The Republican Party and Muslims

(Note: this is a draft to be fixed over the weekend, it is in response to a barrage of questions as to why I am a Republican,  and today's release of the video of Nezar Hamze on Jon Stewart Show caused me write this)

Congratulations to Nezar Hamze on Jon Stewart Show.

Video: Daily Show with Jon Stewart Exposes Florida GOP effort to bar Muslim from Party posts.  When you watch the video, you would understand why the Republican party is perceived as loaded with dumb and dumber people. It shows the stupidity of some of us Republicans who are in charge of the party;  here is a sparring between Nezar Hamze and Joe Kaufman. Would you say Kaufman is an embarrassment to the Republican party? I urge my fellow Republicans to go out and video tape these men who are ruining our party, go to New Hampshire and other places and watch Gingrich, Santorum and others make an ass of themselves.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iquWCgvg6ko     

Muslim Republican Experience

I am a Republican and a moderate one, and invariably someone or the other comments that the term "Moderate Republican" is Oxymoron.  We come in all colors, shapes and intensities. A majority of Republicans are indeed moderates, just like any majority in any group out there, religiously, ethnically, racially or otherwise. We want to get along and live our own life and wish well to others.

I must however admit that we are cowards; we have no guts to speak out when we see or hear reckless speeches by our party leadership. Ironically in the party of freedom, you find too many conformists; one actually told me that the Bible says we have to obey the President as he speaks for God (about Bush).  I have been in conservative parties, where everyone seems to be gutless, but when I start talking with them, they open up and express their displeasure with what is going on with the leadership.

But the moderates among us do exercise our right judiciously. The dumping of Sara Palin, Michelle Bachman and pretty soon Santorum and Gingrich is a proof of that. I am glad Cain knocked himself out. While the leadership and the right wing media are tooting the horn for Gingrich, Santorum and Bachman, the numbers are not there to support their claim.

So what makes me a Republican?

When I chose to become an American some two decades ago, I found myself in tune with the values of Republican Party; liberty, less government, fiscal responsibility, capitalism, security and peace through strength, a Reagan doctrine. Today, the Republican leadership does not reflect those values and I am disappointed, but not disbanding the party.  Shamelessly every one of the Republican presidential candidates invokes Reagan, particularly Gingrich. He ain’t Reagan.

A majority of Republicans, like a Majority of Muslims are honest-to-good caring and minding-your-own-business kind of people.  I am in tune with the party and in agreement with what it stands for and will stay firmly despite the temptations to run from the morons in leadership. Unfortunately, Republican Party is led by extremists now, as were Muslims a decade ago.  They build each other and go to the heights of sycophancy and proving who is dumb, dumber and the dumbest.

The 2008 elections tested me big time; none of the Republican candidates had any sanity in them.  McCain or any one of them talked about bombing, subduing and forcing others to "obey” us for our military might. The McCain’s, Gingrichs, Santorum’s and their likes don't realize that when you threaten others, you are not secure any more, as others would be equally committed to defend themselves and probably attack you in your most vulnerable moments. It is a bad approach.

I have written over 30 articles on Republican Party in addition to criticism of wars. In 2007 Dick Armey made a whole lot of sense with his appeal to the Republicans to behave, and oddly I had written an article similar to his views. Where is he now?  We need Republicans with balls to speak out against extremism among our leadership.

I voted Republican all the way except the President and Governor. Barack Obama was my choice and I held two rallies for him and wrote about him. I am losing him now as he does not have the audacity to take a stand and do the right thing. He made too many compromises to bring the nation to brink of economic disaster. He is screwed up with his priorities.

On my part, given my commitment to Pluralism and building a cohesive America, I have managed to moderate and organize the Carrollton Candidate's forum, shaping politics of the city. I was disappointed in the Tea party candidate who chose not to attend.  

Despite the opposition from the Tea party, I continued with Pluralism prayer invocations in Carrollton City Hall, six times in 2011http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mc9D9guPMY

This is the kind of America we need, to live and let live, and not the Taliban version dreamt up by the Tea Party.

