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Friday, October 31, 2014

I voted today, early voting on 10.31.14

It was a smooth process!  I asked Google, “Where do I vote today” – it responded with the address of Marsh Lane Baptist Church on Royal at Marsh Ln, that is where I went.

Had a nice conversation with the folks in the line and inside the voting room, I sought permission from the precinct Judge to take pictures and here are a few.  It was all efficient… within a few minutes it was all done.

Outside the building,   I talked to people if they went straight party line or chose the individuals – the answer was pleasant – all the 14 people responded that they chose to vote individually.  That’s how it should be, voting for the individual and that takes time to go through the entire list, if you chose party, it is just one single click.  I hope it is a trend!  How did you vote?





Among the biggies, I voted Wendy, Alameel – democrats and Marchant – a Republican and then for the state representative and senator I went with Democrats but among judges, went with the Republicans I knew, others went democrat. I was surprised with a page full of names of only Democrat judges on the ballot without contest; the same was with Republican judges on some pages.  That easy?
 
I have always shared who I voted. We don’t need to play games to be politically correct, you are who you are, and I am who I am and we need to learn to accept each other. If someone does not like you for the way you voted, and don’t want to be friends, their friendship was shallow anyway, and I say good riddance.

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Mike Ghouse is a public speaker, thinker, writer and a commentator on Pluralism at work place, politics, religion, society, gender, race, culture, ethnicity, food and foreign policy. He is commentator on Fox News and syndicated Talk Radio shows and a writer at major news papers including Dallas Morning News and Huffington Post.  All about him is listed in several links at www.MikeGhouse.net and his writings are at www.TheGhousediary.com and 10 other blogs. He is committed to building cohesive societies and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day.
 

Republican no more

It is one of the most difficult decisions of my life to quit being a Republican. The more people I talk to, the more confident I feel that the GOP has completely lost its anchor values it was built upon, and the extremists have crept in and ruined it beyond repair.   I have written over a hundred pieces about this, and all of them are listed in the links at http://CenterforAmericanPolitics.blogspot.com and www.TheGhousediary.com

Finally, I have chosen to go independent. I am an American, and my loyalty is to America, and not the party. I am neither a Republican nor will be a Democrat. There are enough independents out there who choose the candidates based on the good they can do for America, all of America and not just a segment of America, I would rather be free than bounded by party politics.  

As an independent, I will be voting for Wendy Davis (D),  Alameel (D),  Marchant (R) and will be selective with local candidates.

Why did I choose to go independent?


I have been debating about remaining with Republican party ever since Bush and his cronies lied to the American Public about WMD,  and in the process terrorized and killed nearly half a million innocent Iraqi’s and Afghans.

If an individual wraps bombs to his waist and kills a bus load of people, we rightfully call him a terrorist; however, if a head of a democratic nation wraps missiles on our jets and bombs hundreds of thousands of people, we let him hide behind the word “war”, as if it makes him less of a terrorist." It went in a different direction.

The debates in mid-term 2006 elections and again in 2008 were shameful.  There was no Republican in the forefront who would talk about peace – everyone was eager to bomb and terrorize others; it was sickening to hear McCain, Romney and the other insignificant men and women in the Presidential debates. They wanted Americans to support them based on hating and harming someone or the other, it was demoralizing to hear them all.  How can we fall for such stupidity, have we lost our ability to see through the destruction they were causing to America?

Millions of Americans lost their jobs causing thousands of divorces, home and business foreclosures, people lost insurance and several died for lack of it. Half a million innocent foreigners were massacred for no good reason, and thousands of women were put on the street to sell flesh.  Thanks to the immorality caused by our president.  Middle East was a pretty stable region except the Israel Palestine conflict – the Bush invasion gave birth to every damned conflict and evil we see including the ISIS.

The Nation had a surplus when Clinton left, and in 8 years Bush screwed America by piling up $10 billion in budget deficit.  Yuck, there was no accountability for the wrong doing.

I shudder at the thought of Romney Presidency, he was too eager to Bomb Iran, too anxious to please his buddies Netanyahu and McCain. Of course he had nothing to lose and does not give a flip about the 47% of the Americans. He would have completed the destruction of America that Bush had left unfinished.  There would have been massive unemployment, divorces, home and business foreclosures, increased crime rate and an unbearable budget deficit.

Yet there was no significant dissent among Republicans, what do I take – that Republicans are war mongers? They are a bunch of gutless obedient conformists, and I am not and don’t belong there.

I was sick of being a lone ranger in peace meetings, interfaith meetings and other community service meetings, peace talks are anathema to them and rarely do you find them in peace meetings.

