Australia - Pledging your allegance on the Koran

[Dog_ger]

http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/political ... 2p8l2.html




The Prime Minister's new parliamentary secretary, Ed Husic, has been subjected to a torrent of abuse online for being sworn in to his position with a Koran.

Mr Husic became Australia's first Muslim frontbencher on Monday when he was appointed to Kevin Rudd's new-look ministry as parliamentary secretary to the Prime Minister and parliamentary secretary for broadband.

Ed Husic, Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister and Parliamentary Secretary for Broadband, during the swearing-in ceremony at Government House with Governor-General Quentin Bryce.

"This is a wonderful day for multiculturalism, and everything it stands for in our country," Governor-General Quentin Bryce told Mr Husic during the swearing-in ceremony in Canberra on Monday.

Your thoughts...

We are politically too correct in this country.

[RustyCage]

He can swear on whatever book of fairy tales he wants

[The Sleeping Giant]

Dogger is the today tonight / a current affair demographic.

[Mickyj]

He can swear on whatever book of fairy tales he wants

yep I'll pay that one

[Dogwatcher]

Well, Gillard's gone. That certain demographic has to find something else to rail against.

Dog-ger, what exactly is wrong with swearing on the Koran?

[RustyCage]

I think asking a Muslim to swear on the bible just because that's what we do here would be extremely disrespectful. He took his oath on a book that means as much to him as the bible does to a Christian. In the end it changed nothing at all that will effect anyone else but him, so to read some of the vitriol thrown his way on comments on news sites and social media has been disturbing

[The Sleeping Giant]

What does an atheist swear on?

[Dogwatcher]

Gillard made an affirmation.
As will I when I'm PM of Australia, or some small, island colony that I've become leader of through a coup.

[Q.]

DW for PM

[mick]

Non issue as far as I am concerned

[shoe boy]

He can swear on whatever book of fairy tales he wants

Concur

[woodublieve12]

How is this news???

[Dogwatcher]

I wonder, how many of the people who are up in arms about this actually describe themselves as 'Christian' when asked.

[gossipgirl]

good on him cant see what the problem is

[Psyber]

He can swear on whatever book of fairy tales he wants

I think asking a Muslim to swear on the bible just because that's what we do here would be extremely disrespectful. He took his oath on a book that means as much to him as the bible does to a Christian. In the end it changed nothing at all that will effect anyone else but him, so to read some of the vitriol thrown his way on comments on news sites and social media has been disturbing

I agree with "pafc1870" 0n both counts here.

[Magpiespower]

What does an atheist swear on?

The Atheist Bible...

[dedja]

good on him cant see what the problem is

Nothing.

The OP on the other hand ...

[Psyber]

What does an atheist swear on?

In courts you have the option to make a legal declaration rather than swear on any religious book.

However, when I was charged with "Speed Dangerous" in 1987 my Barrister mate, who represented me, advised me to swear on the Bible if I was comfortable to do so because the particular Magistrate we had was a practising Christian, and the Magistrate later commented in his judgement in my favour that he was impressed that I had held the Bible throughout my testimony.
(I'm very flexible about that sort of thing, not a campaigning Atheist... )

[dedja]

Swing both ways there Psybe?

[Zelezny Chucks]

What does an atheist swear on?

The Atheist Bible...

Darwin's The Origin of Species?