Ben Carson: Founding Fathers wouldn’t have trusted a Muslim president

http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/ben-carson-founding-fathers-wouldnt-have-trusted-muslim-president

Ben Carson: Founding Fathers wouldn’t have trusted a Muslim president

By Benjy Sarlin

Ben Carson offered up a new explanation for why he’s opposed to a Muslim American becoming president, citing fears of “different loyalties” that he believes the Founding Fathers articulated by barring immigrants from becoming chief executive.

As has been the case in the past, the implication was that outwardly patriotic Muslims could not be fully trusted as loyal Americans given their faith. He has previously cited theories popular on the far right warning that seemingly assimilated Muslim Americans may be using religious edicts to conceal an extremist plot.

The latest comments came at an appearance at the National Press Club on Friday, when an audience member asked why he felt a Muslim citizen couldn’t be loyal to the Constitution as president given that there were already Muslim military officers, policemen, and judges – all positions that require fidelity to the law.

RELATED: Ben Carson’s Holocaust theory prompts outcry from Jewish groups

“A good understanding of the Constitution answers that question for you,” Carson said. “Because when you look at the Article II, and we’re talking about requirements for the president, they have to be a ‘natural born citizen.’ Now why is that the case?”

The clause Carson refers to bars naturalized immigrants from the position of president. There are numerous Muslims born in America, of course, and a hypothetical Muslim president would by definition have to be a natural born citizen.

The Constitution prohibits any “religious test” for public office, but Carson argued on Friday that the audience should read between the lines to divine the Founder’s intent. 

“I’m sure if you had gone to the Founders and said, ‘but what about this person? They may not be a natural born citizen but you know they’ve been in America for most of their lives, and they’re a fine upstanding citizen, they served in the military, they came back they were on the police force, can’t they be the president?’… they would have said no,” Carson said. “They said ‘We don’t even want to take the slight chance that we would put someone in that position who had different loyalties.’ That’s the answer to your question.”

Several Muslim activists briefly approached Carson at a reception before the event, hoping to convince him that citizens like themselves were as American as anyone else.

“One is innocent until proven guilty, but he’s called Muslims guilty even before verifying them,” Mike Ghouse, executive director of the American Muslim Institution, told msnbc after offering himself to Carson as a resource for information about Islam. ” I think it comes out of ignorance. He needs some guidance.”

 

Christian Science Monitor about Armed anti-Muslim protests: An opportunity for dialogue

Much of the article has my quotes, hence posted here.

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Society/2015/1010/Armed-anti-Muslim-protests-An-opportunity-for-dialogue

Armed anti-Muslim protests: An opportunity for dialogue?

Many US Muslims are wary as armed anti-radical Islam protests were planned at over a dozen US mosques. Other Muslims see such protests as a rare opportunity to engage with skeptical Americans.

By Patrik Jonsson, Staff writer OCTOBER 10, 2015

ATLANTA — Mosques in up to 20 US cities prepared for the arrival of armed “anti-mosque and pro-America” protesters on Saturday, raising concerns about potential violence amid heightened tensions over the growth of Islam in the US.

