100% FREE ONLINE DATING
sponsored links
Previous
| Topic: Who does Christmas Offend? | |
|---|---|
|
|
|
Chase
orders Southlake bank to remove Christmas tree By Terry Evans tevans@star-telegram.com 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." http://www.star-telegram.com/2010/12/02/2676274/jpmorgan-chase-orders-southlake.html |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
i'm offended when other people are offended...but i guess that doesn't count...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chase orders Southlake bank to remove Christmas tree By Terry Evans tevans@star-telegram.com 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." http://www.star-telegram.com/2010/12/02/2676274/jpmorgan-chase-orders-southlake.html Time to add Chase to the many businesses I will never use. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
very strange, I get all the complaints from non believers about Jesus or manger displays,,,I dont get whats offensive about a decorated tree though
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
merry christmas everyone. i hope i dont offend anyone!? lol
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
It offends me that big business uses Holidays to convince people to buy buy buy.........and to lose the true meanings behind the celebrations
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
i'm offended when other people are offended...but i guess that doesn't count... I'm offended that you're offended when other people are offended! That's offensive! 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
i'm offended when other people are offended...but i guess that doesn't count... I'm offended that you're offended when other people are offended! That's offensive! now i'm offended again... wheres the ACLU? |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pretty soon someone is gonna start a black and white religion. They will find all other colors offensive thus every business can only have things that are black and white.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Apparently, Chase and a whole lot of others in business know something the OP is oblivious to. To remain competitive in their perspective markets, whether it’s global or regional, a company must consider the values, attitudes, and beliefs, of all individuals or groups within their market.
Once upon a time, few companies extended their market base beyond a town, city, county, district, region or state. Larger organizations may have had broader interstate markets but only a considerably few dealt internationally, and global markets was all but an unknown concept. During that era, the recognition of Christian holidays was not a spiritual act, nor was it particularly a reflection of the business owner’s personal religious values. It was however, a good marketing tool. That whole era had a rather unfortunate side affect, it seemed to make Christians feel as if their majority status gave them special privileges. Back then (not really that long ago) Christians NEVER had to be tolerant to any other belief system. The only mainstream religious ideal that was ever recognized was Christianity. Naturally Christians rarely learned about any other religion and naturally they were suspicious of and even offended by businesses that did not recognize Christian holidays but closed instead for some ‘other’ non-Christian religious reason. As companies began to pursue a greater share of a wider and more diverse market, the ‘non-Christian’ cliental in this country began to feel empowered, because their beliefs were being recognized and respected by virtue of being shared with international and global markets. Those markets had at least as great and generally greater financial clout as the ‘Christian majority’ within the confines of the USA. Of course that didn’t change the fact that USA culture was still resting on Christian tradition which heavily influenced how those with other religious views were being treated. No longer willing to accept being oppressed in a country that stood on a premise of religious freedom, court battles ensued – remove prayer from schools, anti-pledge of allegiance, take down all symbols of religious origin from government property….etc. These actions and similar legal activism has been an attempt to equalize the minority voice within the private sector, just as representative government and laws governing over minority issues were meant to equalize the minority voice in the political arena. This extreme action is necessary in order to break down the sense of Christian ‘majority’ privilege that has long endured in this country. At this point, Christian tradition, as the defining characteristic of this nation, is in the process of decline. At some point in the future, Christianity in this country will become one of many tolerant religious views within a nation and a global community of religious views. When that happens, I will welcome an elaborate Christmas display in a business in which the values of the owner are reflected, because next store to that business, perhaps at another time, I will see an elaborate display of another kind of religious expression. Neither store will suffer a loss of clients because the vast majority will be as they were ‘once upon a time’ - But instead of ONE religious expression tolerated by everyone .... it will be every religious expression tolerated equally ... and no single religious tradition will create a cultural climate indicative of an oppressive 'privileged' majority. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Edited by
