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Monday, December 30, 2013

2014: A blueprint for a purposeful life, you cannot go wrong with this plan.

2014: A BLUE PRINT FOR A PURPOSEFUL LIFE | HAPPY NEW YEAR


You can make your life purposeful, meaningful and enjoyable, and can choose to be the driver of your life or be driven by others. The choice as well as the excuse is yours.  I pray that we retain the ability to choose what we want in our lives.


Success is not necessarily driving a Mercedes, having a luxury home, yacht, or making over 6 figures income. It is not about doing better than your friends, classmates, siblings or parents either.   

Success is rather living the life you want to live with or without things. 

Nothing in life is more important than knowing yourselves, who you are, what is that you want and how do you get it. Remember, no one but you knows you better.

Another year is about to go away. LOL, some of my friends will read this note next year, but those who read it now, I urge you to consider spending an hour with yourselves creating a purposeful blueprint for 2014.

Where to begin? 
Continued on Huffington Post - Article will be posted by Tuesday Noon - http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mike-ghouse/



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Mike Ghouse is a speaker, thinker and a writer on pluralism
, politics, peace, Islam, Israel, India, interfaith, and cohesion at work place. He is committed to building a Cohesive America and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day at www.TheGhousediary.com. He believes in Standing up for others and a book with the same title is coming up. 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 all his work through many links.

Friday, December 27, 2013

Modi says, he was shaken to core by Gujarat's religious riots

Narendra Modi's words sound hollow
URL - http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2013/12/modi-says-he-was-shaken-to-core-by.html

Mr. Narendra Modi, the chief minister of Gujarat has been compared for his focus on development of his state, while tearing the social fabric of Gujarat and reducing minorities to second class citizens. The Gujarat Massacred killed nearly 1000 people and displaced 20,000 without any rehabilitation or compensation. The lower court sided with the recommendations of a special investigative team on December 26, 2013. Mr. Modi sounds hollow.



December 26, 2013. The district court in Ahmadabad, Gujarat validated the recommendations of the special investigation team and dismissed the charges against Mr. Narendra Modi's involvement in the Gujarat massacre under his leadership in 2002. 

Immediately after the verdict, Mr. Modi tweeted, "Satyameva Jayate" - that truth triumphs at the end.  The words sounded hollow.

Referring to the 2001 Earthquake, he wrote on his blog "Hundreds of lives were lost. Lakhs were rendered homeless. Entire livelihoods were destroyed. In such traumatic times of unimaginable suffering, I was given the responsibility to soothe and rebuild. And we had whole heartedly plunged ourselves into the challenge at hand."


Of course the hard core supporters will lap it up, but this should have happened as an initiative and not as a reaction.


Mr. Modi, did you not have the responsibility to soothe and restore the lives of the riot victims, at least with some heart if not wholeheartedly? If you had cared for them, the world would have been with you and you did not have to play these games.


However, you still have the time to show if you really have a pure heart that does not discriminate any one. Mr. Modi said, "I pray to God that no bitterness seeps into my heart". Please do the praischit, (repentance) prayers alone won't cut it, and they are merely words.


Should we buy the following statement, "However, it was from these very built up emotions that I had appealed to the people of Gujarat on the day of the Godhra train burning itself; fervently urging for peace and restraint to ensure lives of innocents were not put at risk."


Should we buy this statement from Rahul Gandhi, your opponent if he delivers this, "However, I was totally opposed to corruption in the UPA government, I was shaken to the core. 'Grief', 'Sadness', 'Misery', 'Pain', 'Anguish', 'Agony' with the way things are happening, I am here to change it and put India back on prosperity that reaches every Indian."

After twelve years and countless investigations and interviews, he comes up with this to build momentum and position himself as a good guy, "I was shaken to the core. 'Grief', 'Sadness', 'Misery', 'Pain', 'Anguish', 'Agony' - mere words could not capture the absolute emptiness one felt on witnessing such inhumanity." Really? It took twelve years for you to share that on an opportunistic time?


He continues, "On one side was the pain of the victims of the earthquake, and on the other the pain of the victims of the riots. In decisively confronting this great turmoil, I had to single-mindedly focus all the strength given to me by the almighty, on the task of peace, justice and rehabilitation; burying the pain and agony I was personally wracked with."



