Texas Faith, Is the religious left too nice and without influence?

The future of our society will be shaped by the moderate majority, for the first time in our long history, the moderates have discovered that they don't need to bang their fist on the table, or scream bloody murder to be heard, they have done it effectively at the ballot box, they waited for the left or the right to move towards moderation, and the left jumped on it and got the ride in 2012, and now the right is scrambling for the ride. Continued at: http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2013/01/texas-faith-is-religious-left-too-nice.html
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Texas Faith, Is the religious left too nice and without influence?

By Bill McKenzie / Editorial Columnist, Dallas Morning News, January, 29, 2103

The Washington Post's Lisa Miller wrote earlier this month about how "nice isn't going to win the battle for the religious left."

Miller noted how the religious left once made the case for issues of great consequence, such as women's suffrage and civil rights. But she contends the religious left needs to greatly improve how it makes its priorities and activities more compelling and newsworthy.

Wrote Miller: "Kumbaya is not a story. Why can't we all just get along is not a story. Since the rise of the religious right in the 1970s in reaction to the Supreme Court ruling on Roe v. Wade, the religious left has failed to gain any comparable visibility, traction or voice on major issues in the political sphere.

"News releases from the precincts of the religious left continue to emphasize niceness over moral authority….There's nothing wrong with being polite, of course. But a great, galvanizing, undeniable moral argument is better. 'Civility is a great friend of the status quo,' says Jim Naughton, partner at Canticle Communications, which advises faith-based groups. 'People aren't going to change because you're nice to them.'"

What do you think of her point? Is the religious left indeed without the same influence and profile as the religious right? If so, is it because the religious left has tried more to be civil and nice than to make a compelling moral argument?

MIKE GHOUSE, President, Foundation for Pluralism, Dallas


We are conditioned to seeing everything from a binary perspective; left or right.  We lose sight of the critical third dimension; the deadbeat moderate majority. This is the group that is meek, civil and polite, but does act decisively while casting the ballot.

Indeed, the religious left is more influential than the right in pulling the moderate votes.

Obama is reelected with a greater margin over his rival on the right.  The public support for legal abortion is accumulating despite the religious right. Same sex marriage is gaining greater acceptability. Obama care is in, Immigration reforms are underway, and gun safety regulation is gathering momentum. Heck, the wars will end with no desire to engage in another senseless war.

On the other hand, the religious right is losing, not because of inadequacy in their principles, but because of their belligerent, unintelligent pounding on the airwaves, and turning the moderate majority off.

Jim Naughton makes a powerful point that Civility is a great friend of the status quo; he is talking about the moderates, and not the ones on the left. Whether it is the city council meeting, church gathering or in informal gatherings, it is always the people on left or the right who drive the conversation, they have no qualms in speaking out passionately, even though they get shot at alternatively by the other, they don’t lose the enthusiasm for their point of view. Whereas the moderates, keep raising their hand politely, hoping to get their turn, but never get a chance to get their point across, they don’t know how to bang their fist on the table, such an act is rude and stupid to them.

Years ago, a Nun made a remarkable point on Tim Russert’s Meet the press. The right will frighten the public and attempts to win by guaranteeing to take care of them, the left will match their tall claims, while the moderates have difficulty in embellishing and giving false hopes, they lack passion.

America is moving towards the center, the moderate majority is realizing its power to keep things at an even keel; they want an America that is good for every one of her citizens, in fact they made that difference in 2012 through the ballot, as they do not have the passion to speak out. Indeed, Americas’ future will be shaped by the moderates.

. . . .

Eleven panelists contributed to this forum, to read the contributions from all the panelists, please visit -  http://religionblog.dallasnews.com/2013/01/texas-faith-is-the-religious-left-too-nice-and-without-influence.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 and standing up for others as an activist. He is committed to building a Cohesive America and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day at www.TheGhousediary.com. 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 everything you want to know about him.

Jews, Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs and Genocides

There is a shameless cruelty in our societies when it comes to acknowledging other people's suffering. Either we shy away or refuse to acknowledge the sufferings of others, worrying that it will devalue our own and/or it amounts to infidelity to our own cause.

 

  
One of the immortal dialogue clips from a 1958 Bollywood movie "Yahudi" is included in the article, where the Jew challenges the roman emperor,  "Tumhara khoon, khoon, aur mera Khoon pani?"

