Is America a diverse culture of numerous religions that all worship the same God? Is it a secular or a Christian nation? Keith Ellison ignited an explosion of controversy by choosing the Koran as the book to hold during his ceremonial swearing in to the 110th U.S. Congress. There is an underlying issue involved that you will not read of in the mainstream media: America doesn't know its identity!
by Cecil E. Maranville
Americans "on the whole [are] ill-bred, provincial, sullen and frightened. They are...susceptible to mere rhetoric and responsive to arguably bogus appeals to values, no matter what the facts" (Clark Judge, "Words That Work," OpinionJournal.com, Jan. 23, 2007, citing Frank Luntz's book by that name).
He wasn't speaking of America's reaction to Keith Ellison's swearing in, but these brutally frank words apply to the controversy swirling around this first Muslim member of the U.S. Congress.
Ellison's announcement that he wished to be sworn in with a copy of the Koran spawned a heated debate in the country about whether that was appropriate or even legal.
Actually, what Ellison was talking about was only a ceremonial act, as the official swearing in occurs as a group in the House Chamber. Congressional representatives who wish to pose for photographs may do so in a later reenactment, and there is no law prohibiting the use of the Koran for this.
Nonetheless, it is an unusual time in American history to want to be sworn in to a government office on a Koran! Why would Ellison do this? "It is...to send a message to the American people," opined columnist and radio host Dennis Prager ("A Response to My Critics—and a Solution," Townhall.com, Dec. 5, 2006).
If that is true, people are hearing different messages. Some see it as an affront to America, whereas others see it as an affirmation of American diversity.
