Hanging tough in Oklahoma

by Diana West

Something downright incendiary is happening in Oklahoma. First one, then 17, and now 24 state lawmakers have declined a copy of the Koran offered to all 149 members of the legislature by an official Muslim advisory group to Oklahoma’s governor. State Representative Rex Duncan, Republican, explained his rejection of the Koran this way: “Most Oklahomans do not endorse the idea of killing innocent women and children in the name of ideology.”

That’s one way. Or I could start it this way:

Something downright incendiary is happening in Oklahoma. Gov. Brad Henry’s Muslim advisory council is offering personalized Korans to lawmakers to mark the state’s centennial, with each copy to be embossed with the Oklahoma state seal and the recipient lawmaker’s name. The all-Muslim group — plain-vanilla-named the American Ethnic Advisory Council — asked lawmakers to notify it if they didn’t want a Koran, which the group described as “the record of the exact words revealed by God through the Angel Gabriel to the Prophet Muhammad.” So far, 24 have declined.

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Statement By George Faught

by Rep. George Faught

In an e-mail sent to all of Oklahoma’s state senators and representatives by Marjan Seirafi-Pour, the chairperson of the Governor’s Ethnic American Advisory Council, we were notified that copies of the Quran decorated with the state’s centennial seal were going to be distributed to all Oklahoma state legislators.

The e-mail closed with the statement: “If you do not wish to receive a copy, please feel free to let me know.” In fact, the books have yet to be distributed.

For the council to offer an opt-out option, then imply in the media that lawmakers who declined the gift are being racially or ethnically insensitive is unfair, and seems politically charged. Many legislators, including myself, have notified Ms. Seirafi-Pour – by e-mail, as she requested – that we would like to politely decline the offer of this book.

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Oklahoma’s Legislator Wants No Part of Terrorist’s Religion

Great commentary on our Legislators reaction in regards to Quran’s being passed out in the Oklahoma legislators.

Generally we here in Texas give Oklahoma a hard time, all in jest. But today, I stand up, praise and applaud them for they have done what a lot of dhimi politicians should do, they sent back Korans that were given to them.

(CNSNews.com) – An Islamic Advocacy group on Friday plans to respond to “Islamophobic remarks” by state lawmakers in Oklahoma who rejected Korans sent to them as gifts by a state panel on diversity. “In rejecting the Qurans, Islam’s revealed text, some lawmakers made stereotypical and offensive remarks that falsely linked the faith of Islam to violence,” the Council on American Islamic Relations said. According to press reports, two dozen Oklahoma lawmakers plan to return copies of the Koran given to all 149 state legislators by the Governor’s Ethnic American Advisory Council. The council is chaired by a Muslim woman. “Most Oklahomans do not endorse the idea of killing innocent women and children in the name of ideology,” the Associated Press quoted Republican Rep. Rex Duncan as saying. CAIR spokesman Ibrahim Hooper called Duncan’s statement “disturbing” and “offensive” to Muslims. Oklahoma’s Republican House Speaker Lance Cargill said he would accept the Koran — and give the governor’s advisory council a Bible in return. Groups of various faiths plan to appear at Friday’s news conference, CAIR said.

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