With liberty and justice, for all.

Muslims everywhere may have celebrated when Mr. Keith Ellison was elected Minnesota's Fifth District House Representative, the first Muslim ever elected to Congress, but that doesn't mean everyone is thrilled about the November 2006 election results.
Virginia Rep. Virgil Goode was one such person. The Republican went so far as to condemn Ellison's use of the Koran when swearing in, saying he should use the Christian Bible. Goode reportedly claimed it was against our country and Founding Fathers to swear in the anything other than the Bible. Irony of all ironies, Ellison swore in successfully this week using a copy of the Koran once owned by Thomas Jefferson, a New York Times article stated.

I'm sure Mr. Goode embarrassed his constituents just as much as everyone else in the country. The Founding Fathers, last time I checked, include the same people that wrote The Declaration of Independence and The Constitution of the United States of America. Sure, you could be cynical and believe that the Founding Fathers truly only meant all white men when they said "We believe in certain unalienable rights...that all men are created equal." But I don't think so. There is more than one reason that this country was founded in the belief that citizens of the United States have every right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. And that includes the freedom to practice any religion we choose.

Electing Ellison to Congress is just the sort of step that allows our democracy and country to continue to grow and change. And it might seem radical to some, but it is nowhere near as radical as writing that all men are created equal in the 18th century. A few days ago The Times had another article about monumental moment where Goode finally shook Ellison's hand. Whoo hoo right? Well, that doesn't change his initial reaction.