Out to Jerusalem

Middle East Peace Initiative.

A bunch of us from the United States will be visiting Israel on a peace conference, from Dallas Bishop Mark Hernandes, Dr. Karen Hollie and myself will be visiting there from August 20th through 25th.

God willing, I will be breaking my fast at the Al-Aqsa Mosque, all of that will be updated on my Ramadan Exclusive listed on my site, and the trip will be updated on the Foundation for Pluralism and my site.

We will be touring these facilities. Holy Land Tour: Jordan River Valley, Sea of Galilee, Mount of Beatitudes, Nazareth, Mt. Carmel and Druze Holy Site.

Old City Holy Sites Tour: Western Wall, Church of the Holy Sepulcher, Golgotha, Via Dolorosa, Al Aqsa Mosque and Dome of the Rock, Gethsemane Holy Ground and Church, Bethlehem
We will be free on the 25th and I will make an effort to visit the Bahai Shrine in Haifa, Israel.

"The Universal Peace Federation is sponsoring the MEPI series in order to provide support for world leaders in their conscientious efforts to address and resolve critical global problems. Recognizing the profound significance and power of religion as a force for peace in our troubled world, MEPI brings together the family of faiths, providing a model of interfaith service and leadership characterized by mutual respect, harmony and cooperation, for the sake of peace."

"In August of 2000, UPF’s Founder, Rev. Dr. Sun Myung Moon, spoke at the United Nations and proposed the establishment of an interfaith council within the UN system. Over the past ten years significant steps have been taken toward that goal. However, much work remains to be done in order to make the dream a reality. The International Interfaith Consultation will provide an opportunity to assess the UPF Founder’s proposal and work toward recommendations that may be presented to the United Nations when the General Assembly opens on September 21 in New York."

I have ben a part of these initiatives since 2005, when I had the honor of meeting Rev and Mrs. Moon in person. I am proud to be a part of this organizations. I am particularly moved by His holiness Reverend Moon, who has built up a kingdom of goodness with a powerful mission; living for others.

Mike Ghouse is a speaker on Pluralism and Islam offering pluralistic solution to the media and the public on issues of the day. His work is spread in 22 blogs and 3 websites listed at http://www.mikeghouse.net/

Mike Gousha?

I was watching Obama talk on ground Zero http://news.yahoo.com/video/politics-15749652/21414942#video=21414337 then a whole lot of links popped with my name on it.

Then one name that popped "Mike Gousha"... I thought it was a mistake, but there is one TV Anchor with that name.
http://news.yahoo.com/video/politics-15749652/21414942#video=21414526

Ground Zero Blog

This issue is engaging the American Public, both for and against; in this blog I will save the links of articles that come across my knowledge as a reference for the researchers. We have to find solutions for co-existence and sustainable harmony. OPPOSING: Right wingers from Republicans, Jews, Christians, Hindus, and Left winger liberal Muslims are in it together. FAVORING: Moderate Americans, Religious leaders from Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism and others are in support of this center. DAY LIGHT: It is clear as daylight; indeed, it is a political opportunity for the losing right wing republicans, hang on to any thing to create chaos and disharmony and then BS Americans that they will solve the problems.

http://groundzeromosque.blogspot.com/

Intra faith work among Muslims

My fasting and my prayers are my personal business, however, to encourage diversity and understanding of others. God has created each one of us and expects to know each other. Knowledge leads to understanding and understanding to acceptance of a different point of view and respecting the otherness of other amounts to honoring God, for it is he who has created diversity intentionally. Indeed, knowing each other mitigates conflicts and nurtures goodwill resulting in peaceful societies. (Reference Quraan 49:13).

http://ramadanexclusive.blogspot.com/2010/08/my-iftaar-schedule.html

Ramadan is about Humility

True fasting is self-purification; and from this, a rich inner life brings about values such as justice, generosity, patience, kindness, forgiveness, mercy and empathy - values that are indispensable for the success of the community. Consciousness of behavior and vigilance over action are the most profound dimensions of fasting: the fasting of the heart focuses on the attachment to the divine.

