Congratulations to GLBT community

Congratulations to the Gay and Lesbian community. The senate has just voted to end the "don't ask, don't tell" discriminatory practices against GLBT in the military. President Obama will sign that into Law.

No American has to live in anxieties, discomfort or fear of the other.  We are forming a new organization called America Together to discuss the issues that instill fear in Americans, and to understand and remove such fears in an open discussion forum to restore the cohesiveness of our society and work towards building a safe and secure America. We have planned a conference on the subject - details are at:  http://americanstogether.blogspot.com/

Facebook has over 85 comments on the article:  http://www.facebook.com/MikeGhouse#!/notes/mike-ghouse/congratulations-to-glbt-community/10150114645892774

Faisal Alam shares this site. or those that argue that "all religions" condemn homosexuality - please take a look at this insightful website that will clearly demonstrate the diversity of opinions on the issue.
http://www.hrc.org/issues/religion/4955.htm 


On December 7, 2010, I wrote my opinion in Dallas Mornign News as well
http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2010/12/army-chaplains-and-their-religious.html

___________ Sign your name ___________
http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/DADTrepealed/?source=20101218_BO_act&keycode&firstname=Mike&lastname=Ghouse&email=Mikeghouse%40gmail.com&zip=75234

Mike --
Moments ago, the Senate voted to end "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."

When that bill reaches my desk, I will sign it, and this discriminatory law will be repealed.
Gay and lesbian service members -- brave Americans who enable our freedoms -- will no longer have to hide who they are.

The fight for civil rights, a struggle that continues, will no longer include this one.This victory belongs to you. Without your commitment, the promise I made as a candidate would have remained just that.

Instead, you helped prove again that no one should underestimate this movement. Every phone call to a senator on the fence, every letter to the editor in a local paper, and every message in a congressional inbox makes it clear to those who would stand in the way of justice: We will not quit.

This victory also belongs to Senator Harry Reid, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and our many allies in Congress who refused to let politics get in the way of what was right.

Like you, they never gave up, and I want them to know how grateful we are for that commitment.
Will you join me in thanking them by adding your name to Organizing for America's letter?

I will make sure these messages are delivered -- you can also add a comment about what the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" means to you.

As Commander in Chief, I fought to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" because it weakens our national security and military readiness. It violates the fundamental American principles of equality and fairness.
But this victory is also personal.

I will never know what it feels like to be discriminated against because of my sexual orientation.
But I know my story would not be possible without the sacrifice and struggle of those who came before me -- many I will never meet, and can never thank.

I know this repeal is a crucial step for civil rights, and that it strengthens our military and national security. I know it is the right thing to do.

But the rightness of our cause does not guarantee success, and today, celebration of this historic step forward is tempered by the defeat of another -- the DREAM Act. I am incredibly disappointed that a minority of senators refused to move forward on this important, commonsense reform that most Americans understand is the right thing for our country. On this issue, our work must continue.

Today, I'm proud that we took these fights on.
Please join me in thanking those in Congress who helped make "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" repeal possible:
http://my.barackobama.com/Repealed

Thank you,
Barack

The Muslim Agenda

THE MUSLIM AGENDA,
A book by Mike Ghouse.

It is diametrically opposite of what a typical Muslim is conditioned to think, 'we have to rule the World', 'we have to convert', 'we have to impose Sharia' or, 'we have to come together to defeat the enemy'. This quirky hallucinative rhetoric does not bode well.

A chapter in the book deals with an Agenda for Muslims that can achieved by the year 2030, a generation from now. It will set the tone for Muslims to understand the need to have a plan and define our purpose and work towards it.

To be a Muslim is to be a peace maker, one who mitigates conflicts and nurtures goodwill for the whole humanity. A Muslim is one who works on contributing towards benefiting God's creation; life and matter. He also plants the saplings or seeds to benefit the future wayfarers with its shade or fruit, and a Muslim is one who cares for his neighbors.

In another chapter, the visionary Muslim walks in a group, any group and he or she is looked up as a peace maker, someone who brings goodness to others. Indeed, we have to consciously create a respectable space for us in affairs of the World. We have to earn the respect of the community as the trustworthy, the peace makers and the Amins.

"Serving humanity" should be our attitude and we must consciously serve in every possible way and get involved in the governance of nations where we are not and bring about justice and peace to the society at large.

