January 03, 2007
EllisonÂ’s Savvy Koran Move
I’m not one of those who has a problem with Keith Ellison using a Koran for his ceremonial swearing-in – indeed, I have been critical of those who do. But even if I did, I think I’d have to
admire EllisonÂ’s decision to
tie himself to one of AmericaÂ’s greatest Founding Fathers with this brilliant choice.
Rep.-elect Keith Ellison, the first Muslim elected to Congress, found himself under attack last month when he announced he'd take his oath of office on the Koran -- especially from Virginia Rep. Virgil Goode, who called it a threat to American values.
Yet the holy book at tomorrow's ceremony has an unassailably all-American provenance. We've learned that the new congressman -- in a savvy bit of political symbolism -- will hold the personal copy once owned by Thomas Jefferson.
"He wanted to use a Koran that was special," said Mark Dimunation, chief of the rare book and special collections division at the Library of Congress, who was contacted by the Minnesota Dem early in December. Dimunation, who grew up in Ellison's 5th District, was happy to help.
Jefferson's copy is an English translation by George Sale published in the 1750s; it survived the 1851 fire that destroyed most of Jefferson's collection and has his customary initialing on the pages. This isn't the first historic book used for swearing-in ceremonies -- the Library has allowed VIPs to use rare Bibles for inaugurations and other special occasions.
Ellison will take the official oath of office along with the other incoming members in the House chamber, then use the Koran in his individual, ceremonial oath with new Speaker Nancy Pelosi. "Keith is paying respect not only to the founding fathers' belief in religious freedom but the Constitution itself," said Ellison spokesman Rick Jauert.
Whatever one’s view of Islam, it is hard not to see this as a well-intended move to pay homage to the founding principles of America – and the men who established the nation whose Constitution Ellison will swear to uphold.
Posted by: Greg at
11:15 AM
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1
As a Muslim, Ellison should know that an English translation of the Koran is not really a Koran.
Posted by: Nick at Wed Jan 3 12:27:11 2007 (iPZUW)
2
Whatever one’s view of Islam, it is hard not to see this as a well-intended move to pay homage to the founding principles of America – and the men who established the nation whose Constitution Ellison will swear to uphold.
Except that Thomas Jefferson had nothing to do with the Constitution. He served as the young country's minister to France from 1785-1789 and did not attend the Constitutional Convention.
In truth, the founding principles of America included aspects of protecting Christianity that most people would find anathema today. Nine of the original 13 states had established a state religion of some denomination of Christianity. 12 of 13 states taxed their citizens for the purposes of preaching the gospel and building churches.
I suspect Thomas Jefferson owned a copy of the Koran so he might compare its teachings to that of Jesus Christ, about whom he once said - "the very words only of Jesus... There will be found remaining the most sublime and benevolent code of morals which has ever been offered to man."
Even though Jefferson cared little for studying (much less accepting) the divine nature of Christ, apparently our third president found His teachings to be superior to those of the Koran.
I'm sure this fella is being "well-intended", but his show of symbolism is a thinly-veiled attempt to deflect criticism and add an air of historical legitimacy to his unusual request.
Posted by: Chris Elam at Wed Jan 3 17:33:51 2007 (LzpjK)
3
Chris -- that's why I note that he is honoring
the men who established the nation whose Constitution Ellison will swear to uphold.>/i>
And let's not forget that Jefferson does have input into the Bill of Rights -- and that there is certainly an echo of Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom which he authored.
Otherwise i agree with every word you have to say on the matter.
Posted by: Rhymes With Right at Wed Jan 3 23:03:54 2007 (o3Nxc)
4
I think the closing to my last comment reflects more of the genuine truth of the matter here. I find it to be a more practical reason for this fella's request, than your assertion that Jefferson and other Deists / Universalists among our founding fathers are being honored because a book from his library is being used. There is a notable lack of historical evidence to indicate that even Jefferson considered the Koran to be superior to the teachings of Christ.
Posted by: Chris Elam at Thu Jan 4 14:51:16 2007 (LzpjK)
5
No, Jefferson certainly wouldn't have accepted Muhammad as a prophet or the Koran as having any validity as Scripture. But in selecting a book from Jefferson's library, he does honor their committment to religious liberty.
And let us not forget the words of Jefferson himself.
Where the preamble declares, that coercion is a departure from the plan of the holy author of our religion, an amendment was proposed by inserting "Jesus Christ," so that it would read "A departure from the plan of Jesus Christ, the holy author of our religion;" the insertion was rejected by the great majority, in proof that they meant to comprehend, within the mantle of its protection, the Jew and the Gentile, the Christian and Mohammedan, the Hindoo and Infidel of every denomination.
-Thomas Jefferson, Autobiography, in reference to the Virginia Act for Religious Freedom
Posted by: Rhymes With Right at Thu Jan 4 15:35:39 2007 (QmGl6)
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