It is time for the moderate Republicans to speak up and wrestle out party leadership from the right wingers or straighten them for survival of the party. We are going to lose out in 2012 to Democrats if we don't wake up and come out of senselessness.  May be we need a disastrous result to start afresh in 2013 with a clean slate and start representing Americans, the common day to day Americans again.

As Americans, our loyalty ought to be for America and to our system of checks and balances. Let each house is run by a Republican and Democratic majority respectively. Most mistakes by our government have occurred when all the three branches of government were run by the same party. Monopoly in governance leads parties to resort to divisive politics and fascist tendencies. Both parties are guilty of passing reckless bills when they “controlled” all the three branches of government.

I am yet to find a Republican from the leadership who can talk peace? I am yet to see a leading Republican’s presence in interfaith and peace groups? There was not one Republican leader who spoke peacemaking during the elections; they all have the arrogance that bombing and annihilating others will make the problems go away, that is what the primates were set to believe.

I don't run from things when they get rougher, I rather stick around and scream, holler and make sense in a senseless time period of the GOP.

Islam was portrayed negatively on the Television screens in the early 2000 for the acts of a handful of radicals, while the majority of Muslims did not subscribe to extremism.  I have faced things as a Muslim and will face things as a Republican. I am no quitter.

Most Republicans are moderates.  The pundits did not catch this; the good Iowans dumped the extremists Gingrich and Bachman and mistakenly gave their support to Santorum, another extremist. But the good majority of Republicans will dump him in national elections. 

I hope to go with Ron Paul or even Romney, unless they goof up. Romney needs to get his act together, he needs to remember that if he were President, he has to respect and honor every citizen, although he is not as belligerent as others, he still has prejudice towards fellow Americans who are Muslims, of all the idiots out there, he needs to understand that he and his faith is not respected by a few evangelicals either.  I would expect him to stand up for what is right for America and don’t let anyone look down upon fellow Americans. I rather see him lose with dignity than pander to the short sighted ones. I am not an idiot to stick with the bigots because they are fellow Republicans, I would rather do what is good for my country over my party that is indeed my first obligation. 

I do not connect with any of the leaders in Republican Party and I have debated becoming independent or going democrat... but I chose to stay Republican and fix things when I can. I believe, if some of us can appeal to the moderates and give them a little courage, they will speak up as Dick Armey had reminded in 2007 and no one listened to him and we lost big time, including my friends in local elections in Dallas.

Let me share a few links to my struggle of remaining a Republican, and yes a moderate one. I am lot closer to Ron Paul who is genuine flag bearer for the Republican Party. Less Government, less Regulations and do what is good for America.


Mike Ghouse is committed to building a cohesive America and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day to the media and the public. He is a speaker thinker and a writer on the topics of pluralism, cohesive societies, Politics, Islam, interfaith, India and Peace, he is a frequent guest on Sean Hannity show on Fox TV, and several nationally syndicated radio talk shows. Over a thousand articles have been published on the topics and two of his books are poised to be released on Pluralism and Islam in America. Mike's work is reflected in several websites and blogs indexed at http://www.mikeghouse.net/.Mike's most current articles are at www.Theghousediary.com


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I have written many articles, here are a few links;

Which way, republican or democratic? http://mikeghouseforamerica.blogspot.com/2007/12/republican-or-democratic.html

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Are you Oppressive or Conservative?

http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2011/08/are-you-oppressive-or-conservative.html


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Tony Powerz and Mike Ghouse on Fox Radio, South Carolina

http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2011/12/tony-powerz-and-mike-ghouse-on-fox.html

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Bigotry of Newt Gingrich, Herman Cain and Right wing Republicans

http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2011/06/bigotry-of-newt-gingrich-herman-cain.html

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Dumb Republicans

http://mikeghouseforamerica.blogspot.com/2009/06/dumb-republicans.html

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SAVING THE REPUBLICAN PARTY
http://www.mikeghouse.net/Articles/Savingthe-Republican-Party.asp

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Republicans, please put America first
http://mikeghouseforamerica.blogspot.com/2008/10/republicans-please-put-america-first.html

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If the world were to vote in US elections
http://mikeghouseforamerica.blogspot.com/2008/09/if-world-were-to-vote-in-us-elections.html

