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Tuesday, 02 January 2007 13:51 |
 | | Roland Martin |
CHICAGO ÇƒÓ When the U.S. House of Representatives convenes for a new session of Congress in January, one of its first orders of business should be the immediate removal of Virginia Republican Rep. Virgil Goode.
Why? Because his words relative to the election of Democrat Keith Ellison to a congressional seat in Minnesota are in direct violation of the oath he has taken as a House member.
When each House member repeats the oath of office, he or she says: "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter: So help me God."
Goode
obviously forgot that when he sent a letter to his constituents
slamming Ellison for being a Muslim, and suggesting that America needs
to immediately close its borders in order to stem the tide of people of
that faith from coming into the country.
"The Muslim
representative from Minnesota was elected by the voters of that
district, and if American citizens donët 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," Goode wrote. He
added: "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."
Based on the oath, Goode is a domestic enemy against those who choose to celebrate a different faith.
Ellison has
raised the ire of conservatives because of his decision to use the
Quran when he is sworn into office. Republicans have been up in arms,
stating that America is a Christian nation and Ellisonës decision is a
direct affront to our morals and values.
What hogwash.
For all of these
so-called patriots, please, read the First Amendment: "Congress shall
make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the
free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the
press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to
petition the Government for a redress of grievances."
That amendment was ratified 215 years ago on Dec. 15, so itës a little hard for someone to say he or she wasnët aware of it.
This disregard
for the U.S. Constitution, especially the freedom of religion, is
insulting to all Americans. Ellison was duly elected by the individuals
in his Minnesota district, and Goode knows that. Not only that, but
Ellison is not a foreigner; he is a native of Detroit who converted to
Islam. So why insult him?
If he chooses to take the oath on the Quran,
so what? Heës a Muslim, and that is his choice. If a Jewish member of
Congress wanted to put his or her hand on the Torah, or if a Christian
chose Eugene Petersonës "The Message" Bible translation over the King
James version, thatës fine.
This blatant
attack on Islam does a complete disservice to the nation, and it shows
that so-called Christians like Goode donët respect other religions. His
fellow Republicans should be highly ticked off for his insensitivity to
Muslims, and they should be as outspoken about it.
A member of
Congress is supposed to uphold the Constitution, not a particular
faith. Thatës the price you pay when you get involved in politics. I am
a Christian and proud to say that Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior,
but I will never denigrate another person who chooses to worship Allah,
Buddha or any other higher being.
We canët stamp out bigotry in the nation when we have lawmakers like Goode who are leading the parade.
ï
Roland S. Martin, editor of The Chicago Defender newspaper, is author of "Speak, Brother! A Black Manës View of America."
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