-  What is Pluralism? UPF-TV

  - Dialogue with a Pluralist - Pluralism Questions

  -  Karen Armstrong's - Charter for Compassion

  -  Festivals & Commemorations   Jan 2009   Dec 2008

  - Holocaust & Genocides | 1/24/09  Website1  Website2

  - The Dallas Green Expo - Details

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The Mike Ghouse Journal
A PLURALISTIC PERSPECTIVE ON ISSUES OF THE DAY

 

Gaza Petitions to stop Killing

 

Happy 2009 - A new way of looking at the new year

Life is a choice every day and every moment.
It is not what happens out there or what happens to you,  it is how you react to the situations, you can choose to be angry or sad and ruin your hour, day or the week, and it is your choice.

 

They are neither Gazans nor Israelis, they are evil men

 

Gaza Solutions

The world sympathized with Israel for the rockets they endured in their backyards, but when they get on the revenge bandwagon and indiscriminately kill, they lose sympathy. The oppressed ones all around the world including the majority of Israelis and Jews feel the pain of this massacre, it flies in the face of our continued efforts to stop massacres, it is time for all of us to speak up. This is not the act of peace making; this is the act of destroying a people.

 

Christmas &  Kwanza  | Muharram & Zartosht Deso

Wouldn't it be nice to learn a little bit about each other, how they commemorate or celebrate?  Friendship is an amazing thing, it takes time to know, but when you do, a lot of myths about others disappear - and you find an amazing peace within you for knowing some one from some group, whom you thought...oh well, you got it. I have compiled, borrowed and added a few notes to learn and share about the following festivals and commemorations. It is not perfect, please help me do better next year.

 

Hanukkah | Pancha Ganapati | Khushali | Winter Solstice

We wish the very best for these celebrations and we invite articles on the essence and rituals of each one of the festivals. Christmas and Kwanza next

 

Kafir and Kufr ( Who is an infidel)
The given meaning of the word is Kafir is divisive and should have no place in civil societies. Kaffir is not "one who denies" , rather it is one who does not believe in what you believe. Putting both on par, a symbol of humility and a guarantee to decimate arrogance.
 

The Essence of Eid-al-Adha, a Muslim Festival

Eid-al-Adha is also known as Hajj or Bakrid (variations listed) if you wish to greet Muslims on this day you may say Happy Eid or Eid Mubarak.  Eid is festivity.

 

Scream Bloody Murder, reflections on Genocides
It is natural to feel angry knowing that the world stood by silently when the Jews were put on the train to the gas chambers; when the live skeletal bodies were thrown into the ditches; when the Bosnian Muslims children were given chocolates and told not to worry and go right behind and open gunfire and massacre them; when the Canadian general sends faxes upon faxes to the United Nations to send help, while the UN and USA chose not to get involved and 800,000 Rwandans were massacred in day light.......If you don't feel anger or sadness because they were not of your faith, race or ethnicity, shame on you.

 

Celebrating life of America's Imam - Warith Deen
Mohammad Imam Warith Al-Deen Mohammed is one of the most distinguished Muslim leaders in the United States, who passed away on September 8, this year. It is indeed a great loss of leadership. Warith Deen Mohammad is recognized worldwide as a leading Islamic thinker, philosopher and a religious leader.

 

Mumbai Terrorism Commemoration Prayers by India Assn.
The India Association of North Texas, based in Richardson, Texas held a candle light vigil at its premises in Richardson, Texas. Established in 1962, IANT, as it is known represents over 100 India based associations in North Texas.

 

10 Candles were lit by representatives of a faith or an India based organization to commemorate the tragedy of Terrorist attacks in Mumbai, India. As of now over 150 people are dead in the terrorist attacks at ten different locations in Mumbai, India.

 

The Essence of thanksgiving
It is one of my favorite holidays; it is a day to express gratitude to all those who have helped shape our lives. It is also a day to express friendship and kindness to those who are struggling with the difficulties of life, Thanksgiving is a day of sharing. It is just not you, ask Bill Gates, whom God has blessed proportionately for his intelligence, he would answer, not enough! Ask the Homeless the same question; the answer is still the same, not enough. Who has enough then?

 

Obama Hawks Shaping American Foreign Policy
Given the Lack of  opposition in the three branches of our Government,  I will do my best to keep pointing to the OBAMA BLUNDERS and I hope the media takes the responsibility for our disaster by not speaking out during Bush times, and will fulfill its responsibilities to speak up now. We have our freedom back now.

