Mike Ghouse talk carried on 970 WFLA Tampa Bay's

Radical Islam on the rise | Sean Hannity - 970 WFLA Tampa Bay's ...

www.970wfla.com/pages/sean-hannity.html?article=9833885

3 hours ago - Sean brought in Mike Ghouse of America Together Foundation and Brigitte Gabriel of Act for America to discuss the President's actions. “Here's the problem,” ... Sean Hannity Show

Listen to full radio show at: http://www.hannity.com/show/2012/02/27

The Rise of Islam

Sean spent much of yesterday ranting about President Obama’s last stop on the apology tour which found “The Great One” profusely apologizing for the news reports of protestors burning copies of the Koran. You can listen to much of that rant on Hannity.com. Sean brought in Mike Ghouse of America Together Foundation and Brigitte Gabriel of Act for America to discuss the President’s actions. “Here’s the problem,” began Sean, “We see what’s happening in Egypt and the attempt to implement  Shariah law and we see the rise of radical Islam unfolding before our eyes.” “I am fighting with Muslims around the world,” responded Ghouse, “There has, in the last ten years, been an increase of moderate Muslims like me to speak out.” “You are a small minority,” countered Brigitte, “When you look at the results, what we are seeing is the rise of radical Islam.” “Brigitte continued, “What the west is witnessing in Afghanistan is a wake up call for America to realize that we can pour all the billions of dollars into Islam trying to get mainstream Islam to like us only to learn that more Muslims are treating us as the infidels.” The security and stability of world peace lies in the balance of this continuing debate and it’s clear that President Obama should think carefully before making blanket apologies to the world.

Read more: http://www.970wfla.com/pages/sean-hannity.html?article=9833885#ixzz1npqtDU8J http://www.970wfla.com/pages/sean-hannity.html?article=9833885

Program News - KGAB 650AM

kgab.com/category/program-news/

23 hours ago - 6:05pm MST Brigitte Gabriel of Act for America and Mike Ghouse of the America Together Foundation are here to debate events unfolding in Afghanistan over ...

Romney and ‘America Together’ on Sean Today

I am pleased to see America Together Foundation plugged in every where.
Romney and ‘America Together’ on Sean Today

America Together Foundation | Mike Ghouse on Hannity - click pic to enlarge

By: Dave Chaffin  |  Yesterday

Rep. Presidential Candidate Mitt Romney

All you “Great Americans”, listen up. Hannity has another great guest line-up.

5:05pm MST Governor Mitt Romney will discuss the upcoming Michigan and Arizona Primaries and his belief that opponent Rick Santorum is an “economic lightweight”

6:05pm MST Brigitte Gabriel of Act for America and Mike Ghouse of the America Together Foundation are here to debate events unfolding in Afghanistan over the accidental burning of Korans.  Our guests will discuss President Obama’s apology to President Karzai and react to Anjem Choudary’s radical comments from yesterday’s program.

http://kgab.com/romney-and-america-together-on-sean-today/

Mike Ghouse on Myra Goldick Radio Show

Inspirational Professional Speaker

http://www.myragoldick.com/1399/are-you-helping-to-create-a-more-cohesive-america/

Inspirational → Are you helping to create a more cohesive America?

As Americans the majority of us feel that this is the land of true freedom and opportunity. With the growth of modern technology and social network marketing frequently we are inundated with negativity. Whether we know it or not we are  affected by the constant stream of information surrounding us and filling our minds with truths and very often untruths.

Are you doing everything you can on a personal level to support the principles that this country was founded on? Do you speak out for  equality, freedom, and prosperity for all of our citizens?

Meet a gentleman who has committed his life to supporting what we need to do to create a more cohesive America. Mike Ghouse is working tirelessly to remind us all the importance of recognizing bigotry, prejudice and stereotyping others who frighten us because of their differences. Mike’s mission is to help contribute to an America where no citizen lives with apprehension and anxiety, fearful of the criticism of others.

Listen to a very informative interview with Mike Ghouse:On February 23rd, 2012   /   

India leads in Auto technology - Car run by Air power

There is an old saying in India not to build castles in the air... meaning too much hot air in your talk, that myth is about to be busted. India is building cars that run on air power; compressed air.

This is one small step for mankind, but a giant leap for independence from fossil fuels. I am sure, air impact studies will be done, environmental effects will be considered, but we are moving forward.

