Tulsa World: Official refuses copy of Quran

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Official refuses copy of Quran

NO QURAN

Rex Duncan: The legislator refused to accept a copy of the Muslim scriptures.

By MICK HINTON World Capitol Bureau
Published: 10/23/2007 1:49 AM
Last Modified: 2/15/2008 4:38 AM

The latest on this story: 16 lawmakers reject copy of Quran

The latest on this story: More legislators turn down copies of the Quran

Vote in a poll: Do you agree or disagree with state Rep. Rex Duncan's and two dozen other lawmakers' refusals to accept centennial copies of the Quran, offered as gifts to legislators by the members of the Governor's Ethnic American Advisory Council?

OKLAHOMA CITY — A state lawmaker strongly objected Monday to receiving a centennial copy of the Quran, compliments of the Governor’s Ethnic American Advisory Council.

Rep. Rex Duncan, R-Sand Springs, wrote his fellow legislators that he is refusing a copy of the Quran because, “Most Oklahomans do not endorse the idea of killing innocent women and children in the name of ideology.”

Marjaneh Seirafi-Pour, a Muslim and chairwoman of the governor’s council, said she received a call from Duncan wondering whether state money was used to buy the books.

“Members of the Oklahoma Muslim community paid for copies of the Quran,” she said.

They include businessmen, doctors and professors, she added.

“We are not trying to force anything on anyone,’’ Seirafi-Pour said, ‘‘This is a peaceful, thoughtful project to introduce ourselves to leaders.”

She estimated that there are 30,000 to 50,000 Muslims in Oklahoma.

Duncan, a lieutenant colonel in the Oklahoma National Guard, countered: “I know that not all Muslims are terrorists, but I don’t know of another religion or ideology that employs terrorism and the threat of terrorism.’’

Seirafi-Pour said she has been in the United States for 24 years and is a citizen.

The chairwoman said her children had attended Norman public schools.

The woman applauded Oklahoma for being “very inclusive, very diverse,” and this is a way the Muslim community can thank the state during this centennial year.

This spring, the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma distributed copies of a centennial Bible.

Duncan said he was pleased to receive the Bible.

“I don’t know any Christians who run around using the Bible as their basis of justification or instruction booklet to keep killing innocent people,” he said.

In an e-mail to legislators, Seirafi-Pour said, “The Holy Quran is the record of the exact words revealed by God through the Angel Gabriel to the Prophet Muhammad.”

Her communication noted that if people did not wish to receive a copy, they could let her know. She said that so far, she was aware of only Duncan’s refusal.

