Virginia State Director’s Report on Case Day, Langley High School,
Langley, Virginia, March 1 st, 2005
On Tuesday, March 1, Langley High School, located just blocks outside the gates of the CIA in Northern Virginia, and one of the best public high schools in the country, held its 13th annual Case Day. Cases of national interest are brought before a faux Supreme Court, complete with opposing attorneys, oral arguments, and a panel of student Justices who render a verdict at the end of the day. This year, the Student Court, made up of top students in AP Government, heard the two Decalogue cases, McCreary and Van Orden which were to be heard before the Supreme Court the next day.
Since my stepdaughter is in AP Government, I received an invitation from her teacher to participate in a panel discussion, along with 3 other “religious leaders”, to talk about the cultural aspects and implications of the cases. The panel included a Jewish student, a young, hip power christian (MTVangelical?), and an old school baptist preacher.
Rick Wingrove, Virginia State Director, American Atheists
The Jewish student was barely a factor, having been drawn in at the last minute to round out the panel, but she did note that the version of the 10 commandments generally placed in schools and courts was not the Torah version, but the version more commonly used in fundamentalist christian doctrine.
The young, hip dude prefaced some of his remarks with the reassuring opener, “Now, I don't know much about history, but...”. It amazes me how a lot of the least educated seem to think that their dearth of information on a subject renders them more capable of addressing that subject intelligently.
The Baptist Preacher was, of course, a piece of work. When I introduced myself and informed him that I was from American Atheists, he asked me, “Is that a denomination?”. He was merely telegraphing the onslaught of bigotry and misinformation which was to come. Near the end of the discussion, he stated the people of our philosophy (yeah, I know) are amoral and focused on death whereas christianity is all about life.
It was an excellent discussion, however, in that it allowed all those present, maybe for the first time to hear a forceful defense of the First Amendment from the Atheist perspective. There were, of course, student advocates of the Separationist viewpoint, but it was the first time an Atheist had ever been included in the dialogue. IMO, after that panel discussion, at least one small corner of one blue state is just a little bit better informed than they were at the beginning of the day. Perhaps the most important thing they learned that day was that we are here - something to which many seem oblivious.
After the discussion, numerous students came up to me, shook my hand, and thanked me for being there and strongly advocating our position.
I should also add that a week earlier, leading up to Case Day, the teacher put me on speaker phone in 2 of his AP classes, and allowed students to ask me live questions for about 15 minutes in each class. They were supposed to be pertinent to the cases, but the kids were openly inquisitive about my Atheism.
This thing is kind of a big deal locally. Roy's rock was parked in front of the school all day. But the teacher had made a large banner which hung above it that said “Should this be here?”
Roy’s Rock
I mistakenly thought Justice Scalia had been there prior to my arrival. He had not, but his wife was. But, among the speakers present that day, was one notable guest: Judge McKathan, the hot new Roy Moore wannabe from Alabama who has the ten commandments embroidered on his judicial robe. After oral arguments, Judge McKathan spoke, or rather delivered one of the most twisted “christian nation” sermons it has ever been my misfortune to be subjected to. I asked the judge, where exactly, in the Constitution, it said specifically that the United States is a christian nation. In response, he pointed to Article 1, Section 7, Clause 2 of the Constitution, which says that a bill, passed by both House and Senate, not signed by the President within 10 days - Sundays excluded in that 10 count - will become law without the President's signature. This was his entire Constitutional case for his “christian nation” claim.
Judge McKathan spoke often of TRUTH, but used misquotes, evasion, and obfuscation with such facility that his entire diatribe can fairly be described as one large, steaming heap of lies. But that is just my opinion - I could be wrong.
Oh, and one other person, the guy who drives the Rock truck, was allowed to address the assembly. He referred directly to me as a “confirmed Atheist”, in the McCarthyist style, and related as how he was a Korean War veteran and how he had witnessed that the “godless communists” would not come to the aid of their wounded and would not bury their dead.
His direct assault on me was unmistakable for anyone present. I was allowed to respond and informed him that THIS Atheist is a veteran and a patriot to the Constitution and in possession of a strong sense right and wrong. This exchange was followed by more smiling kids and more handshakes
Student discussion with Rick Wingrove
I would characterize the day as a powerful and positive experience. I think many were initiated into this national conversation, with BOTH sides represented, for the first time. And I think that every time we participate in something like this, people are reached and progress is achieved.
I just received this email from the AP Government teacher:
Dear Rick: You added so very much to our Case Day and truly I am most grateful. You spoke beautifully and could not have been more helpful. Please believe me when I tell you how sincerely appreciative I am for your many kindnesses. Jim
The distinguished panel. From left to right, myself, the Baptist minister,
young hip evangelical, and Jewish student
Rick Wingrove,
Virginia State Director,
American Atheists, Inc.
rwingrove@atheists.org