Hopefully we will manage our planet responsibly.

In my weekly article at Dallas Morning News, I wrote, "If Senator Mulla Santorum had attended science classes; he would have known how fertile lands become deserts, or how irresponsible management of waste can cause our water to be destructive to health, and how the soil erosion (alluvial) can rob the food productivity. If we don't take care of mother Earth, she would deprive us of her fruits. It is a mutually respectful relationship with Earth, and not a Bam, slam, thank you maam kind of relationship."

We are all a part of one interconnected and interdependent system. Keeping its equilibrium is our responsibility for our own survival as a part of the whole.

Hope you are as excited about the innovation as I am.

This Air Car almost sounds too good to be true. We'll see in August. 2012

http://www.themotorreport.com.au/53641/tata-mini-cat-air-powered-car-on-sale-from-mid-2012

Mike Ghouse is a speaker, thinker and a writer offering pluralistic solutions on issues of the day. All his work is indexed at www.MikeGhouse.net 

# # #
 

Mike Ghouse on Sean Hannity Show(s)

I was on on 820 AM Radio in Dallas Fort Worth Today,  between 5:00 and 6:00 PM CST through nationally syndicated show– my fellow guests were Imam Anjem Choudhry, the right wing radical Muslim from England, and Dr. Richard Land, one of the top ten right wing pastors of America.

This evening I was on Hannity show, on Fox TV with Brigitte Gabriel. Mullah Santorum took up the time before we were on and our time was reduced to two items – She hated Obama for apologizing and I praised him for doing that. We have to be stay on moral high grounds, accept our fault and not endanger the lives of fellow Americans on ground in Afghanistan. Newt, Rich and Brigitte’s statement were dangerous and devoid of diplomacy – they don’t’ give a rat’s ass about our men and women overseas.

I will be with David Horowitz, tomorrow at 4:00 PM CST. Check out for your local Radio at http://www.hannity.com/stations

There was on major difference with Dr. Land, he assumed Muslims wanted to impose Sharia in America, he was wrong, Muslims are not looking for or asking for a Sharia as practiced in Iran and Saudi Arabia, which may not be Islamic but very Saudi and Irani. 54 Other Nations are Muslim majority nations and they don’t practice stoning woman to death. Anjem was right once, when he said that Quraan did not require four witnesses on rape, but circumstantial evidence. I was waiting for a year to nail him down for his radicalism, and I was able to do that today.

Imam Anjem Choudary accused Sean Hannity of maligning Islam. Indeed, Sean Hannity did not malign Islam or Muslims. He called on Anjem Choudary for twisting Islam to his sick understanding. It was not Islam, but Anjem Choudary that Sean Hannity had questioned. Sean is respectful of other people’s faith including Islam, which is my faith. The language may not be perfect, but the intent is.

Anjem accused Sean of getting a paid person (infering me) to speak for Islam. Neither do I get paid, nor do I agree with Sean on many things. Sean has been a great conservative and an honest American to present different pointsof view and that is what we need in America. Many thanks to my fans and friends who have chosen to see Hannity from that perspective, who had never tuned into Hannity before.

Any time anyone talks about any religion in the form of imposing ideas on others, and forcing others to obedience, they are not talking about religion, in this case Anjem Choudary does not know much about Islam, he knows the oppressive kings, monarchs and dictators - which is not Islam.

In behalf of American Muslims, I want to thank Hannity for insiting that the twisted thing was not Islam, but Anjem Choudary's sick version.

# # # 

APOSTASY

By the way there is no punishment for apostasy in Quraan or Islam – one is free to become and un-become a Muslim.

" ... Let there be no compulsion in religion: Truth stands out clear from Error ..." [2:256]

This is Islam's unambiguous affirmation of freedom of faith, which also applies to changing of faith. The Qur'an illuminates before the humanity the two highways [90:10], one of which leads to salvation. Islam is an invitation to the highway toward salvation, but it is based on FREEDOM OF CHOICE.

"Those who believe, and those who are Jews, Sabians and Christians - (in fact) anyone who believes in God and the Last Day, and does good deeds - they have nothing to fear, nor will they regret" (5:69).

"If your Lord so willed, everyone on earth would have believed, all together. Will you then compel people until they become believers" (10:99)?