    A Muslim shouts, "Why are you commemorating Holocaust of Jews?
    A Jewish speaker did not want to hear about Gaza massacre
    A Muslim initiative was asked to be removed from the publicity material
    A Hindu friend jumps for not including the Kashmiri pundit while it was
    A Pakistani says Bangladesh genocide talk equals defaming Pakistan
    A Sikh Genocide talk, amounts to shaming the mother land

I submit to you, that the human atrocities are pent up frustrations and unresolved issues that reach a boiling point and explode into massacres and genocides. As civilized societies, we need to bring a closure to the issues through forgiveness, apology and restoration of justice. The least we can do in the process of healing is to know and acknowledge every one's pain. 

Full article at Huffington post:  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mike-ghouse/holocaust-remembrance-and-recognizing-all-genocides_b_2547164.html

.................Mike Ghouse is a speaker, thinker and a writer on pluralism, politics, peace, Islam, Israel, India, interfaith, and cohesion at work place and standing up for others as an activist. 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. 

Belligerent questions about Holocaust and Genocides

url- http://holocaustandgenocides.blogspot.com/2013/01/frequently-asked-questions-about.html

 I am writing this essay as a built-in-response to address the belligerent questions that come, and they are coming from all directions, not just the ones mentioned as examples.

We are volunteers and are 100% inclusive, however, we request you to help us out. Kindly list all the genocides of the 20th Century, please remember, if you miss one, someone or the other will accuse you of ignoring “their” genocide.


By nature many of us are disgustingly selfish, nothing but our own interest matters to us. Do you recall standing in a food buffet line at a friend’s wedding reception? Someone said that the food may be short, but yet, the guy in front of you piled up his plate, or maybe you did it too, knowing well that there a lot of people behind you in the line and some will not get the food.


Standing in line to wait for your turn is one of the most human things to do. You accept equal rights of others, and others needs as much as yours. We have a list of about 50 genocides, and each year we will focus on a few, as no one will sit through the day to understand each one of them, most likely you will find yourselves guilty of not listening or paying attention to other’s tragedy but your own.Slap yourselves, if you do not think others's plight is not as important as your own.

No matter how thorough you are, you are going to miss some. Unless we have a fully funded organization where employees work full time, then we can expect a complete list and do a three day conference to address every issue. Please do not assume that we are excluding any human atrocities.

For example someone accused that “you are writing about the holocaust of Jews, you forgot what Stalin did?”  My instant response would be, “did you forget the genocides of Gays?”  In your note, you also forgot about the genocides of Native Americans, African Americans over the Atlantic… the list is a long one.  Can I accuse you, that did you did not care about the others?

Please read on to understand the selfishness embedded in us, if we can stand up for others, for strangers, and then there is a greater self nurtured within us, making us a better human with peace inside us. We have to stand up for women's right and the rights of minorities as a part of fixing the future. Each one of us has to do our share of good to the world around us, for our own good at the end.

I have made an attempt to answer as many questions as I can for this site. No human suffering should ever be denied, as it amounts to denying our own humanity. Fellow humans must develop a culture of pondering about human atrocities everywhere, as Martin Luther King said, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”


 If I am guilty of anything, it would be not focusing on the Gujarat Genocide, however, I also would have felt a sense of guilt, if I had focused on what affects me and my community first. I believe in standing up for others, at the end we all should stand up for justice and the rights of others.  A few of my Hindu friends have come forward to take up the Gujarat Genocide and I am glad they did. That is the spirit of standing up for others

Please consider the following situations;

A MINUTE: 


If you have one single minute available, you can probably recite 30 Genocide names - and if you want to add the place to the name, you can do about 20, and if you want to name the parties involved in it, you can do utmost 10/minute, with normal intelligible delivery. Does that mean you did not care about the others?

ONE HOUR


If you have one hour, you cannot do justice to more than three or four Genocides. Should the other 46 think you don’t care about them?

YEAR

We observed silent prayers and asked every one present to reflect upon the genocides and massacres that they were aware of, at least run them through their mind during the silence and honor each one of the Genocides and Holocaust. I hope collectively we do not miss any.

MUSLIMS


Way back in 2006, I was in a public meeting; one of the Muslims shouts at me in the public, “Why are you commemorating Holocaust of Jews, why don’t you commemorate the Holocaust of Palestinians?” I countered, all of this should be done, why don’t you do it? He was belligerent; he was one of the loose mouths and not a doer. I have reminded those guys a few times, not only they did not mean it, but they really do not care about it, as I had invited them to join in when we were addressing about Gaza.

