The other things people have said about Ellison don't paint a pretty picture, but I don't see how this Koran thing fits into any bad pattern. Can anyone articulate the problem with using his religion's holy book in his ceremonial swearing in?

I would say it is one more nail in the coffin as to where his loyalties lie.

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Would you say the same about Virgil Goode's insisting on using the Christian Bible when he is sworn? If not, then aren't you saying that Christianity is more American than is Islam? That position seems un-American to me.

I'm simply saying that if it were VG or anyone else swearing on the koran, I wouldn't care. For someone who was a member of the nation of islam and trying to hide that fact, well, it does make me wonder. Alone it is meaningless. Together, well....

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Nation of Islam is annoying to me, but WGAS? I find it intriguing that this guy has become the heart of the mainstream, since NoI was founded by folks who were virulently separatists.

NoI has come a long way since Elijah Muhammad.

B

Do you believe a leapord changes it's spots? I don't

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I believe I'd like to see a leopard change it's spots.

B

Me too but I won't hold my breath waiting.

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It seems to be insinuated by people who live in his district, that he is just drawing attention to himself, rather than being sincere. I don't know why you are so impressed with his borrowing TJs Koran--every VIP is offered this same type of option and he did it to very obviously insulate himself from criticism. Far from an original thought on his part

I don't know if he is sincere or not (nor do I care). I think he is a douchebag for other reasons, primarily his association with the Nation of Islam.
IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE KORAN THING.

Ridiculous--even for you. Like it or not, Christianity IS more American than Islam. How did it get that way? I guess the majority rules. In God We Trust, God Bless America. What do they swear on (usually) in the Court's you practice in, btw?

Thomas Jefferson had a copy?

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See the title to the article in post #1.

Ted- that was a good one- baloney sandwich....pig lips and such.

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America, Not Keith Ellison, decides what book a congressman takes his oath on
By Dennis Prager
Tuesday, November 28, 2006


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.

He should not be allowed to do so -- not because of any American hostility to the Koran, but because the act undermines American civilization.

A Palestinian woman holds the Koran during a Hamas rally against Israeli troops operation in northern Gaza strip November 3, 2006. Israeli troops shot and killed two Palestinian women acting as human shields between Israeli soldiers and Palestinian gunmen during a clash at a Gaza mosque on Friday, witnesses said, before the gunmen escaped. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem (GAZA) 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.

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?

Of course, Ellison's defenders argue that Ellison is merely being honest; since he believes in the Koran and not in the Bible, he should be allowed, even encouraged, to put his hand on the book he believes in. But for all of American history, Jews elected to public office have taken their oath on the Bible, even though they do not believe in the New Testament, and the many secular elected officials have not believed in the Old Testament either. Yet those secular officials did not demand to take their oaths of office on, say, the collected works of Voltaire or on a volume of New York Times editorials, writings far more significant to some liberal members of Congress than the Bible. Nor has one Mormon official demanded to put his hand on the Book of Mormon. And it is hard to imagine a scientologist being allowed to take his oath of office on a copy of "Dianetics" by L. Ron Hubbard.

So why are we allowing Keith Ellison to do what no other member of Congress has ever done -- choose his own most revered book for his oath?

The answer is obvious -- Ellison is a Muslim. And whoever decides these matters, not to mention virtually every editorial page in America, is not going to offend a Muslim. In fact, many of these people argue it will be a good thing because Muslims around the world will see what an open society America is and how much Americans honor Muslims and the Koran.

This argument appeals to all those who believe that one of the greatest goals of America is to be loved by the world, and especially by Muslims because then fewer Muslims will hate us (and therefore fewer will bomb us).

But these naive people do not appreciate that America will not change the attitude of a single American-hating Muslim by allowing Ellison to substitute the Koran for the Bible. In fact, the opposite is more likely: Ellison's doing so will embolden Islamic extremists and make new ones, as Islamists, rightly or wrongly, see the first sign of the realization of their greatest goal -- the Islamicization of America.

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.

Dennis Prager is a radio show host, contributing columinst for Townhall.com, and author of 4 books including Happiness Is a Serious Problem: A Human Nature Repair Manual.

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How come there aren't any "reform Muslims," like reform Jews?

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