Jewish talk show host Dennis Prager blasts incoming Democratic Congressman Keith Ellison (a Muslim for choosing to be sworn in on the Koran) rather than 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.
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 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.
This is one of those battles you fight or even editorialize on. Where on the Constitution does it require that an oath be taken on the Bible? It doesn’t. This is tradition and the preference of most officeholders.
Mr. Prager is most likely correct about this never having happened before, but as far as I know Congress has never had a member who has been actively anything but Christian or Jewish, so it doesn’t become an issue.
More to the point, what most Congresspeople do is have an unofficial swearing in before the official ceremony. Unlike Senators who are sworn in, in groups of 3 or 4, Representatives are sworn in at the start of the session en masse by the dean of the House. Some may have a Bible they hold, some don’t. What Mr. Prager is saying is that we ought to regulate what a member of Congress is sworn in on in an unofficial ceremony or what book they hold during a brief swearing in.
This is no threat to America. Members of congress go without it all the time at their choosing. I’d prefer members be sworn in on a book that means something to them. To me, it would be the Bible, to Mr. Ellison the Koran. To some it’s nothing.
It’s ceremonial. Our greatest problem is not the one Congressman being sworn in on the Koran, but the hundreds of others whose vote and behavior don’t match up to the Holy book they’re sworn in on-the Bible.
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