GHOUSE delivers the letter to President Trump

CFP delivers the letter to President Trump

Thursday, February 23, 2017, National Harbor, Washington, DC — Two days ago, the following letter (below) was drafted and was to be given to President Trump. Today at the C-PAC convention at the Gaylord Resorts, my determination was firm. I wasn’t sure what would happen next. I knew, however, that I would have no regrets for at least trying my best.

My friend, Jack Pagano, was resourceful in identifying the movers and shakers of the Conservative Union and, quite literally, we chased them to give them the letter. Things happened so fast, that we could not even take pictures. I am grateful to Jack for taking at least a few pictures. I will post some of the pictures later.  

 

We caught up with Matt Schlapp, Chairman of the Conservative Union, who put the whole C-PAC program together. He is a very gracious man. He actually took the time to stop and read the letter, word by word, and one paragraph – twice.  He said he believed in a Cohesive America and that the President needs to read this letter. He said he would give the letter to the President tomorrow.

VP Pence finished his thunderous speech around 9 PM, and as he and his security men walked out of the back door, I handed the letter to him and I asked him to read it. He folded it and said that he would read it later.

Nigel Farage from Brexit was next, he read the letter then placed it in his coat pocket and said he agreed with it and that he was going to talk with President Trump.

Tom McDevitt, Chairman of the Washington Times also read it, and asked me to give a copy to another gentleman who is a mover and shaker. He also liked the letter. A “positive turn of events” resulted in my being able to meet him tomorrow. 

Next, I reached one of the gentleman who was with Steve Bannon and Reince Priebus and he said he will pass the letters on to them.  In addition, the letter was shared with a few more individuals.  

I am so disappointed that I did not go on Wednesday night. My buddy, Sean Hannity, was there. He would have put me on the stage and my voice may have had even more of an impact.  Thanks to Hannity having me on his show over 100 times, almost everyone I met there knew me; including the man who ran against Paul Ryan!

Engaging with people whom you perceive to be opposed to you is the right thing to do. It will gradually dissolve your own prejudices against others and vice-versa.  If you have not read“1 of 4” of my series of notes called “Positive Engagement with the Polarized,” I will resend them. It is a series of video discussions from Fox News as well as other channels. 

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SHORTEST LETTER TO PRESIDENT TRUMP

Dear Mr. President,

We the people of many faiths and no faith, Christians, Jews, Muslims, LGBT Communities, Sikhs, Hindus, Buddhists, Bahai’s, Jains, Native Americans, Pagans, Immigrants and fellow Americans are asking you to consider the following words or something to this effect in your next speech. 

“Fellow Americans, you chose me to be your President, and now I ask you to help me do the right thing for the good of all Americans. Listen carefully; stop those people who are making bomb threats against fellow Americans, particularly against the Jewish Community Centers which is not acceptable. We will hunt them down and punish them accordingly.

Stop them from harassment of Jews, Muslims, Sikhs, Immigrants, African Americans or any American for that matter. The actions of those few misguided people are making me look bad and are a bad reflection on my administration. Stop them! I want an America where no one has to live in apprehension.

I will not tolerate any one ruining our country, neither should you! I appeal to you to stop them now; I will not accept my supporters doing hateful acts that malign me as your president.

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 (214) 325-1916, 
President Center for Pluralism
Mike@CenterforPluralism.com 
http://www.CenterforPluralism.com 

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THE LETTER WAS DELIVERED

Matt Schlapp told me that he had passed on the letter (To Trump) and said that he read it twice and liked the message!   Video –  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZX2mr7k6fI&feature=youtu.be

Dr. Mike Ghouse is President and Executive Director of the Center for Pluralism committed to building a cohesive America where no American has to live in tension, apprehension or fear of the other. He is a pluralist, thinker, writer, activist, motivational speaker and a news maker. He offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day. More about him in 65 links atwww.MikeGhouse.net

Do Muslims have their priorities lined up?

Do Muslims have their priorities lined up?  

This weekly bulletin comes to you from the Center for Pluralism, an organization committed to building a cohesive America, where no American needs to feel alienated or afraid of the other.

We offer pluralistic solutions on issues of the day.

Please visit http://centerforpluralism.com

Build relationships before you build a Mosque.  

I met with Tom Wheeler, acting Asst Attorney General (Trump Appointee) for the Civil Rights division of Department of Justice. He assures me that the rule of law will prevail and not the whims of the individuals.  I am scheduling a meeting with him at the Muslim Community Center in Silver Spring to address the Muslim concerns.

Permits to build Mosques are continually being denied across America and the DOJ is standing with Muslims’s right to build mosque in every case. The question to Muslims is how long should laws of the land carry them? We need to build relationships before we build a mosque. We are too eager to show off our mosque or end up adding to lasting resentments in the community. Is this what Muslims want? If not, let’s do the right things that are sustainable.

1. Islamic Center of Basking Ridge v. Township of Bernard has 47 hearings that failed
2. County of Culpepper in VA – Mosque denied on the pretext of sewage easement
3. Bensalem Township, PA – rezoning request was denied
4. City of Sterling Heights, MI – Anti-Muslim animus
5. Bayonne, NJ – permit denied
6. It is a daily affair…

Thanks to many of the established mosques around the nation, they have built good relationships with their neighbors, that is indeed the Islamic thing to do.

How do we change perceptions about Muslims?  

