Jesus, Martin Luther King and Protesters are feathers of the same bird, and I salute them.

Mike Ghouse

Some of you may detest protesters and use an authoritarian language to describe them, and you should be ashamed of your attitude. Without protesters we would have ruthless dictators, monarchs and bullies ruining the nations, societies, communities and the families. The rights you have taken for granted today came to you because of the protesters at one time who were hated and persecuted, but they stood like a rock like MLK.

My friend and I chanced at the MLK memorial last week on the anniversary week when he was silenced. We have to honor him for releasing America from the guilt of oppression that would have haunted us Americans, the way we treated fellow Americans who were black, poor and weak was shameful. I walked through the complex and captured his quotes inscribed on the marble walls. Said a silent prayer thanking him for what America is today.

None of the immigrants would have come to America had it not been for MLK and civil rights act. I would not have come to America, if I had to sit in the back of the bus or get humiliated to drink water from a different fountain or not allowed to eat in a restaurant. We the immigrants, all of us from all over the globe thank MLK for that.

Now take a look at the history.

Was George Washington a conformist? Wasn’t he a protester? Did the British leave because he said so? Did they all write the constitution without protests from one or the other? Wasn’t Zoroaster, Confucius, Moses, Krishna, Buddha, Muhammad, Nanak, Bab and many more great individuals, the protesters? For God’s sake they changed the societies through their protests, none of them were conformists.

Please don’t look down at the protesters at Trump, Clinton, Sanders or any rallies. They have the balls to stand up for us the chickens, instead of looking down at them; we should admire them for holding the fort of freedom and democracy. Almost all the laws and amendments we have in place is because of the protesters. When I see the protesters around the Capitol Hill, which is daily, I will stop and appreciate them for doing it, even though I disagree with their cause.

Next time, any one puts down the protesters anywhere, let them know that they should be grateful to the protesters like our founding fathers who have given them the freedom to speak up.

Dr. Mike Ghouse is a community consultant, social scientist, thinker, writer, news maker, Interfaith Wedding officiant, and a speaker on Pluralism, Interfaith, Islam, politics, terrorism, human rights, India, Israel-Palestine, motivation, and foreign policy. He is committed to building cohesive societies and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day. Visit him (63 links) at www.MikeGhouse.net and www.TheGhousediary.com for his exclusive writings.

I Love America; Happy Valentine’s day

What a joy it is to sing songs about America while praying for other nations to be blessed like ours,  and live like us, which is live your life and let others live theirs. There is nothing like America.

Yasmeen and I were at Brazarios Restaurant in down town Louisville for the Valentine’s Day lunch. What I want to share is our conversation and what we saw around us, which I have captured to a little extent in the camera, though the pictures aren’t good, but you can see through them.

On the table to our right were African American Couples, two tables down was a white middle aged couple, and behind to the right of us were a Chinese Couple with a few Japanese with them, and one directly behind two tables was a gay couple and way to the right was a Jewish couple.

I can’t tell you the euphoric feeling to be in the midst of this environment. This is the America we all cherish and want to sustain.  Just 55 years ago, this would not have happened, none of this would have been possible. Thanks to Martin Luther King, John F Kennedy, Lyndon B Johnson and the majority of White Americas for uplifting America to be one of the most exemplary nations on the earth.  

Regardless of the rhetoric of a few (yes a few) men in the fore front, who are misogynists, homophobic, xenophobic, Islamophobic and anti-Semitic, America ain’t like them and a majority of American’s are like them either. The presidential candidates are not a representation of Americans.

America is a nation where we respect the otherness of others, and accept the God given uniqueness of each one of us whether we are Atheists, Baha’i, Buddhist, and Christian, Jain, Jewish, Muslims, Native Americans, Pagans, Sikhs, Wicca, Zoroastrians and every one in between.

It saddens me to see “a few” radicals among Hindus and Muslims, who are hell bent on  terrorizing or harassing the lovers in India and Pakistan, be it in a store or restaurant, let alone in the parks. I wish the heads of the states in both nations speak up and tell everyone that they will not tolerate harassing and terrorizing fellow countrymen for celebrating Valentine’s day. Here is a note for them at www.TheGhousediary.com or www.Interfaithspeaker.com

I also appeal to a few religious parents in America not to put down our culture, you can tell your kids that Valentine’s day is not a part of your tradition, but you cannot put it down, as their friends do celebrate and your kids don’t see anything wrong with the celebration.  If you oppose them, you are pushing them to live two lives – one a pretentious life with you and the other with their friends and that is wrong. You have a choice to raise them in another country where they live their lives in silos. No one should live two lives and it is not good for them or you.

Next year, if I am alive, we will have discussions within the ethnic and religious groups who are yet to integrate in our society.  Meanwhile, enjoy my current article at www.TheGhouseDiary.com

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Dr. Mike Ghouse is a community consultant, social scientist, thinker, writer, news maker, and a speaker on Pluralism, Interfaith, Islam, politics, terrorism, human rights, India, Israel-Palestine and foreign policy. He is committed to building cohesive societies and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day. Visit him in 63 links at www.MikeGhouse.net for his writings at TheGhousediary.com and several blogs listed there in.

