Every once and a while, someone makes a point so well grounded in fact that it is pretty much indisputable. At times, such a point can be absolutely correct, yet at the same time, for a variety of reasons, be viewed in a light of controversy, occasionally to the point of being branded "intolerant." A family member of a close friend, who happens to be in the process of legally becoming an American citizen, sent me the following note, with permission to share it with the readers here at the ‘Grok. Until I read her words, I had been ambivalent to the new Congressman swearing an oath to uphold the Constitution upon a Koran. I am full agreement with her words, blunt as they may be.
Sir,
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Every freedom loving American should be concerned about Rep. Keith Ellison’s recent ‘ceremonial’ Qur’an swearing-in session.
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Traditionally, the act of being sworn-in on the Bible has effectively been representative of holding one’s oath (to uphold the US Constitution) accountable to the Giver of the liberties and values enshrined in the Constitution and has also essentially served as an affirmation of one’s agreement with those values as the final authority over one’s actions while in office. In choosing to be sworn-in on the Qur’an, Rep Ellison has effectively jettisoned the values of the US Constitution since the Qur’an demands loyalty to Islamic law as the supreme law. The values espoused by the Qur’an do not speak to American society’s mores – to America’s age-old acknowledgment of every individual’s right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Quite the contrary – they stand in alarming contradistinction to them! As if that were not enough to generate concern, has America forgotten that almost 6 years ago, it was Qur’an taught and inspired people who nearly brought this country to its knees on Sept the 11th and that to this day, Qur’an instructed fundamentalists view America as the "great satan" and seek to destroy this country and the values that it upholds?
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Concerned Americans wisely recognize that the degradation of society’s freedom loving mores does not happen overnight – but over gradual, inconspicuous and seemingly minor acts that, as a composite over time, dramatically alter the face of society and day-to-day lives of individuals for the worst. America would do well to vigorously defend its values at the outset before the "die is cast".
.A friend of the ‘Grok
Prospective American citizen
Indeed. It would be better to swear an oath to "keep his word" or something like that. If the Koran demands adherance to the "supreme" law of Islam (sharia), and it does, then it is inherently in conflict with many principles enshrined in the Constitution. Harsh? Maybe. Sorry.