"We know best what they say; but you (O Muhammad,) are not to force them. So remind with the Qur'an those who fear My warning" (50:45).

Many Muslims along with me, have stood up in defense of Abdul Rahman of Afghanistan, Lena Joy of Malaysia and Pastor Naderkhani of Iran. It is a shame that Iran is punishing the man for his conscience; it goes against the grain of Islam.

There are only two or three states that do not follow Islam, but call themselves Islamic Nations.

Mike Ghouse
www.WorldMuslimCongress.org

Sean Hannity and Islam

As an American and as a Muslim I participated in the conversation with Sean Hannity on Fox Radio, to be aired on February 27^th between 5:00 PM and 6:00 PM EST at your local radio station listed at: http://www.hannity.com/stations.

Imam Anjem Choudary accused Sean Hannity of maligning Islam. I bear witness that Sean Hannity did not malign Islam or Muslims. He called on Anjem Choudary for twisting Islam to his sick understanding. It was not Islam, but Anjem Choudary that Sean Hannity had questioned. Sean is respectful of other people’s faith including Islam, which is my faith. The language may not be perfect, but the intent is.

Anjem accused Sean of getting a paid person (infering me) to speak for Islam. Neither do I get paid, nor do I agree with Sean on many things. Sean has been a great conservative and an honest American to present different pointsof view and that is what we need in America. Many thanks to my fans and friends who have chosen to see Hannity from that perspective, who had never tuned into Hannity before.

Any time anyone talks about any religion in the form of imposing ideas on others, and forcing others to obedience, they are not talking about religion, in this case Anjem Choudary does not know much about Islam, he knows the oppressive kings, monarchs and dictators - which is not Islam.

In behalf of American Muslims, I want to thank Hannity for insiting that the twisted thing was not Islam, but Anjem Choudary's sick version.

# # #

APOSTASY

By the way there is no punishment for apostasy in Quraan or Islam – one is free to become and un-become a Muslim.

" ... Let there be no compulsion in religion: Truth stands out clear from Error ..." [2:256]

This is Islam's unambiguous affirmation of freedom of faith, which also applies to changing of faith. The Qur'an illuminates before the humanity the two highways [90:10], one of which leads to salvation. Islam is an invitation to the highway toward salvation, but it is based on FREEDOM OF CHOICE.

"Those who believe, and those who are Jews, Sabians and Christians - (in fact) anyone who believes in God and the Last Day, and does good deeds - they have nothing to fear, nor will they regret" (5:69).
"If your Lord so willed, everyone on earth would have believed, all together. Will you then compel people until they become believers" (10:99)?

"We know best what they say; but you (O Muhammad,) are not to force them. So remind with the Qur'an those who fear My warning" (50:45).
Many Muslims along with me, have stood up in defense of Abdul Rahman of Afghanistan, Lena Joy of Malaysia and Paster Naderkhani of Iran. It is a shame that Iran is punishing the man for his conscience, it goes against the grain of Islam.

There are only two or three states that do not follow Islam, but use it as their label.

Mike Ghouse
www.WorldMuslimCongress.org

Sean Hannity,Brigette Gabriel and Mike Ghouse on Afghanistan

http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2012/02/sean-hannitybrigette-gabriel-and-mike.html

I was on Radio between 5:00 and 6:00 PM this evening with Pastor Richard Land, Imam Anjem Choudhary debating the issue. http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2012/02/sean-hannity-and-islam.html
This evening  I will be on Hannity show on Fox TV with Bridgitte Gabriel and Sean Hannity. The following are my talking points.

General John Alan | Obama’s apology | our faults | Qur’an Burning | Penn Judge

Note from Hannity, "PRESIDENT OBAMA, THE STATE DEPARTMENT AND THE PENTAGON HAVE ALL APOLOGIZED FOR THE UNINENTIONAL QURAN BURNING THAT TOOK PLACE LAST WEEK AT BAGRAM AIR FORCE BASE IN AFGHANISTAN…HOWEVER, PRESIDENT KARZAI AND HIS REGIME HAVE YET TO OFFER AN APOLOGY TO THE FAMILIES OF THE FOUR AMERICANS WHO HAVE BEEN MURDERED IN THE WAKE OF THAT INCIDENT…ONCE AGAIN IT APPEARS OUR APOLOGIST-IN-CHIEF HAS WEAKENED THIS NATION’S STANDING IN THE WORLD". . . . . .