There is no doubt that a few “Islamophobes” are out to get Muslims; they are well paid to do so. But in the same vein, Muslims would not be well served to believe that “all of them” are of the same ilk.  These Islamophobes are simply afraid of what the “Islamists” are doing in the name of Islam and worried sick about its ramifications for America. Rationally they know it is not in America, but still the phobia persists.

We have an obligation to listen to our fellow citizens and a moral duty to allay their fears.

Pulitzer Prize winner Judith Miller speaks out on Fox News, “It is the fear that so many Muslims who are moderates, the fear they have of speaking out and the reaction of their own community. Until we win that battle inside, the Jihadists will take center stage.  We are going to go on creating the impression that the Islamists Jihadists are the majority and they are not.”  Brigitte Gabrielle of Act for America adds, “Where are the funders of people like Mike – is there not a mega millionaire in the Islamic world who can say, you know what I believe in your moderate message and can give Mike $5 Million dollars to build the grass root organization?”  Here is a video: https://www.facebook.com/MikeGhouse/videos/1438210749532124/.

The right leaning Muslims curse Gabrielle, Spencer and Geller out, while the left discounts them, leaving the moderates to deal with the issue. What I hear them say is simply this: Where are the mainstream Muslims to speak out about what they practice? The mainstream Muslims have reached the point of zero tolerance towards extremism and have the desire to assertively seek to push the literalists to see the essence of Islam.

The most sustainable way to counter Islamophobia and violent extremism is through education. Our programs are designed to bring Americans together; the more we see each other in social, cultural, civic, religious, political and other settings, the less divisiveness there will be, resulting in fewer misunderstandings and misperceptions between us.

The Center for Pluralism, also known as the America Together Foundation has embarked on a mission to train speakers to deliver the message of Islam, as practiced by American Muslims –which is distinct from Islam practiced elsewhere in the world.

Check out the full article: Who speaks for American Muslims –http://centerforpluralism.com/who-speaks-for-american-muslims/

Does Muslim Presence makes a difference

There is no doubt Muslims are a maligned lot as some of them have been on the perpetrator’s side at least in the last few decades. As a society, we need to keep our focus on the individuals and cults instead of groups; we should not buy into stereotyping of any kind. If we buy one, we might as well buy justifying crimes against each one of us.

I attended the Genocide Coalition at Capitol Hill yesterday sponsored by IDC in defense of Christians.  It was about the Genocide of Christians, Yazidi and Shia Muslims. It was very difficult to understand how minorities are being harassed in every nation. Over a dozen Speakers spoke. Nadia Murad, the Yazidi woman spoke, she was raped multiple times by terrorists in the name of Islam, it was not easy, but she was graceful and did not show any bitterness and instead was seeking solutions to end the genocides of not only her people but others too.

I was tensed up for a few moments and quickly recovered. Who will speak for Muslims that condemn these cults? How do we communicate, why did I not seek to speak?  Then the big relief came when I saw Zainab Al-Suwaij’s name on the list and she spoke, Muslims need to be a part of the society in good times and sad times.

Since there was no room for others to speak or comment, I was hesitant, but doing the right thing is the right thing to do. I asked Prof Robert Destro to speak for a minute and he granted the request, and I respectfully kept it to the minute. I said, “I just want to share that the American Muslims have dedicated a Friday Sermon and prayed for Yazidis, Christians and Shia and Muslims are constantly standing up for human rights of others”. Here are the two articles in Huffington post.

Destro concluded something to this effect, “More Muslims are victimized and slaughtered by ISIS than the others, and we are all in this together against the ISIS.” The event was orderly and no one took more than the allotted time.

Full article and pictures at: http://worldmuslimcongress.org/the-isis-genocide-of-yazidi-christians-and-shia/

What is the Muslim Priority?

All the wealth we have and continue to devour is meaningless if that is not going to give a sense of security to us, our kids and grand kids. If we don’t act now, we may not even sleep in our graves in peace.  Money does not buy security we need to quit being materialistic. It is time for Muslims to put a hold on building a mosque, and focus on doing things that bring long term security through building relationships. Once you are secure and others are equally secure, then do whatever you want, everyone will join you.

Get ready to participate in Civic (Memorial Day and July 4th) Religious (Wisdom of Masters, Understanding Religions), Cultural (Thanksgiving), Social and political (Conservative and progressive meetings) programs. The more we know each other the fewer problems we will have with others. Take a look at the list of things we are doing at the Center for Pluralism.

Unless we are a part of the society, we will always remain on the sidelines.  You have to feel in your guts, this is my land.  Take a look at our events and participate, volunteer and sponsor them.

Please visit: http://centerforpluralism.com/program/

Radio Pluralism in Washington DC
Information at:  http://centerforpluralism.com/radio-pluralism-in-washington-dc/

PLEASE DONATE GENEROUSLY

Meanwhile, please make a generous donation – without your donation we cannot do the work we are doing.  As we receive the funds, you will be acknowledged and list of donors over $100 will be published at the Center for Pluralism on July 1, 2017.  https://www.paypal.me/AmericansTogether

The Center for Pluralism is about building a cohesive America, where no American has to live in anxiety, discomfort or fear of another American.  By learning to respect the “otherness” of others and accepting the God-given uniqueness of each one of us, we pave the way to mitigate conflicts and nurture goodwill. Then we all can live our lives and not worry about other’s religion, race, sexual orientation or ethnicity. We are all Americans.

Mike Ghouse, President
Center for Pluralism | Research and Activism
(214) 325-1916 | Washington DC | Mike@Centerforpluralism.com