This is Kind of Hilarious
Rep.-elect Keith Ellison, the first Muslim elected to
Congress, found himself under attack last month when he announced he'd
take his oath of office on the Koran -- especially from Virginia Rep.
Virgil Goode, who called it a threat to American values.Yet the
holy book at tomorrow's ceremony has an unassailably all-American
provenance. We've learned that the new congressman -- in a savvy bit of
political symbolism -- will hold the personal copy once owned by Thomas
Jefferson.
Yes that Thomas Jefferson, the one whose house Monticello is located in Goode's district. LOL.
With my views, I can't imagine ever getting elected to office, but I wonder what book I could be sworn in on? Ayn Rand is often suggested, but though her work has had a tremendous impact on me, I think she now sends off a slightly creepy, cultish vibe that might not work well on the PR front. The Wealth of Nations? Hayek's Road to Serfdom? Free to Choose? How about Julian Simon -- his optimism in free human endeavor probably reflects my personal outlook better than anyone.
I'm not sure about any of those. I think that putting your hand on a copy of the US Constitution would be the most appropriate symbol, and would solve those nasty religion debates in a way I think both left and right could agree on.
