Taking the Oath, the American Way

Keith Ellison, the newly elected Representative for US Congress from Minnesota’s Fifth District, is Muslim. Because of this, he has chosen to take the oath of office on a Qur’an, as opposed the more traditionally used Bible. This has sparked protest all over the country, especially in the blogging world. Dennis Prager, a radio talk show host with his own online column has been particularly vocal in his disapproval of this act, saying “Mr. Ellison, America, not you, decides on what book its public servants take their oath”. An article from the Star-Tribune of Minneapolis pointed to the fact that this statement is in fact false, quoting Eugene Volokh, a law professor at UCLA, who cites two men who chose to affirm, instead of swear, the oath of presidential office, Franklin Pierce and Herbert Hoover.

The reaction to Ellison’s decision to swear an oath on a text to which is has a connection is staggering. By expecting every office holder to swear on the Christian Bible, Prager, and the many like him, are undermining the freedoms that this country supposedly grants to all citizens: the freedom of religion. In truth, just as not every politician is sworn in using the same Bible, not every politician need be sworn in using the same text. Prager later says, “When all elected officials take their oaths of office with their hands on the very same book, they all affirm that some unifying value system underlies American civilization”. If he believes that this is the case, then shouldn’t that book be the United States Constitution, which each of these men and women are committing to serve throughout their time in office?