They don’t know nothing about biology or mathematics or polls and have made the dumbest remarks about these issues.

They are opposed to same sex marriages – opposed to women making their own decisions about abortion. Do they know the meaning of liberty? I mean the hot heads representing the party, and not the good for nothing conformists.

The turning point was when Republicans voted against equal pay for women. That is gutsy and hope the women will remember that.

They claim to stick to the constitution which is the biggest joke of the century and goes to prove their hypocrisy. Facebook is loaded with their bigotry- check out the postings of Republicans undermining the president in discreet language.

This week, they are showing their loyalty to a foreign leader over our president, that is disgustingly unpatriotic. Shame on them.

This president has pulled the nation from the doldrums, despite the blatant opposition of Mitch McConnell and ugly acts of Ted Cruz and his racist father, blatantly going against him by declaring that he will oppose every bill Obama proposes and shutting down the government. Did any of the Republicans question that racist father Cruz who wanted to send Obama to Kenya; did anyone tell him to go to Cuba instead? Shame on us to a give a pass to these radicals.

Thank God for Obama, gas prices are down and the average service person can afford to pay for a tank full of Gas. Unemployment will be low and by the time Obama is done he would have fully restored the economic prosperity that Americans enjoyed during the Clinton era, to be continued by another Clinton.   Obama will also leave a legacy of updated roads and bridges to last for two more decades.

We have to be open to immigration; this nation was built on immigrants. Sometimes the stinky Republican attitudes ( if the majority of Republicans did not approve that attitude, they did not condemn it either) and demonstrators at the border makes me wish, that the Native Americans had put an electric fence around America to prevent Columbus and his hordes from illegally entering America.

Most of the mistakes made by our government are when the house, senate and the administration are all from the same party.  If we can wise up for the sake of America, and give the Senate to Democrats and house to Republicans, but not give them big majorities, the SOB’s will become arrogant.  Let them fight over the bills, debate extensively than slam dunk with a majority or go against each other. At the end, they will make good decisions for America with the checks and balances we build, it is in our hands.

Finally, I have chosen to go independent. I am an American, and my loyalty is to America, and not the party. I am neither a Republican nor will be a Democrat. There are enough independents out there who choose the candidates based on the good they can do for America, all of America and not just a segment of America, I would rather be free than bounded by party politics.

As an independent, I will be voting for Wendy Davis (D),  Alameel (D),  Marchant (R) and will be selective with local candidates.

References, links to my articles on Obama, Romney, and some of the many stupid things

Republicans have said will all be at : http://centerforamericanpolitics.blogspot.com/  and www.TheGhousediary.com



More below
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Mike Ghouse is a public speaker, thinker, writer and a commentator on Pluralism at work place, politics, religion, society, gender, race, culture, ethnicity, food and foreign policy. He is commentator on Fox News and syndicated Talk Radio shows and a writer at major news papers including Dallas Morning News and Huffington Post.  All about him is listed in several links at www.MikeGhouse.net and his writings are at www.TheGhousediary.com and 10 other blogs. He is committed to building cohesive societies and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day. 


THINGS REPUBLICANS HAVE SAID ARE HARD TO DIGEST


  • “I think the right approach is to accept this horribly created — in the sense of rape — but nevertheless a gift in a very broken way, the gift of human life, and accept what God has given to you… rape victims should make the best of a bad situation.” Rick Santorum
     
  • "Some girls rape easy.”  Roge Rivard
  • “If it’s a legitimate rape, the female body has ways of shutting that whole thing down” Todd Akin
  • "As president, I will create 12 million new jobs.” –and within 45 minutes he said this, ”Government does not create jobs. Government does not create jobs.” – Mitt Romney 
  • “white men who are in male-only clubs are going to do great in my presidency,” according to an audio recording of his comments provided to CNN. […]”Lindsey Graham,
     
  • “I know the human being and fish can coexist peacefully.” ~ George W. Bush
  • “Carbon dioxide is portrayed as harmful. But there isn’t even one study that can be produced that shows that carbon dioxide is a harmful gas.” ~ Rep. Michele Bachmann
  • ”Feminism was established so as to allow unattractive women easier access to the mainstream of society.” ~ Rush Limbaugh
     
  • “I went to a number of women’s groups and said: ‘Can you help us find folks,’ and they brought us whole binders full of women.” ~ Mitt Romney
     
  •  ”The feminist agenda is not about equal rights for women. It is about a socialist, anti-family political movement that encourages women to leave their husbands, kill their children, practice witchcraft, destroy capitalism and become lesbians.” ~ Pat Robertson ( do you remember a similar statement from a Saudi Cleric? He thought if women drive, they would become Lesbians - How stupid are these guys!
  •   “If this were a dictatorship, it’d be a heck of a lot easier, just so long as I’m the dictator.” ~ George W. Bush
     
