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Keith Ellison, D-Minn. to swear on Koran...
A first for America...The Koran replaces the Bible at swearing-in oath.
Keith Ellison, D-Minn., 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 bible of Islam, the Koran.
He should not be allowed to do so -- not because of any American hostility to the Koran, but because the act undermines American civilization.
First, it is an act of hubris that perfectly exemplifies multiculturalist activism -- "my culture trumps America's culture". What Ellison and his Muslim and leftist supporters are saying is that it is of no consequence what America holds as its holiest book; all that matters is what any individual holds to be his holiest book.
Forgive me, but America should not give a shit 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 America, not Mr. Ellison, decides on what book its public servants take their oath.
Devotees of multiculturalism and political correctness who do not see how damaging to the fabric of American civilization it is to allow Ellison to choose his own book need only imagine a racist elected to Congress.
Would they allow him to choose Hitler's "Mein Kampf," the Nazis' bible, for his oath? And if not, why not? On what grounds will those defending Ellison's right to choose his favorite book deny that same right to a racist who is elected to public office?
Of course, Ellison's defenders argue that Ellison is merely being honest; since he believes in the Koran and not in the Bible, he should be allowed, even encouraged, to put his hand on the book he believes in.
But for all of American history, Jews elected to public office have taken their oath on the Bible, even though they do not believe in the New Testament, and the many secular elected officials have not believed in the Old Testament either.
Yet those secular officials did not demand to take their oaths of office on, say, the collected works of Voltaire or on a volume of New York Times editorials, writings far more significant to some liberal members of Congress than the Bible.
Nor has one Mormon official demanded to put his hand on the Book of Mormon. And it is hard to imagine a scientologist being allowed to take his oath of office on a copy of "Dianetics" by L. Ron Hubbard.
So why are we allowing Keith Ellison to do what no other member of Congress has ever done -- choose his own most revered book for his oath?
The answer is obvious -- Ellison is a Muslim. And whoever decides these matters, (not to mention virtually every opinion-editorial page in America) is not going to offend a Muslim. In fact, many of these people argue it will be a good thing because Muslims around the world will see what an open society America is and how much Americans honor Muslims and the Koran.
This argument appeals to all those who believe that one of the greatest goals of America is to be loved by the world, and especially by Muslims because then fewer Muslims will hate us (and therefore fewer will bomb us).
But these naive people do not appreciate that America will not change the attitude of a single American-hating Muslim by allowing Ellison to substitute the Koran for the Bible.
In fact, the opposite is more likely: Ellison's doing so will embolden Islamic extremists and make new ones, as Islamists, rightly or wrongly, see the first sign of the realization of their greatest goal -- the Islamicization of America.
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. But if it is, it is not only Europe that is in trouble.
All change isn't bad, his choosing to place is hand on the Koran might be a better example of America's fluid nature.
I mean lets face it, placing your hand on a book to take office doesn't make you a good honest person in the first place as we have seen by both parties. In my opinion placing your hand on the bible is just a ceremonial event it won't change the man behind the hand!
Well regardless of wether they are Christian or muslim until they prove to be more tolerant of others they should not be given more freedom. I was a mulsim for 6 years so I know what im talking about.
Of course I know the Vikings weren't perfect. My point is people should to an extent accept the traditions of their country they are in instead of trying to change everything.
__________________ Watch what people are cynical about, and one can often discover what they lack.
- General George Patton Jr
I understand what you mean when you say "they" but it doesn't bode well with this discussion as it makes christians ( I am assuming here, are you christian?) seem just as intolerant as muslims are, see that?
I see christian politics all the time in the USA, plenty of hate from some of the christians but not all and some are very intolerant as well but not all.
Besides we aren't talking about all muslims or christians just one muslim and if he elected to office wouldn't people already know if he was "more tolerant?"
And to an extant he is accepting the traditions of the USA, he would be swearing into office on his religious text. Lets not make this a USA, christian puke fest about tradition and values cuz it won't hold well.
As far as which religious book someone swears upon, who cares, one religious book is a good as the other. It would be wrong to deny him his religious freedom.
One interesting tidbit about Ellison though, he is trying to pass a law that would make it a criminal offense to profile Muslims.
__________________ "The most merciful thing in the world, I think, is the inability of the human mind to correlate all its contents. We live on a placid island of ignorance in the midst of black seas of infinity; and it was not meant that we should voyage far." -CoC
No im a heathen (I hate this term, I think im going to stop using it) I pray to the Norse Gods. Christians can be just as bad as muslims but in my opnion to a lesser degree.
Fair enough
Well I dont think im going to elaborate here because I dont want any trouble, like I said I was a muslim for six years and I met lots of different muslims. Im not impressed in general.
Its not. By the way there was a case in France were the French bent over backwards to facilitate muslims but they kept asking for more, this is why you have this law in France forbiding religous symbols. Some muslims messed it up for everybody.
__________________ Watch what people are cynical about, and one can often discover what they lack.
- General George Patton Jr
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Keith Ellison, D-Minn. to swear on Koran...
no, it isn't. I know many Muslims and all of them are tolerant, not only of other religious people but even of my disbelief in everything religion-related.
As with every religion, it's the extremists you have to worry about.
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Keith Ellison, D-Minn. to swear on Koran...
Yes of course not all of them are. Even if you're muslim friends tell you that Islam is a tolerant relgion they dont know what they are talking about. At the end of the day eventhough not all muslims are extremist the religon itself encourages extremism.
__________________ Watch what people are cynical about, and one can often discover what they lack.
- General George Patton Jr
Why don't we just have people swear an oath without the Bible? I mean, really, does it add anything to a person's oath? Liars, cheaters, and thieves will swear themselves blue over a Bible--I'm sure there's a pun to be made in there--and continue to lie, cheat, and steal. Honest people will swear themselves blue over a Bible and continue to be honest.
And, contrary to contemporary thought, worshiping the Flying Spaghetti Monster is not a valid religious belief. (I'm sure I'll be flamed to hell and back for that one.)
__________________ "His signature loud high-energy approach to pitching an array of products and beard has gained [Billy] Mays a substantial amount of recognition."
Youse got good writin', Wikipedia!
Last edited by Zeal Ex Nihilo on Nov 30th, 2006 at 06:43 PM
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Nov 30th, 2006 04:35 PM
