The conservative radio talk-show host, Dennis Prager, attacked Keith Ellison on swearing to office on the Qu’ran instead of the Bible. Keith Ellison is the first Muslim congressman elected from Minnesota’s 5th District and on January 4th, 2007 he will be sworn to office. Keith Ellison, a convert from Catholicism, converted to Islam at the age of 19. He is an American born and raised Muslim and he is not even in office yet and already a conservative like Dennis Pragar is puttin him down. Not only that, in a Fox interview or a CNN interview, I forgot which one, but they asked him if he was patriotic enough not to support terrorism. What kind of question is that???

Pragar said “America holds as its holiest book. … If you are incapable of taking an oath on that book, don’t serve in Congress.” I thought the government in America was secular. If Keith Ellison can’t take office because he is a Muslim then America is truly a theocracy and not a secular state. However, if a person doesn’t believe in the Bible, then what is the point of taking an oath on it.

“He should not be allowed to do so,” Prager said, “not because of any American hostility to the Koran, but because the act undermines American culture.” Just exactly what is American culture? America has so many different people who follow so many different religions. There is no law on the Constitution that says American can only be run by people who follow the Bible.

Picture by Tim Dillon, USA TODAY

Ellison said “The Constitution guarantees for everyone to take the oath of office on whichever book they prefer. And that’s what the freedom of religion is all about.” He is absolutely right, I couldn’t say it better myself. The way things are looking, a smart American can distinguish who is right and who is wrong.

I think Dennis Prager needs to realize that America is where it is today because of the contribution from different people who follow different faiths in the country.

Dennis Prager is Jewish, and I believe the radical Jewish hatred against Muslims are getting stronger in America. I’m not saying all American Jews share the same values has Prager; however, I think just because Ellison is a Muslim, Prager is using his authority to undermine him.

Sources: Wikipedia, USAToday

Here is another blog post with this issue, Think Progress.

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