  •  “Abortion Leads To Cancer, Birth Defects, And Everything  Else” – Richard Burgess
     
  • Evolution Is (Still) Out To Get Jesus” – Marco Rubio
     
  • “Good Christians, like slaves and soldiers, ask no questions.” ~ Jerry Falwell
  • “How did [the Holocaust] happen? Because God allowed it to happen… because God said, ‘My top priority for the Jewish people is to get them to come back to the land of Israel.’ Hagee
  • http://www.addictinginfo.org/2012/12/16/60-ridiculously-stupid-republican-quotes/
     
  • http://www.politicususa.com/2012/12/29/top-ten-dumbest-republican-quotes-2012.html
  • http://www.uselections.com/tx/tx.htm  
  • http://www.politics1.com/tx.htm  -  
  • Quiz- How Republican or Democrat are you?
    http://www.isidewith.com/political-quiz

Tuesday, October 28, 2014

Pope Francis is a genuine religious guide, there is no one like him.

Pope Francis takes a stand for evolution, against ‘magic wands’

Updated
Social conservatives in the United States who’ve been unhappy with Pope Francis’ moderation today have one more reason to be upset. Daniel Berger reported this afternoon:
Pope Francis broke with Catholic tradition Monday by declaring that the theories of evolution and the Big Bang are real, and remarking that God is not “a magician with a magic wand.”
 
“When we read about Creation in Genesis, we run the risk of imagining God was a magician, with a magic wand able to do everything. But that is not so,” the pope said at the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, during a plenary meeting dedicated to evolving concepts of nature.
The pope’s remarks came earlier today in a speech to the Pontifical Academy of Sciences.
 
“The Big Bang, that today is considered to be the origin of the world, does not contradict the creative intervention of God; on the contrary, it requires it,” the Roman Catholic pontiff said. “Evolution in nature is not in contrast with the notion of [divine] creation because evolution requires the creation of the beings that evolve.”

Francis described a vision in which living beings evolve naturally, “in accordance with the internal laws” ascribed by God.
 
It is important to note, as the report from the Religion News Service emphasized, that this is not exactly a theological breakthrough: “Unlike much of evangelical Protestantism in the U.S., Catholic teaching traditionally has not been at odds with evolution. In 1950, Pope Pius XII proclaimed there was no opposition between evolution and Catholic doctrine. In 1996, St. John Paul II endorsed Pius’ statement.”
 
When it comes to Christian hostility towards modern biology, most of the opposition comes by way of Evangelical Protestants, not Roman Catholics.
 
Still, Francis’ remarks are welcome for supporters of science in light of his immediate predecessor.
 
The msnbc report added, The language was a significant departure from Benedict XVI and his close advisers, who had voiced support for the idea that intelligent design underpins evolution. In 2005, close Benedict associate Cardinal Schoenborn wrote a New York Times op-ed in which he declared, “evolution in the sense of common ancestry might be true, but evolution in the neo-Darwinian sense – an unguided, unplanned process – is not.”
 
The Religion News Service report noted that Giovanni Bignami, a professor and president of Italy’s National Institute for Astrophysics, welcomed Francis’ comments, saying he had buried the “pseudo theories” of creationists.
 
“The pope’s statement is significant,” Bignami told Italian news agency Adnkronos. “We are the direct descendants from the Big Bang that created the universe. Evolution came from creation.”

Saturday, October 25, 2014

A tribute to Rosa Parks

We, the people of the world, and particularly non-white immigrants from around the world salute you to express our deeply felt gratitude for your courage in becoming a catalyst in removal of the evil Apartheid practice from the United States.  Dear Rosa, we thank you from the depth of our hearts.
Today is her anniversary, she passed away 9 years ago today in Detroit, Michigan, leaving a rich legacy of service to humanity.  Rosa Louise McCauley Parks was an African-American civil rights activist, whom the United States Congress called "the first lady of civil rights" and "the mother of the freedom movement".  

Had it not been for her defiant civil disobedience by courageously sitting in the bus despite the orders to get up from the seat where only white people can sit, and had it not been for the follow up by MLK, the Civil rights act would not have been a reality, and perhaps none of the non-white immigrants would have made it to the United States. You are one of the reasons I am here today in these United States.

In Dallas, there were no more than 5 Pakistani and 10 Indian families prior to the passage of Civil rights act in 1964, then a wave of immigrants came, knowing that they don’t have to drink the water from a different fountain; don’t have to sit in the back of the bus, or cannot eat in a restaurant and forget all other privileges we enjoy today because of her bold step.

