Happy July 4th, July 4, 2013

URL - http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2013/07/happy-july-4th-july-4-2013.html

We are  blessed to be Americans, the land of the free. And we are willing to stand up for the liberties of fellow Americans, and fellow humanity, because we believe that all men are created Equal.

I am proud to be an American!

WHO ARE WE?  

We are Americans! We are one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

We are represented by every race, nationality, ethnicity, language, culture and religion.

Collectively, we see God as one, none and many and in every form; male, female, genderless and non-existent, being and non-being, nameless and with innumerable names.

Americans together are committed to preserving the pluralistic heritage of America

TRAILER OF THE FILM: Americans Together

No American has to live in apprehension or fear of the other. 
We have systems in place to safeguard that.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMXsTo4VYh8&feature=youtu.be

The safety, security and freedom of every American hinges on each others safety.  I cannot be safe if people around me are not!

I cannot be secure if I threaten others around me…

If we can learn to respect the otherness of others and accept  the God given uniqueness of each one of us, then conflicts fade and solutions emerge.

WHAT DOES FREEDOM MEAN TO YOU?
http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2010/07/july-4th-what-does-freedom-mean-to-you.html 

. . . .

A MUSLIM’S JULY 4^TH VIDEO SPEECH 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXNS365UEw4&feature=channel_video_title 

Delivered at the Annual Ahmadiyya Muslim convention

ISLAM, AMERICA AND JULY 4th.

Freedom is one of the most cherished values of humanity and I am pleased to share its arrangement in American and Islamic space. Both emphasize the freedom of conscience, justice and liberty.  

As American Muslims, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

Full story at Huffington Post

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mike-ghouse/muslims-and-july-4th-cele_b_886642.html#es_share_ended

WHAT AM I DOING TODAY?

Yasmeen and I are staying in Fort Worth for two days and today after my 2nd speech, I am heading to see my kids and 7 days old grand baby Jayden Rahman Ghouse, as well as stop by my friends Adil and Nosheen who just lost their 19 year old daughter Zahra Khan to cancer on Monday.

MY SPEECHES ON JULY 4TH

7:30 PM - 8:45 PM

Norris: Live Oak

How to Build a Cohesive America

by Mike Ghouse

Deep down, all of us want a just society where everyone feels safe and secure without anxiety, discomfort or fear of the other. If we can learn to respect the otherness of others and accept the God-given uniqueness of each one of us, then conflicts fade and solutions emerge. Motivational speaker and writer Mike Ghouse will take us through common aspirations to our rights and obligations, and how each one of us can contribute toward such a society in the simplest way. Indeed, Ghouse asserts, we want to live our lives as good neighbors and let others live theirs.

10:30 AM - 11:45 AM

Norris: Sage

Standing up for Others

by Mike Ghouse

Standing up for others is the right thing to do. If we don't stand up for those who are vulnerable, then who will stand up for us when we are vulnerable? This program will be heavy on real examples of standing up for others from atheists to Zoroastrians and every one in between including immigrants, LGBT and others. It is a moving story that almost everyone can relate to. Motivational speaker and writer Mike Ghouse hopes that this program will inspire each person to go out and do small acts of goodness on their own.

Video Clip:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OrjU0KULv-Y

immigration reform

Mike Ghouse is a speaker, thinker and a writer on pluralism, politics, peace, Islam, Israel, India, interfaith, and cohesion at work and social settings. He is committed to building a Cohesive America and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day at www.TheGhousediary.com. Mike has a strong presence on national and local TV, Radio and Print Media. He is a frequent guest on Sean Hannity show on Fox TV, and a commentator on national radio networks, he contributes weekly to the Texas Faith Column at Dallas Morning News, fortnightly at Huffington post, and several other periodicals across the world. His personal site www.MikeGhouse.net indexes everything you want to know about him.  

