What do YOU think about THIS??

Question

Please take a moment to read the following TownHall.com column by Dennis Prager, who is a Jew. After reading the column, take the suggest action at the bottom of this email. After you have read it, please forward it to your friends and family.

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.

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. (End Commentary)

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1. Send an email asking your U.S. Representative and Senators to pass a law making the Bible the book used in the swearing-in ceremony of Representatives and Senators.

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Donald E. Wildmon, Founder and Chairman
American Family Association

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Answer 1

I am not sure how to respond to this but I do get alerts from AFA also... I will check it out ..Thanks for the Info...

Answer 2

Article VI of the U.S. Constitution

The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the Members of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial Officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States.

The bible is not used to swear in new member to congress, they gather on the House floor, raise their right hands and follow as the speaker leads them through the oath.

The reason bibles are not used is made clear. The Constitution specifically prohibits any religious test for members of Congress. Requiring someone to put their hand on a Bible would seem to fill the "religious test" bill quite well.

Answer 3

Yeah...I don't think so.

You see, the United States of America that I live in states that we have a freedom of religion. It also states that we have a seperation of church and state, and shouldn't be using the BIBLE anyways! Finally, our country does not have a nationally recognized religion (like the Middle East countries), therefore, the bible is NOT our official mascot.

As an Atheist, I would never swear or take an oath upon a bible...in court, getting sworn into office, etc. I don't believe in the bible, so why should I?

This gentleman got elected to office regardless of his belief (which is AMAZING in this day, with all the anti-Muslim attitudes floating around). I say, let him take on oath on whatever book he wants.

Obviously, he wants to take an oath on the Koran because it will SHOW THAT HE IS BEING HONEST, and is taking an oath on something HE finds sacred. If he were to take an oath on the bible, it would mean SQUAT to him...

Get a life people! This is a free country! If you don't like it...MOVE OUT!

Answer 4

I understand that the United States was founded on the freedom of choice, freedom of religion being one of the main reasons they fled England in the first place. But in spite of this, the Constitution was founded on the Bible and it's religious principles. Freedom of religion is all well and good but if we allowed everybody to dictate their own rules then we would become overridden with lawlessness, moreso than we are now. If we would let Ellison protest America's policy of religion by swearing on the Koran then why wouldn't we let every terrorist who dislikes the freedom we show in religion bomb buildings in protest? You tell me.

Answer 5

Do you think Keith Ellison will feel the need to uphold his oath, which he made on a book he doesn't believe in?

The Bible is a part of American culture? Wasn't it written somewhere in the Middle East, too?

This isn't about multiculturalism, this is freedom of religion.
Why do Americans swear on the Bible? Because its the book of their religion, not American culture.

Answer 6

According to the jerk who wrote that, an Atheist who wins office would be required to swear on a Bible also. How much trust would you put in a person who would swear an oath on a book he finds to be abominable. An Atheist is not required to swear on a bible in a court of law and no government should be allowed to compel someone to affirm anything religious if they are not so inclined. Let the Muslim swear in with his hand on his superstitious book if he wants, it has meaning to him that my serve to re-in-force what an oath is meant to accomplish.

Answer 7

The fellows an idiot. It matters not whether you swear in the bible or the Al-Quran. You are still swearing your oath of service to the very same god and the very same people you will be serving. This is why people will never understand that the religions which they fight over are actually interconnected. They are related to one another and the only difference which spawns from them are due to the misconception and narrow minded fools who refuse to accept and understand anything before running their mouths and believing whatever they say is right.

Answer 8

What is the website for AFA? If you are who I think you are this should be interesting........