TEXAS FAITH: How much of a candidate's religion is fair game?

What's the difference between probing a candidate's religious beliefs and probing a candidate's involvement in promoting or even acquiescing in the activities of a religious institution?

Texas Faith panelists respond, here is Mike’s response;

MIKE GHOUSE, President, Foundation for Pluralism, Dallas

Probing into a candidate's personal religious beliefs is necessary to understand if he or she is propped up to push a certain narrow exclusive agenda of his religious group. However, mere affiliation should not be an issue, as each one of us belongs to a group. President Obama's affiliation with Rev Jeremiah's church did not matter. The stuff Limbaugh says should not be slapped onto fellow Republicans either, unless they subscribe to his specific act of bigotry.

Even if candidate Romney was actively involved or directly contributed funds towards the position of the Mormon Church in Los Angeles against the same sex marriage, it was his right, but if that position was exclusively his church's position and no other groups subscribed to it, then it must be evaluated through the democratic process. Indeed, Romney made a clear statement by "telling the reporters with theological questions to ask the church."

President Kennedy passed through that hurdle with utmost clarity, "So it is apparently necessary for me to state once again--not what kind of church I believe in, for that should be important only to me--but what kind of America I believe in." No wonder, Mitt Romney has chosen ""Believe in America" as his campaign slogan.

After reciting the issues facing the nation, President Kennedy capped it with, "These are the real issues which should decide this campaign. And they are not religious issues--for war and hunger and ignorance and despair know no religious barriers." Presidential Candidate Mitt Romney has been abundantly clear on where he stands - to create jobs and get the economy going again.

When people don't want to see the other, in anything other than their own fixated image, they have committed the most egregious of all errors; forcing one to be in some pigeon hole that he or she doesn't belong. Indeed, that is the mother of all stereotyping.
America is a unique nation, there is nothing like her on this planet, and I hope we are contagious to pass on our values to other nations. With an exception of a few among us, most of the born and immigrant Americans become an ingredient in the stew, and have learned to respect the otherness of others and accepted the God given uniqueness of each one of us, and we have ways to go.

The Jews and Muslims do not eat pork, but the meat they eat is Kosher/ Halal processed. However, they will never ever dream of forcing others to eat what they eat. The Hindus will never force any one not to eat beef. America does it to all of us, makes us more accepting of the differences. Whether it is a Mormon, Catholic, Hindu, Jew, Muslim, Native American or the other, none will fathom pushing his or her values onto others. It is our system that shapes our public stand, despite a few misogynist bigots among the candidate line up.

I can relate with Romney's position; as a Pluralist whose religion is Islam, I face similar criticism every now and then, even here in the pages of Dallas Morning News. As a neutralist on the issue of Israel and Palestine, I still face some criticism from the Jewish right and the Muslim right. If Romney were a pastor of the Mormon Church, he most certainly would have pushed for his agenda, the same Romney running for public office, will not push his narrow agenda on to others.

I believe in American exceptionalism; not the way defined by Gingrich or Santorum, but the way an average American practices it; to live and let live. Romney as a Mormon is as American as any evangelical or an Atheist American. The greatness of America is reflective in our ability to choose the person based on what he can do for the nation and not what he looks, eats, drinks, wears or believes.

To read all the responses, please click: http://religionblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2012/03/texas-faith-how-much-of-a-cand.html

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Mike Ghouse is committed to building a cohesive America and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day. He is a speaker, thinker and a writer on pluralism, politics, civic affairs, Islam, India, Israel, peace and justice. He is a frequent guest on Sean Hannity show on Fox TV, commentator on national radio network, writes weekly at Dallas Morning News and bi monthly at Huffington post, The Smirking Chimp and other periodicals. His daily blog is www.TheGhousediary.com

Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes of Oklahoma

Chief Akeem and Mike Ghouse - pictures in album link below

March 14, 2012 – We went to see George Akeem and his family in El-Reno, Oklahoma. George is the Native American Chief for the Cheyenne Tribe.