How to achieve Security for Israel and Justice for the Palestinians

How to achieve Security for Israel and Justice for the Palestinians
Link: http://israel-palestine-dialogue.blogspot.com/2012/11/how-to-achieve-security-for-israel-and.html 

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The long term security of Israelis hinge on justice to the Palestinians, and peace to the Palestinians depends on the safety of Israelis. One will not happen without the other. In view of accomplishing the twin goal, both parties have failed the respective populations. The following essay may not be comfortable to a segment of Jews and Muslims, but the recommendations must be factored in to finding a sustainable solution.   

Security may be broadly defined as living without fear and apprehension, the state of security exists when the Israelis can go about shopping in the malls without caution, drop their guard when their children and family members ride a bus, and when they visit the pyramids, they can do so without second thoughts.

Justice to the Palestinians exists when they can live without worries of getting kicked out of their own homes, when have their own identity in the world as people of Palestine, have their own passport without the apartheidic restrictions, rights to the land they can call their own, and move about freely without check posts or the walls.

The Palestinians and Israelis are indeed endowed by “their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." 

Now let’s acknowledge the actions of the parties in the light of accomplishing that twin goal and put them back on the track.  

When a child or a spouse is pushed around, placed on a curfew,  threatened, and his or her liberties stripped, he or she is left with few options than cursing, hurling dishes, and  quietly or blatantly destroying the belongings of the oppressive man of the house.  In your work place, when you are pushed around, and cannot do much against the tyrant boss, what do you do? Regardless of where this happens, be it in the United States, China, Israel, Saudi Arabia or Mexico, the response would be similar. 

It is shameful to justify the behavior of the oppressor, “They did not listen to him, they were disobedient and destructive, and the man of the house did the right thing; beat the crap out of them and teach them a lesson.” 

The woman who is raped is blamed for going to the bar, or wearing a mini skirt or getting drunk while shooting the pool with the boys. This stinky attitude is even prevalent among women.     

The Hutus justified the massacre of Tutsis, as the oppressors always do.  When President Habyarimana of Rwanda was assassinated in 1994, the Hutu majority went on a killing spree and we witnessed the Rwandan Genocide of the Tutsis. When Prime Minister Indira Gandhi of India was assassinated in 1984, the Hindu mobs went on a killing spree of the Sikhs. The Muslim mobs have gone on torturing the minorities in Pakistan, Indonesia and elsewhere. The words used and justifications made were similar.  The oppressors, rapists, murderers and tyrants always justify their behavior. 

Hamas Terror 

We unequivocally condemn Hamas for their random shelling of the rockets into Israel; and the shameful acts of terrorizing the civilian population in Israel.  As a Muslim I protest their acts, and request the Organization of Islamic Countries to join the Muslims worldwide in condemning these acts, and demand Hamas to give up terrorizing the innocent and seek solutions through civil process.

Paul Goldstein, my Jewish American friend living in Norway writes, “These (acts) have instilled fear into the daily lives of innocent Israeli civilians throughout the country, and have hit major cities, causing injuries, damage, and fatalities. Many hundreds of rockets are hitting Israel daily.” And he adds, “No country in the world can or should tolerate being subjected to continuous rocket attacks against its major population centers. With sadness, I concede that Israeli military action is necessary in this emergency situation to protect its citizens in safety, Jews and Arabs alike.” 

President Obama also defended Israel, “Israel has every right to expect that it does not have missiles fired into its territory, “and, "If that can be accomplished without a ramping up of military activity in Gaza, that's preferable...”

The actions of Hamas are unforgivable, and I appeal to the thoughtful among you, did we give them choices to act differently?  

 “When peace comes, we will perhaps in time be able to forgive the Arabs for killing our sons, but it will be harder for us to forgive them for having forced us to kill their sons.” -  Former Prime Minister of Israel, Golda Meir.

Israeli Reaction 

In every ugly massacre or genocide, whether it was the Hutsies, Hitler, Saddam, Assad, Gaddaffi or others; they rulers wanted to teach a lesson to the entire population for the acts of the few.    

Can we justify these acts to keep the urchins, spouses or irritants in their place? I am severely disappointed at the short-sightedness of President Obama and his administration.  We should have paid attention to the missiles long time ago and found solutions then, instead of waking up one day and justifying brutal retaliation.  