This book is about my journey starting out as a Muslim to distancing myself from Islam as a Pluralist Youth, to staying out of religion for over half of my life and finding peace and comfort being a Muslim Pluralist a decade ago. It was a verse from the Bhagvad Gita that turned me around, "finding the truth is one's own responsibility," indeed it was, and it inspired me to seek the truth from the myths that surrounded Islam. I was on the Radio for about seven hours on September 11, 2001, getting every community leader from Atheist to Zoroastrian and every one in between to make sense out of the chaos on that day. Interfaith prayers were initiated that week and it was from that day I resumed being a Muslim.

Karen Armstrong's book on Muhammad helped me understand the Prophet's role in creating just societies, it was also for the first time, I understood Muhammad as an individual committed to peace and justice in the world, as opposed to a distant divine figure. Every year we talk about Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King as the peace makers, now, I have added Muhammad as the peace maker in the conversation.

Finally, the conference on demystifying the myths about Qur'aan was a capstone to my journey and I have a lot more to go, nothing ever has been done like this before.

I believe the purpose of religion, any religion for that matter is to create a world of harmony amongst us. To be a Muslim is to be a conflict mitigater and a goodwill nurturer.

I have two books schedule to be completed and released soon.
Continued at: http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2010/12/back-to-basics-book-by-mike-ghouse.html

Mike Ghouse runs the Foundation for Pluralism championing the idea of co-existence through respecting and accepting the otherness of other and has dedicated his life to nurturing the pluralistic ideals embedded in Islam through the World Muslim Congress.

Mike is available to speak on Pluralism, Islam, Civil Societies, Peace & Justice at your school, work place, meeting, conference, seminar or your place of worship. He is a regular commentator on the national TV, Radio and Print media offering pluralistic solutions to the issues of the day. He is a speaker, thinker, writer and a peace activist.

Mike's work is reflected at three websites & twenty two Blogs listed at http://www.mikeghouse.net/

Heroic, Female and Muslim

I did not have the time, but since it was written by Nicholas Kristof about a Muslim, I peeked and then stopped everything to read and at one point I nearly choked – this emotion of admiration has crossed my heart several times; when I read about Abdul Sattar Edhi, work of Akshay Patra, when Mandela was released, on the night of Obama’s election, when Mother Teresa passed, when the world came together as humans on Tsunami, when Aung San suu Kyi stood up like a rock against the fascists in Burma… I felt the same when Dr. Hind Jarrah and the Texas Muslim Women's foundation was recognized by the Dallas Peace Center two weeks ago for their bridge building efforts, and now Dr. Hawa Abdi. There is hope.

The only image of Muslims an average American gets is from Fox and CNN, and perhaps you and I are screaming loud to let the public know that the fringe element is represented on the screen and not the general Muslim Public. What we have failed is to be a part of the society and be pro-active in changing the false perceptions. The leadership among Muslims whether in America or Overseas is conditioned to re-act and sit on their butts and spend time on fighting who is and isn’t a Muslim, what is Haraam, who can speak for Islam… It is time to get out of this vicious circle and be a part of the American Story.

This is a must read article to see hope for humanity.

Mike Ghouse for a cohesive America
http://www.mikeghouse.net/
http://www.quraanconference.com/
# # #
December 15, 2010
Heroic, Female and Muslim

By NICHOLAS D. KRISTOF

http://starfishred.multiply.com/journal/item/3444/Heroic_Female_and_Muslim

What’s the ugliest side of Islam? Maybe it’s the Somali Muslim militias that engage in atrocities like the execution of a 13-year-old girl named Aisha Ibrahim. Three men raped Aisha, and when she reported the crime she was charged with illicit sex, half-buried in the ground before a crowd of 1,000 and then stoned to death.

That’s the extremist side of Islam that drives Islamophobia in the United States, including Congressional hearings on American Muslims that House Republicans are planning for next year.

But there’s another side of Islam as well, represented by an extraordinary Somali Muslim woman named Dr. Hawa Abdi who has confronted the armed militias. Amazingly, she forced them to back down — and even submit a written apology. Glamour magazine, which named Dr. Hawa a “woman of the year,” got it exactly right when it called her “equal parts Mother Teresa and Rambo.”

Dr. Hawa, a 63-year-old ob-gyn who earned a law degree on the side, is visiting the United States to raise money for her health work back home. A member of Somalia’s elite, she founded a one-room clinic in 1983, but then the Somalian government collapsed, famine struck, and aid groups fled. So today Dr. Hawa is running a 400-bed hospital.