I will be revisiting them in May to include their story in the documentary, “Americans Together”. It is about creating cohesive societies where no one has to live in apprehension, discomfort or fear of the other. Every American will have a space and a voice in the film. It’s been my dream.

Visiting the Cheyenne-Arapaho nation was an eye opener. We have come to believe in the myths propagated, that the Native Americans are endowed with benefits galore and are on welfare programs. It is not quite true, they live on their own like everyone else.

Among the many issues the tribes face; High school drop out is the biggest one with 72% drop outs, doubled by drug and alcohol abuse. The crime rate is however low. Everyone seems to be a lot safer in the tribal nations than the other parts of the state.

They have their own administrators, governors and government.  The funding comes from the land and what is grown or comes out of that land, goes to the tribes. American Government is not doing as much as it is doing with her other citizens.  They have weak representatives, and in many a cases law suites against the federal government are pending. They were talking about one large piece of land that was given on a ten year lease to the fed, which expired some 40 years ago… and the land is still not retuned back to the tribes.


You have got to love the spirit of service. Jennen, the daughter of Eleanor and George Akeem received her degree in social services and health sciences, and chose to serve the tribe. She could have doubled her income serving in other communities, but taking care of her tribe was a driving reason for her to work for a low pay. I salute her spirit to serve her community. 

I am still recovering from the thought that this land once belonged to the Native Americans; they had a mighty civilization... if you just visit the Toltec temples and the precision blue prints it amazes you.

Years ago, I encountered a pathetic situation with the Maya's, the chief priest told us that their own temples were closed out to them. The Mexican Government was not allowing them to worship in the places of their ancestors, what shame it was. However, we were able to goad them and go up to the upper platform of the temple and worship with them. By the way, I was moved by their prayers and shared a Hindu and a Jain prayer (Prayers are simply good wishes) in Sanskrit and Hindi with them besides the Islamic prayers. We wanted to make it a multi-faith prayer for them to let them know that we are are all in this together. I have been known to fill in for whoever is missing including Zarthushti's, Sikhs, Bahai and Jews. A few of us really climbed to the top of the pyramid, it is amazing.  They said that, it was done for the first time in nearly 40 years. 

Colonialism (not to blame anyone) was a shameless part of our history, where the arrogant ruthless men did not value the uniqueness of other people... the sheer bully power reduced the other people to drifters... it took away their dignity for centuries to heal.

Attitude is the main difference between any two people on the earth; the colonialist had the slinkiest attitudes and robbed the people of their self worth and dignity. It is not just here with the Native Americans, it was the case with all colonies.  

It’s amazing how bullies of the world make the oppressed look like criminals and make them feel worthless on top of that... there is a lot of healing in order.  In a review of the movie Avatar, I wrote this, “There is another critical dialogue in the movie, where the commander in charge of the corporation is bent on destroying the native people by seizing their land and literally bulldozing them and saying, we are going to teach “these terrorists” and orders his men to destroy them with shock and awe. As the audience, we sense the ridiculousness of it, “the man had gone to their lands, to rob them and when they resist, he calls them terrorists.”

I hope to go back in May this year and spend a few days with the tribes and present their point of view in how to build a cohesive America. Indeed, we are a part of an interconnected and interdependent web of the world.

Mike Ghouse is committed to building a cohesive America and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day. He is a speaker, thinker and a writer on pluralism, politics, civic affairs, Islam, India, Israel, and cohesive societies. www.MikeGhouse.net

Photo Album : http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikeghouse/sets/72157629223536760/show/

I salute my friend Ghanshyam Dave

Vina Ben is my sister (Indian tradition) for nearly 18 years and her husband Ghanshyam is a great friend and brings out the boisterous one in me. When we are together, we sing songs loudly and unabashed. 

