Jim, there is, of course, plenty of rough stuff in the Koran, but then there is in the Old Testament too. But so what? Both are ancient documents, and both (to a greater or less extent) reflect the savagery of the era in which they were written. What matters is not what was written then, but what people believe now. As I hope you know, I’m the last person to discount the threat to western secular democracies represented by militant Islam, but those who suggest that Ellison should not swear on the Koran are, consciously or otherwise, sending a signal that Muslims cannot adhere to their faith (as they now see it) and participate in a modern American democracy. That has to be an unhelpful message.