American Muslims condemn terrorists attacks, and mourn the loss of life in Brussels and other places.

PRESS RELEASE 

American Muslim Institution
Contact:  Mike Ghouse (214) 325-1916

Mike@AmericanMuslimInstitution.org 

www.AmericanMuslimInstitution.org

American Muslims condemn terrorists attacks, and mourn the loss of life in Brussels and other places.

Washington, DC, March 22, 2016 – The Daesh terrorists have recklessly killed over 232 innocent people and wounded 712 in the last six months. The latest is in Brussels, where 30 people were killed and 200 innocent men, women and children were injured.

We condemn all terrorism unconditionally, and our hearts go out to the families of the victims and their loved ones.  We pray with our hearts, souls and minds, asking God to guide us all to restore peace and sanity.

We the people, of different faiths, races, and ethnicities must come together and remain united against terrorist who want to tear us apart.

American Muslims condemn these violent crimes and urge the law enforcement agencies to track down all possible links to these terrorists and not stop until we find each one of them.

American Muslim Institution is the proactive voice for Muslims in America and we are committed to contribute towards building pluralistic societies. 

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NOTES

Muslims have been in the forefront in reporting any suspicious characters to the intelligence agencies and they will continue to monitor and work on preventing the loss of another life.

March 13 – Ankara, Turkey, 36 people killed -100 people injured
March 14 - Grand Bassam, Ivory coast, gunned down 22
March 22 – Brussels, Belgium, 30 dead and over 200 wounded.
Dec 14, 2015 – San Bernardino, 14 people and 22 wounded
Nov 13, 2015 – Paris, France, 130 people killed and 368 injured

In the United States we had 355 mass murders in 2015, and one of them was a Muslim and the Muslim community appeals to fellow Americans to discard their identity, as we have done with the 354 other terrorists.

We hope the world understands that, the Muslims are the most terrorized people on the earth, the terrorists get them and the others point fingers at them as if they have done the wrong.

American Muslims condemn these violent crimes and urge the law enforcement agencies to track down all possible links to these terrorists and not stop until we find each one of them.
Mike Ghouse

American Muslims condemn terrorists attacks, and mourn the loss of life in Brussels and other places.

PRESS RELEASE

American Muslim Institution
Contact:  Mike Ghouse (214) 325-1916
Mike@AmericanMuslimInstitution.org
www.AmericanMuslimInstitution.org

American Muslims condemn terrorists attacks, and mourn the loss of life in Brussels and other places.

Washington, DC, March 22, 2016 – The Daesh terrorists have recklessly killed over 232 innocent people and wounded 712 in the last six months. The latest is in Brussels, where 30 people were killed and 200 innocent men, women and children were injured.

We condemn all terrorism unconditionally, and our hearts go out to the families of the victims and their loved ones.  We pray with our hearts, souls and minds, asking God to guide us all to restore peace and sanity.

We the people, of different faiths, races, and ethnicities must come together and remain united against terrorist who want to tear us apart.

American Muslims condemn these violent crimes and urge the law enforcement agencies to track down all possible links to these terrorists and not stop until we find each one of them.  

American Muslim Institution is the proactive voice for Muslims in America and we are committed to contribute towards building pluralistic societies. 

# # #   

NOTES

Muslims have been in the forefront in reporting any suspicious characters to the intelligence agencies and they will continue to monitor and work on preventing the loss of another life.

March 13 – Ankara, Turkey, 36 people killed -100 people injured
March 14 - Grand Bassam, Ivory coast, gunned down 22
March 22 – Brussels, Belgium, 30 dead and over 200 wounded.
Dec 14, 2015 – San Bernardino, 14 people and 22 wounded
Nov 13, 2015 – Paris, France, 130 people killed and 368 injured

In the United States we had 355 mass murders in 2015, and one of them was a Muslim and the Muslim community appeals to fellow Americans to discard their identity, as we have done with the 354 other terrorists.

We hope the world understands that, the Muslims are the most terrorized people on the earth, the terrorists get them and the others point fingers at them as if they have done the wrong.

