When Ignorance Bites You In The Ass

In a move that has raised some eyebrows, newly-elected congressman Keith Ellison of Minnesota will be sworn in later today. Nothing unusual in that, except that he is a Muslim and will take the oath of office using a Koran instead of a Bible.

When I first heard about this last month, I wasn't sure exactly where I stood on this issue. On the one hand, despite Bush's best efforts, the United States is still a free country. Having said that, I'd also be scared shitless if I had to sit next to a Muslim on an airplane.

Any waffling I may have felt about Ellison's decision ended when Congressman Virgil Goode of Virginia objected to what Ellison is doing. Thing is, Goode didn't just disagree; he responded with a hateful diatribe about how if we let this stand, soon more Muslims will be taking oaths of office, America will be overrun by damn immigrants, the sky will fall, and dogs and cats will begin living together.

The only problem with Goode's logic is that Ellison was born in Detroit.... Michigan.... In the United States. In other words, Goode's position is based on nothing but utter ignorance and mindless hatred of immigrants.

I'm curious about Goode's ancestors: Is he of native American descent, like Cherokee or Navajo? Or did his family immigrate to this country from somewhere else? The answer to that question would have a lot to do with his credibility on immigration.

Ah, but the story gets much, MUCH, MUCH better.

You see, when Ellison does take that oath later today, he will not be doing so with just any ol' copy of the Koran. He will be using an English language version that was once owned by none other than Thomas Jefferson, author of our very own Declaration of Independence, third President of the United States, and founder of the University of Virginia. Jefferson also wrote the Virginia Bill of Rights for the state's Constitution, which later became the foundation for the United States Bill of Rights--the first ten amendments to the United States Constitution.

Here's the kicker: Virginia's fifth congressional district--that's the one represented by none other than Virgil Goode himself--includes Albemarle County in Virginia. Albemarle County happens to be Jefferson's birthplace. It also includes Charlottesville, which is where Jefferson's home, Monticello, is located. Oh, and the University of Virginia is there as well.

No word on whether Congressman Goode plans to call for the deportation of Jefferson's remains.