There is a rather bizarre controversy out of New York where people appear outraged by a minor municipal ceremony to swear in Brooklyn Civil Court judge Carolyn Walker-Diallo. It turns out the Walker-Diallo is a Muslim so she naturally took her oath on a Quran (Koran). One would think that the public would want the oath of office to taken over the book that the jurist considers a binding moral code or through affirmation without a religious book. Yet, many were horrified.
Walker-Diallo has joined Brooklyn’s 7th Municipal District and the photo from the swearing in ceremony was posted after she was sworn into office.
On her campaign page, she makes reference to her faith.
“All is praise (sic) is indeed due to the Most High! I am humbled that my community has entrusted me with the immense responsibility of ensuring that EVERYONE has notice and a FAIR opportunity to be heard in the halls of justice.”
The oath is perfectly valid for a candidate to “swear or affirm” an oath. There are certainly many who would prefer to require a neutral affirmation for everyone. Yet, that has not been our tradition. I find the backlash to this photo to be highly disturbing.
What do you think?
Source: NY Daily
The judge is promising to perform the duties of her office in accordance with the laws of the State of New York and the Constitution. An oath is not required. Placing her hand on a holy book is not required. She could have made the same affirmation while holding a Steinbeck novel or a copy of “The Little Mailman of Bayberry Lane” or nothing at all. The controversy demonstrates only the range of absurdities which the human mind is capable of producing when fear and ignorance banish reason.
Some diatribe over here! Mind if I change the subject?
COMMUNISM SURVIVOR BLASTS SALEM GUN GRABBERS: “YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT FREEDOM IS!”
To echo Nick, did Obama swear on the quran? No?
No freaking wonder!
He got you, chumps!
bam bam
1, December 17, 2015 at 1:03 am
Let’s just objectively review …..It’s a given that po is going to stroke out over anything that he feels is offensive to Muslims, but an objective view, regarding this judge, placing her hand upon a book, which combined with other Islamic texts, is the very antithesis of all that we, in the United States, hold dear, should alarm all of us. She is, in essence, cloaked in her black robe, swearing to uphold, among other things, the following: that a woman’s testimony is not equal to that of a man in a court of law and is to be given less weight and credibility than that of her male counterpart; that Christians, Jews and other assorted infidels are to be converted or murdered; that Christians, Jews and other assorted infidels are to be deemed second-class citizens; and, of course, the list goes on and on
Doesn’t fail, oh, the hatred that engulfs slappyslap whenever he hears the word islam…
I noticed the “”a book, which combined with other Islamic texts””, which suggests, slappy, that the book itself is only “bad”” when combined with other islamic texts…
Which, logically, tells us that the book itself is not bad…eh?
Why not go deeper and tell us about those other islamic texts?
I would be worried, alongside you, if she did swear upon those islamic texts that make the quran bad… but she didn’t…she only swore upon the good one. So we cool?
Additionally, boomboom, she went on to add all kinds of things that she supposedly believes, which must be in those islamic texts for they sure ain’t int he quran, the good one.
Glad to know that you are qualified to issue fatwas, ayatollah bambam.
Owning a dog, according to Islam, for the mere purpose of companionship, is considered so vile that one’s daily rewards–whatever the f those are in Islam–are deducted each day…
ooh! NO! What am I to do! i did not know that owning a dog in islam is haram!!!!!
Oh my God! Thank you for another fatwa, Ayatobambam…let me figure out how to get rid of my dog as promptly as I can. Poor Lulu, she won’t understand, 9 years together, since a pup, but…hey…what am I to do…I don’t wanna lose my daily rewards…whatever those are!
Bam, is that in the quran…or is it in those islamic texts? Thank God that Muslims value the quran above any other islamic text
Diogenes, great point. I have never sworn upon the quran, but if I had to, I would make sure to be especially truthful. So , yes, if an observant muslim swears on the quran to uphold the rules of the office, you can bet your house he/she will.
Hey BamBam: Dogs do give guidance to humans. Get a dog. Get a life. Put your left hand on the Sears Roebuck Catalogue and promise to wipe your arse.
Olly … you made a good point earlier. In my uniform and civilian military career I seldom swore on a book , but usually with my right hand raised, or in salute IIRC, usually before a US flag.
“Most of the mothers who murder their children do so under the weight of religious delusions.”
I seriously doubt many of the women that abort their unborn children do so under the weight of any sort of religion; narcissism, certainly but a belief in a higher power than themselves, absolutely not.