msharmony
on
Sun 12/05/10 12:34 AM
|
|
a christmas tree is not a religious symbol, its a symbol for boys and girls and where their presents will be
whats next, no easter bunnies because it is celebrated by christians and might offend other religions? no handing out treats, because its commemorative of pagan rituals and offends christians?,,,,good grief should vegans start insisting that steak restaurants stop displaying cows because they are such an oppressed minority that it offends them and there arent an equal amount of displays of carrots and celery? I think it goes beyond reason to find OFFENSE by how someone else chooses to celebrate so long as it doesnt attack others as a group and even then, that means I dont go to that persons residence and celebrate that way but it shouldnt mean I cant celebrate that way at my place of business via material decorations,,,or that a majority demographic of my business shouldnt have the option to enjoy their choice of celebration or display because 100 percent of the customers dont choose to celebrate it that way,,,,, Im all for equal rights, but seriously, sometimes the IDEAL gets to peoples heads....If I go to spain, should I really expect all businesses not to display spanish signs because not all of their clients speak it? of course a business will cater to its majority demographic, as long as it doesnt EXCLUDE other demographics from its services or products, ,,,,why does it matter? consumers have the right to shop where they wish, I can respect the ideal of equality and as a spiritual and personal value it should persist but it is BEYOND logical to tell a majority that they have to limit their choice of expression if it doesnt match the minority choice of expression, at some point it actually is more fair to allow the majority to decide for themself a christmas tree is not a symbol that demeans or attacks anyone, its a holiday decoration if a store is owned by jewish owners, they should be able to display a minorah if they wish, how on earth would that be 'offensive' id like to see the day when people werent so sensitive that they required everyone to celebrate what they do the way they do or to else not have a celebratory expression at all its not about respecting the preferences of ALL customers because that is impossible, its about choosing which issues are significant enough to address when customers complain, which are feasible to address and what is a reasonable response I bank, and I think bank fees are absolutely ridiculous, but the banks dont feel pressured to change those fees and that DIRECTLY affects my contract with them and the service they are supposed to provide me,, what decorations they use does not and so it would be just as reasonable and understandable if they left them just as they are even if I found some inane reason to be 'offended' |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Apparently, Chase and a whole lot of others in business know something the OP is oblivious to. To remain competitive in their perspective markets, whether it’s global or regional, a company must consider the values, attitudes, and beliefs, of all individuals or groups within their market. Once upon a time, few companies extended their market base beyond a town, city, county, district, region or state. Larger organizations may have had broader interstate markets but only a considerably few dealt internationally, and global markets was all but an unknown concept. During that era, the recognition of Christian holidays was not a spiritual act, nor was it particularly a reflection of the business owner’s personal religious values. It was however, a good marketing tool. That whole era had a rather unfortunate side affect, it seemed to make Christians feel as if their majority status gave them special privileges. Back then (not really that long ago) Christians NEVER had to be tolerant to any other belief system. The only mainstream religious ideal that was ever recognized was Christianity. Naturally Christians rarely learned about any other religion and naturally they were suspicious of and even offended by businesses that did not recognize Christian holidays but closed instead for some ‘other’ non-Christian religious reason. As companies began to pursue a greater share of a wider and more diverse market, the ‘non-Christian’ cliental in this country began to feel empowered, because their beliefs were being recognized and respected by virtue of being shared with international and global markets. Those markets had at least as great and generally greater financial clout as the ‘Christian majority’ within the confines of the USA. Of course that didn’t change the fact that USA culture was still resting on Christian tradition which heavily influenced how those with other religious views were being treated. No longer willing to accept being oppressed in a country that stood on a premise of religious freedom, court battles ensued – remove prayer from schools, anti-pledge of allegiance, take down all symbols of religious origin from government property….etc. These actions and similar legal activism has been an attempt to equalize the minority voice within the private sector, just as representative government and laws governing over minority issues were meant to equalize the minority voice in the political arena. This extreme action is necessary in order to break down the sense of Christian ‘majority’ privilege that has long endured in this country. At this point, Christian tradition, as the defining characteristic of this nation, is in the process of decline. At some point in the future, Christianity in this country will become one of many tolerant religious views within a nation and a global community of religious views. When that happens, I will welcome an elaborate Christmas display in a business in which the values of the owner are reflected, because next store to that business, perhaps at another time, I will see an elaborate display of another kind of religious expression. Neither store will suffer a loss of clients because the vast majority will be as they were ‘once upon a time’ - But instead of ONE religious expression tolerated by everyone .... it will be every religious expression tolerated equally ... and no single religious tradition will create a cultural climate indicative of an oppressive 'privileged' majority.  