The Ghouse Diary: Anti-Sharia Rally

Showing posts with label Anti-Sharia Rally. Show all posts

Thursday, October 8, 2015

Muslim Response to anti-Muslim Protests

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Mike Ghouse (214) 325-1916 text/talk
Mike@AmericanMuslimInstitution.org

www.AmericanMuslimInstitution.org

Washington, D.C., Wednesday, October 7, 2015 -- A phone conference was held in by American Muslim and Interfaith leaders from across the country to discuss handling the anti-Muslim protests in front 20 mosques, community centers and government offices on October 9^th and 10^th.

Recommended suggestions:

· Masjid (Mosque) to operate normally, no need to stay home.

· Masjid to fly one or more American Flags.

· Masjid to serve water for the visitors in front of the building through vendors, and, if funds are available, serve kosher hot dogs.

· Display placards, which are especially designed and are on the website www.AmericanMuslimInstitution.org as samples

· Let every demonstrator be treated with utmost respect, and let them see for themselves a real image of Muslims as caring hospitable people, hopefully
that will change their negative perceptions about Muslims.

· Let the law enforcement officials handle the safety matters, and obeying them is the right thing to do. You can video tape if something is wrong, but no arguments.

· Police should be informed and present if your Mosque is on the city targeted list in an open carry arm state.

· Refrains from the temptations to argue or shout back that is not the moment and a place for dialogue.

· Send a press release, a very short to local TV, Radio and other News outlets, better yet, fax them in the morning. (A sample press release is attached)

No one is our enemy, and no one is out to get us. They have questions, and we need to address them to allay their fears. We have to come together as Americans and solve our problems together.

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PRESS RELEASES FOR LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS

(To be faxed or emailed to your local media outlet by the Masjid – Customize to your own needs)

IMMEDIATE PRESS RELEASE

Muslims of _______ City have chosen to respond to anti-Muslim demonstrations with an open mind and constructively.

We believe in freedom of speech and freedom to protest and have collectively decided to treat the protestors as our honored guests and would welcome them.

We sincerely believe when they meet the average day to day Muslims, they will find a kindred spirit in them, similar to their own aspirations of taking care of the families, living in peace and harmony.

We have designated Mr. _____________ and Ms. _____________ to be our spokespersons, please feel free to contact them or stop by the mosque.

Mr. ___________________ Phone: __________________ Email: ________________

Ms. ___________________ Phone: __________________ Email: ________________

Tuesday, October 6, 2015

Anti-Muslim protests on October 9th and 10th and Muslim Response

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Mike Ghouse (214) 325-1916 text/talk
Mike@AmericanMuslimInstitution.org

www.AmericanMuslimInstitution.org

On Oct. 9 and 10, a group of loosely connected protesters plan to host anti-Muslim demonstrations in front of at least 20 mosques, community centers and government offices. While some organizers have urged participants to leave their weapons at home, others are urging protesters to exercise “ALL of your Constitutional Rights.”

While this group has the right to stage lawful demonstrations, all places of worship are legally protected. So, please work with your law enforcement officials to provide officers to protect the Masjid during the demonstrations.

No one is our enemy, and no one is out to get us. They have questions, and we need to boldly address them to allay their fears. We have to come together as Americans and solve our problems together.

Inaction, isolation, retraction, silo-ing ourselves or hiding behind presumably safe walls is not an option; it simply prolongs the integration process and intensifies the distrust.

RECOMMENDED ACTIONS FOR MOSQUES FACING DEMONSTRATIONS.

Let every Masjid that our friends want to demonstrate around operate normally, no need to stay home.
Every Masjid should fly the American Flag.
Let every Masjid provide water for the visitors in front of the building through vendors, and, if funds are available, serve kosher hot dogs.
Muslim women and youth to hold Placards or Banners to say

We welcome our friends, fellow Americans to
Join us in an interfaith prayer led by a Pastor, Rabbi, Imam or a Priest
We are Americans, this is our home
We abide by our American Laws
We believe in U.S. Constitution
Safety of All Americans is our prime goal
We are all Americans, let’s join hands

E. We are designing the placards and will make them available on our website www.AmericanMuslimInstitution.org .

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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