Keith Ellison and the Koran

In recent weeks much has been made about United States Representative Keith Ellison’s decision to take his oath of office on the Koran. What critics of Mr. Ellison have charged is that the United States, being a predominantly Christian nation, is insulted by his flagrant display of his religious views in taking the oath upon the book he worships. It has even gone so far as to have U.S. Rep. Virgil Goode (Republican, of course) lay claim that if immigration is not halted more Muslims may be elected to office. Wasn’t one of the founding principles of this great Republic the idea of a place where man may practice his religion free and openly without persecution?

Now I have issues with the election of Keith Ellison which stem outside of the sphere of the man’s chosen religion, but feel as though the criticism he is currently drawing is unfair and extremely un-American. Mr. Ellison has a very large responsibility as the nation’s first and only Muslim elected at the Federal level and to criticize him for taking his oath on the Koran is only going to fuel the fires that already burn towards Islam in this country. Furthermore to say that an elected official must not take his oath on any other book besides that of the Holy Bible is utterly wrong. No where in the United States Constitution does it claim that elected representatives must swear their allegiance to uphold the duties of their office upon the Bible. If we are to cross that line we might as well create a state sponsored religion, church, and set of laws based on those religious teachings; much like Iran.

We are a free Republic and our elected officials are free from their government to practice their religious views. Mr. Goode, trying to capitalize on wedge issues and insecurities, might want to read the Constitution from time to time. For all I care Keith Ellison could take the oath upon a Playboy magazine, as long as he upholds and defends the Constitution of the United States of America.