tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30414350863287346092024-03-16T17:26:34.621-07:00Pluralism CenterMike Ghousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01647894600183489442noreply@blogger.comBlogger231125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3041435086328734609.post-91870118470588498292020-01-19T09:16:00.000-08:002020-01-19T09:16:16.142-08:00Holocaust and Genocides 2020<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://holocaustandgenocides.blogspot.com/2019/12/15th-annual-holocaust-and-genocides.html" style="color: #0d0d4a; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">15th Annual Holocaust and Genocides</span></span></a></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 20.7px;"><span style="font-size: small;">PRESS RELEASE<span style="font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 20.7px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #1c1e29; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Dr. Mike Ghouse</span></span></span></div>
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<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Center for Pluralism</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Website: </span><a class="_e75a791d-denali-editor-page-rtfLink" href="http://www.centerforpluralism.com/" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #4a6ee0; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">www.CenterforPluralism.com</span></a></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Website: </span><a class="_e75a791d-denali-editor-page-rtfLink" href="http://www.holocaustandgenocides.com/" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #4a6ee0; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">www.HolocaustandGenocides.com</span></a></span></span></span></div>
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<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">email: MikeGhouse@gmail.com </span></span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #1c1e29; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Office: (202) 290-3560</span></span></span></div>
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<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Cell: (214) 325-1916</span></span></span></div>
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<ul style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #1c1e29; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0pt 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em;">
<li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; list-style-type: disc; margin: 0pt 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Press Release - </span><a class="_e75a791d-denali-editor-page-rtfLink" href="http://www.einpresswire.com/shareable-preview/Ph3gI72imCk3afsvJWZbZA" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #4a6ee0; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">http://www.einpresswire.com/shareable-preview/Ph3gI72imCk3afsvJWZbZA</span></a></span></span></span></li>
<li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; list-style-type: disc; margin: 0pt 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">RSVP - </span><a class="_e75a791d-denali-editor-page-rtfLink" href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/reflections-on-holocaust-and-genocides-tickets-86666932127" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #4a6ee0; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">https://www.eventbrite.com/e/reflections-on-holocaust-and-genocides-tickets-86666932127</span></a><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </span></span></span></span></li>
<li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; list-style-type: disc; margin: 0pt 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Facebook: </span><a class="_e75a791d-denali-editor-page-rtfLink" href="https://www.facebook.com/events/2929516827067272/" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #4a6ee0; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">https://www.facebook.com/events/2929516827067272/</span></a><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </span></span></span></span></li>
<li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; list-style-type: disc; margin: 0pt 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">At this time, it is published in 148 News outlets </span></span></span></li>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #1c1e29; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">15th Annual Reflections on the Holocaust and Genocides </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #1c1e29; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The purpose of this event is education, information, and activism. We hope to learn and acknowledge our failings and make a personal commitment to our share of saying, "Never Again."</span></span></span></div>
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<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">15th Annual Reflections on Holocaust and Genocides</span></span></span></div>
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<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">5:30 PM - 8:30 PM Sunday, January 26, 2020</span></span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Arlington Central Library, 1015 N. Quincy Street</span></span></span></div>
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<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Arlington, VA 22201</span></span></span></div>
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<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Tickets are complimentary, but donations are accepted </span></span></span></div>
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<a class="_e75a791d-denali-editor-page-rtfLink" href="http://centerforpluralism.com/donate/" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #4a6ee0; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">http://centerforpluralism.com/donate/</span></span></span></a></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #1c1e29; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #1c1e29; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">RSVP: </span><a class="_e75a791d-denali-editor-page-rtfLink" href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/reflections-on-holocaust-and-genocides-tickets-86666932127" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #4a6ee0; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">https://www.eventbrite.com/e/reflections-on-holocaust-and-genocides-tickets-86666932127</span></a></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 20.7px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></span><br /></span><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #1c1e29; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">We hope you will walk out of the event with a genuine feeling of being a contributor towards building a cohesive world where no human has to live in apprehension or fear of the other. </span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ_TLBA8Z4ftPhrZu4fz73fY3tB7BP23-PiwmxXASHQXfkF5ITvZgDpMhiFkm-xuQNqmYKU5TkjIpHyTejn8T4hCYVd7egQF8N-dAFFV9NWgt11ZWiKR2HLIRkVsU4dIxDJDE7se6HyUvr/s1600/HG2020+Flier+in+making.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; color: #0d0d4a; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="816" data-original-width="1056" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ_TLBA8Z4ftPhrZu4fz73fY3tB7BP23-PiwmxXASHQXfkF5ITvZgDpMhiFkm-xuQNqmYKU5TkjIpHyTejn8T4hCYVd7egQF8N-dAFFV9NWgt11ZWiKR2HLIRkVsU4dIxDJDE7se6HyUvr/s400/HG2020+Flier+in+making.png" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="400" /></span></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcvuxtczcFCtiCKq2GUHAIhgLHkxSzE-_ZzvAVcPsDqr1ogzjliCwsiz9KINwvmTFqUMZ4RSpD3P_FoVScyNeizm_mI5O4Vo1_wvED3wVIg0kCZBGqHjSRKnhK_kURFCMGZzLhINqym3Ro/s1600/HG20+poster+for+email.png" imageanchor="1" style="color: #0d0d4a; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></span></a></div>
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<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The Jewish community has been commemorating the Holocaust event since 1953, known as Yom HaShoah in Synagogues around the world. The general public learns it by visiting the Holocaust Museums and educational institutions.</span></span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></h3>
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<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">At the Center for Pluralism, we are committed to spreading knowledge of the Holocaust and Genocide through interfaith and public events, including the Annual reflections. </span></span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></h3>
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<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Speakers: </span></span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></h3>
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<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Robert F. Teitel - Holocaust Story</span></span></span></h3>
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<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Dr. Gregory Stanton - Signs of Genocides</span></span></span></h3>
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<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Rushan Abbas & Omer Kanat - Uyghur Updates</span></span></span></h3>
<h3 style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #1c1e29; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; margin: 0pt 0px; position: relative;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Dr. Wakar Uddin - Rohingya Update</span></span></span></h3>
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<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Muneer Baig - Kashmir Update</span></span></span></h3>
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<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Dr. TO Shanavas - India Update</span></span></span></h3>
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<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Dr. Rani Khan - Peace Pledge</span></span></span></h3>
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<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Dr. Mike Ghouse - Genesis of this event</span></span></span></h3>
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<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Rabia Baig - Mistress of Ceremony</span></span></span></h3>
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<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Volunteers:</span></span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></h3>
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<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Nausheen Baig</span></span></span></h3>
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<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Rabbi Alana Suskin</span></span></span></h3>
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<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Jafer Imam</span></span></span></h3>
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<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Dr. Zafar Iqbal</span></span></span></h3>
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<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Charles Stevenson</span></span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></h3>
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<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sponsors:</span></span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></h3>
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<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Would you like to be a sponsor?</span></span></span></h3>
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<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Our budget is $2000, full or any part </span></span></span></h3>
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<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Co-Chairs:</span></span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></h3>
<h3 style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #1c1e29; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; margin: 0pt 0px; position: relative;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Dr. Rani Khan</span></span></span></h3>
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<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Dr. Mike Ghouse</span></span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></h3>
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<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Organized by:</span></span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></h3>
<h3 style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #1c1e29; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; margin: 0pt 0px; position: relative;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Center for Pluralism</span></span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></h3>
<h3 style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #1c1e29; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; margin: 0pt 0px; position: relative;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Our format consists of four parts; Interfaith prayers, Holocaust, Genocides, Massacred and the Pledge of Peace. Silently, we will acknowledge all suffering, but physically we are limited to a few Genocides each year. </span></span></span></h3>
<h3 style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #1c1e29; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; margin: 0pt 0px; position: relative;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></h3>
<h3 style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #1c1e29; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; margin: 0pt 0px; position: relative;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> This year, a Holocaust survivor will share his story, followed by updated Uyghur, Rohingya, and the signs of making of Genocide in India. I urge everyone to watch the Schindler's list and Civil War movies to grasp the signs.</span></span></span></h3>
<h3 style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #1c1e29; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; margin: 0pt 0px; position: relative;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></h3>
<h3 style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #1c1e29; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; margin: 0pt 0px; position: relative;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I believe, when we acknowledge each other's grief and participate in each other's commemoration, we connect with the humanness within ourselves and seed the relationship of understanding and caring for each other. </span></span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></h3>
<h3 style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #1c1e29; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; margin: 0pt 0px; position: relative;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">There is a shameless cruelty in us, either we shy away or refuse to acknowledge the sufferings of others, worrying that it will devalue our own, or amounts to infidelity to our pain, and every community and nation has suffered through this. To all those who have endured the Holocaust, Genocides, Massacres, Ethnic Cleansing, Land Mines, Hunger, Rape, Torture, Occupation, Expulsion, and inhuman brutality, we must say, you are not alone. The least we can do in the process of healing is to acknowledge every one's pain in one voice. </span></span></span></h3>
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<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I cannot be safe if the people around me are not, and I will not have peace if people around me don't. It is in my interest to seek a peaceful world for one and all.</span></span></span></h3>
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<h3 style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #1c1e29; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; margin: 0pt 0px; position: relative;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">This is a Muslim initiative to assure fellow humans who have endured the Holocaust, Genocide, ethnic cleansing, massacres, rapes, injustice and other atrocities that we are all in this together to create a better world. Tikkun Olam is our sacred duty. </span></span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="line-height: 18.4px;"><br /></span></b><b><span style="color: #c00000; line-height: 27.6px;">List of Supporting Organizations (links embedded)</span></b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 27.6px;"></span><br /></span></span><ul style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0.5em 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em;">
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 20.7px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><a href="http://ifcmw.org/" style="color: #0d0d4a; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-size: small;">Interfaith Council of Metropolitan Washington</span></a></span></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 20.7px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><a href="https://www.mpac.org/" style="color: #0d0d4a; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-size: small;">Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC)</span></a></span></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 20.7px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><a href="https://www.thej.org/" style="color: #0d0d4a; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-size: small;">Pozez Jewish Community Center of Northern Virginia</span></a></span></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 20.7px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Foundation for Ethnic Understanding</span></span></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 20.7px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">American Sikhi Educational and Empowerment Network </span></span></span></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 20.7px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Jews, Muslims and Allies Acting Together (JAMAAT<span style="color: #222222;">)</span></span></span></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.528px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Response USA for Relief and Development (RUSARD)</span></span></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.528px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://iswamd.org/" style="color: #0d0d4a; text-decoration-line: none;">Islamic Society of Washington Area</a> (ISWA)</span></span></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.528px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Church of Scientology National Affairs Office </span></span></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.528px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Jews for Jewish Muslim Understanding</span></span></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.528px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></li>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: #1c1e29;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Send email t</span>o</span><span style="color: #1c1e29; font-weight: normal;"> </span><a href="mailto:HolocaustandGenocides20@gmail.com" style="color: #0d0d4a; font-weight: normal; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: blue;">HolocaustandGenocides20@gmail.com</span></a><span style="color: #1c1e29; font-weight: normal;"><br /># # #</span></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Published at 148 News Outlets<br />A few are listed below </span></span></span></span></h2>
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<li class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: black; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #1c1e29;">Fox News, Washington, DC<br /><a href="https://www.fox34.com/story/41548532/holocaust-and-genocides-commemoration-in-washington-dc" style="color: #0d0d4a; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: blue;">https://www.fox34.com/story/41548532/holocaust-and-genocides-commemoration-in-washington-dc</span></a></span><o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: black; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #1c1e29;">Fox News<br /><a href="http://www.wicz.com/story/41548532/holocaust-and-genocides-commemoration-in-washington-dc" style="color: #0d0d4a; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.wicz.com/story/41548532/holocaust-and-genocides-commemoration-in-washington-dc</span></a></span><o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: black; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #1c1e29;">NBC News<br /><a href="http://www.nbc-2.com/story/41548532/holocaust-and-genocides-commemoration-in-washington-dc" style="color: #0d0d4a; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.nbc-2.com/story/41548532/holocaust-and-genocides-commemoration-in-washington-dc</span></a></span><o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: black; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 14pt; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #1c1e29;">Boston Herald<br /><a href="http://markets.financialcontent.com/bostonherald/news/read/39355237" style="color: #0d0d4a; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: blue;">http://markets.financialcontent.com/bostonherald/news/read/39355237</span></a></span><o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
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<li class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: black; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #4a6ee0;">All Event<br /><a href="https://allevents.in/arlington/reflections-on-holocaust-and-genocides/1000086666932127" style="color: #0d0d4a; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #4a6ee0;">https://allevents.in/arlington/reflections-on-holocaust-and-genocides/1000086666932127</span></a></span><o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
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<li class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: black; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #1c1e29; font-weight: normal;">Religion News<a href="https://religion.einnews.com/pr_news/506869723/holocaust-and-genocides-commemoration-in-washington-dc" style="color: #0d0d4a; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: blue;"> https://religion.einnews.com/pr_news/506869723/holocaust-and-genocides-commemoration-in-washington-dc</span></a></span><o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
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Mike Ghousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01647894600183489442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3041435086328734609.post-47668525343521261122019-04-25T19:07:00.000-07:002019-04-25T19:07:02.948-07:00Book - American Muslim Agenda<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<i><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">If you are a conservative, then grudgingly you'll see the value in what this book offers, and if you are on the left, you want more of it, and if you are moderate, you will dance with joy.</span></i><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">HOSTING A BOOK TALK<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;">The book is about building a cohesive America where each one of us feels secure about our faith, race, ethnicity, culture, sexual and political orientation. Who does not want to live a tension free life at home, workplace, and in the public space? </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">The "American Muslim Agenda” serves a two-fold purpose. On the one hand, it separates the chaff from the grain for fellow Americans to see Muslims for who they are and not how the media projects them. On the other hand, it challenges Muslims to restore Islam to its original purpose; that is to create cohesive societies, in our case, a coherent America, where each one of the 323 Million Americans feels proud of his or her uniqueness. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">The book presents many success stories to keep the reader bemused. I am pleased to submit three versions of the blurbs on the book talk. The format can be 10 minutes or 20 minutes presentation with room for Q&A. We want our esteemed guests to go home fully satisfied with all the questions they have had about Islam and Muslims. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Our conservative friends would grudgingly acknowledge the pathway laid out in the book, while the moderates will dance with joy. If your vision of America is in tune with the book, together as Americans, we can contribute towards the greatness of our nation.</span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">Would this book bring a change? </span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Would this bring a change among Muslims towards others and others towards Muslims? Indeed, this book lays out a clear agenda to foster harmony among fellow Americans. It is akin to planting a seed and nurturing to give the beneficence to the next generation.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Some of the reservations we have about Muslims is based on what we have heard from our parents, friends, teachers, pastors, and TV. It is time for us to learn first-hand about them and remove the misunderstandings and live freely. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">It is one of the bold books written about Muslims, and it highlights the sources of extremism and how to cure it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Unfortunately, some of the Muslim scholars from the past have reduced Islam to a religion of rituals and obedience. This book brings clarity to Muslims and fellow humans and separates the chaff from the wheat for you.</span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">What is the overall theme of your book?</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">The overall theme of the book is to open people's hearts and minds towards each other. I believe that the ultimate ‘unexpressed’ purpose of humans is to live freely and be comfortable with one's culture, race, religion, ethnicity, sexuality, and individuality.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">It will appeal to Muslims and Non-Muslims alike, as they have never seen the pristine, pluralistic Islam. Moreover, for the first time in Islamic history, the essence of Islam is explained. Also, for the first time, the book explains twelve values directly from the Quran that contributes towards building cohesive societies with no privileges to one over the other. It is human nature to get along with fellow beings, and this book will resonate with them and pave the path for them to see the light at the end of the tunnel.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">TEN T<b>AKE AWAY POINTS FROM THE BOOK</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">1. The American Muslim Agenda challenges Muslims to think and restore Islam to its original purpose – i.e., to create a cohesive America, where each one of the 323 Million Americans feels secure with his or her faith, race, ethnicity culture, sexual and political orientation. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">2. The American Muslim Agenda paves the way for Muslims to own their mistakes, and remedy them. It corrects how fellow Americans perceive Muslims.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">3. Islam is not about imposing (Sharia) your ideas or governing others. Islam is about living your life and letting others live theirs with freedom. That is the original Islam. Islam is about freedom and firmly stands for free will.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">4. The essence and purpose of Islam from a humanity’s (Aalameen) perspective for the first time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">5. Never before in Islamic history, twelve values of Islam that contribute to creating secure, orderly and cohesive societies have been articulated. Verses from the Quran fully back each value. Thus, the book becomes a reference manual to teach and learn about Islam.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">6. The best way to combat Islamophobia is through education, engagement, and dialogue. There are many success stories narrated including dealing with Fox News, Sean Hannity, Stuart Varney and the supposedly most of the Islamaphobes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">7. This book is the product of twenty years of research and interviews with the right, left, and the moderate fellow humans from many faiths including 150 interviews at Fox News and its many right-leaning guests.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">8. Can a Muslim become President of the United States? What does it take, there is a full chapter on the topic?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">9. In the end, it is learning to respect the otherness of the other and accepting the God given the uniqueness of each one of the 323 million Americans.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">10. There is a whole lot more, and it is all in the book.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">Talk Version 1.0<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">Title of the talk: Muslims making America the Greatest nation on earth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">Americans Muslims are committed to building a cohesive America, an inclusive America where each one of the 323 Million Americans feel secure about his/her faith, race, ethnicity, culture, sexual and political orientation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">When you are free from apprehensions, and connect with fellow workers, the workplace becomes a joy to be. You will give 100% of your heart and mind to your work, and your family benefits from having a whole of you, thus creating a little heaven for yourselves.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">Dr. Mike Ghouse, author, public speaker, pluralist, interfaith wedding officiant, and the president of the Center for Pluralism in Washington, DC., will discuss how Muslim efforts in building a cohesive America are working.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">He points out that we are Americans, we are free and brave people and must jettison our apprehensions about each other to live freely. Mike advises that if you are a conservative, then grudgingly you'll see a value in what this book offers, and if you are on the left, you want more of it, and the moderates will dance with joy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">He points out that we are Americans, we are free, and the brave people, and must jettison our apprehensions about each other to live freely. How do we accomplish that? It is by knowing each other.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">America has always led the world in science, medicine, math, agriculture, automation, information technology, exploration and all the advancements of the human race, and it is time for us to lead the world in building a cohesive nation. The book offers concrete solutions to Americans to make America a great and powerful model nation of inclusion for Americans to enjoy living their lives productively and purposefully, and the world to look up to us to emulate.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">We have to assure each other and every American without exception that we are committed to each other's security, prosperity, and peace. Our goal is to reach out to every American who has not been reached before, particularly those who do not understand us. As American Muslims, we uphold, protect, defend and celebrate the values enshrined in our constitution.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">Mike will share a few incredible success stories of dealing with our friends on the right and answer questions about Muslim efforts.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">The book “American Muslim Agenda” will become a reference manual to knowledge seekers and teachers of Islam, and those who want to see one nation, one people and one America. For Muslims, it is backed up with verses from the Quran. You can order this book from Amazon, Kindle, Barnes & Noble, Google, and other book stores. See the talking points at http://www.AmericanMuslimAgenda.com and Mike’s profile appended at https://www.linkedin.com/inmikeghouse.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">Americans Muslims are committed to building a cohesive America, an inclusive America where each one of the 323 Million Americans feel secure about his/her faith, race, ethnicity, culture, sexual and political orientation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">When you are free from apprehensions, and connect with fellow workers, the workplace becomes a joy to be. You will give 100% of your heart and mind to your work, and your family benefits from having a whole of you with them creating a little heaven for yourselves.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">Dr. Mike Ghouse, author, public speaker, pluralist, interfaith wedding officiant, and the President of the Center for Pluralism in Washington, DC., will discuss how Muslim effort is ongoing in building a cohesive America, where each one of the 323 Million Americans feel secure about his/her faith, race, ethnicity, culture, sexual and political orientations.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">He points out that we are Americans, we are free and brave people and must jettison our apprehensions about each other to live freely. Mike advises that if you are a conservative, then grudgingly you'll see a value in what this book offers, and if you are on the left, you want more of it, and the moderates will dance with joy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">The book paves the way for Muslims to own their mistakes, remedy them, and correct how fellow Americans perceive Muslims. Mike argues that Islam is not about imposing your ideas or governing others. Instead, Islam is about living your life and letting others live theirs with freedom. It is a bold challenge to Muslims. He shows a narration from humanity's (Aalameen) perspective of the essence and purpose of Islam for the first time in history.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">Mike articulates, for the first time in Islamic history, twelve values of Islam that contribute to creating secure, orderly and cohesive societies. He concludes that the best way to combat Islamophobia (and other phobias) is through education, engagement, and dialogue. Mike lays out a clear agenda to foster harmony among fellow Americans. It is akin to planting a seed and nurturing to give the beneficence to the next generation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">Mike believes when Muslims become one with all and defend American values with their souls, they will become part of the American story, and everyone’s language will automatically shift from us vs. them to us, the one nation under God with liberty and justice for all. As American Muslims, we uphold, protect, defend and celebrate the values enshrined in our constitution.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">This book will become a reference manual to teachers of Islam and knowledge seekers about Islam, as it is backed up verses from the Quran. You can order his book from Amazon, Kindle, Barnes & Noble, Google, and other book stores. See the talking points at http://www.AmericanMuslimAgenda.com and Mike’s profile appended at https://www.linkedin.com/inmikeghouse.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">The American Muslim Agenda is a primer, a blueprint, and a road map for Americans in general and Muslims in particular.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">A Muslim is someone who is a conflict mitigater and a goodwill nurturer, following the formula for peaceful societies practiced by Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and guided by the Quran.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">As a community, American Muslims have not developed any concrete plans to extricate themselves out of the chaotic situations, hostility and incessant Islamophobic rhetoric we face. Each time a terrorist acts out, we start praying and wishing that the terrorist not be a Muslim. We are Americans, and we can do better than that.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">There is only one America, and all of us are fully integrated parts of that nation. We need to learn to engage with those who are opposed to us, and reassure them that we are all in this together. Mike will share some success stories.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">When we start defending America and the American values we are in! We become an integral part of American Fabric. That is the clear objective articulated in this book.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">The book is available at Amazon, Kindle, Google, Xlibris, Barnes & Nobles, and other book stores. The softcover is priced at $19.99, and the hardcover is $29.99. It is also available as an eBook.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">The American Muslim Agenda will be in the hands of lawmakers, presidential candidates, media persons, lobbyists, think tanks, educators, interfaith activists, CEO, and fellow Americans. The book is about building a cohesive America where each one of us can live securely with our faith, race, ethnicity, and culture.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">As American Muslims, we uphold, protect, defend and celebrate the values enshrined in our constitution.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">Mike is a public speaker, author, interfaith wedding officiant, a newsmaker and the executive director of the Center for Pluralism in Washington, DC. More about him at <span style="color: windowtext;"><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikeghouse/" style="color: black; text-decoration-line: none;">https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikeghouse/</a></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">Email to: SpeakerMikeGhouse@gmail.com or text (214) 325-1916</span></div>