Over the years, the hospital became the core of something even grander. Thousands and thousands of people displaced by civil war came to shelter on Dr. Hawa’s 1,300 acres of farmland around the hospital. Today her home and hospital have been overtaken by a vast camp that she says numbers about 90,000 displaced people.

Dr. Hawa supplies these 90,000 people with drinking water and struggles to find ways to feed them. She worries that handouts breed dependency (and in any case, United Nations agencies can’t safely reach her now to distribute food), so she is training formerly nomadic herding families to farm and even to fish in the sea.

She’s also pushing education. An American freelance journalist, Eliza Griswold, visited Dr. Hawa’s encampment in 2007 and 2008 and was stunned that an unarmed woman had managed to create a secure, functioning oasis surrounded by a chaotic land of hunger and warlords. Ms. Griswold helped Dr. Hawa start a school for 850 children, mostly girls. It’s only a tiny fraction of the children in the camp, but it’s a start. (Ms. Griswold also wrote movingly about Dr. Hawa in her book “The Tenth Parallel: Dispatches from the Fault Line Between Christianity and Islam.”)

In addition, Dr. Hawa runs literacy and health classes for women, as well as programs to discourage female genital mutilation. And she operates a tiny jail — for men who beat their wives.

“We are trying an experiment,” she told me. “We women in Somalia are trying to be leaders in our community.”

So Dr. Hawa had her hands full already — and then in May a hard-line militia, Hizb al-Islam, or Party of Islam, decided that a woman shouldn’t run anything substantial. The militia ordered her to hand over operations, and she refused — and pointedly added: “I may be a woman, but I’m a doctor. What have you done for society?”

The Party of Islam then attacked with 750 soldiers and seized the hospital. The world’s Somalis reacted with outrage, and the militia backed down and ordered Dr. Hawa to run the hospital, but under its direction.

She refused. For a week there were daily negotiations, but Dr. Hawa refused to budge. She demanded that the militia not only withdraw entirely but also submit a written apology.

“I was begging her, ‘Just give in,’ ” recalled Deqo Mohamed, her daughter, a doctor in Atlanta who spoke regularly to her mother by telephone. “She was saying, ‘No! I will die with dignity.’ ”

It didn’t come to that. The Party of Islam tired of being denounced by Somalis at home and around the world, so it slinked off and handed over an apology — but also left behind a wrecked hospital. The operating theater still isn’t functional, and that’s why Dr. Hawa is here, appealing for money (especially from ethnic Somalis). She has worked out an arrangement with Vital Voices, a group that helps to empower female leaders, to channel tax-deductible contributions to her hospital.

What a woman! And what a Muslim! It’s because of people like her that sweeping denunciations of Islam, or the “Muslim hearings” planned in Congress, rile me — and seem profoundly misguided.

The greatest religious battles are often not between faiths, but within faiths. The widest gulfs are often not those that divide one religion from the next, but those between extremists and progressives within a single faith. And in this religious season, there’s something that we can all learn from the courage, compassion and tolerance of Dr. Hawa Abdi.

# # #

The referenced articles

Are Muslims Part of the American story?
http://wisdomofreligion.blogspot.com/2009/04/are-muslims-part-of-american-story.html

Should school books include Religion?

My 6th grade social studies book had a summary of each religion; two pages were dedicated to each faith and its fountain head, something that no religious person had difficulty with. I am pleased to have replicated that and include it in my upcoming book on Pluralism as a way forward in creating cohesive societies.

No one should give up his or her uniqueness, each one of us has his or her own thumb print, DNA and a unique taste for food, clothing and other activities of life, it is time we also learn about our faiths and accept the otherness of other, not to please anyone but to please ourselves that we know and we care about what is around us. 

Learning about other religions indeed enriches one to know that humans continue to search for peace and find different paths, as valid as mine. Knowing about others does not mean we are disloyal to ours, it simply means while driving on the road we are aware of all the things we need to know about driving safely for us and for others and to have a pleasant drive when we are ready to handle the unknown.

 We have to learn about our neighbors and friends, not to be experts, but to understand each other to get along and create a society where no one is afraid of each other or stranger to each other. I cannot be safe or at peace if people around me aren’t. 

Did you learn about other religions in school or college or not at all.