But at least one US Muslim saw the planned protests – dubbed the Global Rally for Humanity – as a “big opportunity” to build solidarity with Americans who have legitimate questions about Islam and Muslim culture.
Instead of “hiding,” US Muslims should openly engage with protesters at the mosques, even serve them water and “kosher hot dogs,” writes Mike Ghouse, a well-known moderate Muslim thinker and writer, in the Illinois-based The Arab Daily News.
Writing that immigrants to the US have always faced a “battery of tests” as they attempt to assimilate,  Mr. Ghouse points out that “inaction, isolation, retraction, silo-ing ourselves or hiding behind walls are not options for us; it simply prolongs the transition process and may inadvertently serve to intensify the sense of distrust that exists among a few.”
The planned anti-mosque protests are the largest and most aggressive iteration yet of a new strategy by self-described “American patriots” who say they’re concerned about the march of radical Islam into the heartland. He adds: “This is a big opportunity and we have to do it right to bring about the needed change.”
The protests have been organized through Facebook, some of which have restricted access. But it appears that protests will at least take place in Atlanta, Charleston, S.C., Dearborn, Ellicott City, Md., Florence, Ky., Louisville, Ky., Medford, Ore., Murfreesboro, Tenn., and Ocala, Fla.
In a Facebook post, organizer Jon Ritzheimer, an ex-Marine who has emerged as the leader of the movement, encouraged attendees to come armed “in case [protesters] come under that much anticipated attack.”
“I want warriors by my side,” Mr. Ritzheimer added. According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, anti-Muslim rhetoric has increased in the US, exacerbated by political rhetoric ahead of a presidential election and the refugee crisis in Europe. The tensions come as the number of mosques in the US has increased from 1,200 in 2000 to more than 2,100 today, according to Hartford Institute for Religion Research.
"We’ve never had this many events targeting mosques in this kind of national way," Heidi Beirich, director of the Intelligence Project at the Southern Poverty Law Center, said in a conference call last week. "This is widespread in a way that these things have not been before."
Across the US, Muslims have been debating how to respond to the protests.
"In one of their emails, they said they were going to bring 3,000 people to Washington, D.C., in front of our mosque, and they instructed them to bring their weapons," Ibrahim Mumin, director of community relations for Masjid Muhammad mosque, told USA Today. "Well, we consider that kind of a threat."

The Council on American-Islamic Relations, the country’s largest Muslim advocacy organization, urged Muslim leaders to ask for police presence and to take video of protesters.

Other officials urged Muslims to, in essence, ignore the protests.

"As we have learned from experience in the past, the best way for the average person in our community to handle these incidents is to ignore them," Dearborn Mayor Jack O'Reilly wrote Friday on the city's website. "The demonstration is not really a forum for honest dialogue, and anything that intensifies emotions will only intensify conflict.

In his commentary for Arab Daily News, Mr. Ghouse disagreed with the Dearborn mayor. He pointed out other recent protests, including one in May outside a Phoenix mosque, where Muslims engaged in what he called a productive dialogue with Ritzheimer.

“While it may be tempting, as American Muslims, we should avoid viewing anybody as our enemy out to get us,” he writes. “While asserting our rights as American citizens, we will be well served by acknowledging that many citizens have questions about our faith and our books. As fellow Americans we should boldly address these questions and allay their fears. We have to come together as Americans and solve our problems together.”

Meeting Dr. Ben Carson - Mike Ghouse

Meeting Dr. Ben Carson | www.TheGhouseDiary.com 

Mother Teresa had said, “If you want to make peace with your enemies, go talk with them, talking among friends won’t change a thing.”  Of course Ben Carson is not our enemy, he is just misinformed and making an attempt to wiggle out of it. We need to recognize and appreciate the desire to correct himself, or distance himself from what was said earlier is a good step forwards.

Dr. Ben Carson and Mike Ghouse in Washington, DC

His security guard brought him to the special VIP (don’t know why they called it VIP) reception to the Bloomberg lounge at the National press club. He stood outside the door, and I rushed to him and shook hands and said, I am a moderate Muslim, one of the 6 million of American Moderate Muslims and am with American Muslim Institution. Dr. Carson, I understand what you said about Muslims, you probably had read or heard and simply passed it on.  I was hoping you would say the right thing, and if you need to say it flawlessly, anything about Islam or Muslims, we will be a resource for you. Let me know what I can do for you.  He appreciated it and took my card.

Then at the reception, I repeated my question, and he said, he's got my card. I said, as a presidential candidate I would like to see you say the right things and earn the respect of American Muslims. I'll be happy to coach you on Islam.  However, I must add, finding the truth is your own responsibility.

Rabia Ahmed from MPAC was there, we agreed that I'll video tape her, and she would reciprocate it. I did my part, and will find out if she has done hers.

I thought I had an opportunity to go for the third interaction, but they chose to have the question written on the Card. I wrote in big bold letters, THE MUSLIM THING” , “Do you verify the information before you speak up? Obviously, the information about Muslims missed your verification, and if you don’t have any one, I will be happy to be your coach, Mike Ghouse, American Muslim Institution.”

