In my opinion, all Americans who value religious freedom should be outraged by the comments of conservative web columnist Dennis Prager in his article "America, Not Keith Ellison, decides what book a congressman takes his oath on"
In the column, Mr. Prager criticizes Congressman elect Keith Ellison, D-MN., for announcing that he would take his oath of office on the Qur'an instead of the Christian Bible. Congressman Ellison is the first Muslim elected to the United States Congress. Mr. Prager states that this action "undermines American civilization."
He claims that Congressman Ellison is not showing any regard to what "America holds as its holiest book" and instead wants to substitute his "favorite book." He expounds that there is no difference in Congressman Ellison swearing on the holiest book of Islam and someone making the same oath on Hitler's "Mein Kampf." He claims that "America is interested in only one book, the Bible" and states that "If you are incapable of taking an oath on that book, don't serve in Congress."
That last opinion couldn't be further from the truth of the law. Eugene Volokh, a National Review contributor, writes in his article "Oh Say, Can You Swear on a Koran?" that the US Constitution specifically permits federally elected officials to not swear an oath at all. Article VI states "The Senators and Representatives ... [and other state and federal officials] shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States." He notes that US Presidents Franklin Pierce and Herbert Hoover didn't swear on the Bible, the Qur'an or any other book at all, but rather opted to affirm their support of the Constitution.
American is populated with people of all races, creeds, religions, and denominations. Congressman Ellison is not required to swear or affirm his support of Jesus, the Judaeo-Christian God, Christianity, Protestantism, the Vatican, the Bible, the Qur'an or even Allah. He must affirm his support of the laws of the United States and the Constitution. To require him to swear on a book that holds no meaning to him is utter nonsense and a violation of the religious freedoms of this country. That sort of test is what would undermine American Civilization .