Memorial Day Reflections by Pluralist Mike Ghouse

Please do not wish a “Happy Memorial Day” on this day; it is not a celebration to be happy about, it is rather an observance to commemorate and ponder. We observe the Memorial Day on the last Monday of May every year; remembering and honoring the men and women who died while protecting and serving our country.

Why does it matter to you? The freedoms that you and I cherish or take it for granted, did not come to us on a platter and was not a given thing either, it was earned for us through the sacrifice of men and women who fought for it. It is particularly important day for all the immigrants who enjoy full civil rights and equal opportunity in America.

I am pleased to share my thoughts, hoping you would find it to be a meaningful day for you. What will I do and what can you do is as follows.

The tradition of Memorial Day observance began after the American Civil War to commemorate the Union and confederate soldiers who died in the civil war. Indeed, it was the civil war that abolished slavery ( it is time to watch the movie Lincoln)  which was the stepping stone for passing the Civil rights Act of 1964 and the very cause for the immigrants to make it to America.

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 states (wiki) that is “a landmark piece of civil rights legislation in the United States that outlawed discrimination against racial, ethnic, national and religious minorities, and women. It ended unequal application of voter registration requirements and racial segregation in schools, at the workplace and by facilities that served the general public (known as "public accommodations").”

By the way I am related to General Robert E. Lee through my son and daughter’s family on their mother’s side.

Had it not for the Civil Rights Act (thanksgiving link honoring MLK), we the immigrants, from some 200 nations would not have come to the United States; we would not have been allowed either. Up until 1910, no one but a white person could own the property here in Dallas. Heck getting a decent job was out of question; my Jewish friends tell stories of not getting a decent job up until 1960. The immigrants were not allowed to marry either; the first such case happened in the last century when an Indian man married a white woman and their troubles began, and thank God, they endured the struggles, and seeded reforms in the immigration law.

Every one of us is designed to pursue happiness. Of the many things that bring serene happiness to the soul is the expression of gratitude. It is thanking the creator for the life we have, (Appaiah story) and thanking those who have laid the foundation for our happiness and freedom that we take it for granted. Thanks to our soldiers who fought in the civil war to preserve that freedom for us, and the least we can do is honor them. If you see the men and women in the uniform, tell them that you appreciate them. They deserve to hear the appreciation.

Memorial Day is a day of remembrance and reflection, it is time to pray for those have passed away, whether they are related to us or not and whether they have served in the military, police and fire or not. Please take a few moments to remember all those who have influenced, affected and cared for us, and those who cared for others whether we know them or not. It is not necessarily a noble thing or a religious thing, it is the rigth thing to do.  Indeed, it is the thing that enriches our souls and brings humility and connects us back with ourselves.

 On the Memorial Day in 2010, I drove from Louisville to Dallas, an 840 miles journey and stopped at every cemetery that was visible on the road side. I said a short prayer asking the creator to restore the balance on the earth though forgiveness to those who have sinned and bring completeness to those who left incomplete transactions in life.  I particularly remember stopping at 4 national cemeteries, and there was one near Nashville on I-40 for the veterans, which was off the road, and I drove through a creek to get there and paid my homage to the men and women who died for my country's freedom. It just feels good to be a part of the whole.

There is a beautiful Islamic supplication that asks God to forgive the ones who are alive and the ones who are gone, parents, family, friends, believers and strangers.

This year, my Dadski (father figure link) passed away. I am grateful to him for being the catalyst for me to be here in America, he has been a good friend and a father figure to me. I will be visiting the National Cemetery in Grand Prairie and place a US Flag for him.

Every cemetery I spot on the memorial day, either I will pull over on the road side or walk to the gate of the cemetery, or silently pray for them. Praying for the unknown connects you with the unselfish-self in you, giving a sense of joy that is hard to explain. Try it and see how good you feel about yourselves - visit a cemetery, eventually we all have to go there.

I will be visiting the Islamic Cemetery in Denton to pray for my late wife and through the cemetery pray for my parents, my grandparents, uncles and aunts, and my sister in law, and the known and unknown.

The Muslim prayers run something like this, “Dear God, forgive me and my parents and my teachers and all the believing men and women, the living and the dead with your mercy. Amen."

 Dear God, I thank you for the life and the freedom you have given me and my fellow humans and I thank for all those who have sacrificed their lives for me to have this freedom to stand freely and pray here today, I salute our men and women in the uniforms for protecting and defending our freedom. Amen.

(This is my draft, disturbed by a phone call – I will fix this later today and add more soul searching items to it).


URL -  http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2013/05/memorial-day-reflections-by-pluralist.html

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Mike Ghouse is a speaker, thinker and a writer on pluralism, politics, peace, Islam, Israel, India, interfaith, and cohesion at work place. He is committed to building a Cohesive America and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day at www.TheGhousediary.com. He believes in Standing up for others and has done that throughout his life as an activist. Mike has a 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 his work through many links.