Another Muslim knocked God out of his throne, and chose to declare, “If you don’t talk about Palestinians, you are not a Muslim.”

There is a lot more ignorance out there.  Perhaps, other than Dallas Palestinians, no one else has done as much work for the Palestinian cause, as I have. Check out years of work in different forums, but certainly at this site www.IsraelPalestineDialouge.com

JEWS


I have known the community closely through strong interactions, through conflicts, rather than superficial salaams and Shaloms. 25 hours of Radio programming in understanding Judaism (done on all religions too) was done during 2003-2004 here in Dallas, two workshops were conducted as well (2 for each faith over 2 years), and I write about the essence of major Jewish (and others too) festivals - so that we all can understand each other. I am not sure if any other Muslim has done this much work. We have to stand up for each other and every one. Check it out www.StandingupforOthers.com

A few years ago a Jewish speaker canceled his speech at the event in the last minute, because we were addressing the Gaza Massacre as one of the seven items; he considered it anti-Israel and did not participate. However, my Jewish friends attended the event, and called him back to let him know that it was not about Israel, but the human suffering and the brutal inhumanity in all of us.   He did not want to face the truth, that someone from his tradition is capable of murdering and annihilating people.

No one should be ashamed of what fellow humans from your group do, what you should be ashamed of is your own attitude towards another human being regardless of who it is.

I was severely criticized and asked to remove the phrase “A Muslim initiative” by a few Jewish friends, instead of cheering the effort; they were bent on not giving credit to Muslims for extending the hand of understanding. Please remember, it was not the Jews, it is few individuals who wore the label Jews. Indeed, I have a whole book to write about Jewish Muslim relationship.

INDIAN MUSLIMS

They are no different than any one, like most people; they love to shoot criticism without verifying anything. A friend writes another friend’s quote, “The question was why Mike forgot 2002 Gujarat Holocaust & Genocide that was lot bigger and wider than 1984 Sikh Holocaust & Genocide.”  Mike did not forget, nor will he ever forget any Genocide.  In April 2002, rallies were held for Gujarat in down town Dallas, when Shabnam Hashmi came to Dallas, she was hosted to show the documentaries of that genocide.  I urge fellow Muslims to do something rather than talk.  I stood up in a major meeting to include observing silence for Gujarat, and there is a lot more work done. If the event is dear to the people, they should express their love and commemorate it. We will do our share; each event is taking its turn. I have severely criticized Narendra Modi, and have become a hated person for a handful of Dallas Indians.


HINDUS

Several of my friends have jumped on me for not including the plight of Kashmiri Pundits, they, like all others are so obsessed with their own, that others don’t matter to them. We have mentioned this at least 3 out of five years, those who criticize don’t come to the event, unless it is “about them”, but loosely run their mouths. We need to stand up for everyone, and certainly stand up for others before you do for your own.

DISGUSTING SELFISHNESS

I have dealt with most communities in Dallas from Atheists to Zoroastrian and every one in between. I must confess that in every community, through our silence we are disgustingly selfish. We are so obsessed with our own that we don’t see others pain, it is me, me and me. My event is more important than others… my pain is deeper than others…

There is a shameless cruelty in our societies, either we shy away or refuse to acknowledge the sufferings of others, worrying that it will devalue our own, and or it amounts to infidelity to our own cause. Shame on us that we justifying massacres by pretending and propagating that the victims deserved it or asked for it, they had it coming, or we simply turn the face the other way.

STANDING UP FOR OTHERS:

Standing up for others is the right thing to do, every human goes through a period of invincibility to vulnerability, if we don't stand up for those who are vulnerable, then who will stand up for us when we are vulnerable? www.Standingupforothers.com The world becomes a better place when we all stand up for each one.

Indians and Pakistanis, Hindus and Muslims are worked up


A few Pakistanis think that talking about 1971 Bangladesh Genocide is a conspiracy to defame Pakistan, whereas a few Indians do the same; they think talking about Sikh Genocides amounts to defaming India. This was the essence of a few emails about the event we are holding; the 6th Annual reflection on Holocaust and Genocides, on Sunday, January 27, 2013. Details of the event are at: www.HolocaustandGenocides.com

it is always a few who have the passion to propagate conspiracies, while a few buy their gossip without questioning, most of them reject it. However, I thank those who made the inquiry to clarify, rather than manufacture conspiracy theories and live in misery.