The essence of Ramadan is to become Humble
http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/guestvoices/2010/08/the_essence_of_ramadan_is_to_become_humble.html

Happy Indepdence day to Pakistan

I wish a very happy Pakistan Independence day to all my Pakistani friends.

Now, it is your turn to bring independence to the millions who are going through trauma from the floods. My prayers to all those who have lost their lives and pray for the survivors to trust in the almighty for help to come.

We the people of the subcontinent also need to gain freedom from bias towards each other on religious, nationalistic or ethnic basis. We need to be free and achieve the Mukti, Nijaat, Nirvana, Moksha, Salvation and real freedom from our own littleness.

Years ago, when I was doing my radio from August 1 through 15th, we learned all about the culuture, history, civilization, geography, religions, local customs and cuisine of the Subcontinent, i.e,. India, Paksitan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka. And I recall on the 14th August, we had the Indians, Bangladeshis, Nepalese and Sri Lankans sing a line or two of the Pakistani National songs and the same was done on August 15, India's independence day.

Here is what is needed now:

Dallas Pakistanis: There is a group that helps with bore wells in Dallas, they did the work in Darfur, Congo and Somalia. If you need access, let me know.

Louisville Friends: There is a man in Louisville who has invented fast clean water producing machines, he took a truck load of them to Haiti and he can be of great assistance.

Ayesha and I have coordinated information flow from Karachi during the earthquake in Kashmir and now she is active with the flood tragedy. Here is her note.

Flood Relief: Pakistani NGOs need Support-Cash or Kind Donations.
by Ayesha Hasan on Friday, August 13, 2010 at 9:17pm

If you’re willing to contribute, or know somebody who is then please contact the following organizations for Cash or *Kind (please scroll down) Donations.

Support can also be provided by donating the following commodities Please do not donate old/expired items.

Please make sure items are properly packed.

1. Clothing: Shalwar Kameez in various sizes for men, women and children

2. Shoes

3. Bedding

4. Tents

5. Jerricans (large plastic cans that hold 20 liters of water or other liquids)

6. Crockery & Cutlery preferably of steel

7. Buckets

8. Soaps

9. Towels

10. Rice

11. Sugar

12. Flour

13. Cooking Oil

14. Tea, Milk (tetra packs or powder)

15. Drinking Water

16. Sealed Food Items: Glucose Biscuits



Medicines:

1. Water Purification Tablets

2. Vaccines

3. Pain killers

4. Cough Syrup

5. Glucose

6. Antibiotics e.g. tetnus, amoxil, gentamycin.

7. IV cannulas- most common are 18,22,24- Butterfly cannulas: these are for children

8. IV Drip sets

9. IV drips: normal saline

10. Local anesthetics (injections)

11. Cotton bandages

12. Crepe Bandages

13. Guaze Pads

14. Cotton

15. Surgical instruments


1. Khwendo Kor (KK)

http://www.khwendokor.org.pk/


Donation in Pakistan:

Bank: HABIB BANK LIMITED

Account Title: Khwendo Kor

Account Number: 1697-00056724-01

Branch Code: 1697

Swift Code: HABBPKKA007

Branch Address University Town, Peshawar



Contact Info:

Head Office House # 130, Street # 4, Sector K-3, Phase-3, Hayatabad, Peshawar, Khyber Pukhtoonkhwa, Pakistan

Tel: +92-91-5822255, 5818589

Fax: +92-91-5829026

E-mail: info@khwendokor.org.pk



2. Voice of the Civil Society (VOTCS)

http://www.voiceofthecivilsociety.com/Home-.html



Donation in Pakistan:

Account name: Volunteers, Voice of the Civil Society

Account no: 1549-79001393-03

SWIFT CODE: HABBPKKAA007

Branch Code: 1549

Habib Bank Limited Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Block 5, Karachi



Donation in U.S.:

SunTrust Bank Lincoln Road

Miami Beach Branch

ABA Routing #063102152

Account #1000096055453

Account: Volunteers Voice of the Civil Society AKA VOTCS



Contact Info:

VOTCS – Pakistan, House no 7/2, Zulfiqar Street 4, Phase 8, D.H.A., Karachi, Pakistan.

Tel: +92.21.5464446

Email: info@votcs.com, samina@votcs.com, irum@votcs.com





VOTCS, North America, Inc.