Most judges are power corrupted bureaucrats. I could care less what object they swear their oath on.
Yes, and your point is…?
phillyT – the author’s point is that the mothers are psychotic.
Here’s one more for ya. Religious moms who kill their kids.
http://today.uchc.edu/headlines/2004/dec04/religiosity.html
phillyT – the last sentence from the article you cited.
Resnick said religious delusions often convince mothers that they’re saving children from evil or proving their faith to God.
“If you think about why a parent would kill a child, since there’s a natural love and protective instinct, one would say it would have to be overcome with a psychotic belief that they’re doing what’s in the child’s best interest,” he said
The ole I USED TO WORK WITH PSYCH PATIENTS line. Really more like I WAS INVOLUNTARILY COMMITTED TO A PSYCH WARD. Great stuff. Can’t make up this $#it. The ole my dog speaks to me through my fillings. Don’t psych patients usually believe that the voices of others, including animals, like dogs, guide them? This stuff is better than Jackie Mason.
I must have missed that comment.
Numerous studies have shown that far right conservatives suffer in fear and paranoia. Many are severe narcissists who lack a sense of empathy. The same holds for extremist religious people. Most of the mothers who murder their children do so under the weight of religious delusions.
If the shoe fits, sir…
phillyT – I would have to see those numerous studies. Conservatives, as a group, are more charitable than liberals. I never seen anything on conservatives and narcissists. Obama is one of the biggest narcissists I have ever seen. Most mothers who murder their children do not do it for religious reasons.
“I used to work with psych patients and I know one when I see one.”
Kind of like Brett Favre used to work with an offensive line. I see my Sybil comment the other day hit the mark.
There are a handful of people who come to this blog day after day, posting the same off-topic screeds over and over. Random quotes taken out of context that have nothing to do with anything but their own internal logic. The end of the world. The decline of the republic. Some religious apocalypse…
I used to work with psych patients and I know one when I see one.
I wasn’t kidding. Take your meds, they will help. Or if you’re not on medication, you might seriously consider going to see a psychiatrist. There really is no need in this day and age to live in such a perpetual state of mental misery.
You’re so SillyT you make me giggle.
And thanks for reading.
Did you look up top there to find out what an American, I mean what a “fringer” is?
Ya know, those Hebrew slaves in Egypt had the good sense to get the —- out of Dodge before the ink was dry on their release papers. That goes to self-reliance, competence, motivation and ambition doesn’t it?
“God helps those who help themselves.”
Looks like that excludes freeloaders and parasites.
Where are Washington, Jefferson, Hamilton, Franklin, Madison, Mason, et al. when you need them (and I’m not talkin’ about wide receivers)?
The irony of phillyT, who posts a dog as part of his or her profile, ridiculing others who question the appropriateness of of the swearing in of a judge using a Koran, is precious. Precious, I say, and, of course, hysterical. I assume that he is either a dog, himself, or he is supplying a photo of a beloved pet. Either way, Islam’s view of dogs, which dictates that angels, allegedly, will never enter the home of a person with a vile creature, like a dog, is the ideology that this person and/or being feels the compunction to defend. How rich. Owning a dog, according to Islam, for the mere purpose of companionship, is considered so vile that one’s daily rewards–whatever the f those are in Islam–are deducted each day. Thanks, phillyT for the laughs. Woof.
People are supposed to use whichever book is sacred to their faith, or make some similar assertion if they are atheists or do not choose to use a text.
Her oath would have no meaning to her if she did not use a Qu’ran. I see this as being binding on her conscience.
Tempest in a teapot.
Karen – as an agnostic would they be offended if I used Wealth of Nations?
“Karen – as an agnostic would they be offended if I used Wealth of Nations?”
I suppose next the free market boys will be demanding to use Generally Accepted Accounting Principles – GAAP.
Do you suppose anyone would object if some one asked to be sworn in with Das Kapital?
Considering the way things are going maybe we should switch and has people swear in with 1984 or Clockwork Orange.
bfm – maybe we should have a group of proscribed books – Mao’s Little Book, Das Kapital, Mein Kampf, etc. Other than those you can be sworn in on anything you want. or don’t want.
“Can anyone help me here?”
Yes, whatever meds your doctor prescribed, keep taking them.
Well, not for his “Sake”. For Christ Sake! is an expression of one being feed up with multiple expressions of jibber jabber. To really “swear” in our language is to cuss. “I swear to eat itShay.”
Swear on a copy of the Constitution for Christ Sake!