# # # 

Mike Ghouse runs the Foundation for Pluralism championing the idea of co-existence through respecting and accepting the otherness of other and has dedicated his life to nurturing the pluralistic ideals embedded in Islam through the World Muslim Congress.

Mike is available to speak on Pluralism, Islam, Civil Societies, Peace & Justice at your place of worship, school, work place, meeting, conferences or seminars. He is a regular commentator on the national TV, Radio and Print media offering pluralistic solutions to the issues of the day. He is a speaker, thinker, writer and a peace activist.

Mike's work is reflected at three Websites & twenty two Blogs listed at http://www.mikeghouse.net/

Freedom Gene; America does it.

Despite the binding moral and metaphysical truths espoused by the conservatives as truths to live by, the American gene of freedom has gotten them as much as everyone. One of the values immigrants cherish most is the freedom this land evokes, cajoles and activates in them, there is nothing like it anywhere on Earth. America brings freedom from the clutches of one’s own beliefs.

The following opinion is part of my weekly write up for Texas Faith Forum, at the end of my piece; the Dallas Morning News link presents opinions on the forum. The question was, “Why shouldn’t people of faith worry about maintaining theological continuity and integrity, if indeed religion proclaims binding moral and metaphysical truths that are necessary to live by?”

Link - http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2010/12/freedom-gene-america-does-it.html

# # #

Freedom Gene, America does it!

People of faith, particularly “conservatives,” continue to worry about maintaining theological continuity and integrity, but they really don’t have a choice and cannot “control” perceived “deviants” by frightening them with excommunication or persecution. America is the land of the free and it does bring freedom to one from the clutches of one’s own beliefs, however religious associations in America are tempered with free choice.

The men and women who came to America in the face of religious persecution in Europe formed their own communities and found the freedom to practice what they believed was their inalienable right. As more diverse communities grew, they developed an acceptance of the other out of a sheer need to co-exist and a desire to reject the idea of persecution they had endured.  Although fanaticism was a part of the growth in persecuting Jews, Catholics, Mormons and Wicca, the idea of co-existence was also growing stronger.

 One of the values immigrants cherish most is the freedom this land evokes, cajoles and activates in them, there is nothing like it anywhere on Earth. Immigrants are not what you think to be; Mexicans, Indians, Chinese, Asians, Arabs or Africans but every one of us including you and me.  Indeed the Native Americans have fiercely guarded and demonstrated their freedom as well.

Despite the binding moral and metaphysical truths espoused by the conservatives as truths to live by, the American gene of freedom has gotten them as much as everyone. They are worried about the dilution of their faith, but have gradually moved on from the familiar to unfamiliar, an inch at a time establishing new equilibriums. They have reluctantly accepted pre-marital sexual relations; resisted abortion and have remained silent about men and women living together without the wedding vows,  and now they are battling with the homosexuality issues and one day they will cross that threshold and accept new equilibriums.

The first living and practicing women Rabbis, Pastors or Imams in the Abrahamic traditions particularly, and priests in other traditions in general are here in the United States, an unthinkable thing some fifty years ago. Our sense of morality is continuously enlarging and embracing diversity of thought as the legitimate other.

Freedom of religion is the binding value of America and the American gene of freedom thrives and permeates in every one’s DNA, and we will remain loyal to freedom over dogma.

Read the other opinions at Dallas Morning News Link: 

http://religionblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2010/12/texas-faith-why-not-worry-abou.html

  

Mike Ghouse runs the Foundation for Pluralism championing the idea of co-existence through respecting and accepting the otherness of other and has dedicated his life to nurturing the pluralistic ideals embedded in Islam through the World Muslim Congress.

Mike is available to speak on Pluralism, Islam, Civil Societies, Peace & Justice Saturday, December 04, 2010at your school, work place, seminars or place of worship. He is a regular commentator on the TV, Radio and Print media offering pluralistic solutions to the issues of the day. He is a speaker, thinker, writer and a peace activist. Mike’s book “ Back to the basics” is coming soon.

Mike's work is reflected at three websites & twenty two Blogs listed at http://www.mikeghouse.net/

CHANGING OTHERS

Are you willing to change for others? If not, don't expect others to change for you. The change has to bring good to both, and both must be willingly see the good in it, then it becomes a sustainable decision. You cannot force a change on the unwilling – it is going to boomerang one day or the other.
What you see is good for others will not be seen the same way by the others. When they do out of free will, all will be well.

