Keith Ellison to take oath on Jefferson’s Quran
Jan 04, 2007 in Politics
The more I see and read of Keith Ellison, the more I like him. He’s handling himself beautifully in what can only be described as an extremely difficult situation.
Islam is perhaps the only religion in America that can be openly denounced and condemned in mainstream political circles, and yet Keith Ellison is a practicing Muslim who has been elected to Congress. Ellison’s decision to take his oath of office on the Quran has driven pundits, commentators, and at least one of his fellow congressmen crazy, generating a full-blown controversy. Rep. Virgil Goode (R-VA) wrote a letter to his constituents condemning Ellison’s decision to take his oath on the Quran and linked the issue to his views on restricting immigration. According to Goode, “if American citizens don’t wake up and adopt the Virgil Goode position on immigration there will likely be many more Muslims elected to office and demanding the use of the Koran” (Ellison is an African-American convert to Islam whose family has been in the United States since the eighteenth century). In response to Goode’s statements, Ellison simply said that Goode had some incorrect ideas about Islam and that he looked forward to meeting him (which he was apparently serious about). When asked whether he thought Goode was a bigot, Ellison responded, “I don’t know the fellow and I’d rather just say he has a lot to learn about Islam.”
In a brilliant move, Ellison will take his oath on a copy of the Quran that was owned by Thomas Jefferson, the third President of the United States. I can’t think of a better way to silence your critics without saying a word. This symbolic gesture by Ellison hammers home the idea that the founding fathers did not subscribe to the apocalyptic worldview that many of Ellison’s “patriotic” critics apparently adhere to. Jefferson once wrote (in a letter to the Sultan of Morocco, no less), “All religions are equally independent here, our laws knowing no distinction of country, of classes among individuals and with nations, our [creed] is justice and reciprocity.” Better yet, Jefferson was from Virginia, and his estate (Monticello) and the University he helped found (the University of Virginia) are located within Goode’s district.
But Thomas Jefferson must have obviously hated America, right?