Mick Hinton (405) 528-2465
mick.hinton@tulsaworld.com

By MICK HINTON World Capitol Bureau

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	Report Comment Wagoner, (10/23/2007 2:13:30 AM) Good for you, Rep. Duncan! And thanks for serving our country as a National Guardsman! At last - a politician with a spine that doesn't sit on a fence and just crow. I agree - not all Muslims are terrorists, but the doctrine does support the idealogy for terrorism. However, as it is a free country, any of our lawmakers who are Muslims can read it if they want.
	Report Comment Rose Welch, (10/23/2007 2:17:33 AM) Wow... Yeah, Christians never killed anyone... French armies never murdered thousands of mens, women, and children in the taking of Jerusalem, Lutherans didn't kill Catholics and vice versa when Martin Luther broke from the Catholic Church, no Christian has ever killed in the name of Christ... And I don't want to hear that crap about 'if they did these things, they weren't very Christian' because the very basis of the faith is admitting that you sin and are sinful. I'm not Muslim but anyone who spouts crap like that is highly undereducated. And, as we all know, if you don't know what you're talking about, keep your mouth SHUT!
	Report Comment SS, Native Tulsan (10/23/2007 3:26:41 AM) Duncan, you are a typical ignorant Oklahoman. The Quran does not "employ terrorism and the threat of terrorism," PEOPLE do because of their interpretation of the Quran. Millions of people have been persecuted in the name of the Bible, so why don't you refuse a copy of the Bible as well? Ever heard of The Crusades, buddy? There is a reason everyone in the United States hates backward states like Oklahoma, because it is full of stupid ignorant people like Rex Duncan! Duncan is an embarrassment to Sand Springs, the Tulsa metro area, and the state of Oklahoma. He should resign immediately!!!
	Report Comment Thomas, Tulsa (10/23/2007 4:38:08 AM) Duncan's smirky mug betrays the measley values he formed through his intolerance and condemnation of others. That look is so prevalent in these parts. It's the face of the bible belt. His kind of narrowness is exactly what breeds violence. The long, sordid, murderous history of religion wouldn't have been possible without his kind of evil. Islam and christianity are the same poison at different points of evolution. Theology is an effort to explain the unknowable in terms of the not-worth-knowing.
	Report Comment R.D., Tulsa (10/23/2007 5:38:30 AM) Gee! Maybe Mr. Duncan needs a history lesson. How about all the Quakers killed in the early part of our country's history.How about the so called witches? Anyone who didn't believe the way the Christian Puritan's did was able to be hanged. Did he ask if the Bible he received was paid for by tax monies? We give billions of dollars to faith based funding. They steal my tax money to these freeloading non tax paying churches in this country. How about his President "Kill for Oil Bush" a so called Christian. What a joke! Christans are way out in front when it comes to killing people on God's earth.
	Report Comment The Oracle, Tulsa (10/23/2007 5:38:30 AM) muhammad was a fraud and was not a prophet.
	Report Comment Jay, (10/23/2007 6:59:56 AM) He refused to receive a gift...so what. and R.D. #5...if the tree hugers would get out of the way in Alaska, there's a huge pocket of oil and we would require less foreign oil..you probably want Billary Hitler to be our next leader...
	Report Comment James, Weatherford (10/23/2007 7:22:47 AM) Duncan is partially right -- “Most Oklahomans do not endorse the idea of killing innocent women and children in the name of ideology.” Because they do not, we need to get out of Iraq NOW. We are killing innocent women and children every day in Iraq in the name of ideology. Does this concern Rep. Duncan (or the yahoos who support him)?
	Report Comment bob, tulsa (10/23/2007 7:27:10 AM) I completely agree with the majority of comments above pointing out to Duncan and others that Christianity, like Islam, has been used for killing, war, and other crimes. Yes, he needs a history lesson. More importantly, he needs to quit fueling ignorance and hatred through his "head in the sand" approach to new or different cultures and beliefs. Maybe after the next election, he'll have more time to ponder these bigger questions.
	Report Comment cmp, (10/23/2007 7:27:16 AM) I think if you will check muslims hve killed more people from the beginning of their religion than any other.other than the first and last comment the rest of you people are so filled with hate no wonder muslim fanatics just love your politics of hate
	Report Comment Wayne, Jenks (10/23/2007 7:35:47 AM) Duncan's reasoning is truthful and based in a true faith in the one God. Mohamed was a pedophile and terrorist. The Koran IS used TODAY as a justification for killing innocents. We all have pasts, history has sorted out most of the evil in religion, but Muslims are TODAY using the Koran as justification of EVIL. Call it what it is, EVIL. Listen to the Imams preaching in the Mosques, and ask yourself, when have you last heard a Muslim rise against these teachings? We Christians purge our evil and deal with it openly. Good Job Duncan.
	Report Comment JW, (10/23/2007 7:37:50 AM) I want to know why a "Governor's Ethnic American Advisory Council" is so dominated by Muslims? Why not call it "Brad's Muslim Listening Post"? At least that would be a more honest representation. If it is really an ethnic american advisory panel then get some blacks, hispanics, asians, etc who are from different religions.