Here is my response:

Our Commander in Afghanistan, General John Alan addressed the people of Afghanistan as Noble people; it was the right thing to do…

1.      His role was to protect our troops and the safety of Americans everywhere, and not aggravate the conflict

2.    Most Afghans are noble people, just as most Americans are…

3.    3 Million Americans are incarcerated for wrong doing, should Afghan president address us as if we are that 3 Million or the 309 Million good Americans?

4.    We made a mistake and we need to be honest about it in investigating it… we don’t need to lose our morality and character to match those 1% radicals in Afghanistan…

5.     We have invested a lot there and we should not walk out with disgrace, we must tie the loose ends

President Obama’s apology is a blessing and a graceful thing. We should continue to stand on moral high grounds and not dump ourselves in the pit of meanness that Mullah Santorum advocates.

President Obama also needs to call the families of the men and women who were killed in this mayhem. I wish he had brought them all home sooner and saved their lives.

Our military personnel are risking their lives, and we cannot afford to hear these reckless draft dodgers. I am not sure about Santorum but know Gingrich has not served in the military – neither men care Rat’s ass about the danger to our military personnel.

If we listen to war mongers Mullah Santorum or opportunist Gingrich, they will endanger the lives of Americans all over the world. They need to take some lessons in diplomacy and world peace.

. . .

Are we capable of seeing our faults?

We need to get the hell out of Afghanistan, we were wrong to be there in the first place… President Bush should have done what President Obama did – got the bad guy. President Bush senselessly destroyed Afghanistan instead, more than the he destroyed America with deficits, foreclosures, bankruptcies and unemployment…. While bin Laden has 3000 deaths on his shoulder, Bush has a lot more to shoulder – 4000 Americans and four times Afghans – who did nothing. It’s like the Holocaust, Jews did nothing; Hitler was bent on annihilating them.

Glen Greenwald writes in Loon watch, “The U.S. has violently occupied their country for more than a decade. It has, as Gen. Stanley McChrystal himself explained, killed what he called an “amazing number” of innocent Afghans in checkpoint shootings. It has repeatedly — as in, over and over — killed young Afghan children in air strikes. It continues to imprison their citizens for years at Bagram and other American bases without charges of any kind and with credible reports of torture and other serious abuses. Soldiers deliberately shot Afghan civilians for fun and urinated on their corpses and displayed them as trophies.” http://www.loonwatch.com/2012/02/quran-burning-the-causes-of-the-protests-in-afghanistan/

Qur’an Burning

1) What is God going to do if someone burns the Quran?

The simple answer is "Nothing!"

Muslims do not own the Quran; it is a book of guidance for those who choose to be guided. Indeed, the Quran starts with the words, "All praise is due to God alone, the Sustainer of all the worlds" (1:2), and ends with addressing humanity as a whole again: "I seek refuge with the Sustainer of men" (114:1).

It is understood that God, the cause behind creation of life and matter, belongs to all of us. No one owns him, and no group has exclusive favors with him over the other.

God is not going to do a thing; he has blessed us with free will and encourages and guides us to do well and holds us responsible when we fail.

2) What are Muslims going to do about it?

I suggest they do what Prophet Muhammad did; to pray for the well being of the miscreants.

When the miscreants pelted rocks at him: instead of getting even with them, he asked his associates to join him and pray for their well-being. The Angel Gabriel offered to help go after those rascals, but the Prophet said no to him and instead prayed for their goodwill. He believed that there is goodness in every human soul and that we have to appeal to it. He chose the nonviolent way of goodwill and nurturing.

Most Muslims will follow the beautiful example of the Prophet; it is one of the peace models he presented for the world to follow, just as most Christians would follow the teachings of Jesus Christ and not burn the Quran. 

By the way, burning Qur’an amounts to being disrespectful to Jesus and Mary, upon whom there is full chapter in Qur’an.

What does it take to build orderly societies? What does it take for you, me and others to feel safe and live in peace? Can we follow Jesus and remove the fears and bring peace to all?

The Quran says: "O mankind! We have created you male and female, and have made you nations and tribes that ye may know one another. The noblest of you, in sight of Allah, is the best in conduct. Allah Knows and is Aware" (49:13).
…………. …………..

