Stickin' it to The Man.....

[poltr1]

Today, the first American Muslim was sworn into office. Keith Ellison, a Democrat from Minnesota, used a Quran (or Koran) loaned to him from the Library of Congress as part of the ceremony.


But the moment was not without controversy.

Virgil Goode, a Republican from Virginia, was opposed to the use of the Quran. He has said statements like "...if American citizens don't wake up and adopt the Virgil Goode position on immigration there will likely be many more Muslims elected to office and demanding the use of the Quran.....We need to stop illegal immigration totally and reduce legal immigration..." He has refused to apoogize for his remarks.

Meanwhile, Rep. Ellison has been the voice of calm tolerance. He has indicated a desire to meet with Goode and find some common ground, and has not stooped to calling Goode a bigot. He also invited Rep. Goode to learn more about Islam.

Ellison is a US citizen, born in Detroit and converted to Islam while in college.

As for the Quran used? It once belonged to a famous Virginia citizen: Thomas Jefferson.

You go, Congressman Ellison!

Here are some links to related stories on CNN:

Congressman takes oath on Jefferson's Quran
http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/01/03/congressman.quran.ap/index.html

Ellison: Lawmaker has a lot to learn about Islam
http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/12/21/quran.congress/index.html

Lawmaker won't apologize for Islamophobic letter
http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/12/20/lawmaker.koran/index.html