This underlines the reason we have a Constitution and are a nation of laws. Or does it matter?
Rep.-elect Keith Ellison, the first Muslim elected to Congress, found himself under attack last month when he announced he’d take his oath of office on the Koran — especially from Virginia Rep. Virgil Goode, who called it a threat to American values.
Yet the holy book at tomorrow’s ceremony has an unassailably all-American provenance. We’ve learned that the new congressman — in a savvy bit of political symbolism — will hold the personal copy once owned by Thomas Jefferson.
IMNSHO, it doesn’t matter what book is in your hand when you swear into office, but what convictions are in your heart. There’s no end to those who shame their faith, from Jews to Christians to Muslims to Buddists to Agnostics. What about those lawmakers who have been proven a liar after swearing on the Bible? Did the book make a difference?
That’s without even dealing with the fact that to prevent Ellison from using the Koran would be unconstitutional.
Anyone know if this dude is related to the great American writer, Ralph Ellison?
What’s really weird about your posting this is that last nigt during the wee hours I worked up a post about the new Massachusetts governor using the Mendi bible (given to John Quincy Adams by the freed slaves of the Amistad mutiny) in his inaugural, and didn’t post it only because the specific news story i wanted to use has a sign-in/block screen which I was afraid would be an impediment.
This story only has legs because some idiot named Dennis Prager and some other bigots and made an issue that he is a Muslim.
Swearing in on any religious text is a photo op and not legally binding.
http://thinkprogress.org/2006/11/30/koran-bible-prager-ellison/
End of story.
The actual legal swearing in is the average hand-in-the-air non-religious swear-in.
This stunt, as I am sure he would admit, is just to mash this in the face of the wackos that are so damn unenlightened that they probably wouldn’t even understand the message he is sending in historical context.
The sad point is that people actually pay attention to the opinions of these bigots and continue to propagate their statements.
He should be able to swear holding anything he wants as long as it isn’t illegal, or without holding anything at all.
I do have a small semantics issue: Agnostics don’t have a faith. I know what you meant and agree with your point, though.
I forgot who the cast of characters that started this nonsense. Glen Beck, Dennis Prager, and Congressman Goode (R-VA).
Check out their inspiring comments here in video:
http://www.crooksandliars.com/index.php?s=Ellison
Start from last post first to see the de-volution of man in the proper time sequence.
If I ever get elected to anything, I want to swear in on a Star Trek Technical Manual. Because that is the most sacred book for me!!!
the swearing in on a book isnt a public event – it takes place in a back room.
Yeah, well many people adding their two senses to all the hubbub probably don’t even know the oath of office process.
Pardon me, but was this country not founded on the basis of freedom of religion?
So what does it matter if he is not of the christian faith?
Indeed. Freedom of and freedom from religion.
His religion and the book he uses doesn’t matter. His belief in fairy tales is his business, not mine.
What I care most about is ANY elected representative that uses fairy tales, superstition, “god” or other hogwash to influence his vote. Keep religion out of Congress.
Freedom of religeon, had a very different meaning in the 18th century. It was meant to express, the safety from religeous persecution. So #9 and #10 are both correct.
Hey JC, when I become president, I wanna swear on One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish by Dr. Seuss. It would be the main reason why I would become president. I learned how to read!
#10, there is no such thing as freedom from religion. It’s as nonsensical as saying that there can be a freedom from being offended at the same time that people have freedom of speech.
Big deal… I’d be much more interested in knowing if he also shares Jefferson’s ideas about the power and scope of government. Somehow, I doubt it.
Blame it on the credulous fools who actually believe that putting one’s hand on a book of ancient fairytales will somehow compel them to tell truth that they otherwise wouldn’t.
When we finally see someone with guts enough to reject this juvenile crap forcefully and publicly, there may be some hope for…
– aaaaahh, fuggeddaboudit. It ain’t gonna happen.
We will truly have entered the 21st century when someone gets sworn in on an e-book.
Didn’t someone say something about not taking oaths? That taking oaths wouldn’t change the color of the hair on your head….For the life of me, I can’t remember who that was.
Mike, of course there is freedom from religion. You can choose to have a religion of your choice or choose not to have a religion at all.
Saying anything else would be to imply that people do not have the right to be Atheists. Show me a law that says that Atheists can’t run for office.
It seems like a good compromise. Too bad religious nuts don’t compromise.
Start from last post first to see the de-volution of man in the proper time sequence.
Are we not men? We are NEOs….
(Apologies to Devo)
J/P=?
Hi john,
I don’t understand you American!!
you always talk about democracy and you want to approach it in all of the world, but some of you still can’t accept some basic thing like freedom of religion
but I know that most of American not like this
22. “some of you still can’t accept some basic thing like freedom of religion”
Yeah, because we all know that the middle east is an oasis of religious freedom and tolerance.
At least in the West we debate these issues, as oppose to killing anyone who disagrees.
SN
I think you have big mistake in understanding Islam -I don’t blame you-
I invite you to visit Saudi Arabia and you will see how welcome we are
24. “I invite you to visit Saudi Arabia and you will see how welcome we are”
Sorry, if you’re going to kill me it’ll have to be on US soil for now. Thanks anyway.
What’s wrong here? It’s been proven that politicians lie despite putting their hands on the Bible. Now a guy wants to do it on the Quran… go ahead. If you want politicians to tell the truth, then run them through the lie detector while being pumped full with some truth serum.
#25 Sorry, if you’re going to kill me it’ll have to be on US soil for now. Thanks anyway.
SN… are you always this paranoid when people invite you over?
28. “SN… are you always this paranoid when people invite you over?”
No, just when I’m trolling! 😉
27,
Remember… SN doesn’t believe in ANYTHING.
29. “Remember… SN doesn’t believe in ANYTHING.”
I don’t believe I ever said that!