Ghanshyam was going to be a movie actor and was trained in Poona film Institute in India. We had a group, him and Vina, Vinod and Amita, and Narendra Bhai and Jyoti ben… we took turns in hosting dinners… Vina ben was a frequent guest on my TV show in 1996 and also hosted a few radio programs on my radio.

Today was a special day – he calls me at 4:45 on his way to Swami Narayan Temple and wanted me to join him in welcoming Sat guru from Hawaii, who runs the Hinduism today magazine, indeed, I knew the guruji as I have referenced his site when we did 104 hours of Hinduism on my Radio show, of the 500+on other religions. 

What I love about Ghanshyam, was his insistence that I speak about Pluralism after the Swamiji…I asked him that we cannot do it in the last minute.. He did not want to listen to any one and was demanding from the organizers that I speak… he was off the handle for me and I just loved that aspect of him… he will take his shirt off for me. What an incredible friend. Of course, I knew just about everyone at the temple, as I used to visit frequently. They asked me to be in the aarti sabha, an honor they give to few friends every Sunday, it was a delight to be there and they announced about my presence. Ghanshyam my friend was happy and I was happy that he was happy.

He walked me out of the temple to the car, he would not listen, it was little nippy and on the top if it, he walks bare feet. By the way, next time, I will take pictures of the Swaminarayan Temple… I was to go to the inauguration of the temple in Houston and London years ago… did not get to do that. It is one of the most humble and prosperous Indian communities in Dallas.

By the way, some of the best vegetarian food is served at the Jain Temple and the Swaminarayan Temple, of course at the Ekta Mandir too.

I hope and pray, you have friends like Ghanshyam! Amen

Mike Joins the board Israeli-Palestinian confederation

I am pleased to join the Israeli-Palestinian confederation committee to participate and contribute towards the peace process for the people of Israel and Palestine. With full empathy and affection for both the peoples, I have consciously chosen to remain detached from taking sides; however, you will find me critical of the leadership as well as a few individuals in the process.

It is based on the lessons I have learned from my parents, who remained objective on the issues of world affairs and being “just” was their approach to life. In an article at Huffington Post, I wrote about my life time (jihad) struggle in applying the “just” values to the conflict between the people of Israel and Palestine and I am pleased to copy the following two paragraphs from that article:

My father is my hero and had opened the doors of wisdom to me. He taught me one of the biggest lessons of my life in social cohesiveness and dealing with extremism that I continue to reflect in my speeches, acts and write ups.

During the communal (religious) riots in the early '60s, both Muslims and Hindus were killed in the mayhem. I wish every father in India, America, Israel, and elsewhere teaches this lesson to his kids. He told us the "individuals" were responsible for the bloodshed and not the religions; he would emphasize that you cannot blame an intangible like religion and expect justice, we must blame the individuals who caused it and punish them accordingly for disturbing the peace and thus bring a resolution to the conflict by serving justice. He was crystal clear: You cannot annihilate, kill, hang or beat the religion, so why bark at it?

We have to come to grips with the reality that other people's suffering is as legitimate as our own; it is easy to see ourselves as victims, but we must also see the perpetrator in us, when we don’t feel others’ pain,  turn the other way or not speak up when we see others are wronged.

When we strip the politics out of a conflict, we see hope; we can value others suffering without lessening our own; the overriding desire to highlight our own blinds us from feeling other's suffering, making a less of a human of us. A sense of responsibility for creating a better world needs to be awakened, and ultimately safety and peace for everyone should be driving our thoughts. One will never be at peace when others around are not.

In the many articles I have written, there are times when an Israeli or the Palestinian may feel that I have not stood up enough for them that is because of my struggle to be just; I rather fail in my struggle than lose my sense of fairness. Deep down I believe the Jewish and Palestinian people want the Americans to be honest and sincere and take a tough stand and end this conflict that is consuming them eternally. 