If you compel your children or spouse (either one) to do things your way because you have an upper hand, you are wrong, you end up being the loser. Kids will be waiting to be 18 to get the hell out of your house and the spouse (either one) is constantly on vigil to get you one way or the other. Neither one of you will be ever happy.

My experience has been a difficult one, I get hassled frequently due to the belief that all must freely subscribe to the idea for it to be sustainable, but once we pass through the difficult times and cross that bridge of trust with freedom, I have seen a smooth sail in several things, but the path is an arduous one.

Mike Ghouse

www.MikeGhouse.net

FESTIVALS & COMMEMORATIONS OF DECEMBER

 A list of Festivals and commemorations of different religious traditions Compiled from various sources. A few days are celebrative while a few are commemorative. Muharram (Ashura- listed below) is not to be congratulated; it’s a day of mourning. I will add about Kwanza later on, which is celebrative.  http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2010/12/festivals-commemorations-of-december.html

Happy Khushali Day, December 13

On December 13th Ismaili Muslims all over the world celebrate the birthday of His Highness the Aga Khan. We join in their rejoicing and wish His Highness and his followers “Salgirah Mubarak”.
His Highness the Aga Khan became Imam (spiritual leader) of the Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims on July 11, 1957 at the age of 20, succeeding his grandfather, Sir Sultan Mahomed Shah Aga Khan. He is the 49th hereditary Imam of the Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims and a direct descendant of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family) through his cousin and son-in-law, Ali, the first Imam, and his wife Fatima, the Prophet’s daughter.

Aga Khan is one of the rare religious leaders who has shown living a balanced life between the material things and spirituality.  If there is a Jamaat Khana (Place of gathering) in Louisville, I would love to join ya’ll.

(http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2010/07/happy-imamat-day-to-hh-aga-khan.html). I thank Mr. Amir Ali Rupani for the correction, I had mixed Imamat day with his birthday. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZAljDhewVDc

St. Lucia day –Happy St Lucia day, December 13

Thanks Vanja for sharing thishttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Lucy%27s_Day

Hanukkah (Jewish) December 2 -9

Also known as the Festival of Lights, Hanukkah commemorates the 164 B.C.E. Maccabean recapture and rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem. During this celebration, special readings and songs that focus on liberty and freedom are performed, and gifts are often given. Hanukkah lasts for eight nights, and on each night a candle from the Menorah is lit to represent the miracle of the eternal flame. Tradition has it that there was only enough consecrated olive oil to fuel the flame in the Temple for one day, but the oil miraculously burned for eight days, the time it took to prepare and consecrate fresh olive oil.

Quraan Conference, December 5

Demystifying the myths about Quraa www.Quraanconference.com

Saint Nicholas Day (Christianity) December 6

On this day, Christians celebrate Saint Nicholas, the patron saint of children. Saint Nicholas was known for his kindness and generosity. He is also recognized for his secret gift-giving, as when he discreetly provided the dowry for three poor farmer’s daughters to save them from destitution. For many, this day is celebrated by giving gifts. The American Santa Claus is derived from the Dutch Sinterklaas, another name for Saint Nicholas.

Hijra, New Year (Islam) December 6

Al-Hijra is the first day of the new year in the Islamic calendar. It is celebrated on the first day of Muharram, the month that Muhammad emigrated from Mecca to Medina.

Bodhi Day, Rohatsu (Buddhism) December 8

This day marks the time when Prince Siddhartha Gautama, a spiritual teacher and founder of Buddhism, positioned himself under the Pipul tree and vowed to remain there until he attained supreme enlightenment. Buddhist traditions vary as to what Siddhartha’s experience was while meditating under the tree, but all agree that upon the rising of the morning star, he had experienced enlightenment and attained Nirvana: a state of being free from suffering and broken from the cycle of rebirth.

Immaculate Conception (Catholic Christianity) December 8

The Immaculate Conception celebrates the belief that the Virgin Mary, mother of Jesus, was preserved from the taint of original sin all of her life. Catholics observe this as a day of obligation and church attendance is required.

Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe (Catholic Christianity) December 12

In December of 1531, Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin saw visions of the Virgin Mary on the hill of Tepeyak near Mexico City. On December 12, Mary instructed him to ask church officials to build a basilica in her honor in Mexico City. When Juan Diego asked for a sign, she placed roses in a blanket that he carried with him on his journey to the city. Upon arrival, he unrolled the blanket to find an image of Mary imprinted on the cloth. The Basilica of the Virgin of Guadalupe was built in her honor, and thousands of Catholics make pilgrimages there every year. This day is celebrated with festivals, dances and special masses.

