Thursday, December 21, 2006
Editorial: The Goode book, according to Virgil
Can a congressman swear to uphold the Constitution when he believes those of a different faith are lesser citizens?
From the RoundTable blog
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What's this country coming to when a U.S. congressman decides he won't swear on a Bible?
That's what hundreds of Rep. Virgil Goode's constituents in the Fifth District wanted to know when they learned a newly elected representative from Minnesota, a Muslim at that, intends to forsake the Judeo-Christian Bible and instead use a Quran during his ceremonial swearing-in ceremony.
The worried constituents presented Goode with a wonderful teaching moment. One in which he could have spoken about the beauty of the constitutional passage that forbids a religious test as a requirement for elected office.
He could have reminded them of the First Amendment, which prohibits Congress from establishing a religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof: A right that he will enjoy as he holds his Bible while swearing to uphold the Constitution. The same right Rep. Keith Ellison enjoys as a Muslim.
Goode could have said these things. He could have explained that patriots deeply respect these values even if others' beliefs differ dramatically from their own.
He could have explained that technically members of Congress do not swear on any books during the official ceremony, that later in unofficial gatherings they may cradle the book of their choosing, even "The Joy of Cooking."
Some might find allegiance to the kitchen bible offensive, but that they are free to do this is what makes America, America.
He could have said these things.
Instead, Goode blew it.
What Ellison plans to do is nothing short of un-American, according to Goode who has no use for the Quran. And no use apparently for Muslims either.
Goode wrote in a letter to those concerned constituents:
"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. ... I fear that in the next century we will have many more Muslims in the United States if we do not adopt the strict immigration policies that I believe are necessary to preserve the values and beliefs traditional to the United States."
Aaah, values and beliefs. Would those include hypocrisy? Goode's constituents should now ask: How can one swear to uphold the Constitution while denying its protection to all Americans?
And Ellison is an American, born and raised in Detroit before emigrating to Minnesota to attend law school. His faith doesn't define his citizenship, and Goode should be embarrassed to equate the two.
He might wish to get his xenophobia checked before returning to Washington.
