If an American had to present to a would-be terrorist three books or movies that demonstrate American democracy and culture, what would he give as examples? Fairfax Circuit Court judge Randy Bellows posed this question to several seniors at James Madison High School during a "Dialogue on Freedom" round-table discussion last Thursday, Sept. 11.
Several seniors replied that their choices would include the books “Fast Food Nation” and “Profiles in Courage” and the movies “The Patriot,” “Star Wars” and “American History X.”
"Part of the joy of being American is free choice," said Bellows, who picked the movie and novel “To Kill a Mockingbird,” the movie “Gandhi” and any book on the history of civil disobedience in America.
While citizens throughout the area recognized the two-year anniversary of the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon through their civic associations, schools and places of worship, students taking government classes at James Madison High School in Vienna commemorated the holiday by discussing whether the United States has the right to propagate democracy throughout the world. Madison's "Dialogue on Freedom," a program initially created by U.S. Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy, kicked off with a keynote address by Rep. Tom Davis (R-11th) and concluded with Socratic-style discussions on democracy and on how much responsibility the United States should bear in promoting it.
"It is hard for me to think of a better way to commemorate 9/11 at James Madison High School than to have a program emphasizing the importance of defending democratic values," said organizer of the event Matt McGuire, who teaches philosophy and Advanced Placement Government and U.S. history.
TO INTRODUCE TO students what they would be discussing, Davis spoke to the seniors about his recent visit to Iraq, where he talked to both leaders and ordinary citizens. While he explained briefly the roots of Iraq's instability to the seniors, as well as described his visit to one of its 24 killing fields, he emphasized that the next generation would be responsible for determining America's role in fighting terrorism.
"We cannot let [terrorism] spread to other parts of the globe," said Davis. "It's not my challenge. It's your generation's challenge.
"Because of its great economic and cultural influence, the United States has an obligation not just to manage world affairs as they happen but to work with other countries to come to solutions.
"Ultimately, it shouldn't be America's burden," Davis said of reaching out to countries in trouble. "It should be the UN or the free world's burden."
After Davis' speech, the seniors were divided into discussion groups led by 35 invited lawyers and public officials. The facilitators posed a scenario: A nation named “Quest” is ruled by a dictator and has a population living in poverty. A charismatic leader emerges preaching hatred of America. A young woman named “W” says the root of Quest's problems is America's influence. As a United States citizen, what do you say to W?
At Bellows' discussion, seniors warmed up when they debated whether the United States can justify the war with Iraq. Three students vehemently opposed the war, questioning America's interest in the region and the government's obligation to serve the American people first, while the other students pointed to Sadaam Hussein's cruelty.
"Look at how much better off we are. We've got to help those people," said senior Caitlin Reilly.
Although the discussion was cut short by the dismissal bell, McGuire hoped the dialogue would continue in class and through another possible Dialogue on Freedom next year.
"I feel, and I think most on the staff agree with me, that every 9/11 should not just be an occasion where everyone in the community feels sad or frightened that another attack may come. I feel like the attacks are best commemorated by discussing the importance of the ideas that the terrorists were so clearly attacking," said McGuire in an e-mail.
"Living in a democratic society means, or at least it ought to mean, that every citizen feels some responsibility to participate in our civic life. That could be through voting, campaigning, working on a charity or any of a number of other ways that individuals connect with the government and with problems facing our society. I feel like the Dialogue program offers students a great opportunity to explore the importance of being involved in civic affairs with attorneys and officials who have devoted their careers to helping make our democracy work."