Pledge of Allegiance Blues

In 2004, the Supreme Court found itself reviewing a potential hot potato case: Sacramento-based, blues-playing physician and lawyer Michael Newdow, a self-described atheist, brought a suit against a California school district to remove the words “under God” from classroom recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance, citing it as a violation of the First Amendment. The court sidestepped the issue via a convenient loophole—claiming that Newdow, who sued the school district where his daughter was enrolled, was not entitled to bring the suit since he was not her custodial parent (his ex-wife had parental authority). But the fact that Newdow came so far to present a cogent argument against the religious assumptions in the Pledge of Allegiance was a testament to his perseverance. Lisa Seidenberg's documentary portrait is hardly hagiographic: Newdow, though a powerful figure, often comes across as both arrogant and humorless, but he presents his argument with a laser-focused coherence. Of course, not everyone is swayed by Newdow, who maintains a log of hostile voicemail messages from those who seem to be far more interested in childishly demeaning his intellect than realistically challenging his opinions. Newdow obviously enjoys the camera's attention, and even makes noted legal eagle Alan Dershowitz (who is interviewed here) seem shy and reserved by comparison. Both as a lesson in law and as an entertaining personality profile, Pledge of Allegiance Blues is highly recommended. Aud: C, P. (P. Hall)