[Regarding Keith Ellison, the first Muslim Congressman, and his request to be sworn in on the Qur'an, not the Bible]
He should not be allowed to do so -- not because of any American hostility to the Koran, but because the act undermines American civilization.
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.
33 comments
Christ told you not to swear by things because you had no power over any of them. He even brought up that the hairs on your head aren't yours, so you can't even swear by those. Why should anyone then swear by the bible? Isn't that supposed to be far more (my) precious(sssss) than a single strand of your hair?
Well, you could have him swear on a Bible, but then when he broke his oath what could you do about it?
If everyone should swear on the same book, then I would suggest "THE PET GOAT". It's neutral and even simpleton fundamentalists can understand it.
Well, let´s say that, as a Catholic, I will not swear under the KJV, is it that correct?. Besides, if he´s not a Christian or a Jewish, you can´t be sure he will be faithfull, because it´s not a book who has a significant value to him.
Dennis, you're stupid. There I feel better already. Where were we? Oh yeah, swearing on the Bible, Matilde brings up an interesting question about which version to use. So by extension what do members of other religions use, Bhuddists, Taoists, Pastafarians, Wiccans, Animists? How about Atheists? (no religion, can they use a voter's registration list?)
OMG...look at the comments, there is an evangelical Christian actually defends the man's right to swear on the Qu'ran, and states that America is NOT a theocracy! Something is desperately wrong with the evangelical community!
He is not SUBSTITUTING the Koran for the bible. There is no requirement for any US official to swear on any book. When they do, it's because they've brought their own bible to swear on.
Maybe swearing (or affirming) on a copy of the Constitution would be better. Herbert Hoover and Franklin Pierce affirmed their oaths, and used no book. George Washington, who started the whole stupid "So Help Me God" thing used a Masonic Bible. The oath prescribed in the Constitution does not contain the phrase "so help me god". Our Nazi friend Pager should look it up.
I think that all Congressmen - hell, all elected officials - should be sworn in on a copy of the Constitution, with an oath (or affirmation, for Quakers) that makes no mention of any diety, only one's duty to the United States.
Islamicization-- THE FUCK?
Please try Islamification next time you want to invent words.
He should not be allowed to do so -- not because of any American hostility to the Koran, but because the act undermines American civilization ."
I'm sorry, Mr. Dumbass, but this is not a Christian nation and the Bible is but a symbol. To this congressman, the Bible is meaningless. Taking the vow on the Qur'an would give it more meaning to him.
As I recall, though, Dennis Prager is Jewish, not Christian. This is in line with a number of things I've heard him say, but he's not actually a fundie.
"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."
America is not that significant, stupid. You are not the center of the world, the focus of everyone's attention.
The book you are "swearing" on, shouldn't that book mean the world to you? I can swear most anything on the phone book, as for me the phone book doesn't contain any mysterious power. If you are a Muslim, swearing on the Bible means next to nothing, but swearing on the Quran makes you think about what you are saying, and makes you really really mean those things.
Europe is in trouble? How so? Beside the economic crisis "given" to us by the US, we are doing rather fine, thank you.
"(no religion, can they use a voter's registration list?)"
I'd want to use something like Das Kapital just to wind these fuckers up. Or The God Delusion.
Confused?
So were we! You can find all of this, and more, on Fundies Say the Darndest Things!
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