Updated: ACLU Attacks Nativity Scene in Bradley County

Fox 16 News reports that Bradley County officials have opted not to place their traditional Nativity scene on the courthouse lawn after receiving letters from the ACLU.

In a written statement, Bradley County Judge Klay McKinney indicated that the county opted not to display the Nativity Scene on public property in part because officials in Mountain Home lost a lawsuit over a Nativity Scene in 2015.

However, it’s worth pointing out that the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled Nativity scenes on public property constitutional in the past. 

In Lynch v. Donnelly the court ruled a Nativity scene on city property did not violate the Establishment Clause.

Christmas is a federal holiday, and Americans have celebrated it since before the American Revolution.

Contrary to the claims of the ACLU and others, local governments can celebrate Christmas — including by placing Nativity scenes and similar decorations on public property.

Updated at 4:00 PM on 12/3/2019:

KATV now reports that the Nativity scene will be displayed at a church down the street from the courthouse.

Photo Credit: KLRT Fox 16 News via website.

AFA Publishes 2019 “Naughty or Nice” List

Our friends at the American Family Association in Mississippi have published their annual “Naughty or Nice” list.

The list identifies companies that are “Christmas-friendly” in their advertising.

Retailers who use the word “Christmas” in advertising Christmas trees and Christmas decorations earn a positive rating while companies that use generic terms like “the holidays” or “holiday decorations” earn a negative rating.

AFA divides companies into three categories: Nice, Marginal, and Naughty.

Nice companies include:

  • 1-800-Flowers.com
  • Ace Hardware
  • AFA Online Store
  • Banana Republic
  • Bass Pro Shops
  • Bath & Body Works
  • Bed Bath & Beyond
  • Belk
  • Big Lots
  • Books-A-Million
  • Cabela’s
  • Cracker Barrel
  • Dillards
  • Do-It-Best Hardware
  • Dollar Tree
  • H.E.B. Stores
  • HSN.com
  • Hallmark
  • Harbor Freight
  • Harris Teeter Stores
  • Hobby Lobby
  • Home Depot
  • Hy-Vee Stores
  • JCPenney
  • JoAnn Fabrics
  • Kirkland’s
  • Kmart
  • Kroger
  • L.L. Bean
  • Lowe’s
  • Macy’s
  • Marshalls
  • Meijer
  • Menard’s
  • Michael’s Stores
  • Neiman Marcus
  • Pier One Imports
  • ProFlowers.com
  • Publix
  • QVC.com
  • Rite Aid
  • Sam’s Club
  • Scheels Sporting
  • Super D Drug
  • Toys R Us
  • True Value
  • Wal-Mart
  • Zappos.com

Marginal companies include:

  • Academy Sports
  • Amazon.com
  • Best Buy
  • CVS Pharmacy
  • Dollar General
  • Safeway
  • Sears
  • Starbucks
  • Whole Foods

Naughty companies include:

  • Barnes & Noble
  • Dick’s Sporting Goods
  • Family Dollar
  • Foot Locker
  • Gap, Inc.
  • Kohl’s
  • The Limited
  • Maurice’s
  • Nordstrom
  • Office Depot
  • Office Max
  • Old Navy
  • Pet Smart
  • Staples
  • Stein Mart
  • Supervalu
  • TJ Maxx
  • UncommonGoods.com
  • Victoria’s Secret
  • Walgreens

AFA notes that only nationally-recognized companies appear on the list.

The list only reflects a company’s “Christmas” advertising and does not take into account other corporate policies the American Family Association may not agree with.

You can find the entire 2019 Naughty or Nice List at AFA.net.

Merry Christmas from Family Council

From all of us at Family Council and the Education Alliance, I hope you and your family have a very merry Christmas.

As we enjoy this wonderful time of year, I hope we will all take time to reflect on the true reason we celebrate Christmas: The birth of Jesus.

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. (Luke 2:10-14 KJV)

Merry Christmas!