 

Muslims Beware; Wikipedia Blunder on Kaaba
I cannot believe Wikipedia is taken as a gospel by so many, every word in it is taken as the ultimate truth. You will discover it's danger in the following report. A statement is made "While destroying each idol, Muhammad recited ^{[Qur'an 17:81]} which says "Truth has arrived and falsehood has perished for falsehood is by its nature bound to perish."^[28][29] "

 

Obama, you should not have teased that dog
Obama, you goofed on your 60 minutes interview. You can do better than that. There is a Chinese proverb, you kill the enemy, you make more enemy, you friend the enemy, no more enemy.

 

Jewish-Muslim Dialogue; a necessity - "Monster among us "
Muslims should participate in Jewish events and vice-versa. Staying away from each other will not contribute towards peace-making that both communities so deserve. We have to come together without conditions and learn each others concerns and clarify mis-information and together find solutions. If we don’t, the who will? -the primary obstacle to peace is simply inadequate communications stemming from the unwillingness to see another point of view.

 

Suspected Fascists in Obama Administration
They cannot have bias or hatred for other humans as it may cause them to remain "silent" or "tacitly" approve or disapprove a situation that is "unjust" and unsustainable in the long haul. Of course, Obama will throw every one out who is blatantly biased towards other people; however he has to watch for the subtle ones. Let this be a government of people, you and I have the responsibility to ensure that it is.

President Obama choked me with tears
I choked and  I felt the tears in my eyes, the tears of Joy, I was happy to think of the prospect of America becoming a great nation once again, in those few bare seconds I was imagining prosperity knocking on every American door fulfilling the dream of millions of Americans with a Job, health and education for their children.

Rebuilding America; end of an era of extremism
As a Patriotic American and as a Pluralist, I would urge all of us to stand with the new President Obama, but never forget our first loyalty; our democracy. We need to strengthen the opposition, finally we have a government of the people and we need to make sure checks and balances are preserved, for that we need opposition, a strong one at that.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar in Dallas
Sri Sri was enthused about the need for the work in the evolving Multifaith pluralistic societies. Memnosyne Foundation will play a crucial role in becoming a catalyst in giving currency to great programs of Art of Living Foundation in opening people's hearts and minds towards fellow beings.

Universal Peace Federation
Mike Ghouse defines Pluralism and the leaders of UPF lay out their views on interfaith and peace work.

Jewish-Muslim Dialogue, a necessity

The Jewish Community Center in Dallas recently screened a documentary “The Monster among us”, produced and directed by Dallas filmmakers Allen and Cynthia Mondell. Watching this film (as well as other films in the past) and listening to the responses of the audience has confirmed my belief that one of the primary obstacles to peace is simply inadequate communications stemming from the unwillingness to see another point of view. There are certainly rotten apples in the barrel, but focusing on them to the exclusion of the positive only exacerbates the problem.  Muslims and Jews need to dialogue without keeping a score or blaming the other.

 

Hope for America

When we hear wrong things, we may remain silent, because it may suit our agenda; wrong or right. What if every one remains silent because it suits them? I am sure you are aware of the Martin Niemöller’s poem he wrote during the World War II

 

Saving the Republican Party

 

Joel Osteen's life changing message

May you be inspired to be the best you can be. Each one of you is our own model, God created each one of you to be a unique being among the 6.5 Billion of us and you should be yourselves and not worry about being some one-else.

 

Shari'ah in America

Whereas the Public Sharia deals with the community affairs; such as marriage, divorce, inheritance, conversion, apostates and other rules that deal when more than one individual is involved in the issue. The intent is always Justice and fairness to members of the society. The American civic laws are founded on Justice and most Muslims feel that the American laws are just and will  work for them and are a great substitute.

 

Columbus day, greed, religion and spices

It was this day, some 516 years ago, Columbus (formally) found this land and the people; the Red Indians. I am pondering bits and pieces of history in a random order on this occasion. I have a few questions for us to ponder over. Jesus would not have authorized any of that violence, yet, the world allowed those missionaries to butcher the natives in the name of Jesus - the Jews and Muslims were thrown into cauldrons if they refused to convert to Christianity -A strong America is not the goofy idea of threatening every one in the world and spreading ourselves thin and weak.  