It’s a human thing, a fraction of a percent of each group of people, tend to think in those terms, be it Christian, Hindu, Muslim, Jewish, Sikh, Buddhist or other. It is the same story with Americans, Italians, Chinese, Arabs or Mexicans as it is with Indians and Pakistanis.

Those few may be followers of Rush Limbaugh, to whom a good Republican is one who says bad things about Democrats, and a bad Republican is one who praises Obama - said around John Huntsman exit from candidacy when he refused to balk at Obama, and when Chris Christie praised Obama at the Sandy disaster.


The same mindset believes that questioning George Bush for all the disaster his wars caused overseas and the consequent messing up of America is unpatriotic. Indeed, questioning the government is the most patriotic thing to do.


Let me assure you, this event is not about condemning a nation or a group of people, it is about understanding the human suffering and the beastly attitudes among us.


A few years ago a Jewish speaker canceled his speech, because we were addressing the Gaza Massacre as one of the seven items; he considered it anti-Israel and did not participate and some did not. However, my Jewish friends attended the event, and called him back to let him know that it is not about Israel, but the human suffering and the brutal inhumanity in all of us. The speaker became friendly after he learned about it. However, he did not want to face the truth, that someone from his tradition is capable of murdering and annihilating people.


A few Muslims had the audacity to call me names in public, one said, if you don’t talk about Palestine, you are not a Muslim. A few Hindus said "shame on you for not talking about the plight of Hindus in Kashmir "…  and these men did not even attend, but kept talking, without verification.  Given the time, two hours per event, we can address only about 5, and not all the genocides.

The Reflections on Holocaust and Genocides is a comprehensive event about humanity, with no exclusions, also remember in one breath you can say only so many words, and in one hour you can say only so many words.


“There is a shameless cruelty in our societies,  we either shy away or refuse to acknowledge the sufferings of others, worrying that it will devalue our own, and or it amounts to infidelity to our own cause.” Some of us are so selfish and stuck in our own pain that we do not see others pain, we want others just to think and talk about us.

Consider this:

        Condemning drone attacks does not amount to shaming America,
        Condemning Sikh genocides does not amount to shaming India,
        Condemning Bangladeshi genocide does not amount to shaming Pakistan.
        Condemning the ugliness at Abu-Graib prison does not amount to shaming America
        Condemning Shia and Ahmadiyya killings does not amount to shaming Pakistan
        Condemning the Massacre of Muslims in Gujarat does not amount to shaming Gujarat
        Condemning Aurangzeb or Ghazni does not amount to shaming Indian Muslims


Condemning is an expression against a disgusting act, of which we are all a part of, some by doing the wrong, and some by remaining silent and some by turning a blind eye.

As an Indian, I am embarrassed about what fellow Indians have heaped on each other, and as an American I am embarassed about the destruction we have caused in Vietnam, Afghanistan and Iraq overseas, and in our recent past  of the slavery and treatment of Native Americans.

My father gave a sane advise during the Jabalpur (India) communal clashes, don’t blame the acts of the idiots on a community, religion or a nation. Get the bad guys, do the justice, faith in the society gets restored…blaming intangibles is as effective as the dogs barking at the wrong tree in a desert.

We have to learn to differentiate between abuse of human rights and patriotism. Patriotism is not justifying the wrongs, but speaking about it, and preventing the wrongs from happening again.

Here is the part of the press release

Every year we have reflected on our failings, massacres, Genocides and Holocaust, this year, we will focus on the Sikh Genocide of 1984, a Sikh speaker will deliver the key note address on the topic. Mr. Hasan Mahmud will share about the Bangladesh Genocide of 1971, Dr. Petra Weldes will talk about the effects of Stereotyping on the societies, and Kelly Obazee will reflect on current massacres around the world. Mike Ghouse will speak about the need to take stand against oppression of others, and Holocaust continues to be our anchor event.

Unless one attends the event, they will live in eternal conspiracies.

Full Press Release: http://holocaustandgenocides.blogspot.com/2013/01/6th-annual-holocaust-and-genocides-sikh_18.html

Republicans Need to back off attacking Hillary Clinton

It will be to their detriment and ultimately to the detriment of the nation. 

