Posted on 11/28/2006 3:17:38 PM PST by mmanager
Keith Ellison, the first Muslim elected to the United States Congress, has announced that he will not take his oath of office on the Bible, but on the Quran instead.
The 43-year-old Minnesota Democrat, who converted to Islam as a 19-year-old college student, won the midterm election after a campaign calling for an immediate American pullout from Iraq. And his decision to forsake the Bible at his January 3 swearing-in troubles some.
"He should not be allowed to do so, Townhall.com contributing columnist Dennis Prager writes on the Web site.
"Ellison's defenders argue that Ellison is merely being honest; since he believes in the Quran and not in the Bible, he should be allowed, even encouraged, to put his hand on the book he believes in . . .
"Forgive me, but America should not give a hoot what Keith Ellison's favorite book is. Insofar as a member of Congress taking an oath to serve America and uphold its values is concerned, America is interested in only one book, the Bible. If you are incapable of taking an oath on that book, don't serve in Congress.
"In your personal life, we will fight for your right to prefer any other book. We will even fight for your right to publish cartoons mocking our Bible. But, Mr. Ellison, America, not you, decides on what book its public servants take their oath.
Prager, a radio talk show host and author, concludes: "When all elected officials take their oaths of office with their hands on the very same book, they all affirm that some unifying value system underlies American civilization. If Keith Ellison is allowed to change that, he will be doing more damage to the unity of America and to the value system that has formed this country than the terrorists of 9/11.
"It is hard to believe that this is the legacy most Muslim Americans want to bequeath to America.
Wrong. He has the right, Constitutionally.
I wouldn't expect a Jew to swear an oath with their hand on a Bible, so I don't expect a Muslim to, either.
Like it or not, we are a multi-religious society. Where we have it right is that we usually respect people to adhere to different creeds, unlike many other nations, where people of different creeds kill each other.
That said, I'm disapointed in the Minnesotans who voted this liberal into office. Those voters just don't understand what our nation us up against in the Middle East.
I agree with you completely! This is scary. Just looks like the beginnings of the Muzzies taking over. Once they got a foot in the door (electing this guy)..........just the beginning.
It was posted earlier, but not a deal to me. If this piece of trash won't take the oath then he is out of office -- this of course would have been the solution years ago, but now, he will be allowed to do whatever he wishes in the name of dismantling the right and true traditions of the country.
Good point.
"Surely there have been atheists in Congress, who would presumably prefer not to swear on a Bible?"
What about the Jews we definitely have in Congress? What did they swar their oath on?
"It is hard to believe that this is the legacy most Muslim Americans want to bequeath to America.
Believe it. This is only the beginning of accomodating Muslims unless the non-Muslims do something about it, but I doubt that that will happen. Besides, he is a Demoncrat and his oath is useless even if it is done with his hand on the bible.
What we really should be worried about is his access to highly confidential information and his possible connection with the people of TROP.
I wonder how the non-Muslims who voted for him feel now. Will he serve all of his constituents or only the Muslims?
"but Islam doesn't even recognize NOI Muslims."
Heh. NOI too hateful?
Then ban him from office, he can't be trusted if he's not going to take an oath of office on the Bible.
While this digusts me as much as the next guy, the Constitution is quite clear that there will be "no relgious test" for office holders.
That, and I am amazed at the totemism of people here.
The physical Bible is just a book. Unlike Muslims that chop off heads when a Bible is not respect, Christians know it's what is in the Bible that counts.
Give this a loser a book he believes in. Maybe it will make him keep his oath --- mainly because he thinks the koran is a magic totem.
He'll try, like this Muslim-looking guy.
"America is interested in only one book, the Bible."
I wish it were so, but sadly enough this stopped being the case in the 60's. Wassamatter, don't you like diversity?
His skin probably sizzles when it gets close to a Bible.
People have chosen to take the oat without a hand on any book.
Oath!
I think not.
Islam worship of meteorites is irrelevant to the fact that it is
now in a declared War against America.
Take a good look folks. Remember those faces because they may appear as your neighbor's considering the rate these people stream into this country.
Right on! He is either an American or not. If he will not take the oath on the Bible, get him the heck out of Congress and maybe even out of this Nation. It is time to play hardball with these people. Talks and political correctness are over.
This guy isnt a real Muslim. he is one of Farrakhans phony Muslims. They just call themselves Muslims because the koran allows them a legitimate excuse to hate.
Half the people on the Hill dont pay any attention to their oath anyway they may as well swear it on a Superman comic book.
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