I guess I am just old-fashioned, but I believe that there are certain protocols found in the history of America that should be maintained. Somehow, it seems to me that ignoring these protocols or changing them is not appropriate. One of these protocols is the Oath of Office taken by a newly-elected official on the Bible (or even on the Quran).

On Wednesday, Yahoo News reported that Representative-elect Robert Garcia of California will be taking his Oath of Office with three items beneath the U.S. Constitution he is swearing on. Those items are a photo of his mom and step-father, who both died of COVID-19; a copy of his United States Citizenship certificate; and a first-edition Superman comic, courtesy of the Library of Congress. While I appreciate the sentiment of the first two, I question the appropriateness of the third. Note that there is not a Bible involved.

The article reports:

The Superman comic, which was published in 1939, is a collector’s item (similar versions of which have sold for upwards of $5 million) — but more than that, it’s personal for Garcia, who was born in Peru.

“I came to America at the age of 5 as a Spanish-speaker,” the lawmaker tells PEOPLE. “As a kid, I would pick up comics at old thrift shops and pharmacies and that’s how I learned to read and write in English.”

That’s very nice, and I am glad that he obviously appreciates being an American citizen. However, I am not sure that this is the place for a superman comic. On the other hand, based on some of the antics of Congress, a comic book may be more appropriate than not.