The Matter of Keith Ellison
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.Â
He should not be allowed to do so — not because of any American hostility to the Koran, but because the act undermines American civilization.Â
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.Â
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.
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Wait. It gets better.
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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?
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The swearing in itself involves no bible. It is an en masse intonation of sorts. Repeat after me — I will never be found with a fridge full of kick-backed cash. Keith Ellison is going to ceremonially have the photo taken with him and his Koran, I suppose to be used in campaign literature and warm and fuzzy photos that most members of Congress — as our friend Dennis Prager points out, Jews included — have done so with the Bible.
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Suppose for a minute that the swearing in with the Bible were more official. If you do not believe in the bible, swearing on it is a meaningless gesture. Swearing on the Koran would be a more meaningful gesture. It is in this general reason that a person speaking in a court proceeding can forego swearing on the bible to God and instead “affirm”, because by definition swearing to that that does not exist is meaningless. I would suggest that an atheist go ahead and suck it up and swear to the imaginary god on the superstitious ancient bible if s/he does the calculation that it may play up unnecessary prejudices on the part of the jury or judge, but the option is over.
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As for Mein Kampf… well, if somebody goes ahead and take that photograph and uses it in the ceremonial manner, I suspect s/he would not win re-election, and the problem is thus solved without much fuss.
December 5th, 2006 at 8:03 am
If Keith Ellison ran for office in America, then he needs to uphold American values, which are based on the brotherhood principles of the Bible. Maybe he is a plant from radical Muslims who have been looking for a way to invade our political system and start undermining it from that arena. This is not a laughing matter. As the prime minister of Australia told his country’s Muslims- “If you do not intend to uphold Australian values,… clear off!” The same goes for America. If you live here, but don’t intend to follow OUR culture, get out!
December 5th, 2006 at 9:34 am
The Bible is not a sacred text of the United States. The closest things to sacred texts that the United States have are the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence.
December 5th, 2006 at 11:42 am
What will be next? someone swearing on Playboys new issue? It’s a harsh comparisson and i’m not devaluating the Koran, but if this is the path we choose any favorite book or a holy book to some will be fair game. I would like to see some one try this in a Muslim country, “I want to swear by the Bible!!” then again, maybe someone have try, that is why we never heard from them again, at least in this life time. My opinion is Muslims are pushing so hard they ‘rights’ in this country, how about a 2 way street?? Here they are scorted out of a airplane, in Muslim Countries christians are persecuted and executed, about 99% of Muslim countries are prohibit just talking about Jesus, how can you demand so much rights here and denied rights back? by the way the… please the declaration of Independence, i dont think it was writen by a athiest or muslim.