American Muslims condemn these violent crimes and urge the law enforcement agencies to track down all possible links to these terrorists and not stop until we find each one of them.
Mike Ghouse

Swami Vivekananda gave a new meaning to the Hindu philosophy of tolerance.

http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2011/03/swami-vivekananda-gave-new-meaning-to.html

As I was reading the article about Swami Vivekananda, several paragraphs struck me and I am inspired to write the following article.

When Swamiji talks about, “The Christian is not to become a Hindu or a Buddhist,” He was talking about religion is a pathway to spirituality. I had just responded to Mr. Yogi Sikand on an article about Dawah work in Islam by Maulana Wahiduddin, and Missionary work in Christianity.   

In my note, I was hoping to read what the Dawah (an invitation to convert) was for? Is it to make one a Muslim or to guide the person to become the righteous one?  Same question goes to Christianity, Sikh, Baha’i, Hindu and other traditions.

When Jesus said, “follow me”, Krishna said, “Surrender to me” and Allah says, “submit to my will”, the call was to follow God’s law of nature; to live cohesively and in harmony. It is about bringing a balance and equilibrium to everything we do. Balance is sustainable and extremity is not.

Personally I value every religion, and do not consider the need for any one to change his or her faith unless he or she finds solace in a different faith other than the one s/he is accustomed to. Every faith does what it is suppose to do to the believer; bring peace of mind.  No one should compel one to convert or prevent one from converting, let one choose what one believes to bring tranquility to him and harmony with others.   Let it be an individual’s choice.  What difference does it make to you if I eat different food, wear different clothes and speak a different language?

Swamiji touches on diversity, indeed, because we are diverse we have survived if we were all one, we could have been wiped out with one single disease. Each one of us is endowed with a different thumb print, DNA, eye print etc, so let’s have a different faith as well. To repeat his words, “The Christian is not to become a Hindu or a Buddhist,”

Conversion assumes a deficiency in the other faith and that is sheer arrogance. However, I would guide one to be a better Hindu, Jew, Christian, Muslim and ultimately a better human, which is the essence of every religion.  Mahatma Gandhi had emphasized the same thought and Prophet Muhammad’s first model of education was to be truthful, trustworthy and caring and he was called Amin by the people around him.  Jesus embraced every one without flinching, and accepted the otherness of other, in fact he said let’s condemn the sin but not sinner, that was the ultimate in inclusion or I call it Pluralism.

The other thought that really touched me was, “Swamiji was in favour of harmony among religious beliefs and against one religion for all.” 

Indeed the Foundation for Pluralism is about that, and the Parliament of Worlds Religion has set the lofty but simple goals such as: harmony rather than unity, convergence of purpose rather than consensus of belief and facilitation rather than structuring.

Those of us who feel insecure about the interfaith movement and fear losing our identity or diluting it, please be assured that the goal of the Parliament is NOT to UNITE religions, but to facilitate a platform to learn about the others first hand and work together for the common good of mankind. 90% of religion is about doing common good; only 10% of it is rituals that give it its own uniqueness.

There is no proselytization element in any of the events the Parliament facilitates. You may love the theme in Melbourne, “hearing each other and healing the earth”. Indeed, that is the need of the day; hearing each other first hand.

The City of Chicago has honored the Swami by naming a street after him, and now get ready to honor the Swami again in 2014 at the Parliament of World’s religions in Brussels. Save the monies and get ready. Insha Allah, God willing, see you there with a topic on Swami Vivekananda.
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Mike Ghouse, President of America Together foundation is committed to building cohesive societies and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day, and is available to speak at your place of worship, work or in seminars and conferences.

Through the Foundation for Pluralism, Mike champions the idea of co-existence through respecting and accepting the otherness of other, and is committed to nurturing the pluralistic ideals embedded in Islam through the World Muslim Congress.  He is a speaker thinker and a writer on the topics of pluralism, cohesive societies, Islam, interfaith, India and Peace. His work is reflected in 4 website's and 27 Blogs at http://www.mikeghouse.net/

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Reference: http://www.thehindu.com/arts/history-and-culture/article1587374.ece

Brussels to host the 2014 Parliament of Worlds Religions

PRESS RELEASE

March 21, 2011, Dallas, Texas

We congratulate the Brussels team headed by Miguel Mesquita da Cunha, Chairman of the 2014 Bid Steering Committee for the tireless work they have put in behalf of Belgians and the Europeans to secure the 2014 bid to host the Parliament of the Worlds Religions.