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Mike Ghousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01647894600183489442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3041435086328734609.post-6286738823689664792019-02-13T18:08:00.001-08:002019-02-13T18:08:17.681-08:00American Muslim Agenda - What is it?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 21.4667px;">What is that Americans Muslims want? How close are they to what you want? What can they do about it? What are your issues with each other? If you are a conservative, grudgingly, you'll see the value in this book, and if you are a moderate, you'll dance and sing along with joy.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 21.4667px;">You and I have a responsibility to create a world where, you, me, and our grandchildren can live without apprehensions. No matter we go, we should feel secure about faith, race, ethnicity, culture and our political and sexual orientation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 21.4667px;">Would the book American Muslim Agenda bring attitudinal change among Muslims? Yes, it will, it’s akin to planting seeds and nurturing it to give the beneficence to the next generation. I know most American Muslims will wholeheartedly subscribe to the refreshed understanding of Islam, we need to expand it to more Americans.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 21.4667px;">Some of the reservations we have about Muslims and Islam are based on what we have heard from our parents, teachers, clergy, favorite media people and others. We need to find the truth on our own and find freedom from misunderstandings. It is a blessing to be free.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 21.4667px;">Muslims have shied away from confronting difficult issues about their faith, and most of them don't even have a clue about the essence of Islam, it was never articulated before in the history of Islam. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 21.4667px;">A few medieval scholars have reduced Islam to rituals, five pillars, dhimmi, jizya, sharia, externalities, and enforcement of your rules on to others. That is not Islam, and most Muslims can recite verses that Islam is about free will. God uploaded free will into Adam’s DNA, and emphasized it in the Quran, the prophet practiced ‘freewill’ and established examples for it. Sadly, Muslims know the truth but were bullied into silence with fatwa bombs. All I have done is articulated what Muslims believe, but dared not say it. The book is the voice of the majority of ‘American’ Muslims.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 21.4667px;">This book is a product of twenty years of research and thousands of discussions in which Muslims, non-Muslims, and “Islamophobes” have participated in it, including debates on Fox News with Sean Hannity, Stuart Varney, Pamela Geller, Brigitte Gabrielle, Robert Spencer, Jamie Glazov, Raymond Ibrahim, Walid Shoebat, Wafa Sultan, and several others. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 21.4667px;">Islam is about living your life and letting others live theirs. Islam is about building cohesive societies where all of God's creation lives with dignity and freedom. In God’s universe, we are merely a speck, and no one is more privileged than the other. If you are a moderate individual of any faith, you will find the book in tune with you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 21.4667px;">It is time to go beyond the five pillars of Islam, and I hope the Imams and Muslim scholars who are free thinkers would appreciate the contents of the book. This book may indeed become a reference manual for teaching Islamic values that contribute to creating a better world for all humanity.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 21.4667px;">The American Muslim Agenda offers guidance to Muslims to be one with all, and it voices what Muslims believe and live with and empowers them to live their lives and let others live with free will. The book opens the door to people of other faiths to shed their biases and join hands in creating a world of safety, security, and harmony for all humanity.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 21.4667px;">Islam is a public religion, and Muslims don't own it exclusively. You are invited to participate in discussions, including your faith. The book is expected to initiate conversations about the nature of Islam and fellow humans. I welcome your criticism (after reading the book).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 21.4667px;">You can get the book by calling 1-888-795-4274 x 4528 or get it from Amazon online or a book store. You can find the talking points at </span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="line-height: 21.4667px;"><a href="http://www.americanmuslimagenda.com/" style="color: #183e7c; text-decoration-line: none;">www.AmericanMuslimAgenda.com</a></span></span><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 21.4667px;">.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 21.4667px;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Dr. Mike Ghouse is committed to building a cohesive America and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day. His new book, the “American Muslim Agenda” is about everything you wanted to know about Muslims. The book is available at Xlibris and Amazon. Mike is a public speaker, author, interfaith wedding officiant, and the executive director of the Center for Pluralism in Washington, DC. More about him at </span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="border: 1pt none; color: #00bcd5; padding: 0in;"><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikeghouse/" style="color: #165288; text-decoration-line: none;">https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikeghouse/</a></span></span><span style="line-height: 16.478px;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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Mike Ghousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01647894600183489442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3041435086328734609.post-84967930542874789562014-10-25T13:39:00.003-07:002014-10-25T13:39:30.888-07:00Warning to Terrorists - the BIG red poster<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 1px solid rgb(228, 228, 228); box-shadow: 1px 1px 5px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.098); color: black; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 20.02px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 5px; position: relative; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIMUd_q9sS5TAPFnpUq4qRvS62qTq3MVWDqFvTzqWPmbA8TuSWTOVSEahbKuixybxZVjgpYI0tZRsyZxHxiCQEsvxw5T1MRbA3OP-DVAhRhEZOqCrHu7y9BNMSdiNtYCwC8jJdLtmYoVaN/s1600/Warning+to+Terrorists.jpg" style="color: #212c6a; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIMUd_q9sS5TAPFnpUq4qRvS62qTq3MVWDqFvTzqWPmbA8TuSWTOVSEahbKuixybxZVjgpYI0tZRsyZxHxiCQEsvxw5T1MRbA3OP-DVAhRhEZOqCrHu7y9BNMSdiNtYCwC8jJdLtmYoVaN/s400/Warning+to+Terrorists.jpg" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; border: medium none; box-shadow: 0px 0px 0px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.098); padding: 0px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></span></span></span></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span><span><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">CLICK ON THE RED POSTER TO VIEW IN FULL SIZE</span></b></span></span></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span><span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The acronyms SOB, AH, BS and others are certainly uncouth, but they effectively communicate a purposeful message, hence I made that choice. The Warning poster to Terrorist is a double edged sword and is at the bottom - the big red poster.<br /><br />The following comments have been received against the poster below.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></span><span><span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span><br /></span></span></span></span><ol style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 20.02px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span><span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">“<span style="color: black;">sometimes your brain goes on strike I guess”,</span></span></span></span></span></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span><span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">“Don’t jeopardize”</span></span></span></span></span></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span><span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">“Who gave you the authority to represent Muslims?”</span></span></span></span></span></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span><span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"> “</span><span style="color: black;">Not appropriate and safe for you in today's hostile environment.”</span></span></span></span></span></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span><span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"> “</span><span style="color: black;">this is a mindless drivel”</span></span></span></span></span></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span><span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">“You are not qualified to speak for Islam”</span></span></span></span></span></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span><span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"> “</span><span style="color: black;">Do you think your severe warning will have any darn effect on these fanatics”</span></span></span></span></span></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span><span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">“</span>I second it”</span></span></span></span></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span><span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">“it is appropriate response”.</span></span></span></span></span></li>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span><span><span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 14.95px;">In a learning environment, good thoughts and concrete ideas are developed with criticism and feedback; here is why this kind of response is needed. </span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span><span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span><br /></span></span></span></span><ol style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 20.02px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span><span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Don't bark at the religion for the acts of bad guys. Punishment is set for bad acts, to restore the trust in a given society. When a Rapist is running around in a neighborhood, everyone is apprehensive, but when the guy is caught and nailed, peace of mind is restored in the neighborhood. Instead of catching the guy, if we blame his raising, his family, his religion, his race or nation, and his imam, rabbi, pastor or pundit – we will not restore peace. I intend to aggressively communicate this idea, the right idea, and intend to speak at various law enforcement agencies as well as religious institutions. </span></span></span></span></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span><span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The criminal ought to know that he will be punished; we will not allow the poor alibi of religion, not at all. The Law enforcement and the media people also need to get this in their heads, the purpose of investigations and chasing the bad guys is to restore trust and not to aggravate by barking at a non-entity like Religion. The more you bark at criminal’s religion, race or ethnicity, the worse it gets. You cannot shoot, kill, hang, beat or bury the religion, then why bark at it?<br /></span></span></span></span></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span><span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">72 Virgins are promised. Both the terrorists and the communicators of the problem (Media and Politicians) to the world at large have gotten it wrong. The poor guy needs to be outraged at the recruiters that he was duped, and there are no 72 virgins waiting for him, instead the SOB will rot in Jail if we Americans get him, or killed mercilessly if he is caught by the opposite party. No Geneva conventions will be observed by either the terrorist or his chasers. The Media needs to stop the BS of propagating the falsity with nothing to back up in the Qur'an.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span><span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Both the criminal and the law enforcement (coupled with the media and politicians) must be aware that it is the Sin, and not the sinner we are after. The clarity should prevent us from being unjust. We should not be abusive in disciplining or punishing the wrong doer. As a civil society, we cannot become the very evil we want to eradicate.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br /> </span></span></span></span></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span><span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We should seek the criminal to lead us to the source of recruiting material and the recruiters by mitigating his punishment. </span></span></span></span></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span><span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The Challenge to “read the right translation/interpretation” of Qur'an applies to both the criminal and the law enforcement. I am certain, the criminal will become a genuine repenter, and the law enforcement will not buy or propagate the dished out non-sense in the market or bark irrelevantly.</span></span></span></span></span></li>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span><span><span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">This is the right time to forge peace to the society in general, and American society in particular by boldly and loudly getting people to get the message, and i.e.,<br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span><span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span><br /></span></span></span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span><span><span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">I am being assertive, never has any Muslim or other communicated this so clearly and it is time we do that, thank God for the opportunities he has blessed us with to find solutions. If I don't, no one will speak, and I sincerely hope many of us to speak up, do it on your own or join me.</span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span><span><span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 14.95px;">It is time we separate the evil from good.<br /><br />Bottom line is to free Islam and Muslims from the stupid stereotyping, and focus on punishing the bad guys and restoring trust in the society. </span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span><span></span></span></span></span><div style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 20.02px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span><span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">You SOB, you are the damned murderer, you messed up the peace, and your ass will nailed big time.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br /><br />Don’t give me the BS about your job, childhood, parents, kids, siblings, spouse, imam, rabbi, pastor or the pundit. You did it and you'll pay for it.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I am not stupid to buy in your argument that your religion made you do that, and then bark at the religion endlessly. AH, you are the bad guy and you are going to pay for it. I am here to restore justice in the society and not be detracted and scream at your religion like a stupid ass. I can hang you, shoot you, bury you and beat you up to restore justice and trust in the society, and that is my goal<br /><br /> <span style="color: #134f5c;"><i>Note: Mr. Terrorist, I don't condemn you, it is your sin I condemn. If you claim to be a Muslim, just remember, those guys who recruited you, and cheated you with false promises of Hoories and virgins in paradise were dead wrong. There is no such thing nor is it mentioned in Qur'an, instead you will rot in jail for life. Would you turn in your recruiters for cheating you? Would you read the correct translations of Qur'an, we might minimize your sentence?</i></span><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><span style="color: #134f5c;"></span><br /><span style="color: #134f5c;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This should be the attitude of Law enforcement<br />Authorized by Mike Ghouse, World Muslim Congress.</span></span></span></span></span><div style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 20.02px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span><span><span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="0"><br />Thank you</span><span lang="0" style="color: black;"><br /> </span><span lang="0" style="color: black;"><b><br />Mike Ghouse</b><br />(214) 325-1916 text/talk<br /><a href="http://www.worldmuslimcongress.com/" style="color: #212c6a; text-decoration: none;">www.WorldMuslimCongress.com </a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br />...............................................................................................................................<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br />Mike Ghouse is a public speaker, thinker, writer and a commentator on Pluralism at work place, politics, religion, society, gender, race, culture, ethnicity, food and foreign policy. He is commentator on Fox News and syndicated Talk Radio shows and a writer at major news papers including Dallas Morning News and Huffington Post. All about him is listed in several links at<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><i><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: purple;"><a href="http://www.mikeghouse.net/" style="color: #212c6a; text-decoration: none;">www.MikeGhouse.net</a></span></span></i><b><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: purple;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></b>and his writings are at<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><i><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.theghousediary.com/" style="color: #212c6a; text-decoration: none;">www.TheGhousediary.com</a></span></i><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>and 10 other blogs. He is committed to building cohesive societies and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day.</span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
Mike Ghousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01647894600183489442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3041435086328734609.post-9370293595067027382014-03-19T15:30:00.000-07:002014-03-19T21:04:43.125-07:00Muslim response to Hindu Temple torched in Larkana, Pakistan <h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">URL - <a href="http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2014/03/muslim-response-to-hindu-temple-torched.html">http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2014/03/muslim-response-to-hindu-temple-torched.html</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The
World Muslim Congress is joined by the Institute of Quranic knowledge
and Intrafaith Religious Acceptance of Quran, and Pakistan American
Association of Texas in condemning the violent act of burning the Hindu
Temple in Larkana, Sindh, by an aggressive mob, unfortunately in the
name of peace; Islam.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi14-yA9Q6tenLoI-lvUPEIHCnvCvntRe2fM0UHTns0SWYFNCSNzJrad2jMFq5jS382g3MUeSOUNg2elaqSTaKlR-sLyGnKntyPlF5WNibGb8WwXDUunfDmjNwWJvg76_WyK_Si4H2r0un/s1600/Hindu+Temple+burned+to+Ground+-+Muslim+Response.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi14-yA9Q6tenLoI-lvUPEIHCnvCvntRe2fM0UHTns0SWYFNCSNzJrad2jMFq5jS382g3MUeSOUNg2elaqSTaKlR-sLyGnKntyPlF5WNibGb8WwXDUunfDmjNwWJvg76_WyK_Si4H2r0un/s1600/Hindu+Temple+burned+to+Ground+-+Muslim+Response.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Reuters reported, “Hundreds of angry
Pakistanis attacked a Hindu temple and set it on fire in southern
Pakistan overnight following a rumour that a member of the Hindu
community had desecrated the Koran, police and community leaders said on
Sunday.”<br /><br />As Muslims, we are embarrassed with the acts of these
men who acted on their own, and we condemn these acts unequivocally,
commented Mike Ghouse who heads the World Muslim Congress, a think tank
in Dallas, Texas.<br /><br />We do however, appreciate one small ray of
hope, “The Pakistani Muslim scholars have denounced attacks on a Hindu
temple in Sindh's Larkana district, calling for urgent probe into the
incident in which protests against Qur'an desecration turned into
violent clashes.”<br /><br />The Muslim majority is deeply concerned about
it, and we urge Muslims around the world in general and Pakistani
Muslims in particular to create a fund to rebuild the temple that is the
least one can do to fellow countrymen. Every society has a
responsibility to guard the safety of its minorities, women, seniors and
the children; no one should feel fearful of the majorities that is the
hallmark of civil societies.<br /><br />Dr. Basheer Ahmed of IQRA and Dr.
Amer Suleman of PAAT felt the responsibility to take that first step in
building a cohesive Pakistan where every Pakistani feels safe. The least
we can do is to contribute towards restoring the Temple. The Pakistan
American Association of Texas is celebrating the Pakistan day on March
23rd in Dallas, and has generously donated a booth at the Mela to raise
the funds. All proceeds will go towards restoration of the temple.<br /><br />We
have ways to go; a few among us feel insecure in our faith. God is not
going anywhere, Quran will not disappear if someone desecrates or burns
it, nor Prophet will be affected by any acts, they have been around, and
Alhamdu Lillah they will be there forever.<br /><br />It is odd that Hafiz
Muhammad Tahir Mahmood Ashrafi, the Chairman of the Pakistan Ulema
Council (PUC), told The News on Monday, March 17, “Our religion, Islam,
preaches peace, love and forbearance,” Then he goes on to justify the
violence. “However, it is also necessary that the followers of other
religions should respect the sentiments of the Muslims.” This is
disrespectful to Islam’s principles of peace.<br /><br />Prophet Muhammad
(pbuh) prayed for those who threw rocks at him on his way to Taif, even
Arch angel Gabriel offered to crush the miscreants, but prophet did not
extract a pound of flesh, nor did he blame the miscreants, he forgave
them and prayed for them unconditionally. That is the religion of peace,
and that is the model we need to follow.<br /><br />While Law and order
brings the situation under control; it does not put off the fires
completely, the dying sparks grow and explode again unless they are
addressed. <br /><br />Muslims at large are at fault for allowing the abuse
of blasphemy laws in Pakistan, which is anathema to the Character of
Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), regarded as mercy to the mankind. It is time
for us Muslims to mean it, that we the followers of Prophet Muhammad
follow the principles of peace he taught us; indeed he was Rahmatul
Aalameen - a mercy to mankind. No human should fear us, instead they
should feel safe and secure and say it out of their hearts that Muslims
are peace loving people and follow the principles of their prophet. <br /><br />Do
Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), Quran and God need our protection? If we
believe that they need our protection, then we are dead wrong. As
Muslims, we need to believe in the prophet, he is not going anywhere nor
will he be hurt or harmed with any insults.<br /><br />Islam stands on its
own; it does not need our defense, and it is silly to protect God or the
Prophet, they are not weaklings or our property to protect, they belong
to the whole universe, don't they?<br /><br /> If they curse the prophet,
prophet is not going to be cursed, let us have the strength in our faith
and return badness with Good, as he guided us to do; we know all the
examples of his work, can we not be Rahmatul Aalameen to the people of
the Alam?<br /><br />Contact information<br /><br />1. Mike Ghouse, President, WMC, MikeGhouse@aol.com (214) 325-1916<br /><br />2. Dr. Basheer Ahmed, President, IQRA, mbahmed05@yahoo.com <br /><br />3. Dr. Amer Suleman, President, PAAT, suleman.amer@gmail.com<br /><br />Funds
can be donated to PAAT or IQRA, and funds of over $100.00 can be
donated online at America Together Foundation
http://americatogetherfoundation.com/donate/ - 100% of the proceeds will
go the restoration of the temple. All donations will be reported, and
donations of over $100 will be listed at WorldMuslimCongress.com
website.</span></span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span lang="0" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">...............................................................................................................................
<br />Mike Ghouse is a <a href="http://www.professionalspeakermikeghouse.com/">speaker</a>, thinker and a
<a href="http://theghousediary.com/">writer</a> on <a href="http://www.foundationforpluralism.com/">pluralism</a></span><span lang="0" style="color: #003366; font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">,<a href="http://republicanmoderates.blogspot.com/"> politics</a>, peace, <a href="http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/">Islam</a>, <a href="http://israel-palestine-dialogue.blogspot.com/">Israel</a>, <a href="http://mikeghouseforindia.blogspot.com/">India</a>, <a href="http://pluralismcenter.blogspot.com/">interfaith</a>, and cohesion at work
place. He is committed to building a <a href="http://www.americatogetherfoundation.com/">Cohesive America</a> and offers
pluralistic solutions on issues of the day at <a href="http://www.theghousediary.com/">www.TheGhousediary.com</a>. He believes in
<a href="http://standingupforothers.blogspot.com/">Standing up for others</a>
and a book with the same title is coming up. Mike has a strong presence on
national and local TV, Radio and Print Media. He is a frequent guest on <a href="http://www.hannity.com/guest/ghouse-mike/10804">Sean Hannity show</a> on
Fox TV, and a commentator on national radio networks, he contributes weekly to
the Texas Faith Column at <a href="http://religionblog.dallasnews.com/">Dallas
Morning News</a>; fortnightly at <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mike-ghouse">Huffington post;</a> and
several other periodicals across the world. His personal site <a href="http://www.mikeghouse.net/">www.MikeGhouse.net</a> indexes all his work
through many links. </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"></span><span style="font-size: small;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /> </span><span style="color: #003366; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"></span></span>Mike Ghousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01647894600183489442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3041435086328734609.post-35111555842993554072014-01-29T08:19:00.002-08:002014-01-29T08:19:40.212-08:00Yair Netanyahu's Girlfriend Sandra Leikanger Isn't Jewish: Israeli Prime Minister's Son Has Relationship Slammed By Orthodox Leaders <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span>The Orthodoxy in every faith has the same problem!</span></span></span>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span><span class="bold color_1A1A1A"><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/28/yair-netanyahu-girlfriend_n_4681846.html?utm_source=concierge&utm_medium=onsite&utm_campaign=sailthru%2Bslider%2B">Courtesy Huffington Post</a><br /><br />By JOSEF FEDERMAN</span>
01/27/14 03:03 PM ET EST <span class="ap"><img alt="AP" height="18" src="http://s.huffpost.com/images/v/ap_wire.png" width="18" /></span></span></span></span>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span>JERUSALEM (AP) — The love life of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's son is setting off sparks — in Israeli politics.</span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span>News that 23-year-old Yair Netanyahu is dating a statuesque
non-Jewish Norwegian university student was not only a juicy item for
the gossip pages. It also unleashed an uproar from religious lawmakers
opposed to intermarriage, and prompted debate over the Jewish state's
relationship with the outside world.</span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span>According to reports in Norwegian media, the Israeli prime
minister boasted to his Norwegian counterpart, Erna Solberg, about the
relationship during a meeting at the World Economic Forum in Davos last
week and informed her that his son recently visited Norway with his
girlfriend, Sandra Leikanger. A photo of the smiling young couple
appeared in both Israeli and Norwegian newspapers.</span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span>On Monday, the leader of the ultra-Orthodox Shas party said he
believed the relationship actually caused Netanyahu and his wife great
"heartache." Arieh Deri told a local radio station the relationship was
no mere personal matter because Netanyahu is a "symbol of the Jewish
people."</span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span>"I know friends of mine who invest tens of millions and more,
hundreds of millions to fight assimilation in the world," Deri told the
Kol Barama station. "If God forbid it's true, woe to us."</span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span>Other groups called on Netanyahu to put a stop to the relationship.
Even the prime minister's brother in law, Hagai Ben-Artzi, took to the
airwaves to speak out against it.</span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span>"Yair should know that if he does such a thing, if he doesn't break
off the relationship, then ... he is spitting on the graves of his
grandmother and grandfather who loved him so much and raised him,"
Ben-Artzi told Kikar Shabbat, an ultra-Orthodox news site.</span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span>Ben-Artzi, an outspoken Jewish nationalist who is often critical of
the prime minister, said he had not spoken to the family in months.
"Maybe they weren't in touch because they were afraid to tell me," he
said.</span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span>Netanyahu's office declined to comment, as did Leikanger.</span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span>Israel always had an ultra-Orthodox minority of devout and
conservative Jews, who currently account for just under a tenth of the
population. Thanks to their political clout, the ultra-Orthodox oversee
weddings, divorces and burials — meaning that the younger Netanyahu
would not be permitted to marry his girlfriend here — if they one day
get serious — unless she converts. Orthodox Jewish Law prohibits
intermarriage.</span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span>In recent years Israel's internal rupture has become even more
complex, with religious Jews of various shades, and ultranationalists,
increasingly pitted against a secular population that can be
extraordinarily progressive on issues like gay rights. The cultural
clash has become so extreme — over issues like the religious desire to
segregate the sexes on some bus lines or the refusal by the religious to
performing compulsory military service — that many Jews joke the
internal divisions are more intractable than the troubles with the
Palestinians.</span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span>Yossi Sarid, a former Israeli education minister and onetime leader
of the secular-rights party Meretz, called the younger Netanyahu's love
life a "private matter." But he said the uproar among the religious was
"nonsense."</span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span>"It's not fair. You can't expect fairness from those people," Sarid
said. "They don't like non-Jews. They don't like non-Orthodox Jews. They
are behaving as fanatics everywhere behave."</span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span>Noah Slepkov, an associate fellow at the Jewish People Policy
Institute, said the debate reflects changes taking place within Israel.</span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span>While intermarriage has long been a "huge deal" in the United States,
he said, where roughly half of American Jews marry outside the faith,
it has been a nonissue in Israel because Jews and Arabs almost never
marry.</span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span>But that has begun to change, due to an influx of foreign workers and
the trend of Israelis studying and working abroad in an age of
globalization. "It's certainly a trend that's at the beginning," he
said, but one that nonetheless can make conservative Israelis feel
threatened.</span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span>He said the criticism of Netanyahu's son was counterproductive in a country that increasingly finds itself isolated.</span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span>"For a country that has such a bad reputation supposedly, we don't
help ourselves by making people like 'the other,' and by not being
inclusive," he said. "We're insecure. People need to realize that having
a few percent of our people intermarrying is not going to hurt this."</span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span>Netanyahu himself is a fervent Jewish nationalist and history buff,
speaking out strongly against anti-Semitism and other threats facing the
Jewish people. He has steadfastly demanded that the Palestinians
recognize Israel as the Jewish homeland as part of any peace agreement.</span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span>In his younger days, Netanyahu was married to a non-Jewish woman who converted.</span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span>Yair, a university student, is the son of Netanyahu's third wife, Sara.</span></span></span></div>
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Mike Ghousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01647894600183489442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3041435086328734609.post-40429776937601330502014-01-24T13:40:00.000-08:002014-01-24T13:40:00.148-08:00Native American Genocides and the Muslim Guy <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span>Holocaust and the Muslim Guy
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</span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span>Frequently, I am introduced in the following manner, "He is the
first Muslim guy to commemorate Holocaust, and perhaps the first
non-Jewish person to commemorate the Holocaust as well." </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span>Of all the people on the earth, my mother would be pleased to know that I am
doing what it takes to be a "good Muslim," to respect, honor and protect the
sanctity of life. <br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span>
</span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span>As a Muslim committed to building cohesive societies, it was an honor
to step up to the plate. Quran 3:133, "And vie with one another to
attain to your Sustainer's forgiveness and to a paradise as vast as the
heavens and the earth, which has been readied for the God-conscious." I
am not driven by paradise, nor do I seek rewards. But it does mean
building a cohesive world where no one has to live in apprehension or
fear of the other. God-conscious simply means being caring and sensitive
to all of God's creation; life and matter. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span>
</span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span><br />Of all the people on the earth, my mother would be pleased to know I
am doing what it takes to be a "good Muslim," to respect, honor and
protect the sanctity of life. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span>
</span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span>I have always believed, and I read the assessments of some of the
best brains that if we can resolve the Jewish-Palestinian conflict,
i.e., security to Jews and justice to the Palestinians, most of the
world issues will collapse and a period of peace on earth will begin. </span></span><br />
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</span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span><a href="http://images.huffingtonpost.com/2014-01-20-Opening1.jpg"><img alt="2014-01-20-Opening1.jpg" height="202" src="http://images.huffingtonpost.com/2014-01-20-Opening1-thumb.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></span><br />
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</span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span><br />Commemorating Holocaust and Genocides for seven years is a fulfillment of a lifelong desire. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span>Continued at Huffington post - <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mike-ghouse/holocaust-and-the-muslim-_b_4629509.html#es_share_ended">http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mike-ghouse/holocaust-and-the-muslim-_b_4629509.html#es_share_ended</a></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span><br /> # # #</span></span></span>Mike Ghousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01647894600183489442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3041435086328734609.post-13454054234429072262014-01-11T10:17:00.002-08:002014-01-11T10:17:20.336-08:00Pluralism news paper<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">PluralismCenter.com <br /><br />Thank you for the great "name suggestions" you have made for the new online news paper on the topic of Pluralism. We are down to two names now and we need your input.<br /></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkdP38mmKUzc5vKF-qIRRyZZTtr0iMmRZSGY7Fb7EYo42UVPvs16kFKwncEIV7F6HQKuGwXhPqqXdAcVC_hpp1EnjT9A0rZe-8P3fpw0UlfUWcsq8Q5_2hfXy1uUMjUQVd2RUGqqxoNLDK/s1600/PluralismTimes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkdP38mmKUzc5vKF-qIRRyZZTtr0iMmRZSGY7Fb7EYo42UVPvs16kFKwncEIV7F6HQKuGwXhPqqXdAcVC_hpp1EnjT9A0rZe-8P3fpw0UlfUWcsq8Q5_2hfXy1uUMjUQVd2RUGqqxoNLDK/s1600/PluralismTimes.jpg" height="262" width="400" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">At least for a year, this will remain on-line paper with articles on Pluralism relating to society, culture, religion, politics, food and other issues where conflicts exist.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Funds permitting, we hope to make this a subscription based printed monthly magazine reaching out to decision makers.</span></span><br />
<br />
<b><span style="color: navy; font-family: Rockwell; font-size: x-large;">WHAT IS PLURALISM?</span><span style="color: navy; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><br />
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<span style="color: #003366; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: medium;">
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: medium;">"It is respecting the otherness of others"
</span></i><b>
<span style="font-family: Palatino Linotype; font-size: medium;"><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">You are who you are, and I am who I am. As
long as we don't mess with each others
space, sustenance and nurturence, and if we
can mind our own business, we all will do
well. If we can learn to respect the
otherness of other and accept the God-given
uniqueness of each one of the seven billion
of us, then conflicts fade and solutions
emerge. Pluralism is not a set of rules, it
is simply the attitude of live and let live
religiously, politically, culturally and
socially. We are committed to building
cohesive societies, where no human has to
live in apprehension, discomfort or fear of
a fellow being. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">More details at: www.Foundationforpluralism.com </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="0" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">...............................................................................................................................
