Posted on 01/04/2007 5:36:21 AM PST by beyond the sea
http://news.yahoo.com/s/thenation/20070103/cm_thenation/1153689_1
Keith Ellison and the Jefferson Koran
Despite a cynical campaign by those who would establish a religious test for holding office in these United States, newly elected Minnesota Congressman Keith Ellison will swear his oath of office tomorrow on the Koran.
The objections to allowing Ellison, the first Muslim to be elected to Congress, to take the oath as he chooses were so absurd in character and contention that they could easily be dismissed as a sideshow. But it would be dangerous to do so. The fact is that there has for a number of years now been a concerted effort by sincere if misguided religious zealots and conservative political strategists who delight in exploiting fears of diversity to redefine the American experiment as a Christian religious endeavor.
History does not provide even a soft grounding for this fantasy. The Founders of the country were men and women of the Enlightenment who, while surely imperfect in their thoughts and deeds, wisely sought to burst the chains of what Thomas Jefferson referred to as "monkish ignorance and superstition." They revolted against the divine right of kings, rejected the construct of state-sponsored religion and wrote a Constitution that not only guaranteed freedom of religion but required that: "The Senators and Representatives...and all executive and judicial officers, both of the United States and of the several states, shall be bound by oath or affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States."
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
"Lie to The Infidel", Keith.
The fact is that he is a muslim and as a muslim, he owes his allegiance to islam, not to the United States of America.
There is no place in the USA for muslims and islam and certainly no place in the US Senate, House of Representatives, Cabinets or any governmental agency, up to and including the office of the POTUS for a moon god worshipper.
Just my opinion.
Agreed!
“The new Congressman from Minnesota will declare his loyalty to the Constitution while clutching a copy of the Koran that was once owned by Jefferson.”
I say, "So what. The book still teaches nothing that I want to live by!"
Those of us who know, can only sit back and say, " Told ya!" when the time comes, as it will with all possible certainty, just as sure as feathers flutter and the sun rises in the East. For no one in congress will substitute the laws of Sharia for those we already have, even under the guise of community arbitration, contracted and agreed upon by patronizing fools like Ellison.
Guess this bit of history won't make it into the newspapers, even though it is incredibly relevant.
They tell us Jefferson had a Koran, but they won't tell us what Jefferson thought of Islam. Well, now you know!
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From AMERICAN SPHINX The Character of Thomas Jefferson by Joseph J. Ellis
"Several muslim countries along the North African coast had established the tradition of plundering the ships of European and American merchants in the western Mediterranean and eastern Atlantic, capturing the crews and then demanding ransom from the respective governments for their release. In a joint message to their superiors in Congress, Adams and Jefferson described the audacity of these terrorist attacks, pirates leaping onto defenseless ships with daggers clenched in their teeth. They had asked the ambassador from Tripoli, Adams and Jefferson explained, on what grounds these outrageous acts of unbridled savagery could be justified: "The Ambassador answered us that it was founded on the laws of the prophet, that it was written in their koran, that all nations who should not have acknowledged their [islams] authority were sinners, that it was their right and duty to make war upon them wherever they could be found, and to make slaves of all they could take as prisoners...."
This event occured between 1784-1789 while Jefferson was ambassador to France and Adams (2nd president) was ambassador to England.
Well said.
The Catholics owe their allegiance to Rome and the Jews to Israel so let's keep them out, too!
[sarcasm off]
One of Farrakhans bigots in the Congress.
Its amazing. He is a faux Muslim.
This event occured between 1784-1789 while Jefferson was ambassador to France and Adams (2nd president) was ambassador to England.
****
One more time if you don't mind.
Post-enlightenment Catholics and Jews accept pluralism. There is no such thing as a post-enlightenment, or even post-Socractic, Muslim.
Hey when you vote a mooooooooslim into office don't be surprised if he wants to use the Koran instead of the Bible. Let's face it America is a country working very hard to seperate itself from it's Christian roots and this is just another example of it !!!
I know many Muslims who also accept pluralism. In fact, nearly every Muslim American I've ever met (and I was born and raised in Dearborn) accepts pluralism.
On the other hand, I've known a few Catholics (not many, but a few) in my lifetime who told me I was going to hell for being a Protestant.
>could Jefferson have used this Koran in his deliberations before going to war with the religiously driven and murderous Muslims cutthroats of the Barbary Coast<
Know thy enemy.
You will learn a lot about muslim acceptance of pluralism if you read "Because They Hate" by Brigitte Gabriel
(a Lebanese Christian). So please do and then get back to us. You might also discuss this book with your friends from Dearborn.
On the other hand, I've known a few Catholics (not many, but a few) in my lifetime who told me I was going to hell for being a Protestant.
That has nothing to do with pluralism. You're trying to conflate two totally different issues.
On the other hand, I've known a few Catholics (not many, but a few) in my lifetime who told me I was going to hell for being a Protestant.
That has nothing to do with pluralism. You're trying to conflate two totally different issues.
Here is a shocker, it seems the members of the congressional black caucus have a SEPERATE swearing in ceremony!!!!!!
A race baiter from FL is pushing the politics of balkanization.
Perhaps he will use jefferson's copy of the NAACP charter.
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