Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN) is not shy about discussing his faith, even as the first-ever Muslim elected to the US Congress. Ellison -- also the first African American elected to the House from Minnesota -- discussed both race and religion, as they relate to lawmaking, at a recent Aspen Institute event in Washington, DC. Two former Congressmen and current Aspen Institute directors moderated the event -- Mickey Edwards, vice president and director of the Aspen Institute-Rodel Fellowship, and Dan Glickman, vice president and executive director of the Congressional Program -- asking Ellison questions about his personal journey to Congress, which he writes about in his recently released memoir, "My Country, 'Tis of Thee: My Faith, My Family, Our Future."
When it comes to governance, the Congressman said, "I think it's perfectly legitimate to look at the core values of my faith -- which happen to be quite universal -- and bring those to bear in my decision-making." But he stops short of "prescribing unique features of my faith on others." Below, Ellison explains how he uses his religion as a lawmaker.
Ellison defined being an American as "[being] part of a tribe or nation that isn't about phenotype, hair texture, language..." Below, he shares his perspective on what the term "American" does not mean.
Watch the full conversation, below.
When it comes to governance, the Congressman said, "I think it's perfectly legitimate to look at the core values of my faith -- which happen to be quite universal -- and bring those to bear in my decision-making." But he stops short of "prescribing unique features of my faith on others." Below, Ellison explains how he uses his religion as a lawmaker.
Ellison defined being an American as "[being] part of a tribe or nation that isn't about phenotype, hair texture, language..." Below, he shares his perspective on what the term "American" does not mean.
Watch the full conversation, below.