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is being grilled by the house foreign relations committee… as an American, I applaud this process; no one is free from Criticism, and she needs to answer all the questions diligently. This is how democracy works and I am proud of our democracy. Hillary needs to answer and she will tell the truth, but don't play dirty politics, it will be to the detriment of Republicans.  

However I condemn the dirty politics played by a few stinking Republicans, just a few dirty rats, they could not get over the idea of a Black man heading the nation and to show that they are not, they are sticking the worst guys in our face like that bigot Allen West and others.  A majority of Americans are happy that we have one of the greatest presidents.

They tried to nail Obama over Benghazi including McCain, the American public said, screw you Republicans, and sure as hell voted for Obama with a higher margin ever.

Now they will do everything to derail Hillary's chances, and are attempting to stick Benghazi on Hillary, it will not stick; the Americans already have their middle finger ready to show to my fellow Republicans who have 26% approval rating. Do the idiots get it? No. We have four Americans dead, while the CIA is working on finding the criminals; Republicans are bent on making Hillary the scape goat. She is firm and fair, and in the end Republicans (those) will pay for it dearly in 2014.

Hillary is the most capable national and international leader now, thank God, she is a woman, and we need a woman president to complete American transaction of living the vision of the immortal declaration by our founding fathers, that all men are created equal.  That will make America God's own country, where every American is treated fairly. There is not a Republican who can match her abilities to run this nation. If there is one, it would be either John Huntsman or Colin Powell and other radicals will not make it, unless they are sensitized and are given lessons in math and biology.

I am a Republican and am embarrassed with the way, a few assess in my party act. I will get on board with Colin Powell, John Huntsman, Chris Christie and a few other great Republicans with whom I relate. We have to be bold to save the GOP from these extremists.

We need to preserve our democracy by having a strong two party system - meaning one house remains with the Republicans and the other with Democrats - both with bare majority - we need them to fight, argue and discuss and do the right thing, rather than slam dunking or becoming a hindrance to the good bills.


Here is what moderate Republican sounds like:

Collin Powell - http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mobileweb/2013/01/21/colin-powell-birther_n_2520578.html

John Huntsman - http://www.buzzfeed.com/mckaycoppins/jon-huntsman-cant-stop-talking-about-the-republic?s=mobile

Christ Christie -


Mike Ghouse - http://republicanmoderates.blogspot.com/2012/11/republican-party-and-mike-ghouse.html

A Blog in the works - http://republicanmoderates.blogspot.com/

Mike Ghouse committed to building a cohesive America, where we all can learn to respect the otherness of others. More at www.MikeGhouse.net and TheGhousediary.com.

Texas Faith: What is America’s common creed and how do we forge it together?

President Obama is one of the best communicators that there is. I am writing a full blown article on how I felt through the inauguration and I am sure some of you can relate with it. However, in this piece at Dallas Morning News, it is about his masterful skills in building bridges between the entrepreneurial individualism of Republicans and Communalism of Democrats. This is our moment in history, and we have to leave a legacy of peace, prosperity and harmony to the next generation.

Published at Dallas Morning News, Monday, January 21, 2013.
Continued at: http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2013/01/texas-faith-what-is-americas-common.html

Texas Faith is a weekly column at Dallas Morning News moderated by Bill McKenzie and Wayne Slater. At least ten panelists contribute each week including Mike Ghouse.

Throughout his inaugural address today, President Barack Obama emphasized our common creed, we the people and taking action together. In short, his speech was heavy on the communal aspects of our work as Americans. His address contrasts with the individualism you often hear from Republicans. They regularly emphasize enterprenurialism, personal initiative and the power of local communities. So, here is the question I would like you to consider: What is America’s common creed and how do we forge it together?


MIKE GHOUSE, President, Foundation for Pluralism, Dallas

President Obama is one of the greatest communicators in our modern history. Perhaps he is the first president to have articulated America’s common creed profoundly, clearly and comprehensively as envisioned in the immortal declaration by our Founding Fathers: “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.”

The success of an individual hinges on the success of others around him or her. You cannot build a successful business without the support system and consumers for your goods and services. The president said, “We believe that America’s prosperity must rest upon the broad shoulders of a rising middle class.”

Indeed, the entrepreneurialism of Republicans will bear fruit and multiply when there is an environment for it. It is not a charity, welfare or a noble thing. Instead, it is a genuine investment in human capital that pulls up men and women from the ditches onto a level playing field. That effort allows more people to compete in the marketplace for resources and become “synergists” to each others’ success.