<br />Mike Ghouse is a <a href="http://www.professionalspeakermikeghouse.com/">speaker</a>, thinker and a
<a href="http://theghousediary.com/">writer</a> on <a href="http://www.foundationforpluralism.com/">pluralism</a></span><span lang="0" style="color: #003366; font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">,<a href="http://republicanmoderates.blogspot.com/"> politics</a>, peace, <a href="http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/">Islam</a>, <a href="http://israel-palestine-dialogue.blogspot.com/">Israel</a>, <a href="http://mikeghouseforindia.blogspot.com/">India</a>, <a href="http://pluralismcenter.blogspot.com/">interfaith</a>, and cohesion at work
place. He is committed to building a <a href="http://www.americatogetherfoundation.com/">Cohesive America</a> and offers
pluralistic solutions on issues of the day at <a href="http://www.theghousediary.com/">www.TheGhousediary.com</a>. He believes in
<a href="http://standingupforothers.blogspot.com/">Standing up for others</a>
and a book with the same title is coming up. Mike has a strong presence on
national and local TV, Radio and Print Media. He is a frequent guest on <a href="http://www.hannity.com/guest/ghouse-mike/10804">Sean Hannity show</a> on
Fox TV, and a commentator on national radio networks, he contributes weekly to
the Texas Faith Column at <a href="http://religionblog.dallasnews.com/">Dallas
Morning News</a>; fortnightly at <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mike-ghouse">Huffington post;</a> and
several other periodicals across the world. His personal site <a href="http://www.mikeghouse.net/">www.MikeGhouse.net</a> indexes all his work
through many links. </span> </span></span><br />
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<br />Mike Ghousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01647894600183489442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3041435086328734609.post-86956682028398080812013-12-25T08:27:00.001-08:002013-12-25T08:27:13.624-08:00Pope Francis, the pluralist<div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: black; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 21px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisPXJC3V-miVvrW_iv2NWFVziwGkuUU4Irev2_y0y9SI6MerhkUuct5UT0kfgBtCDA3lrbyXBB4IXJ0204HHjWN1BIGWrcLy54qc1x4Vi2NtBhxkQVuKGqlS3lph-yFu1LI3nusLYdTxuI/s1600/time-person-of-the-year-cover-pope-francis.jpg" style="clear: left; color: black; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisPXJC3V-miVvrW_iv2NWFVziwGkuUU4Irev2_y0y9SI6MerhkUuct5UT0kfgBtCDA3lrbyXBB4IXJ0204HHjWN1BIGWrcLy54qc1x4Vi2NtBhxkQVuKGqlS3lph-yFu1LI3nusLYdTxuI/s200/time-person-of-the-year-cover-pope-francis.jpg" style="background-color: white; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: 1px 1px 5px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.098); padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="150" /></a></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="userContent"><span class="userContent"><span class="userContent">Pope<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="w4fa6" id="w4fa6_6" style="border-left: 1px solid transparent; border-right: 1px solid transparent; border-style: solid; border-top: 1px solid transparent; border-width: 1px; color: #4c4cff; cursor: pointer; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-weight: normal; list-style: none outside none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: underline;">Francis</span><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>is my hero and an inspiration. He is one of the true pluralists, respecting God and respecting every one God has created.<span class="userContent"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Ever since<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="w4fa6" id="w4fa6_7" style="border-left: 1px solid transparent; border-right: 1px solid transparent; border-style: solid; border-top: 1px solid transparent; border-width: 1px; color: #4c4cff; cursor: pointer; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-weight: normal; list-style: none outside none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: underline;">he</span><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>became the Pope in March, I have read up on him and now read almost everything about him.</span></span>He gives me hopes that he can influence the world to be a better<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="w4fa6" id="w4fa6_1" style="border-left: 1px solid transparent; border-right: 1px solid transparent; border-style: solid; border-top: 1px solid transparent; border-width: 1px; color: #4c4cff; cursor: pointer; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-weight: normal; list-style: none outside none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: underline;">place to live</span><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>for every human. He has already performed the acts of Jesus by embracing humanity regardless of their beliefs and practices.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br /><br />The age old conflicts between<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="w4fa6" id="w4fa6_3" style="border-left: 1px solid transparent; border-right: 1px solid transparent; border-style: solid; border-top: 1px solid transparent; border-width: 1px; color: #4c4cff; cursor: pointer; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-weight: normal; list-style: none outside none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: underline;"><span class="w4fa6" id="w4fa6_2" style="border-left: 1px solid transparent; border-right: 1px solid transparent; border-style: solid; border-top: 1px solid transparent; border-width: 1px; color: #4c4cff; cursor: pointer; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-weight: normal; list-style: none outside none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: underline;">Judaism and Christianity</span></span>, and Christianity and Islam, and denigration of Paganism and Hinduism have been down cast on the peace and tranquility of the world. </span></span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 21px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="userContent"><span class="userContent"></span></span></span></span><br style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 21px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="userContent"><span class="userContent"></span></span><br /><span class="userContent"><span class="text_exposed_show">After Gandhi, MLK and Mandela, Pope Francis is one person that does not have barriers between him and humanity. He is almost following the teachings of Jesus and Prophet Muhammad in spirit. Let's pray that he becomes an instrument of mercy to mankind. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br /><br />I have written 15 articles about him and hope to meet up with him.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></span></span></span><br style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 20px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="userContent"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="Apple-converted-space"></span></span></span></span></span></span><br style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 20px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="userContent"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="Apple-converted-space"><a href="http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2013/12/pope-francis-articles.html" style="color: black; text-decoration: none;">http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2013/12/pope-francis-articles.html<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></a></span></span></span></span></span></span><br style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 20px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="userContent"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span class="Apple-converted-space"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 20px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></span><span lang="0" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">...............................................................................................................................<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br />Mike Ghouse is a<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.professionalspeakermikeghouse.com/" style="color: black; text-decoration: none;">speaker</a>, thinker and a<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://theghousediary.com/" style="color: black; text-decoration: none;">writer</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>on<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.foundationforpluralism.com/" style="color: black; text-decoration: none;">pluralism</a></span><span lang="0" style="background-color: white; color: #003366; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">,<a href="http://republicanmoderates.blogspot.com/" style="color: black; text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>politics</a>, peace,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/" style="color: black; text-decoration: none;">Islam</a>,<a href="http://israel-palestine-dialogue.blogspot.com/" style="color: black; text-decoration: none;">Israel</a>,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://mikeghouseforindia.blogspot.com/" style="color: black; text-decoration: none;">India</a>,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://pluralismcenter.blogspot.com/" style="color: black; text-decoration: none;">interfaith</a>, and cohesion at work place. He is committed to building a<a href="http://www.americatogetherfoundation.com/" style="color: black; text-decoration: none;">Cohesive America</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day at<a href="http://www.theghousediary.com/" style="color: black; text-decoration: none;">www.TheGhousediary.com</a>. He believes in<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://standingupforothers.blogspot.com/" style="color: black; text-decoration: none;">Standing up for others</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>and a book with the same title is coming up. Mike has a strong presence on national and local TV, Radio and<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="w4fa6" id="w4fa6_3" style="border-left: 1px solid transparent; border-right: 1px solid transparent; border-style: solid; border-top: 1px solid transparent; border-width: 1px; color: #4c4cff; cursor: pointer; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-weight: normal; list-style: none outside none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: underline;">Print Media</span>. He is a frequent guest on<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.hannity.com/guest/ghouse-mike/10804" style="color: black; text-decoration: none;">Sean Hannity show</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>on Fox TV, and a commentator on<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="w4fa6" id="w4fa6_4" style="border-left: 1px solid transparent; border-right: 1px solid transparent; border-style: solid; border-top: 1px solid transparent; border-width: 1px; color: #4c4cff; cursor: pointer; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-weight: normal; list-style: none outside none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: underline;">national radio</span><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>networks, he contributes weekly to the Texas Faith Column at<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://religionblog.dallasnews.com/" style="color: black; text-decoration: none;">Dallas Morning News</a>; fortnightly at<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mike-ghouse" style="color: black; text-decoration: none;">Huffington post;</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>and several other periodicals across the world.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="w4fa6" id="w4fa6_5" style="border-left: 1px solid transparent; border-right: 1px solid transparent; border-style: solid; border-top: 1px solid transparent; border-width: 1px; color: #4c4cff; cursor: pointer; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-weight: normal; list-style: none outside none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: underline;">His</span><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>personal site<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.mikeghouse.net/" style="color: black; text-decoration: none;">www.MikeGhouse.net</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>indexes all his work through many links.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br />...........................................................................................................................</span></span>Mike Ghousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01647894600183489442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3041435086328734609.post-60343190659865346862013-12-25T08:17:00.003-08:002013-12-25T08:17:48.239-08:00Festivals of the World: Essence of Christmas<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial,Tahoma,Helvetica,FreeSans,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="userContent">Should Christmas be an exclusive Christian event? This Muslims' answer is no. We cannot limit Jesus to be exclusively owned by any<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="w4fa6" id="w4fa6_1" style="border-left: 1px solid transparent; border-right: 1px solid transparent; border-style: solid; border-top: 1px solid transparent; border-width: 1px; color: #4c4cff; cursor: pointer; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-weight: normal; list-style: none outside none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: underline;">group of people</span>, nor can anyone monopolize his message. Jesus<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="text_exposed_show">and<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="w4fa6" id="w4fa6_8" style="border-left: 1px solid transparent; border-right: 1px solid transparent; border-style: solid; border-top: 1px solid transparent; border-width: 1px; color: #4c4cff; cursor: pointer; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-weight: normal; list-style: none outside none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: underline;">his</span><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>message belong to the whole of humanity. For Christians, he is the son of God, and for all others, he is a great man who brought the message of hope and peace to the world. Whether we believe in God or not,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br /><br />Continued<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mike-ghouse/festivals-of-the-world-es_1_b_4492571.html#es_share_ended" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="color: #0c0c0c; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mike-ghouse/festivals-of-the-world-es_1_b_4492571.html#es_share_ended</a><br /> </span></span></span></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: black; font-family: Arial,Tahoma,Helvetica,FreeSans,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 20px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6wcD881NB5AA1lnmWSgxpHt7DLtPRFZcdkDsEpeZxnJ1hsd82tHVq8r2zH7twJcQFPI8GHAVMqj2-5hNenyHvhUEeeQN2uRurrFeYzV8sidcPntVFJ35UpUEK4JhQpwqataQwIoRAQmay/s1600/Yasmeen.MikeGhouse.MerryChristmas.png" style="color: #0c0c0c; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6wcD881NB5AA1lnmWSgxpHt7DLtPRFZcdkDsEpeZxnJ1hsd82tHVq8r2zH7twJcQFPI8GHAVMqj2-5hNenyHvhUEeeQN2uRurrFeYzV8sidcPntVFJ35UpUEK4JhQpwqataQwIoRAQmay/s400/Yasmeen.MikeGhouse.MerryChristmas.png" style="background-color: white; border: 1px solid transparent; box-shadow: 1px 1px 5px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.098); padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial,Tahoma,Helvetica,FreeSans,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 20px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial,Tahoma,Helvetica,FreeSans,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="userContent"><span class="text_exposed_show">Thank you<br />Mike Ghouse<br />...........................................................................................................<br />Mike Ghouse is a speaker, thinker and a writer on pluralism, politics, peace, Islam, Israel, India, interfaith, and cohesion at<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="w4fa6" id="w4fa6_5" style="border-left: 1px solid transparent; border-right: 1px solid transparent; border-style: solid; border-top: 1px solid transparent; border-width: 1px; color: #4c4cff; cursor: pointer; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-weight: normal; list-style: none outside none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: underline;">work place</span>. He is committed to building a Cohesive America and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day at<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.theghousediary.com/" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="color: #0c0c0c; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">www.TheGhousediary.com</a>. He believes in Standing up for others and a book with the same title is coming up. Mike has a strong presence on national and local TV, Radio and<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="w4fa6" id="w4fa6_4" style="border-left: 1px solid transparent; border-right: 1px solid transparent; border-style: solid; border-top: 1px solid transparent; border-width: 1px; color: #4c4cff; cursor: pointer; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-weight: normal; list-style: none outside none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: underline;">Print Media</span>. He is a frequent guest on Sean Hannity show on Fox TV, and a commentator on national radio networks, he contributes weekly to the Texas Faith Column at<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="w4fa6" id="w4fa6_2" style="border-left: 1px solid transparent; border-right: 1px solid transparent; border-style: solid; border-top: 1px solid transparent; border-width: 1px; color: #4c4cff; cursor: pointer; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-weight: normal; list-style: none outside none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: underline;">Dallas Morning News</span>; fortnightly at Huffington post; and several other periodicals across the world. His personal site<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.MikeGhouse.net%2F&h=FAQGfVG-u&enc=AZMP2r6oCJf7uf1xqEcSU8crRum_g1TBNz0IbgWAV0pB9dKimvSQ5HHAyXcJhe-4t61IN0DdRKzfYNda5gqHRFy1WH6nPncaObRneRdqd6thnv-Iu0ug8cuzv5fLEw9qcB7Vf0JEXtcwF78in2aEWUa4&s=1" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="color: #0c0c0c; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">www.MikeGhouse.net</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>indexes all his work through many links.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br />...........................................................................................................</span></span></span></span></span>Mike Ghousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01647894600183489442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3041435086328734609.post-19965560492247264162013-12-17T17:41:00.002-08:002013-12-17T17:41:21.642-08:00Texas Faith: Does a white Christmas mean Santa and Jesus have to be white?<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial,Tahoma,Helvetica,FreeSans,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Some of the white Christians will resist the idea of Jesus to be anything but what they have come to believe, as if Jesus will cease to exist if he were black. The<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="zllm153525em" id="zllm153525em_6" style="border-left: 1px solid transparent; border-right: 1px solid transparent; border-style: solid; border-top: 1px solid transparent; border-width: 1px; color: #4c4cff; cursor: pointer; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-weight: normal; list-style: none outside none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: underline;">black Christians</span><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>may feel the image of white Jesus and Santa was imposed on them, and it is human to resist anything forced on you against your will. I am certain they had their own un-articulated image of Jesus and Santa for as long as they have been Christians. Mike Ghouse</span></span><br style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial,Tahoma,Helvetica,FreeSans,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 20px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial,Tahoma,Helvetica,FreeSans,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-family: Arial,Tahoma,Helvetica,FreeSans,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 20px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial,Tahoma,Helvetica,FreeSans,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">TEXAS FAITH: Does a white Christmas mean Santa and Jesus have to be white?<br />By Wayne Slater - wslater@dallasnews.com<br />1:54 pm on December 17, 2013 | Permalink</span></span><br style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial,Tahoma,Helvetica,FreeSans,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 20px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial,Tahoma,Helvetica,FreeSans,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />A<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="zllm153525em" id="zllm153525em_3" style="border-left: 1px solid transparent; border-right: 1px solid transparent; border-style: solid; border-top: 1px solid transparent; border-width: 1px; color: #4c4cff; cursor: pointer; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-weight: normal; list-style: none outside none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: underline;">cable television</span><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>anchor named Megyn Kelly told viewers last week that Jesus and Santa Claus are both white men. At issue was a Slate article written by a black writer titled<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.slate.com/articles/life/holidays/2013/12/santa_claus_an_old_white_man_not_anymore_meet_santa_the_penguin_a_new_christmas.html" style="color: #0c0c0c; text-decoration: none;">“Santa Claus Should Not Be A White Man Anymore.”</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The context of the piece was the tendency of cultures to view important figures in the most familiar and comfortable light. On her Fox News program, Kelly took issue with the writer.</span></span><br style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial,Tahoma,Helvetica,FreeSans,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 20px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial,Tahoma,Helvetica,FreeSans,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial,Tahoma,Helvetica,FreeSans,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><em><br />“Just because it </em><em>makes you feel uncomfortable doesn’t mean it has to change. Jesus was a white man, too. It’s like we have, he’s a historical figure that’s a verifiable fact, as is Santa, I just want kids to know that. How do you revise it in the middle of the legacy in the story and change Santa from white to black?”</em></span></span><br style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial,Tahoma,Helvetica,FreeSans,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 20px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial,Tahoma,Helvetica,FreeSans,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial,Tahoma,Helvetica,FreeSans,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://dallasmorningviewsblog.dallasnews.com/files/2013/12/Black-Santa.jpg" style="clear: left; color: #0c0c0c; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-32528" height="199" src="http://dallasmorningviewsblog.dallasnews.com/files/2013/12/Black-Santa-300x199.jpg" style="background-color: white; border: 1px solid transparent; box-shadow: 1px 1px 5px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.098); padding: 5px; position: relative;" title="Black Santa" width="300" /></a>Both sides pounced. Liberal<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="zllm153525em" id="zllm153525em_4" style="border-left: 1px solid transparent; border-right: 1px solid transparent; border-style: solid; border-top: 1px solid transparent; border-width: 1px; color: #4c4cff; cursor: pointer; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-weight: normal; list-style: none outside none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: underline;">web sites</span><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>and late-night comics lampooned her. Conservative web sites defended her.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="zllm153525em" id="zllm153525em_1" style="border-left: 1px solid transparent; border-right: 1px solid transparent; border-style: solid; border-top: 1px solid transparent; border-width: 1px; color: #4c4cff; cursor: pointer; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-weight: normal; list-style: none outside none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: underline;">Saturday Night Live</span><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>did a skit featuring a black Santa. The debate went viral on the Internet. Kelly subsequently suggested she was joking and cast herself as a victim of identity politics. Clearly, her facts were flawed. Jesus was a 1st Century Jew who was likely dark skinned and Santa Claus is a mythological figure whose historical antecedent was from Turkey.<br /><br />People believe what they are prepared to believe. What’s interesting was the passionate reaction to the remarks. Why the fierce dustup? Why did the idea that a white Christmas means Santa’s white cause so much consternation? What did this episode say about the way we see the world and our willingness — or reluctance – to see things in different ways?<br /><br />Our Faith Panel weighs in thoughtfully (and with a few fireworks) on history,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="zllm153525em" id="zllm153525em_8" style="border-left: 1px solid transparent; border-right: 1px solid transparent; border-style: solid; border-top: 1px solid transparent; border-width: 1px; color: #4c4cff; cursor: pointer; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-weight: normal; list-style: none outside none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: underline;">ethnic identity</span>, political correctness and the virtues of faith and the holidays:<br /><br /><b>MIKE GHOUSE, President, Foundation for Pluralism and speaker on interfaith matters, Dallas</b><br /><br />If Jesus is our lord, and Santa Claus represents the joys of Christmas, I have to relate with them to call them “our Lord” and “our Santa”. Just as God claims to have created humans in his own image so he can relate with them, I would say, we have created God in our own image, a whopping 7 billion perceptions of God.<br /><br />Even though God is stamped onto our memory with certain images, features and characteristics, some of us have developed our own embellishments to it to personalize him, her or it. While a majority of Christians, Hindus and others have a built-in image of God, the Buddhist, Jains, Zoroastrians and Native traditions do not have a set image, yet they have created their own image of God. The Jews, Muslims, Sikhs, Baha’i and others do not take God as a being or an entity, and certainly have a built-in resistance to collapsing God into an image or a shape. But deep down, they imagine and describe God as a being, however, they knock it out instantaneously. It’s human to relate God as their own.<br /><br />I am blessed to have universalized God. Even those who knew me, particularly Muslims in Dallas, thought I was a Hindu, Buddhist or a Baha’i, and the Hindu community thought I was a Christian and a Buddhist until ten years ago. Three years ago, I was in a Muslim conference and an Arab Muslim came over and started praising my articles on Islam, and said he has translated and published them in Arabic. He then asked me how do I know so much about Islam, and when I said, I am a Muslim, he was taken back and said he thought I was Jewish all these years! One of my Hindu friends of 20 years, until recently, insisted that I cannot be anything but a Hindu or at least a Christian.<br /><br />If someone likes you, they want to see you as their own, in their own image. Of course the white Christians saw Jesus in their own image, and the African Americans just took that image when they became Christians. But I am certain; they had their own un-articulated different image of Jesus and Santa for as long as they have been Christians.<br /><br />Some of the white Christians will resist the idea of Jesus to be anything but what they have come to believe, as if Jesus will cease to exist if he were black. The black Christians may feel the image of white Jesus and Santa was imposed on them, and it is human to resist anything forced on you against your will.<br /><br />The need of the day is to upgrade Jesus, above all human imaginations and limitations and accept him in essence rather than in physical form. It is his love and sacrifice to humanity that needs to be appreciated. I hope and pray that at least from this Christmas season forward, we accept and embrace Jesus without reserve just as he set the example of embracing the humanity without reserve. Let him be meaningful to us in every which way he can be imagined.<br /><br />To see the take from 12 different panelists, go to<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="zllm153525em" id="zllm153525em_2" style="border-left: 1px solid transparent; border-right: 1px solid transparent; border-style: solid; border-top: 1px solid transparent; border-width: 1px; color: #4c4cff; cursor: pointer; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-weight: normal; list-style: none outside none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: underline;">Dallas Morning News</span><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>at:<a href="http://dallasmorningviewsblog.dallasnews.com/2013/12/texas-faith-does-a-white-christmas-mean-santa-and-jesus-are-white.html/" style="color: #0c0c0c; text-decoration: none;">http://dallasmorningviewsblog.dallasnews.com/2013/12/texas-faith-does-a-white-christmas-mean-santa-and-jesus-are-white.html/</a></span></span></span><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 20px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 20px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"></span><span lang="0" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">...............................................................................................................................<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br />Mike Ghouse is a<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.professionalspeakermikeghouse.com/" style="color: #0c0c0c; text-decoration: none;">speaker</a>, thinker and a<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://theghousediary.com/" style="color: #0c0c0c; text-decoration: none;">writer</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>on<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.foundationforpluralism.com/" style="color: #0c0c0c; text-decoration: none;">pluralism</a></span><span lang="0" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #003366; font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">,<a href="http://republicanmoderates.blogspot.com/" style="color: #0c0c0c; text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>politics</a>, peace,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/" style="color: #0c0c0c; text-decoration: none;">Islam</a>,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://israel-palestine-dialogue.blogspot.com/" style="color: #0c0c0c; text-decoration: none;">Israel</a>,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://mikeghouseforindia.blogspot.com/" style="color: #0c0c0c; text-decoration: none;">India</a>,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://pluralismcenter.blogspot.com/" style="color: #0c0c0c; text-decoration: none;">interfaith</a>, and cohesion at work place. He is committed to building a<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.americatogetherfoundation.com/" style="color: #0c0c0c; text-decoration: none;">Cohesive America</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day at<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.theghousediary.com/" style="color: #0c0c0c; text-decoration: none;">www.TheGhousediary.com</a>. He believes in<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://standingupforothers.blogspot.com/" style="color: #0c0c0c; text-decoration: none;">Standing up for others</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>and a book with the same title is coming up. Mike has a strong presence on national and local TV, Radio and Print Media. He is a frequent guest on<a href="http://www.hannity.com/guest/ghouse-mike/10804" style="color: #0c0c0c; text-decoration: none;">Sean Hannity show</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>on Fox TV, and a commentator on national radio networks, he contributes weekly to the Texas Faith Column at<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://religionblog.dallasnews.com/" style="color: #0c0c0c; text-decoration: none;">Dallas Morning News</a>; fortnightly at<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mike-ghouse" style="color: #0c0c0c; text-decoration: none;">Huffington post;</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>and several other periodicals across the world. His personal site<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.mikeghouse.net/" style="color: #0c0c0c; text-decoration: none;">www.MikeGhouse.net</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>indexes all his work through many links.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br />...............................................................................................................................<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span>Mike Ghousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01647894600183489442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3041435086328734609.post-71757079397542315932013-12-08T11:30:00.000-08:002013-12-08T11:30:54.027-08:00The Power of Faith - Hindu woman and Muslim man praying together<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span>This
is a good story of pluralism, i.e., respecting the otherness of others
and accepting the God-given uniqueness of each one of us. This a common
scene in India, sadly a few Hindus and Muslims are corrupted and have
become intolerant towards each other. Thank God, they are still a few
and we have to work in preventing that poison from spreading. Mike
Ghouse</span></span></span>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
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<span><em>Beauty as seen in a sufi shrine.</em><br /><br /><strong><a href="http://thedelhiwalla.blogspot.ca/2009_07_01_archive.html">[Text and picture by Mayank Austen Soofi</a>]</strong><br /><br />One
humid Saturday afternoon I was at the dargah of sufi saint Sarmad
Shahid. It is in Old Delhi, just outside Jama Masjid’s gate no. 3. <br /><br />The
red-walled shrine was empty, save a few pilgrims. There was a man,
with a beard and a skull cap, praying in front of Sarmad's tomb. Just
then a young woman appeared in a sari and stood by his side. With the
sindoor spread length-wise on the parting of her hair, and a
black-beaded mangalsutra wound round her neck, it was clear that she was
a Hindu. <br /><br />The woman had a few agarbattis in her hands. The
sari’s pallu was drawn modestly over her head. Her eyes were closed, her
lips were moving, and so were the agarbattis in a never-ending circle,
just the way Hindus do in their temples. <br /><br />I do not know what the
lady was murmuring to her saint. I’m not even certain if she was
familiar with the ethos of Islam, but the sight was beautiful. Here was a
Hindu woman, standing beside a Muslim man; both making their own
personal prayers. Both had their eyes closed. Neither minded the other's
presence. Neither felt 'impure'.<br /><br />We Delhiwallas are just amazing people.<br /><br />These
two were from different religions, different backgrounds, but for a
short time, they came together in a place of spirituality and, rather
unintentionally, stirred up a joint communion. <br /><br />It does not
matter if the shrine belonged to a sufi saint, or a Hindu god, or a
Sikhu guru. It does not matter if they were not in the pursuit of
spirituality, but merely petitioning for personal favors. What matters
is that together they showed all that is beautiful in our city, and in
our religions.<br /><br />While there is no argument that all faiths have
caused conflicts, cruelties and communal riots, the same religions have,
at times, brought out the best from their followers. That is why that
Saturday afternoon I thought of Samuel P. Huntington’s <em>Clash of Civilizations</em> and laughed.
</span></span></span>Mike Ghousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01647894600183489442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3041435086328734609.post-68455977955624660182013-12-07T08:09:00.000-08:002013-12-07T08:26:15.695-08:00Blaming religion is stupidity <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="userContent">BLAMING RELIGION IS STUPIDITY<br /> <br /> We
should tell the criminals, those who murder, rape, steal, kill, burn,
bomb and go to war - you SOB, you did the harm, you killed, you wronged
and you pay for it. <br /> <br /> You blame an individual to punish, hang, b<span class="text_exposed_show">eat,
bury or pay to restore trust through justice in the society.