But there were too many questions and mine was not answered, however, he addressed it differently on another question, “He said something to the effect, and asked, "what is wrong in not supporting a candidate whose loyalty is to other laws.” He bungled up again; first of all, no candidate will go beyond the filing stage if his loyalty is not to America or American Laws, why would he assume that a candidate will reach that far? He is not aware of the process of the nomination.

If I had a chance, I would have made this statement, “As American Muslims we uphold, protect, defend and celebrate the values enshrined in our constitution. Our faith reinforces the idea of one nation with liberty and justice for all.” 

Two reporters caught up with me right after my 2^nd interaction,  and I had an extensive conversation with them, not sure if they will report.  I offered them the same thing that I offered Dr. Carson.

Don't push people in to a ditch that they cannot get out of it. If we brand someone as a hate monger, we are essentially committing them to that position and that would be wrong. We need to believe in the wisdom of Jesus, when he said, “ Condemn the sin and not the Sinner” by doing that we can redeem the person.

His speech was excellent, thank God for a verse from Quran that has been my guidance, which tells not let your bias make you unjust towards others. I was in tune with him most of the time with an open mind. He does speak of a pluralistic America, but I could not square his prejudice against Muslims. I do hope, if he starts believing in verifying information before blurting out, and particularly about Muslims and about other things in general, an aptitude he has to develop, he has a potential to be a good presidential material. 

Republicans hear me out! Those of you who want him to be nominated, you can shape him, and I will be happy to be his coach about Islam and Muslims, it does not mean I would support him, but it simply means, I care what a presidential candidate says about his or her fellow citizens.   As a pluralist, my expertise is in sensitivity training about all traditions including but not limited to Atheism, Hinduism, Judaism, Islam, Sikhism and paganism. We are all Americans and each one must be respected, and at the end no one should feel alienated or apprehensive of the fellow Americans, particularly a presidential candidate.

This was partially covered by MSNBC and repeated in several news papers - http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/ben-carson-founding-fathers-wouldnt-have-trusted-muslim-president

The other article: http://thearabdailynews.com/2015/09/21/dr-ben-carson-trumps-trump-discriminatory-attitude/


Dr. Mike Ghouse is a social scientist, thinker, writer and a speaker on Islam, Pluralism, Interfaith, politics, human rights, foreign policy and building cohesive societies. Mike offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day. More about him in 63 links at www.MikeGhouse.net and his writings are at TheGhousediary.com  

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Anti-Muslim protests can be a positive force to bring Americans Together

Link: http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2015/10/anti-muslim-protests-can-be-positive.html

On Oct. 9 and 10, a group of protesters organized by the “Global Rally for Humanity,” plans to stage anti-Muslim demonstrations in front of at least 20 Mosques, community centers and government offices across America.

They are calling for protests in “every country at every Mosque.” The page encourages “patriots” around the country to set up events in their own towns. Some of the protesters plan to counter-march the Nation of Islam’s march at the Washington Monument at 10 a.m. on Oct. 10th, according to the FB page.

While some of the organizers of the protests have urged participants to leave their weapons at home, others are urging protesters to exercise “ALL of your Constitutional Rights.”

Historically, it can be argued that every group of new Americans has gone through a battery of tests before becoming fully accepted as a part of the American society.  We have seen African-Americans, Baptists, Catholics, Jews, Mormons, Irish and Italian-Americans go through painful transitions of acceptance as equals; Muslim-Americans and Latino Immigrants are experiencing similar transitions now. 

Although every community mentioned above has endured long transition period, Muslim Americans may have a chance to short-cut the duration by taking a proactive stand on Oct. 10th. This may be a God-given opportunity to mend fences and come together as Americans.

While it may be tempting, as American Muslims, we should avoid viewing anybody as our enemy out to get us.  While asserting our rights as American citizens, we will be well served by acknowledging that many a citizens have questions about our faith and our books.  As fellow Americans we should boldly address these questions and allay their fears. We have to come together as Americans and solve our problems together.

Inaction, isolation, retraction, silo-ing ourselves or hiding behind walls are not options for us; it simply prolongs the transition process and may inadvertently serve to intensify the sense of distrust that exists among a few.    

