« Lilweezyana | Main | Good Ol' Sportscenter »
January 04, 2007
Rep. Ellison (D-MN)
Of all today's wondrous developments, this right here makes me very happy:
Some light moments emerge as Democrats take over Congress
By William Douglas, San Jose Mercury News
Rep. Keith Ellison, D-Minn., made history Thursday by becoming the first Muslim member of Congress. He touched off a mini-controversy last month by announcing his intention to be sworn in with his hand on the Quran.
Rep. Virgil H. Goode Jr., R-Va., led the outcry, warning that more Muslims will swamp American culture unless there's stiff immigration reform.
Ellison is an African-American, not an immigrant.
Thursday Ellison silenced many critics by using a Quran once owned by Thomas Jefferson. Then Ellison walked over and introduced himself to Goode, whose district includes Jefferson's home of Monticello. Ellison invited him to share a cup of coffee, and Goode accepted.
"I don't anticipate we're going to have any problems," Ellison said later. "We're not going to hold any grudges."
If you ask me, Muslim Americans get unbelievable amounts of bullshit in this country - really, more than I think people admit, recognize or remember.
Rep. Ellison did the right thing, the thing you'd expect any citizen - be they Muslim, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, etc. - to do.
You'd think that Representatives like Goode would be lining up to take pictures with Ellison, thinking that doing so would allow them to pull the "You know, some of my best friends are Muslims..." bit later on, when things get ugly in the 110th.
Posted by caps at January 4, 2007 07:02 PM