Individuals commit crimes, not religions. Religion does not teach one to
be criminal, none whatsoever! We should not buy poor excuses of
abusers!<br /> <br /> I am not buying your ridiculous stupidity to blame the
religion. I am not going to let you get away and blame the religion
that I cannot do anything with, it is intangible, I cannot kill it, hang
it, fire it or bury it. What's the point in blaming if does nothing? <br /> <br />
We build better societies by placing the blame where it belongs; the
individuals and not his parents, spouse, siblings, kids, spouse, rabbi,
imam, pastor, pundit, gyani, shamans and the mayor of the town and even
religion. If we take that stance, we increase the chances of building
cohesive societies where no human has to live in apprehension or fear of
the other. Where there is justice, trust, harmony and peace are the
products. <br /> <br /> Mike Ghouse, speaker on building cohesive societies to function effectively. <a href="http://upload.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.TheGhousediary.com%2F&h=lAQE5l8YX&enc=AZPrKgXsIl6mrVpuGj-nzxIdlo8EMFqwdEez4EUKC-nlDY2JRoyOxXZE5BWKY2e5WoGeWquay3kL9Wkg_AgytUk1klSIoUfem0AAMYCYNAvqpQoh_cUvbe__XylOnLOCenRMtwh2KlcluTmd7uigwWDU&s=1" rel="nofollow nofollow" target="_blank">www.TheGhousediary.com</a></span></span></span></span><div style="direction: ltr; language: en-US; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 7.8pt; mso-line-break-override: restrictions; punctuation-wrap: simple; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed; vertical-align: baseline;">
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<span lang="0" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">Thank
you</span><span lang="0" style="color: black; font-family: Viner Hand ITC; font-size: medium;">mike</span><span lang="0" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><br />Mike Ghouse,
President<b><br />Foundation for Pluralism</b>
<br />..............................................................................<br />Studies
in Religious Pluralism and Pluralistic societies<br />2665 Villa Creek Dr, suite
206, Dallas, TX 75234<br />Workshops | Radio Shows | Seminars |
Lectures<br /><i><br />If we can learn to respect the otherness of others, and
accept the God-given uniqueness of each one of us, then conflicts fade and
solutions emerge. Pluralism is respecting the otherness of others.
</i></span></div>
<div style="direction: ltr; language: en-US; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 7.2pt; mso-line-break-override: restrictions; punctuation-wrap: simple; text-align: right; unicode-bidi: embed; vertical-align: baseline;">
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Mike Ghousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01647894600183489442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3041435086328734609.post-78372823432943730172013-12-04T22:04:00.002-08:002013-12-04T22:06:29.782-08:00Jewish Christian Conflict and Pope Frances solution by releasing Evangelii Gaudium<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Once again, Pope Francis is committed to building bridges and this is a good step forward and I have highlighted the Muslim-Christian conflict in another article. "Pope Francis was probably not looking at the Jewish calendar
when he released his new apostolic exhortation, "Evangelii Gaudium,"
(The Joy of the Gospel), it was a serendipitous Chanukah gift, that
brought joy to the Jewish world. " - Mike Ghouse</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Pope Francis' unexpected Hanukkah gift</span></span></h1>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">By <span itemprop="name"><a href="http://www.foxnews.com/archive/author/rabbi-abraham-cooper/index.html" itemprop="url">Rabbi Abraham Cooper</a>, <a href="http://www.foxnews.com/archive/author/rabbi-yitzchok-adlerstein/index.html" itemprop="url">Rabbi Yitzchok Adlerstein</a></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><time datetime="2013-12-03T16:25-05:00" itemprop="datePublished" pubdate="">Published December 03, 2013</time></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Dec.
2, 2013: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, left, presents Pope
Francis with a Menorah during their meeting at the Vatican.<span class="source" itemprop="name"> (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino, Pool) </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Pope
Francis adjusts his skull cap as he arrives on his pope-mobile for his
weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Wednesday,
Nov. 27, 2013. Francis is bundling up for the cold snap belting Italy,
donning a white double-breasted winter coat and scarf for his weekly
general audience. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)<span class="source" itemprop="name"> (The Associated Press) </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Pope
Francis grabs a shirt thrown to him by faithful as he leaves at the end
of his weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican,
Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2013. A chilly Pope Francis has cheered the
thousands of pilgrims who braved a cold snap belting Italy to attend his
weekly general audience, saying they were courageous to come out. (AP
Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)<span class="source" itemprop="name"> (The Associated Press) </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Nov. 27, 2013: Pope Francis waves as he conducts his weekly general audience at St. Peter's Square at the Vatican.<span class="source" itemprop="name"> (Reuters) </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Pope
Francis tries to keep himself warm as he attends his weekly general
audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2013.
Francis is bundling up for the cold snap belting Italy, donning a white
double-breasted winter coat and scarf. Several times Wednesday, the
pope used his sleeves as a muffler to keep his hands warm amid
temperatures that dipped to freezing with the wind chill factored in.
(AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)<span class="source" itemprop="name"> (The Associated Press) </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Pope Francis was probably not looking at the Jewish calendar
when he released his new apostolic exhortation, "Evangelii Gaudium,"
(The Joy of the Gospel), it was a serendipitous Chanukah gift, that
brought joy to the Jewish world.</span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
The document is full of warmth to Jews and Judaism. It speaks of the
growing friendship with the Jewish people, and regret for the history of
Christian persecution of Jews. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Of Judaism he wrote: “We cannot consider Judaism as a foreign
religion; nor do we include the Jews among those called to turn from
idols and to serve the true God.” It confirms the continued contribution
of Divine truth that comes through the “treasures of wisdom which flow
from their encounter with his word.”</span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
Pope Francis understands that theology matters. It produces catchwords
that galvanize millions. Even in the 21st century, a subtle theological
point uttered in a local mosque can cascade into araging deluge of
violence.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="aside-block" style="display: block;">
<blockquote>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The Jewish
community’s support may not be the greatest Christmas present Pope
Francis receives this year, but it will be among the most heartfelt.</span></span></blockquote>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The pontiff knows that for centuries, European Jewry was battered by
theological cudgels. Early Church figures like Ignatius of Antioch,
Justin Martyr and John Chrysostom translated theology into hatred of
Jews on the local level, and directly fed the auto-da-fes, the Crusades,
and the pogroms that destroyed hundreds of thousands of Jewish lives.</span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
The two theological positions most damaging to Jews were replacement
theology and deicide. The former maintains that the Jews of the Bible
have been “replaced” by the New Israel, meaning Christians. All
covenants and promises in the Bible no longer apply to Jews; they
subsequently have no claim to land or history. The latter position holds
all Jews responsible for the crime of killing God through the
crucifixion of Jesus.</span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
Both of these positions mostly disappeared after the Nazi Holocaust, as
Christians came to grips with the contribution that Church-inspired
anti-Semitism made to Hitler’s extermination machinery. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Catholics scrapped both replacement theology and deicide through the historical teachings of Nostra Aetate a half-century ago. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Protestants for the most part rejected deicide, affirming that Jesus
died, by the Will of G-d, for all sinners. They stopped talking
supersessionism, and opted to build bridges of understanding with the
Jewish people.</span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
Recently, however, Palestinians and their Christian supporters have
resurrected the old theological poison. Frustrated by their inability to
defeat Israel through conventional warfare or terrorism, they launched a
new front attacking the very legitimacy of the Jewish State. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /><br />Support for Palestinians, they claim, is theologically mandated;
support for Zionism -- the Jewish people’s return to an ancestral
homeland is denounced and denied. The Jewish people’s covenant with G-d
was canceled long ago and today’s Jews have no right to reclaim their
past or prepare for their future.</span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
One outgrowth of this is a campaign to strip the Holy Land of all Jewish
connection, going so far as to deny that there ever was a Temple in
Jerusalem, or that Rachel’s Tomb has Jewish significance. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /><br />It is in vogue to deny that contemporary Jews are even related to
those of the Bible, claiming that they are all recent converts having no
connection to those of antiquity.</span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
In one of his Easter messages, Rev. Naim Ateek of the Sabeel Ecumenical
Liberation Theological Center declared “Jesus is on the cross again with
thousands of crucified Palestinians around him. It only takes people of
insight to see the hundreds of thousands of crosses throughout the
land, Palestinian men, women, and children being crucified. Palestine
has become one huge Golgotha. The Israeli government crucifixion system
is operating daily.” </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Ateek thereby turned Jesus into a Palestinian and the Palestinians into Jesus, with Jews once more practicing deicide. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /><br />The KairosPalestine Document has become the iconic cry of those
seeking to rewrite history and denial of any Jewish stake in the Holy
Land – all the time citing Scripture. This smacks of de facto
replacement theology. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /><br />Some advocates of the anti-Israel Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions
(BDS) Movement, cite the arguments of replacement theology as proof that
today’s Jews could not possibly claim that their return to the Land was
consistent with any Divine promise.</span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
The author of "Evangelii Gaudium" is certainly aware of the importance
placed by all of Israel’s enemies on downplaying – and denying – a
connection of today’s Jews to those of the Bible. Nonetheless, the
language of “Evangelii Gaudium” is emphatic:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />God continues to work among the people of the Old Covenant and to
bring forth treasures of wisdom which flow from their encounter with his
word. For this reason, the Church also is enriched when she receives
the values of Judaism.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /><br />In a time of need, Pope Francis stepped up to underscore the
un-severable bond between Christians and Jews, and lauding the continued
closeness of Jews to the Divine Will.</span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
What gift might us Jews present to our Christian friends?</span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
When Rabbi Marvin Hier led a delegation from the Simon Wiesenthal Center
(SWC) to the Vatican a few weeks ago, he told the pope that Jews are
his allies in protecting the rights of persecuted Christians and other
religious minorities, just as he is their partner in fighting
anti-Semitism. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /><br />The SWC has taken the struggle on behalf of an estimated 190 million
endangered Christians across the globe to world leaders and the media. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">For those living in daily fear of attack, this Christmas and New
Year’s holidays are times of little joy -- only great stress and danger.</span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
The Jewish community’s support may not be the greatest Christmas present
Pope Francis receives this year, but it will be among the most
heartfelt. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">He’ll feel the love directly when he visits Israel early in 2014.
And we can only hope and pray that Pope Francis' words and deeds will
contribute to a new commitment by believers and atheists alike to
protect religious minorities everywhere.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><i><i><br /><br />Rabbi Abraham Cooper is associate Dean of the </i><a href="http://www.wiesenthal.com/site/pp.asp?c=lsKWLbPJLnF&b=6212365" target="_blank"><i>Simon Wiesenthal Center</i></a><img src="http://global.fncstatic.com/static/v/all/img/external-link.png" style="margin: 4px 0px 0px 4px;" /><i> in Los Angeles. Follow the Simon Wiesenthal Center on </i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/simonwiesenthalcenter" target="_blank"><i>Facebook</i></a><img src="http://global.fncstatic.com/static/v/all/img/external-link.png" style="margin: 4px 0px 0px 4px;" /><i> and on </i><a href="https://twitter.com/#%21/simonwiesenthal" target="_blank"><i>Twitter</i></a><img src="http://global.fncstatic.com/static/v/all/img/external-link.png" style="margin: 4px 0px 0px 4px;" /><i>.</i></i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><i><i>Rabbi Yitzchok Adlerstein is Director of Interfaith Affairs for the Simon Wiesenthal Center.</i></i></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>Mike Ghousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01647894600183489442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3041435086328734609.post-30960806848757542372013-12-04T12:44:00.000-08:002013-12-09T21:35:12.287-08:00Gee Dad, God can be worshipped in so many different ways!<span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3,"tn":"K"}"><span class="userContent">GEE DAD, GOD CAN BE WORSHIPED IN SO MANY WAYS. LESSONS IN PLURALISM</span></span></span></span></span><br />
</span><h5 class="uiStreamMessage userContentWrapper" data-ft="{"type":1,"tn":"K"}">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3,"tn":"K"}"><span class="userContent">I am pleased to share the wisdom of a seven year old girl, my daughter.
Who wants to raise their child as a bigot? Some of us recklessly do. </span></span></span></span></span></span></h5>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZPa8TLI_Li3sddeXDicIRRtdw30kLoy4Enwr4Bh4FeGrcj-PNdc59qsXq1cNJTyVgwU6X3T3O2H0IkwTN5KFDl3SDuuA-Vdke6iK6R8oD1vZvHpOoviFJCUl91YpHi26yzc_gTkjsKSgy/s1600/GeeDad.God.worshiped.many.ways.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZPa8TLI_Li3sddeXDicIRRtdw30kLoy4Enwr4Bh4FeGrcj-PNdc59qsXq1cNJTyVgwU6X3T3O2H0IkwTN5KFDl3SDuuA-Vdke6iK6R8oD1vZvHpOoviFJCUl91YpHi26yzc_gTkjsKSgy/s320/GeeDad.God.worshiped.many.ways.jpg" width="249" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><h5 class="uiStreamMessage userContentWrapper" data-ft="{"type":1,"tn":"K"}">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3,"tn":"K"}"><span class="userContent">
When we hear hate spout out of the mouths of men and women in politics
or religion against Jews, Muslims, Christians, Atheists, Hindus,
Blacks, Mormons, Gays and Lesbians, Hispanics or Immigrants, we just
shake our heads with disbelief, that is of course, if we are not bigots
ourselves.<br /> <br /> I must give credit to face book, a great equalizer
for humanity. Even though the hate mongers and bigots don't survive on
the face book, they still continue to rant with a few or no friends
liking their hate material. They still don't get the message - hate is
not natural. .<br /> <br /> When she was visiting the Baptist Church, as a
father, I just advised her, if the Pastor by any chance denigrates
other faiths, he is not being truthful and you don't need to listen to
him. She was around 9 then, and argued with me, a part of our routine to
argue as equals, "Dad, if he does not say bad things about other
religions, why would people to go his Church when they can go somewhere
else? I know it, don't worry Dad, I won't hate anyone".<br /> <br /> I took
my kids to every place of worship, so they were raised with familiarity
of fellow humans with no bigotry towards others. At each place of
worship, I would summarize to her what they were saying…over the years, I
learned that, all she wanted to hear, a six year old, was a simplified
version of the talk. I had gotten it down well - a standard reply -
"Sweetie, they are telling that we must thank God, that God gives us
life, ability to breath and live…" Mind you, I was an atheist then, but
not anti-religious.<br /> <br /> One day, we were in DFW Hindu Temple
joining the group singing Bhajans (Chanting) in the sanctuary. In the
middle of a Bhajan, she leans over me, and asks the standard question,
"Dad, what are they singing"… out came my standard reply. To that,
oblivious to the crowd, she gets up, and throws her hands up in the air,
and cheerfully announces "Gee Dad, God can be worshiped in so many
ways" to the amazement of the devotees!<br /> <br /> That, my friends is
pluralism. "Respecting the otherness of others." Thank God she ain't a
bigot today. She is a rationalist and would question any one's ill-will
or hate towards the other. If nothing else in my life, I have feel good
about raising my kids with no bigotry. Like me, she would defend any
faith, we won't let any one put down a faith, any faith - individuals
yes, but not their faith. <br /> <br /> I am writing a fuller article with Religion News with a few more anecdotes with my daughter. Meanwhile, enjoy this.<br /> ...........................................................................................................<br />
Mike Ghouse is a speaker, thinker and a writer on pluralism, politics,
peace, Islam, Israel, India, interfaith, and cohesion at work place. He
is committed to building a Cohesive America and offers pluralistic
solutions on issues of the day at <a href="http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.TheGhousediary.com%2F&h=TAQGYb1sMAQFme8ZY5L2PnlmvFrnE7BpSL62AzrIGslVwbQ&s=1" rel="nofollow nofollow" target="_blank">www.TheGhousediary.com</a>.
He believes in Standing up for others and a book with the same title is
coming up. Mike has a strong presence on national and local TV, Radio
and Print Media. He is a frequent guest on Sean Hannity show on Fox TV,
and a commentator on national radio networks, he contributes weekly to
the Texas Faith Column at Dallas Morning News; fortnightly at Huffington
post; and several other periodicals across the world. His personal site
<a href="http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.MikeGhouse.net%2F&h=fAQE3tYZ4AQEyE8NidbpDVJnU39_WAni5YkH4XKQyxhqwLg&s=1" rel="nofollow nofollow" target="_blank">www.MikeGhouse.net</a> indexes all his work through many links.</span></span></span></span></span></span></h5>
Mike Ghousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01647894600183489442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3041435086328734609.post-11364131111414526402013-12-04T08:20:00.000-08:002013-12-04T08:21:25.167-08:00Funeral Prayers<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</span><br /><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%;">I was completely taken back when I wished prayers for a friend’s mother today.
He was from a different faith, and deleted my message on Facebook with an
apology. I understood it; we all have to deal with our friends who may have
difficulty in seeing goodness coming from others. <br /></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCdJWkjZPqbgMgjnC8G5FQEVXXp-nocLR4CMaOdyms4Vo4taX9XPVSWeO7Idj_2FgmukAo5rV6tQ7fOEjXJgFacamchyZMoVfqBzGI5wYGJn1l9lRTq9yAWZGYSptwl46s6Z9ME_BjQPKc/s1600/Funeral+Prayers-+PluralismCenter.com.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCdJWkjZPqbgMgjnC8G5FQEVXXp-nocLR4CMaOdyms4Vo4taX9XPVSWeO7Idj_2FgmukAo5rV6tQ7fOEjXJgFacamchyZMoVfqBzGI5wYGJn1l9lRTq9yAWZGYSptwl46s6Z9ME_BjQPKc/s320/Funeral+Prayers-+PluralismCenter.com.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%;">As
a society we need to grow up, and not get bogged down with petty details. Pope Francis
said it well, “</span>The
church sometimes has locked itself up in small things, in small-minded rules.” <br /><br />If you translate the Funeral prayers from Sanskrit, Arabic, Hebrew, Pali, Latin and other languages into English – it simply means well. You wish peace for the deceased and express that you care for those who are alive. <br /><br />Over the years, I have recited Jewish, Hindu, Jain, Zoroastrian, Christian, Sikh and Muslim prayers on different occasions when my respective friends could not make it, and I would recite prayers from every religious tradition. If I am alone on the Himalayas or in the Jungles of Amazon, and a person gets sick around me and wanted someone to pray, I will honor that person with his beliefs – I will recite and chant the prayers that comforts that individual. I may not bow to an idol or bow in front of the cross, but I will recite the prayers. Have you ever translated a prayer and understood what it means?<br /><br />Upon my Mother’s death, Bible, Bhagvad Gita and Quran were recited. Of course my mother had Zoroastrian and Jain friends, not sure if they did something. There were no Jews and Sikhs in my town then. Upon my late wife’s death, everyone from Baha’i to Zoroastrians and everyone in between prayed and attended the funeral prayers at the mosque to pay their tributes.<br /><br />I am not alone, there are many like me who would do that, wouldn’t you? I expect at least 2/3rds of the population to do that and respect those who won’t.<br /><br />I perform interfaith weddings and my sermons are customized to suit the religious traditions of the bride and the groom.<br /><br />Over the years, at the Unity Day events, we have experimented different combinations for people to be in other’s shoes, and almost everyone felt good about it.<br /><br /><br />A full article and sample prayers with English translations will be uploaded in a few weeks at this site –www.PluralismCenter.com and www.TheGhousediary.com</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span lang="0" style="color: black;">...............................................................................................................................
<br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">Mike Ghouse is a <a href="http://www.professionalspeakermikeghouse.com/">speaker</a>, thinker and a
<a href="http://theghousediary.com/">writer</a> on <a href="http://www.foundationforpluralism.com/">pluralism</a></span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;">,<a href="http://republicanmoderates.blogspot.com/"> politics</a>, peace, <a href="http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/">Islam</a>, <a href="http://israel-palestine-dialogue.blogspot.com/">Israel</a>, <a href="http://mikeghouseforindia.blogspot.com/">India</a>, <a href="http://pluralismcenter.blogspot.com/">interfaith</a>, and cohesion at work
place. He is committed to building a <a href="http://www.americatogetherfoundation.com/">Cohesive America</a> and offers
pluralistic solutions on issues of the day at <a href="http://www.theghousediary.com/">www.TheGhousediary.com</a>. He believes in
<a href="http://standingupforothers.blogspot.com/">Standing up for others</a>
and has done that throughout his life as an activist. Mike has a presence on
national and local TV, Radio and Print Media. He is a frequent guest on <a href="http://www.hannity.com/guest/ghouse-mike/10804">Sean Hannity show</a> on
Fox TV, and a commentator on national radio networks, he contributes weekly to
the Texas Faith Column at <a href="http://religionblog.dallasnews.com/">Dallas
Morning News</a>; fortnightly at <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mike-ghouse">Huffington post;</a> and
several other periodicals across the world. His personal site <a href="http://www.mikeghouse.net/">www.MikeGhouse.net</a> indexes all his work
through many links.<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div>
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Mike Ghousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01647894600183489442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3041435086328734609.post-11135776316177609492013-11-24T18:45:00.000-08:002013-11-24T18:45:03.655-08:00Setting a new standard of Muslim behavior in response to conflicts. <div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-8480374024835473074" itemprop="description articleBody">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The Mulberry event seeded the change about how Muslims are perceived, and how they would react to future </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Quran burning, criticism of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and Islam.<br /><br />URL -</span><span style="color: black;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1628073537"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></a><a href="http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2013/09/special-report-on-quran-burning-that.html"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2013/09/special-report-on-quran-burning-that.html</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">When
Pastor Jones
announced burning 2998 copies of Qur'an on Wednesday, September 11,
2013, one for each American life lost on September 11, 2001, I said to
myself we have to bring a closure to the sacrifice of our men and women
in the most honored way and not by burning the Qurans. <br /><br />We also
need to bring a closure to the damage 9/11 has done to the relationship
between Muslims and America, though the majority on both sides did not
blame each other, the few among both made it difficult by
promoting fear, hatred and blame with recurring nagging activities. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />Just
like the actions of Pastor Terry Jones and his handful of supporters do
not represent 318 Million Americans, the actions of the 19 and their
respective cheer leaders do not represent 1.6 Billion Muslims either. We
all owe it ourselves to understand this clearly, so none of us lives in
anxiety, and continue to live in hate of each other. <br /><br />We all have a legitimate concern on how a handful of Muslims react elsewhere in the world to <a href="http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2012/11/criticism-of-islam-prophet-muhammad.html">criticism of Prophet Muhammad, Islam and Qur'an</a>,
and how Muslims are perceived by fellow humanity in general and
Americans in particular. Hence
we deliberated on actions to bring about sustainable solutions, the
answer was in moving the Tenth Annual Unity Day USA event to Mulberry,
Florida. The Unity Day brings people of different faiths, races and
ethnicities to rededicate our pledge to one nation and a commitment to
her safety, security and Unity. <br />
<br />
Thanks to the print and web media – every Major Newspaper in the world has
carried the stories and at least two dozen original pieces have been written
about the event. A whole lot of it is listed at <a href="http://www.worldmuslimcongress.com/">www.WorldMuslimCongress.com</a> <br /><br />The
most important endorsements came from Muslims sites - Shia, Sunni and
other Muslims groups. Whether it is Saudi Gazette, or Ahle-Bayt (Shia)
News in Iran and the Muslim Majority Nations have covered it all.<br />
<br />
WHAT DO YOU EXPECT FROM MUSLIMS?<br /><br />
The following are some of the many of the responses we have learned and
anticipate when someone criticizes Islam, Prophet Muhammad, or Quran; </span></div>
<ol><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">
</span>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">Violence – burning
embassies, cars and destruction of property….</span></li>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">
</span>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">Calling Names, cursing
or killing the one who said bad things about the three</span></li>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">
</span>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Enflame the
situation by adding fuel to the fire by talk of avenge or revenge</span></span></li>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">
</span>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">Passing the buck – blame
the other “illiterate Muslims”, fringe elements etc.</span></li>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">
</span>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">Get Defensive</span></li>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></ol>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">What the world has not
seen is a genuine Muslim response!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Our
goal was to offer an
alternate behavior model as a standard, indeed we can call it a genuine
Islamic response based on what the Prophet has said, and the verses from
Quran. This behavior can also be called Christian, Jewish, Hindu or
plain common sense
responsible response.<br /><br /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">Saving
a life is like saving the whole humanity says the Quran, a book of
guidance like all other holy books in building harmony in a given
society. It is about building societies that care for other for the
ultimate benefit of each member of the society. (<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mike-ghouse/while-pastor-terry-jones-_b_3874056.html#es_share_ended">more about it at Huffington Post</a>) </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">The Muslim
Community has taken up the responsibility in past several years to
donate blood, and last year, the target was to collect 11,000 pints on
the 11<sup>th</sup>anniversary and collected 11,170 Pints. </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">The Muslims for Life blood drive campaign emphasizes the sanctity of life, a teaching inherent in all religious traditions. </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">The Muslim</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"><a href="http://muslimsforlife.org/" style="text-decoration: none;">Community</a> USA has set a goal to collect 12,000 pints of blood, which will help save up to 36,000 lives. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The model is not new at
all, indeed, it was established by Jesus, Muhammad and all the spiritual
Masters (peace be upon them) including
non-religious and secular traditions; that of mitigating conflicts and
nurturing goodwill for the common good of the society; a cohesive society where
no one has to live in apprehension or fear of the other.<br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Jesus called that
Kingdom of heaven and Muhammad called it submission to a coherent system called
Islam. A majority of people in all faiths believe in the beauty of their faith;
however a few in each group don’t get that or abuse the faith to their advantage in making enemies out of those who differ.</span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Indeed,
Prophet Muhammad taught that "To overcome evil with good is good, and
to resist evil by evil is evil." It is also strongly enjoined in the
Qur’an in the same verse 41:34, “Good and evil deeds are not equal.
Repel evil with what is better; then you will see that one who was once
your enemy has become your dearest friend.” (</span><span style="color: black;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/%22To%20overcome%20evil%20with%20good%20is%20good,%20and%20to%20resist%20evil%20by%20evil%20is%20evil.%22%20It%20is%20also%20strongly%20enjoined%20in%20the%20Qur%E2%80%99an%20in%20the%20same%20verse%2041:34,%20%E2%80%9CGood%20and%20evil%20deeds%20are%20not%20equal.%20Repel%20evil%20with%20what%20is%20better;%20then%20you%20will%20see%20that%20one%20who%20was%20once%20your%20enemy%20has%20become%20your%20dearest%20friend.%E2%80%9D"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Full Press release at World Muslim Congress</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">). </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The
folks in the Town of Mulberry
and Polk County, Florida were ready for a new model to work in dealing
with the
situation, and they did, and have set an example to the world. Should
this happen elsewhere in the United States, the folks can look up to the
Mulberry example of giving hope and strengthening what is good.<br /><br />Indeed
Mulberry Mayor Hatch said, "One man or a handful of men and women do
not represent the values of half a million folks of Polk County". Mayor
Fields of Lakeland shared that humanity has a history of abusing the
holy books for individual gains and we cannot accept that. Sgt.
