Symbols of paradigms
Junior Senator from Minnesota to swear in on a Qu'ran
That's a really cool precedent to set. I've never really minded anyone using a Bible to swear on, and one has the option of the "I affirm," line so it's really just a formality. But a firm instance of something other than a Bible to bind a public oath gives a more tangible example that contrary to most current appearances, no, we don't have a national or official government religion. Maybe my only beef would be that it seems vaguely sacrilegious to use any holy book to swear on.
And politically, using Jefferson's Qu'ran is a smart move. Using a copy owned by a founding father gives it a stronger sense of legitimacy.
That's a really cool precedent to set. I've never really minded anyone using a Bible to swear on, and one has the option of the "I affirm," line so it's really just a formality. But a firm instance of something other than a Bible to bind a public oath gives a more tangible example that contrary to most current appearances, no, we don't have a national or official government religion. Maybe my only beef would be that it seems vaguely sacrilegious to use any holy book to swear on.
And politically, using Jefferson's Qu'ran is a smart move. Using a copy owned by a founding father gives it a stronger sense of legitimacy.