asimplechord (
asimplechord) wrote2008-11-04 11:27 pm
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just a thought
Only tangentially related to the election.
Brought on by Tom Brokaw's comment about how historical and profound it will be when Obama "puts his hand on the Bible" to be sworn in as the POTUS.
If citizens of the US have an unalienable right to practice whatever religion they choose (or to not practice, as the case may be), why are government oaths made on the Bible?
Wouldn't it make more sense to do it on... oh, I don't know, the Constitution, since that's what they're swearing to uphold?
Keith Ellison's (D - Minn.) decision to use the Koran at his swearing-in caused a furor, even though the copy he utilized was part of Thomas Jefferson's collection.
Out of curiosity, did Joe Lieberman use a Bible for his swearing-in?
Does our right to free expression of religion only apply to Judeo-Christian denominations?
Brought on by Tom Brokaw's comment about how historical and profound it will be when Obama "puts his hand on the Bible" to be sworn in as the POTUS.
If citizens of the US have an unalienable right to practice whatever religion they choose (or to not practice, as the case may be), why are government oaths made on the Bible?
Wouldn't it make more sense to do it on... oh, I don't know, the Constitution, since that's what they're swearing to uphold?
Keith Ellison's (D - Minn.) decision to use the Koran at his swearing-in caused a furor, even though the copy he utilized was part of Thomas Jefferson's collection.
Out of curiosity, did Joe Lieberman use a Bible for his swearing-in?
Does our right to free expression of religion only apply to Judeo-Christian denominations?
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In the private swearings-in, they also have the option - that's when Ellison chose the Koran and earned criticism.
I'd be curious to know how many people do it without thinking about what a strange contradiction that is.
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Except one isn't supposed to touch the Torah, so is the whole "hand on the [article]" completely literal, or would Jewish swearers-in have to make use of a Yad? ;)
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If we need to swear on something, rather than just giving our word, what does that mean for our ability to keep other promises, ones not made on pieces of paper and ink?
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I'm an atheist, and make no apologies for it, so when my husband asks why I don't run for local office, I always tell him that it would be a waste of time and effort, because I'd never get elected after I answer honestly about faith.
I asked my sister, who was sworn in for her govt job and to the bar association, and she said that she was not forced to use anything. Which was good, since she's a godless heathen just like me.