Regina Moran, representing Polk County Sheriff's office called for
mutual respect and acceptance of the other. Butch Rahman, a resident of
Polk County emphasized, "Terry Jones begged every property owner in Polk
County to allow him to burn the Quran on their property—and not one
person accepted. No one is buying his idea and he is isolated on
an island of hate. He does not represent us.” and added, "I am proud of
Polk County's response in rejecting hate and promoting a positive
message of American diversity." </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
In the words of Suzanne carter, “As a Christian, the bible teaches us
to love our neighbors— it doesn’t say
what our neighbor has to look like or believe in—it just says neighbor.”
Lynn Broom of Not in Mulberry Organization adds, "You can't fight hate
with hate" and the Curtis Rahman, a high schooler was clear
," "Al-Qaida is dangerous, not Islam or Muslims". Similar sentiments
were expressed by ordinary folks (2 videos).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Imagine
the reservation
and apprehension when a Muslim steps into their town – I am sure they
expected
one of the five behaviors from this Muslim, but thanks to the Model of
the
Prophet – "Amin", that I follow to the best of my ability, they
saw me, with identical goals as they had, and that was to add goodness. <br /><br />Amin
was a title accorded to the Prophet by fellow residents of Mecca who
were Jewish, Christians, Pagan and others. To be Amin is to be
truthful, to be worthy of trust, to be just and to be a source of safety
and
security to others. The folks in Mulberry
reciprocated with equal kindness. <br />
<br />
For a public good to succeed, it has to be un-selfish, and no one has
anything
to gain from it but the community at large. Our volunteer team in
Mulberry (listed on the site) followed the same model. None of us wanted
anything out of it except the common
good. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">We hoped this
would be a life changing event, most people fell in in love with the
idea that all of us Americans will come together as Americans and
nothing but Americans. While we have our sub-identity, we look to each
other as Americans and rededicate ourselves to our pledge; one nation
with liberty and justice for all. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">Mulberry
is a part of history in creating a model behavior in dealing with
conflicts and building a cohesive America, where no American has to live
in apprehension or fear of the other</span><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span>
<br />
I want to emphasize a note about service. My good friend said a prayer for me that I have earned a prime spot in
paradise, but I was quick to say, I do not way any such place. – We should not
be driven by wages for the service we render, if we get paid, then it would not be
service any more. We should rather do our share of work for creating a better
world, as the Bhagvad Gita says, do your dharma and not be driven by the fruit.<br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
Thanks to my key partners in the event - Butch Rahman, Suzanne Carter, Lynn
Broom, Linda Jezard and others including the Mayors, police, Fire chiefs,
Sheriff’s office and the media friends for placing their trust in me and
believing that we will do the right thing – and not leave a mess behind for
them to deal with later. <br />
<br />
Suzanne traveled with me to the site where Jones was going to burn Quran, we
had a good conversation, and I appreciate the trust she placed in me. Butch
asked me, a stranger to stay in his home with his family, and I am glad I did. I am sure Prophet Muhammad
would be smiling at me, but at least I feel good for following in his footsteps
– to be the Amin.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /><b>Afterall, the Qurans were not burned.</b><br /><br />Pastor
Jones and his fellow Pastor were arrested, and their truck and the
trailer with kerosene doused Qurans were confiscated an hour before the
scheduled burning at 5:00 PM on September 11, 2013. They were charged
for carrying open arms, a 45 caliber Smith and Wesson, and not having
the license tag for the trailer, a road hazard with Kerosene doused
books on an open road. Both the men were released after paying a bail of
$1250 each. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Full story at the
Mulberry Ledger: <a href="http://www.theledger.com/article/20130911/NEWS/130919800/0/search">http://www.theledger.com/article/20130911/NEWS/130919800/0/search</a></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />The
Pastor has said to repeat the event, and on our part, we will repeat our
unity and prayers, and pray for the well being of the Pastor. May God
forgive him and have him join us in creating a safer America for every
American. I will continue to pursue to have a dialogue with the pastor
and answer what exactly about Quran that bothers him. If it happens, it
will be in a public forum.<br /><br />To quote from Jeffrey Weiss' article he wrote in <a href="http://www.religionnews.com/2013/09/09/commentary-pay-no-attention-to-the-man-behind-the-burning-qurans/#comment-353607">Religion News Service</a>,
and copied by virtually every major News paper in America including the
Washington Post, Huffington Post and others. It was a challenge to
Pastor Jones. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 23.75px;">____________________</span></span><br />
<div style="background-color: white; line-height: 23.76px; margin-bottom: 23.76px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">“If
you find five faults in Quran in a public discussion, I will abandon my
faith and join your ministry. … On the other hand, if you cannot find
faults, I am going to be easy on you, I will not ask you to become a
Muslim, but ask you join me to do the work of Christ and Muhammad in
building a cohesive America, where no American has to live in fear of
the other. Jesus called that the Kingdom of Heaven.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; line-height: 23.76px; margin-bottom: 23.76px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">“You
and I owe it to America to demystify the myths and allay mutual fears. I
am putting myself out for the common good of America and I hope you
take up the challenge and join me in contributing to the greatness of
America.”</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; line-height: 23.76px; margin-bottom: 23.76px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Now, the pastor is as likely to agree to this debate as he is to ride a unicorn. So why even bother?</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; line-height: 23.76px; margin-bottom: 23.76px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">“You
are right. He will not take it,” Ghouse said. “But that also gives
fellow Americans the hope that it is not the Quran, it is the bad
practices of a few Muslims that taints the religion.”<br />_________________</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">This is what it takes to
create a good society, where we all can enjoy living in it, and that is what
the role of a Muslim ought to be. If you feel your dollars produce direct results, we invite you to donate $100 and over: </span><span style="color: black;"><a href="http://americatogetherfoundation.com/donate/"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">http://americatogetherfoundation.com/donate/</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> and your support will be listed at </span><a href="http://www.unitydayusa.com/"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">www.UnityDayUSA.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> and </span><a href="http://www.worldmuslimcongress.com/"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">www.WorldMuslimCongress.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I am grateful to all the
sponsors and those who have pledged and may donate, but particularly the support from the magnificent
seven for this event.<br />
<br />
Mirza A Beg, my moral support and silent partner in the press releases and
possible reports. Dr. Basheer Ahmed, Dr. Nauman
Anwar and Farooq Hemani have always supported the work we do; I don’t have to
ask them, they volunteer to fund the work. Then this time around – Butch Rahman
turned in $100 on the 1<sup>st</sup> day I met him towards the cost of the
work, Suzanne Carter for joining in with her superb team of volunteers. Moazam
Syed was the first one to donate – this is all encouragement. All their
contributions are listed on the site for transparency and accountability
purpose, and more importantly their support has produced direct results. <br />
<br />
God willing, we will put a book together with the full story, of all the little
and big things, good things, and bad things that have happened in the process. The
book will include feedback from the involved and the ordinary. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">_____________________________________________<br />FEEDBACK REPRESENTATIVE OF MULBERRY SENTIMENT</span><br />
<h1 class="art_head">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Terry Jones a Bad Apple in the Christian Faith Who Brought Hate to Mulberry</span></span></h1>
<div class="art_pubdate" data-date="09/24/2013">
<h5>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Published: Tuesday, September 24, 2013 at 12:01 a.m.</span></span></h5>
</div>
<div class="article_text article_paragraph0">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Well, it's all over in Mulberry — or is it?</span></div>
<div class="article_text article_paragraph1">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The Christian Quran book burner went to jail and the World Muslim
Congress that has held it Unity Day event for the past nine years has
returned to Dallas. The book burner came to Mulberry in hate and the
Muslims came to Mulberry in peace to counter the hate.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The book
burner is going to find out he can't break the law in Mulberry and get
off without a stiff penalty. The World Muslim Congress from Dallas are
gone but not forgotten, and they are welcome to return. They came in
peace with a record of doing the Unity Day Celebration for the past
eight years.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The group included local residents of differing
faiths, and they showed respect and to love our neighbors with
understanding to achieve worldwide balance. This reasoning is part of my
Christian faith. I wish I had been there and I wish the Muslin Unity
Day Celebration would have had more support from the churches.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We
are not going to have world peace until we can come together without
regard to race or religious beliefs. Being divisive and not willing to
understand the other side is not the Christian way. It does not mean
Christianity has to accept the Muslim or any other way. It means love
your neighbor and do unto others as … you know the rest and what is
right.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The Muslims summed it up best when they prayed for the
fallen heroes who died on 9/11 from a "few bad apples in the Muslim
faith." I can understand that logic by adding we have a "lot of bad
apples in the Christian faith," and one of them brought hate to
Mulberry.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">DON OVERSTREET</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Mulberry</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">______________________________</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b>HERE ARE SOME TAKE AWAY POINTS:</b> <br />
</span><br />
<ol><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">
</span>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The Mayors, police, fire chief, religious leadership and volunteers along with
representatives of many different religious traditions joined (video clip) in
echoing the sentiment of respecting Quran without compromising on the free
speech guaranteed in our constitution.</span></li>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">
</span>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Indeed Mayor Hatch said, "One man or a handful of men and women do not
represent the values of half a million folks of Polk County" or 318
million Americans. Mayor Fields shared that humanity has a history of abusing
the holy books for individual gains, in the words of Butch Rahman - not a
single property owner offered their place to the pastor to burn the Qurans – no
one in the county was buying his idea. In the words of Suzanne carter, her bible does
not teach her to hate the neighbors. Similar sentiments were expressed by
ordinary folks (2 videos).</span></li>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">
</span>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The above is a
reassuring feedback; ignoring Jones would have deprived fellow Americans and
the Muslims around the world with that kind of hope giving information.<br /> </span></li>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">
</span>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The media sincerely presented the event as it was – in the positive light
without putting a dimmer on it. Our original Press release was augmented by
front page news in Times of India and an effective endorsement op-ed by Saudi
gazette and carried by over 50 news outlets. The final touch came from Jeff
Weiss of Religion News, which was picked up by every major newspaper in the
World. At home in Mulberry, the ledger reported factual information of everything
that was happening with Pastor Jones or the Unity Day USA event. I Googled it, the
report was published in every major language of the world.</span></li>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">
</span>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">An alternate behavior
model is established in dealing with conflicts, instead of the routine
condemnations. This model was indeed set by Jesus and Prophet Muhammad, and we
merely followed it.</span></li>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">
</span>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Fellow Americans
witnessed a major paradigm change; that Muslims do speak out and offer choices
besides condemning or doing nothing.</span></li>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">
</span>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">That Muslims are partners in nation building and building a cohesive
America.</span></li>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">
</span>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The program reiterated that Muslims pray for the wellbeing of all humanity, and
not just MUSLIMS. It's not a new idea, but practiced by a majority of Muslims
quietly. We want to reiterate the Quranic verses.....Full article at Huffpost
and our first press release.</span></li>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">
</span>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">We were clear- we honor
fellow citizens thru prayers and respecting Quran.</span></li>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">
</span>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">As a part of the
published program, we broke for prayers, thanks to Sunni, Shia, WD Muhammad, Ahmadiyya
Muslims and other Muslims for joining us in the optional special prayers. I was
blessed to have led the 2 Rakat Nafl, Alhamdulillah we all prayed together. </span></li>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">
</span>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I'm sure Prophet Muhammad would be pleased with our work. I followed his
example of becoming the Amin. The city
loved the message, now; they actually know what MUSLIMS are about. There is an
alternate positive example.</span></li>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">
</span>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">A new found respect for
Muslims, and Muslims were seen as doing the right thing, just, truthful and
trustworthy. We are glad we responded positively instead of complaining. </span></li>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></ol>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">This is a new paradigm
in bringing a change, a critical milestone for Muslims in the United States. <br />
<br />
I request you, the members at World Muslim Congress and the Foundation
for Pluralism to add your succinct but
pragmatic comment in 50 words or less for possible inclusion in the
book. A sponsor for the book is welcome by individuals or an
organization. The book would be a compilation of many
articles, your comments and reports in the media. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This book will be a must
read for any one before building a Mosque in Murfreesboro, a Ground Zero
Mosque or planning a major event. The proceeds will go towards nurturing the
pluralistic values of Islam and building cohesive societies to live and let live.<br />
<br />
I will be happy to give a talk on the subject of how to become a productive
citizen of America and earn the respect as a fully participating and contributing
member of the society at large. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">God willing we will do
things with boldness and clarity. <br />
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">A full report will be
prepared and mailed to the ones who want to read.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Just Google “Quran
Burning”, “Mike Ghouse” or “Pastor Terry
Jones” for that time period, – you will be amazed with the print
and web media coverage. Every Major Newspaper in the world has covered it in
positive terms, a healthy change. <br /><br /><br />The most important endorsements came from Muslims sites - Shia, Sunni and others. The key contributing articles are on the
panel at World Muslim Congress and Unity Day USA.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The
most important endorsements came from Muslims Newspapers and websites -
Shia, Sunni and others. Whether it is Saudi Gazette, or Ahle-Bayt
(Shia) News in Iran and the Muslim Majority Nations have covered it
all. There is leadership vaccum out there, when the right thing is said,
they grab it and it is encouraging.</span><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><ul>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">LIVE COVERAGE OF THE EVENT<br /><b> </b><a href="http://www.theledger.com/article/20130910/MULTIMEDIA/130919954">http://www.theledger.com/article/20130910/MULTIMEDIA/130919954</a></span></span></span></li>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span>
</span></span>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">BEST FEED BACK - <span style="font-weight: normal;">Terry Jones a Bad Apple in the Christian
Faith Who Brought Hate to Mulberry - <a href="http://www.theledger.com/article/20130924/EDIT02/130929619" title="http://www.theledger.com/article/20130924/EDIT02/130929619">http://www.theledger.com/article/20130924/EDIT02/130929619</a></span></span></span></li>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span>
</span></span>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">UNITY DAY PROGRAM - www.UnitydayUSA.com </span></span></li>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span>
</span></span></ul>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><ul>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">A VIDEO MESSAGE TO PASTOR JONES AND MUSLIMS </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsQq-tbJ89k&feature=youtu.be" style="text-decoration: none;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsQq-tbJ89k&feature=youtu.be</a></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"> </span></span></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">MUSLIM RESPONSE TO QUR'AN BURNING<a href="http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2013/08/planned-muslim-response-to-quran_18.html" style="text-decoration: none;">http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2013/08/planned-muslim-response-to-quran_18.html</a></span></span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">MESSAGE TO URDU SPEAKING MUSLIMS<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xxa69A5Xn3o" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xxa69A5Xn3o</a></span></span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">WHAT EXACTLY WILL MUSLIM DO ON THAT DAY?<a href="http://www.unitydayusa.com/" style="text-decoration: none;">www.UnityDayUSA.com</a></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">MUSLIMS ARE DETERMINED TO BRING ABOUT A CHANGE<a href="http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2013/09/muslim-americans-are-determined-to-turn.html">http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2013/09/muslim-americans-are-determined-to-turn.html</a></span></span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><ul>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">DONATE 12000 PINTS OF BLOOD ON 9/11</span><a href="http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2013/09/muslim-americans-are-determined-to-turn.html" style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px; text-decoration: none;" title="http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2013/09/muslim-americans-are-determined-to-turn.html">http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mike-ghouse/while-pastor-terry-jones-_b_3874056.html#es_share_ended</a></span></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-size: small;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">
</span>
</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">
</span></span></span><ul><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">
<li>MUSLIMS PROTESTS - MULBERRY LEDGER<a href="http://www.theledger.com/article/20130820/news/130829938" style="text-decoration: none;">http://www.theledger.com/article/20130820/news/130829938<br /></a></li>
<li>PAY NO ATTENTION TO MAN BEHIND QURAN BURNING <br />Jeff Weiss at Washington Post and Religion News Service<a href="http://www.religionnews.com/2013/09/09/commentary-pay-no-attention-to-the-man-behind-the-burning-qurans/#comment-353607" style="text-decoration: none;">http://www.religionnews.com/2013/09/09/commentary-pay-no-attention-to-the-man-behind-the-burning-qurans/#comment-353607</a></li>
</span></span></span></ul>
<ul><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">
<li>FOR MUSLIMS IN AMERICA, A NOVEL PROTEST - TIMES OF INDIA<a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/From-Muslims-in-America-a-novel-protest-against-quran-burning/articleshow/21982162.cms" style="text-decoration: none;" title="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/From-Muslims-in-America-a-novel-protest-against-quran-burning/articleshow/21982162.cms"><br />http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/From-Muslims-in-America-a-novel-protest-against-quran-burning/articleshow/21982162.cms</a> </li>
</span></span></span></ul>
<ul><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">
<li>A PROPER RESPONSE TO INFLAMMATORY ACT - SAUDI GAZETTE<a href="http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index.cfm?method=home.regcon&contentid=20130821177617" style="text-decoration: none;" title="http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index.cfm?method=home.regcon&contentid=20130821177617">http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index.cfm?method=home.regcon&contentid=20130821177617</a><br /><span lang="en-US"><br /></span></li>
<li><span lang="en-US">TAMPA BAY FOX NEWS</span><a href="http://www.myfoxtampabay.com/story/23233567/2013/08/22/pastor-wants-to-burn-3000-korans-in-mulberry" style="text-decoration: none;">http://www.myfoxtampabay.com/story/23233567/2013/08/22/pastor-wants-to-burn-3000-korans-in-mulberry </a></li>
</span></span></span></ul>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,Times New Roman,serif;">Thank you.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="0"> </span></span><span lang="0" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small;">...............................................................................................................................
<br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">Mike Ghouse is a <a href="http://www.professionalspeakermikeghouse.com/">speaker</a>, thinker and a
<a href="http://theghousediary.com/">writer</a> on <a href="http://www.foundationforpluralism.com/">pluralism</a></span></span><span lang="0" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">,<a href="http://republicanmoderates.blogspot.com/"> politics</a>, peace, <a href="http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/">Islam</a>, <a href="http://israel-palestine-dialogue.blogspot.com/">Israel</a>, <a href="http://mikeghouseforindia.blogspot.com/">India</a>, <a href="http://pluralismcenter.blogspot.com/">interfaith</a>, and cohesion at work
place. He is committed to building a <a href="http://www.americatogetherfoundation.com/">Cohesive America</a> and offers
pluralistic solutions on issues of the day at <a href="http://www.theghousediary.com/">www.TheGhousediary.com</a>. He believes in
<a href="http://standingupforothers.blogspot.com/">Standing up for others</a>
and has done that throughout his life as an activist. Mike has a presence on
national and local TV, Radio and Print Media. He is a frequent guest on <a href="http://www.hannity.com/guest/ghouse-mike/10804">Sean Hannity show</a> on
Fox TV, and a commentator on national radio networks, he contributes weekly to
the Texas Faith Column at <a href="http://religionblog.dallasnews.com/">Dallas
Morning News</a>; fortnightly at <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mike-ghouse">Huffington post;</a> and
several other periodicals across the world. His personal site <a href="http://www.mikeghouse.net/">www.MikeGhouse.net</a> indexes all his work
through many links.
</span><br />..............................................................................................................................</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">
</span></div>
</div>
Mike Ghousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01647894600183489442noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3041435086328734609.post-17497807327166729702013-11-14T21:11:00.000-08:002013-11-15T10:56:17.894-08:00Pope Francis - This is my Pope, and I am a Muslim<span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">This is my Pope, and I am a Muslim.<br /><br />URL-<a href="http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2013/11/pope-francis-this-is-my-pope-and-i-am.html">http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2013/11/pope-francis-this-is-my-pope-and-i-am.html</a> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />There
was a paucity of moral leadership in the world, a leader who can
confidently bring about a balance and not let the equilibrium of the
society be run down. Thank God for this angel; Pope Francis.<br /><br />I
have studied him for over six months, and have written articles
including two in Dallas Morning News. Now, I have chosen him to be my
moral guide. I have come to believe that he has what it takes to lead
the world and build that elusive kingdom of heaven where no human has to
live in fear of the other. That is the end goal of all religions.<br /><br />As
a Muslim, I significantly differ with the Christian theology and
rituals, but I would like to believe that the Pope and I understand that
they are merely means to achieving spirituality, piety or Taqwa as it
is called in Islam. Taqwa becomes your moral compass in doing things
ethically. It is becoming God-conscious, or becoming Brahma as Hinduism
calls it. It is a state of mind where you become a fully integrated part
of what God is all about; just, kind, loving and caring with zero
discrimination towards any.<br /><br />When you achieve piety, you will not
look down on any individual, they become an equal part of God, as you
are, then arrogance fades, insecurities start disappearing and humility
sets in connecting you with the universe. You and the Universe would be
in union, or yoga and that is the state of mind that Buddha, Lao Tzu,
Confucius, Mahavira, Krishna, Zoroaster, Moses, Jesus, Muhammad, Nanak,
the Bab, and several spiritual masters in the native traditions had
achieved. You feel the universe and you are one and the same with no
apprehension that is indeed the true freedom.<br /><br />My other living
mentors include HH Aga Khan, Barack Obama, Javed Ahmed Ghamidi and
Bishop Tutu and few others in the making. I am learning about others,
but these men and women (soon) respect the God given life and the life
hereafter as a guide to living a moral, but fuller life.<br /><br />Prophet
Muhammad (pbuh) had once said that he wished his people had a book of
guidance like Jews and Christians, and today, I wish that we the Muslims
have a guide like Pope Francis, that the Catholics have. These words
came to me after reading this statement from the pope. This is exactly
what Muslims need, and I am pleased to take him as my moral guide.<br /><br />To
paraphrase Pope Francis, as a Muslim I would say, ““We have to find a
new balance; otherwise even the moral edifice of the Islam is likely to
fall like a house of cards, losing the freshness and fragrance of the
Quran. The Muslim Clergy have locked themselves up in small things, in
small-minded rules. The most important thing is the core value of Quran
"Mercy" followed by Justice, equality, humility and truthfulness. And
the Imams must be Imams of mercy above all.”<br /><br />This is what Pope
Francis said, “We have to find a new balance; otherwise even the moral
edifice of the church is likely to fall like a house of cards, losing
the freshness and fragrance of the Gospel. The church sometimes has
locked itself up in small things, in small-minded rules. The most
important thing is the first proclamation: Jesus Christ has saved you.
