US Muslim congressman sworn in Keith Ellison has become the first Muslim member of the US Congress, taking a ceremonial oath with a Quran once owned by Thomas Jefferson. Ellison's swearing in came as Democrats formally took control on Thursday of the US Senate and House of Representatives following their defeat of the Republican party in the last year's midterm elections. Elllison, a Democrat congressman for Minnesota, shrugged off controversy over his use of the Quran instead of the Bible. "It was good, we did it, it's over, and now it's time to get down to business," he said.
First woman speaker sworn in Nancy Pelosi, who helped engineer the Democrat's midterms victory, was also sworn in on Thursday as the first woman to lead the House of Representatives. The leader of the minority Democrats the past four years, she now is the highest ranking woman in the US government, second behind only the vice president in the line of succession to George Bush, the Republican president. "This is an historic moment for the Congress, and for the women of this country," Pelosi declared after taking the gavel. (Full article.)
BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) -- Twin car bombs killed 13 people Thursday in an upscale Baghdad neighborhood after a lull in violence during an Islamic holiday, and Iraq prepared to execute two of Saddam Hussein's co-defendants despite an inquiry into an unruly scene in the former dictator's execution chamber.
At last the fish has flogged itself out the water As if set to shatter our bleak bondage to war. It has landed, breathing the crisp air of hope. (The arid gasp of stagnation plummets now.)
America has gathered, you can sense her plea. The creature, breathtaking in its stunning silver, Must now heave us out of our mournful collapse. (Come, breathe life into these blue shores again.)
We must remember, this fish is our hope. Our expectations to be nourished by truth, A cherished, breathing thing, like humanity; (Red and yearning to live in peace.)
Keith Ellison has become the first Muslim member of the US Congress, taking a ceremonial oath with a Quran once owned by Thomas Jefferson.
Ellison's swearing in came as Democrats formally took control on Thursday of the US Senate and House of Representatives following their defeat of the Republican party in the last year's midterm elections.
Elllison, a Democrat congressman for Minnesota, shrugged off controversy over his use of the Quran instead of the Bible.
"It was good, we did it, it's over, and now it's time to get down to business," he said.
First woman speaker sworn in
Nancy Pelosi, who helped engineer the Democrat's midterms victory, was also sworn in on Thursday as the first woman to lead the House of Representatives.
The leader of the minority Democrats the past four years, she now is the highest ranking woman in the US government, second behind only the vice president in the line of succession to George Bush, the Republican president.
"This is an historic moment for the Congress, and for the women of this country," Pelosi declared after taking the gavel. (Full article.)
BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) -- Twin car bombs killed 13 people Thursday in an upscale Baghdad neighborhood after a lull in violence during an Islamic holiday, and Iraq prepared to execute two of Saddam Hussein's co-defendants despite an inquiry into an unruly scene in the former dictator's execution chamber.
At last the fish has flogged itself out the water
As if set to shatter our bleak bondage to war.
It has landed, breathing the crisp air of hope.
(The arid gasp of stagnation plummets now.)
America has gathered, you can sense her plea.
The creature, breathtaking in its stunning silver,
Must now heave us out of our mournful collapse.
(Come, breathe life into these blue shores again.)
We must remember, this fish is our hope.
Our expectations to be nourished by truth,
A cherished, breathing thing, like humanity;
(Red and yearning to live in peace.)
Let its surge come roaring.
Copyright © 2007 mrp / thepoetryman
What the Democrats will do next