Lumbini Festivals (Buddhism) December 12-16
The Lumbini Festival is an annual festival held in the state of Andhra Pradesh that till date gives a platform and juncture to celebrate the heritage of Buddhism in the state.

Ashura (Islam) December 16

Ashura is the anniversary of the death of Imam Husayn ibn Ali, the grandson of the prophet Muhammad, at the Battle of Karbala. Taking place on the tenth day of Muharram, the first month of the Islamic calendar, Ashura is observed with fasting, mourning, and decorating replicas of Husayn’s tomb.

Posadas Navidenas (Christianity) December 16-25

In Hispanic Christian tradition, Posadas are the celebrations that happen during the nine days before the “Noche Buena” or “Holy Night” of December 24th. These Posadas are an enactment of Joseph and the Virgin Mary looking for lodging on their pilgrimage to Bethlehem. In some practices, families in a neighborhood will take turns hosting, or playing the part of innkeeper, while others have a door-to-door procession with candles and symbolic elements.

10th Tevet (Judiasm) December 17

The 10th day of the Hebrew month of Tevet is a Jewish fast day that reflects upon Nebuchadnezzar of Babylonia’s siege of Jerusalem 2,500 years ago. This event ultimately led to the destruction of the First Temple, Solomon’s Temple, and Babylonia’s conquest of Israel’s Kingdom of Judah.

Yule (Christianity, Pagan) December 21

Yule marks the winter solstice, the longest night of the year, and celebrates the rebirth of the sun in the Norse pagan tradition. The modern day, western Yule festival contains a large blend of celebrations, leading back to multiple cultures and religious practices. Christians often celebrate this as the birth of light through Jesus. Practices include decorating a fir or spruce tree, burning a Yule log, hanging mistletoe and holly branches and giving gifts.

Zarathosht Diso, Death of Prophet Zarathushtra (Zoroastrian) December 21

Zarathustra was a Persian prophet who, around the sixth century B.C.E., believed he had seen visions of God, whom he called Ahura Mazda: the creator of all that is good. Often termed the first non-biblical monotheist tradition, it is strongly dualistic. Zarathustra believed in the existence of two powers, good and evil, and taught that all human beings have the free will to choose between these two powers. On December 26th, Zoroastrians recognize the Prophet’s death and spend the day in solemn prayer.

Christmas (Christianity) December 25

Christmas is the Christian celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. The actual date of Jesus’ birth is unknown, but December 25th was made popular by Pope Liberius of Rome in 354 A.D. Although this day is celebrated by Christians throughout the world, traditions and practices vary within different cultures and communities. The day is often celebrated in prayer and song at church services, and gifts are often given to represent the gifts Jesus received from the three kings.

Feast of the Nativity (Orthodox Christianity) December 25

The Feast of the Nativity is the Orthodox Christian celebration of the birth of Jesus. It is also the break of a 40-day fast, in which participants purify both body and soul in preparation for Christ’s birth.

Feast of the Holy Family (Catholic Christianity) December 26

This day celebrates the family unit, Jesus, Mary and Joseph, and is recognized with special prayer. The moveable feast is usually celebrated the Sunday after Christmas, or if Christmas is on a Sunday, December 30th.

Death of Prophet Zarathushtra (Zoroastria) December 26

Founder of the Zoroastrian faith, predates Judaism.

Vivekananda Jayanthi ( Hindu) December 27
Birthday Celebrations of Swami Vivekananda, Vedanta movement
I am a great fan of  him for the work he has done in explaining the Bhagvad Gita

Holy Innocents (Christianity) December 28

Holy Innocents is the Christian day of solemn reflection, recognizing the male children of Bethlehem who were killed by Herod the Great in his attempt to eliminate the infant Jesus, whom he deemed as a threat to the throne. 

Watch Night (Christianity) December 31

Watch Night traditionally began with the Moravians, a small Christian denomination from what is the present-day Czech Republic, in the early 1700s. Participants attend special church services to reflect upon and give thanks for the previous year, and pray for the future. Watch Night became a significant event for African-American Christian communities after the celebration of 1862, the evening before the Emancipation Proclamation went into affect and abolished slavery.

HAPPY NEW YEAR.

 May this new year bring all the good things that you wish and work for. Amen.