And the ministers of the church must be ministers of mercy above all.”<br /><br />I
am proud to have written 8 articles about the pope from the minute he
was ordained to now. Insha Allah, I will make a pilgrimage to visit him
to pay my respects and offer to be his ambassador. As a Muslim and a
Pluralist, I will make myself available to jump at his call for creating
peace in the world, where no human has to live in fear of the others,
let the world be the new kingdom of heaven where we all feel safe and
secure with each other. Amen!</span></span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;"><span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></span><span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
I wrote the following pieces:
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Mar 14, 2013 - Muslims welcome Pope Francis, Thursday, March 14, 2013<span style="color: blue;"> <a href="http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2013/03/muslims-welcome-pope-francis.html">http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2013/03/muslims-welcome-pope-francis.html</a></span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Mar 19, 2013 - Texas Faith: What piece of advice would you give the new
pope? Dallas Morning News - <a href="http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2013/03/texas-faith-what-piece-of-advice-would.html">http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2013/03/texas-faith-what-piece-of-advice-would.html</a></span></span></span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Mar
28, 2013 - Christian Muslim Conflict mitigation, <a href="http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2013/03/christian-muslim-conflict-mitigation.html">http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2013/03/christian-muslim-conflict-mitigation.html</a></span></span></span></li>
</ul>
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<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Mar
31, 2013 - What made me go to the Catholic Church today for Easter? <a href="http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2013/03/what-made-me-go-to-catholic-church.html">http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2013/03/what-made-me-go-to-catholic-church.html </a></span></span></span></li>
</ul>
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Apr 09, 2013 - Why Jewish, Muslim, and Hindu Leaders Have High Hopes for
Pope Francis, <a href="http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2013/04/why-jewish-muslim-and-hindu-leaders.html">http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2013/04/why-jewish-muslim-and-hindu-leaders.html</a>
</span></span></span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Aug 02, 2013 - Pope Francis the merciful<a href="http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2013/08/pope-francis-merciful.html"> http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2013/08/pope-francis-merciful.html</a></span></span></span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Aug
02, 2013 - Pope Francis wishes Ramadan Mubarak to Muslims<a href="http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2013/08/pope-francis-wishes-ramadan-mubarak.html"> http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2013/08/pope-francis-wishes-ramadan-mubarak.html</a><a href="http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2013/04/why-jewish-muslim-and-hindu-leaders.html"><br /></a></span></span></span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Aug 07, 2013 - Texas faith: What relevance does Pope Francis have
beyond the Catholic Church? Dallas Morning News - <a href="http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2013/08/texas-faith-what-relevance-does-pope.html">http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2013/08/texas-faith-what-relevance-does-pope.html</a></span></span></span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Aug 22, 2013 - A video Message to pastor Jones with comments on the Pope<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsQq-tbJ89k&feature=youtu.be"> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsQq-tbJ89k&feature=youtu.be </a><a href="http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2013/08/texas-faith-what-relevance-does-pope.html"><br /></a></span></span></span></li>
</ul>
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</span><ul>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Sep 24, 2013 - Texas Faith: Pope Francis criticizes narrow focus on
abortion, gay rights and conception. Dallas Morning News - <a href="http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2013/09/texas-faith-pope-francis-criticizes.html">http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2013/09/texas-faith-pope-francis-criticizes.html</a></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Nov 06, 2013 - Michami Dukadam - Starting life over with a clear slate, Mere Mention <a href="http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2013/11/michami-dukadam-starting-life-over-with.html">http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2013/11/michami-dukadam-starting-life-over-with.html</a>
</span></span></span></li>
</ul>
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<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Nov 14, 2013 - Pope Francis - This is my Pope, and I am a Muslim.<a href="http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2013/11/pope-francis-this-is-my-pope-and-i-am.html"> http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2013/11/pope-francis-this-is-my-pope-and-i-am.html</a></span></span></span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
<span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b> </b></span></span>
<br />
<span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;">Mike Ghouse is a
<a href="http://www.professionalspeakermikeghouse.com/">speaker</a>, thinker
and a <a href="http://theghousediary.com/">writer</a> on <a href="http://www.foundationforpluralism.com/">pluralism</a></span><span style="color: #003366; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;">,<a href="http://republicanmoderates.blogspot.com/"> politics</a>, peace, <a href="http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/">Islam</a>, <a href="http://israel-palestine-dialogue.blogspot.com/">Israel</a>, <a href="http://mikeghouseforindia.blogspot.com/">India</a>, <a href="http://pluralismcenter.blogspot.com/">interfaith</a>, and cohesion at
work place. He is committed to building a <a href="http://www.americatogetherfoundation.com/">Cohesive America</a> and
offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day at <a href="http://www.theghousediary.com/">www.TheGhousediary.com</a>. He believes
in <a href="http://standingupforothers.blogspot.com/">Standing up for others</a>
and has done that throughout his life as an activist. Mike has a presence on
national and local TV, Radio and Print Media. He is a frequent guest on <a href="http://www.hannity.com/guest/ghouse-mike/10804">Sean Hannity show</a> on
Fox TV, and a commentator on national radio networks, he contributes weekly to
the Texas Faith Column at <a href="http://religionblog.dallasnews.com/">Dallas
Morning News</a>; fortnightly at <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mike-ghouse">Huffington post;</a> and
several other periodicals across the world. His personal site <a href="http://www.mikeghouse.net/">www.MikeGhouse.net</a> indexes all his work through
many links.</span></span></span>Mike Ghousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01647894600183489442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3041435086328734609.post-21992207967665791892013-10-31T12:00:00.003-07:002013-10-31T12:00:28.544-07:00The essence of Diwali; Happy Diwali <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: black;">Diwali is the Indian festival of lights and is celebrated on a large scale throughout India and the Indian Diaspora. It is also celebrated in Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Singapore, Guyana, West Indies, Fiji, and of course, here in the United States. </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYbusrhbv1LJadnBo_rtHlBiV1-dqbTOt8vPd_jE0pV2sPF1xSc8dMorc86RVtvcdVp3FGZI7qZ5fjKKIUexA7DwAm_nHI3qf55TCpn3yfrbkdKzGbEU_R50umaxJdRXBWxSc_HeguDDiD/s1600/Diwali.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYbusrhbv1LJadnBo_rtHlBiV1-dqbTOt8vPd_jE0pV2sPF1xSc8dMorc86RVtvcdVp3FGZI7qZ5fjKKIUexA7DwAm_nHI3qf55TCpn3yfrbkdKzGbEU_R50umaxJdRXBWxSc_HeguDDiD/s1600/Diwali.jpg" /></a></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Thanks to the Gupta’s for placing Dallas on the World Map of Diwali Celebrations. I believe it is one of the biggest celebrations in the United States, if not the biggest in the western Hemisphere. Ramesh Gupta initiated the event eight years ago, fully supported, encouraged and funded by the Dallas billionaire couple Satish and Yasmin Gupta. </span></span><br /><span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span> <span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Nearly 50,000 people attend the event. First it was held in Texas Stadium, former home of the Dallas Cowboys and now it is held at the Cotton Bowl Stadium in Fair Park, Dallas, where college football is played and home to Texas State Fair.</span></span><br /><span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span> <span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> There is nothing like it. Satish Gupta, president of the organizations writes this information on their website, <a href="http://www.dfwdiwalimela.com/">http://www.dfwdiwalimela.com/</a><span style="color: black;">, “</span>This year again we have decided to pack all the fun for children, youth, adults and seniors. From Ram Leela and Bollywood singers to spectacular fireworks, elephant rides to slides, Cultural dances to mouth watering Indian food, all packed in one of the biggest Carnival of its kind in America. There will be three elephants and two camels available for the rides this year! We bring all this to you at a very minimal cost to you.”<span style="color: black;"><br /></span></span></span><br /><span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span> </span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPL_sDIgR63ybh1irS5-GappIvjvlRwXztTD_V0ZscqhYL7iEv9pDl5Y0aEOFwJiDpu8qf8MX2RVu1FxCDsY9jQkSoLV47OCjwiOmKcq1MSxX6EtJjXkbjiW8H3bXKuA5lfsf0N9t6Ndho/s1600/Lit.up.india.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPL_sDIgR63ybh1irS5-GappIvjvlRwXztTD_V0ZscqhYL7iEv9pDl5Y0aEOFwJiDpu8qf8MX2RVu1FxCDsY9jQkSoLV47OCjwiOmKcq1MSxX6EtJjXkbjiW8H3bXKuA5lfsf0N9t6Ndho/s400/Lit.up.india.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: black;"><br />Diwali is spelled differently, and is called by many names. There is Divali among others, and Deepavali, meaning the festival of lights. </span>Although Diwali is a Hindu tradition, people of all faiths participate in celebrations - Hindus, Jains, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists, Zoroastrians and others. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: black;">People decorate their homes with lights and Rangoli, i.e., colorful drawing in the front yard of the home, sidewalks, even roads in India with colorful powders or colorful pieces of chalk. Women and Children look forward to express their artistic talent in this season. Their surroundings filled with colorful lights to enliven the day, to mark the dawn of a new era in one's life.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /><span style="color: black;">My childhood is filled with good memories of Diwali; the sparklers, the food and everything joyous you can imagine.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWi64YcLCTwSEuyCvDn0fXGhQ1obgzjYqehcBmSYlLGQtXWnxDKacrWGjP9GFpyNhBoLWZPjx_jy89PifuG8W3JsBpihNkXkMyTjBLYMzNbmEZ0e3aRJzUtvS6k3DYzwwI7w9dtmZ74GZr/s1600/RamParivar.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWi64YcLCTwSEuyCvDn0fXGhQ1obgzjYqehcBmSYlLGQtXWnxDKacrWGjP9GFpyNhBoLWZPjx_jy89PifuG8W3JsBpihNkXkMyTjBLYMzNbmEZ0e3aRJzUtvS6k3DYzwwI7w9dtmZ74GZr/s400/RamParivar.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: black;"><br />A few years ago, Jyoti and Nishi Bhatia, former President of DFW Hindu Temple and President of Dallas Hindi Association respectively, asked me to speak about Diwali in a dinner gathering to a group of people from different faiths and cultures, and I cherished it, I love talking about Diwali, as its essence reflects the ideals of pluralism, and </span>symbolizes<span style="color: black;"> hope and positive energy, victory of good over evil; a new beginning. It is indeed seeing the light at the end of tunnel. <br /><br /> Diwali Celebration is a part of the epic Ramayana, and the Ram Lila is played out all night long in towns across India. I grew up watching it in front of my house, and my friends played different roles in the show. Indeed, one of my former relatives played Hanuman’s role.<br /><br /><br /> It was a challenge for me to teach Ramayana to a group of people who knew nothing about it. It turned out to be a successful program. I prepared the nearly all white audience that I will be narrating the story through the power point and along will be reinforcing the names and roles of the key persons in the story and will ask them for feed back at the end. Friends, I cannot tell you the joy, the Bhatias and I felt when each one of them answered the questions from the story. They got it! It is a powerful story and takes about 30 minutes to narrate. <br /><br /> The epic is filled with educative tales, edifying poems, and fables. It is probably through their constant retelling in the villages over centuries that Hinduism is most efficiently disseminated from generation to generation... <br /></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMsJkG_ISVS7LwU4YyOdXUQ4gDwYXNrGkjR0NNXbdiPZIX-mOt0guemGdF4zjMGagjULcxigGKmKg_VIkhuGdr4_PT18oxdwLYT-A5OnleCdFaj-TeEbAgrE14Nzjg74Zm1ypEzLanjBNn/s1600/ravana+gone.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMsJkG_ISVS7LwU4YyOdXUQ4gDwYXNrGkjR0NNXbdiPZIX-mOt0guemGdF4zjMGagjULcxigGKmKg_VIkhuGdr4_PT18oxdwLYT-A5OnleCdFaj-TeEbAgrE14Nzjg74Zm1ypEzLanjBNn/s400/ravana+gone.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: black;"><br />Whenever a society rots with adharma (wrong path), where no one cares about the other, lying, stealing and dishonesty become rampant, Lord Krishna says, I will emerge among you and restore the righteousness and trust in the society to function smoothly.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: black;"> Zarathustra, Moses, Jesus, Buddha, Muhammad, Krishna, Nanak, Mahavira, Confucius, Tao and others served the same purpose… it is almost like the laws of physics ; water finds its own level, and righteousness finds its own existence.<br /></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: black;">Rama is one such incarnation who reestablished the moral code for social conduct and proper relation of mankind to divinity. He was truthful and a just king. </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYKLs6JTXKKrqCJIbyYBKsXMbt8nlH7nau9IG-q8-v2_yuZq8Rztj-an6HeblUaNqxD43FLz5CKpX3xATXx3tLBmgmiXDlxaqn4G9-RfsFYOA3avVL0iUSKZuqcaoa56PaiwL85Fz21Lnx/s1600/Ram.Rajya.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYKLs6JTXKKrqCJIbyYBKsXMbt8nlH7nau9IG-q8-v2_yuZq8Rztj-an6HeblUaNqxD43FLz5CKpX3xATXx3tLBmgmiXDlxaqn4G9-RfsFYOA3avVL0iUSKZuqcaoa56PaiwL85Fz21Lnx/s400/Ram.Rajya.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: black;">The full story with the title “Essence of Diwali” will be available to read at </span><a href="http://www.theghousediary.com/">www.TheGhouseDiary.com</a><span style="color: black;"> and other sites listed at </span><a href="http://www.mikeghouse.net/">www.MikeGhouse.net</a><span style="color: black;"> </span></span></span> </span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: black;">Diwali symbolizes hope and positive energy</span></span></span></span></div>
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<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: black;">·<span style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="color: black;">People wear new clothes </span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: black;">·<span style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="color: black;">Share sweets as a symbol of happiness</span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: black;">·<span style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="color: black;">Renew the relationships</span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: black;">·<span style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="color: black;">Strengthen the bonds</span></span></span></span></li>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: black;">It signifies a new beginning, starting out fresh.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: black;">for most businesses it is the new financial year</span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: black;">An inventory of assets is taken</span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: black;">An assessment of family and relationship </span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="color: black;">Last harvest for the farmers</span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="color: black;">New things are bought</span></span></span></span></li>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: black;">________________________<br /></span><span style="color: black;">President Obama in his message last Diwali said it perfectly, <br /><br />“Many who observe this holiday will light the <i>Diya</i>, or lamp, which symbolizes the triumph of light over darkness and knowledge over ignorance. As that lamp is lit, we should all recommit ourselves to bring light to any place still facing darkness. Earlier this year, we were reminded of the evil that exists in the world when a gunman walked into the Sikh Gurdwara in Oak Creek, Wisconsin and opened fire. In the wake of that horrible tragedy, we saw the resilience of a community that drew strength from their faith and a sense of solidarity with their neighbors, Sikh and non-Sikh alike. We also saw compassion and love, in the heroic actions of the first responders and the outpouring of support from people across the country. Out of a day of sadness, we were reminded that the beauty of America remains our diversity, and our right to religious freedom. <br /><br />To those celebrating Diwali, I wish you, your families and loved ones Happy Diwali and <i>Saal Mubarak</i>.”<br /><span style="color: black;">________________________</span> </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /><br />Today, on this blessed day, we have a blank slate to start, let's plan on filling it with doing good things for ourselves, to our family, friends, community, nation and the world until next Diwali.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">What are good things?<b> </b> Words and actions that bring peace, Mukti, salvation, Moksha, nirvana, Nijaat and freedom to us, yes us. There is so much of joy waiting to be had. If we can remove hatred and anger towards others, forgive others and ask for forgiveness (Michami Dukadam is a beautiful phrase the Jain's use), then a blissful year is sure to come for each one of you and me. </span></span></span></div>
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<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">May this Diwali purge your heart, mind and soul from hate, malice, anger and ill-will; </span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">May this Diwali open your hearts and minds towards fellow being; </span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">May this Diwali brighten your life, and may this Diwali mark the dawn of a new era;</span></span></span> </li>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Muslims are a big part of Diwali as well, and innumerable poets have written poetries and songs about Diwali. Here is my effort, I wrote this seven years ago on the occasion when Diwali and Ramadan were celebrated around the same time.</span></span> <span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span></span><div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: Mangal,serif;">ये मेरी दिवाली है</span><span style="font-family: Mangal,serif;">,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span lang="HI">ये मेरी ईद है</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: Mangal,serif;">दोनों में खुशी ही खुशी है</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">A meri diwali hai, a meri eid hai</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> donon may khushi hi khushi hai<br />-</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: Mangal,serif;">दिवाली से नया साल शुरू होता है</span><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: Mangal,serif;">रमज़ान</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Mangal,serif;"> </span></span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: Mangal,serif;">एक</span><span style="font-family: Mangal,serif;"> <span lang="HI">नया इंसान बनाता है</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Diwali say naya saal shuru hota hai</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> Ramzan ek naya insaan banata hai<br />-</span></span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: Mangal,serif;">दिवाली मैं एक एक</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Mangal,serif;"> </span></span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: Mangal,serif;">बात</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Mangal,serif;"> </span></span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: Mangal,serif;">का हिसाब होता है</span><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: Mangal,serif;">रमज़ान में हर बात का रिव्यू होता है</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Diwali may ek ek baat ka hisab hota hai</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> Ramzan may her baat ka review hota hai<br />-</span></span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: Mangal,serif;">दिवाली नए साल के लिए क्लीन स्लेट देता है</span><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: Mangal,serif;">रमज़ान पिछले साल का स्लेट क्लीन करता है</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Diwali nayay saal ke liye clean slate deta hai</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> Ramzan pichlay saal ki slate clean karta hai<br />-</span></span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: Mangal,serif;">बात ही बात में मैंने एक</span><span style="font-family: Mangal,serif;"> <span lang="HI">नयी नज़्म</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span lang="HI">लिख दी साहिर</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: Mangal,serif;">दिवाली और रमज़ान से सबका अच्छा</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Mangal,serif;"> </span></span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: Mangal,serif;">ही</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Mangal,serif;"> </span></span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: Mangal,serif;">होता है</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Baat hi baat may, my nay a sher likh diya Sahir</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> Diwali aur Ramzan say subka acha hi hota hai</span></span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>Shubh kamnaein | Diwali Mubarak | Blessed Diwali. <br /></b><span style="color: black;">Happy Diwali to you my friends, may this Diwali bring happiness, serenity and peace to you. Amen!</span></span></span><br /><span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: black;"><br />Note: I have been writing the essence of every religious festival for the last twenty years. Just plug in the word in the search box at www.TheGhouseDiary.com and <a href="http://wisdomofreligion.blogspot.com/">www.WisdomofReligion.com</a></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Mike Ghouse is a <a href="http://www.professionalspeakermikeghouse.com/">speaker</a><span style="color: black;">, thinker and a </span><a href="http://theghousediary.com/">writer</a><span style="color: black;"> on </span><a href="http://www.foundationforpluralism.com/">pluralism</a><span style="color: #003366;">,</span><a href="http://republicanmoderates.blogspot.com/"> politics</a><span style="color: #003366;">, peace, </span><a href="http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/">Islam</a><span style="color: #003366;">, </span><a href="http://israel-palestine-dialogue.blogspot.com/">Israel</a><span style="color: #003366;">, </span><a href="http://mikeghouseforindia.blogspot.com/">India</a><span style="color: #003366;">, </span><a href="http://pluralismcenter.blogspot.com/">interfaith</a><span style="color: #003366;">, and cohesion at work place. He is committed to building a </span><a href="http://www.americatogetherfoundation.com/">Cohesive America</a><span style="color: #003366;"> and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day at </span><a href="http://www.theghousediary.com/">www.TheGhousediary.com</a><span style="color: #003366;">. He believes in </span><a href="http://standingupforothers.blogspot.com/">Standing up for others</a><span style="color: #003366;"> and has done that throughout his life as an activist. Mike has a presence on national and local TV, Radio and Print Media. He is a frequent guest on </span><a href="http://www.hannity.com/guest/ghouse-mike/10804">Sean Hannity show</a><span style="color: #003366;"> on Fox TV, and a commentator on national radio networks, he contributes weekly to the Texas Faith Column at </span><a href="http://religionblog.dallasnews.com/">Dallas Morning News</a><span style="color: #003366;">; fortnightly at </span><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mike-ghouse">Huffington post;</a><span style="color: #003366;"> and several other periodicals across the world. His personal site </span><a href="http://www.mikeghouse.net/">www.MikeGhouse.net</a><span style="color: #003366;"> indexes all his work through many links.</span></span></span></span>Mike Ghousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01647894600183489442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3041435086328734609.post-2858401570255128822013-10-03T12:36:00.001-07:002013-10-03T12:38:44.215-07:00Purpose of Interfaith Dialogue<h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
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<span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-size: small;">PURPOSE OF INTERFAITH DIALOGUE<br />URL - <a href="http://pluralismcenter.blogspot.com/2013/10/purpose-of-interfaith-dialogue.html">http://pluralismcenter.blogspot.com/2013/10/purpose-of-interfaith-dialogue.html</a><br /><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="font-size: small;">The purpose of interfaith dialogue is to learn about each other, and to
separate the myths from the realities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>To learn about each other as we believe and practice, and not what others
say about us or vice-versa. <br /><br />The bottom line is how do we build a society
that all of us can learn to respect the otherness of others, and no one has to
live in apprehension, discomfort or fear of the other. Interfaith efforts are
directed towards that goal. <br /><br />Prophet Muhammad is the first man to have
conducted an interfaith dialogue. Zarathustra, Moses, Krishna, and even Jesus
did not have that opportunity. Prophet Muhammad was dealing with Judaism,
Christianity, Pagans and other monotheistic traditions prevalent at that time.
It was followed by the Muslims in Spain, and King Akbar in India.<br /><br />Now
we have many groups engaged in interfaith dialogue - there are about three or
four of us who teach pluralism ; Aga Khan, Eboo Patel, myself and a few other
Muslims. We have zero prejudice towards any faith, and we build Islam while
building other faiths as well. Our Islam grows bigger as others faiths also
shine.. our Islam does not hinge on diminishing or giving lesser value to other
faiths. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="font-size: small;">Sadly, most of the fellow Americans have a singular perception of
Muslims, Jews, Christians, Hindus…. and others, and those perceptions were built
up by media. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even those who have been a
part of the interfaith dialogue still are set in what is dished out to them for
years. <br /><br />Interfaith dialogue, removes those myths – hear me out, this is what
Judaism is and not what you imagine, this is Islam, and not what you see on
Fox…. INTERFAITH dialogue helps put together the real image of the group as
opposed to what is out on television. The input is coming from the respective
religious representatives and not defined by someone else. <br /><br />How do we do that? <a href="http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2013/09/special-report-on-quran-burning-that.html"> http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2013/09/special-report-on-quran-burning-that.html</a><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="font-size: small;">Indeed, in Quran 49:13 God says, I have created you into many tribes,
communities…. And the best one among you is the one who knows each other. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God knows there will be conflicts with
diversity, and then he tells us the best ones among us are those who learn about
each other. Knowledge leads to understanding and understanding to acceptance of
each other. <br /><br /><span style="color: #660000;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">That is the ultimate goal of interfaith – to respect the
otherness of others as Pluralism is defined by us. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is you are who you are, and I am who I
am. I will accept you the way you believe, dress, smile and I expect the same
from you. In true interfaith meetings, there are no compromises, what is the
need? After all it is a belief, and as long as it does not mess with my food,
water, space and my loved ones, you are welcome to be who you are, as I will be
who I am. </i></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><br /><span style="font-size: small;">Of course, we will always have a few Muslim spies, Jewish spies, Hindus
spies… and a few Muslims, Baha’i and Christians come to convert others, it’s a
sport to them to see how many they can hunt. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are a danger to building cohesive
societies where no one has to live in apprehension of the other. <br /><br />I am
part of many groups and including my own – the rule is no one will even hint
about conversion, or claim superiority of their faith over others. They can
extol their faith, but never put down the other. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><br /><span style="font-size: small;">I have written quite extensively on the topic… Let me share the negative
side of it which are few and far between:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span><a href="http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2013/04/interfaith-disappointements.html"><span style="color: blue; font-size: small;">http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2013/04/interfaith-disappointements.html</span></a><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></div>
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<span lang="0"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: small;">Mike
Ghouse<br />(214) 325-1916 text/talk<br />Foundation for Pluralism<br />Studies in
Religious Pluralism and societal pluralism <br />. . . . . <br /><br />Mike Ghouse is
a </span><a href="http://www.professionalspeakermikeghouse.com/"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: small;">speaker</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: small;">, thinker and a
</span><a href="http://theghousediary.com/"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: small;">writer</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: small;"> on </span><a href="http://www.foundationforpluralism.com/"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: small;">pluralism</span></a></span><span lang="0" style="color: #003366;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: small;">,</span><a href="http://republicanmoderates.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: small;">
politics</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: small;">, peace, </span><a href="http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: small;">Islam</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: small;">, </span><a href="http://israel-palestine-dialogue.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: small;">Israel</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: small;">, </span><a href="http://mikeghouseforindia.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: small;">India</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: small;">, </span><a href="http://pluralismcenter.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: small;">interfaith</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: small;">, and cohesion at
work place. He is committed to building a </span><a href="http://www.americatogetherfoundation.com/"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: small;">Cohesive America</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: small;"> and offers
pluralistic solutions on issues of the day at </span><a href="http://www.theghousediary.com/"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: small;">www.TheGhousediary.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: small;">. He
believes in </span><a href="http://standingupforothers.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: small;">Standing up for others</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: small;">
and has done that throughout his life as an activist. Mike has a presence on
national and local TV, Radio and Print Media. He is a frequent guest on
</span><a href="http://www.hannity.com/guest/ghouse-mike/10804"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: small;">Sean Hannity show</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: small;"> on Fox TV,
and a commentator on national radio networks, he contributes weekly to the Texas
Faith Column at </span><a href="http://religionblog.dallasnews.com/"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: small;">Dallas Morning News</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: small;">;
fortnightly at </span><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mike-ghouse"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: small;">Huffington post;</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: small;"> and
several other periodicals across the world. His personal site </span><a href="http://www.mikeghouse.net/"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: small;">www.MikeGhouse.net</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: small;"> indexes all
his work through many links. </span></span></div>
<br />Mike Ghousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01647894600183489442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3041435086328734609.post-6421040173998825022013-09-26T12:40:00.000-07:002013-09-26T20:04:03.471-07:00Dr. Prabhojot Singh and Jageet Singh harassed in New York and Mississippi <div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: small; line-height: 115%;"><b>Harassment of Sikhs</b><br /> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">URL- <a href="http://pluralismcenter.blogspot.com/2013/09/dr-prabhojot-singh-and-jageet-singh.html">http://pluralismcenter.blogspot.com/2013/09/dr-prabhojot-singh-and-jageet-singh.html</a><br /><br />We have ways to go to fully realize the value of our
constitution, it is violated every day. We take the pledge that we are one
nation under God with liberty and Justice for all, and yet we go out and tear
the nation apart on the basis of race, religion or sexual orientation, and take
away the liberty and justice of others. It is not acceptable, particularly if the
violations come from the law enforcement officials. We have to fix this and we
need all Americans to take a stand. <br /> </span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">How many of us value our pledge, the pledge of allegiance? </span></i><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">Of course, the majority values it, but the tiny minority of about
1/10th of 1% of the people does not value any laws. That is the case in every
aspect of life. It is that tiny group of individuals who violate the laws of
the land or guidance of the religions as they did in Kenyan Shooting and
bombing the Church in Pakistan.<br /></span> </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Unity Day USA - September 11, 2012</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">Dr. Prabhjot Singh, a Professor at Columbia University lives
in one of the most urban of cities of America, New York. Last week he faced utter
humiliation. Police said one of the men pulled Prabhjot Singh's beard while the
teenagers yelled "get Osama" and "terrorist." Singh, who
wears a turban per his Sikh religious tradition, and is a public advocate for
interfaith dialogue, was kicked several times to the body and face.<br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">Jageet Singh, a truck driver was pulled over by the Police
in Mississippi, and the officers demanded that "Mr. Singh remove the
Kirpan. When Mr. Singh explained that he was a Sikh and that the Kirpan was a
sacred religious article, the officers laughed at him and mocked his religious
beliefs. One officer declared that all Sikhs are "depraved" and
"terrorists." They continued to taunt him, and forced Mr. Singh to
circle his truck with his hands on his turban while they searched the vehicle.
Finally, not content with this humiliation, they arrested him, claiming that
Mr. Singh had refused to obey an officer's lawful command." On the top of
that, Judge Rimes, ordered that Mr. Singh would not be allowed to re-enter the
courtroom unless he removed "that rag" from his head and threatened
to call Mr. Singh last on the docket if he continued to wear the religious
headdress. <br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">First of all, as Americans we condemn the behavior of the
teens, police officers and the judge, this is not acceptable in our country,
and secondly, we need to penalize the involved and have them pay for it to set
a precedent that this behavior is not acceptable. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">What do we need to do in the long run? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: small; line-height: 115%;"><br />We need to learn about each other, not because it is a noble
thing, but because we all have to live together with least tensions. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: small; line-height: 115%;"><br />Our Founding Fathers laid the ground work for such a
society, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created
equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights,
that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">Martin Luther King Jr. said that we should be judged by what
we can deliver, rather than our race, religion or ethnicity. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: small; line-height: 115%;"><br />Chief Seattle, a Native American said this perfectly,
"All things are connected. Whatever befalls the earth befalls the sons of
the earth. Man did not weave the web of life; he is merely a strand in it.
Whatever he does to the web, he does it to himself."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: small; line-height: 115%;"><br />How are we going to preserve that delicate web? What issues
divide us and how do we cope with them?