What was Prime Minister Netanyahu doing all these months, instead of initiating a dialogue he chose to pound Gaza, did the think that the missiles will stop reigning on their own?  

The illegal settlements and lawlessness has to stop; it brings despair to the Palestinians who want peace. The brutal retaliation needs to stop, it is a burden that the Prime Minister may escape but the Israelis will have to carry it on their psyche for generations to come. Is that the kind of Nation Israelis want?  Does violence solve the problems, has it ever?  

Unintended consequences  

If the United Nations were to place “Cease fire” for vote today, more than likely, 178 nations will vote yes, and five will go against it including the United States, Israel and a few dependent nations. Do you think the people of the 178 nations feel resentment and bitterness toward the powerful? This is not good for Jews or Israel and the world in the long haul. 
The retaliatory actions taken by Netanyahu, and endorsed by Obama are detrimental to Israel’s security in the long run.  Their actions do not mitigate conflicts, but flare up and prolong the eternal dream of Jews to live in peace and security. Not only that, they massively contribute to the growing anti-Semitism which has been the very reason for the suffering of Jews for over 3000 years.  

 Injustice against the weak will not go un-reacted to, the only thing the people around the world will feel is build resentment towards the United States and certainly events like this will contribute to Anti-Semitism. Take a look at the Anti-Israel rage across globe as violence in Gaza goes on http://rt.com/news/protest-israel-gaza-war-984/
Call for action. 

The United Nations need to call for an immediate cease-fire; both parties need to hold the fire. Goldstein, “Israel cannot cease hostile action on its own side while Hamas continues to terrorize with impunity the citizens of major cities with long-range rocket attacks.” 

In the interest of Security for Israelis and Justice for the Palestinians, President Obama has to play an honest broker of peace, which will be tough on our ally Israel. Demand the Israeli Parliament to invite Hamas leadership to join the talk immediately on our grounds at the Rose Garden. If Saudi Arabia and Egypt are convinced about our sincerity, they will bring Hamas aboard.

Our support to Israel or Palestine should be based on results. We have caused the conflict to prolong, and we bear the responsibility to find solutions. We need to be just and honest.

The Jewish people want sincerity as much as the Palestinians, they don't want duplicity from our leadership, and they had plenty of that in since 1948. They need sincerity and security for Israel and Justice for the Palestinians.

The two state solutions is the way to go forward and one of the most fundamental items to be included in the transaction is to develop a school curriculum without malice towards each other.  A new generation must be raised with hope and goodwill, so they can live in peace and prosperity. This should be an uncompromising goal. 

This is a life time opportunity for President Obama to forge peace between these two people, who have endured a lot of pain and both deserve relief. It’s time for him to earn that Nobel Prize that was dished out to him. 

It is in the interest of the world to build cohesive societies, where no one has to live in apprehension, discomfort or fear of the other.  The people of Israel have more options and power to change things, than the Palestinians. May God give sanity to the aggrieved parties to find peace. Amen!

Please visit:

• Video: Katie Pavlich and Mike Ghouse on Sean Hannity -http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZGO6UIIxDg
• http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mike-ghouse/israel-and-palestine-moving-forward_b_1258261.html
• http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mike-ghouse/commitment-to-israelpales_b_1263793.html
• http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mike-ghouse/commitment-to-israelpalestine_b_1263803.html
• Mike Ghouse on Chris Krock/ Steve Malzberg Showhttp://muslimspeakers.blogspot.com/2012/11/mike-ghouse-on-steve-malzberg-radio-show.html

# # #

Mike Ghouse is a speaker, thinker and a writer on pluralism, politics, peace making, foreign policy, Islam, Israel, India, Pakistan, interfaith, and cohesion at work place or social settings. He is committed to building a Cohesive America and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day at www.TheGhousediary.com. Mike has a strong presence on national local TV, Radio and Print Media, and is a frequent guest on Sean Hannity show on Fox TV, and a commentator on national radio networks, he contributes weekly to the Texas Faith Column at Dallas Morning News, fortnightly at Huffington post, and several other periodicals across the world. His personal site www.MikeGhouse.net indexes everything you want to know about him.

