Tuesday, December 05, 2006

JUST A SUGGESTION

I don't have much to say about Dennis Prager's ignorant follow-up to his ignorant column denouncing the notion of using a Koran at a congressional swearing-in ceremony. (Prager says pretty much exactly what you'd expect: liberals are evil and full of hate, let me repeat that liberals are evil and full of hate, America is a Christian nation and anyone who disagrees is helping to bringing about the end of civilization as we know it, Christianism is good for the Jews, and did I mention that liberals are evil and full of hate?) But Prager does say this:

I am for no law to be passed to prevent Keith Ellison or anyone else from bringing any book he wants to his swearing-in, whether actual or ceremonial.

Er, if that's the case, shouldn't you, as a copyright holder, be demanding that the American Family Association stop using your column to demand just such a law?

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A bit of history:

[Jacob] Henry was North Carolina's first Jewish legislator. He was elected to the general assembly in 1808. But the state constitution had a religious test for office. He was asked to take his oath on the New Testament or suffer expulsion from office. Henry refused. He then delivered a speech in defense of full religious liberty for all Americans. He was permitted to take his seat.

Permitted to take his seat? I'm sure Dennis Prager would say that this is when America started to go to hell in a handbasket.

(Prager says in the follow-up that he also opposes swearing on the Torah, though I notice he never got around to writing a column entitled "America, Not Linda Lingle, Decides What Book a Governor Takes Her Oath On.")

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