Thats funny and really doesn't have much truth in it.The fact is companies have already tried the Atheist approach of not saying Merry Christmas,putting up signs that read happy holidays,and other stupid ways of trying to look politically correct.People notice these things,question them,and stop shopping at their stores.I have read countless times many stories of companies saying they were going to not offend people by saying Merry Christmas and it backfired badly.Nearly always when a stupid stunt like this happens it results in a boycott and national media attention. Stores and companies that don't have Christmas lights,trees,and decorations at Christmas time is almost un-American.It is even worse if a company did have decorations and some Atheist demanded them to be taken down and the company took them down.Not only does the company look like a push over,it looks like a victim of bullying,weak,and someone who doesn't stand up for what they believe in.Even if I was a Atheist or a member of some other religion I would shake my head and wonder why they don't at least put up a fight instead of crawling into the dog house. Like the article says a massive majority of people celebrate Christmas and want to see the lights,trees,and Merry Christmas.Stores that say and do these things will have a lot more respect from the community and will get much more business then those who don't.Because nobody respects a business that is on it's knees kissing some Atheist's a** because it wants to be politically correct. By the way in case you haven't figured it out yet....houses and business's that put those lights and trees all over the city because they are Christian owned business's.The put them there to celebrate the birthday of Jesus Christ.That is why it is called Christ-mas.The lights,trees,and decorations will never go away because you will always have several hundred million Christians in American putting up those lights to celebrate the birth of Jesus.1,000 years from now you will still see hundreds of millions of Christians decorating their houses with lights. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
..i'm offended by most people..but yet..  |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Uh oh...don't contact the ACLU - they offend me! They're always taking liberties, and I don't find that to be very civil!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I'm surprised there isn't protest about the Christmas tree at the White House.
I triple dog dare someone to tell me I can't have one   I'm glad my bank does their own thing. They have stockings and other Christmas decorations up. It's festive. If they decided to put up decorations for all holidays, then that's great too. I just don't see the purpose of being so PC to not offend some people by ceasing everything. You can't please everyone. Some one will always be offended. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
sounds like a power struggle to me with the bank branch irritated by someone else telling them how to decorate their establishment so they told them to stuff it.....
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chase has other issues aside from whether a Yule tree is offensive or not.
Honestly, I think so much of this is diversionary tactics from theirs and others business and financial issues. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I'm surprised there isn't protest about the Christmas tree at the White House. I triple dog dare someone to tell me I can't have one I'm glad my bank does their own thing. They have stockings and other Christmas decorations up. It's festive. If they decided to put up decorations for all holidays, then that's great too. I just don't see the purpose of being so PC to not offend some people by ceasing everything. You can't please everyone. Some one will always be offended. You can't 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I triple dog dare someone to tell me I can't have one You can't have one. In fact, I'm so offended by your having a Christmas tree in your post that I've removed it in the quote of your post! |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Edited by
mightymoe
on
Sun 12/05/10 12:43 PM
|
|
I'm surprised there isn't protest about the Christmas tree at the White House. I triple dog dare someone to tell me I can't have one I'm glad my bank does their own thing. They have stockings and other Christmas decorations up. It's festive. If they decided to put up decorations for all holidays, then that's great too. I just don't see the purpose of being so PC to not offend some people by ceasing everything. You can't please everyone. Some one will always be offended. Obama will probably change that soon... muslims are offended by christmas |
|
|
|
|