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Are you still a Republican?
http://mikeghouseforamerica.blogspot.com/2008/08/are-you-still-republican_27.html

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Republicans are finally waking up.http://mikeghouseforamerica.blogspot.com/2007/06/republicans-are-waking-up.html

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Republicans are screwedhttp://mikeghouseforamerica.blogspot.com/2007/05/republicans-are-screwed.html

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Republicans paid a price
http://mikeghouseforamerica.blogspot.com/2007/03/republicans-paid-price-for-neglect.html

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Moderate Republicans need to speak up

http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2010/08/moderate-republicans-need-to-speak-up.html

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Texas Faith: Do we need a Steve Jobs of religion?

Texas Faith : Do we need a Steve Jobs of Religion?
http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2012/01/texas-faith-do-we-need-steve-jobs-of.html

Do we need a Steve Jobs of religion, an innovative thinker who can "invent not a new religion but, rather, a new way of being religious?" If so, where would that person come from? And what would they try to offer? If you don't think we need a "Steve Jobs of religion," please explain why. Here is my response;

MIKE GHOUSE, President, Foundation for Pluralism, Dallas

Throughout the history of mankind, the "Steve Jobs of religions" have made significant contributions to innovative universally-synthesized acceptable traditions for living a balanced life. However, they ended up becoming another competitive religion instead of the one that everyone would embrace. Indeed, there is a new focus in understanding the essence of religion and looking at all religions as valid alternative paths to achieve freedom.

Three thousand years ago, a man shared a corollary between the laws of physics and laws of society. Just as matter finds its own balance, the society will find its own order whenever it goes awry. Someone from among them will rise up and restoresthe order, or the dharma as Lord Krishna called it.

Twenty-five hundred years ago, another Steve Jobs of religion appeared with the name Gautama Buddha. He shared a simple philosophy of life to live with minimum (or no) suffering. He taught a balanced approach between ascetic life and living with given human desires. Today, it has not only become a distinct religion with adherents performing specific identifiable rituals but has split itself into three threads.

Two thousand years ago, there was another one who found a way to bring relief to mankind through teaching and prescribing the psychological medicine of forgiving and loving thy enemy. His teachings were for the whole humanity. but they got monopolized by a group. Two thousand years later,multiple groups claim their version is the truth. Jesus was his name.

Fifteen hundred years ago, yet another Steve Jobs appeared on the horizon with an innovative idea to bring harmony among creation. He said all men are equal before God and that God's love reaches out to every human and every community through the peace makers, messengers and the prophets. Prophet Muhammad said it behooves us to know each other so we can learn to co-exist. He said submitting to the idea of a cohesive society (will of God) is Islam.

Five hundred years ago, Akbar, the Great King of India, made serious efforts in finding a common ground among Hinduism, Islam, Christianity and Judaism and initiated Deen-e-Ilahi, religion of the creator. It died with that Steve Jobs.

The last four hundred years have witnessed Guru Nanak and Bahaullah initiating interfaith movements to bring people together in spirituality. However, they ended becoming Sikhism and Baha'i faiths.

Rituals are the differentiators; they signify the mile stones of our daily life. Every significant moment of the day is a ritual. It is an unwritten way of measuring our progression; a memory pattern to bring discipline to our actions. From the moment we are born to the last rites of our life and every moment in-between is laden with rituals, though some of us may deny it.

When specific rituals are prescribed or become a part of the group it will generate yet another religion rather than a commonality.

The bottom line to religion is to bring a balance to an individual and the balance with what surrounds him, people and the environment.

We have to shed the arrogance that our tradition is superior or the only way to salvation. Indeed, arrogance is the root cause of all conflicts. We have to remember that God has not signed a deal with anyone behind my back or your back, if he did, then we don't a God like that and he is not the one we need to bow.

The foundation for pluralism has done extensive experiments and workshops in religion and getting for people to see the value and essence of each religion that are deeply embedded in the rituals.

Steve Jobs would probably have echoed my belief: To build a cohesive society where no one has to live in apprehension of the other, we have to learn to respect every which way one worships (or not) the creator and accepts the God given uniqueness of each one of us, then conflicts fade and solutions emerge.

