Posted on 01/31/2007 7:43:59 PM PST by auzerais
By John McCaslin THE WASHINGTON TIMES Published January 31, 2007
Faux first Contrary to pronouncements by pundits and publications alike, freshman Rep. Keith Ellison, Minnesota Democrat, is not the first Muslim elected to Congress.
Rather, the first Muslim to serve in Congress was John Randolph of Virginia, elected off and on from 1799 to 1834. During the time there "were numerous Muslims living in America," says Mr. Barton, so many that the first Koran was published and sold here by 1806.
"Significantly, Francis Scott Key, author of the 'Star Spangled Banner,' befriended Randolph and faithfully shared Christ with him. Randolph eventually converted from Islam to Christianity," Mr. Barton writes.
"Interestingly, during the founding era, like today, there was great concern over the possibility of a Muslim being elected to Congress. That concern was heightened by the fact that at that time, like now, America was involved in a war on terror against Islamic terrorists," the historian notes.
"That war, called the Barbary Powers War, lasted 32 years, involved six years of active overseas warfare against Muslim terrorists, and spanned four U.S. presidencies: those of George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson and James Madison."
(Excerpt) Read more at washtimes.com ...
Yeah, but he wasn't a violent left-wing American hating Muslim. So it doesn't count.
Seems like I read that John Randolph converted to Christianity.
Historians reject assertions that Randolph at any time was a Muslim (the only evidence is one letter in 1818 where said that as a youth he rooted for the Muslim side when reading about the Crusades.)
While as a child Randolph (upset at what he saw as hypocrisy among those calling themselves Christians around him) read stories about the Crusades and rooted for the Muslims, there is no evidence that he ever owned or read a Qur'an, pronounced the shahadah, said daily prayers facing Mecca, or fasted in Ramadan (which are the basic requirements of a convert).[2] Randolph was raised and remained within the Episcopalian Church,[3] his "conversion" was not from one faith to another, but one of a depth of belief.
Biographer William Cabell Bruce explains what happened to Randolph by saying “John Randolph was but one of the many straws caught up and floated off into the bosom of the Church by one of those rising tides of Evangelical Presbyterianism, which were so common in this region. From being a merely exercised hearer, he, after experiencing all the vicissitudes of doubt, fear, and love which attended the full reconcilement of a human soul to the purposes of God in his day, and, after receiving word after word of explanation, assurance, and hope from Key, William Mede, Dr. Hoge, at last found that he no longer shrank form the altar which he had written to Key that he would have given all that he was worth to be able to approach, and yet could not; and broke out into his triumphant pæan of confidence and joy”.[3]
Do you have a link to that? I'm sure McCaslin would want to see if he needs to print a retraction.
Perhaps the Ellison camp has already contacted him about it.
Once again I want to thank Congressman Ellison for reminding everyone of the Barbary Powers War. Obviously his intent was to make an "issue" of how mean spirited we are as we questioned his use of the Koran -- but what the hey, we all remember now about the first 32 years war that also involved six years of active overseas warfare against Muslim terrorists.
Thank you, Congressman Ellison!
Well, it seems like McCaslin (and I) jumped the gun on this one. It seems funny that he wouldn't do even a cursory wiki search on this Randolph before printing such an article. I know I didn't bother.
Wonder if I can get the mods to add a "?" at the end of my headline.
bookmarking your post to show my son (who informed me today that he wants to join the US Marines). I will be honest.....I am freaking out!
Synchronicity perhaps.... I do know that if he does join, I will have a good support network in the Freepers.
God Bless Our Troops!!
It's quite a shock to go from your baby to your Marine, LOL. You will have a good support group here.
He is the 'only baby' I ever had...which makes it all the more difficult.
Not that that is any excuse...but it is mine..and I am sticking to it...(trying to write LOL and crying)
sorry.....
LOL, all that suffering is the joy of motherhood. You can really be proud of your boy.
How about Kwazy Kweisi Mfume?
I told him I was proud of him for even thinking of joining..not sure if the marine hymn on my cell phone for the last year had anything to do with it.... (kicking myself as we speak)
But honestly, my heart is breaking already. He is my only child..he just graduated from college and NOW HE WANTS TO JOIN...LOL(now I can laugh for a second)...over $100,000 dollars later?....LOL!!
Praise Jesus for the Gift of Humor in dark and scary places...and...
God Bless Our Troops!!
The notion he was Muslim was better founded than the Wikipedia article makes seem:
"Very early in life I imbibed an absurd prejudice in favor of Mahomedanism and its votaries. The crescent had a tailsmanic effect on my imagination, and I rejoiced in all its triumphs over the cross (which I despised) as I mourned over its defeats; and Mahomet II himself did not more exult than I did, when the crescent was planted on the dome of St. Sophia, and the cathedral of the Constantines was converted into a Turkish mosque."
The citation is true, and convincing, but is not the entire story. On the whole, I'd concur that I'd not call him a Muslim, but neither would I dismiss or belittle anyone who'd consider the label apt.
once an alcoholic, always an alcoholic
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