I just Googled “Rosa Parks Mike Ghouse” and to my delight, I found 4,710 entries, and felt good that I have expressed my gratitude adequately.  Thank you Rosa, I would not have come to the United States without the Civil rights act and I will do my share of work in making America a great nation on the earth.


On May 1, 2010, I paid my tribute to Rosa Parks to a group of 8000 people at the Immigration Rally in Down Town Dallas - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OrjU0KULv-Y
We, at the Foundation for Pluralism paid our tribute to Rosa Parks at the 9th Annual Thanksgiving Celebrations at Embassy Suites Hotel in Frisco in November 2005; she had passed away on October 24 the same year.  Narration of Thanksgiving was given by Mary Ann Thompson-Frenk, and Tribute to Rosa Parks was read by Cheryl Smith and the tribute to MLK was offered by Anne Marie Weiss and the plaque was presented to Rev. Perry Crenshaw by TV Host Ester Davis. Julie Ann Turner and Najma Ghouse were the other MC’s of the program and I delivered the Key note address “the Community is a bus.” http://www.foundationforpluralism.com/TG2005_REPORT.asp

 
On December 7, 2013, another mention of Rosa Parks in “A Muslim’s Prayer for Nelson Mandela” - http://therecoveringpolitician.com/rp-nation/mike-ghouse-a-muslims-prayer-for-nelson-mandela

 If you are in Dallas, we are holding the 16th Annual Thanksgiving event on Saturday, November 22, and I am pleased to invite you to join us – details at: www.ThanksgivingCelebrations.org  


The following information is from Wikipedia.

Rosa Louise McCauley Parks (February 4, 1913 – October 24, 2005) was an African-American civil rights activist, whom the United States Congress called "the first lady of civil rights" and "the mother of the freedom movement".[1] Her birthday, February 4, and the day she was arrested, December 1, have both become Rosa Parks Day, commemorated in both California and Ohio.

On December 1, 1955, in Montgomery, Alabama, Parks refused to obey bus driver James F. Blake's order that she give up her seat in the colored section to a white passenger, after the white section was filled. Parks was not the first person to resist bus segregation. Others had taken similar steps, including Irene Morgan in 1946, Sarah Louise Keys in 1955, and the members of the Browder v. Gayle lawsuit (Claudette Colvin, Aurelia Browder, Susie McDonald, and Mary Louise Smith) who were arrested in Montgomery months before Parks. NAACP organizers believed that Parks was the best candidate for seeing through a court challenge after her arrest for civil disobedience in violating Alabama segregation laws, although eventually her case became bogged down in the state courts while the Browder v. Gayle case succeeded.



Parks' act of defiance and the Montgomery Bus Boycott became important symbols of the modern Civil Rights Movement. She became an international icon of resistance to racial segregation. She organized and collaborated with civil rights leaders, including Edgar Nixon, president of the local chapter of the NAACP; and Martin Luther King, Jr., a new minister in town who gained national prominence in the civil rights movement.
At the time, Parks was secretary of the Montgomery chapter of the NAACP. She had recently attended the Highlander Folk School, a Tennessee center for training activists for workers' rights and racial equality. She acted as a private citizen "tired of giving in". Although widely honored in later years, she also suffered for her act; she was fired from her job as a seamstress in a local department store.
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Mike Ghouse is a public speaker, thinker, writer and a commentator on Pluralism at work place, politics, religion, society, gender, race, culture, ethnicity, food and foreign policy. He is commentator on Fox News and syndicated Talk Radio shows and a writer at major news papers including Dallas Morning News and Huffington Post.  All about him is listed in several links at www.MikeGhouse.net and his writings are at www.TheGhousediary.com and 10 other blogs. He is committed to building cohesive societies and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day.

Warning to Terrorists - includes a red poster

The acronyms SOB, AH, BS and others are certainly uncouth, but they effectively communicate a purposeful message, hence I made that choice.  The Warning poster to Terrorist is a double edged sword and is at the bottom.

The following comments have been received against the poster below.

  1. sometimes your brain goes on strike I guess”,
  2. “Don’t jeopardize”
  3. “Who gave you the authority to represent Muslims?”
  4.  “Not appropriate and safe for you in today's hostile environment.”
  5.  “this is a mindless drivel”
  6. “You are not qualified to speak for Islam”
  7.  “Do you think your severe warning will have any darn effect on these fanatics”
  8. I second it”
  9. “it is appropriate response”.

In a learning environment, good thoughts and concrete ideas are developed with criticism and feedback; here is why this kind of response is needed.  