690 NE 50th Terrace, Miami, FL 33137 USA

Tel: 1-786-367-6559

Contact Person in U.S.: Samina Ghafoor Punjwani: spunjwani@aol.com



3. Concerned Citizens Society of Pakistan (CCP)

http://www.ccp.org.pk/



Donation in Pakistan:

Bank Al-Habib

A/c No.0065-0081-001555-01-6

Title: Concerned Citizens Society of Pakistan (CCP)



Please Note: while remitting any fund please make sure to write PURPOSE OF REMITTANCE and sender complete name and address (not P.O. Box in address). The deposit can be made in any branch of Bank Al-Habib anywhere in the country.



Donation in U.S. DOLLARS:

Nostro Account Title: HABIB AMERICAN BANK NEW YORK, NY 10016 UNITED STATES

SWIFT ID: HANYUS33XXX

FED ABA NO: 026007362

OUR BANK NAME: BANK AL HABIB LIMITED, KARACHI

PAKISTAN OUR SWIFT ID: BAHLPKKAXXX

OUR NOSTRO ACCOUNT NO: 20729933

ULTIMATE CREDIT TO: M/S.CONCERNED CITIZENS SOCIETY OF PAKISTAN

ACCOUNT NO: 0065-0081-001555-01-6



Donation in POUND STERLING GBP:

NOSTRO ACCOUNT TITLE: HABIBSONS BANK LIMITED, LONDON, U.K.

SWIFT ID: HSBLGB2LXXX SORT CODE: 40-50-83

OUR BANK NAME: BANK AL HABIB LIMITED, KARACHI, PAKISTAN

OUR SWIFT ID: BAHLPKKAXXX

OUR NOSTRO ACCOUNT NO: 21003565

ULTIMATE CREDIT TO: M/S.CONCERNED CITIZENS SOCIETY OF PAKISTAN

ACCOUNT NO: 0065-0081-001555-01-6



Donations in EURO:

NOSTRO ACCOUNT TITLE: COMMERZBANKA.G. FRANKFURT, GERMANY

SWIFT ID: COBADEFFXXX

IBAN CODE: DE82500400000880712501

OUR BANK NAME: BANK AL HABIB LIMITED, KARACHI, PAKISTAN

OUR SWIFT ID: BAHLPKKAXXX

OUR NOSTRO ACCOUNT NO: 400880712501

ULTIMATE CREDIT TO: M/S.CONCERNED CITIZENS SOCIETY OF PAKISTAN

ACCOUNT NO: 0065-0081-001555-01-6



Contact Info:

Mobile: +92-3084318767

Email: concernedpakistan@gmail.com

Email: info@ccp.org.pk



4. Omar Asghar Khan Development Foundation (OAKDF)

http://www.oakdf.org.pk/



Donation Info:

Account Title: Omar Asghar Khan Development Foundation

Current Account #: 0030445261000455

Bank: MCB Bank (1028), Super Market, Islamabad-Pakistan

SWIFT Code: MUCBPKKAMCC

All cash contributions are tax exempt

Tax exemption #6043/RTO/ATD/2008-09 dated 12 May.2009



Contact Info:

2-B, Parbat Road F-7/3, Islamabad-PAKISTAN

Telephone: ++92 51 2611092/4

Fax: ++92 51 2611090

Email: info@oakdf.org.pk





*Support can also be provided by donating the following commodities Please do not donate old/expired items.

Please make sure items are properly packed.



1. Clothing: Shalwar Kameez in various sizes for men, women and children

2. Shoes

3. Bedding

4. Tents

5. Jerricans (large plastic cans that hold 20 liters of water or other liquids)

6. Crockery & Cutlery preferably of steel

7. Buckets

8. Soaps

9. Towels

10. Rice

11. Sugar

12. Flour

13. Cooking Oil

14. Tea, Milk (tetra packs or powder)

15. Drinking Water

16. Sealed Food Items: Glucose Biscuits



Medicines:

1. Water Purification Tablets

2. Vaccines

3. Pain killers

4. Cough Syrup

5. Glucose

6. Antibiotics e.g. tetnus, amoxil, gentamycin.

7. IV cannulas- most common are 18,22,24- Butterfly cannulas: these are for children

8. IV Drip sets

9. IV drips: normal saline

10. Local anesthetics (injections)

11. Cotton bandages

12. Crepe Bandages

13. Guaze Pads

14. Cotton

15. Surgical instruments

Fox TV, Hannity, Spencer and Ghouse tonite

August 11, 2010- 8:30 PM CST

The Ground Zero Mosque is engaging the American Public and bringing out emotions and intellectualism to the forefront to tackle the issue of co-existence. The questions abound; what is freedom of religion, what is first amendment, what kind of nation are we, do we want to emulate the very nations we condemn or should we lead the world and set the standards for co-existence. What does it take to build orderly societies? What does it take for you, me and others to feel safe and live in peace?

We have to consciously create institutions and systems that would become a catalyst to a positive change and bring about cohesive functioning of the society. It is our duty to keep law and order and faithfully guard the safety of every citizen.This issue is engaging the American Public, both for and against, and as a Pluralist who believes in co-existence is the way for sustaining harmony, I will save the links of articles that come across my knowledge as a reference for the researchers.

Your one liners would be appreciated in the comments section below the links,
strictly one liners please.

http://mikeghouseforamerica.blogspot.com/2010/08/ground-zero-mosque-articles.html

Ramadan Mubarak - Happy Ramadan

Muslims around the world will begin fasting from Wednesday, August 11, 2010 and for a whole month thereafter.

Thanks to Washington post, they will publish three articles on Ramadan; The Politics of Ramadan, The Rituals of Ramadan and the Spirit of Ramadan towards the third of Ramadan.True fasting is self-purification; and from this, a rich inner life brings about values such as justice, generosity, patience, kindness, forgiveness, mercy and empathy - values that are indispensable for the success of the community.

Consciousness of behavior and vigilance over action are the most profound dimensions of fasting: the fasting of the heart focuses on the attachment to the divine. That is when Ramadan really becomes a source of peace and solace, just as Christmas goes beyond the rituals to bring forth kindness, charity and caring.

For fasting to be truly universal, its benefits must extend beyond the fraternal ties of Muslims and must extend to forging a common humanity with others. Fasting is meant to impart a sense of what it means to be truly human, and its universality is reflected by its observance in Bahai, Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Jain, Jewish, Sikh, Wiccan, Zoroastrian, other faiths and importantly the native traditions.

Mike Ghouse is a Speaker, Thinker and a Writer on Islam and Pluralism and is a frequent guest at Media offering pluralistic solutions to the issues of the day. His work is listed on 22 of his blogs and two websites listed at http://www.mikeghouse.net/

Ground Zero Mosque Articles

We have to respect and honor the sentiments of every one who was a victim of terrorism and their friends and relatives who have suffered through this….

The Ground Zero Mosque is engaging the American Public and bringing out emotions and intellectualism to the forefront to tackle the issue of co-existence. The questions abound…..

In behalf of the men and women who have lost their loved ones, a few are genuinely opposing the building of the communtiy Center, a few are Altruistic and want the center to stand out as a beaocon of hope and peace and yet a few are falling prey to the political opportunists. At the end, if we envision an America that is good for all, we have to consider dropping the “me, me, and me” and yeild to what is good for America, the land of the free.

If Saudi is a bad country, why do we want to emulate them?

Continued: http://mikeghouseforamerica.blogspot.com/2010/08/ground-zero-mosque-articles.html

Mike Ghouse is a speaker, thinker and a writer of Pluralism and offers pluralistic solutions for the issues of the day. He is a frequent guest in the media and his work is encapsulated in 22 Blogs and 3 websites listed at www.MikeGhouse.net

ALL MY NOTES

This is a list of my notes, as I have prepared one for each one of my 22 Blogs.
Many of them are listed on my other blogs,
this was my facebook companion,
however I write more on the facebook than here
__________________________________

August (6)
Ground Zero Mosque Sean Hannity Radio Show & Mike ...
Understanding Rumi
Unity church of Louisville, Kentucky
Muslim Ceremony in a Synagogue
Mosque - U.S. should stand on moral high ground
Moderate Republicans need to speak up