Joining the Israel Palestine confederation is one more step for me in my quest for Justice for the people. I believe if we can be a tiny catalyst in bringing a resolution to the a sixty year old conflict, and not thousands of years as some politician point,  a majority of the conflicts that were mothered by this conflict will fade and solutions will emerge.

Mike Ghouse

. . . . . . . 

ABOUT THE VOLUNTEER MEMBERS

About the members of the organization, copied straight from the website: http://www.ipconfederation.org/about-us.aspx  

Dallas' Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge opens on Trinity River

It is a tiny butterfly and not an eagle over Mike's head

March 3, 2012 - Dallas New Land Mark opened today. It’s the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge over Trinity River. One of these days, we will have River walk like in San Antonio, and probably bigger than that, as it is a huge basin with levy on either side…. It is scenic! It’s been debated for over 20 years now. The citizens have not approved the bond to make it happen.

It is amazing how a small group of people are bent on opposing everything including prosperity, they simply do not see the overall benefits to the common man in terms of jobs, economic growth and all...

Three pictures in the linked album are unusual….. What seems to be an eagle over my head in this picture is actually a butterfly; it is the same size as the one sitting on my head in the picture... I am trying to understand the magic of this picture....how did the photographer take the picture to make the butterfly look so big? The other picture is the contrast, looks like a scene from a movie... Dallas Skyline with Native Americans... indeed, Dallas is enriched with the presence of over 100 Native American nations. The story and a few amazing pictures at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikeghouse/sets/72157629141809118/

Mary Ann Thompson-Frenk and Coke Buchanan had organized the butterfly release synching with the opening of the bridge. I was unable to get the butterfly on my finger, she flew the moment I opened the packet… however, there was a kid on whose finger a butter fly rested… and took off … it was amazing… and I was simply admiring and watching it and woke up little too late to take a picture …however, the photographer took it is in the link !

I will write about how Cities function and dysfunction; Cities like Plano, Frisco, Garland, Carrollton, Dallas, Irving and Colorado Springs… That’s another story, you can watch for at www.TheGhousediary.com

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Bridge -O-Rama Press Release

To honor Dallas’ cultural diversity, Memnosyne Foundation is gathered people attired in traditional regalia from international cultural organizations to release butterflies into the air. The butterfly is a sacred ancient symbol of freedom, independence, transformation, personal journey and faith. The image will imprint a message of Dallas’ growing diversity and desire for unity for years to come.

Dallas has become the incubator for America's future.

Forty-four percent of North Texas residents were born in another country or are the children of foreign-born who recognized the city's potential for ever-growing prosperity and we want to celebrate in unity!

To honor this diversity, Memnosyne Foundation gathered people attired in traditional regalia from international cultural organizations to release butterflies into the air. The butterfly is a sacred ancient symbol of freedom, independence, transformation, personal journey and faith. The image will imprint a message of Dallas’ growing diversity and desire for unity for years to come.

Memnosyne Foundation is grateful for its participation by

Paula Caldwell - Consul General of Canada for Texas, Cheryl Mansour - Chancellor of the Royal Norwegian Consulate; John M. Stich - Honorary Consul General of Japan in Dallas, Av. Nelu Prodan - Honorary Consul Of Romania in Dallas -Texas, Dr. Don Beck with The Center for Human Emergence, Ed Fjordbak with the Essilor Vision Foundation, Mike Ghouse with the America Together Foundation, Peggy Larney with the American Indian Heritage Day Council, Daniel Patricio with the Native Indian Youth Assembly, Natasha Ksendzoff with the Russian School of Dallas, Sandy Kloberdanz with the Ukrainian American Society of Texas, Anita N. Martinez Ballet Folklorico, Polish American Foundation, Mayumi McDonald with the Japan America Society of Dallas, DFW Native American Chamber of Commerce, Unity of Dallas and over 200 others in its Butterfly Release celebrating Dallas’ cultural diversity at the Margaret Hunt Hill Celebration Bridge-O-Rama on March 3.