Thanksgiving Planning

Thanksgiving is the ultimate balancing act in every one's life. When you receive goodness from others, you are indebted to them, and until you say thanks, you feel a sense of imbalance, incompleteness, and a sense of missing something ... and it adds to your inexplicable discomfort. There is an unfinished transaction out there, and at times it is difficult to figure. But there is a solution, an easy but a powerful one. Just say thanks, a simple thank you will do a lot of good to us, and our relationships. Most people say thanks without fail, those who miss out on a few things, we have a an opportunity to reflect on this Thanksgiving day.

Here are a few suggestions at http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2012/11/thanksgiving-planning.html

If you tie the loose ends, there is joy for you.
You have plenty of time to do it, but do it. 


If you don't believe in God, that is fine, it is still a release when you say thanks to the benefit giver. But if you believe in God, the formless, being or non-being, one or many, male, female or gender-less  your faith invariably prescribes you to say thanks to God in the form of prayers or supplications... even for the only gift you may have; able to breath.

 

Despite the shortcomings, please make a list of all the people you want to thank, even for the littlest thing they have done for you... say thanks, call them or mail them a card. It is very uplifting thing to do. 

You know  the best time to make that list? Its your lunch hour... wherever  whichever restaurant you want to go including the peaceful McDonalds, Wendys or your favorite... my favorite place is the library, that is my heaven! Be with yourselves to make that list… there is joy for you.



Once the list starts building, watch the good within you surfacing and making you happy. 

I will repeat my story of a man who had no limbs, no legs, just a torso, he was grateful that he could see the blue skies, smell the dirt when it rains, which is my favorite too,  enjoy the aroma of the food as he went door to door asking for food or alms.. its a real humbling story that I was a part of, and Appaiah stunned me when he was so full of thanks for that life... I want to thank Tehran Times, the Iranian News paper who had published that piece a few years ago... that was joyful to me! They just pulled it out of my blog www.TheGhouseDiary.com. God willing I will get that story published in Huffington Post for thanksgiving, with additional info on my blog.

Thank you.

Mike Ghouse

www.MikeGhouse.net  

Tulsi Gabbard, congratulations - Hindu Congresswoman from Hawii

 

Two Governors of Indian Origin and one Congresswoman! This is America, land of the free and land of the brave. Every one can make it here, and I am proud of America, where an African American becomes the president and is reconfirmed and re-elected as president, it gives hopes to the people around the world.

America is setting the new standards in culture, innovation, social cohesion, science, technology, religion.... America is God's own country represented by everything out there in the universe. There is nothing like it.

Whether you are a white minority in South Africa, a native American in Mexico, a Hindu in Pakistan, a Sikh in Malaysia or any minority anywhere, do desire to serve and contribute to the overall success of the nation. Obama has opened the doors for all such aspirants in the world, It will take a long time to see such a society all over the globe, but we have to begin the process somewhere.

America will always produced the first, however, my motherland has set the new standards in the world; A Sikh head of the state, Muslim Presidents, Christian Defense Ministers, Parsee Supreme Court Judges... you can fill all the blanks of India's diversity and pluralistic heritage. The success of a nation depends on its ability to bring every one together, all the segments must be working together for every one to benefit.

While Indian Doctors and Engineers are enriching our nation, some of us are contributing in the social arena, bringing the gift of pluralistic heritage to America. I am committed to Pluralism in America through speaking, writing,seminars, conferences, events, TV and Radio appearances and making things happen. I do invite you to join me in taking this further. 

There is a lot of work done by Indians in social area and I am doing my share of the work. Here is my CV and my Pluralism Profile and there is more at www.MikeGhouse.net. My goal is to build a cohesive America, where no American has to feel alienated, uncomfortable, apprehensive or fearful of the other. We are a land of the free.

......