PENNSYLVANI JUDGE

Shame on the judge and shame on Talaag
 

Shame on Talaag Elbayomy for assaulting the man wearing a neck sign that read, “Only Muhammad can Rape America.”

 

As a nation it is our duty to protect the rights of our citizen, among them is the right to free speech.

 

No American has to live in anxieties, discomfort or fear of the other.

I will defend the Atheists’ freedom; indeed, there are examples of it from Prophet Muhammad.

It is our individual and collective responsibility to keep law and order and faithfully guard the safety of every citizen. Hate, prejudice and stereotyping are some of the many root causes of disrupting the peace in a society and it is our duty to track down the source of such ill-will and work on mitigating it.

 

The Judge did not use Sharia Law, nor was the judgment based on Sharia Law. I am amazed at the news contributor for asserting it to be Sharia Law. That is downright misleading.
One should honor free speech, but as a civilized society, we need to discuss and debate if free speech includes provoking others. At this time, the number of people who abuse freedom of speech is negligible and no one needs to be punished. However, if it becomes a daily occurrence, then we need to see if one's action disturbs the peace to be held responsible.

This judgment might actually lead to more provocation. Since the judge was a Muslim he should have thought about Prophet Muhammad who had turned the other cheek when he was insulted, instead he prayed for the well being of the miscreants in more than two occasions. In this case, the Judge should have asked the intention of the guy who had donned the costume, if it was not mal-intention, he should have advised him, as prayer did not make sense to the man. But throwing the case without due deliberation is wrong. I do not agree with the Judge.

Mullah Santorum and women

I am writing and collecting pieces written on Mullah Santorum, Darwinian Ron Paul and Flip Flop Gingrich and not sure Romney. Of course that does not make Obama any better.  As Americans, what we have to see is the one who is least dangerous to social cohesion of America, if we are together, we can solve problems, but if we are divided, our energies are spent on fighting the issues with no end.

Animals were given horns to fight it out with the idea that the other must be decimated, whereas humans were given a tongue – to dialogue and find solutions. We have to use what is natural to us – to talk and find solutions. 

Some of the right wingers want to regress to be animals, because they believe removing, bombing or annihilating the other brings solutions.  

Well here is the collection on Santorum:. . .

Maureen Dowd, piece Ricks Religious Fanaticism
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/22/opinion/dowd-ricks-religious-fanaticism.html?_r=1&smid=FB-nytimes&WT.mc_id=OP-E-FB-SM-LIN-RRF-022212-NYT-NA&WT.mc_ev=click
. . .

Racist Santorum Calls For Ending Public Education, Prenatal Testing
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/19/santorum-phony-theology_n_1287475.html?ref=mostpopular

. . .
“I’ve been playing this little game with my friends. It’s called ‘Guess which seven states Santorum can win,’” said veteran Democratic strategist James Carville, who thinks Santorum’s stances against abortion, contraception and stem cell research make him a no-sale to women voters in all parties. Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0212/73234.html#ixzz1nHL87HFz
. . . .

I will be posting a few more here before he gets the boot.

Proposed changes in Indian Muslim Personal Laws

With a few exceptions, no group of humans has ever jumped and yielded to the demands of the rulers or majorities to change. There is a strong record of resistance to such a change, however, changes have come to be accepted and sustained through persuasion and referencing scriptures.

No one likes a change, not even you, the reader of this article. You will tell me to go to hell if I told you to change the clothes you wear, the food you eat, the smile you have on your face or the way your talk. If we allow anyone to dictate changes, it amounts to forcing everyone in the society to change by the one who holds the laathi (the one who owns the Cain), owns the water buffalo.

There are plenty of stories of brave men and women in just every religious, ethnic, and nationalistic group where they fought the proposed changes valiantly and at times committed suicide en masse rather than surrender to the rulers. The exceptions are also there in China and Russia where religions were suppressed but when Russia splintered, religion surfaced right back.

The banishment of Sati, a practice where a Hindu widowed woman would throw herself into her husband’s funeral pyre and immolate to death, succeeded not because of the Mogul and British rulers, but because of the wisdom and persuasive Hindu leadership presenting alternate meaning of the scriptures.