A special thanks of sincere appreciation to Grupo Cualli Tepec Danza Azteca Chichimeca Conchera with the sound of conch shells for opening the ceremonial sacred space, calling the spirits of the four cardinal directions—South, West, North, and East—and Mother Earth and Father Sky, and to Bandan Koro African Drum Ensemble for providing the heartbeat of Mother Earth in the ceremonial release of butterflies as a symbol of our nation’s most precious gift “Freedom”.

The event was joyful for everyone as the Monarchs were introduced to a new destination in their annual migration from Mexico to Canada – the banks of our Trinity River.

Happy Purim, one of the happiest Jewish Holidays

I am pleased to wish a very Happy Purim to our Jewish friends across the globe.  Purim is one of the happiest of holidays of the Jewish people, it the story of freedom from anxiety of being annihilated.  This has reference to a point in history where an evil man plots to annihilate the Jews, but the Persian king is persuaded by Esther otherwise. It was a major victory and thus the celebration.  Happy Purim.

I have written a heartfelt article on Israel and Palestine, published in 3 installments at Huffington post.  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mike-ghouse/israel-and-palestine-moving-forward_b_1258261.html . You might understand the history of Jewish people to understand Purim.

The book of Esther

The story of Purim is told in the Biblical book of Esther. The heroes of the story are Esther, a beautiful young Jewish woman living in Persia, and her cousin Mordecai, who raised her as if she were his daughter. Esther was taken to the house of Ahasuerus, King of Persia, to become part of his harem. King Ahasuerus loved Esther more than his other women and made Esther queen, but the king did not know that Esther was a Jew, because Mordecai told her not to reveal her identity.

The villain of the story is Haman, an arrogant, egotistical advisor to the king. Haman hated Mordecai because Mordecai refused to bow down to Haman, so Haman plotted to destroy the Jewish people. In a speech that is all too familiar to Jews, Haman told the king, "There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your realm. Their laws are different from those of every other people's, and they do not observe the king's laws; therefore it is not befitting the king to tolerate them." Esther 3:8. The king gave the fate of the Jewish people to Haman, to do as he pleased to them. Haman planned to exterminate all of the Jews.

Mordecai persuaded Esther to speak to the king on behalf of the Jewish people. This was a dangerous thing for Esther to do, because anyone who came into the king's presence without being summoned could be put to death, and she had not been summoned. Esther fasted for three days to prepare herself, then went into the king. He welcomed her. Later, she told him of Haman's plot against her people. The Jewish people were saved, and Haman and his ten sons were hanged on the gallows that had been prepared for Mordecai.

The book of Esther is unusual in that it is the only book of the Bible that does not contain the name of G-d. In fact, it includes virtually no reference to G-d. Mordecai makes a vague reference to the fact that the Jews will be saved by someone else, if not by Esther, but that is the closest the book comes to mentioning G-d. Thus, one important message that can be gained from the story is that G-d often works in ways that are not apparent, in ways that appear to be chance, coincidence or ordinary good luck.

From Judaism 101

Mike Ghouse
www.ProfessionalSpeakerMikeGhouse.com 

www.foundationforpluralism.com 

HAPPY HOLI, the India festival of colors and joy

http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2012/03/happy-holi-india-festival-of-colors-and.html

Radiant Colors of Holi

Holi is an Indian festival of radiance. It is a celebration of spring with colors that nourish one’s joyous moods and complements the function of respective elements in the atmosphere.

Legend has it, that Lord Krishna is believed to have complained to his mother about his dark complexion while Radha's had a lighter skin. Krishna's mother decided to apply color to Radha's face (Reverse Make up?) The celebrations officially usher in spring, the celebrated season of love.

The essence of Holi is liberation and breaking the barriers between adults and children, family members and friends, and the festivity opens up to each other.