Please check out the trailer of the movie, Americans Together - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMXsTo4VYh8&feature=youtu.be&noredirect=1

......

 

Congratulations to Tulsi Gabbard

Click to continue for the full article - http://mikeghouseforindia.blogspot.com/2012/11/tulsi-gabbard-congratulations-hindu.html

Mike Ghouse
www.MikeGhouse.net

Libya and Egypt Crises and solutions by Mike Ghouse

Killing of Ambassador Stevens, Film on Muhammad and the attacks on our Embassy in Benghazi and Cairo messes up the average person. Indeed, there is a pluralistic solution available to the situation, it is much better than the show-off who can do most harm to each other. The solution is low cost, and is sustainable.

If there were a foreign policy or religious crises, Mike Ghouse is called in to offer pluralistic solutions on issues of the day. Part of the solution was taped in our Dallas offices by Bud Gillette of CBS News and shared it on the evening News, and due to President’s speech last night on Hannity, Mike’s offer to present a long term solution to the crises did not happen, and however, he intends to present some of the solutions in a paper, most likely to be published in Huffington Post, meanwhile he is available to offer solutions.

It started on 9/11/2001 when Mike was called in by Radio station AM1150 to take charge and make sense. For the next eight hours Mike got the community, civic and business leaders to get on the radio and bring some coherence to the chaotic situation of the day - at the end of the day, people were driven to donate blood, hold interfaith prayerss and raise funds for the victims.

Now Mike will write a full report at Huffington post, meanwhile, he will offer valuable solutions on Radio and TV networks about the value of freedom of expression, the film on Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), our foreign policy, bullying, war or long term solutions for the safety and security of America.

Quraan, Islam and Muslims defend the right of individuals; the acts of the rogues clearly violate the guidelines laid out by God, Prophet Muhammad and Islam. Muslims throughout the world have condemned this disgusting behavior of these men who killed our Ambassador and four of our officers serving us, and have scaled our embassy in Cairo.

The bully in us wants to bomb and annihilate the whole country of Libya and Egypt. We probably can do that, but remember two outcomes from it. Our violence generates more violence and will make us more vulnerable wherever we go. That is not the kind of life we want live. We are a free people and must preserve our freedom through wisdom, or the destruction of others will destroy us and our economy as we are living it now. The bully among those radicals has similar sentiments about us. How do we come out of it? Jesus and Muhammad both have taught us how to handle this.

As a society we can view these incidents from two different perspectives, and consider two different solutions. Blaming Islam is the useless thing to do. Islam did not authorize them do what they have done; they have done it on their own. Each one of the 312 Million Americans follows the same criminal laws; 99% of us obey them, where 1% doesn’t. We don’t blame our laws for those that don’t abide by them; we blame the bad guys and incarcerate them.

The bad guys went crazy upon the trailer of the film Mohammad. Did Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) authorize what they did? Did Quraan authorize what they did? Absolutely not, on the contrary Quraan is absolutely clear - if someone insults you, don’t carry on the conversations with them and adds, if you insult others, they will insult you.

The criminals are always good in blaming someone else - in this case Islam. We should not be gullible enough to buy their argument and start barking at religion instead of the criminals.

Freedom of speech and expression is the most sacred value of civilizations, and at no cost we need to compromise on them. What the dumb men did not realize is that they are actually promoting the movie by their violence. Had they chosen to follow the guidance of Quraan, to walk away from it, none of this would have happened.

The evil things we do are not Christian, Jewish, Islamic or Hindu in nature, they are our acts, and each one of us who violates the sanctity of life, liberty and pursuit of happiness of others need to be rounded up, instead of killing and getting killed and living in fear that is the responsible thing to do.

- - - - -

Mike Ghouse is committed to building a Cohesive America and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day. He is a professional speaker, thinker and a writer on pluralism, politics, civic affairs, Islam, India,Israel, peace and justice. Mike is a frequent guest on Sean Hannity showon Fox TV, and a commentator on national radio networks, he contributes weekly to the Texas Faith Column at Dallas Morning News and regularly atHuffington post, and several other periodicals across the world. The blogwww.TheGhousediary.com is updated daily.