  1. Don't bark at the religion for the acts of bad guys. Punishment is set for bad acts, to restore the trust in a given society. When a Rapist is running around in a neighborhood, everyone is apprehensive, but when the guy is caught and nailed, peace of mind is restored in the neighborhood. Instead of catching the guy, if we blame his raising, his family, his religion, his race or nation, and his imam, rabbi, pastor or pundit – we will not restore peace. I intend to aggressively communicate this idea, the right idea, and intend to speak at various law enforcement agencies as well as religious institutions.  
  2. The criminal ought to know that he will be punished; we will not allow the poor alibi of religion, not at all. The Law enforcement and the media people also need to get this in their heads, the purpose of investigations and chasing the bad guys is to restore trust and not to aggravate by barking at a non-entity like Religion. The more you bark at criminal’s religion, race or ethnicity, the worse it gets. You cannot shoot, kill, hang, beat or bury the religion, then why bark at it?

  3. 72 Virgins are promised. Both the terrorists and the communicators of the problem (Media and Politicians) to the world at large have gotten it wrong. The poor guy needs to be outraged at the recruiters that he was duped, and there are no 72 virgins waiting for him, instead the SOB will rot in Jail if we Americans get him, or killed mercilessly if he is caught by the opposite party. No Geneva conventions will be observed by either the terrorist or his chasers.  The Media needs to stop the BS of propagating the falsity with nothing to back up in the Qur'an.

  4. Both the criminal and the law enforcement (coupled with the media and politicians) must be aware that it is the Sin, and not the sinner we are after. The clarity should prevent us from being unjust.  We should not be abusive in disciplining or punishing the wrong doer. As a civil society, we cannot become the very evil we want to eradicate.
     
  5. We should seek the criminal to lead us to the source of recruiting material and the recruiters by mitigating his punishment. 
  6. The Challenge to “read the right translation/interpretation” of Qur'an applies to both the criminal and the law enforcement. I am certain, the criminal will become a genuine repenter, and the law enforcement will not buy or propagate the dished out non-sense in the market or bark irrelevantly.



This is the right time to forge peace to the society in general, and American society in particular by boldly and loudly getting people to get the message, and i.e.,


I am being assertive, never has any Muslim or other communicated this so clearly and it is time we do that, thank God for the opportunities he has blessed us with to find solutions.   If I don't, no one will speak, and I sincerely hope many of us to speak up, do it on your own or join me.



It is time we separate the evil from good.

Bottom line is to free Islam and Muslims from the stupid stereotyping, and focus on punishing the bad guys and restoring trust in the society. 
 
 -----------------------------------------------------------------------
CLICK ON THE RED POSTER TO VIEW IN FULL SIZE

You SOB, you are the damned murderer, you messed up the peace, and your ass will nailed big time.

Don’t give me the BS about your job, childhood, parents, kids, siblings, spouse, imam, rabbi, pastor or the pundit. You did it and you'll pay for it.


I am not stupid to buy in your argument that your religion made you do that, and then bark at the religion endlessly. AH, you are the bad guy and you are going to pay for it. I am here to restore justice in the society and not be detracted and scream at your religion like a stupid ass. I can hang you, shoot you, bury you and beat you up to restore justice and trust in the society, and that is my goal

 Note: Mr. Terrorist, I don't condemn you, it is your sin I condemn. If you claim to be a Muslim, just remember, those guys who recruited you, and cheated you with  false promises of Hoories and virgins in paradise were dead wrong. There is no such thing nor is it mentioned in Qur'an, instead you will rot in jail for life. Would you turn in your recruiters for cheating you? Would you read the correct translations of Qur'an, we might minimize your sentence?

This should be the attitude of Law enforcement
Authorized by Mike Ghouse, World Muslim Congress.


Thank you

 

Mike Ghouse

(214) 325-1916 text/talk
www.WorldMuslimCongress.com 
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Mike Ghouse is a public speaker, thinker, writer and a commentator on Pluralism at work place, politics, religion, society, gender, race, culture, ethnicity, food and foreign policy. He is commentator on Fox News and syndicated Talk Radio shows and a writer at major news papers including Dallas Morning News and Huffington Post.  All about him is listed in several links at www.MikeGhouse.net and his writings are at www.TheGhousediary.com and 10 other blogs. He is committed to building cohesive societies and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day.

Friday, October 24, 2014

Mike Ghouse with Sean Hannity on Radio Show today

Mike Ghouse on Hannity radio show today at 4:00 PM- check your local listing- warning to terrorists

My message is for the terrorists as well as the right wingers.