Several years ago, my son, daughter and I were drenched in Holi colors at the Hindu Temple festivities and were driving home. At a stop light, people in others cars on either side stared at us and looked scared and drove off screeching on the green light... the three of us laughed and looked at each other…  it dawned on us that we looked bloody, green, yellow and mellow.......colors in our hair, face and clothes…

My kids thoroughly enjoyed throwing the colors in liquid and dust forms on me, they loved it. I would also call it friendship festival as it removes inhibitions.

Prasad's daughter, Prasad Thotakura | Jasmina, Mike and Jeff Ghouse

Wow, Happy Holi!

Although Holi is part of the Hindu tradition, most Indians participate in it, here is a song that reflects the unity of Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs and Christians and of course, Jains, Zoroastrians, Baha’i, Jews, Buddhist and native traditions… also celebrate it.  Here is a Bollywood song to reflect that.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NocV6jsegVY

The picture below reflects that sentiments - all colors coming together to create oneness, thus the phrase Vasudaiva Kutumbukum; the whole world is one family. Similar expressions are a staple in every faith.

Holi is celebrated at the end of the winter season on the last full moon day of the lunar month Phalguna which usually falls in the later part of February or March.

Since 1993, I have been writing about every festival on the earth, have done a weekly Radio program called "Festivals of the world" and shared about each festival.  Make it simple enough that most people can get the essence of it. For Hindus there is lot more depth and meaning to it, but for the non-Hindus, this gives them an idea about the festival. It is a part of the Pluralism education, so we all can know each other and appreciate our own uniqueness. Each one of is a model of our own.

Happy Holi and please enjoy the songs;

From the movie Lagaan, Radha Kaisay na Jalay - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VmC86-uX7JE

Top ten Holi songs - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEkZddiPP7g&feature=related

Mike Ghouse is committed to building a cohesive America and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day. He is a speaker, thinker and a writer on pluralism, politics, civic affairs, Islam, India, and cohesive societies. www.ProfessionalSpeakerMikeGhouse.com and current articles at www.TheGhousediary.com

CAIR responds positively, it does not discriminate any Muslim

I just (9:00 PM, March 6, 2012) spoke with Mr. Ibrahim Hooper; apparently he was upset about something else, and took it out on me. However he came back and said he was sorry and that is fine with me. I understand the daily pressures he goes through at CAIR, but to jump on me, who was defending CAIR was not kosher. He did not even read the first paragraph, which I read to him and is appended below. 


As Muslims we need to go beyond the personalities and look at the matter at hand and find solutions. We are fine now. 


As a Muslim you would defend any false charges against Islam, and same goes with an organization that has become a representative of Muslims. I have been consistently doing this for nearly a decade. Look up Worldnet site, quite extensive interviews on there; I have stood up for CAIR on Hannity show many a times and done that on my forums particularly at the WorldMuslimCongress@yahoogroups.com 


On my part, I have and I will continue to stand up for any one from Atheist to Zoroastrian and every one in between including the native and earth based traditions.


Arguments aside, here is the bottom line:


CAIR does not discriminate against any Muslim, he said, CAIR will even defend the Civil rights of Jews, Hindus and others. I am copying this to CAIR reps and if it is different, we will add their correct version here to reflect their exact position.


All I wanted was one single statement or link to their policy manual that they do not discriminate. It will put an end to the criticism leveled at CAIR every where. All of this was not necessary.


Mr. Hooper insisted that I give his cell phone number (202) 744-7726 and he will deal with anyone who has a problem. 


He is indeed the spokesperson, but the ownership of CAIR belongs to the community. CAIR claims it represents Muslims, and the depth of that phrase needs to be understood. 
     
Here is that statement, CAIR fights against bigotry and will reject any suggestion that a Muslim be denied Justice because one is not Muslim enough.  Should someone seek help of CAIR, they will not deny it to any one, particularly if someone calls himself or herself a Muslim. They are welcome to clarify it. The suggestions floated here sound like bigotry;  i.e. if you are taken into an emergency room of a hospital, you should get the medical care only if you are American enough.   