Mr. Modi, you still have the time to take action, here are the suggestions. 


1. Restore the lives of refugees uprooted in the riots, find them minimum housing and a path to earn a livelihood. Let them be accommodated amidst all others with caring attitudes, in the long run we have to build de-segregated societies for the good of all.

2. Inclusive governance, to include Muslims on the internal advisory of the Chief Minister to make security decisions on a voluntary basis with nothing to gain.

3. Justice to the families of the ones who have lost their lives, both Hindu and Muslim without discrimination.

4. Find the truth about burning of 59 passengers in the train in the most transparent way - to bring closure to doubts on both sides or acknowledge the findings and live with it.

5. Punishment for anti-Muslim and anti-Christian attitudes in the state machinery, just like the strong anti-corruption rules instituted by the Chief Minister.

6. Meet with local Muslim, Dalit, Sikh, and Christian leadership on a regular basis, not to appease them, but to hear them out and prevent injustice to them.

7. Earn the goodwill of the people affected by restoring their lives and seeking forgiveness from them.


Remember, Muslims and other minorities are not looking for favors or handouts, but just fair treatment, and an opportunity to be productive citizens.  If Mr. Modi can demonstrate that he is a good human being, and put in to practice the above seven points for the next five years, he would earn the goodwill of the people and could hope to be the Prime Minister of India for several terms.
 

Jai Hind



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Mike Ghouse is a speaker, thinker and a writer on pluralism
, politics, peace, Islam, Israel, India, interfaith, and cohesion at work place. He is committed to building a Cohesive America and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day at www.TheGhousediary.com. He believes in Standing up for others and a book with the same title is coming up. 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 all his work through many links.

Thursday, December 26, 2013

A purposeful life for 2014


MAKING YOUR LIFE PURPOSEFUL
www.TheGhouseDiary.com

You can make your life purposeful, meaningful and enjoyable. Another year is about to go away. LOL, some of my friends will read this note next year, but for those who read it now, I urge you to consider spending an hour with yourselves.

How do you do that? It’s a simple formula that has worked for many.  Just imagine the amount of time you spend on facebook, and take 1 hour out in the next 5 days – that is less than 1% of your time in a week.

Here is a step by step outline, write the following bullets on your cell phone, computer or napkin and reflect on the current situation, ideal situation and what you will do it about it, so next year this time, you can say, I have achieved some, and I am happier to have a grip on my life.


1. My relationship with my immediate family – the hi’s and lo’s
2. My relationship with my friends
3. My financial status
4. My profession
5. My spirituality
6. My contribution to the world
7. My future

Write the above bullets or whatever works for you and think about each time while driving, while taking a shower, or while waiting for your appointment and in your reflective moments.

As an example to share, here is a part of my life, of course, I am sharing generic information with you, and specifics will remain private. By the way, there is not much private about me and I am happier for not being secretive. Nothing about me is within me, my family and friends know everything about me.

1. Family wise there is improvement , more time needs to be spent.
2. Relationship with friends has been steady
3. Financially I have not improved a bit over the last year
4. 313 Articles/year goal was achieved this year as well 
4 .The book Standing up for others is delayed
4 . Did not open a session at Capitol Hill with Pluralism greeting
4. Over 300 News papers have published my work world wide this year.
5. Spirituality has become more pluralistic and more boundaryless
6. My contribution to the well being of others has improved, not all is done
7. My future is what I make with the blessings of the spirit around me, and from my friends and the people I know.

You may consider making your plans; you will be amazed how much you'll achieve once you have them in place. Please look for the fuller note at www.TheGhouseDiary.com

Mike Ghouse
MikeGhouse.net
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Mike Ghouse is a speaker, thinker and a writer on pluralism
, politics, peace, Islam, Israel, India, interfaith, and cohesion at work place. He is committed to building a Cohesive America and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day at www.TheGhousediary.com. He believes in Standing up for others and a book with the same title is coming up. 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 all his work through many links.
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Yo

Tuesday, December 24, 2013

Festivals of the World: Essence of Christmas

Should Christmas be an exclusive Christian event? This Muslims' answer is no. We cannot limit Jesus to be exclusively owned by any group of people, nor can anyone monopolize his message. Jesus and his message belong to the whole of humanity. For Christians, he is the son of God, and for all others, he is a great man who brought the message of hope and peace to the world. Whether we believe in God or not,