BACK THE THE BASICS - A new book by Mike Ghouse http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2010/12/back-to-basics-book-by-mike-ghouse.html

Mike Ghouse runs the Foundation for Pluralism championing the idea of co-existence through respecting and accepting the otherness of other and has dedicated his life to nurturing the pluralistic ideals embedded in Islam through the World Muslim Congress. He is a regular commentator on the TV, Radio and Print media offering pluralistic solutions to the issues of the day. He is a speaker, thinker, writer and a peace activist. Mike's work is reflected at three websites & twenty two Blogs listed at http://www.mikeghouse.net/

 Mike is available to speak on Pluralism, Islam, Civil Societies, Peace & Justice Saturday, December 04, 2010at your school, work place, seminars or place of worship.

Mike Ghousewww.FoundationforPluralism.com
www.WorldMuslimCongress.org
www.MikeGhouse.net

Back to the Basics, a book by Mike Ghouse

BACK TO THE BASICS, A BOOK BY MIKE GHOUSE


.

The real title of the book will be released soon. This book is about my journey as a born Muslim to distancing myself from Islam as a Pluralist Youth,  to staying out of religion for over half of my life and finding peace and comfort being a Muslim Pluralist a decade ago.  

It was a verse from the Bhagvad Gita that turned me around, “finding the truth is one’s own responsibility,” indeed it was, and it inspired me to seek the truth from the myths that surrounded Islam.  I was on the Radio for about seven hours on September 11, 2001, getting every community leader from Atheist to Zoroastrian and every one in between to make sense out of the chaos on that day. Interfaith prayers were initiated that week and it was from that day I resumed being a Muslim.

Karen Armstrong’s book on Muhammad helped me understand the Prophet’s role in creating just societies, it was also for the first time, I understood Muhammad as an individual committed to peace and justice in the world, as opposed to a divine distant figure.

Finally, the conference on demystifying the myths about Qur’aan was a capstone to my journey and I have a lot more to go.  I believe the un-intended purpose of religion, any religion for that matter is to create a world of harmony amongst us.  To be a Muslim is to be a conflict mitigater and a goodwill nurturer. 

I have two books schedule to be completed and released soon.

ISLAM BASICS - Everything you always wanted to know about Islam and more.
PLURALISM – Everything you wanted to know about Pluralism


God wants his creation to co-exist in harmony and Qur’aan is one of the many holy books of God, giving guidance to live in peace with oneself and what surrounds one; life and matter. The message is similar in other holy books such as Bhagvad Gita, Bible, Torah, Guru Granth Sahib, Bahá'u'lláh's Kitáb-i-Aqdas, Kalpa Sutra, The book of Mormon, Avesta and others including the oral traditions of Native and earth based religions. Qur’aan says no one on the earth is deprived of guidance to be a good human being, if you contribute towards goodness of humanity, justice to everyone then you earn God’s grace and that is a promise in Qur’aan to everyone.


The human weakness manufactures imaginary enemies, so did the European Medieval Kings in the 11th century in the guise of Christianity, paid to deliberately mis-translate the Qur’aan for their obvious gains, they duped the public then, and some of the non-Muslim Islamic Scholars today are doing the same thing, duping the public. A Muslim Scholar also duped Muslims by inserting words like Jews, Christians and others in a hateful way in the translations and interpretations, whereas is it not in the Arabic Text of Qur’aan. This was done with obvious political gains on by both parties.


The book also addresses how a handful of Pastors, Imams, Rabbis, Pundits have crossed the line of integrity to keep their jobs or keep the flow of funds to them while a majority of them stick to the honesty and integrity they preach to others.


God has not signed a deal with any one behind your or my back; all the claims of exclusive truths are divisive and born out of insecurity.


Religion has been “used” “abused” and “misused” to someone’s advantage, as Citizens of the world, together with Atheists and believers of all expressions, are we going to let that happen? No, we will not. We can pull ourselves together and not fall for the tempters who have a gain in dividing the world


I hope to finish the Book on Islam by Christmas and seeking a publisher to print and get is released as early as I can. My friend Sean Hannity on Fox is expected to promote the book on his show.


In this book, I have attempted to answer every question about Islam, Qur’aan and Muslims I have encountered from my talks in Churches, Temples, Synagogues, groups, Parliaments of Religions, Workshops, and appearances on Fox TV, NPR and several Radio talk shows, discussion groups – and over 1000 articles published on the two subjects in news papers, magazines and websites around the world. The answers are straight forward, non-technical and easy to grasp – all to build a cohesive society in America and elsewhere in the world.