Mike Ghouse offers solutions on Middle east dilemma

URL: http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2012/09/mike-ghouse-offers-solutions-on-middle.html

Killing of Ambassador Stevens, Film on Muhammad and the attacks on our Embassy in Benghazi and Cairo messes up the average person. Indeed, there is a pluralistic solution available to the situation, it is much better than the show-off who can do most harm to each other. The solution is low cost, and is sustainable.  

If there were a foreign policy or religious crises, Mike Ghouse is called in to offer pluralistic solutions on issues of the day. Part of the solution was taped in our Dallas offices by Bud Gillette of CBS News and shared it on the evening News, and due to President’s speech last night on Hannity, Mike’s offer to present a long term solution to the crises did not happen,  and however, he intends to present some of the solutions in a paper, most likely to be published in Huffington Post, meanwhile he is available to offer solutions.

It started on 9/11/2001 when Mike was called in by Radio station AM1150 to take charge and make sense. For the next eight hours Mike got the community, civic and business leaders to get on the radio and bring some coherence to the chaotic situation of the day - at the end of the day, people were driven to donate blood, hold interfaith prayerss and raise funds for the victims.

Now Mike will write a full report at Huffington post, meanwhile, he will offer valuable solutions on Radio and TV networks about the value of freedom of expression, the film on Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), our foreign policy, bullying, war or long term solutions for the safety and security of America.

Quraan, Islam and Muslims defend the right of individuals; the acts of the rogues clearly violate the guidelines laid out by God, Prophet Muhammad and Islam. Muslims throughout the world have condemned this disgusting behavior of these men who killed our Ambassador and four of our officers serving us, and have scaled our embassy in Cairo.

The bully in us wants to bomb and annihilate the whole country of Libya and Egypt. We probably can do that, but remember two outcomes from it. Our violence generates more violence and will make us more vulnerable wherever we go. That is not the kind of life we want live. We are a free people and must preserve our freedom through wisdom, or the destruction of others will destroy us and our economy as we are living it now. The bully among those radicals has similar sentiments about us.  How do we come out of it? Jesus and Muhammad both have taught us how to handle this.

As a society we can view these incidents from two different perspectives, and consider two different solutions. Blaming Islam is the useless thing to do. Islam did not authorize them do what they have done; they have done it on their own. Each one of the 312 Million Americans follows the same criminal laws; 99% of us obey them, where 1% doesn’t. We don’t blame our laws for those that don’t abide by them; we blame the bad guys and incarcerate them.

The bad guys went crazy upon the trailer of the film Mohammad. Did Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)  authorize what they did? Did Quraan authorize what they did? Absolutely not, on the contrary Quraan is absolutely clear - if someone insults you, don’t carry on the conversations with them and adds, if you insult others, they will insult you.

The criminals are always good in blaming someone else - in this case Islam. We should not be gullible enough to buy their argument and start barking at religion instead of the criminals.

Freedom of speech and expression is the most sacred value of civilizations, and at no cost we need to compromise on them. What the dumb men did not realize is that they are actually promoting the movie by their violence. Had they chosen to follow the guidance of Quraan, to walk away from it, none of this would have happened.

The evil things we do are not Christian, Jewish, Islamic or Hindu in nature, they are our acts, and each one of us who violates the sanctity of life, liberty and pursuit of happiness of others need to be rounded up, instead of killing and getting killed and living in fear that is the responsible thing to do.

- - - - -

Mike Ghouse is committed to building a Cohesive America and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day. He is a professional speaker, thinker and a writer on pluralism, politics, civic affairs, Islam, India,Israel, peace and justice. Mike is a frequent guest on Sean Hannity showon Fox TV, and a commentator on national radio networks, he contributes weekly to the Texas Faith Column at Dallas Morning News and regularly atHuffington post, and several other periodicals across the world. The blogwww.TheGhousediary.com is updated daily. Talk/Text (214) 325-1916