Ghouse diary for the week ending April 3, 2011

http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2011/04/ghouse-diary-for-week-ending-april-3.html

Monday Humor and Personal Anecdotes
A cannibal was walking through the jungle and came upon a restaurant operated by a fellow cannibal. Feeling somewhat hungry, he sat down and looked over the menu.

+ Tourist: $5.00
+ Broiled Missionary: $10.00
+ Fried Explorer:$15.00
+Baked Democrat or Grilled Republican:$100.00
The cannibal called the waiter over and asked,
"Why such a high price for the Politicians?"
The cook replied, "Have you ever tried to clean one of those things?

IDENTIFYING INDIAN, PAKISTANI, BANGLADESHI, NEPALI AND SRI LANKAN CITIES

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Scenario 1

Two guys are fighting and a third guy comes along, sees them and walks on.

That's MUMBAI

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Scenario 2

Two guys are fighting. Both of them take time out and call their friends on their mobiles.

Now 50 guys are fighting.
You are definitely in PUNJAB !!!

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Scenario 3

Two guys are fighting and a third guy comes along and tries to make peace. The first two get together and beat him up.

That's DELHI

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Scenario 4

Two guys are fighting.
A crowd gathers to watch. A guy comes along and quietly opens a Chai-stall (like lemonade stand)

That's AHMEDABAD

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Scenario 5

Two guys are fighting and a third guy comes.
He writes a software program to stop the fight. But the fight doesn't stop because of a virus in the program.

That's BANGALORE

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Scenario 6

Two guys are fighting. A crowd gathers to watch.
A guy comes along and quietly says that "AMMA" doesn't like all this nonsense. Peace settles in...

That's CHENNAI

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Scenario 7

Two guys are fighting and a third guy comes along, then a fourth and they start arguing about who's right.

You are in KOLKATA

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Scenario 8

Two guys are fighting. Third guy comes from nearby house and says, "don't fight in front of my place, go zumwhere yelse and kyeep fighting".  

That's KERALA !
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It two guys are courteous to each other and each one wants the other to step into the train first as respect and in that first you, first you, pahlay aap, pahlay aap, the train takes off

You are in Lucknow !!!

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and the best one is ....

Scenario 9
Two guys are fighting. Third guy comes along with a carton of beer. All sit together drinking beer and abusing each other and all go home as friends.

You are in GOA !!!

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If it is Tuesday, it mut be Belgium

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NOW IT IS YOUR TURN,

What is your City like?

What is it like to be in Hyderabad, Patna, Sri Nagar, Lahore, Karachi, Multan, Islamabad, Dhaka, Colombo, Manipur, and Kathmandu?

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My week in a glimpse, week ending Sunday, April 3, 2011.

Last week was great; Yasmeen and I celebrated our anniversary in the smoky mountains.

Visited my friend Mr. DD Maini (86), he and I connect like father and son. He is heading to India to Haridwar, a sacred place on the Ganges where he will take a dip in the holy water and I was thrilled to hear him say that he will do one dubki (dunking) for Yasmeen and I as well. He and I watched the last part of one of the greatest Cricket matches in 28 years leading India to victory.  India won the World Cup in Cricket playing against Sri Lanka. My enthusiasm is uncontainable, and I am pleased to have contributed towards the development of Cricket in North Texas.  I enjoyed it very much.

Shame on me, I have not visited my friend Everett Blauvelt, I hold him high like my Dad. He and Mr. Maini are very affectionate and caring human beings, both are over 85, Everett just turned 96. When I get back in town, that is the first thing I will do, visit them. When I talk with them, the are aware of everything I do... and that is amazing and I hope, I will retain that consciousness when I hit their age, and if I did.

Enjoyed the Kavi Sammelan (Poetry recitation in Hindi Language) it was humor packed and those guys made us laugh non-stop for three hours. I am life member of the International Hindi Association and it’s great to be a part of it. I must mention here one particular thing; that just about every program that India Association organizes and Hindi Samit does, it starts on time and ends right on time… a few people were leaving early despite requests from the Kavis to hang on for a few more minutes… they said they will close at 11:15, by God, it was 11:15. The program ended with a beautiful rendering… Mera pyara Hindustan..   

Yasmeen was delirious; she was so excited to reconnect with her college friends from Dow Medical College, one is in Muscat and the other in Pakistan. She was literally on cloud 9 and I was happy to see her in that mode.

Richardson Faith Club meets once a month to exchange different thoughts on Faith issues, the topic this Sunday was sharing one’s spiritual experiences.  I shared my mine of getting baptized at the River Jordan in the spot where Jesus was baptized. It is quite a transformative experience. Please don’t jump to immature conclusions, (ask me before you engage in gossip) I am a Muslim and being a Muslim does not contradict experiencing the universality and the essence of prophetic traditions. 

It was a joy for the people in the bus and my delight that the Imams who were on the bus followed me in the ritual, all of us were wearing the white robes (sort of what one wears during Hajj) and walking into the river and getting dunked by a Methodist Pastor. God is universal; he is neither a Hindu, nor a Muslim, Christian or a Sikh…  all religions are an expression of his love for his creation no matter where you live, he has reached you, no one is deprived of his blessings and his messengers.

I was thrilled to meet with Sultan Shahin, editor of New Age Islam from New Delhi, I went to see him for an hour and ended up spending seven hours, he is committed to enlightenment … we had incredible similarities on our take on Islam and the role of Muslims in the world; to be contributors towards peace and prosperity of humanity. Both of us are committed to nurturing the pluralistic values embedded in Islam.  It was a joy to connect with him and hope to work with him in organizing an international conference on hearing each other and caring for the planet.  

 

My new part time business is slowly growing; I have not given much time to it, but it is growing.  I am looking forward to adding a healthy stream of income in the coming months.  There are some good investment properties on the market now.

Be ready for the biggest Unity Day celebration ever, I am determined to gather 1000 people including at least 20 Mayors, fire and Police Chiefs and state representatives and pull my Republican and Democrat congress persons together as a part of the unity. Every religion, ethnicity and race will be represented at the event. You must join us on 9.11.11 www.Unitydayusa.com If you know any one who can sponsor parts or part of full event, Please let me know. This is a moment to cherish, it is our contribution to our nation - to forge unity among people for a safe and secure America. I am looking forward to committed volunteers. 

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Mike Ghouse is a speaker, thinker and a writer. He is committed to building a cohesive America through the America Together Foundation.  The Foundation for Pluralism champions the idea of co-existence through respecting and accepting the otherness of other, and World Muslim Congress is committed to nurturing the pluralistic ideals embedded in Islam.

Mike is available to speak on Pluralism, Islam, Civil Societies, and Peace & Justice at your work place, place of worship, school, seminars or conferences.  He is a media commentator offering pluralistic solutions on issues of the day. 

Mike's work is reflected at three websites & twenty two Blogs listed at http://www.MikeGhouse.net/