1. Don't bark at religion for the acts of bad guys

2. 72 virgins are robbed from you, there is nothing like that.

3. Instead you'll rot in the jail.

4. We need to punish the individual wrong doer

5.  It's not the sinner, it's the sin we need to punish, which means more precise punishment.

I'll be on nationally syndicated Hannity radio show to elaborate on this

# # #

You SOB, you are the damned murderer, you messed up the peace, and I will nail your ass big time. Don’t give me the BS about your job, childhood, parents, kids, siblings, spouse, imam, rabbi, pastor or the pundit.

Text is on the side, or click on the image to enlarge
I am not stupid to buy in your argument that your religion made you do that, and then bark at the religion endlessly. AH, you are the bad guy and you are going to pay for it.

I can hang you, shoot you, bury you and beat you up to restore justice and trust in the society, but I cannot do that with your religion. I am here to restore justice in the society and not be detracted and scream at your religion like a stupid ass.


This should be the attitude of Law enforcement

Authorized by Mike Ghouse, World Muslim Congress.

 

Note: Mr. Terrorist, I don't condemn you, it is your sin I condemn. If you claim to be a Muslim, just remember, those guys who recruited you, and cheated you with  false promises of Hoories and virgins in paradise were dead wrong. There is no such thing nor is it mentioned in Qur'an, instead you will rot in jail for life. Would you turn in your recruiters for cheating you? Would you read the correct translations of Qur'an, we might minimize your sentence?

...............................................................................................................................
Mike Ghouse is a public speaker, thinker, writer and a commentator on Pluralism at work place, politics, religion, society, gender, race, culture, ethnicity, food and foreign policy. He is commentator on Fox News and syndicated Talk Radio shows and a writer at major news papers including Dallas Morning News and Huffington Post.  All about him is listed in several links at www.MikeGhouse.net and his writings are at www.TheGhousediary.com and 10 other blogs. He is committed to building cohesive societies and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day.

 

Tuesday, October 21, 2014

Texas Faith - Religious liberty vs equal rights in Houston. Is it ever right to subpoena religious sermons?

Let me throw in the monkey’s wrench here, what if a Mosque was delivering sermons that cause disturbance in the society, should the Mosque hide behind First Amendment and not share its sermons? We all should be open to scrutiny for public good and need to protect the rights of the individuals that are being violated. Mike Ghouse

TheGhouseDiary.com 
- http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2014/10/texas-faith-religious-liberty-vs-equal.html

TEXAS FAITH: Religious liberty vs equal rights in Houston. Is it ever right to subpoena religious sermons?
By Wayne Slater
wslater@dallasnews.com
Published at Dallas Morning News 12:55 pm on October 21, 2014 | Permalink

The city of Houston sparked a firestorm when it subpoenaed the sermons of five pastors who led opposition to the city’s equal rights ordinance. Christian conservative groups and politicians, including Attorney General Greg Abbott and Sen. Ted Cruz, denounced the action as an attack on religious liberty. Faced with the criticism, the city amended its subpoenas to remove any mention of “sermons.” But it still seeks “all speeches or presentations related to” the ordinance and a petition drive aimed at repealing it.

Opponents had mounted the petition drive but the city ruled there weren’t enough valid signatures to put the repeal issue on the ballot. Opponents filed suit. The case is set for trial in January.

The ordinance bans discrimination by businesses that serve the public and in housing and city employment. Religious institutions are exempt. Critics complain the ordinance grants transgender people access to the restroom of their choice in public buildings and businesses, excluding churches.

Mayor Annise Parker says the city wasn’t trying to intrude on matters of faith. She says it just wants to know what pastors advised folks about the petition process. But critics are deeply suspicious the Houston subpoena could set up a test case aimed at revoking the tax exemption of religious organizations that advocate political activity the government doesn’t like.

What to make of the balancing act between the city’s effort to defend its equal rights ordinance and pastors who encouraged people to oppose it in speeches and correspondence?

What are the limits, if any, of religious leaders to speak out as a matter of religious faith without facing a government subpoena?

We asked our Texas Faith panel of religious leaders, theologians, academics and faith-based activists what they thought of the clash between faith and politics in Houston. Their responses: diverse and provocative.

“I celebrate the courage of preachers who, like the ancient prophets, become critics of the political system,” said one Texas Faith panelist.

But another said: “Foolish paranoid irrationality aside, the city of Houston does not restrict preachers’ ability to pontificate on why some people should be given human rights, but others should not.”

And there was this: What if they had been mosques? Would Ted Cruz & Co. have been so quick to proclaim religious liberty?

If you think there’s consensus – even among those in the faith community – you’re wrong.

