The Oath of Office for a Congressman

Keith Ellison is a recently elected congressman from Minnesota. He is a religious person, and he is devout. The problem, for some people, is that he prays to a different God: he is a Muslim. When the incoming congress takes its oath of office, he wants to swear to uphold his duty on the Koran, which is God's word to Mr. Ellison. Sounds fair so far?

But in the land of the wingnuts, that is a threat to the American way of life. According to right-wing radio host Dennis Prager Mr. Ellison's act will, apparently:

He should not be allowed to do so -- not because of any American hostility to the Koran, but because the act undermines American civilization.

I kid you not. One man's expression of his belief undermines a whole civilization? Then it gradually gets worse:

Forgive me, but America should not give a hoot what Keith Ellison's favorite book is. Insofar as a member of Congress taking an oath to serve America and uphold its values is concerned, America is interested in only one book, the Bible. If you are incapable of taking an oath on that book, don't serve in Congress. In your personal life, we will fight for your right to prefer any other book. We will even fight for your right to publish cartoons mocking our Bible. But, Mr. Ellison, America, not you, decides on what book its public servants take their oath.

I want to make it clear: there is no rule requiring people to swear on the Bible or any other holy book. Some congressmen do it on their own, and that is allowed. As ThinkProgress states: "Right-Wing Radio Host Fabricates Controversy to Attack First Muslim Congressman"

But Prager’s column is based on one other glaring error: the swearing-in ceremony for the House of Representatives never includes a religious book. The Office of the House Clerk confirmed to ThinkProgress that the swearing-in ceremony consists only of the Members raising their right hands and swearing to uphold the Constitution. The Clerk spokesperson said neither the Christian Bible, nor any other religious text, had ever been used in an official capacity during the ceremony. (Occassionally, Members pose for symbolic photo-ops with their hand on a Bible.)

Have you no shame, Mr. Prager?