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 ...
Actually progressive-humanists politicians who place their hands on a Bible are first class hypocrites. Charles Darwin's "Origins of the Species" or even a dictionary would be more true to their belief systems.
You ought to read "Because They Hate" by Brigitte Gabriel- who grew up as a Lebanese Christian.
Then get back to us the entire worlds' experiences with islam over the past 100 years, and on the realities of the communities of "millions" of American muslims you suggest are hypocrites, merely putting in face time at the mosques with no core belief in or long term intention to follow their religion's dictates.
Could not better respond myself.
We aren't "Europa."
I just wonder if you or some of the others here have ever known any Muslim Americans. I grew up next door to a Muslim family and they were the nicest, most "American" family you'd ever want to meet.
I went to school with American Muslims and they seemed to differ little from non-Muslims in their civic behavior, hopes, activities, etc.
It does no good at all to lump people together based on their religious faith. Nor does it do any good to judge all people of a given faith based on some extremist interpretation of their holy book.
For the past 100 years, Muslims have lived and worked peacefully in this country. They've also served in our nation's military, even died for their country.
Every Muslim is not a hater, and this I think is especially true of American Muslims.
They tell us Jefferson had a Koran, but they won't tell us what Jefferson thought of Islam. Well, now you know!
Headline of the article in the St. Paul Pioneer Press today:
"Ellison to Use Jefferson's Quran"
Makes it sound as if Jefferson was Muslim!
Jefferson had his Koran so he'd understand the thought process of the enemies of our country, the muslim pirates who said their religion made it both proper and in fact necessary for them to attack shipping of countries that did not worship Allah.
I wonder if he highlighted the places where the Koran said to kill those who were not Muslims.
Yes, I do brush most of what you say aside. I know there are radical Muslims in the world and in America and that some of the latter may even be citizens.
But you are not the only one who has read books on American Muslims or who has years of experience living and working with Muslims. In fact, I repeat my question--have you had any similar experience?
Moreover, other than the fact that this Congressman is Muslim, do you have any evidence at all that he's not a "good American"?
Finally, regarding what you think it takes to be a "good American," I suggest that you've raised the bar far too high--many non-Muslim Americans might not go along with the agenda you've laid out there. For example, not all believe it's in America's best interests to have its soldiers fight for Israel. Now, I *do* happen to believe that it is, but that's a matter for spirited civic debate, and the fact that many Muslims might disagree doesn't make them bad Americans.
The ultimate result of your kind of talk is the relocation camp. I'll tell you this--good Americans like myself won't stand for it.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/11/08/politics/main2163201.shtml
Ellison's campaign had to deal with reports of overdue parking tickets, late campaign finance reports and unpaid taxes. He also faced questions about anti-Semitism because of past ties with the Nation of Islam, a black Muslim group led by the confrontational Louis Farrakhan.
This is all smoke. Show me the money.
No, this is common knowledge. Find it in any major news source for your 'money'.
No, it's "smoke" in the sense that it consists of "reports," "alleged ties," "word has it that," etc.
*Allegations* of the sort you list here do not justify what you want to claim.
LOL. Keep going down that river of denial. It won't change the facts!
PS, He takes donations from terrorists too.
Smoke 'em if you got 'em.
http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/15300360.ht
With the endorsements of the DFL and the most influential labor unions in the district, Ellison could be the front-runner. But he stumbled into some controversies coming out of the May 6 DFL endorsing convention.
He was forced to explain his association with the Nation of Islam and its controversial leader, Louis Farrakhan. Ellison, a Muslim, has denounced Farrakhan.
His only connection with the Nation of Islam, he said in an interview last week, was in helping to organize the 1995 Million Man March. He did so, he said, because he wanted to help African-American men who were struggling to find jobs get an education and avoid crime.
Last month, news reports revealed that Ellison's driver's license had recently been suspended for nonpayment of parking tickets and that he had been fined for failing to file state campaign finance reports on time.
Ellison has apologized for those mistakes. "I'm sorry about it. I've fixed it," he said.
Yes, sir!!!
Well, we have a very fine line to walk here, do we not?
The islamic religion preaches and demands actions that, if truly believed by the adherents thereto, would result in all manner of mayhem against those that did not believe in the tenets of the islamic religion.
In other words, the very beliefs of the adherents of the so-called religion, translates directly to action, adverse action.
This the great lie, the great lie that the adherents of the islamic religion deny vehemently on a daily basis.
But to answer your question...no, I do not advocate discrimination based simply upon the professed belief of a person, but common sense should be exercised, particularly when it comes to one such as the islamic religion.
Can you find the teachings in recent Catholicism that advocate the killing of any person not instantly converting to the Catholic religion?
Christianity, in any of it's many wardrobes...from Prostestant to Fundamental Baptist to Nut-case Snake Handler?
Mormonism, perhaps?
Nope...didn't think so.
And for any muslim that denies the teachings of the koran, then I submit that person is not a true believer and does not present a danger to us infidels.
But they are few and far between.
Islam is not a religion of peace.
Islam, by it's very nature, will not, cannot tolerate our system of government or our chosen way of life.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.