July (15)
No Sharia in America
Empowerment of Women on Radio 1220
Further activity in July
Unity Day USA - 6th Annual Event
Women; changing the society
Parliament of Worlds Religions in 2014
BLAMING RELIGION
My Cow, my real story
Bottom line prayers-wishes
Standing up for Jews, Gays and Mexicans, why shoul...
FOX TV, Sean Hannity and Mike Ghouse about NASA to...
July 4th - what does freedom mean to you?
Sharia Laws in America
Sulha Joint prayers by Jews and Muslims
Burqa Ban – Hannity, Gabrielle and Ghouse on Fox T...

June (12)
Happy Fathers, Daughters and Sons day
Shape your life, you are the decider
Diversity is the standard
GRATITUDE
PATRIOTISM
Helen Thomas
Pleasures of life
Jesus Cartoons
Gaza, Israel, Flotilla and consequences
Memorial day reflections
Ghosts, witches and Rohini
I wrote many things, but had not updated on this d...

May (3)
TODAY IS NATIONAL PRAYER DAY Let’s pray, reflect o...
National Prayer Day happenings on Thursday
Ghouse speaks at Dallas Immigration rally

April (12)
Honoring Imam Dr. Yusuf Zia Kavakci today
Khuda Hafiz Pakistan
Celibacy and Sex Scandals
Atheism on rise
Spring is here
Women, Saints, Rabbis, Imams and clergymen
Freedom of Religion in Japan
Doniger’s book on Hindu history - Factual errors
A tribute to Eliott Dlin
Religious Conversions
Prophet Muhammad's birthday celebrations
Holli, Milaad, Purim and Black History

February (19)
Feb 18, 2001 - My Mother embarked on her eternal j...
What about Muslim Brotherhood?
East v. West
Pictorial Report - Holocaust and Genocides
Facebook activity
Obama names Indian-American Muslim as special envo...
Happy President's day
Happy Mahashiva Ratri
Valentines Day taking on a new meaning
weekending February 14, 2010
Snow in Dallas, Texas
Native American Heritage Day - corrospondence
Peace pledege
What is freedom?
New meaning of Dharma, Artha, Kaama, and Moksha
Can women be Imams:
India, communal conflicts and solutions
Balance in life
Mitigating communal conflicts

January (14)
How to live with corrupt people
Diversity is Ignorance - Swami Vivekanand
Haiti - held myself from crying
Ghouse speaks at Unitarian Universalist Church
Press Release on Holocaust and Genocides
Haiti and Earthquake
Palestine: Myths and Truths
Facbook dialogue - God, Jerusalem, Obama
Pluralism and Islam
Who Owns God?
Honoring Baker & Kallenberg
My Name is Mike Ghouse
Birthday today, not really
A Great Pluralist, Abdurrahman Wahid passed away.

December (36)
New year Reflections
Pluralism Goals for 2010
Neocons Redefined
The Gaza March
AVATAR – a movie about co-existence
Funeral and Wedding
McGriff_Hollie wedding
Quraan 2:62
250 Religious Symbols
My Books
Representing other religions
Religious communicators
Imam, Rabbi, Pastor, Pundit
A tribute to Jesus
National Public Radio
Parliament event
Obama's Blunder
Ismaili Muslims
12 Apostles
Holocaust Museum
Musuem of Indigenouse People
Parliament 15
Parliament 14
Parliament 13
Parliament 12
Parliament 11
Parliament 10
Parliament 9
Parliament 8
Parliament 7
Parliament 6
Parliament 5
Parliament 4
Parliament 3
Parliament 2
Parliament 1

November (12)
Mike Ghouse to Speak at Parliament of Worlds Relig...
Eid Mubarak - happy eid-al-adha
Thanksgiving, an expression of gratitude.
Fort Hood – Allahu Akbar
The Dangerous Idea of Protecting Religions
Vande Mataram Conflict
Fort Hood Tragedy
Kashmir and Sanity
Fort Hood Massacre
Ean and Jan Sullivan
Sir Syed Day
Freedom should be free

