The Irony of Jefferson

We all recall that Congressman Ellison used the Koran of Thomas Jefferson for his inauguration in January, sparking a flurry of articles, but what you may not know is the Spirit of Thomas continues as the source for Congressional legislative information. The invoking of Jefferson, in light of the War on Terror and the Iraq funding bill, is particularly ironic and seemingly lost on Democrats and Ellison specifically- Jefferson was no Islamic appeaser.

At the conclusion of the Revolutionary War, tribute was paid to the Barbary Pirates in the Mediterranean to quell the seizure of American vessels and crew. In 1786 Jefferson and John Adams were to negotiate the tribute paid to the Barbary States. In his report to Congress Jefferson stated:

The ambassador answered us that [the right] was founded on the Laws of the Prophet (Mohammed), that it was written in their Koran, that all nations who should not have answered their authority were sinners, that it was their right and duty to make war upon them wherever they could be found, and to make slaves of all they could take as prisoners, and that every Mussulman (or Muslim) who should be slain in battle was sure to go to heaven.

Upon Jefferson's inauguration, Tripoli demanded $225,000 in tribute. Jefferson refused, and thus the First Barbary War ensued. Jefferson understood, as early as 1785, that appeasement would only encourage more attacks- a lesson lost on our current Congress.

But invoking Jefferson can be a double edged sword. Congressman Ellison used Jefferson's Memory with his inauguration stunt, but today the Spirit of Thomas tells me that thus far Ellison on his own has done nothing. Considering his knowledge and understanding of Islam, perhaps Tom would approve.