As voters in Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District, we elected Keith Ellison to represent us in Washington, DC. Rep.-elect Ellison has now challenged us to rethink what it means to be Americans with freedom of religion, among other freedoms and responsibilities. Because of his Muslim profession, a new era in American politics has been ushered in.
On the issue of his taking the oath of office and thereby becoming a member of the United States Congress, I must confess that my own thinking was in error about the use of the Bible in that function. I must be like a lot of voters, perhaps a majority, under the erroneous impression that such a newly elected official is supposed to place his or her hand on the Bible and promise honestly to do and uphold certain American ideals. Ellison’s announcement that he plans to use the Qur’an instead completely blew the cover off my wrong assumptions.
I had to go back and read more of the newspaper articles, instead of just the headlines. I’m learning that a distinction must be made between the actual oath taking for entering a public office and the picture taking ceremony afterwards. Swearing the oath to exercise the office honestly and in the best interest of our nation and people is the important part, and that is done in a non-discriminating way. After being sworn in, many of the new officials gather their family and friends in the presence of the Stars and Stripes and a State Flag. They may also hold in their hands a Bible or other sacred and treasured book. Most often there are photos taken for publication in the media back home.
We would enter a real legal and constitutional quagmire in this country if the government were to designate what book, Bible or religious symbol that should be. If it were to be oldest English language version still in extensive use, the King James Version of the Bible, that would leave the largest number of American voters unhappy, those who belong to the Roman Catholic Church, who have approved one or more of their own translations. Our American Jewish voters have long had to put up with Protestant Bibles including the New Testament. About the most honest way to handle such an issue is to leave the choice up to the individual officeholder-elect, and that is what Keith Ellison apparently is saying about his choosing the Qur’an.
To highlight the ridiculous side of my own thinking, and that of many others, let me propose, for example, that the federal government designate Poor Richard’s Almanac as the standard for public oath taking! What could be more American? Benjamin Franklin, who wrote Poor Richard’s Almanac, was honest and practical as they come. Besides that, Franklin and friends were not particularly beholden to any Christian denomination. Though both interesting and clever, Ben wrote the plain truth!
John Bispala
Webber Camden