October (14)
Dallas Morning News with Muslims
Diwali Messaage at the Hindu Temple
Dallas Peace Center Retreat
Dr. Ashis Brahma visits
Diwali Dinner in Irving
Yvonne Ridley in Dallas
History of Holocaust
So what if you don't believe in God?
Religion in one sentence
Texas Rule of Law Conference
Diwali Vandana, Prayers and Greetings
A Humanitarian Forum on Gaza
Melbourne, Australia
Moses in Judaism, Christianity and Islam

September (6)
Mike on Fox TV tonite
Are we an Island?
3000 Muslims Pray at Capitol Hill
Religious Arrogance
Stereotyping Muslims and Jews
Bias against Jimmy Carter

August (4)
Happy Janamashtami
Humor for the day
Good people at the Airport
Dallas Neighborhoods

July (8)
Love is a wireless connection
Fact or Emotion?
Redneck woman on the plane
Happiness is independent of
Learning to receive
Jeff and Fern Wedding Pictures
Relationships - Sister
Free from Bias

June (3)
What is freedom?
Conservatives V Neocons
Placing the blame

May (5)
Momentous week of my life
Facebook and Religion
The American Bin Ladens
Love or Hate?
Unity Church, Richardson

April (10)
$600 New Car
Is your faith Superior?
Mike Ghouse, Bio
White Lies?
Patriotism?
Stereotyping
Finding the truth
My Headstone
Exclusivism
Al-Qaeda

March (7)
Ambassadors for Peace
Pluralism & Nationality
Happy Muslim Men
Human Rights, Islam & Muslims
Religion and Women
Romantic evening
Friends so many

February (7)
Facebook poem
Muslim Matrimonials
George V. Barry
Gay Lesbians
Israel-Palestine peace
Zionism and Judaism
My websites and Blogs

January (4)
Gaza Appeal Video
JFK Quote on Justice
Obamas interview in 1996 - my impressions
Gandhi on Jews & Middle-East

November (8)
Quraan is basic, hadith is supplementary
Hadith is supplementary to Quraan
Mike is not of Muslim lineage?
Preventing Christian from top spot
What is Pluralism
Is praying public or private?
Muslim country with Non-Muslim head?
Ghouse diary

Ground Zero Mosque Sean Hannity Radio Show & Mike Ghouse

Mike Ghouse on Hannity Radio Show about Mosque

Here is a quick report about my talk on Hannity Radio show with Brigitte Gabriel and Hannity. The talk was to be the Mosque near ground zero, they had a different agenda. Brigitte has memorized some cooked up stuff, she recites the exact same words every time I have been with her. I made at least three attempts to drag them back to the topic, but they were attacking someone else and associating it with the Mosque. My talking points are listed below and I was able to get a few out.

I did make my points by telling Brigitte:
Continued: http://wisdomofreligion.blogspot.com/2010/08/mike-ghouse-on-hannity-radio-show-about.html

Understanding Rumi

Maulana Rumi said, "Christian, Jew, Muslim, shaman, Zoroastrian, stone, ground, mountain, river, each has a secret way of being with the mystery, unique and not to be judged".

Being a student of Pluralism, understanding the essence of creation, existence, life and matter is my constant search, and my understanding is that every piece of matter (stone, ground, and mountain) is created with a built in balance (peace) and self balancing mechanism. Then every religion (Christian, Zoroastrian....) teaches one to attain a balance within and with what surrounds him/her; life and matter.

Rumi had reached the universal level of consciousness that all of us aspire, where the distinction between you and what surround you is embedded in awareness. In Hinduism the word is Brahma, when you reach that level of consciousness, there is no more you and God, it is all one cosmic energy. I suppose Jesus may have meant the same when he said follow me or when Qur’aan says surrender to the will of the creator.

Thanks to my face book friend Habib M. Akhtar from prompting me to write.

Mike Ghouse speaks on Pluralism and Islam and offers pluralistic perspectives on issues of the day. His work can be found in 22 blogs and two websites listed at www.mikeghouse.net

Unity church of Louisville, Kentucky

The service at Unity Church in Louisville was beautiful. I loved the songs and hymns that praise the lord and treat every human as God‘s creation.