This is a big opportunity and we have to do it right to bring about the needed change. 

The word, “Sharia” frightens those who are unfamiliar with it due to inaccuracies folks have seen and heard.   They need to know that the majority of American Muslims have no desire whatsoever to bring about or seek to impose Sharia in this country.

American Muslims have subscribed to the laws of this nation and they will abide by them just as adherents of other religions do.  For those Muslims born and raised here, that’s all they know; American Laws.

Sharia laws (practiced in some Muslim-majority countries around the world) are a body of law that was developed historically in part of the Islamic world to serve justice, and almost all American Muslims view the existing American systems of laws as equally if not more humane and will abide by it. (Genesis of Sharia). As Americans we uphold, protect, defend and celebrate the values enshrined in our constitution. Our faiths reinforces the idea of one nation with liberty and justice for all.

The misquoted verses from Quran frighten people.  Indeed, they have been purposely mistranslated down through the history. In the middle Ages, European leaders commissioned a hostile Quran translation (1142 AD) to foster warfare against Muslim invaders. Later, Muslim leaders produced another translation (1924 AD)  to inflame Muslims against Christians and Jews. It was all for politics.  

Relax, the best way to understand Quran is to read at least three different translations to know the difference in human interpretations, and furthermore, read three verses before and after a given verse that is difficult to understand. Try it on your own, perhaps you may modify your views and will have a new appreciation for the book. God loves us all, he is just, merciful and kind, and Quran is a book of guidance to create harmony among the created.  
Muhammad Asad's translation is by far the best and most popular among American Muslims. However, a few verses concerning women are better translated by Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar.

We have to build a cohesive America where none of us have to live in apprehension or fear of the other, and we have to commit to a safe and secure America for every one of the 318 Million of us.  None of us would be safe, if others around us are not. This is an opportunity to understand each other and work of a united, peaceful and secure America. 

American Muslims have set some great examples of working with communities in Phoenix, Garland, Dallas, Mulberry, and other places where conflicts were mitigated and goodwill was nurtured.   

RECOMMENDED ACTIONS FOR MUSLIMS

A.  Let every Masjid (mosque) that our friends want to demonstrate around operate normally; no need to stay home. 

B.  Every Masjid should fly the American Flag.

C.  Let every Masjid provide water for the visitors in front of the building through vendors, and, if funds are available, serve kosher hot dogs.

D.  Muslim women and youth should hold placards or banners that carry messages such as the following;

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

Note: The opinion is author’s own, and does not reflect or represent the views of any organization other than America Together Foundation.

Related:

Genesis of Sharia

Fixing Sharia 

Quran Bashing in Dallas, Texas

Quran Burning in Mulberry, Florida

Anti Muslim Rally on 9th and 10th October 2015  

 Dr. Mike Ghouse is a community consultant, social scientist, thinker, writer and a speaker on Islam, Pluralism, Interfaith, politics, human rights, foreign policy and building cohesive societies. Mike offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day. More about him in 63 links at www.MikeGhouse.net and his writings are at TheGhousediary.com  

Muslim Response to anti-Muslim Protests

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

www.AmericanMuslimInstitution.org

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

Recommended suggestions:

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

·         Masjid to fly one or more American Flags.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 # # #

PRESS RELEASES FOR LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS

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

IMMEDIATE PRESS RELEASE   

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

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

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

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

Mr. ___________________ Phone: __________________ Email: ________________

Ms. ___________________ Phone: __________________ Email: ________________

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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

www.AmericanMuslimInstitution.org

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

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

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

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

RECOMMENDED ACTIONS FOR MOSQUES FACING DEMONSTRATIONS.

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

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

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

 # # # #

Qawwali Lessons (Washington DC) - the beautiful language of inclusion.

Qawwali in Washington | TheGhouseDiary.com 

Saturday, October 3, 2015 - Washington, D.C. – The Qawwali* program at Turkish Community Center Auditorium in Lanham, MD was out of the world. Here are some of the notes I have made, and hope it resonates with you.   

First thing first, I am pleased to share the emotional side of the equation. Being a pluralist and a human aspirations observer, whenever and wherever people include each other in their normal conversation it brings happiness to both the includer and the included.

