Friday, December 8, 2006 11:37 PM CST
Column: Muslim congressman would be hypocrite to take his oath on Bible
By HARRY REYNOLDS, Editorial Page Editor
hreynolds@jg-tc.com
The Council on American-Islamic Relations wants President Bush to remove a conservative radio talk show host from the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum board.
Which, on its face, seems odd, given millions of Muslims -- the most notable being Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad -- believe the Holocaust is a myth.
He has also has called for Israel to be “wiped off the map.”
In a few days, Iran plans to host a conference to determine if the Nazis committed genocide against the Jews during World War II. The world will wait in breathless anticipation for the outcome of the conference.
No wonder, many Americans get confused about Muslims. Are they crazy people intent on destroying civilization in the name of Islam? Bent on sweeping the world free of infidels in an endless jihad?
We are told by the politically correct Islam is a peaceful religion and Muslims are just misunderstood. From the other wing of unreality comes the assertion Islam is a violent religion and all Muslims are extremists.
We get letters -- rather infrequently, fortunately -- in which Muslims are stereotyped as “towel heads” and “camel jockeys” and their religion described as evil.
If Islam is evil, so is Christianity, for both are missionary with a long history of going to war to spread the doctrine. Muslims, Christians and Jews have common roots stretching back to Abraham.
America is home to millions of citizens who practice Islam. There are a wide variety of religions besides Islam. We also have our fill of atheists, agnostics. I suspect some deists are ensconced in our midst. And then there are the witches, etc.
Christianity is the dominant religion, but America is a nation of mostly Christians, not a Christian nation. The Constitution is pretty clear about that.
Which brings us to the complaint against the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum board member, a fellow by the name of Dennis Prager.
Prager claims the Council on American-Islamic Relations is afraid of him. To which a spokesman for CAIR retorted, “Until this controversy arose, we were not aware of any reference Mr. Prager made about CAIR.”
The “controversy” Awad refers to arose when Prager criticized incoming Democratic Rep. Keith Ellison, who happens to be the first Muslim elected to Congress.
What provoked Prager was Ellison’s choosing to use the Quran, instead of the Bible, during his ceremonial swearing-in. The Quran is to a Muslim as the Bible is to a Christian.
In an Internet column, Prager wrote, “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.”
While the politically correct might be offended by Prager’s remarks, I tend to write them off as the nonsensical commentary of a man who doesn’t know what the hell he’s talking about.
Which, unfortunately, is a common affliction particularly applicable to many radio talk show commentators. Their job is to rile people up, not induce them to rational discourse.
Would Prager prefer Ellison indulge in hypocrisy by pledging to uphold the Constitution with his hand on the Bible?
As to Prager’s assertion that “...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,” that’s a lot of hogwash.
We’re a great nation because we’re a grand melting pot. We are a nation of immigrants, infused with a hearty dose of religious variety, accepting of the right of people to practice their beliefs.
Ellison was elected to Congress because the voters perceived him as a person who would uphold their values and serve their best interests.
From what I saw of Ellison, he is a down-to-earth guy of average appearance, intelligent and roaming the middle of the road politically.
If I wanted to be petty, I might offer the opinion that Ellison is a better American than Prager. But, who am I to judge?
One should skirt the temptation to make judgments about the patriotism of their fellow countrymen. So, I’ll have to pass on judging Prager, or Ellison.
I’m not in favor of Prager being booted off the Holocaust Memorial Museum board because of his views on the new congressman’s preference for the Quran.
Political correctness -- and that’s what CAIR’s demands in wanting Prager off -- is a far more serious threat to our democracy than the half-baked opinions dispensed by a radio talk show host, no matter how wrong they might be.
Given Prager’s inclination to talk warp-speed compared to his ability to think clearly, he’ll eventually say something so totally outrageous he’ll be forced to confront his tongue.
That’s what democracy is all about. The free expression of opinion, no matter how outrageous, in the long run is a far better cure for ignorance and bigotry than forced feedings of political correctness.
As for the new congressman, I think he will prove his mettle as an American who happens to be Muslim.
Harry Reynolds is editorial page editor of the Journal Gazette/Times-Courier. Contact Reynolds at hreynolds@jg-tc.com or 238-6861.
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