Keith Ellison's Oath
The story in Friday's Star Tribune reported that Congressman-elect Keith Ellison plans to place his hand on the Q'ran when he takes his oath of office in the House of Representatives. We know that Keith Ellison is the first Muslim elected to the US House of Representatives.
Mr. Ellison is being criticized by conservatives and some talk show hosts for not wanting to swear his oath to office with his hand on the New Testament. Some have said that if he isn't willing to put his hand on the Christian bible then he is not fit for office.
It is clear that many people in this country need a lesson in the US Constitution. The first amendment clearly lays out the Establishment clause and the Free Exercise Clause. The establishment clause says that the United States cannot establish a religion that all Americans must follow. Therefore, we cannot compel Americans to swear on a bible anymore than we should expect Keith Ellison to forego his holy book, the Q'ran, for the New Testament. The free exercise clause states that all Americans are free to practice whatever religion they wish, free of any restraint, including no religion if that is their choice.
This civics lesson should be taught to those individuals who want to criticize Mr. Ellison for his decision about how he wishes to be sworn in for office.
Finally, regardless of your party affiliation or whether you voted for Mr. Ellison, Americans should celebrate the fact that our country will now have a Muslim serving in Congress.
As Jews, we know firsthand the many obstacles we needed to overcome to be accepted in the broader community, and in politics. Many Jews now serve in Congress, in the House and the Senate. Now that the United States has elected its first Muslim to office, let's celebrate that step, and not try to dictate how this or any other individual should practice his/her religion.
-Vic Rosenthal
Mr. Ellison is being criticized by conservatives and some talk show hosts for not wanting to swear his oath to office with his hand on the New Testament. Some have said that if he isn't willing to put his hand on the Christian bible then he is not fit for office.
It is clear that many people in this country need a lesson in the US Constitution. The first amendment clearly lays out the Establishment clause and the Free Exercise Clause. The establishment clause says that the United States cannot establish a religion that all Americans must follow. Therefore, we cannot compel Americans to swear on a bible anymore than we should expect Keith Ellison to forego his holy book, the Q'ran, for the New Testament. The free exercise clause states that all Americans are free to practice whatever religion they wish, free of any restraint, including no religion if that is their choice.
This civics lesson should be taught to those individuals who want to criticize Mr. Ellison for his decision about how he wishes to be sworn in for office.
Finally, regardless of your party affiliation or whether you voted for Mr. Ellison, Americans should celebrate the fact that our country will now have a Muslim serving in Congress.
As Jews, we know firsthand the many obstacles we needed to overcome to be accepted in the broader community, and in politics. Many Jews now serve in Congress, in the House and the Senate. Now that the United States has elected its first Muslim to office, let's celebrate that step, and not try to dictate how this or any other individual should practice his/her religion.
-Vic Rosenthal
posted by Jewish Community Action Staff at 9:45 AM
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