He also articulated the need to be free and to be regulated: “Together we discovered that a free market only thrives when there are rules to ensure competition and fair play.”

The president turned the light on a bridge between individualism and the communal aspect of our life. The bridge was always there but had remained in the dark due to the chasm developed through arrogance of bigger majority in the house by each party in the last eight years. Instead of serving the purpose they were elected for their purpose became defeating the other for some.

The message of the president was for all Americans. I hope the elected ones will heed his wisdom and continue to be a catalyst in the pursuit of our happiness.

And here comes the ultimate wisdom from the president: We have always understood that when times change, so must we, that fidelity to our founding principles requires new responses to new challenges, that preserving our individual freedoms ultimately requires collective action.”..... ..

Eleven panelists contributed to this forum, to read the contributions from all the panelists, please visit - http://religionblog.dallasnews.com/2013/01/texas-faith-what-is-americas-common-creed-and-how-do-we-forge-it-together.html/

------------

Mike Ghouse is a speaker, thinker and a writer on pluralism, politics, peace, Islam, Israel, India, interfaith, and cohesion at work place and standing up for others as an activist. He is committed to building a Cohesive America and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day at www.TheGhousediary.com. 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 everything you want to know about him.

Indians and Pakistanis are annoyed

Dallas Event:: Sikh Genocides of 1984 and Bangladesh Genocide of 1971

Indians and Pakistanis are not happy,
O kitnay thay? Sirf Paanch! (How many? Just five).

 
A few Pakistanis think that talking about 1971 Bangladesh Genocide is a conspiracy to defame Pakistan, whereas a few Indians do the same; they think talking about Sikh Genocides amounts to defaming India. This was the essence of a few emails about the event we are holding  - 6th Annual reflection on Holocaust and Genocides, on Sunday, January 27, 2013. Details of the event are at : www.HolocaustandGenocides.com

It is always a few who have the passion to propagate conspiracies, while a few buy their gossip without questioning, most of them reject it. However, I thank those who made the inquiry to clarify, rather than manufacture conspiracy theories and live in misery.

It’s a human thing, a fraction of a percent of each group of people, tend to think in those terms, be it Christian, Hindu, Muslim, Jewish, Sikh, Buddhist or other. It is the same story with Americans, Italians, Chinese, Arabs or Mexicans as it is with Indians and Pakistanis.

Those few may be followers of Rush Limbaugh, to whom a good Republican is one who says bad things about Democrats, and a bad Republican is one who praises Obama - said around John Huntsman exit from candidacy when he refused to balk at Obama, and when Chris Christie praised Obama at the Sandy disaster.


The same mindset believes that questioning George Bush for all the disaster his wars caused overseas, and the consequent  messing up of America is unpatriotic. Indeed, questioning the government is the most patriotic thing to do.


Let me assure you, this event is not about condemning a nation or a group of people, it is about understanding the human suffering and the beastly attitudes among us.


A few years ago a Jewish speaker canceled his speech, because we were addressing the Gaza Massacre as one of the seven items; he considered it anti-Israel and did not participate and some did not. However, my Jewish friends attended the event, and called him back to let him know that it is not about Israel, but the human suffering and the brutal inhumanity in all of us. The speaker became friendly after he learned about it. However, he did not want to face the truth, that someone from his tradition is capable of murdering and annihilating people. 


A few Muslims had the audacity to call me names in public, one said, if you don’t talk about Palestine, you are not a Muslim. A few Hindus said "shame on you for not talking about the plight of Hindus in Kashmir "…  and these men did not even attend, but kept talking, without verification.  Given the time, two hours per event, we can address only about 5, and not all the genocides.

The Reflections on Holocaust and Genocides is a comprehensive event about humanity, with no exclusions, also remember in one breath you can say only so many words, and in one hour you can say only so many words.


“There is a shameless cruelty in our societies,  we either shy away or refuse to acknowledge the sufferings of others, worrying that it will devalue our own, and or it amounts to infidelity to our own cause.” Some of us are so selfish and stuck in our own pain that we do not see others pain, we want others just to think and talk about us.

