Baxter County Officials Put Disclaimer on Nativity Scene

2 CommentsChristmas,

Earlier this year we wrote about a letter atheists sent to Baxter County officials concerning a Nativity scene that has graced the courthouse lawn in Mountain Home for years.

This year, rather than stand by their legal ability to celebrate Christmas with decorations that are religious in scope, the Baxter County Quorum Court unanimously decided to put a disclaimer up alongside the Nativity stating the display was the work of private citizens.

The Baxter Bulletin writes,

Under the resolution, the quorum court approved placing the nativity scene on the lawn, accompanied by a disclaimer on a sign that states:

“During the Holiday Season, the County of Baxter salutes liberty. Let these festive lights and times remind us that we are keepers of the flame of liberty and our legacy of freedom. Whatever your religion or beliefs, enjoy the holidays. This display is owned and erected by private citizens of Baxter County.”

The irony is I believe this disclaimer is more likely to add to the controversy than subtract from it. If one private group is able to put a Nativity display on the courthouse lawn, I would expect other private groups to allege they should be able to put displays on the lawn as well.

We have already seen this at the State Capitol Building in Little Rock: Atheists successfully argued in court their “Winter Solstice Display”should go up alongside a privately-owned Nativity scene on the capitol lawn–even though the atheists’ display has almost nothing to do with Christmas and very little to do with the Winter Solstice.

We keep saying it: Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ. It is also an official holiday in this country. Why would our government be free to recognize Christmas as a holiday; give its employees time off from work on Christmas day; put up decorations commemorating Christmas; but not even mention the very event Christmas celebrates? It’s ridiculous.

 Photo Credit: The Baxter Bulletin.

READ MORE

Group Spends Six Figures Supporting Fayetteville Ordinance

Current Events, , , ,

According to reports filed with the Arkansas Ethics Commission, the Human Rights Campaign has spent over $160,000 supporting Fayetteville’s controversial “nondiscrimination” ordinance.

The support came in the form of “nonmoney contributions” such as staff, legal assistance, mailings, advertising, website services, and so on to the group Keep Fayetteville Fair. Altogether, HRC has provided $160,080.05 in nonmoney contributions.

From the looks of the report, Human Rights Campaign appears to be footing most of the bill in the campaign to keep Fayetteville’s ordinance on the books. Besides HRC’s nonmoney contributions, the report shows Keep Fayetteville Fair received almost $23,000 in financial contributions from various citizens and groups, including $250 from the Pulaski County Democratic Committee; $200 from State Senator Joyce Elliott; $1,500 from the NWA Center for Equality; $1,000 from the Markham Group; $100 from former Pulaski County Clerk Pat O’Brien; $100 from former Arkansas legislator Will Bond; and $250 from former Arkansas legislator James Argue.

We have written repeatedly about the unintended consequences of Fayetteville’s so-called “nondiscrimination” ordinance. The ordinance is heavily opposed by ministers, the local Chamber of Commerce, various business leaders, and thousands of Fayetteville residents.

The special election to repeal the ordinance will take place Tuesday, December 9; early voting in Fayetteville has already started.

You can read our analysis of the ordinance and its unintended consequences here.

You can see a full copy of Keep Fayetteville Fair’s financial report here.

Photo Credit: “Old Main from the northwest, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas (autumn)” by Brandonrush – Own work. Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported.

READ MORE