Virginia Congressman Reignites Controversy Over Swearing-In On Quran

Virginia Republican Congressman Virgil Goode has reignited a controversy over plans by a newly-elected Muslim congressman to take his oath of office on the Quran. (Washington Post.) Yesterday news media published a letter (full text) that Goode had sent to constituents who had written to him objecting to the swearing-in plans of Minnesota Congressman-elect Keith Ellison. The letter read in part:

When I raise my hand to take the oath on Swearing In Day, I will have the Bible in my other hand.

I do not subscribe to using the Koran in any way.... [I]f 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 Koran....

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 of America and to prevent our resources from being swamped.

Goode has refused to apologize for his remarks. (CNN). Congressman Ellison, however, responded charitably, saying he would like to meet with Goode to discuss Islam and find some "common ground." (CNN).

The entire controversy was begun earlier this month when talk-show host Dennis Prager wrote a column saying Ellison should be required to use a Bible instead of the Quran. (See prior posting.) Yesterday the executive committee of the 68-member Holocaust Memorial Council on which Prager serves adopted a resolution critical of Prager's position. It said that Prager's position is "antithetical to the mission of the [U.S. Holocaust Memorial] museum as an institution promoting tolerance and respect for all peoples regardless of their race, religion or ethnicity." (New York Times.)