Diplomat sworn-in on a Kindle

fjtorres · 06-02-2014, 02:45 PM

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/...reader-n120111

Quote:

Suzi LeVine, the new American ambassador to Switzerland and Liechtenstein, took a decidedly modern approach to an age-old ceremony — swearing her oath on an e-reader.

Not just any ereader, but a Kindle:
https://mobile.twitter.com/USAinUK/s...732544/photo/1

Quote:

The device was open to the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, which in 1920 guaranteed women the right to vote. Vice President Joe Biden administered the oath on Friday.

LeVine’s background makes it no surprise: She worked for years at Microsoft and Expedia as a product manager and marketing executive.

So now you can swear your innocence on a stack of Kindles.

tubemonkey · 06-03-2014, 08:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fjtorres

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/...reader-n120111

Not just any ereader, but a Kindle:
https://mobile.twitter.com/USAinUK/s...732544/photo/1

So now you can swear your innocence on a stack of Kindles.

That's neat. If it were me, I would've used the 9th Amendment (unenumerated rights).

fjtorres · 06-03-2014, 09:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

That's neat. If it were me, I would've used the 9th Amendment (unenumerated rights).

Naughty-naughty, strict constructionist monkey.

tubemonkey · 06-03-2014, 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fjtorres

Naughty-naughty, strict constructionist monkey.

LOL... except monkey is not a strict constructionist

jswinden · 06-03-2014, 12:29 PM

Duplicate thread. I started a thread 2 hours before this one.

tubemonkey · 06-03-2014, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jswinden

Duplicate thread. I started a thread 2 hours before this one.

I posted in yours first; but, the ones in the News section always get more traffic.

eschwartz · 06-03-2014, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jswinden

Duplicate thread. I started a thread 2 hours before this one.

I thought I saw another one, but when I saw this one, I went looking for the other one. Turns out the reason I didn't find it was because that one isn't in the News forum where it belongs.

Mike L · 06-03-2014, 01:06 PM

As someone who is supremely ignorant of how US ambassadors are normally sworn in, can someone tell me what the usual practice is. When people take an oath, I assume it is normally on a bible. But the above references to "amendments" make me wonder if the US constitution might be used. Is that right?

And if it's a bible, what do people other than from Judeo-Christian religions do? Does it have to be a book (paper or electronic)? And does the swearee get to choose?

Sorry if these sound like stupid questions, but the article got me thinking.

Mike

eschwartz · 06-03-2014, 01:18 PM

When people take an oath, (based on my understanding of Court protocol, but I am no expert

) the main point is to have them swear by something they value. So whichever holy book they hold sacred, at the swearee's choice.

Traditionally a Bible, since traditionally most people are Christian. Jews would bring in a Chumash etc. because "Bible" is a somewhat ambiguous term. The Christian Bible (Old+New Testament) != Jewish Torah (which is NOT the Old Testament).
(This is entirely beside the point that the Christian Bible itself has multiple conflicting texts, so how do you know which one of them to believe in.

)

Nowadays it is somewhat common to "affirm" instead of swear, if you don't believe in G-d. Because people nowadays are G-dless heathens and suchlike, naturally.

kindlekitten · 06-03-2014, 04:37 PM

that is freaking AWESOME!

QuantumIguana · 06-03-2014, 07:08 PM

There are no requirements for anyone to swear on any object. Article VI, Section 3 of the US Constitution forbids religious tests for public office. People commonly swear on the Bible, and many people think it is part of oaths, but it isn't.

There was a manufactured controversy when Keith Ellison, a member of Congress from Minnesota's 5th district was sworn in on a Quran. John Quincy Adams was sworn in on a book of laws, and Teddy Roosevelt was sworn in without a Bible being used.

issybird · 06-03-2014, 07:23 PM

LBJ was supposedly sworn in on Kennedy's missal, no bible being handy on Air Force One.

Billi · 06-04-2014, 06:13 AM

Well, not overly seriously meant, but please, to swear on a piece of plastic lacks style from end to end!

fjtorres · 06-04-2014, 06:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Billi

Well, not overly seriously meant, but please, to swear on a piece of plastic lacks style from end to end!

As opposed to swearing on a moldy rotting pile of dead tree pulp?

tubemonkey · 06-04-2014, 06:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Billi

Well, not overly seriously meant, but please, to swear on a piece of plastic lacks style from end to end!

It's the content that matters; not the shell.

06-03-2014, 01:18 PM	#9
eschwartz Ex-Helpdesk Junkie Posts: 19,422 Karma: 85397180 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: The Beaten Path, USA, Roundworld, This Side of Infinity Device: Kindle Touch fw5.3.7 (Wifi only)	When people take an oath, (based on my understanding of Court protocol, but I am no expert ) the main point is to have them swear by something they value. So whichever holy book they hold sacred, at the swearee's choice. Traditionally a Bible, since traditionally most people are Christian. Jews would bring in a Chumash etc. because "Bible" is a somewhat ambiguous term. The Christian Bible (Old+New Testament) != Jewish Torah (which is NOT the Old Testament). (This is entirely beside the point that the Christian Bible itself has multiple conflicting texts, so how do you know which one of them to believe in. ) Nowadays it is somewhat common to "affirm" instead of swear, if you don't believe in G-d. Because people nowadays are G-dless heathens and suchlike, naturally. Last edited by eschwartz; 06-03-2014 at 04:49 PM.

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06-03-2014, 12:29 PM	#5
jswinden Nameless Being	Duplicate thread. I started a thread 2 hours before this one.

06-03-2014, 01:06 PM	#8
Mike L Wizard Posts: 1,479 Karma: 3846231 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Edinburgh, Scotland Device: Kindle 3, Samsung Galaxy	As someone who is supremely ignorant of how US ambassadors are normally sworn in, can someone tell me what the usual practice is. When people take an oath, I assume it is normally on a bible. But the above references to "amendments" make me wonder if the US constitution might be used. Is that right? And if it's a bible, what do people other than from Judeo-Christian religions do? Does it have to be a book (paper or electronic)? And does the swearee get to choose? Sorry if these sound like stupid questions, but the article got me thinking. Mike

06-03-2014, 04:37 PM	#10
kindlekitten Professional Adventuress Posts: 13,368 Karma: 50260224 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: The Olympic Peninsula on the OTHER Washington! (the big green clean one on the west coast!) Device: Kindle, the original! Times Two! and gifting an International Kindle	that is freaking AWESOME!

06-03-2014, 07:08 PM	#11
QuantumIguana Philosopher Posts: 2,034 Karma: 18736532 Join Date: Jan 2012 Device: Kindle Paperwhite 2 gen, Kindle Fire 1st Gen, Kindle Touch	There are no requirements for anyone to swear on any object. Article VI, Section 3 of the US Constitution forbids religious tests for public office. People commonly swear on the Bible, and many people think it is part of oaths, but it isn't. There was a manufactured controversy when Keith Ellison, a member of Congress from Minnesota's 5th district was sworn in on a Quran. John Quincy Adams was sworn in on a book of laws, and Teddy Roosevelt was sworn in without a Bible being used.

06-03-2014, 07:23 PM	#12
issybird o saeclum infacetum Posts: 20,223 Karma: 222235366 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: New England Device: H2O, Aura One, PW5	LBJ was supposedly sworn in on Kennedy's missal, no bible being handy on Air Force One.

06-04-2014, 06:13 AM	#13
Billi Wizard Posts: 3,388 Karma: 14190103 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Berlin Device: Cybook, iRex, PB, Onyx	Well, not overly seriously meant, but please, to swear on a piece of plastic lacks style from end to end!

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