Continued with previous note: http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2012/03/cair-should-not-deny-help-to-any-muslim.html 

India Association celebrates fifty years

Sunday, February 4, 2012 - The India Association of North Texas initiated celebration of 50 years of its glorious existence by inviting community leaders for a dinner gathering at the India Associations new building at 701 N. Central Expressway in Richardson, TX 75080.

Mike Ghouse at India Association speaking about Foundation for Pluralism

Thanks to the Board of Trustees, Directors and volunteers for making this event possible. It was great to connect with every one. 

We, the Indian Americans are a thriving community here in Dallas area and have earned a respectable place in the society and I rejoiced this celebration along with my fellow Indians. One of the accomplishments is to have our own building, thanks to the leadership and Jack Godhwani for making this happen.

This event made me appreciate those who have created a beautiful legacy for us. It reminded me of a celebration we had organized for seniors in the 90’s. We invited the pioneers for dinner and have them share their stories. We also did a radio talk show in 1997 where they shared their stories about what Dallas was like in the early 60’s. Each one of us have added something significant to Dallas Desi living and some day, I hope to write the history of it with pictures and all. I have not seen the book, but someone at UT Austin wrote a book on history of Indian Americans in Texas and I have provided him the information I had available to me, I believe he has written a note about me as well.

Three Indians made it to America before our independence and have made Dallas their home; Late Amir Khan around 1910, Mr. Pallana in 1946 (to the US, I need to check how long he was in Dallas) and one of my Jewish Indian Friends came to the US in 1932, and the late Ike Sekhon in 1957. In the early sixties about ten families made it to Dallas – Dr. Prabhakar and Asha Ghate, Dr. Kapadia, Saboo, and a few others (I have to dig into my Radio Shows and notes to list them all). Most of them are all here.

Please remember the critical period of the history at that time – Martin Luther King’s legacy had not come in to effect yet – the non-whites had to sit in the back of the bus and had to drink water from a separate fountain. One of these days, I will share what it was like for them then.

President of India Late Sri Sarvapalli Radha Krishnan, Saint Mother Teresa, former Prime Minister VP Singh, Laloo Prasad, Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhonsle, Dilip Kumar, Late Dev Anand and other legends have graced our city as well…

There are a lot of firsts. Just to recall on the food side, India Coffee House was the first Indian Restaurant on Mockingbird lane, owned by Madan Goyal, then came Pradeep Sharma (India Palace), Veer Singh and Nick Kumar with Kebab n Curry in 1983, that popularized Indian cuisines in the Metroplex. Right along came Saheb’s restaurant on Park Lane, which uplifted the Indian food to fine dining. There is Dilip Shah of Travel King, one of the first travel agents in the area, then Mr. Sharma, who had a grocery story on Preston Road and Mr. Pallana who had a store in Oak Lawn and Ranajani Pallana who popularized Yoga in Dallas.

Thanks to Dilip Shah for planting the seeds of Anand Bazar some 20 years ago, and Akram Syed for initiating the Gandhi Walk and ...... for commencing India Nite? I can't believe, I don't know it. Thanks to Prasad Thotakura and Taiyab Kundwala for working on the Gandhi Statue in Dallas The list of good things is endless! Believe me, when I get a chance, I will write about each one of our leaders in North Texas who have contributed significantly towards the growth of our community, whether they are Hindu, Muslim, Jain, Sikh, Christian or others, they have done it all together. This is just an initial note in between my work and more will be written for the event.

I request India Association to consider organizing a dinner event to appreciate the pioneers of Dallas, On occasion of the 50^th anniversary of India Association’s celebration around Middle of June, and I will be happy to assist or coordinate the event.

Mike Ghouse,

A life member of India Association
Associate Member of India Association as President of Foundation for Pluralism
Moderator of DallasIndians@yahoogroups.com
http://mikeghouseforindia.blogspot.com/

Mike Ghouse is a speaker, thinker and a writer committed to building a cohesive America where no American has to live in apprehension, discomfort or fear of the other.www.MikeGhouse.net

TEXAS FAITH: Is the world getting better?