When they sang, “Bhar do Jholi meri ya Muhammad… and came to the line, “O Muhammad ka pyara Nawasa”… every one rejoiced it, but particularly men and women from the Shia tradition, by going to the stage and honoring the Qawwal (singers) in the traditional way by doing money aarti (honor) and placing it on their harmonium, lap or even their head, a beautiful tradition of telling, we like you.

I was in a different world, the world of harmony and inclusion, my eyes soaked and I felt tender with joy. I was happy!  I was happy to see the Shia community feel included.

Of course most of the Qawwali lines have the name Ali included in it as a reverence to Hazrat Ali (RA), but when the lines include the “Nawasa” that is grandson of the Prophet, it has special significance to all, but particularly the Shia tradition.  Video at Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/MikeGhouse/videos/10156190763450249/

You know what I wished? I am sure you are wishing the same; i.e., to have our language routinely include each other’s revered figures with utmost respect. Karbala or Kurukshetra, our language should be inclusive, it builds a society of harmony.

We may consider sprinkling some of the inclusive poetry amidst all other poetry recitation or singing. Mahatma Gandhi’s favorite Bhajan “Allah Tero Naam, Eshwar tero Naam” or many a Sahir Ludhianavi or Shakeel Badayuni numbers like “Yoshadha Ki Humjins, a hawwa Ki beti” need more circulation.  I have been asking every visiting poet to recite or write at least one inclusive poem in the evening.  God willing, I will continue to write a poem an event to reflect that inclusiveness.

When President of the United States says Happy Diwali, Eid or Baisakhi, we gloat and share it with everyone we know. If a congressman or a woman says Satsri Akaal, Jai Jinendra, Yali Madad, Namaste or Salaam, we gloat.  The idea is inclusion, to be treated respectfully and to be acknowledged. 

Reverse this to India and Pakistan, and see how deprived the minorities of each nation are. The Prime Ministers of both India and Pakistan do not have the courtesy to greet their minorities on their happy occasion. May God give them guidance to believe at least in their own respective religions, both are inclusive and consider the world as one family.

Minorities (religious, ethnic, social, cultural, linguistic and other uniqueness) make sincere efforts, and at times go out of their way to be a part of the larger society, they want to be included and do everything to achieve it. The smart leaders acknowledge it, and let the public focus on being constructive rather than get stuck in denials.

I hope most of us Desi Americans have learned and enriched ourselves with the rich American Culture where all humanity is respected institutionally. 

We have a choice to be inclusive and let our “Zindagi Shama’ ki soorat ho khudaya meri” and “ her jaga mere chamak ney say ujala hojaye” rather than rot with exclusion.

The consistent rhythmic beat of the Tabla, and the special voices, the inflections in singing is entirely different and gets you become a part of it.

The second item of beauty of this program was the Qawwals themselves, the Qawwals and their humnawa were a great combination, the acoustic of the auditorium ne to chaar chand lagagiye unki gayeki mein.  They were Christians, and my friend sitting next to me was a Hindu enjoying the Qawwalis. He was singing along Bhardo Jholi meri ya Muhammad. This is a (or was it?) a common tradition in India. The Qawwals can be Muslims, Hindus or Sikhs and they can sing devotional songs of any religion. I hope more of this happens now.

In the short few minutes we had between the program and break I had wonderful conversations with Fazal Khan, Razi Raziuddin and Zafar Iqbal.  They have rich stories of uthna, baithna, khana peena with their Hindu friends. I request each one of you to  start writing those stories… let our youth understand the beauty of enjoying life and hope people in India, Pakistan and elsewhere can rework inclusion in their lives.  


I hope and pray, some day we all can see the message of Jesus, Krishna, Muhammad, Guru Nanak as our own message, when we do that each one of our faiths will reach the higher level of spirituality. Amen!

·      Qawwali is a special format of singing, usually in praise of revered figures for their good work.

