Dennis Prager's op-ed piece for WorldNetDaily today  hit a new low in the frantic fight to protect American culture, the newest front of which is apparently the controversy over Keith Ellison, America's first Muslim in Congress, wanting to take his oath of office on the Qu'ran. The possibility that forcing a Muslim Congressman to swear on Christianity's holy book might render the oath offensive, or worse, meaningless, nonwithstanding, the very idea that one must take an oath on a religious book for public office is divisive and contrary to the American spirit of democracy.

     Not so, says Mr. Prager, who, after making the somewhat rediculous assertion that swearing on something other than the Bible "undermines American civilization," followed that Keith Ellison's desire to swear on the book of his faith "...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."

    With all due respect, Mr. Prager, that is exactly what people in this country are saying- as this country, like it or not, has been and is constantly changing to reflect the culture and values of those who live in it. The individual American chooses what he or she values and the government protects the right to make freely those choices- not the other way around. Of course what matters in taking a personal oath is the individual's person's holiest book. Government must respect the values of its citizens and not impose others on them. This is the very meaning of a pluralistic society.

    The other part of this piece, which asserts that allowing people to swear on the book of their choice might lead Neo-Nazis to swear on "Mein Kampf" or the like, is rediculous. If a candidate is really a Neo-Nazi, then hopefully his district won't vote him into office. And if they do, then his swearing on "Mein Kampf" would be both legal (since the Constitution never mentions the use of a holy book in taking oaths) and the least of their problems. The people who will send Mr. Ellison to Congress in January knew of his faith when they voted for him- and trust him to represent them with integrity and honesty. He can only do this in a society that respects his personal decisions and personal faith. Mr. Ellison will swear am oath to uphold only the Constitution, but he must make it on the faith of his choice. Otherwise he, and the hundreds of millions of other Americans who are expanding and enriching America's culture, will increasingly feel detached and resentful of it.  Americans can only like America if America likes them.

Read the full text of Mr. Prager's piece here