OKLAHOMA CITY - After one Oklahoma lawmaker raised terrorism as an issue, several others joined him in rejecting a gift of the Quran from a council created by Gov. Brad Henry.
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"Most Oklahomans do not endorse the idea of killing innocent women and children in the name of ideology," said Rep. Rex Duncan, R-Sand Springs.
Duncan expressed his feelings in a letter to his colleagues on Monday. By late Tuesday, 15 legislators had notified the Governor's Ethnic American Advisory Council that they were returning the gift.
Marjaneh Seirafi-Pour, chairman of the council and a Muslim, said she was "a little disappointed."
Seirafi-Pour said the gift was a way to introduce the council to lawmakers so they can use it as a resource to "serve their offices and constituents." She estimates there are 30,000 to 50,000 Muslims in Oklahoma.
She said no state funds were used in the project.
Seirafi-Pour disagreed with Duncan's assessment of her religion. "I know he referred to Islam as an ideology. That is not a fact. It is a religion. It is very peaceful, very inclusive.
"We do not wish to have any ill feelings or miscommunications with any other groups or any other religions and especially our elected officials."
"My comment is that we never hear those 30,000 to 50,000 Muslims opposing the practice of violence on innocent people," Duncan said.
Duncan was asked about a double standard since lawmakers received a Centennial copy of the Bible earlier in the year from The Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma.
"Mine is proudly on my desk on the Capitol and I don't think I ever read a part of it that condones the killing of women and children in furtherance of God's word," Duncan said. "It's one of the nicest things I've received in my three years in the Legislature."
Henry could not be contacted for comment because he was on an overseas flight to Great Britain in his role as chairman of the Council of State Governments.
Spokesman Paul Sund said the council was created by executive order in 2003. "A group of Oklahomans of predominantly Middle Eastern descent came to the governor and asked him to create an advisory council similar to others that have been created for Asian Americans and Hispanic Americans.
"The governor thought the idea made sense, given the history of cultural diversity in Oklahoma."
In Washington, spokesman Ibrahim Hooper of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, said the controversy is "disturbing" and "offensive" to Muslims.
"It just points to the amount of education about Islam and the American Muslim community that is needed in all levels in our society, including elected officials," Hooper said.
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Thanks to the Lawmakers for refusing the Quran! Marjaneh Seirafi-Pour, you would gain the trust of us Oklahoma citizens if you started an outreach policy with the Jewish community. You might start gaining a little trust then.
Friends, Oklahoman's, Countrymen, lend me your eyes. I have come not to praise Gov. Henry, but to give you the opinion of a retired law enforcer, Citizen of State of Oklahoma. The congressmen did the right thing in returning the QURAN. We do not support TERRORISM ! See the science of deductive reasoning behind this move by the GEAAC ? The so called book, gift was an attempt to sway the thinking of our law makers, and away and means for the Terrorists to infiltrate our Oklahoma Government ! Citizens of Oklahoma ! Becareful whom you elect in the future ! You may have placed a Terrorists in a position of power !
Cherrie, apparently you wrote your coment without reading mine and many others since. There is much in what you say with which I agree. And clearly, so do many other writers. Unfortunately, sometimes
our Legislature reflects our citizenry only too well. Also, for many, including you and me, this is an emotional issue. It probably is that too for the twenty-four legislators who have said they don't want copies of the Kuran. Theirs is a reaction born of fear that their constituencies would see accaptance of the holy book of the Muslims as a betrayal of our troops fighting in Iran, or far more absurd, that it would be seen as an un-American act. Obviously, it is the exact opposite of that. Free exchange of thought is a primary cornerstone of our democracy. Let me offer one more thought. There are 101 legislators. Only 24 have publicly refused it. That percentage wouldn't win any elections.fairly. Finally, please don't seriously consider leaving Oklahoma because of this. You are in the majority, but if you leave, you will have allowed others ignorance to drive you out.
Our state will have been diminished by just that much.
Besides, you will find fools and worse wherever you go in this world. As was said about the poor, they are always with us.
There's nothing wrong with being honest but one can be honest while also being cognizant of the feelings of others. It's not a matter of being "politically correct" - it's a matter of being a decent human being. With that being said, I can't beleive I just responded to a run-on sentence.
