Phil,
Excellent article.  Very thought provoking.  I agree with the points 
of the article, however, I'm not sure that having someone swear in on 
a bible is useful anyway, if you aren't going to live by it.  I think 
that that kind of hypocrisy condemns us already.  We are in big 
trouble as a nation!
Kathy

At 07:59 PM 12/1/2006, you wrote:
>Regardless if you like the origin of the below message, the man who wrote
>the article is a conservitive national talk show host.  This is not an
>internet urban legend and I have heard it on national news networks being
>reported.  It sure makes you stop and think.
>
>Phil.
>
>
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "AFA ActionAlert" <[log in to unmask]>
> > Sent: Wednesday, November 29, 2006 2:59 PM
> > Subject: A first for America...The Koran replaces the Bible at swearing-in
> > oath
> >
> >
> > > AFA ActionAlert
> > >
> > > November 29, 2006
> > >
> > > Please help us get this information into the hands of as many people
> > > as possible by forwarding it to your entire email list of family and
> > > friends.
> > >
> > > What book will America base it's values on, the Bible or the Koran?
> > >
> > > Please take a moment to read the following TownHall.com column by
> > > Dennis Prager, who is a Jew. After reading the column, take the
> > > suggest action at the bottom of this email. After you have read it,
> > > please forward it to your friends and family.
> > >
> > > America, Not Keith Ellison, decides what book a congressman takes
> > > his oath on
> > > By Dennis Prager - Tuesday, November 28, 2006
> > >
> > > Keith Ellison, D-Minn., the first Muslim elected to the United States
> > > Congress, has announced that he will not take his oath of office on
> > > the Bible, but on the bible of Islam, the Koran.
> > >
> > > He should not be allowed to do so -- not because of any American
> > > hostility to the Koran, but because the act undermines American
> > > civilization.
> > >
> > > First, it is an act of hubris that perfectly exemplifies
> > > multiculturalist activism -- my culture trumps America's culture. What
> > > Ellison and his Muslim and leftist supporters are saying is that it is
> > > of no consequence what America holds as its holiest book; all that
> > > matters is what any individual holds to be his holiest book.
> > >
> > > Forgive me, but America should not give a hoot what Keith Ellison's
> > > favorite book is. Insofar as a member of Congress taking an oath to
> > > serve America and uphold its values is concerned, America is
> > > interested in only one book, the Bible. If you are incapable of taking
> > > an oath on that book, don't serve in Congress. In your personal life,
> > > we will fight for your right to prefer any other book. We will even
> > > fight for your right to publish cartoons mocking our Bible. But, Mr.
> > > Ellison, America, not you, decides on what book its public servants
> > > take their oath.
> > >
> > > Devotees of multiculturalism and political correctness who do not see
> > > how damaging to the fabric of American civilization it is to allow
> > > Ellison to choose his own book need only imagine a racist elected to
> > > Congress. Would they allow him to choose Hitler's "Mein Kampf," the
> > > Nazis' bible, for his oath? And if not, why not? On what grounds will
> > > those defending Ellison's right to choose his favorite book deny that
> > > same right to a racist who is elected to public office?
> > >
> > > Of course, Ellison's defenders argue that Ellison is merely being
> > > honest; since he believes in the Koran and not in the Bible, he should
> > > be allowed, even encouraged, to put his hand on the book he believes
> > > in. But for all of American history, Jews elected to public office
> > > have taken their oath on the Bible, even though they do not believe in
> > > the New Testament, and the many secular elected officials have not
> > > believed in the Old Testament either. Yet those secular officials did
> > > not demand to take their oaths of office on, say, the collected works
> > > of Voltaire or on a volume of New York Times editorials, writings far
> > > more significant to some liberal members of Congress than the Bible.
> > > Nor has one Mormon official demanded to put his hand on the Book of
> > > Mormon. And it is hard to imagine a scientologist being allowed to
> > > take his oath of office on a copy of "Dianetics" by L. Ron Hubbard.
> > >
> > > So why are we allowing Keith Ellison to do what no other member of
> > > Congress has ever done -- choose his own most revered book for his
> > > oath?
> > >
> > > The answer is obvious -- Ellison is a Muslim. And whoever decides
> > > these matters, not to mention virtually every editorial page in
> > > America, is not going to offend a Muslim. In fact, many of these
> > > people argue it will be a good thing because Muslims around the world
> > > will see what an open society America is and how much Americans honor
> > > Muslims and the Koran.
> > >
> > > This argument appeals to all those who believe that one of the
> > > greatest goals of America is to be loved by the world, and especially
> > > by Muslims because then fewer Muslims will hate us (and therefore
> > > fewer will bomb us).
> > >
> > > But these naive people do not appreciate that America will not change
> > > the attitude of a single American-hating Muslim by allowing Ellison to
> > > substitute the Koran for the Bible. In fact, the opposite is more
> > > likely: Ellison's doing so will embolden Islamic extremists and make
> > > new ones, as Islamists, rightly or wrongly, see the first sign of the
> > > realization of their greatest goal -- the Islamicization of America.
> > >
> > > When all elected officials take their oaths of office with their hands
> > > on the very same book, they all affirm that some unifying value system
> > > underlies American civilization. If Keith Ellison is allowed to change
> > > that, he will be doing more damage to the unity of America and to the
> > > value system that has formed this country than the terrorists of 9-11.
> > > It is hard to believe that this is the legacy most Muslim Americans
> > > want to bequeath to America. But if it is, it is not only Europe that
> > > is in trouble. (End Commentary)
> > >
> > > Take Action
> > >
> > > 1. Send an email asking your U.S. Representative and Senators to pass a
> > > law making the Bible the book used in the swearing-in ceremony of
> > > Representatives and Senators. Copy and paste this link to your browser:
> > > http://capwiz.com/afanet/issues/alert/?alertid=9184771
> > >
> > > 2. Forward this email to your friends and family today!
> > >
> > > Write your Representative and Senators Now!
> > > Copy and paste this link to your browser:
> > > http://capwiz.com/afanet/issues/alert/?alertid=9184771
> > >
> > > If you think our efforts are worthy, would you please support us
> > > with a small gift? Thank you for caring enough to get involved.
> > > http://www.afa.net/donate.asp
> > >
> > > Sincerely,
> > >
> > > Donald E. Wildmon, Founder and Chairman
> > > American Family Association
> > >
> > > P.S. Please forward this e-mail message to your family and friends!
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > You are receiving this mailing because you participated in an
> > > AFA-sponsored poll, petition, or action alert. You are subscribed to
>_AFA
> > > ActionAlert_ as [log in to unmask]
> > >
> > > In keeping with our privacy policy, AFA may periodically contact
> > > you regarding issues of concern to the family. Rest assured that your
> > > subscription e-mail address will be kept in the strictest confidence.
> > > We do not divulge, nor make available to any third party, our
> > > subscription list. Your privacy is paramount to us!
> > >
> > > Unsubscribe
> > >
>http://www.afa.net/petitions/listservices/process.asp?mid=11961211&list=afapetition
> > >
> > > If you are a Federal Civilian, Postal or Military Employee, please
> > > consider AFA (#2058) for your annual CFC participation. Questions or
> > > comments about AFA? Contact us via email, phone, fax, or postal
> > > mail.
> > >
> > > American Family Association | P O Drawer 2440 | Tupelo, MS 38803
> > > | 1-662-844-5036
> > > Copyright 2006 All Rights Reserved
> >