase
saying that the tree had to be removed because some people were offended
by it.
The bank referred questions to corporate offices.
Greg Hassell, a JPMorgan Chase spokesman, said that the company's
policy isn't anti-Christmas. "People wish their customers merry
Christmas when it's appropriate," he said.
However, to ensure that everyone who visits Chase branches feels
welcome and comfortable, the bank's policy is to use only decorations
supplied by the company.
"We appreciate the thoughtful gesture from Mr. Morales," Hassell
said. "Unfortunately, we're unable to keep it [the tree] on display for
the remainder of the holiday season." JPMorgan Chase ensures that
decorations are "something everyone is comfortable with, regardless of
how they celebrate the season," Hassell said.
But others see the tree as a symbol of the season.
A spokeswoman at Trinity Bank in Fort Worth said it has had a tree in its lobby since the Friday after Thanksgiving.
"I've been in this business more than 30 years, and every place
I've worked we've put up a Christmas tree the day after Thanksgiving,"
said Linda Robertson, assistant vice president.
Bryan Fischer, director of issue analysis for the American Family Association, called Chase's decision absurd.
"According to Advertising Age,
91 percent of American people celebrate Christmas," Fischer said. "That
means that the single most inoffensive thing you can do at this time of
year is wish someone a merry Christmas."
Fischer said that companies that have gotten away from
acknowledging Christmas claim that they do it because they want to be
inclusive.
"The most inclusive thing you can do is wish someone merry
Christmas," he said. "This means that Chase is running the risk of
offending far more people by disrespecting Christmas than they are by
honoring it."
Hassell said that the Southlake branch was supplied with stickers
that resemble Christmas lights. Company-supplied decorations vary at
other branches, he said.
"Normally they're small, not intrusive. I'm not sure this
[Morales'] Christmas tree was intrusive. That's not really the issue
here. It isn't a company-supplied decoration."
Hassell said the policy has been around for a few years, and that decorations change every year.
Morales said that he enjoys the Christmas season so much that he decorated 35 trees at his home.
"I'm known for my Christmas trees," he said.
In fact, Morales shared his talent this season with his landlord, a plastic surgeon.
"I put a tree up in his office," he said. "It doesn't offend him, and he's Jewish."

[Sandra]

If I had an account with Chase/JP Morgan I would close it ASAP and tell them why and that I was very offended. I bet they allow other religions to display what they want. Anti Christian BS needs to stop!