Rep. Virgil Goode, R-Va. says a Muslum should not use Qur'an during swearing in

The official swearing in, of course, involves no religious texts whatsoever, just the newbies raising their right hands and engaging in some repeat-after-me. Often private ceremonies afterward do feature the "Bible" in a multiplicity of flavors (Protestant, Catholic, Jewish, Mormon, etc.). I've already written to Ellison to offer my support for whatever textual foundation he wants to make his oath sacred to him.I'd rather see them all swear on the Constitution. I'd rather that meant more to their service in office than their denomination of myth.I hope the American people can rise to the occasion as tolerantly as the people of Minnesota did in electing a representative for his positions rather than his faith.The right honorable bigot Goode from Va. already knows all these things about the ceremonies, and he has yoked his political wagon to ignorance and hatred. I hope he chokes on it.Edited by Omnivorous, : No reason given.

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I almost agree, nj.I wonder, though, a little bit about the tone of "the Muslim"...Though I agree that Goode has the right to speak his mind, his comments about immigration are patently dishonest, since they are irrelevant, and his remarks about how past swearing-in ceremonies have been conducted are patently dishonest because they lead folks to believe that Goode is planning something unprecedented and radical.To the extent that his xenophobia confirms the strongest doubts about America's intentions among the world's Muslims, he has betrayed not just the ideals but also the best interests of his own nation.The reasonable middle ground is not the mid-point between right and wrong: Goode is wrong. He is pandering to the worst of human impulses, the hatred and fear of difference.No one has the right to stop "the Muslim" from taking his private oath as he pleases; no one has the right to stop Goode from speaking his mind. But everyone has the right to label Goode's un-American bigotry for what it is, and his constituents have the right to exact a price in the voting booth. I hope they do.

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You bet I'd wonder. I have defended even fundies on this board (and elsewhere), at some expense. And on the day Christians in the U.S. are a persecuted people, I'll stand with them.As for the rest of your reply: it would've been shorter to say, "You're right."

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And a very special edition of the Bible, too!

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Drinking when we are not thirsty and making love at any time, madam, is all that distinguishes us from the other animals.-Pierre De Beaumarchais (1732-1799) Save lives! Click here!
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