I just have to shake my head and wonder

Contrast for yourself these two stories

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20101215...ristmasoffbeat
Summary: a hotel in Abu Dhabi (a primarily Muslim country) erected a 40ft Christmas tree in the lobby. The hotel manager is not worried it will offend people there as they are a "very liberal" country.

and this:
http://www.star-telegram.com/2010/12...southlake.html
Summary: a bank patron donated a Christmas tree to be put up in the branch of his local Chase bank. The company headquarters ordered the tree be taken down so it wouldn't offend anyone (note: there were no complaints, it was a preemptive move based on company policy). After outrageous uproar Chase actually is putting up a tree there but that is only after many complaints and news stories about it.


So.... what's the deal?

Aren't we supposed to be the country of "religious freedom"?

Aren't we the country with a "liberal" congress and president?

Are Americans so self interested that the very sight of a Christmas tree by a non-Christmas-celebrators (Jews, Muslims, Hindus, etc) is likely to make them stop doing business with a particular company?

Do we really have that little regard for the common sense of people of various faith that we believe they cannot even cast their eyes upon a Christmas symbol without being completely outraged?

If Chase (and other companies) want to be sensitive to the needs of those who don't celebrate Christmas then why do they close for business on that day? It's a day the bank would normally be open (Saturday). How is it right for them to deny those who aren't celebrating Christmas the opportunity to do their banking on that day?

I wouldn't be offended by the sight of a Menorah or a Diwali light (one of which Allison brought how from school and we light almost daily) or something special for Eid al Fitr (the Muslim celebration of the end of Ramadan).  So this whole situation just leaves me scratching my head.