Monday, February 27, 2017

Pluralism News, Monday, February 27, 2017

Pluralism News is weekly newsletter about pluralism in religion, politics, culture and society. Please visit http://centerforpluralism.com/news/

1. President Trump received our letter
2. Conservative and Liberals don’t have to be each other’s throats
3. Is it worth talking with the right wing extremists and radicals?

President Trump received our letter, hope it becomes a part of the State of the Union.

It is our responsibility individually and collectively to stand up for fellow Americans when they feel insecure. If we don’t stand up for others why should anyone stand up for anyone? Our security (Americans) hinges on the security of every American. It behooves us to work on security of others and ultimately we all would feel secure. Last week, a Jewish Cemetery was desecrated and over 50 Jewish Community Centers received bomb threats.

The Center for Pluralism wanted to get a message out to the president to speak out against Anti-Semitism and all others ills of the society such as Islamophobia, Xenophobia, and Racism and…..
The letter was carefully crafted to be short and precise to increase the chances of reading it in less than 2 minutes and under 200 words. The letter was delivered to the President, Vice President, and several members at CPAC meeting and most of them read standing in the hallway including Chairman of the CPAC read it.

God willing we will continue to work and see if the President can incorporate the message of cohesiveness in his state of the Union Address on 2/28.

The actual letter and details at: http://centerforpluralism.com/cfp-delivers-the-letter-to-president-trump/

Conservatives and Liberals at each other’s throats

It’s a shame that both sides one continue to paint each other as enemies; enemies they are not! Each group talks about how bad and divisive the other is, without realizing their equal contribution to the divisiveness. I am writing a full article on the topic and will be published at the Hill, and will share that link. It is amazing how mean we get just to prove we are right.

Is it worth talking with the right wing extremists and radicals?

Each one of us thinks differently. We have a choice to ‘stay away from each other’ and let the ill-will, suspicion and doubts simmer to become unmanageable. I hope if you take the time to ‘study’ the three videos and the notes below, you will change your mind about using the phrases like “right wing” “Red necks” and other epithets. These are bad choice of words to describe fellow humans who react differently to situations.

Last week, I posted this video from a Fox News debate with Sean Hannity and Brigitte Gabriele on face book in two different places, and got shot down by my friends saying it is a waste of time to deal with the hard wired, without realizing they were as prejudiced as the ones they were accusing of.

All the three videos and anecdotes at: http://centerforpluralism.com/talking-with-right-wingers-and-radicals/
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Monthly Seminar: Understanding the essence of religion. This month: Understanding Hinduism

13 Religions in 13 Months – This month
Understanding Hinduism on 3/7/17 between 1:00 and 3:30 PM
details: http://centerforpluralism.com/hinduism-understanding-the-essence-of-hinduism/

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Center for Pluralism is committed to build a cohesive America and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day.

Tuesday, February 21, 2017

President Trump, please speak out against Anti-Semitism

SHORTEST LETTER TO PRESIDENT TRUMP
Tuesday, February 21, 2017 | to be hand delivered on Friday

Dear Mr. President,

We the people of many faiths and no faith, Christians, Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs, Bahai’s, Jains, Native Americans, pagans and fellow Americans are asking you to consider the following or something like it in your next speech.

“Fellow Americans, you chose me to be your President, and now help me do the right thing. Listen carefully, stop those ‘few’ guys who are a threat to fellow Americans, particularly the bomb threats against the Jewish Community Centers which is not acceptable. We will hunt them down and punish them accordingly.

Stop the radicals from harassing the Jews, Muslims, Immigrants, African Americans or any one for that matter, the actions of those few are a bad reflection on my administration. I will not tolerate any one messing with fellow Americans under my Presidency, neither should you? Stop them now.

I want an America where no one has to live in apprehension or fear of the other.”

Standing up for Jews : http://standingupforothers.blogspot.com/2012/02/standing-up-with-jews.html

Mike Ghouse
Center for Pluralism
Mike@Centerforpluralism.com
(214) 325-1916

Thursday, February 2, 2017

Symposium: Do American Muslims want Sharia?

Do American Muslims want Sharia?

We owe it to fellow Americans to clarify the myths about Sharia, and propose fixing this problem through a conference with the Islamic scholars and those who are opposed to Sharia to make the event credible.

Let's "clear the air" of misunderstandings for all Americans. We need to put this fear behind and move on with our lives and bring peace and prosperity to fellow Americans.

Event: Do American Muslims Want Sharia?
Date: May 2017
Time: 2:00 - 4:30 PM
Venue: TBD
Who: Americans in Public service, Media and the Movers and Shakers
Presenters: Sharia Opposers and Muslim Scholars
Observers: Academics
Organized by: The Center for Pluralism & World Muslim Congress
Sponsoring Organizations: To be added.