Pictures: Link

Please note: 

Are you concerned about Muslim bashing in America? Find out what the newly formed American Muslim Institution (AMI) is doing about it on Sunday, October 11, 2015 - details at www.AmericanMuslimInstitution.org 

Thank you

Mike Ghouse, Consultant
(214) 325-1916 text/talk

Dr. Mike Ghouse is a social scientist, thinker, writer and a speaker on Islam, Pluralism, Interfaith, politics, foreign policy and building cohesive societies. Mike offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day. More about him in 63 links at www.MikeGhouse.net and his writings are at TheGhousediary.com  

Lessons from Mahatma Gandhi | Gandhi Jayanthi

LESSONS FROM GANDHI | Today is his birthday  

Mahatma Gandhi is one of the 7 humans I look up to and admire whole heartedly, it does not mean there are only seven, but these magnificent seven are always on my mind, if not every other day, definitely once a week- Chronologically they are; Jesus Christ, Prophet Muhammad, Mahatma Gandhi, Mother Teresa, Martin Luther King, Pope Francis and Barack Obama. These men and women are true pluralists, no one falls out of the ambit of their love. They are a blessing to mankind.   

More about Gandhi at: http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2014/10/mahatma-gandhi-do-not-poison-your.html

Oregon College shooting rampage; what should we do?

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Mike Ghouse 214-325-1916
MikeGhouse@aol.com
www.AmericaTogether.org

Washington, D.C., October 2, 2015 –  “This is our collective problem, an American problem, and we have to find a solution as a national priority. We have seen these shootings in Columbine, New town, Virginia Tech, Purdue, Denver, and Oak Creek and now in Oregon, what does it take to change the mindset of these individuals who come from different cultural and religious backgrounds?”   Mike Ghouse, President of America Together Foundation expressed his frustration with domestic terrorism.  

The shooter Chris Harper Mercer was allegedly asking the religion of the person before shooting, we severely condemn this attitude and seek further evaluations for sources of such attitudes and hope to find solutions.

President Barack Obama pushed for a change in gun laws when he spoke to reporters about the shooting Thursday.

"Somehow this has become routine. The reporting is routine. My response here at this podium ends up being routine, the conversation in the aftermath of it. We've become numb to this," he said.

The President continued: "Our thoughts and prayers are not enough. It's not enough. It does not capture the heartache and grief and anger that we should feel, and it does nothing to prevent this carnage from being inflicted someplace else in America -- next week, or a couple months from now."

Indeed, this should not become a routine incident, we have to seriously consider the structure of our society.  There is a possibility that the shooter is a loner. As a society, we have to make a sincere effort to include loners in one group or the other and have them have normal relations with others.  We might be able to mitigate some of these heart wrenching incidents.

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Is Hinduism a religion of violence?

Where are the moderate Hindus? If the moderate Hindus don’t speak up, shamefully Hinduism will be slapped with the label of religion of violence.  In the last year and half, India has witnessed relentless harassment of the Dalits, Muslims and Christians. This week a man is mercilessly beaten to death by a mob with bricks for supposedly eating beef, which he did not per the police.

India had a glorious civilization and the extremist among Hindus cannot mess with it, unless we let them.  Our past was made up of respecting the otherness of others, but today, we are going in the opposite direction.

Was our civilization bad? 

Eating beef has been made a crime in India now. If unchecked, India will regress and the glorious past will be equated with stupidity for forcing and harassing people to obedience as the ISIS brutes do.   Our civilization was a great civilization and we cannot let a few misguided ones ruin India's pluralistic ethos. 

I like to see an India where one has the freedom to eat, drink, breath, wear or believe whatever the hell he or she wants.

I do expect Americans of Indian origin to speak up, hoping that they have learned the value of freedom in America, where we mind our own business and eat whatever we want to. 

Mike Ghouse
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/09/30/a-mob-in-india-just-dragged-a-man-from-his-home-and-beat-him-to-death-for-eating-beef/?tid=sm_fb

Thank you

Mike Ghouse, Consultant
(214) 325-1916 text/talk

Dr. Mike Ghouse is a social scientist, thinker, writer and a speaker on Islam, Pluralism, Interfaith, politics, foreign policy and building cohesive societies. Mike offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day. More about him in 63 links at www.MikeGhouse.net and his writings are at TheGhousediary.com