	Report Comment SH, Charlottesville (10/23/2007 8:12:31 AM) Sounds like Duncan and Virginia's Congressman Virgil Goode should compare notes.... He's the one who last year made a "crusade" out of refusing the "Q-Ran" and conflating it with keeping out immigrants - of any stripe. He then got embarrassed when reminded that one of the most famous constituents of his district - Thomas Jefferson (author of the Virginia Statute on Religious Freedom)- bought a copy of Sale's Koran, when he was a student studying comparative law.
	Report Comment Last One Out Turn Off the Lights, Tulsa (10/23/2007 8:22:29 AM) Our educated sons and daughters are not leaving this state in droves only because of teacher salaries. They are leaving because of cock-fighting, puppy mills, 3rd grade football lawsuits, the Devil trying to take over ORU, and backwoods lawmakers like Duncan who refuse to broaden their horizons just a little bit and at least try to understand those with different beliefs. I think the Tulsa World must have decided that this would be a great week to highlight all the marvelous things of which Oklahoma can be SO proud!
	Report Comment Major, (10/23/2007 8:35:29 AM) Most people have not studied the Koran. Before you speak about Islam you must first study it. Islam is the only religion that promises a person who dies while fighting for Allah a grade higher in paradise. It is the only relgion that allows lying in order to gain an advantage over its enemies. It is the only religion that tries to gain domination and rule over a country. Most people do not know the grave danger we face from world-wide organizations that want to create a global Islamic state. Prove to me that I'm wrong.
	Report Comment Last One Out Turn Off the Lights, Tulsa (10/23/2007 8:43:35 AM) You are correct, Major, when you say that "Before you speak about Islam you must first study it." And how can Duncan STUDY IT if he won't read the Quran? People like Duncan are just fostering hate and ignorance. There are fanatics and radicals acting in the name of every religion on Earth, and always have been. It is these fanatics and radicals that we need to fear - not the religion they purport to be acting in.
	Report Comment , (10/23/2007 8:54:02 AM) I think Oklahoma should secede from the union. Our lawmakers constantly prove their unwillingness to accept other cultures. The state of Oklahoma will be a retirement haven for WASPs who are frightened by other races and religious beliefs. Of course, north tulsa will have to be traded to Arkansas for some more hillbillies.
	Report Comment Yoda, 74105 (10/23/2007 8:55:01 AM) I bet Duncan voted no on the river tax too. Had to say it!
	Report Comment Jay Farr, (10/23/2007 9:13:24 AM) US has killed more women and children in the last 100 years than there were people killed in the previous 1,000 years; Hiroshima, Vietnam, Iraq... Terrorism has no face, religion or belief. Islam as does Christianity condemns killing of innocent people, men, women or children. Muslim scholars have condemned suicide bombing time after time but our media does not find it newsworthy to report. Killing of innocent people is wrong whether by suicide bomb or by laser guided bomb. We must bridge the gap of mistrust and start understanding each other. I am an Oklahoman and a Muslim and proud to say that I have as many bible in my home as I do Quran and study both of them and see both teach peace, love and justice. Perhaps representative Duncan should have read Quran before rejecting it.
	Report Comment Blanche Manos, Springdale, AR (10/23/2007 9:32:19 AM) Good for Rex Duncan. I applaud his courage.
	Report Comment Harold, Tulsa (10/23/2007 9:42:08 AM) RD has the right to refuse the gift and the muslims have the right to believe whatever they want. THE PROBLEM IS when RD started spewing his ignorance. He should have quietly refused to accept it and left it at that.
	Report Comment marvin, chiles (10/23/2007 9:49:48 AM) makes you wonder what else is mr duncan against having an open mind has never killed any one dude we are a very diverse state maybe you should read the QURAN I did and a lots of things AMERICAN'S have been taught a bout the QURAN is not true raised in OK with baptist faith.my question to mr duncan has he read the BIBLE and does he agree with all the contents inside another close minded politicion
	Report Comment Lynn, Florida (10/23/2007 9:56:22 AM) Good for you - Muslims should be banned from all Western Countries - their religion is a man made cult and keeps them in bondage - they have the mental and emotional capacity of a two year old having a tantrum - have you ever seen a smiling, happy muzzie?
	Report Comment Susan, Sapulpa (10/23/2007 10:01:30 AM) If an atheist can refuse a Bible citing his beliefs, why can't a Christian refuse the Quran citing his beliefs?
	Report Comment Khaled, Tulsa, OK (10/23/2007 10:02:46 AM) Being an elected leader takes a lot of responsibility and efforts. A leader is not representing the majority who elected him, but all individuals in the community. As a leader it is expected to be knowledgable, and if you are not, then at least to find those who can explain things, which the community has a lot of them. Electing not to know, and shut down the door to listen, to undrestand and to be knowledgable is not a leader quality. There are a lot of diversified ethnicity, religion, ...etc in the community and texture of Oklahoma. This the fact of US and Oklahoma lawful legal citizins whom are part of this country and community. Mr. Duncan lost a good opportunity to know, but the opportunity will stay there.

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