MIKE GHOUSE, President, Foundation for Pluralism and speaker on interfaith matters, Dallas

The problem started when the City of Houston passed an ordinance prohibiting discrimination against transgender identity in accessing restroom facilities in public and private employment.

The religious folks took it as an infringement of their rights protected under the First Amendment and started the petition to do away the ordinance or put it on the ballot as a referendum.  Mayor Parker called in for the sermon notes to build up her case to stick with the ordinance, and then backed off saying that it was not the sermons but the notes.

The mayor ought to stick with the subpoenas with sermon notes and not let the issue be derailed; it will be a long drawn battle about First Amendment rights, but what we forget is those rights are in place when they do not violate the rights of others.

Let me throw in the monkey’s wrench here, what if a Mosque is delivering sermons that may cause disturbance in the society, should the Mosque hide behind First Amendment and not share its sermons? We all should be open to scrutiny for public good and need to protect the rights of the individuals that are being violated.

We have come a long way in becoming a civil society, one by one; we are becoming what God wanted us to be – to respect all his creation supported by our declaration that all men are created equal.  It took us nearly 150 years to recognize that women were equal citizens, then the African Americans, and after many more recognitions we are reaching the pinnacle of civility by including the GLBT community as equal in every aspect of life and honor their legitimate needs in a civil society.

Here is a possible solution, in the process of becoming the most civilized nation, among other things, we have banned smoking, we have built ramps for handicapped individuals in public and private facilities, even though the percent of users is few and far in between. Now, we may consider adding a bathroom facility for the transgender. Let every American live in dignity.

The civility of a society is determined by how it protects its women, minorities, children, poor, the weak and the unprotected. In brutal societies, the state or the mob has all the rights, whereas the ordinary citizens don’t, and are subjugated to the whims of the mob. In civil societies on the other hand, the value of unprotected individuals is equal to the value of the ones in power or majority.

It is the responsibility of a society to safeguard the rights of individuals in their pursuit of life, liberty and happiness.  The civility of a society is reflected in fulfilling that requirement.

To read the take of other panelists, visit Dallas Morning News at : http://dallasmorningviewsblog.dallasnews.com/2014/10/texas-faith-religious-liberty-v-equal-rights-in-houston-is-it-every-right-to-subpoena-religious-sermons.html/#more-45898

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Mike Ghouse is a public speaker, thinker, writer and a commentator on Pluralism at work place, politics, religion, society, gender, race, culture, ethnicity, food and foreign policy. He is commentator on Fox News and syndicated Talk Radio shows and a writer at major news papers including Dallas Morning News and Huffington Post.  All about him is listed in several links at www.MikeGhouse.net and his writings are at www.TheGhousediary.com and 10 other blogs. He is committed to building cohesive societies and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day.

Sunday, October 19, 2014

Happy Diwali - Essence of the Indian festival of Lights

Diwali is the Indian festival of lights and is celebrated on a large scale throughout India and the Indian Diaspora. It is also celebrated in Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Malaysia, Singapore, Guyana, West Indies, Fiji, and of course, here in the United States. Diwali is about hope, Diwali brings light, Diwali signifies end of darkness and Diwali signifies end of ignorance and beginning of enlightenment.  You can greet your friends with any one of these phrases, "Happy Diwali", "Diwali Mubarak", Diwali ki Shubh Kamnayein" and the very Best of Diwali to you. 



Diwali is spelled differently, and is called by many names. There is Divali among others, and Deepavali, meaning the festival of lights. Although Diwali is a Hindu tradition, many a people of different faiths participate in celebrations - Jains, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists, Zoroastrians and others of India and Indian origins.


People decorate their homes with lights and Rangoli, i.e., colorful drawing in the front yard of the home, sidewalks, even roads in India with colorful powders or colorful pieces of chalk. Women and Children look forward to expressing their artistic talent in this season. Their surroundings filled with colorful lights to enliven the day, to mark the dawn of a new era in one's life.

My childhood is filled with good memories of Diwali; the sparklers, the food and everything joyous you can imagine.
A few years ago, Jyoti and Nishi Bhatia, former President of DFW Hindu Temple and President of Dallas Hindi Association respectively, asked me to speak about Diwali in a dinner gathering to a group of people from different faiths and cultures, and I cherished it, I love talking about Diwali, as its essence reflects the ideals of pluralism, and symbolizes hope and positive energy, victory of good over evil; a new beginning. It is indeed seeing the light at the end of tunnel.
  