How do we allay the prevalent phobias? How do we focus on our vision for
a prosperous America?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: small; line-height: 115%;"><br />John F Kennedy was blunt, "ask not what your country
can do for you - ask what you can do for your country." We need to channel that energy and passion in
building a cohesive America. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: small; line-height: 115%;"><br />Every American must feel a sense of security, safety and
freedom. If we can learn to respect the otherness of others and accept the God
given uniqueness of each one of us, then conflicts fade and solutions emerge.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: small; line-height: 115%;"><br />Last year on September 11, we held Unity Day USA, an
inclusive event that brings Americans of different faiths, or no faith and
races together. In its 9<sup>th</sup> years, the Sikh community was highlighted
for the outstanding Model behavior they created in response to the Wisconsin shooting;
we also focused on the 1984 Sikh Genocide of New Delhi in our 6<sup>th</sup>
Annual Holocaust and Genocides event. It was good for the fellow Americans to
learn and know about them, and we hope to continue to do programs to bring
people together, so we can learn about each other. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: small; line-height: 115%;"><br />If we can learn to respect the otherness of others, and
accept the God given uniqueness of each one of the 318 Million Americans, then
conflicts fade and solutions emerge. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: small; line-height: 115%;"><br /><br /><i>Mike Ghouse is committed to building a cohesive America and
offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day - More about Mike at www.MikeGhouse.net </i> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">Sikh professor attacked in New York in alleged hate crime</span></h1>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2013/9/23/columbia-universityprofessorattackedinallegedhatecrime.html</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">by <a href="http://america.aljazeera.com/profiles/d/lisa-de-bode.html" title="Lisa De Bode">Lisa De Bode</a></span></div>
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<div class="contact">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"><span class="twitter-icon"><a href="http://www.twitter.com/lisadebode" target="_blank" title="@lisadebode">@lisadebode</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"><span class="date">September 23, 2013</span>
<span class="time">4:15PM ET</span></span>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">Teenagers yelled racist slurs such as 'attack Osama' and assaulted prominent Sikh advocate Prabhjot Singh</span></div>
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<dt><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">Topics:</span></dt>
<dd><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://america.aljazeera.com/topics/topic/issue/religion-spirituality-ethics.html" title="Religion, Spirituality & Ethics">Religion, Spirituality & Ethics</a></span></dd><dd><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://america.aljazeera.com/topics/topic/issue/human-rights.html" title="Human Rights">Human Rights</a></span></dd><dd><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://america.aljazeera.com/topics/topic/issue/race-ethnicity.html" title="Race & Ethnicity">Race & Ethnicity</a></span></dd></dl>
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<div class="shareDiv sharing" data-description="Teenagers yelled racist slurs such as 'attack Osama' and assaulted prominent Sikh advocate Prabhjot Singh" data-device-type="auto" data-media-src="http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2013/9/23/columbia-universityprofessorattackedinallegedhatecrime.img.jpg" data-media-type="image" data-show-counts-position="right" data-subtitle="" data-title="Sikh professor attacked in New York in alleged hate crime" data-url="http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2013/9/23/columbia-universityprofessorattackedinallegedhatecrime.html" id="share-5627531702892245063" style="visibility: visible;">
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<figure class="image"><div class="" data-alt="Sikh hate crimes" data-class="" data-picture="">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"><img alt="Sikh hate crimes" height="250" src="http://america.aljazeera.com/content/ajam/articles/2013/9/23/columbia-universityprofessorattackedinallegedhatecrime/jcr:content/mainpar/adaptiveimage/src.adapt.960.high.1379984860083.jpg" width="400" /></span></div>
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<figcaption><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">Members
of New York's Sikh community attend a news conference after meeting in
Queens following the deadly shootings at a Sikh temple in Wisconsin by
an Army vet on Aug. 6, 2012 in New York City. </span></figcaption><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">Spencer Platt/Getty Images</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">NEW YORK -- A Columbia University professor was attacked by a group
of 15 to 20 young men on bicycles Saturday in Harlem in an alleged hate
crime against Sikhs.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">
</span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">Police said one of the men pulled Prabhjot Singh's beard while the
teenagers yelled "get Osama" and "terrorist." Singh, who wears a turban
and is a public advocate for interfaith dialogue, was kicked several
times to the body and face.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">
</span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">"There were about 20 of them," Singh said. "A few surrounded me,
started punching me and pulling my beard." He was hospitalized for his
injuries and received surgery for a possible fracture in his left jaw,
according to a statement.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">Amardeep Singh, program director of the Sikh Coalition, a national
advocacy organization founded after 9/11, said the incident is a part of
systematic discrimination against Sikhs in the United States.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">
</span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">"What happened did not happen in a vacuum," he said. "Here in New
York City, we regularly receive reports that Sikh school children are
called 'bin Laden' or 'terrorist' by classmates and sometimes endure
physical violence."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">
</span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">Sikhs have suffered from a spate of attacks in recent years based on prejudices against their religion. A <a href="http://www.saldef.org/pr/turban-myths-sept-9-2013/">recent Stanford University survey</a> showed that 70 percent of turban wearers in the U.S. are misidentified as Muslim (48 percent), Hindu, Buddhist or Shinto.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">Sikhism is a monotheistic religion founded in the Punjab region of India in the late 15th century and has no ties to Islam.</span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">
</span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">The study, titled "Turban Myths," also found that nearly half of all
Americans believe that the Sikh faith is a sect of Islam, and even more
people associate the turban with Osama bin Laden than with other Muslim
or Sikh figures.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">
</span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">"Unfortunately our research confirms that Prabhjot's experience is
not the resulted of isolated misperception and intolerance," said Jasjit
Singh, executive director of the Sikh American Legal Defense and
Education Fund (SALDEF), the sponsor of the Stanford study.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">
</span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">The results help explain the long list of hate crimes against the Sikh population since Sept. 11, 2001.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">Two elderly Sikhs were <a href="http://articles.latimes.com/2011/apr/11/local/la-me-0411-sikhs-20110411">gunned down</a> in Elk Grove, California in April 2011. A Sikh subway worker was <a href="http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-06-07/us/29629094_1_sikh-man-bin-attacker">assaulted</a> in New York City in June 2011. A cab driver was <a href="http://americanturban.com/2012/10/29/seattle-wa-area-sikh-cab-driver-attacked-in-hate-crime/">attacked</a>
in Seattle, Wash. in Oct. 2012, and, in Aug. 2012, a white supremacist
shot dead six Sikh worshippers at a temple in Oak Creek, Wisc., in what
the Sikh Coalition says is "one of the worst attacks on an American
place of worship since the 1963 bombing of the 16th Street Baptist
Church," referring to the attack in Birmingham, Alabama.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">In response to the attack, the Sikh Coalition <a href="http://www.sikhcoalition.org/images/documents/statementfortherecordfromthesikhcoalition.pdf">spearheaded</a>
a U.S. Senate hearing on hate crimes, where it demanded the government
set up a task force to help prevent such tragedies from happening again,
similar to the Clinton administration's <a href="http://www.justice.gov/crt/church_arson/arson98.php">efforts</a> in reaction to a series of arson attacks on black churches in the South in the 1990s.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">
</span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">But officials' support remains elusive, policy advocates say.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">
</span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">"Where is the indignation, where is the outrage? Where is the
presidential task force to address post-9/11 violence?" Rajdeep Singh,
director of law and policy at the Sikh Coalition, told Al Jazeera.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">In June, the FBI <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/05/hate-crimes-sikhs-hindus-arabs-fbi_n_3392760.html">decided to track hate crimes against Sikhs</a>
specifically instead of lumping them together with other religious hate
crimes. But even though the measure represents a step in the right
direction, policy advocates said it stops short of addressing the
underlying problem.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">
</span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">"It is great the FBI has started tracking Sikhs, because it will give
us numbers going forward, but it doesn't prevent these crimes from
happening," Anisha Singh, policy advocate at UNITED SIKHS, an advocacy
organization, told Al Jazeera.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">
</span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">"In order to do that, we need to actively educate Americans what
Sikhism is and how it is a different religion from what they are
confusing us with."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">
</span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">Sikh <a href="http://www.sikhcoalition.org/advisories/2011/sikh-coalition-advocates-making-a-difference" target="_blank">volunteers</a> are taking on the problem by conducting surveys among high school students in states such as <a href="http://www.sikhcoalition.org/documents/pdf/11-0812_Sikh%20Coalition%20Bullying%20Survey%20Results%20%28MS%29.pdf" target="_blank">Mississippi</a>,
Tennessee and Massachusetts, where bullying has been rampant compared
to national averages. They're also raising awareness about the issue by
talking to state and federal politicians.</span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">According to a SALDEF <a href="http://www.saldef.org/news/secretary-of-education-meets-with-saldef-and-community-advocates/" target="_blank">survey</a> among
Sikh American students in Southern California, 67 percent of Sikh
American children were bullied or harassed within the last school year,
and 31 percent have been threatened with physical violence or harm.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"><br /><br />==============</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">09/25/2013</span></div>
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<h3 class="title">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"><a href="https://www.aclu.org/blog/religion-belief-racial-justice/judge-sikh-man-remove-rag-or-go-jail" rel="bookmark" title="Judge to Sikh Man: Remove “That Rag” or Go to Jail">Judge to Sikh Man: Remove “That Rag” or Go to Jail</a></span></h3>
<div class="blog-author">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">
https://www.aclu.org/blog/religion-belief-racial-justice/judge-sikh-man-remove-rag-or-go-jail<br /><br />By <a href="https://www.aclu.org/blog/author/bear-atwood">Bear Atwood</a>, ACLU at 4:57pm </span></div>
<div class="body clear-block">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">Today, in a <u><a href="https://www.aclu.org/religion-belief/letter-mississippi-department-transportation">letter</a></u>
to the Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT), the ACLU and
United Sikhs called on state officials to investigate the harassment of a
Sikh commercial truck driver pulled over early this year for a flat
tire. After detaining Mr. Jageet Singh in January as he passed through
Mississippi, the officers called him a "terrorist" and harassed and
humiliated him because of his appearance and religious beliefs. As a
devout Sikh, Mr. Singh wears a turban and carries a <u><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kirpan">kirpan</a></u>.
A kirpan is a small, spiritual sword that is sheathed and sewn to the
waistband. It is designed and worn as an article of faith, much as a
cross is worn by devout Christians.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">Contending, wrongly, that his kirpan was illegal, the officers
demanded that Mr. Singh remove it. When Mr. Singh explained that he was a
Sikh and that the kirpan was a sacred religious article, the officers
laughed at him and mocked his religious beliefs. One officer declared
that all Sikhs are "depraved" and "terrorists." They continued to taunt
him, and forced Mr. Singh to circle his truck with his hands on his
turban while they searched the vehicle. Finally, not content with this
humiliation, they arrested him, claiming that Mr. Singh had refused to
obey an officer's lawful command.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">Mr. Singh's ordeal did not end with the MDOT. When he returned to
Mississippi on March 26, 2013, for his court date at the Pike County
Justice Court, he once again suffered humiliation, harassment, and
discrimination because of his religious beliefs. Waiting for his
attorney in the back of the courtroom, he was stunned when four Highway
Patrol officers approached him and ordered him to leave the courtroom.
The officers stated that Judge Aubrey Rimes had ordered them to eject
Mr. Singh from the courtroom because he did not like Mr. Singh's turban.
Moreover, they told Mr. Singh that Judge Rimes would punish him if he
failed to remove his headdress.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"><br />When Mr. Singh's attorney went to Judge Rimes's chambers to inquire
about the matter, he readily confirmed that he had expelled Mr. Singh
from the courtroom because of his turban. He further stated that Mr.
Singh would not be allowed to re-enter the courtroom unless he removed
"that rag" from his head and threatened to call Mr. Singh last on the
docket if he continued to wear the religious headdress.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">As an observant Sikh, Mr. Singh wears a turban at all times as a
reminder and public declaration of his connection to God. For him, the
turban is an inseparable part of his Sikh religious identity: Like all
Sikhs, Mr. Singh believes that a man cannot be considered a Sikh if he
does not wear the turban and that unwrapping his turban and exposing his
"naked" head in public is sacrilegious and shameful.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">Mr. Singh respectfully declined to remove his turban. As threatened,
Judge Rimes forced Mr. Singh and his attorney to wait for several hours
until every other litigant had been heard before allowing him into the
courtroom.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">The Pike County Board of Supervisors recently recognized that Judge
Rimes's harassment of Mr. Singh was unacceptable. In response to an
investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), the Board revised
the County's harassment and non-discrimination policy to explain that
religious discrimination includes "requiring an individual to remove a
head covering or denying that individual access to a County office,
building, program or activity because they are wearing a head covering,
if that head covering is worn for religious reasons."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">But Judge Rimes should not have needed a DOJ investigation or county
policy to know that his conduct was impertinent and inappropriate. Our
justice system is founded on the principle that every person entering a
courthouse is equal before the law and is entitled to respect. Judge
Rimes's treatment of Mr. Singh – in particular his use of the slur "rag"
and his effort to intimidate and embarrass Mr. Singh because of his
minority faith – flouted his responsibility under the Mississippi
Judicial Code of Conduct to uphold the dignity of the judiciary.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">The ACLU and United Sikhs also plan to file a complaint with the
Mississippi Judicial Commission, asking officials to investigate Judge
Rimes's conduct and impose appropriate sanctions.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">The letter sent today to MDOT officials demands that they provide
public documents relating to Mr. Singh's detainment and arrest and urges
them to implement an ongoing training program to educate officers about
their responsibility to treat every person with dignity and to remain
respectful of religious diversity.</span><span style="font-size: small;"><i> </i></span></div>
</div>
Mike Ghousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01647894600183489442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3041435086328734609.post-50451264737615258692013-09-02T18:54:00.001-07:002013-09-02T18:54:09.463-07:00Quran burning pastor Terry Jones faces Muslims with Unity Day in Mulberry, Florida<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial,Tahoma,Helvetica,FreeSans,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial,Tahoma,Helvetica,FreeSans,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">10th Annual Unity Day USA – reflections on 9/11 tragedy and response to Quran Burning by Pastor Terry Jones at Mulberry Civic Center, Florida.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br /><br />You are cordially invited to be a part of a purposeful event, and join fellow Americans of different faiths, ethnicities and races to reflect on the anniversary of the 9/11 tragedy. On this day, we will reaffirm our pledge to one nation under God with liberty and Justice for all. We will pray for peace, prosperity and security of our nation.<br /><br />Event: 10th Annual Unity Day USA<br />Time: 8:46 AM – 10:46 AM<br />Date: September 11, 2013<br />Place: Mulberry Civic Center,<br />Address: 901 NE 5th St, Mulberry, FL 33860<br />RSVP-<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="mailto:ConfirmAttendance@gmail.com" style="color: black; text-decoration: none;">ConfirmAttendance@gmail.com</a><br />Full Details:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.unitydayusa.com/" style="color: black; text-decoration: none;">www.UnityDayUSA.com</a></span></span><br style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial,Tahoma,Helvetica,FreeSans,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 20px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial,Tahoma,Helvetica,FreeSans,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">and at:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>www.WorldMuslimCongress.com<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span><br /><b><br /><br />Together as Americans we gather to:</b><br /><br />- Express our gratitude to our Firemen, Police, defense, FBI and our civic leaders;<br />- Honor individuals who have contributed to the well being of Polk County;<br />- Appreciate the God given diversity of our nation; we are God’s own country;<br />- Rededicate our pledge to the peace, prosperity and security of America;<br />- A message to Muslims that we respect the Qur'an and our freedom of speech <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br /><br />Please join us with your family and friends. Your presence is a valuable expression of unity. Along with our elected officials, civic, religious and business leaders, you help will fulfill our common values and aspirations. Your presence fortifies our commitment to a cohesive America, where no American has to live in apprehension, discomfort or fear of fellow Americans. It is an enriching positive experience you will fall in love with.<br /><br />Last year the event focused on the positive response of Sikh community to the Wisconsin Shooting, and this year we will focus on the positive prayerful response of Muslim community to the planned Qur'an Burning by Pastor Terry Jones in Mulberry, Florida. We honor the freedom of speech of every American.<b><br /></b><br />Earlier Press Releases:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2013/08/planned-muslim-response-to-quran_18.html" style="color: black; text-decoration: none;">http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2013/08/planned-muslim-response-to-quran_18.html</a><br /><br />Video Message to Pastor Jones and Muslims across the world -<span> </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsQq-tbJ89k&feature=youtu.be" style="color: black; text-decoration: none;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsQq-tbJ89k&feature=youtu.be</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial,Tahoma,Helvetica,FreeSans,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span><span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />What will Americans and American Muslims will do on that day?<br />Visit<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.unitydayusa.com/" style="color: black; text-decoration: none;">www.UnityDayUSA.com<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></a></span></span><br /><span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">More Details at:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.worldmuslimcongress.com/" style="color: black; text-decoration: none;">www.WorldMuslimCongress.com<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></a><br /><br /># # #</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial,Tahoma,Helvetica,FreeSans,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial,Tahoma,Helvetica,FreeSans,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">Contact:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br /><br /><span> </span><span> <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span>Mike Ghouse (214) 325-1916 –<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><a href="mailto:MikeGhouse@aol.com" style="color: black; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">MikeGhouse@aol.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br /><span> </span><span> <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span>Suzanne Carter-Moore (727) 479-5041-<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><a href="mailto:NotinMulberry@gmail.com" style="color: black; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">NotinMulberry@gmail.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br /><span> </span><span> <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span>Butch Rahman (863) 585-6379 –<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><a href="mailto:ButchRahman@me.com" style="color: black; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">ButchRahman@me.com</span></a></span></span></span></span>Mike Ghousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01647894600183489442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3041435086328734609.post-51010701063379269902013-08-30T12:05:00.002-07:002013-08-30T12:05:37.550-07:00Quran Burning Video Message to Muslims and Pastor Terry Jones<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The following Video at You Tube
is about how Muslims will respond to Pastor Jones buring of 2998 copies of
Quran – Koran</span></span><br />
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsQq-tbJ89k&feature=youtu.be"><br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsQq-tbJ89k&feature=youtu.be</a></span></b></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV5y-bnLDQ2utyVs1Sk4Gr-uPn1UpyWkMDwmtPfFnAOnoBpr5eNwOQrLuZGQ8ep69AmBxEYknLSwF7wu3apq670GZlESnWWA9h9urdN8iH7g2x8ieHzyyf8H0mU8Ho_qOf74EzwwYLZwc/s1600/Quran-Burning-Pastor-TerryJones.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV5y-bnLDQ2utyVs1Sk4Gr-uPn1UpyWkMDwmtPfFnAOnoBpr5eNwOQrLuZGQ8ep69AmBxEYknLSwF7wu3apq670GZlESnWWA9h9urdN8iH7g2x8ieHzyyf8H0mU8Ho_qOf74EzwwYLZwc/s1600/Quran-Burning-Pastor-TerryJones.jpg" /></a></span></span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We
are concerned about the violent reactions to Quran burning by some of
the fringe elements among Muslims elsewhere in the world, the
perceptions that get slapped on to Muslims for the actions of a few, and
safety of fellow Americans and American Embassies.<br /><br />As American
Muslims, we plan to respond to pastor Terry Jones' planned burning of
3000 copies of Quran on September 11, 2013 with grace and dignity. We
honor the free speech guaranteed in our constitution for every American
and have no intentions to criticize, condemn or oppose Pastor Terry
Jones expression. Instead, we will be donating blood and praying for
the goodness to prevail.<br /><br />We hope, our mercy based message will
remind Muslims to follow the examples of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), a
mercy to mankind to contribute towards a better world. We believe it
may also bring a change in the attitudes of followers of Pastor Jones,
and in the behavior of those Muslims who reacted violently the last time
Pastor sought notoriety.<br /><br />Our response would be to show unity and
solidarity with fellow Americans and the fellow humanity – we will
establish a system to respond to conflicts. Americans of all traditions
and religions will come together and express our goodness through
fellowship and prayer, and rededicate our pledge to the safety, security
and unity of our nation.<br /><br />What exactly will Muslims do?<br />Details at: www.UnitydayUSA.com <br /><br />Mike Ghouse<br />(214) 325-1916 text/talk<br />. . . . . <br /><br />Mike
Ghouse is a speaker, thinker and a writer on pluralism, politics,
peace, Islam, Israel, India, interfaith, and cohesion at work place. He
is committed to building a Cohesive America and offers pluralistic
solutions on issues of the day at www.TheGhousediary.com. He believes in
Standing up for others and has done that throughout his life as an
activist. Mike has a presence on national and local TV, Radio and Print
Media. He is a frequent guest on Sean Hannity show on Fox TV, and a
commentator on national radio networks, he contributes weekly to the
Texas Faith Column at Dallas Morning News; fortnightly at Huffington
post; and several other periodicals across the world. His personal site
