I won’t lie to get off jury duty. I think it’s an important civic right and responsibility. I’ve gone whenever called without delay or exemption and have been selected for and served on two juries.
I will, however, tell the truth to get off jury duty. As happened recently here in New York City.
Take the leap of no faith, if you will.
Fifty potential jurors were chosen and packed into a courtroom. Each of us was handed a laminated card with 10 standard questions on them – What’s your name? What’s your address? What do you do for a living? Do you know anyone in law enforcement? And so on. Everyone quickly answering those same questions helped speed up the process leaving the judge and attorneys to question individuals further if they so chose. After hearing so many before me answer the 10th question, "What do you do in your spare time?" with "I pray" or "I go to church" I decided on my answer, one that would give my beliefs a brief moment in the sun with the added benefit of, most likely, getting me out of jury duty. When my turn came I said: "I like to play golf, watch sports, and work on political and freethought causes."
The judge immediately took the bait. "I know what political causes are, but what are freethought causes?"
"Causes for those who don’t believe in God. Atheism, to use another word," I replied.
The judge pressed further. "What sort of things are you working toward?"
It just came flying out of me. "Well, for one thing, I’d like to see that big ‘In God We Trust’ sign taken down from over your head, your honor."
An audible gasp could be heard from somewhere in the courtroom, then silence. "Is there anything about your beliefs that would keep you from serving on a jury?" "Absolutely not," I answered – although later I considered how it would have played out if, instead, I said, "Actually, if I’m on a jury, I’m one person you KNOW will only respond to convincing evidence." I’m glad I didn’t go there.
The judge moved on to the next potential juror. I figured, correctly as it turned out, that one side or the other wouldn’t want a rabblerousing skeptic poking around in their case. Being voted Jury Foreman was certainly out of the question.
On the way out an hour or so later, a middle aged woman came up to me. She asked if I was that guy who said something about the In God We Trust sign. I said I was. She told me how thrilled she was to hear me say that. As an atheist, she was sitting there all day looking at that sign and it was making her mad. She said you sit there thinking you’re the only one, and how inspiring it was to hear someone speak up.
Personally, I have no problem with people saying Merry Christmas to me this time of year, or God Bless You when I sneeze. Christmas trees, Santa, carolers and such not only don’t bother me, I kinda like ‘em as I discussed last year in a diary titled "I’m Eggnogstic." But when belief in God is tied to government, our judiciary system or patriotism – especially in an officially sanctioned manner – it is over the line and, I believe, unconstitutional.
The fact is, I DON’T trust in God. I don’t believe any gods exist and I certainly don’t trust the way belief in Him/Her/It/Them will be applied in a courtroom. In fact, if there is one place where we all should insist on the application of entirely rational thinking it is in a courtroom.
So why is it up there on the wall for all to see? Is it a meaningless affectation? Then declare it so and take it down. Because, while it may be meaningless to you, it is offensive to many of the 15% or more of Americans who are not religious.
If it’s not meaningless, then what does it mean? That God is involved in meting out justice in our courts? Then, perhaps we should just trust Him to take care of things on the back end when we all get our just desserts. (Mmm, after 40 years of dieting, I can’t wait for just desserts!) But if the system is based on God’s hand guiding the judicial process, how can a freethinker expect to be treated fairly in any courtroom where there, in big letters, right over the judge’s head are four words and only four words: "In God We Trust." Sheesh, you don’t even do me the courtesy of pretending to give a rat’s ass about my feelings. For Christ’s sake, you even pretend to care enough about those damned (literally) Jews to avoid saying "In Christ We Trust" or "Christ Bless America." Keep in mind, that there are 10 times as many non-religious Americans as believing Jews – why don’t we count?
Well, as you’ve noticed with Dawkins, Harris, dozens of websites and activities (the recent YouTube blasphemy challenge, for one), and in its own small way, this diary, we freethinkers are not going to sit quietly on the sidelines anymore.
As an old boss of mine used to say, don’t bring me a headache unless you brought me some aspirin. So here’s a recommendation I hope even religious Kossacks may embrace since, I’ll bet, many of them choose not to read "IGWT" as a literal statement of their God’s participation in litigation.
Here goes: Replace "In God We Trust" with "Justice For All."
Think of how inspiring "Justice For All" would be on that wall. Words that are at best meaningless and at worst discriminatory would be replaced with a call for that for which we all wish – JUSTICE. Let the innocent be set free and the guilty pay a price. Make the punishment fit the crime. And who is this justice for? FOR ALL – rich, poor, white, black, religious, atheist, citizens, visitors and newcomers.
Now, I don’t expect everyone to drop their mouse, grab a pitchfork and immediately march down to the village courthouse. But as we move toward a more secular society – and we are, in a hurry – it’s time for religious Americans to come to grips with the fact that official government sanctioning of God’s existence must end, whether "In God We Trust" in the courtroom motto or "under God" in the classroom pledge. It’s not just a question of constitutionality, it’s simple good-neighborly decency in a country where a large and growing number of their fellow Americans don’t believe in their God. And just in case they’re not ready to do the right thing, Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, and others like you and I need to press the issue as firmly as proves necessary.
In God We Trust? Hell, no. Justice For All? Amen.