The dawn of the 19^th century produced two great Hindu thinkers and reformers; Swami Sahajanand who argued that the practice of Sati was not Vedic but a product of 4^th century kings, and Raja Rammohan Roy, who saw his own sister-in-law forced to commit Sati, which prompted him to take up the issue strongly and go on a campaign of writing and quoting scriptures. Finally the practice was outlawed in 1829 and it is rarely practiced since then.

Now coming to the Muslim personal laws, the scriptures do not support triple Talaq in one sitting, it is suppose to be three periods of waiting to make sure the woman is not pregnant and more importantly, it gives the time for a couple to rethink and re-align before they make that final decision. Hilla, a docudrama illustrates the point well.

Indeed, in the United States, which is more Islamic than most Muslim nations, it takes 90 days to finalize the divorce proceedings after it is filed, just as the Qur’aan calls for it.

Permitting a man to marry four wives was rather a severe restriction at a time when men were marrying and divorcing women with no restrictions, this was the norm in most societies. Indeed, the restriction was a sign of change, a move to adapt to the needs of the society when Men to women ratio was lopsided. In the Indian context there are reports showing more Hindu men having a second woman than Muslim men having two wives.

The second part of the equation was prompted by the need for social justice, where women were forced to be single through wars and deaths of their spouse, father, brother or other financial supporter. A thousand years ago, women were dependent in all societies and in such cases, they only option dumped on them was to sell their flesh, as men in all societies look at a single women with ill-intent. It was to uplift the dignity of woman, that polygamy was permitted, it was for social justice and not lust.

Muslims are as open to change as any one, so we have to take steps and quote the scriptures in support of the change.

I suggest the Muslim organizations to hold symposiums, debates and conferences, and give a genuine room to people who have opposing views. We are holding a Sharia symposium in Dallas and inviting the nation’s foremost anti-Sharia activists along with the scholars. Let’s sincerely table the issue and find lasting solutions; when we bring the yes men who support our views, we fail in our integrity and our obligation to find the truth. We need to be inclusive of opposing views to find genuine solutions.

Prophet Muhammad has set a variety of examples in handling different situations. When he asked an opinion on an issue, he asked it to be different than what prevailed at that moment. There is a difference when you ask for support and ask an opinion, in the former you ask them to say yes to your opinion, in the latter you want to know if there is another point of view. Indeed, he accepted opinions of his associates even though they were different than his own during the battles of Trench and Uhud.

Let’s bring a closure to this gnawing problem that is constantly biting Muslims every few years.

Response to the Editorial in Indian Express
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/proposed-changes-in-muslim-personal-law/916698/

Mike Ghouse is committed to building cohesive societies and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day. He is a speaker, thinker and a writer and his work is linked to thirty blogs and four websites indexed at www.MikeGhouse.net

Happy Lent, the essence of Lent from a Muslim perspective

I am pleased to share my thoughts about Lent.

As a token of solidarity, today, I join my Christian friends and give up drinking soda for the next 40 days to honor their practice.

Years ago, my daughter observed Lent, and I am glad she did, she got out of the addiction of Dr. Pepper, what a good thing it was!  People give up smoking and this period of 40 days is renewal in every sense, whether you are Christian or not, you can join in the process of reflection and purifying and being in tune with fellow beings.

Lent reminds me of 3o days of Muslim Ramadan; 7 days for Jain Paryushan of Jains; 8 days of Jewish Passover; and 9 days of Hindu Navaratri. The essence of all these events is renewal of the soul and reflection on life.  I am happy that these actions are designed to make better humans out of us.

Every faith is composed of a set of unique rituals to bring discipline and peace to human life. Fasting is one of the key elements of observing Lent.

The spirit and intent of Lent lies in a human transformation in a forty days long inner spiritual journey of finding oneself in tune with spirituality.

God has no need for the hunger or thirst of someone who hurts others, violates their dignity or usurps their rights, said Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). The fasting of the stomach must be matched by the fasting of the limbs. The eyes, ears, tongue, hands and feet all have their respective fasts to undergo. The tongue's temptations, for example - lies, backbiting, slander, vulgarity and senseless argumentation - must be challenged and curbed to maintain the integrity of the fast.

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

True fasting is self-purification; and from this, a rich inner life that bring about values such as justice, generosity, patience, kindness, forgiveness, mercy and empathy - values that are indispensable for the success of the community.

