But It’s Thomas Jefferson’s Koran!
(Washington Post) Rep.-elect Keith Ellison, the first Muslim elected to Congress, found himself under attack last month when he announced he’d take his oath of office on the Koran — especially from Virginia Rep. Virgil Goode, who called it a threat to American values. Yet the holy book at tomorrow’s ceremony has an unassailably all-American provenance. We’ve learned that the new congressman — in a savvy bit of political symbolism — will hold the personal copy once owned by Thomas Jefferson.
Mystech: I frackin love it. Now if said Koran was printed on hemp paper (entirely possible considering TJ), I would declare total symbolic victory. 🙂
“He wanted to use a Koran that was special,” said Mark Dimunation, chief of the rare book and special collections division at the Library of Congress, who was contacted by the Minnesota Dem early in December. Dimunation, who grew up in Ellison’s 5th District, was happy to help.
Jefferson’s copy is an English translation by George Sale published in the 1750s; it survived the 1851 fire that destroyed most of Jefferson’s collection and has his customary initialing on the pages. This isn’t the first historic book used for swearing-in ceremonies — the Library has allowed VIPs to use rare Bibles for inaugurations and other special occasions.
Ellison will take the official oath of office along with the other incoming members in the House chamber, then use the Koran in his individual, ceremonial oath with new Speaker Nancy Pelosi. “Keith is paying respect not only to the founding fathers’ belief in religious freedom but the Constitution itself,” said Ellison spokesman Rick Jauert.
One person unlikely to be swayed by the book’s illustrious history is Goode, who released a letter two weeks ago objecting to Ellison’s use of the Koran. “I believe that the overwhelming majority of voters in my district would prefer the use of the Bible,” the Virginia Republican told Fox News, and then went on to warn about what he regards as the dangers of Muslims immigrating to the United States and Muslims gaining elective office.
Yeah, but what about a Koran that belonged to one of the greatest Virginians in history? Goode, who represents Jefferson’s birthplace of Albemarle County, had no comment yesterday.
That’s awesome :).
Doubtless this will prompt another Goode newsletter outraged at the “sacrilegious” use of Thom Jefferson’s Qur’an for swearing in some “heathen” from Minnesota.
Someone recently pointed out to me the added irony that Goode represents Virginia’s Albemarle County, where Thomas Jefferson was born in 1743.
I find it particularly humorous that Goode is insisting that he swear on the bible – a book that does not represent his faith, and thus would not be binding in the same way for him. I always thought the whole idea of swearing on the bible was to:
1. Bring to the attention of God your oath.
2. Say that you are willing to take God’s wrath (or give up your chance in heaven) if you break the oath.
I’d be insisting he swear on the Koran if I was in Congress.
You’re absolutely right, Hoshi. Like many others, Goode is trying to use the Bible oath as some inherent sanctifying quality upon the swearer as well as a not-so-subtle endorsement of its religious primacy when used in this manner.
Even beyond our nation’s supposed principles of tolerance and equality, it makes perfect sense that a person would swear on an oath on something they personally held sacred.