Truth Seeker, Oklahoma City - Oct 24, 2007 at 9:43 pm
Again she asked those that did not want a copy to let her know they did that what is wrong with just saying no thank you! Do we just have to be pc can we not just be honest ????
This would NOT be an issue, except Rep. Duncan decided to make it a political issue by writing a letter refusing the gift and asking legislators to support him, etc. What's wrong with simply accepting the gift (much like I kindly accept Jehovah Witness, Mormon, etc. literature when it is handed to me) and then disposing of it at his own discretion? At least make the appearance that he does care about the Muslims who not only live in Oklahoma but in his own district! But then again, I have come to expect our elected officials to act with a very low standard of decency.
Truth Seeker, Oklahoma City - Oct 24, 2007 at 9:14 pm
If she asked him if he wanted one the she gave him a choice he chose not to take it. I have read enough here to know that you people have turned a molehill into a mountain & does anybody here know if any of this is really the way this happened or just the way it was reported to have happened? I am an American a Christian and many other things I do not hate muslim people but I really dont feel like they should push a Quran on someone who does not want one & if this man isnt interested in reading the Quran does that make him bad? He has his opinions the same as you and I . And as for Cherrie I would not normally say this to someone but if you dont like our state feel free to leave it your house can be sold. This is about choice & it makes no difference if this man is an elected official or not he is entitled to his opinion the same as anyone!
Ronnie, I agree with your comment. Too many people use Christianity as a platform for political or personal reasons. Rep. Duncan is clearly in that group.
I am an ordained Minister of the Christian faith and would like to point a couple of things out. Duncan needs to read the old testament about Joshua and sin in the camp...he will find that because of one mans lust for treasure and disobediance him and his entire family and belongings were destroyed, that is in the bible which he says is not. However, Jesus came and those things have changed, I am not going to preach, but I strongly agree with some of the comments made on here. The bible teaches us that "god did not give us the spirit of fear, but of power, love and sound mind". Ignorant people fear what they don't know which is what Satan wants. I for one even though am a christian want to know about other religeons and cultures, and find it politically wrong for him to have done what he did. If he was a true christian (not to judge) he would have accepted the gift and then asked them if they knew Jesus Christ as their personal savior. Our so-called christian leaders need to learn tack.
Hey Truth Seeker, we are not killing innocent women and children in Iraq - the news media through their liberal bias say this but it is not happening. We have liberated that country and freedom is flourishing. I know because my friend served their for a year and told me so. He says the media is lying and fabricating everything. Personally, I would have accepted a copy of the Qu'ran. That Sears Roebuck catalogue can be rough.
I would like Duncan to read the Qu'ran and point out to me where it condemns acts of violence against women and children when our own government is the one who is killing thousands of innocent people as we speak.
Cherrie, not all of us are like that. While it's true there is no shortage of backwards, ignorant people in Oklahoma, please don't let it reflect on all of us. One only has to read Rep. Duncan's comments to see he has ventured beyond mere ignorance into the realm of stupidity. If this were the TV show Survivor, I'd vote him off the island ;)
As a Muslim and an American (born and raised), I am disappointed and insulted by Duncan's and the other representatives behavior. Unfortunately, it's not uncommon in Oklahoma. Racism, biotry, prejudice run rampant and in this case (as in most cases) a great deal of ignorance.
Am I to assume that all Christians are prejudiced, bigoted, government haters based on the actions of the Militia, the Aryan Nation, Stormfront, Church of the World Creator and every other group that claims Christianity while spewing hatred? It would be just as wrong of me to make that giant extrapolation, just as it is wrong for the Legislators to do so.
When was the last time a Christian group was told that it had to apologize for the KKK?
If I hadn't bought my home, I'd move out of this backwards state!
