Celebrate Koran Oath as an All-American Moment

Critics lashed out at one US congressman’s decision to use the Koran rather than a Bible for taking his oath for office. Some critics said Keith Ellison’s decision to use the Koran “undermines American civilization.” Indeed, most members of Congress don’t use any book at all. Ellison’s decision to use a Koran that belonged to Thomas Jefferson – author of the Declaration of Independence, the third president of the US and one of the country’s fiercest advocates for the separation of church and state – was especially symbolic, according to James Zogby, president of the Arab American Institute. The gesture reminds observers of changing demographics and the US founding fathers’ vision for freedom of worship. If anything, Ellison’s use of the Koran for a congressional oath demonstrates that the US is truly an open and free society. – YaleGlobal