Consider this:

1.     Condemning drone attacks does not amount to shaming America,
2.     Condemning Sikh genocides does not amount to shaming India,
3.     Condemning Bangladeshi genocide does not amount to shaming Pakistan.
4.     Condemning the ugliness at Abu-Graib prison does not amount to shaming America
5.     Condemning Shia and Ahmadiyya killings does not amount to shaming Pakistan
6.     Condemning the Massacre of Muslims in Gujarat does not amount to shaming Gujarat
7.     Condemning Aurangzeb or Ghazni does not amount to shaming Indian Muslims

Condemning is an expression against a disgusting act, of which we are all a part of, some by doing the wrong, and some by remaining silent and some by turning a blind eye.

As an Indian, I am embarrassed about what fellow Indians have heaped on each other, and as an American I am embarassed about the destruction we have caused in Vietnam, Afghanistan and Iraq overseas, and in our recent past  of the slavery and treatment of Native Americans.

My father gave a sane advise during the Jabalpur (India) communal clashes, don’t blame the acts of the idiots on a community, religion or a nation. Get the bad guys, do the justice, faith in the society gets restored…blaming intangibles is as effective as the dogs barking at the wrong tree in a desert.

We have to learn to differentiate between abuse of human rights and patriotism. Patriotism is not justifying the wrongs, but speaking about it, and preventing the wrongs from happening again.

Here is the part of the press release

Every year we have reflected on our failings, massacres, Genocides and Holocaust, this year, we will focus on the Sikh Genocide of 1984, a Sikh speaker will deliver the key note address on the topic. Mr. Hasan Mahmud will share about the Bangladesh Genocide of 1971, Dr. Petra Weldes will talk about the effects of Stereotyping on the societies, and Kelly Obazee will reflect on current massacres around the world. Mike Ghouse will speak about the need to take stand against oppression of others, and Holocaust continues to be our anchor event.

Unless one attends the event, they will live in eternal conspiracies.

Full Press Release: http://holocaustandgenocides.blogspot.com/2013/01/6th-annual-holocaust-and-genocides-sikh_18.html

My Civil Heroes and President Obama

MY CIVIL HEROES

The following individuals were/are bent on uplifting the human spirit, and gave hope to the world! A world, where justness prevails, and no one has to live in apprehension or fear of the other.

Please note, these are my favorites, you have your own, Ceaser Chavez for example is hero to many, and I admire him, but I did not spend time learning about him. We all have to accept the limitations of our time per day and how much we can learn.  

My list includes; Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr. Mother Teresa, Nelson Mandela, Abdul Sattar Edhi, Aga Khan, President Carter , President Obama* (a reserved entry), Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru, Nana Saheb (Maternal Grand father), my father and Mother.

Several things were common to them; among them are:

1) No wall between them and another soul
2) No religious and political boundaries for them
3) No preference when it came to serving another human
4) The good they did, benefited larger humanity than self
5)  Justness was a paramount value for them
6) No bone of prejudice in them.
7) Their world is the same size as God's world.  

As a pluralist, who respects the otherness of others and accepts the God given uniqueness of each one of the 7 billion of us, I have come to like Barack Obama. Ever since I read his speech in 2007 delivered in the Illinois state senate, way before he announced his candidacy,  I have become his fan. That speech was an epitome of pluralism and inclusiveness. The inclusiveness that Jesus and every great spiritual master taught.

If I get a chance, I will put together a few statements by tomorrow, and I feel certain that most of it will be reflected by Obama in his speech on Monday. 


I have written 65 Pieces about him including cheers and Jeers, appreciation and criticism. My reservation has been on two fronts, he blew the opportunity to bring peace between Israelis and Palestinians, and the idiotic drone attacks on innocent civilians, these are his two major flaws that will prevent him from becoming one of the greatest political leaders in human history. I have written a few good pieces on the topics and hope to meet this guy, and I believe I can achieve an understanding between the two peoples in the Middle East and coast them towards acceptance of each other. The Israelis need to have a sense security (explained in detail) and Palestinians need basic justice, both can be achieved, if he musters up the courage to do the right thing, regardless of the attacks from a few.

Obama will go down in the history as one of the greatest presidents, and I believe he will bring fruition to what Carter started. He is indeed a catalyst in bringing America forward to become God’s own country, where the uniqueness of every human is valued. He gives meaning to the idea of a Republic, our Republic where individual rights are valued and not run over by the mobcracy. 

*** I am a Republican, a moderate one like Chris Christie, John Huntsman, Colin Powel, Schwarzenegger and many more. I request my fellow Americans not to judge the GOP by the morons out there representing the party. It is time to speak out, and speak out I will… hopefully by the end of this year. 