In behalf of the Foundation for Pluralism and the World Muslim congress, two of the many supporters of the bid for hosting the 2014 event in Dallas, Mike Ghouse, president of the organizations announced,

“We the people of Dallas gracefully acknowledge and honor the decision of the board of trustees of the Parliament of World’s religion for their choice of Brussels to host the 2014 event. Indeed, Brussels will significantly contribute towards the goals of the Parliament; to facilitate an open dialogue among religions, nurture values of co-existence, and encourage cohesion and seek pluralism for people of the world. “

Now, it is our turn to join the Brussels team in making this event successful for the people of world aspiring to create the kingdom of heaven on this beautiful planet, where we can hope and pray that the next seven generations and beyond can live without the apprehension of the other and freely practice their faith and culture.

You can count on our support any way we can.|

Mike Ghouse, President
Foundation for Pluralism
World Muslim Congress
Dallas, Texas
(214) 325-1916
# # #Your Comments:

 REFERENCES:

Articles and pictures by the Foundation for Pluralism, World Muslim Congress and Memnosyne Foundation.  I am pleased to share a few of the many references.  

1.      The Theme of Parliament 2014
http://wisdomofreligion.blogspot.com/2010/07/parliament-of-worlds-religions-summit.html

2.      Defending the need for Parliament in Dallas Morning News – Mike aggressively defends criticism. http://religionblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2010/07/texas-faith-dallas-and-the-201.html

3.      Religious Discourse and the Parliament http://wisdomofreligion.blogspot.com/2010/05/religious-discourse-and-parliament-of.html

4.      2014 Dallas bid to seek the Parliament in Dallas
http://wisdomofreligion.blogspot.com/2010/04/dallas-2014-parliament-of-worlds.html

5.      Mike Ghouse to speak at the Parliament of World’s Religions http://wisdomofreligion.blogspot.com/2009/11/mike-ghouse-to-speak-at-parliament-of.html

6.      Angie Buchanan and Mike Ghouse on NPR http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2009/12/national-public-radio.html

7.      Dalai Lama and worlds religions 
http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2010/12/dalai-lama-and-worlds-religions.html

8.      Notes about the Parliament -
http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2009/12/note-about-parliament-event.html

9.      Summary of the Parliament visit - http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2009/12/parliament-of-world-religions-15.html

10. Pictures: Parliament’s Chicago visit http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikeghouse/sets/72157624107988176/  Slide show: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikeghouse/sets/72157624107988176/show/

11. June 5, 2010 Meeting http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikeghouse/sets/72157624217148394/

12. Parliament event in Melbourne http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikeghouse/sets/72157622903144129/show/

13. Dinner event at Fun Asia – sponsored by Fun Asiahttp://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=464318&id=851280248

14. Meeting at Madeleine Restaurant in May 2010http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=429662&id=851280248

15. Official announcement by the Parliamenthttp://www.parliamentofreligions.org/news/index.php/2011/03/brussels-to-host-the-parliament-of-the-worlds-religions-in-2014/

We have had a few more dinner meetings held in Dallas and few more pictures, which I may publish later on due to specific requests from our friends not to publish their pictures for the public.

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 Mike Ghouse is a speaker, thinker and a writer and is committed to building a cohesive America through the Foundation for Pluralism championing the idea of co-existence through respecting and accepting the otherness of other, and World Muslim Congress committed to nurturing the pluralistic ideals embedded in Islam.

Mike is available to speak on Pluralism, Islam and building cohesive societies at your work, place of worship, school, seminars or conferences.  He is a media commentator offering pluralistic solutions on issues of the day. Mike's work is reflected at three websites & twenty two Blogs listed at http://www.MikeGhouse.net/

http://www.foundationforpluralism.com/
http://www.worldmuslimcongress.com/
http://www.americatogetherfoundation.com/

Mike Ghouse
2665 Villa Creek Dr, suite 206
Dallas, TX 75234 USA
(214) 325-1916