 

Republicans, please put America First
It is time for you, the good principled Republican senators, congressmen and women and all those committed to the principles of the party to wake up and rescue the party from being hijacked again by those extremists who want power devoid of republicanism.

 

Should Obama attack McCain?

"Senator McCain, you keep parroting "you don't understand" as if that is the only phrase you know, thank you, just tell me if you understand, or even hear what I have said many times and just three minutes ago that " the U.S. must insists that Pakistan 'go after these militants.' and 'If we have Osama Bin Laden in our sights and the Pakistani government is unable or unwilling to take them out, then I think we have to act, and we will take them out'. Senator McCain, Isn’t' that what I said? why do you turn around and say that ‘I will attack Pakistan. Do you really hear things out ? Is that how you make you judgments?’

 

Tell me the Talmud

God willing, I have committed to translate Qur'aan from a perspective of its intent "a guidance book for all people and all ages", to be inclusive in every sense. I would add "one of the several guidance books for all times to come". I sincerely hope all the Holy Scriptures will one day be translated in a common way that every person, no matter what faith he or she practices, must feel in tune with and relate with every one of the books. Those books were written for the whole universe and we have to see them in that light.

 

Who Put hate in my Paper?

The majority of Americans and Israelis are being duped by the Neocons. This group is bent on creating chaos and have consistently messed up peace in the Middle East and elsewhere. Imagine the world without them? Peace is not their interests, peace does not give them a nice chunk of money, chaos does. We need to ask this group to take a vacation and see how much better the world would be without them.

 

The Spirit of Rosh Hashanah

Rabbi Haas of Temple Shalom joined me in sharing the essence of Judaism every month on my Radio Talk show here in Dallas. The daily one hour show was called "Wisdom of Religion, all the beautiful Religions". Wish you all the best on the eve of Rosh Hashanah. As a Muslim, I will be happy to blow the Shofar in a Synagogue this week, just call me. If it is not in the tradition, just add me up as an extra. My Imam had done something similar once. Happy Rosh Hashanah to you.

  

The Spirit of Diwali

Like the other festivals of India, Navaratri is rich in meaning. At one level, Navaratri signifies the progress of a spiritual aspirant. During this spiritual journey, the aspirant has to pass three stages personified by Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati. Then, he or she enters into the realm of the infinite, wherein one realizes one's Self. Next year, when I have a life partner, we will celebrate Diwali in my house. Happy Diwali

 

Women Led Muslim Prayers

Oppression of people and suppression of Ideas knocks off the balance in any given society and both go against the fiber of Islam; freedom and justice. Now comes, Dr. Amina Wadud, a Muslim woman has led the Friday congregational prayers for mixed genders, it is indeed a radical idea for those of us who are entrenched in thousands of years of traditions. Muslim Men are no different in their insecurities than Jews, Christians, Americans, Arabs, Zulus, Mongolians or the Mayans. If your strip the dirt from the religion, it boils down to "a men thing" rather than a Religious issue.

 

The Spirit, rituals and politics of Ramadan

The Spiritual masters have captured the human gravity for rituals and have molded it with the art and science of self-discipline in their respective religion. The noble purpose of each one of them was to bring a balance in our lives and a balance with things that surround us; life and environment. Every faith is composed of a set of unique rituals to bring discipline and peace to human life.  Fasting is one of the five key rituals that Muslims around the world observe.

 

Women who Soar

Honoring Mary Ann Thompson-Frenk, Humanitarian, Artists and a Philanthropist.  The award luncheon is about celebrating , and recognizing amazing women who've reached extraordinary professional and personal success. It is about the journey of the women. It is about empowering and inspiring one to reach new heights and soar! Brilliantly you is about each one teaching one.

 

Peace is the result of Justice

When criminals walk around freely without consequences to their crimes, it frightens the victims, neither of them is at peace; one is raged and the other outraged. When a child is abused, there has got to be punishment for the abuser; when a woman is violated, the violator has to pay for it; and when the weak is taken advantage of, the user has to be accounted for it; and when the disadvantaged is had justice must be restored.

 

What does One God mean?

The guardians of the faith have a vested interest in promoting the idea that their faith is the best, and others are deficient,  inferior or even illegitimate. This protects their interests, but spiritually they are wrong, a majority of the people believe otherwise, they simply want to get along with others and do not believe for a moment that, their good friends who follow another faith will go to hell.

 

 

Dismantling Terrorism in India

While India’s approach towards terrorism has contained terrorism, Bush’s