CHALLENGE TO CAMPERS OF CAMP QUEST 2004

 FROM EDWIN KAGIN, CAMP DIRECTOR

On March 29, 2004, an improbable case was argued before the United States Supreme Court.  Although the Court eventually decided that Dr. Newdow did not have standing to bring this case, some very important arguments, and some forgotten history, were brought to public attention. 

The Pledge of Allegiance was altered by an Act of Congress in 1954 to include the words "under God."  It had said “one nation indivisible.” Now it says “one nation under god indivisible.” Newdow argued that making students listen - even if they choose not to participate - to the words "under God" violates the "Establishment Clause" of the U.S. Constitution's First Amendment, and that this practice interferes with his right to direct the religious education of his daughter. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals held that adding these words to the Pledge, and the school district policy requiring that it be recited, both violated the First Amendment's “Establishment Clause.” This ruling only affects the Ninth Circuit at this time.

Although the Supreme Court declined to resolve this Constitutional issue, the question remains. 

It has been argued that the insertion of a religious teaching into the Pledge of Allegiance now divides that which was once indivisible.   

The 2004 theme at Camp Quest was therefore, "One Nation Indivisible." And that was on the back of the 2004 Camp Quest T-shirts.

On June 18, 2004, for the first time at Camp Quest, all campers were given a single question to consider.  

The Challenge for 2004:

What is the meaning of "under God " in the Pledge of Allegiance?

“Each cabin was to give its own interpretation of the meaning of "one nation under god." And each did. And as I recall, it was one of our best closing night Challenges responses ever!”

-Edwin