The stability of our nation and health of our democracy is dependent on a strong two party system. Most of the evil in the past has occurred when either Republican or Democrats were in all the three branches of Government. Stupid though they are, I like the house in the hands of Republicans, they provide an ugly check, and it ensures that, we the people are not bulldozed. Obama has done a great job in bipartisan support in passing the aid to Sandy, and now on getting both the parties to develop a responsible gun ownership policy. 

Updates at www.TheGhouseDiary.com,
Thanks to Sean Hannity and friends for promoting this Blog.

(4 photos)

I am a follower of them!

Mike Ghouse on Hannity Show with Brigitte Gabriel

I made a few points that I needed to make - a complete absence of another point of view is not healthy for a nation. No talk show by left or right, either by Matthew or Hannity allows their guest to give a complete picture... they keep shooting questions and you got to figure it out to hit your points.. I make a few of my points, instead of no points. They give a hair thin chance to get your point.... its not easy.

MY POINTS

1. We should not have gone into Afghanistan in the first place, we need to pack and come back home, Afghans have been around for millennium and they will manage their affairs, we don't need to baby sit them.

2. War is wrong and we should go after the terrorists individuals, and not the nations.

3. Never punish the good people as collateral damage. We need the good people on our side, and must isolate the bad apples.

4. These outfits claiming to be linked with AlQaida or Talibans may be faking their claims just to get credibility

5. We should not fund Egypt, if Morsi does not relinquish is absolute powers.

6. We need to continue to negotiate with Iran, War is not the answer and we cannot mess our economy with another war. We are just not capable of another war. If we can get the job done through a dialogue, that is the wise thing to do.

7. Humans dialogue to resolves the conflicts, animals lock in their horns. Dialogues is the only way to go forward.

.... it was a 15 minute conversation between Hannity, Gabrielle (the ranter) and myself. In the shows, I do not get into her diatribe, or even respond to another item, as I do not want to be derailed from the points I am making... I rather stick with a few points and I did it.
about a minute ago ·


Ghouse and Gabriel on Algeria
Sean was joined by Mike Ghouse and Brigitte Gabriel to discuss the latest hostage crisis in Algeria and what President Obama is doing to solve this issue. “I thought Al Qaeda was on the run,” sarcastically commented Sean, “I’m kidding, I never thought this was over.” “The way I see this is that our enemies see Israel as weaker,” continued Hannity, “As we look at the rise of radicalism, we need to ask how widespread this is.” “Exactly,” agreed Gabriel, “There were forty four wars going on between Muslims and Non-Muslims in 2006 and we’re even worse off now and yet we hear nothing from the West.” “Radical Islamists have figured out that our President doesn’t have the stomach to take them on,” concluded Sean, “He just doesn’t.” “The majority of people are good people,” countered Ghouse, “What we need to do is keep the good people on our side.” While another war is far from what America needs right now, one thing is clear and that’s our need to stand up to radical Islamists who’re hell-bent on trying to destroy America and yet, keep an open arm to those “good people” who are on our side. For the latest on the Algerian hostage situation, click here. http://hoaxandchange.blogspot.com/2013/01/executive-order-is-disorder.html?m=1 

I will remember to add the audio link or other write ups.

Mike 
 

Obama’s ideal Inaugural interfaith Benediction

We are yet to be truthful to our own pledge that we take, that we are, “one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all”. Our benediction should strongly reflect the sentiment of oneness of our nation under God, and shed our hypocrisies of excluding fellow Americans even in our national prayers.

One of the many roles of a president is to shape and nurture the direction of the nation, and president Obama has been a good shepherd. Indeed, he is committed to building an America, where each one of us becomes a nurturer to the other, and eventually, each strand in the web of our society will coalesce in building our nation to function cohesively. The president’s wisdom is crystal clear, “We rise and fall together as one nation.”

I hope this benediction paves the way for us to be inclusive without having to agree. 

Please review this, and if you like it, kindly click like, tweet, share and send to your friends from Huffngton post... and above all, if you could comment in the Huffington post, I would appreciate it.

Continued at:  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mike-ghouse/president-obamas-ideal-inaugural-benediction_b_2481579.html#es_share_ended

REQUEST your likes, tweets, shares and comments at the Huffpost:
 
Thanks

Mike

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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 and standing up for others as an activist. 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.