www.MikeGhouse.net indexes all his work through many links.</span></span> </span>Mike Ghousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01647894600183489442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3041435086328734609.post-6546027858016378032013-08-24T12:28:00.003-07:002013-08-24T12:28:53.663-07:00Quran Burning and Unity Day USA<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial,Tahoma,Helvetica,FreeSans,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span><b>Purpose</b>:<br /><br /><span style="line-height: 14px;">It is a purposeful event to bring Americans of different faiths, races, ethnicities and other uniqueness together to rededicate ourselves to our pledge; One nation under God with liberty and Justice for all.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="Apple-converted-space"></span></span><span style="line-height: 14px;"><span style="line-height: 14px;"><span style="color: black;">We will pray for peace, prosperity and security of our nation.<br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="border: 0px none; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimYeqFTB-0hlDDDRHkO6Az42A8Btv0Cx-TQvHzZc0aj9fwXdfyQ4C6MYt32xnpx3wMGT3XQnkp72SeAyXPP15QXB_owdGwAaIdHVfTPBUuxcWPuEx34Ck4H3ixl-fOQ6GAnq32NnTA76_B/s1600/Unityday-MarineGuards.jpg" style="color: #212c6a; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimYeqFTB-0hlDDDRHkO6Az42A8Btv0Cx-TQvHzZc0aj9fwXdfyQ4C6MYt32xnpx3wMGT3XQnkp72SeAyXPP15QXB_owdGwAaIdHVfTPBUuxcWPuEx34Ck4H3ixl-fOQ6GAnq32NnTA76_B/s640/Unityday-MarineGuards.jpg" style="background-color: transparent; border: medium none; box-shadow: 0px 0px 0px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.098); padding: 0px; position: relative;" width="424" /></a></span></span></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="border: 0px none; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span>PICTURES FROM UNITY DAY IN DALLAS</span></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span><span style="line-height: 14px;"><span style="color: black;"><br />The 10th Annual event is moved to Mulberry, Florida - for a singular purpose - to mitigate possible apprehensions generated by the planned burning of 2998 copies of Quran on September 11, 2013. We hope it restores our faith in the cohesiveness of America, and we the people will go on about our business of living our daily lives.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br /><br /><br />Date 9/11/2013 in Mulberry - place and time will be announced soon.</span></span>We honor the free speech guaranteed in our constitution, and have no intentions to criticize, condemn or oppose Pastor Terry Jones freedom of expression. Instead, we will be donating blood and praying for goodness to prevail.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span>We hope, our mercy based message will remind those few Muslims elsewhere in the world that violence is not the way. We believe it may bring a change in the attitudes of followers of Pastor Jones, and in the behavior of those Muslims who reacted violently the last time Pastor sought notoriety. The full press release:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2013/08/planned-muslim-response-to-quran_18.html" style="color: #212c6a; text-decoration: none;">http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2013/08/planned-muslim-response-to-quran_18.html</a></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span><span style="line-height: 14px;"><span style="color: black;"><b>We will gather;</b></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span>to be together as Americans</span></span></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span>to express our gratitude to our men and women in uniform</span></span></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span>to honor individuals who have contributed to the well being of Mulberry, Florida</span></span></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span>to emphasize and appreciate diversity represented by America.</span></span></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span>to cherish the otherness of others. </span></span></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span>to commit to be good neighbors </span></span></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span>to rededicate our pledge to the peace, prosperity and security of America</span></span></span></li>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span><br />Please join us with your family and friends to be together as Americans. Your presence is a valuable expression of unity. Along with our elected officials, civic, religious and business leaders, you help fulfill our common values and aspirations. Your presence fortifies our commitment to a pluralistic America.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span>As Americans, and as American of all hues, we uphold, protect, defend and celebrate the values enshrined in our constitution. All our faiths reinforce the creed of "One Nation under God, with liberty and justice for all”.<span><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span>On this Unity Day USA, we, the people of the United States of America of every faith, race and ethnicity, will gather to express our commitment to co-existence, safety, prosperity and the well being of our nation.<span><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></span></span><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span><span style="color: red;"><b>PROGRAM OUTLINE</b></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span><span lang="en-US" style="font-weight: bold;">10th Annual Unity Day USA</span><span lang="en-US"><br />Wednesday, September 11, 2013<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br />Mulberry, Florida<br />TIME: TBD</span><span lang="en-US"><br /><b>Flag Ceremony</b></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNOx7Z5EUutekkocJsI05yM2CIiOCkRS2TIkybxRb8LYZpKTAtWV6xrh1N890aWrD160lz7MOoicfHkbZ-mgNJgfayx9Xm68xFs72C9JUQb15K5vAbzL7cjd7XEiiaIbS62x7LOqmV6pso/s1600/Flag+Ceremony.jpg" style="color: #212c6a; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNOx7Z5EUutekkocJsI05yM2CIiOCkRS2TIkybxRb8LYZpKTAtWV6xrh1N890aWrD160lz7MOoicfHkbZ-mgNJgfayx9Xm68xFs72C9JUQb15K5vAbzL7cjd7XEiiaIbS62x7LOqmV6pso/s640/Flag+Ceremony.jpg" style="background-color: white; border: 1px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); box-shadow: 1px 1px 5px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.098); padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="425" /> </a></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"><b>National Anthem <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></b><br />(Preferably joined in by members of at least 7 faith traditions, if not all)</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP1RQrBE4javZdaLksTaZuUxOGLbRnaS5qfd32CjrdODUMA0Sa_sAbn4iK5LvPGpf1xJacxk2pBTdW7gkyM5MjkcL3cY4woTGNm-QdjE7cwGwf7doRq1uIXQLzIDttOpxUQ5Ij5aJFxLEj/s1600/NationalAnthem.jpg" style="color: #212c6a; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP1RQrBE4javZdaLksTaZuUxOGLbRnaS5qfd32CjrdODUMA0Sa_sAbn4iK5LvPGpf1xJacxk2pBTdW7gkyM5MjkcL3cY4woTGNm-QdjE7cwGwf7doRq1uIXQLzIDttOpxUQ5Ij5aJFxLEj/s400/NationalAnthem.jpg" style="background-color: white; border: 1px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); box-shadow: 1px 1px 5px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.098); padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="400" /> </a></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"><b>Pledge of Allegiance</b><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br />To be led by the Hon. Mayor of Mulberry</span></span></span></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwyMHkDo5wr_-1p2U_yT2ob5Sx8EuXpFZ4zjePgkuBQW4d1AgWmaGfeZXGgs-OTtYldTMKjR5QO5TamZU0KvxYSfi6B_-zOVXqw7Z-zz-sdWYNiH2ExiyKgSJV0cejXwcmF4zRTyfjoCKc/s1600/Pledge+of+Allegiance.JPG" style="color: #212c6a; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="157" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwyMHkDo5wr_-1p2U_yT2ob5Sx8EuXpFZ4zjePgkuBQW4d1AgWmaGfeZXGgs-OTtYldTMKjR5QO5TamZU0KvxYSfi6B_-zOVXqw7Z-zz-sdWYNiH2ExiyKgSJV0cejXwcmF4zRTyfjoCKc/s400/Pledge+of+Allegiance.JPG" style="background-color: white; border: 1px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); box-shadow: 1px 1px 5px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.098); padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"> <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><b> </b></span><br /><span lang="en-US"><b><span lang="en-US"><b>Purpose of Unity Day</b></span></b><span lang="en-US">Thank Yous and Acknowledgements</span><b><span lang="en-US"><br /><br /><b>Greetings</b></span></b><span lang="en-US">Greetings from several religious traditions a few Video Samples; <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mc9D9guPMY" style="color: #212c6a; text-decoration: none;">City of Carrollton-II</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>-<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Git_8Grd3A" style="color: #212c6a; text-decoration: none;">City of Carrollton</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>–<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eo3a8wX6SXQ" style="color: #212c6a; text-decoration: none;">Chicago Bible College</a></span><b><span lang="en-US"><br /><br /><b>Civic Leaders</b></span></b><span lang="en-US">Mayors, Police and Fire chiefs, and Civic Leaders to share 3 minutes each – about their responsibility in treating each citizen with respect and dignity</span><b><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></b></span></span></span></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIguK3g5X-cgaUZ5ngB2_CYiyJXih8vcwq3JaIydZDRzKYtSQHanYwJ0VDhFLJ2CGQzKs1irlbU2p0EqffOWrcAzlnJ4_gJj0h2LAZQSQ1iJIscQ7BWFsl3AWGPz72oHg1A2_3AWu8_SS1/s1600/CivicLeaders-UnitydayUSA.jpg" style="color: #212c6a; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIguK3g5X-cgaUZ5ngB2_CYiyJXih8vcwq3JaIydZDRzKYtSQHanYwJ0VDhFLJ2CGQzKs1irlbU2p0EqffOWrcAzlnJ4_gJj0h2LAZQSQ1iJIscQ7BWFsl3AWGPz72oHg1A2_3AWu8_SS1/s400/CivicLeaders-UnitydayUSA.jpg" style="background-color: white; border: 1px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); box-shadow: 1px 1px 5px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.098); padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"><br /><b>Honoring the activists</b><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br />Those who have stood up for others</span><br /><span lang="en-US"></span><br /><span lang="en-US"></span></span></span></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiveBb9MvY_BSPfNJN9GcREFr4lnz23X0B_Z86hmg9D0-CHk4nJjWAG06G8uRVts-ytTAAMz-3WzlrFop0L2VVCsBwCqe-0SRFHU28T9vo4rGg4h6LvRCJPZiNBTMPhCDDi9cnSRHPFp722/s1600/Honoring-UnitydayUSA-2.jpg" style="color: #212c6a; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiveBb9MvY_BSPfNJN9GcREFr4lnz23X0B_Z86hmg9D0-CHk4nJjWAG06G8uRVts-ytTAAMz-3WzlrFop0L2VVCsBwCqe-0SRFHU28T9vo4rGg4h6LvRCJPZiNBTMPhCDDi9cnSRHPFp722/s400/Honoring-UnitydayUSA-2.jpg" style="background-color: white; border: 1px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); box-shadow: 1px 1px 5px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.098); padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt5xFiAEAKJeAuBctZ8q-5bGozNIlubClJiAGSrBV-HEoo4ZzO6ypy8nsF3mHQCXEdRJH2zhqSxBzs7pvbVcFnGpxyh-QzKLz_O5gHAxErfl6_ROQ-N8Shf-yzSm4V2NA1jYiLU9mqCT8L/s1600/Honoring+Peter+Stewart.jpg" style="color: #212c6a; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt5xFiAEAKJeAuBctZ8q-5bGozNIlubClJiAGSrBV-HEoo4ZzO6ypy8nsF3mHQCXEdRJH2zhqSxBzs7pvbVcFnGpxyh-QzKLz_O5gHAxErfl6_ROQ-N8Shf-yzSm4V2NA1jYiLU9mqCT8L/s400/Honoring+Peter+Stewart.jpg" style="background-color: white; border: 1px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); box-shadow: 1px 1px 5px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.098); padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhv8t9rJ5oS15gdPVgWUu7QF_jNqkZQNFML0bX5whkXdsmvDTX_zqF9Rf9kyvUGLc4fAvRk9teuR4exIvTWtQQMJi_a-HlljzDra1uEa6nM6QOiPQntHbJ9SC4xU-d0K_WwI1wfMV69Rqe/s1600/Honoring-UnitydayUSA.jpg" style="color: #212c6a; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhv8t9rJ5oS15gdPVgWUu7QF_jNqkZQNFML0bX5whkXdsmvDTX_zqF9Rf9kyvUGLc4fAvRk9teuR4exIvTWtQQMJi_a-HlljzDra1uEa6nM6QOiPQntHbJ9SC4xU-d0K_WwI1wfMV69Rqe/s400/Honoring-UnitydayUSA.jpg" style="background-color: white; border: 1px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); box-shadow: 1px 1px 5px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.098); padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="372" /></a></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"><br /></span><span lang="en-US"><span lang="en-US"><b>Spiritual Leaders</b><br />Spiritual Leaders to share their wisdom – 3 minutes each. In Dallas we bring 15 traditions, here we can do as many as we can gather – between Atheist (all Americans need to be represented), Baha’i, Buddhist, Christian (as many denominations as we can), Earth Based, Hindu, Jain, Jewish, Muslim, Native Americans, Pagan, Sikh, Shinto, Wicca and Zoroastrians.</span><b><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></b></span></span></span></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI3dYeSbE8Dub61aPZ4n9BaLeaxTbI96OUsuLIyZ_ueYQ_-gdeeqD-X-L1hgjTGmuD9P4QM27GO9fgilP_iq6W9IN-WirUnJn0GC4WZg2q9kqiIq1P7jpcERuUIt60iM-ENxLWNgTsLzeZ/s1600/ReligiousLeaders-UnitydayUSA.jpg" style="color: #212c6a; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI3dYeSbE8Dub61aPZ4n9BaLeaxTbI96OUsuLIyZ_ueYQ_-gdeeqD-X-L1hgjTGmuD9P4QM27GO9fgilP_iq6W9IN-WirUnJn0GC4WZg2q9kqiIq1P7jpcERuUIt60iM-ENxLWNgTsLzeZ/s400/ReligiousLeaders-UnitydayUSA.jpg" style="background-color: white; border: 1px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); box-shadow: 1px 1px 5px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.098); padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiMDw4TKrPURTzxzqtyaOEuHdlBtw1pBy7axwDCPCKDfks4uB58kZz2wmnj0q5iryQfsTEA3sVMnDBOvl6oDe3LPt36zBZ7YYYLw-2njMJCgrrVKilmIuUPfTfklcKKedevZLUWvH-ZhT1/s1600/Diversity-unitydayusa-2.jpg" style="color: #212c6a; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiMDw4TKrPURTzxzqtyaOEuHdlBtw1pBy7axwDCPCKDfks4uB58kZz2wmnj0q5iryQfsTEA3sVMnDBOvl6oDe3LPt36zBZ7YYYLw-2njMJCgrrVKilmIuUPfTfklcKKedevZLUWvH-ZhT1/s400/Diversity-unitydayusa-2.jpg" style="background-color: white; border: 1px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); box-shadow: 1px 1px 5px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.098); padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"><br /><b>Peace Pledge</b></span></span></span></span></div>
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<ul style="line-height: 1.4; margin: 0.5em 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em;">
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span><span lang="en-US">I will I will speak up when there is injustice.</span></span></span></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span><span lang="en-US">I will speak up when truth is not spoken.</span></span></span></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span><span lang="en-US">I will make my words and my actions mitigate conflicts.</span></span></span></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span><span lang="en-US">I will do my share in nurturing goodwill for the benefit of all.</span></span></span></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span><span lang="en-US">I will do my share of peace work, without looking for others </span></span></span></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span><span lang="en-US">I will do respect the God given uniqueness of each individual.</span></span></span></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span><span lang="en-US">I will do my best to live and let others live their way.</span></span></span></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span><span lang="en-US">I will do my best to nurture goodwill in everything I do.</span></span></span></span></li>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKjP6GCOGQYuwVD-RhVVxnfcnHBpEIYmf6qdzqtR6i2ZPSAee32iFrIJaQgFc8JJDnQXIYlpJS1wDmixigor-5FDJYvqVUonuA4vdH5AYxO0SdbH8-eaorI9u2dCrDFvVwUpMzmn297C85/s1600/Peacepledge-UnitydayUSA.2.jpg" style="color: #212c6a; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKjP6GCOGQYuwVD-RhVVxnfcnHBpEIYmf6qdzqtR6i2ZPSAee32iFrIJaQgFc8JJDnQXIYlpJS1wDmixigor-5FDJYvqVUonuA4vdH5AYxO0SdbH8-eaorI9u2dCrDFvVwUpMzmn297C85/s400/Peacepledge-UnitydayUSA.2.jpg" style="background-color: white; border: 1px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); box-shadow: 1px 1px 5px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.098); padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiua1dZh4Xj-vOTtnkIaoWfUuk_aHJdoSOVEe1UXZ8RSXqovQMZ4JvBdrcfpvkBE-P7IegabspxUn5UmzJwkDTUAGv5aHwZ9iPws8wBY9bU4cGb5NYiGXIsto36s2mTXysiEzzjEX_TlRmv/s1600/PeacePledge.Unitydayusa.jpg" style="color: #212c6a; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiua1dZh4Xj-vOTtnkIaoWfUuk_aHJdoSOVEe1UXZ8RSXqovQMZ4JvBdrcfpvkBE-P7IegabspxUn5UmzJwkDTUAGv5aHwZ9iPws8wBY9bU4cGb5NYiGXIsto36s2mTXysiEzzjEX_TlRmv/s400/PeacePledge.Unitydayusa.jpg" style="background-color: white; border: 1px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); box-shadow: 1px 1px 5px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.098); padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"><b>Special Muslim prayer</b><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>( 3-4 Minutes)<br /><br />Pray for the well being of all Americans, and pray for Reverend Terry Jones, and seek forgiveness for all of us, and that God guide to Guide Reverend Terry Jones to become a be blessed peace maker. Pray for the goodwill of the people of Polk county and Mulberry City, and pray for a cohesive America, where no American needs to live in apprehension, discomfort or fear or fellow Americans.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd2uYuNwe06qsf-oQ5XYosq-mXtWCsu5rU8xrau9OJ-BGUc97UX-xkfTRqdF3IWZerhBt79cSBikvVP0VWO3DOl3qCgqjapIMi7AYMjrgoVx5dXYBx89kczR-HuJoormJdWoOxY-lJevBH/s1600/Muslim-Woman-Praying-Malaysia-940x614.jpg" style="color: #212c6a; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd2uYuNwe06qsf-oQ5XYosq-mXtWCsu5rU8xrau9OJ-BGUc97UX-xkfTRqdF3IWZerhBt79cSBikvVP0VWO3DOl3qCgqjapIMi7AYMjrgoVx5dXYBx89kczR-HuJoormJdWoOxY-lJevBH/s400/Muslim-Woman-Praying-Malaysia-940x614.jpg" style="background-color: white; border: 1px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); box-shadow: 1px 1px 5px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.098); padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"><br /><b>Conclusion – Thank you.</b><br />Depending on the time and place – we can arrange soft drinks, cookies and munchies.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span><span lang="en-US" style="font-weight: bold;">Donate at<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://americatogetherfoundation.com/donate/" style="color: #212c6a; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: blue;">http://americatogetherfoundation.com/donate/ </span></a></span></span></span></span><h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="font-family: Arial,Tahoma,Helvetica,FreeSans,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; margin: 0.75em 0px 0px; position: relative;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span><a href="http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2013/08/a-video-message-to-muslims-and-pastor.html" style="color: #212c6a; text-decoration: none;">A video message to Muslims and Pastor Terry Jones<br /><br /></a></span></span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span><b><span style="color: teal;">A VIDEO MESSAGE TO MUSLIMS AND PASTOR JONES</span></b><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsQq-tbJ89k&feature=youtu.be" style="color: #212c6a; text-decoration: none;" title="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsQq-tbJ89k&feature=youtu.be">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsQq-tbJ89k&feature=youtu.be</a></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvhAudj6Gjy2vYv-Mn3mZ89f5rcF5loLFO_gsvhfoHCWq7P5HcNmOXX1yut0BQu3o-MoryCzXkHnHGQso4sbW2V3NWCt__jCTVvPUI1buJwEFrBPFjSCa5ijcU2dkRp7dvWQiSe9iXBMez/s1600/A+MessagetoMuslims+-+Copy.jpg" style="color: #212c6a; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvhAudj6Gjy2vYv-Mn3mZ89f5rcF5loLFO_gsvhfoHCWq7P5HcNmOXX1yut0BQu3o-MoryCzXkHnHGQso4sbW2V3NWCt__jCTVvPUI1buJwEFrBPFjSCa5ijcU2dkRp7dvWQiSe9iXBMez/s400/A+MessagetoMuslims+-+Copy.jpg" style="background-color: white; border: 1px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); box-shadow: 1px 1px 5px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.098); padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span> <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></span><div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span><span style="color: teal;">All of this is at<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span><a href="http://www.worldmuslimcongress.com/" style="color: #212c6a; text-decoration: none;" title="http://www.worldmuslimcongress.com/">www.WorldMuslimCongress.com</a><span style="color: teal;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br /><br /><b>1. PLANNED MUSLIM RESPONSE TO PASTOR JONES QUR'AN BURNING</b></span> <a href="http://www.blogger.com/URL-%20http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2013/08/planned-muslim-response-to-quran_18.html" style="color: #212c6a; text-decoration: none;" title="http://www.blogger.com/URL- http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2013/08/planned-muslim-response-to-quran_18.html">URL- http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2013/08/planned-muslim-response-to-quran_18.html</a></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span><span><span style="color: teal;"><b>4. A PROPER RESPONSE TO INFLAMMATORY ACT - SAUDI GAZETTE</b></span><br /><a href="http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index.cfm?method=home.regcon&contentid=20130821177617" style="color: #212c6a; text-decoration: none;" title="http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index.cfm?method=home.regcon&contentid=20130821177617">http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index.cfm?method=home.regcon&contentid=20130821177617</a></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span><span><b><span style="color: teal;"> </span></b></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span><span><b><span style="color: teal;">5. FOR MUSLIMS IN AMERICA, A NOVEL PROTEST - TIMES OF INDIA</span></b><br /><a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/From-Muslims-in-America-a-novel-protest-against-quran-burning/articleshow/21982162.cms" style="color: #212c6a; text-decoration: none;" title="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/From-Muslims-in-America-a-novel-protest-against-quran-burning/articleshow/21982162.cms">http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/From-Muslims-in-America-a-novel-protest-against-quran-burning/articleshow/21982162.cms</a></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span><br /><span lang="en-US" style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: #45818e;">6. TAMPA BAY FOX NEWS</span></span></span><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.myfoxtampabay.com/story/23233567/2013/08/22/pastor-wants-to-burn-3000-korans-in-mulberry" style="color: #212c6a; text-decoration: none;">http://www.myfoxtampabay.com/story/23233567/2013/08/22/pastor-wants-to-burn-3000-korans-in-mulberry<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></a></span><span lang="en-US" style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span><h3 class="" style="margin: 0px; position: relative;">
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span><span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #45818e;"><b><span>9. MUSLIMS PROTESTS - MULBERRY LEDGER</span></b></span><br /><a href="http://www.theledger.com/article/20130820/news/130829938" style="color: #212c6a; text-decoration: none;">http://www.theledger.com/article/20130820/news/130829938</a></span></span></span></span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span>All the original pieces related to the Quran burning even are at <a href="http://www.worldmuslimcongress.com/">www.WorldMuslimCongress.com </a></span></span></span></span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span><span style="background-color: white; color: #010101;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue;"><b><span>How unity day was conceived</span></b></span></span><br /><a href="http://911unitydayusa.blogspot.com/2011_12_01_archive.html" style="color: #212c6a; text-decoration: none;" title="http://911unitydayusa.blogspot.com/2011_12_01_archive.html">http://911unitydayusa.blogspot.com/2011_12_01_archive.html</a></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="border: 0px none; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMz1GKdsQ3DxrEv7FuRPzrBAXs2H4j7qCnv9YhXA8wchYEM4pHneb1bXCOc3ydlvd_2fPMpXHWW_71CwunN7pTmQOyo2b1riBzE3tNDetEcUWk0LQdxW8XmPbDUqbaQb1-XxEI9M0jDgAq/s1600/UnityDayUSA-2009.jpg" style="color: #212c6a; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMz1GKdsQ3DxrEv7FuRPzrBAXs2H4j7qCnv9YhXA8wchYEM4pHneb1bXCOc3ydlvd_2fPMpXHWW_71CwunN7pTmQOyo2b1riBzE3tNDetEcUWk0LQdxW8XmPbDUqbaQb1-XxEI9M0jDgAq/s400/UnityDayUSA-2009.jpg" style="background-color: transparent; border: medium none; box-shadow: 0px 0px 0px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.098); padding: 0px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></span></span></span></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="border: 0px none; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span><span>Unity day 2009</span></span></span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="border: 0px none; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSudpYx5aRSQNIxy-LPXW3m8eFfEjVTwXUN-ee394kIE0e0DQtObd3mURx-2Y09XxKRqHSD_EZhKpkoUQSpSpGhzpmItwkpYzaeFsgffql2SnAvKESCNgBr_1PHX5sFQBlMPp5zfcvXBYU/s1600/Unitydayusa52008.JPG" style="color: #212c6a; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSudpYx5aRSQNIxy-LPXW3m8eFfEjVTwXUN-ee394kIE0e0DQtObd3mURx-2Y09XxKRqHSD_EZhKpkoUQSpSpGhzpmItwkpYzaeFsgffql2SnAvKESCNgBr_1PHX5sFQBlMPp5zfcvXBYU/s400/Unitydayusa52008.JPG" style="background-color: transparent; border: medium none; box-shadow: 0px 0px 0px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.098); padding: 0px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></span></span></span></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="border: 0px none; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span><span>Unityday 2006</span></span></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span><span style="color: #010101;">Thank you.</span><br /><span style="color: #010101;"></span><span style="color: #010101;">Mike Ghouse<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><br /><span style="color: #010101;"><span class="skypepnhtextspan"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat ! important; bottom: auto ! important; clip: auto; cursor: pointer ! important; float: none; list-style-position: outside; overflow: hidden; right: auto; word-spacing: normal; z-index: 0;" tabindex="-1"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat ! important; bottom: auto ! important; clip: auto; cursor: pointer ! important; float: none; list-style-position: outside; overflow: hidden; right: auto; word-spacing: normal; z-index: 0;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat ! important; bottom: auto ! important; clip: auto; cursor: pointer ! important; list-style-position: outside; overflow: hidden; right: auto; word-spacing: normal; z-index: 0;">(214) 325-1916</span></span></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span>text/talk</span><br /><span style="color: #010101;">www.AmericaTogetherFoundation.com</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 20px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #010101;">www.FoundationforPluralism.com<br />www.UnitydayUSA.com</span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/search/label/Unity%20Day%20USA" rel="tag" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial,Tahoma,Helvetica,FreeSans,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></a></span>Mike Ghousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01647894600183489442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3041435086328734609.post-38945733207826703312013-08-22T19:44:00.004-07:002013-08-22T19:44:39.550-07:00From Muslims in America, a novel protest against quran burning<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial,Tahoma,Helvetica,FreeSans,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Courtesy:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/From-Muslims-in-America-a-novel-protest-against-quran-burning/articleshow/21982162.cms" style="color: black; text-decoration: none;">Times of India</a></span><span id="advenueINTEXT" name="advenueINTEXT" style="background-color: white; color: black; float: left; font-family: Arial,Tahoma,Helvetica,FreeSans,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 20px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">WASHINGTON: In an effort to overturn the image of Muslims as fire-breathing, sword-slashing conquerors and avengers, a Muslim group in America will resort to a pacific response to the provocative burning of the Quran by a fundamentalist Christian evangelist.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br /><br /><a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Pastor-Terry-Jones" style="color: black; text-decoration: none;">Pastor Terry Jones</a>,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="cm_word" style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 255) ! important; color: rgb(0, 0, 255) ! important; text-decoration: underline ! important;">the notorious Christian extremist</span><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>who riled<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="cm_word" style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 255) ! important; color: rgb(0, 0, 255) ! important; text-decoration: underline ! important;">Muslims</span><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>across the world with his inflammatory burning of<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="cm_word" style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 255) ! important; color: rgb(0, 0, 255) ! important; text-decoration: underline ! important;">the quran</span><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>in 2011, has upped the ante by threatening to burn 3000 copies of the Quran on September 11, the anniversary of the terrorist attack on America that killed nearly 3,000 people. But instead of getting provoked, the so-called "<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/World-Muslim-Congress" style="color: black; text-decoration: none;">World Muslim Congress</a>" in the US said it will "reclaim the standard of behavior practiced by the prophet concerning scurrilous and hostile criticism of the Quran."<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br /><br />It cited a quranic verse that says, "To overcome evil with good is good, and to resist evil by evil is evil," and said it is also strongly enjoined in the Quran in the same verse 41:34 that "Good and evil deeds are not equal. Repel evil with what is better; then you will see that one who was once your enemy has become your<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="cm_word" style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 255) ! important; color: rgb(0, 0, 255) ! important; text-decoration: underline ! important;">dearest friend</span>."</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8CZXbupzHgHFPx6tPMzbR0g0NY251nGtCtDvuH2gl3gWI7WSJEQM7jlVCoY4eVkUls60O1E0RaaaJT6rMC8G04VmhClJqLYGUDVraAu4AiqvsVY4ItVADFOUuzgcBiZDAoouTkxfnEHhW/s1600/TimesofIindia-QuranBurning.jpg" style="color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8CZXbupzHgHFPx6tPMzbR0g0NY251nGtCtDvuH2gl3gWI7WSJEQM7jlVCoY4eVkUls60O1E0RaaaJT6rMC8G04VmhClJqLYGUDVraAu4AiqvsVY4ItVADFOUuzgcBiZDAoouTkxfnEHhW/s320/TimesofIindia-QuranBurning.jpg" style="background-color: white; border: 1px solid rgb(231, 231, 231); box-shadow: 1px 1px 5px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.098); padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="290" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span id="advenueINTEXT" name="advenueINTEXT" style="background-color: white; color: black; float: left; font-family: Arial,Tahoma,Helvetica,FreeSans,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 20px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /><span class="cm_word" style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 255) ! important; color: rgb(0, 0, 255) ! important; text-decoration: underline ! important;">The Texas-based outfit</span><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>said many Muslim organizations across America will go on a "blood drive" to save lives and serve humanity with kindness on the same day pastor Jones has said he will burn the copes of the Quran.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br /><br />"As Muslims and citizens we honor the free speech guaranteed in our constitution. We have no intentions to criticize, condemn or oppose pastor Terry Jones' freedom of expression. Instead, we will be donating blood and praying for goodness to permeate in our society," said Mike Ghouse, an Indian-American Muslim community leader who has been promoting inter-faith harmony in the US for several years.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br /><br />Ghouse said the organization hoped that the blood drive event and the message will remind Muslims elsewhere in the world that violence is not the way. "Muslims, who react violently to senseless provocation, should realize that, violence causes more violence, and besmirches the name of the religion that we hold so dear. We believe that Prophet Muhammad was a mercy to the mankind, and we ought to practice what we believe and preach. We must not insult Islam by the negative reactions of a few," a statement from the organization said.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br /><br />Jones's Quran burning capers have caused universal revulsion, including in the United States, and also led to sporadic episodes of reactive violence in some countries. US government officials, from the federal, state, and local levels, have repeatedly condemned his antics.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br /><br />"It's regrettable that a pastor in Gainesville, Florida with a church of no more than fifty people can make this outrageous and distressful, disgraceful plan and get, you know, the world's attention," former US secretary of state Hillary Clinton said when Jones first announced his provocative move in 2010.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br /><br />But Jones has kept at it despite universal condemnation, including promoting a movie called the "Innocence of Muslims" that vilified Islam and conjuring up September 11 as "International Judge Muhammed Day." Although dismissed as a wingnut in the US, he still gets enough attention to rile up some Islamic extremists.</span><span id="advenueINTEXT" name="advenueINTEXT" style="background-color: white; color: black; float: left; font-family: Arial,Tahoma,Helvetica,FreeSans,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 20px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> </span><span id="advenueINTEXT" name="advenueINTEXT" style="background-color: white; color: black; float: left; font-family: Arial,Tahoma,Helvetica,FreeSans,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 20px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/From-Muslims-in-America-a-novel-protest-against-quran-burning/articleshow/21982162.cms" style="color: black; text-decoration: none;">http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/From-Muslims-in-America-a-novel-protest-against-quran-burning/articleshow/21982162.cms</a></span></span>Mike Ghousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01647894600183489442noreply@blogger.com0