Federal Reserve Force Okla. Bank To Remove Crosses, Bible Verse

[Twana Blevins]

PERKINS, Okla. -- A small-town bank in Oklahoma said the Federal Reserve won’t let it keep religious signs and symbols on display. Federal Reserve examiners come every four years to make sure banks are complying with a long list of regulations. The examiners came to Perkins last week. And the team from Kansas City deemed a Bible verse of the day, crosses on the teller’s counter and buttons that say "Merry Christmas, God With Us." were inappropriate. The Bible verse of the day on the bank's Internet site also had to be taken down. “I don’t think there should be a problem with them displaying whatever religious symbols they want to display,” said Amy Weierman, a Perkins resident. Specifically, the feds believed, the symbols violated the discouragement clause of Regulation B of the bank regulations. According to the clause, "...the use of words, symbols, models and other forms of communication ... express, imply or suggest a discriminatory preference or policy of exclusion." The feds interpret that to mean, for example, a Jew or Muslin or atheist may be offended and believe they may be discriminated against at this bank. It is an appearance of discrimination. But customers Eyewitness News 5 talked to said they aren’t buying it. “This is just ridiculous,” said bank customer Jim Nyles. “This whole thing is just ridiculous. We all have regulatory bodies that govern us. But this is too much.” “I think that’s absurd,” said Chelsi Holser, a bank customer. “I don’t agree with it at all. They are taking Christ out of Christmas and life.” The bank is quietly fighting for a clearer interpretation of the clause. Officials have contacted their two U.S. legislators, Rep. Frank Lucas and Sen. Jim Inhoffe, and the Oklahoma Bankers Association to help.

_________________________

 

From American Family Association

Feds order Christian signs and symbols removed from local bank

Thomas Kinkade paintings, crosses and "Merry Christmas" buttons ordered removed from public view.

December 17, 2010


Dear Twana ,

According to Oklahoma City television station KOCO, the Federal Reserve has ordered a small-town bank in Oklahoma to remove religious signs and symbols on display.

 

Federal Reserve examiners come every four years to make sure banks are complying with a long list of regulations. The examiners came to Payne County Bank last week.

 

And the team from Kansas City deemed a Bible verse of the day, crosses on the teller's counter and buttons that say "Merry Christmas, God With Us" were inappropriate. The Bible verse of the day on the bank's Internet site also had to be taken down, along with Thomas Kinkade paintings hanging in the bank's lobby.

 

The bank is quietly fighting for a clearer interpretation of the clause. Officials have contacted their two U.S. legislators, Rep. Frank Lucas and Sen. Jim Inhofe, and the Oklahoma Bankers Association to help.

 

TAKE ACTION

Immediately send an email to Kansas City Federal Reserve president Thomas Hoenig and other key executives, asking them to repudiate the order to remove religious signs and symbols from the Payne County Bank.

 

[Ed Watts]

The Fed is bossing us around now? This has gone too far. It won't stop until we employ some cordite and ropes.

[Sheila Simmons]

"...discriminatory preference or policy of exclusion..."

No religion is more INCLUSIVE than Christianity; no season welcomes ALL to join in more than Christmas. 

If anyone feels left out of an AMERICAN cultural celebration, it is because they are looking for something to complain about!

[Shane S.]

Stingray, Their heads have been there so long they are suffering from Hypoxia due to the Cranial-Anal insertion!

[Paul Powell]

They all need an opto-rectomy keeps them for having a crappy outlook on life. It also helps them remove their heads from their anal cavity

[Mark C. Lowe]

Graffiti flash mobs are the solution to this sort of thing.  Whenever some overbearing entity forces someone to take down their legal decorations, it's time for dozens of spray paint-wielding warriors to come down on said entity and "decorate" them.

 

Imagine the Fed (and all their buildings around the country) with a big Christmas tree and MERRY CHRISTMAS sprayed in huge letters right on the front.

 

The mob is there for two minutes, then disappears as fast as it formed.

 

You read it here first.

[Paul Powell]

I like that lets do that for the hated

A=Anti

C-CHRIST

L=Liberation

U=Unit

they might even enjoy it. NOT

[marty brownbill]

This does not surprise me.  The Federal Reserve must go...and there is a way. 

[Twana Blevins]

I don't like the idea of us acting like the union paid and anarchists protesters.

[marty brownbill]

I don't understand acting like the union and anarchist protesters. 

[Twana Blevins]

Marty my words above are a reply to Mark Lowe.

[Paul Powell]

Twana

as far as the aclu goes we should wipe them off the map

[marty brownbill]

This does not surprise me. T