Now that the Republicans have been shown the door, religion in politics should be a dead issue – wrong! Keith Ellison, newly elected Democratic member of the House of Representatives from Minnesota is causing a stir because he wants to be sworn in using the Koran or Quran.
Now Mr. Ellison is originally from Detroit and probably part African-American so it isn’t as if he was some cleric from the Middle East. He probably converted to Islam in later life.
First some background about the swearing in ceremony. All new members of the House are sworn in en masse, i.e. all together. They then can stage “photo-ops” by posing for an “individual” swearing in ceremony. Usually, in these photo-ops, they have a hand on the Christian Bible; at least that is how it always has been done – tradition.
Sine Ellison is the FIRST Muslim ever to be elected; he can start his OWN tradition for the future Muslims that may be elected to Congress – as I see it.
But NO – an angry column by Dennis Prager on Townhall.com argues that Ellison’s ceremony “undermines American civilization”. In his mind, American values can only be defended by people that swear to do so on America’s holy book; the Christian Bible.
Well, I disagree. The Christian Bible is NOT America’s holy book. It has, by tradition, been the book all swearing in ceremonies use. That is because Christians were the majority of early immigrants to this country and remained the majority in the early years. But now, things they are a changing and have changed.
It only makes sense to use a book that would matter to the most people even though obviously it REALLY does not matter since members of Congress lied, cheated and sinned like hell after they swore on the Bible.
The last few words of a swearing in ceremony are “so help you God” or something like that. Anyway, this would not carry a lot of weight with an atheist but with religious people, yes it would. But with all the different religions in existence here, the Christian Bible does not necessarily carry the same weight for everyone – obviously!
I personally, would want someone swearing to uphold American laws and not to harm America in any way, swear on something that he or she really believes in and something he or she holds very holy in their belief system otherwise it is like swearing on a Sear’s Catalog.
I am all for tradition but only when it makes sense. In this case, I don’t think it does and I think the Holy Roller conservatives need to pipe down and get a life.
Now Mr. Ellison is originally from Detroit and probably part African-American so it isn’t as if he was some cleric from the Middle East. He probably converted to Islam in later life.
First some background about the swearing in ceremony. All new members of the House are sworn in en masse, i.e. all together. They then can stage “photo-ops” by posing for an “individual” swearing in ceremony. Usually, in these photo-ops, they have a hand on the Christian Bible; at least that is how it always has been done – tradition.
Sine Ellison is the FIRST Muslim ever to be elected; he can start his OWN tradition for the future Muslims that may be elected to Congress – as I see it.
But NO – an angry column by Dennis Prager on Townhall.com argues that Ellison’s ceremony “undermines American civilization”. In his mind, American values can only be defended by people that swear to do so on America’s holy book; the Christian Bible.
Well, I disagree. The Christian Bible is NOT America’s holy book. It has, by tradition, been the book all swearing in ceremonies use. That is because Christians were the majority of early immigrants to this country and remained the majority in the early years. But now, things they are a changing and have changed.
It only makes sense to use a book that would matter to the most people even though obviously it REALLY does not matter since members of Congress lied, cheated and sinned like hell after they swore on the Bible.
The last few words of a swearing in ceremony are “so help you God” or something like that. Anyway, this would not carry a lot of weight with an atheist but with religious people, yes it would. But with all the different religions in existence here, the Christian Bible does not necessarily carry the same weight for everyone – obviously!
I personally, would want someone swearing to uphold American laws and not to harm America in any way, swear on something that he or she really believes in and something he or she holds very holy in their belief system otherwise it is like swearing on a Sear’s Catalog.
I am all for tradition but only when it makes sense. In this case, I don’t think it does and I think the Holy Roller conservatives need to pipe down and get a life.
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