Knowing about hunger is different from knowing hunger. Empathy is not an intellectual equation; it is a human experience. Our hardness of heart often springs from our distance from the human condition of others. The poor, sick, disenfranchised, oppressed - we rarely walk a mile in their shoes, not even a few steps. "Rest assured," cautioned one teacher, "if you do not taste what it feels like to be hungry, you will not care for those who are."

For fasting to be truly universal, its benefits must extend beyond the fraternal ties of Christians 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 Baha’i, Buddhist, Muslims, Hindu, and Jain, Jewish, Sikh, Zoroastrian and other faiths.

Lent will come and go with such stealth that we cannot but be reminded of our mortality. What is it that we value and why? Habits, customs, even obsessive behavior like smoking can be curtailed with relative ease in the face of a higher calling.

I am pleased to borrow the following specifics about Lent from Wikipedia.

The traditional purpose of Lent is the penitential preparation of the believer-through prayer, penance, repentance, almsgiving, and self-denial. Its institutional purpose is heightened in the annual commemoration of Holy Week, marking the Death and Resurrection of Jesus, which recalls the events of the Passion of Christ on Good Friday, which then culminates in the celebration on Easter Sunday of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

During Lent, many of the faithful commit to fasting or giving up certain types of luxury as a form of penitence. The Stations of the Cross, a devotional commemoration of Christ's carrying the Cross and of His execution, are often observed. Many Roman Catholic and some Protestant churches bare their altars of candles, flowers, and other devotional offerings, while Crucifixes, religious statues, and other elaborate religious paraphernalia are often veiled in violet fabrics in observance of this event. In certain pious Catholic countries, grand processions and cultural customs are observed, and the faithful attempt to visit seven churches during Holy Week in honor of Jesus Christ heading to Mount Calvary.

According to the Synoptic gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke, Jesus spent forty days fasting in the desert before the beginning of His public ministry, where He endured temptation by Satan.[2][3] Thus, Lent is described as being forty days long, though different denominations calculate the forty days differently. In many of the Christian churches, Lent is regarded as being forty days long, but the Sundays between Shrove Tuesday and Easter Sunday are not typically regarded as being part of Lent; thus, the date of Shrove Tuesday will typically be slightly more than forty days before Easter Sunday.

This event, along with its pious customs is observed by Roman Catholics, Lutherans, Methodists, Presbyterians, Anglicans, as well as some Baptists and Mennonites and others.

_ _ _

Mike Ghouse is committed to building cohesive societies and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day. He is a speaker thinker and a writer and a frequent guest on Fox TV with Sean Hannity and a regular on National syndicated Radio shows talking on Pluralism, Politics, Islam, Justice and cohesive societies. His work is all listed at www.MikeGhouse.net

Wednesday, February 22, 2012Muslims condemn the bigotry of Maulana Zahidur Rashidi against Ahmadiyya Muslims.

As Muslims we question the statement made by Maulana Zahidur Rashidi, it goes against the very grain of Islam; Peace. He offers two choices to fellow Pakistanis, “Be Killed or Repent and Accept Islam.”

Maulana needs to be taken into custody for inciting violence against a people for their belief. The Ahmadiyya Muslims are being terrorized in their own country.

Shame on our hypocrisy, we rightfully scream against Israel for the mistreatment of Palestinians, what is wrong with us not do the same against other human beings, whether they are Muslims or not? Why should anyone stand up for you, if you are not willing to stand up for others?

Killing one person is like killing the whole humanity, says the Quraan, do these men believe in it? Maulana needs to be charged for abusing Quraan, however due process must be followed, he is innocent until proven guilty, and if he is found guilty, he needs to be in the prison.

Islam is a religion of peace and not a religion of bullying, harassing and terrorizing others. It is men like him who bring disgrace to the religion of peace and we should not let him destroy the character of our religion.

There is a saying that evil exists not necessarily because of evil men, but because good men do nothing about it. Prophet Muhammad, pbuh, reiterated the least you can do, is to speak up, and I am doing my share of the work.

Link - http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2012/02/muslims-condemn-bigotry-of-maulana.html

Reference - http://www.memri.org/report/en/0/0/0/0/0/0/6107.htm

Mike Ghouse is a writer, thinker and a speaker on pluralism, politics, Islam, peace and building a cohesive America, links to details at www.MikeGhouse.net.