How it unfolded: Swearing in on the Quran

Submitted by IrnBru001 on Sun, 01/07/2007 - 08:00.

Newly elected U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.) was sworn in on January 04. The right wing fundamentalists were up in arms when they heard what was going to happen. Rep. Ellison, the first Muslim elected to congress, wanted to use the Quran, and not the Bible, for his unofficial swearing in ceremony.

As I blogged early, my thoughts on this idea were mixed. As I stated the right wingnuts response was horrible, screaming of intolerance and fundamentalism.

My reservation were rooted in my deep belief in a secular society, regardless of the faith. But Rep. Ellison, handled the whole "controversy" with grace and class.

At this unofficial swearing in Rep. Ellison used a copy of the Quran once owned by the, great champion of Separation of Church and State, Thomas Jefferson.

The Wall of Separation provided a great quote from Rep. Ellison from the event.

“The very foundation of our nation, the authors of our Constitution impressed, is religious freedom, and the use of Jefferson’s Quran shows that the founders not only knew of the Quran but also used it,” Ellison said during his swearing-in ceremony.

While I still hope that some day, even in purely ceremonial, yet political events, we no longer feel the need to insert our personal religious believes. As the paradigm of American politics and society now stands, there would have hardly been a better out come.

Old Comments:

Nervous Rodent said...

Call me a hawk, but I have to agree. Ain't nothing wrong with a Muslim in Congress. In fact, I applaud it. It's about time our politics were based on logic and reason, rather than Christian religion. And to hold Jefferson's Quran just puts the cherry on the sundae.

Cassie said...

The constitution says that religion can't prevent someone from being in the government, so the people that object to Ellison and using the Koran are really un-patriotic.

IrnBru001 said...

RE Cassie: Well I wouldn't go that far that fast. Yes many who are screaming about how he should HAVE to use the bible are very un-patriotic, anti-American even... however suggesting as I do that religion should stay in the Church, heart and home... I don't see that as unpatriotic. I believe it will strengthen both the public sphere and the religious sphere.

ender said...

i agree ... ellison handled it with a great deal of class ... and so long as we're using any holy symbols to do these things ... what he did was just about perfect. :)

Salihah صالحه said...

As a Muslim myself, this interested me! However, I just don't think Bibles, Qurans, or whatever belong in our government. I understand it was an unofficial ceremony, but as my representative here in Minneapolis, I would have felt better he put his focus and oath on the constitution of the state and federal government rather than his faith. Sure, he is an individual, and entitled to his faith and beliefs, but a public officer is an office, not a person.

Just my opinion! But gosh, it is sooooo good to see a blogger not screaming bloody hell over a Muslim in politics! : )

Peace to you and yours

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How it unfolded: Swearing in on the Quran