We certainly read a lot in, yes, newspapers about things going awry. Republican candidates making the case against Barack Obama offer ample examples of the world being a mess. And many a book has been sold about the next coming crisis.

But are we looking at all this the wrong way. Is it indeed the case that the world is getting better?  Dallas Morning News weekly column.

MIKE GHOUSE, President, Foundation for Pluralism, Dallas

Indeed the world is getting better and the worsening part is slowing down. Overall, the individuals in a given society feel relatively safe, secure and less apprehensive today than ever before, while the oppression and harassment of people in different parts of the world continues.

Our model is based on, "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."

Seventy five years ago, we had about five democratic nations in the world. Today, we have approximately 100 nations and we still have another 96 to go and most of the 96 are moving towards freer societies.

Liberty and the pursuit of happiness are gaining momentum without the tyrants like Kim Jong Il, Muammar Gaddafi, Ali Saleh, Saddam Hussein, Hasni Mubarak and Ben Ali, while Bashar Asad is still at large.

Two decades ago, we had over a dozen regions of the world with active belligerent conflicts. Today, we are down to a few, including Israel and Palestine, and indeed it is the mother of all conflicts. Our policies have really messed up security for Israel and justice for the Palestinians. We need to demand them to sit together and negotiate peace. Instead, we (and the others) have equipped each other with arms to fight more and kill more.

Mahmud Ahmedinejad and Bibi Netanyahu are no doubt elected by the people. But do they truly represent the will of their people now? Are they delivering security to their people or bent on threatening each other and escalating the conflict?

Dialogue is the best option. Mother Teresa said if you want peace, go talk with your enemies, you don't make peace with your friends; you do that with your enemies. War will ruin every one and most certainly will bankrupt Americans. We don't need any more of it. We need to aggressively pursue conflict mitigation more than these two men push for destruction. Our president needs to take a firm stand for the sake of peace and security for that region, and stop us from draining ourselves.

Is life getting better in America? Hell yes, on the social front.

When Rush Limbaugh saw that the advertisers were pulling out from his show, and the broadcasters may have warned him that his fate will be similar to Glenn Beck's, he apologized for the sake of the dollars. This is a great example of turning the tables on the idiom, "evil persists because good men do nothing about it." Indeed, evil stops, if good people do something about it.

Anti-circumcision bills, in effect anti-Jewish bills, in Santa Monica and San Francisco were finally yanked from the ballot of those cities. The ridiculous anti-immigrant bill in Farmers Branch is in the courts now, and many states have passed legislation guaranteeing the personal freedom and liberty for gay marriages. Racism is on decline. Many men will join women in slowing Mullah Santorum's stance on women. The federal court judge threw out the gratuitous anti-Sharia bill in Oklahoma and indeed we have a symposium planned on Sharia, here in Dallas to better understand it and hope to un-intensify another ill of the society: Islamophobia.

On the economic front, we have a ways to go, but improvement is visible. Unemployment is down to 8.3%. We still have 2.3 million jobs out there that need matching skills, if president's retraining talk goes into action, we can hope for at 7% unemployment rate by the end of this year. Higher employment contributes toward increased tax revenues and deficit reduction, which in turn will boost consumer confidence to spend, and the economy will take off and prosperity will be back on our threshold. God bless America!

For responses from other Panelists at Dallas Morning news, please visit:
http://religionblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2012/03/texas-faith-is-the-world-getti.html

Mike Ghouse is a speaker thinker and a writer, committed to building a cohesive America and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day. He is a frequent guest on Fox TV with Sean Hannity and national syndicated radio show, writes weekly at Dallas Morning news and Huffington post and speaks on Pluralism, Politics, Islam, India and about building Cohesive America. All work is listed at www.MikeGhouse.net

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