This city amazes me with the amount of interfaith work it is blessed with. I was there to talk with Pastor Susan to invite her to the Unity day in Louisville. We are in our 6th year in Dallas, Texas. God willing we will hold the unity day in Dallas, and Louisville this year.

The Church used to be a synagogue until they sold the place to build it in another location. The star of David is pinned on the zenith of the dome and looks good. It reminded me of the palaces in India in Fatehpur Sikri and somewhere near Agra, where King Akbar held regular interfaith meetings between Christians, Jews, Hindus, Jains, Buddhist and Muslims at that time. Indeed, for the first time, the Hindu holy books were translated from Sanskrit to Farsi and then to English. His buildings have all the religious symbols on them, and one of these days, I am going to pull those pictures I have taken and post on the facebook.

I would encourage people to learn about other faiths, it will strengthen your own faith knowing that all religions were committed to bring peace to individuals and creating a social balance in the society.

Please visit www.UnityDayUSA.com

Muslim Ceremony in a Synagogue

This evening I attended the "Ameen" ceremony; a celebration when a Muslim boy or a girl completes reading the Quraan for the first time. The event was held in cultrual center of a Synagogue. I loved this harmony. We need more of these every where in all combinations. Aftab and Farzina's son Zain, Friends of Yasmeen in Louisville, KY.



A few Facebook Comments:

Uzma Hashmi Its a heartfelt event for all of us. Congratulations to Zain's parents.

Carol Covington Mason What encouraging progress, Mike! The dream of Dara Shikoh may come true someday!

Rehana Matri Qur'an says that houses of worship are for Allah alone. So jewish people believe as muslim people believe, that there is only one God. And jewish people were given the book of Moses before this. So it is indeed a wonderful thing to know that an event like this has been celebrated in the cultural center of a synagogue.

Halima Krausen Wonderful news!

Carol Covington Mason Unification of and respect for all religions under one God.

Carol Covington Mason I am with you all the way, Mike!

Rosanne Dourado great news Mike - it's time for something like this. I'm curious though - Islamic thought accepts that Jews, Christians and Muslims all believe in the same God. Would this ceremony ever be allowed to take place in the cultural centre of a n...on-Abrahamic religious place for example, a mandir, gurdwahra, vihara or Baha'i building?

Vanja Krupa WONDERFUL !!!
Very inspiring and encouraging news ! Thank you Mike G.

Mike Ghouse Rosanne, I don't see why it cannot be done.

However, sensitivity needs to be applied. In case of a Jain or a Hindu Temple, meat dishes cannot be served, if it is all veggie, then I suppose it should be ok. In case of Jewish or Muslim plac...e of worship, an Icon representing God is not kosher; it may be the case with other traditions.

However there are rare incidents of denial. Some 15 years ago, in Lisbon, Portugal a Catholic priest gave the key to a Hindu couple for their Weddings, and the priest was fired on that - as the Hindu couple placed a Ganesh icon at the altar as they normally do. I took up the protest as both parties had assumed wedding as they do normally without realizing the difference. I got quite a few threatening calls from the members of diocese in California for standing up for the Hindu wedding.

I was able to set up interfaith prayers in a Mosque in Dallas, where all religious leaders chanted their sacred hymns, one or two guys jumped on me but backed off. If the majority speaks up, good things will happen.

Mosque - U.S. should stand on moral high ground

Who are the folks opposing or supporting the Mosque near Ground Zero? The revelations are as clear as the day light, while the religious leaders are speaking boldly for freedom and co-existence, the right wing politicians have gone berserk and hanging on to tiny branches to save their political careers.

Published at Washington Post http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/guestvoices/2010/07/on_mosque_us_should_stand_on_moral_high_ground.html

Moderate Republicans need to speak up

It is time for the moderate Republicans to speak up and wrestle out party leadership from the right wingers for survival. As Americans, our loyalty ought to be for our system of checks and balances. It is in the interest of sustainable and just policies to have each house run by Republicans and Democrats respectively. Most mistakes by our government have occurred when all the three branches of government were run by the same party. Monopoly in governance leads the other to resort to divisive politics.

Continued: http://mikeghouseforamerica.blogspot.com/2010/07/moderate-republicans-need-to-speak-up.html