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For all the twelve responses go to:
http://religionblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2012/01/texas-faith-do-we-need-a-steve.html

Mike Ghouse is committed to building a cohesive America and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day; he is a writer, thinker and a speaker. www.MikeGhouse.net

Citizenship, Islam and America

Citizenship, Islam and America
Published: Indian Muslim Observer, Two Circle and Huffpost

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mike-ghouse/citizenship-islam-and-ame_b_1174834.html
Law is one thing and practice is the other. As an American and as a Muslim, I have to be critical of both groupings and work toward creating cohesive societies where no citizen has to live in apprehension, discomfort or fear of the other. Here is a summary of 2011 and what we can aspire for 2012.


Muslim Chapter


First of all, let's look at the bigotry prevalent in Muslim majority nations and then we will come to America. Prophet Muhammad delivered this message in his last sermon: "All mankind is from Adam and Eve, an Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab nor a non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab; also a white has no superiority over black nor does a black have any superiority over white except by piety and good action." He inculcated those values in Muslim rituals, like the prayers where there is no distinction between the king and the pauper, scholar or an illiterate and all of them stand in the same line in the Mosque with no reserved or privileged space for any.




However, those values have not penetrated into the psyche of "all" Muslims in Muslim majority nations. The majority remains silent while their minorities are harassed. The violations are not a daily occurrence, but even a few should not be acceptable, it is a reflection on the entire society. Every other month in Pakistan we hear abduction of Hindu women, forced conversions; every other year blasphemy charges are leveled against Christians and every week the basic human rights are denied to fellow Muslims (Shia and Ahmadiyya) by the evangelical version of Muslims in Pakistan.




Saudi Arabia does not allow any public congregations of people of other faiths who work there, thank God that is the only nation compared to 55 other Muslim majority nations. Iran routinely harasses the Baha'is, Zoroastrians and occasionally Jews, and now we have a case of Christian pastor charged with apostasy which goes against the very grain of Islam: "There shall not be any compulsion in matters of faith" (Quran 2:256). Malaysia and Indonesia have a few scars on their nations and the radicals in Egypt are messing with centuries old pluralistic tradition by attacking the Coptic Christians, shamelessly the Catholic Church in Nigeria was attacked around Christmas. While this is happening there a lot of good things happening as well in other Muslim majority nations that should not be discounted.


The good news is that an overwhelming majority of Muslims don't like what's happening when someone sticks Islam to the bad acts of a few criminals. An endless number of Muslims and Muslim organizations are condemning these acts unequivocally; the ones who don't see these condemnations are the ones accusing Muslims for doing nothing and those few boisterous ones are in every group including Jews, Christians, Hindus and others.


American Chapter


And now, let's turn to the bigotry prevalent in democracies including our own Good ole US of A. Just like Prophet Muhammad spoke in his last sermon to create cohesive societies, our founding fathers laid the ground work for a society where no American has to live in apprehension, discomfort or fear of the other: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, and that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."
However, those values have not penetrated into the psyche of "all" Americans or others in Christian majority nations. The majority remains silent while their minorities are harassed. The violations are not a daily occurrence, but even a few should not be acceptable, it is a reflection on the entire society.


We have come a long ways in believing women and African men are equal as well, we have ways to go before we can fully value our constitution.


Switzerland bans Minarets, a symbol of Muslim place of worship; France forces women not to wear the burqa while the other Brutes Taliban force women to wear burqas. We should speak up against these extremists. The few in Germany, Netherlands and other nations continue to harass their minorities, Muslims or otherwise.


At home here in the United States, we hear anti-Semitic comments fairly regularly; the swastika is on some one's home or the other. Every week we hear bigotry spewing out of a few elected ones in Congress and Senate and even our presidential candidates want us to be like Saudi Arabia to have moral police to beat up on the gays and lesbians. 


Every week the self proclaimed hypocritical guardians of liberty and less government want to regulate what a woman can and cannot do with her body, and a few want to regulate who can marry who. A few shameless Pastors go on the rampage of calling Jews, Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists and others "cults." These men and women are divisive and hurting American's one nationess.