Duncan, if Muslims were really,"out to get you", it would be smart to know something about them. It is easy to fear something about which you are woefully ignorant. There is no sin in not knowing something, but there is a great sin in refusing to know something. Melissa is right. To refuse to know when you are offered the opportunity is both stupid and rude. If he looked into Islam, Duncan might find out how the Muslims brought nearly seven hundred years of prosperity, relative peace and religious tolerance to southern Spain. He might learn that Suleiman, like the "Moors" in southern Spain let Christians and Jews freely practice their religion. A thing which the Christians, who had ruled earlier in southern Spain, never did. As for what happened when the Muslims were finally driven out of Spain...perhaps you've heard of the Spanish Inquisition which persecuted Jews, Muslims and especially Christians who either practiced their faith in any but the prescribed ways, or, even more important, were perceived by either the church or civil authorities as being a threat to their rule. Duncan might also learn what happened to the countries of the middle east after World War I. The triumphant allies totally forgot the Arabs who had helped them win that war. They went back on their promises to free those lands from the Turks and allow the Arabs to be self-governing in their own lands. They divided up the traditional Arab lands into "protectorates" overseen by the victorious nations of Europe. They did all this with the knowledge and acquiescence of the United States. We are guilty of allowing European nations to extend their empires into that part of the world. Of course, our excuse is that the people who had invented Algebra weren't smart or sophisticated enough to govern themselves. Well, some of them are smart and sophisticated enough to lead the world in wealth per capita. And, some of them have used that wealth to bring a level of literacy, health care and a standard of living to their people that we cannot pretend to equal. Perhaps it wouldn't hurt you to know about that, Duncan.
Susan, Shawnee--You are so right!! Not only is it completely ingnorant and closeminded, it's downright RUDE!!!!_____I also have to say Duncan must be deaf if he hasn't heard the thousands of Muslims that condemn the practice of violence on innocent people?Maybe if people would actually read the Quran, and not make assumptions? And no, I'm not Muslim, I'm not Christian either, nor am I Jewish. But I've taken the time to read the Old and New Testiments and Quran.
I wonder if Rep. Duncan supports the killing of innocent Iraqi women and children all in the name of freedom and democracy? I believe the Bible that he proudly displays teaches us to "love thy neighbor" and to not pass judgment upon others. A very small percentage of Muslims are violent. Believe it or not, only 17% of Muslims actually live in the Middle East. Those who live here in Oklahoma want to live in peace. I am so tired of the stupidity, the generalizations, and the hatred. Sigh.
Truth Seeker, Oklahoma City - Oct 23, 2007 at 9:46 pm
Now you can clearly see why nothing good happens in the Oklahoma legislature. The majority are idiots like Representative Duncan. I am Christian, Republican and ashamed by the comments of Duncan. He should be impeached, recalled or whatever gets a guy like this out of public office.
I am highly offended that our elected officials are not only ignorant of a major religion, but also rude. I am not Christian, but niether am I Muslim, but I will not vote for any ignorant jerk who would turn his nose up at a kind gift. I hope Mr. Henry returns from his trip and gives these guys a piece of his mind!These out-dated attitudes are not going to be supported by my generation of voters....our lives are increasingly global and hate has no part it it.
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our Legislature reflects our citizenry only too well. Also, for many, including you and me, this is an emotional issue. It probably is that too for the twenty-four legislators who have said they don't want copies of the Kuran. Theirs is a reaction born of fear that their constituencies would see accaptance of the holy book of the Muslims as a betrayal of our troops fighting in Iran, or far more absurd, that it would be seen as an un-American act. Obviously, it is the exact opposite of that. Free exchange of thought is a primary cornerstone of our democracy. Let me offer one more thought. There are 101 legislators. Only 24 have publicly refused it. That percentage wouldn't win any elections.fairly. Finally, please don't seriously consider leaving Oklahoma because of this. You are in the majority, but if you leave, you will have allowed others ignorance to drive you out.
Our state will have been diminished by just that much.
Besides, you will find fools and worse wherever you go in this world. As was said about the poor, they are always with us.
Am I to assume that all Christians are prejudiced, bigoted, government haters based on the actions of the Militia, the Aryan Nation, Stormfront, Church of the World Creator and every other group that claims Christianity while spewing hatred? It would be just as wrong of me to make that giant extrapolation, just as it is wrong for the Legislators to do so.
When was the last time a Christian group was told that it had to apologize for the KKK?
If I hadn't bought my home, I'd move out of this backwards state!