Continued http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mike-ghouse/festivals-of-the-world-es_1_b_4492571.html#es_share_ended

 




Thank you
Mike Ghouse
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Mike Ghouse is a speaker, thinker and a writer on pluralism, politics, peace, Islam, Israel, India, interfaith, and cohesion at work place. He is committed to building a Cohesive America and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day at www.TheGhousediary.com. He believes in Standing up for others and a book with the same title is coming up. 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 all his work through many links.
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Same Sex marriage criminalized by Supreme Court of India, it is an UN-wise decision



The Supreme Court's decision on December 11, 2013 to uphold section 377 of the Indian Penal code that criminalizes same sex marriage is not wise, and needs to be challenged.  Is the judgment influenced by the undue belligerence from the right wing Hindu, Muslim and Christian leaders or is it in the spirit of the constitution?    

The hallmark of a civil society is respecting the otherness of others and accepting the God-given uniqueness of each member of the society. The Supreme Courts decision to uphold the archaic Victorian law from 19th century does not bode well for an India that has been woven with the pluralistic ethos for nearly five millenniums.

Martin Luther King Jr. was right, injustice to one is injustice to all, and I would add, prejudice to one will end up in prejudice for all.

It is incredible that Australia, another colony of the British Empire has made an identical decision, on the very same day to uphold the primitive prejudices towards homosexuality.

The basis for this judgment and the conflict stems from Section 377 of Indian Penal code enacted by the British Raj in 1861. It criminalizes sexual activities "against the order of nature", including homosexual acts. In July 2009, the Delhi State High Court rejected the archaic law as unconstitutional in respect to sex between consenting adults. On December 11, 2013, the Supreme Court of India overturned the Delhi High court ruling in a sexually graphic
document.  However, the matter is left to the legislators (Members of Parliament) to repeal, uphold or modify. 

The Legislators simply cannot wipe out India’s heritage found in Kama sutra depictions of Gay and Lesbian acts on the friezes of Temples in Khajuraho and elsewhere. Its part of Indian history and part of the culture. 

Continued at OpEd News: http://www.opednews.com/articles/Same-Sex-marriage-criminal-by-Mike-Ghouse-Court-Challenge_Decision-making_GLBT_GLBT-131227-613.html





Will be published on Christmas day at OpedNews
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Mike Ghouse is a speaker, thinker and a writer on pluralism
, politics, peace, Islam, Israel, India, interfaith, and cohesion at work place. He is committed to building a Cohesive America and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day at www.TheGhousediary.com. He believes in Standing up for others and a book with the same title is coming up. 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 all his work through many links.
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Modi's Nakshatras are not in his favor, he needs to save the embarrassment.


Narendra Modi's Nakshatras (stars) are not in his favor, and the Grahan (eclipse) is hovering over him like a dark shadow casting its Rahu Kala (inauspicious times). His run for the Prime Ministership is ashubh (unlucky) for the 2014 elections. We recommend him to withdraw from the race, finish the current term as the Chief Minister of the state and lay a solid foundation for the next run.



What good is the prosperity when fellow Gujaratis live in apprehension and fear of the other?  What good was the prosperity of Germany when everything collapsed anyway?  Like Modi; they focused on growth rather than the social structure.


A handful of Hindus may rejoice killing Muslims, and similarly a few Muslims may cherish killing Hindus, shame on them. Unchecked, these act will do more harm to the fabric of society in the long haul than the economy.  Do Indians have to live in fear of the other; is that the India we want? There is a dire need for truth and reconciliation in India. Modi has not done what it takes for the head of a state to do; to give hope and a sense of justice to the people of Gujarat.  

Continued at: Op-Ed News |  http://www.opednews.com/articles/Narendra-Modi-s-Nakshatras-by-Mike-Ghouse-Anti-christian_Bharatiya-Janata-Party_Business_Congress-131227-999.html
  

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Mike Ghouse is a speaker, thinker and a writer on pluralism
, politics, peace, Islam, Israel, India, interfaith, and cohesion at work place. He is committed to building a Cohesive America and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day at www.TheGhousediary.com. He believes in Standing up for others and a book with the same title is coming up. 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 all his work through many links.
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