The Swearing in of Keith Ellison


Yesterday was historic. First a woman, yes a woman, was sworn in as Speaker of the House. Just think in one year the American Episcopal Church got itself a woman Presiding Bishop and the US got a woman as Speaker of the House. What's next a woman US President? Well it could also be an African American President!


But in the midst of all of this, Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN) was sworn in as the first Muslim to serve in Congress. As everyone knows, and I've surely commented often enough, this has stirred up a hornets nest in the country, with the central figure being an until recently unknown congressman from Virginia, Virgil Goode, a man who probably is a good guy but who simply doesn't get it --kind of like Michael Richards!


Well the day has come and as reported, Keith Ellison took his oath using Thomas Jefferson's copy of the Koran, which was brought to the chambers from the Library of Congress. The oath was administered by Nancy Pelosi, with Ellison's wife holding the two volume edition.
But not only that, Ellison made his way to Goode and greeted him. According to the story in USA Today, it was engineered by Dennis Kucinich. Apparently they've agreed to have coffee. Hopefully this step will bring some healing and will enlighten Mr. Goode, but nationwide it's quite unlikely we're done with the discussion.
(Picture is from the USA Today Article)

Comments

Volney Faustini said…
Bob

I did a post on Congressman Ellison also, but it is in Portuguese ...

Keep up with the good blogging - Brazil is also reading it.

Abraços

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