Great story for argument, hummm, I mean discussions. _______________________________________________ Congressman to be sworn in using Quran By FREDERIC J. FROMMER, Associated Press Writer Wed Jan 3, 5:39 PM ET Rep.-elect Keith Ellison, the first Muslim elected to Congress, will use a Quran once owned by Thomas Jefferson during his ceremonial swearing-in Thursday. The chief of the Library of Congress' rare book and special collections division, Mark Dimunation, will walk the Quran across the street to the Capitol and then walk it back after the ceremony. Ellison, D-Minn., contacted the library about the book last month, Dimunation said. Some critics have argued that only a Bible should be used for the swearing-in. Last month, Virginia Rep. Virgil Goode (news, bio, voting record), R-Va., warned that unless immigration is tightened, "many more Muslims" will be elected and follow Ellison's lead. Ellison was born in Detroit and converted to Islam in college. Ellison spokesman Rick Jauert said the new congressman "wants this to be a special day, and using Thomas Jefferson's Quran makes it even more special." "Jefferson's Quran dates religious tolerance to the founders of our country," he added. An English translation of the Arabic, it was published in 1764 in London, a later printing of one originally published in 1734. "This is considered the text that shaped Europe's understanding of the Quran," Dimunation said. It was acquired in 1815 as part of a 6,400-volume collection that Jefferson sold for $24,000, to replace the congressional library that had been burned by British troops the year before, in the War of 1812. "It was a real bargain," Dimunation said.
Has any other members of congress been sworn in using any other religious book other than the bible? How about Jewish members? If they have, then end of discussion. There has been a precedent.
President John Quincy Adams took the oath on a law book including the Constitution. President Theodore Roosevelt didn't use a book. One senator is known to have carried an expanded Bible that included the Book of Mormon. If a President can use a law book, then a congressman should be allowed to use Quran.
I almost never post in the P&R forum... but this media circus has had little to do with facts. In fact, all 535 members are officially sworn in (take the oath of office) to the U.S. House of Representatives as a group, with no Bibles or any other books involved. The individual, so-called "swearing-in" events are unofficial, carry no legal meaning, and are primarily designed to provide each member with a photo opportunity for themselves, their families and, of course, their constituents. It's a just a photo-op, folks. One thing Washington happens to be very, very good at.
It's appalling that there actually some people in this Country, where freedom of religion is instilled into it's Constitution, having a problem with the Congressman's religious beliefs. Do you also oppose Jewish practices. Or how about the 2 Budhists in the 110th congress.. do you oppose their rights too? What Country am I in again... geehz. -kt
and he is using a Quran that was owned by Thomas Jefferson. Just another way for the right wing whacko talking heads to generate the outrage that is so critical to their line of work. Hey, they gotta make a living, too.