Diwali Celebration is a part of the epic Ramayana, and the Ram Lila (enactment of the story on stage) is played out all night long in towns across India. I grew up watching it in front of my house, and my friends played different roles in the show. Indeed, one of my former relatives played Hanuman’s role.
It was a challenge for me to teach Ramayana to a group of people who knew nothing about it. It turned out to be a successful program. I prepared the nearly all white audience that I will be narrating the story through the power point and along will be reinforcing the names and roles of the key persons in the story and will ask them for feed back at the end. Friends, I cannot tell you the joy, the Bhatias and I felt when each one of them answered the questions from the story. They got it! It is a powerful story and takes about 30 minutes to narrate.
The epic is filled with educative tales, edifying poems, and fables. It is probably through their constant retelling in the villages over centuries that Hinduism is most efficiently disseminated from generation to generation.
Whenever a society rots with adharma (wrong path), where no one cares about the other, lying, stealing and dishonesty become rampant, Lord Krishna says,I will emerge among you and restore the righteousness and trust in the society to function smoothly." Zarathustra, Moses, Jesus, Buddha, Muhammad, Krishna, Nanak, Mahavira, Confucius, Tao and others served the same purpose. it is almost like the laws of physics ; water finds its own level, and righteousness finds its own existence.
Rama is one such incarnation who reestablished the moral code for social conduct and proper relation of mankind to divinity. He was truthful and a just king.
Diwali symbolizes hope and positive energy
  • People wear new clothes
  • Share sweets as a symbol of happiness
  • Renew the relationships
  • Strengthen the bonds
It signifies a new beginning, starting out fresh.
  • for most businesses it is the new financial year
  • An inventory of assets is taken
  • An assessment of family and relationship
  • Last harvest for the farmers
  • New things are bought
To those celebrating Diwali, I wish you, your families and loved ones Happy Diwali and Saal Mubarak.”
Today, on this blessed day, we have a blank slate to start, let's plan on filling it with doing good things for ourselves, to our family, friends, community, nation and the world until next Diwali.
What are good things? Words and actions that bring peace, Mukti, salvation, Moksha, nirvana, Nijaat and freedom to us, yes us. There is so much of joy waiting to be had. If we can remove hatred and anger towards others, forgive others and ask for forgiveness (Michami Dukadam is a beautiful phrase the Jain's use), then a blissful year is sure to come for each one of you and me.
  • May this Diwali purge your heart, mind and soul from hate, malice, anger and ill-will;
  • May this Diwali open your hearts and minds towards fellow being;
  • May this Diwali brighten your life, and may this Diwali mark the dawn of a new era;
Muslims are a big part of Diwali as well, and innumerable poets have written poetries and songs about Diwali. Here is my effort, I wrote this seven years ago on the occasion when Diwali and Ramadan were celebrated around the same time.
ये मेरी दिवाली है, ये मेरी ईद है
दोनों में खुशी ही खुशी है
A meri diwali hai, a meri eid hai
donon may khushi hi khushi hai -
दिवाली से नया साल शुरू होता है
रमज़ान एक नया इंसान बनाता है
 Diwali say naya saal shuru hota hai
Ramzan ek naya insaan banata hai -
दिवाली मैं एक एक बात का हिसाब होता है
रमज़ान में हर बात का रिव्यू होता है
 Diwali may ek ek baat ka hisab hota hai
Ramzan may her baat ka review hota hai -
दिवाली नए साल के लिए क्लीन स्लेट देता है
रमज़ान पिछले साल का स्लेट क्लीन करता है
Diwali nayay saal ke liye clean slate deta hai
Ramzan pichlay saal ki slate clean karta hai -
बात ही बात में मैंने एक नयी नज़्म लिख दी साहिर
दिवाली और रमज़ान से सबका अच्छा ही होता है
Baat hi baat may, my nay a sher likh diya Sahir
Diwali aur Ramzan say subka acha hi hota hai
Happy Diwali to you my friends, may this Diwali bring happiness, serenity and peace to you. Amen!
दोनों में खुशी ही खुशी है


Thank you

mike

Mike Ghouse

(214) 325-1916 text/talk

Published at:

  1. www.TheGhouseDiary.com
  2. http://foundationforpluralism.blogspot.com
  3. http://MikeGhouseforIndia.blogspot.com
  4. https://www.saddahaq.com/humaninterest/EssenceOfDiwali/essence-of-diwali-the-indian-festival-of-lights
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Mike Ghouse is a public speaker, thinker, writer and a commentator on Pluralism at work place, politics, religion, society, gender, race, culture, ethnicity, food and foreign policy. All about him is listed in several links at www.MikeGhouse.net and his writings are at www.TheGhousediary.com and 10 other blogs. He is committed to building cohesive societies and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day.