Purpose: Is to demystify Sharia. There is a fear of Sharia among fellow Americans who are not Muslims, and there are Muslims who do not see any harm in personal Sharia while no Muslim Organization has sought to bring Public Sharia to America. The program hopes to bring clarity to Americans including American Muslims that;

There is a public Sharia and Personal Sharia - Link
Muslims are committed to the American laws
No American Muslim organization has asked to bring Public Sharia to America
A Muslims may wish it but the majority of Muslims will oppose public sharia.
Sharia is a human effort to serve justice and needs major amendments - Link

At the Center for Pluralism our goal is to build a cohesive America where no American has to live in apprehension, tension or fear the other. www.CenterforPluralism.com

The World Muslim Congress is a think tank. It is about Muslims and their civic responsibilities in creating a dignified religious, social and civic space for themselves in the community of faiths. We do not distinguish between a Sunni, Shia, Ahmadiyya, WD Muhammad, Ismaili, Bohra or the subsets of each group, all believe in God, the Prophet and the accountability of their actions and whoever calls himself or herself a Muslim is a Muslim. This is our world and our God collectively.

The Center for Pluralism is an initiative of American Muslims, but it is not a Muslim organization. However, it is committed to pave the way for Muslims to become a part of the American story just as it is committed to do the same for others religious groups. What does it take for Muslims to be a part of the society?

We invite volunteers and sponsors for this program.

Mike GhouseMike@Centerforpluralism.com
(214) 325-1916

INTRODUCTION

Mike Ghouse is committed to building cohesive societies and offers pluralistic solutions to media and to the public on important and complex issues of the day and is available to speak in a variety of settings such as schools, seminars, conferences, and places of worship, or the work place.

Mike is a frequent guest on Fox News, (The Hannity Show), and has been interviewed on nationally syndicated Radio shows along with Dallas TV, Print and Radio networks and occasional interviews on NPR. He is a member of the Texas Faith panel of Dallas Morning News and writes on issues facing the nation every week. He has spoken at international forums including the Council for a Parliament of the World’s Religions, in Melbourne, Australia, Middle East Peace Initiative, in Jerusalem, the International Leadership conference, in Hawaii, and in Washington

The Foundation for Pluralism champions the idea of co-existence by respecting and accepting the otherness of those different from ourselves. The World Muslim Congress is committed to nurturing the pluralistic ideals embedded in Islam. Heavily involved in both, Mike Ghouse is committed to building cohesive societies and has produced outstanding public events to bring Americans together of different religions, ethnicities and races on common grounds of building a safe and secure America.

He is a speaker, thinker, collaborator and a writer on the subjects of Pluralism, the interfaith movement, cohesive societies, Islam, India, hope and world peace. Over 1000 articles of Mike’s have been published worldwide and two books are poised to be released this summer. His work is reflected in 4 websites and 27 Blogs indexed at http://www.mikeghouse.net/
C
oncerned by the divisiveness, he saw the need to bring Americans together and founded America Together Foundation committed to building a cohesive America, indeed it is in response to ACT America which is bent on pitching one American against the other. We will be holding series of educational programs, conferences and workshops to address the issues that divide us such as Civil Right, GLBT, Quraan, Abortion, anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, Racial Profiling and Stereotyping.

The Annual Unity Day USA is in its 7th year now, it is a purposeful event to bring Americans together, on this Unity Day, we the people of the United States of America of every faith, race, ethnicity, culture and background will gather to express our commitment to co-existence, unity, prosperity and wellbeing of our nation.

Thanksgiving Celebration is in its 15th year showcasing cultural diversity.

The 5th Annual Reflections on Holocaust and Genocides is to learn and to acknowledge and reflect upon the terrible things we have inflicted upon each other and commit to avert such tragedies. Through this event non-Jewish people have consciously learned about Holocaust for the first time, it was also for the first time that people of 14 faiths came together to join in to commemorate the Holocaust that commemorated within the Jewish Community for years. They are not alone anymore in their anguish, we are all in it together with them, and it is a Muslim initiative to effect a positive change.

The programs, seminars and workshops conducted by the Foundation for Pluralism have become a part of the America Together Foundation. While the Foundation for Pluralism continues championing the idea of co-existence through respecting and accepting the otherness of other, the commitment to nurturing the pluralistic ideals embedded in Islam through the World Muslim Congress continues.

Mike is a speaker, thinker, collaborator and a writer on the subjects of Pluralism, the Interfaith Movement, Cohesive Societies, Islam, India, Hope and World Peace. Over 1000 of his articles have been published worldwide and two books are poised to be released this summer. His work is reflected in 4 websites and 27 Blogs indexed at http://www.mikeghouse.net

To engage Mike in a dialogue, conference or a talk, write to Ghousespeaks@gmail.com and email dedicated for this purpose or you can call him on a short notice at 214.325.1916