The Book on Pluralism is about my Journey into Pluralism and you will read concept of co-existence taken to its zenith, and how the interfaith movement is not ready to explore the new frontiers or even unveil the layers of dust gathered over basic pluralism found in all holy books. If we can learn to respect the otherness of other and accept the God given uniqueness of each one of the 7 billion of us, then conflicts fade and solutions emerge.


Thanks to every one for making me who I am.


Mike Ghouse runs the Foundation for Pluralism championing the idea of co-existence through respecting and accepting the otherness of other and has dedicated his life to nurturing the pluralistic ideals embedded in Islam through the World Muslim Congress.


Mike is available to speak on Pluralism, Islam, Civil Societies, Peace & Justice Saturday, December 04, 2010at your school, work place, seminars or place of worship. He is a regular commentator on the TV, Radio and Print media offering pluralistic solutions to the issues of the day. He is a speaker, thinker, writer and a peace activist.


Mike's work is reflected at three websites & twenty two Blogs listed at http://www.mikeghouse.net/

Dalai Lama and Worlds Religions

DALAI LAMA & WORLDS RELIGIONS - DALLAS
http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2010/12/dalai-lama-and-worlds-religions.html|

December 9, 2010. This very day last year, I was in Melbourne with HH Dalai Lama along with 6000 (plus) people from across the world representing over 200 religious traditions. He was the key note speaker on the last day of the weeklong conference by the Parliament of World's religions.

 He stayed in the Crown Plaza Hotel across Melbourne Convention Center and a full rainbow cascaded over the Hotel on the last day of the conference. Indeed, it was a welcome rain at Melbourne after a long draught of several years.  What a coincidence, Dalai Lama’s presence made it all happen, the rainbow and the rain. This was also the day he had received the Nobel Peace Prize some 20 years ago.

To continue the work of building bridges,  the folks in Dallas are working the bid to bring the Parliament of Worlds Religions in 2014, and they are getting closer on winning the race over Guadalajara, Mexico and Brussels, Belgium. Dallas has got what it takes to host the event, and most importantly, the impact of the event will be deeper and lasting in building cohesive societies around the World. It is this aspect of the event that will make a big difference in the United States through her American City; Dallas.   

Check out the websites for details:

http://www.facebook.com/DFWInterfaithCoalition

http://www.parliamentofreligions.org/dallasfortworth/

The Foundation for Pluralism and the World Muslim Congress are taking bold initiatives to mitigate conflicts and nurture goodwill in building cohesive societies for America and have planned ion conferences dealing with the issues about Anti-Semitism, Demystifying myths about Quraan,  Racial Profiling,  Homosexuality, and other issues. The first in series was conducted on Sunday, December 5, 2010 – more at www.Quraanconference.com

No American has to live in anxieties, discomfort or fear of the other. The purpose of this conference is to understand the issues and find ways to remove such fears in an open forum and restore the cohesiveness of our society and work towards building a safe and secure America. 

The 7th Annual Unity day, 4th Annual Reflections on Holocaust and Genocides and 14th Annual Thanksgiving Celebrations will continue to be the flagship events of the organizations 2011.  

Dalai Lama says, "Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions."  This quote was shared by a facebook friend Hem-e Tazi and it prompted me write this whole story.  Indeed, I have been writing HAPPINESS IS A CHOICE for over a decade now and have actually made a sign that reads Happiness is a choice. You are the master of your feelings, despite the difficulties; you are the one who decides how you feel.
Please remember smile is contagious and comes right back to you. I wish happiness to all of you now and for years to come.

Give a gentle smile to some one this week and check out the sites for Dallas bid and volunteer, donate and partake in this mega event.

Mike Ghouse for cohesive America
Americans working together
http://www.mikeghouse.net/

Mike Ghouse runs the Foundation for Pluralism championing the idea of co-existence through respecting and accepting the otherness of other and has dedicated to nurturing the pluralistic ideals embedded in Islam through the World Muslim Congress. He is a regular commentator on the TV, Radio and Print media offering pluralistic solutions to the issues of the day. He is a speaker, thinker, writer and a peace activist. Mike's work is reflected at three websites & twenty two Blogs listed at http://www.mikeghouse.net/