Every day the stories of racism and Islamophobia are in the news. The few damned politicians and the pastors have the uncanny ability to dupe a few gullible ones among us to join them in their hatred of others, purely for political and financial gains. Remember, they are the ones to gain and not you the general public. Muslims cannot build a mosque, they cannot practice their faith and the radicals have forced and threatened the advertisers to pull out advertisements from a reality TV show that depicted average day to day Muslims, they'd rather it show the terrorism than good things about Americans.


The good news is that an overwhelming majority of Americans don't like what's happening when a "few" pastors and the politicians spew hate. An endless number of Americans and civic organizations are condemning these acts unequivocally; the ones who don't see the condemnations are right wingers among Muslims.


Is this the America we want?


Martin Luther King Jr. expressed that in his speech, "I have a dream that our little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character."


Chief Seattle, a Native American said this perfectly, "All things are connected. Whatever befalls the earth befalls the sons of the earth. Man did not weave the web of life; he is merely a strand in it. Whatever he does to the webs, he does it to himself."


1. What are you and I doing to preserve that web?
2. What are our initiatives?
3. What are the divisive issues?
4. How would we allay the prevalent phobias and fears?
5. What is your vision for America?


John F Kennedy, "Ask not what your country can do for you -- ask what you can do for your country." We hope to capture your responses in a moving story about America.


What Can You Do?


Whether you are with your family, friends or alone, you can make your new year meaningful and reflective. For many years, I have set aside two hours on New Year's Eve and focused on different aspects of my life and found a lot of peace and tranquility in knowing who I am and what I want out of life. In those two hours, I allow nothing else to crawl on to my mind.
The aspects of life I would deliberate would be my role and the role of family, friends, budget, income, travel, gratitude, freedom, society and America in and around my life. Make your own list and at the end of the two hours, you will find relief, comfort and a sense of purpose in life.


What kind of America do you want?


Are you willing to do your share of in preserving the freedom and liberties of the individuals at home and abroad? The least you can do is to speak up when the politicians and the rogues amongst us are bent on pitting one American against the other through their statements and comments. Do those statements bring Americans together or divide and weaken our nation?
The least you can do it write a comment on a blog or news paper, or tell friends that there is another point of view to consider? Would you make a genuine effort to see another point of view?


On my part I am committed to building a cohesive America, and have laid out the outline at America Together Foundation. Together we can do our share of work in creating a better America and a better world, so that you and I to can live without apprehension discomfort and fear of the other.


Happy New Year! Let is bring hope and inspire us to do our share of good in keeping America beautiful.


Follow Mike Ghouse on Twitter: www.twitter.com/MikeGhouse

IOWA REPUBLICAN CAUCUS NOTES

Romney and Paul are relatively a safe bet against Obama; most certainly Ron Paul will be a bigger challenge to Obama than Romney. Rick Santorum earned 5 more votes than Romney in the final tally in the Iowa Caucus. Santorum will not make it, he is a right winger shamelessly wearing a conservative badge, he will take our nation to the brink of disaster thorugh war mongering mind set.

Michelle Bachman is an embarrassment, she does not see the writing on the wall, and at least Rick Perry has seen it. Gingrich will be an embarrassment to our nation; he acts as though he will not be caught by saying one thing to you and the other to me even here in Iowa he goofed up.

I hope Bachman, Perry, Gingrich and Huntsman will drop out of the race so we can hear more vigorous debates from Romney and Paul. We need candidates who are inclusive and good for America, every one of the inhabitants of America. We are one nation under God with liberty and Justice for all.

Mike Ghouse committed to a cohesive America and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day. www.MikeGhouse.net 
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Latest: Glad things changed from early announcements to this "Mitt Romney eked out a minuscule 8-vote victory over Rick Santorum in Iowa's Republican presidential caucuses on Tuesday night, bringing down the curtain on an improbable first act in the campaign to pick a challenger to President Barack Obama for next fall. "

Make this year purposeful.

NOTE: Susan Mckenzie my friend has the ability to turn my articles into bullet format that makes a lot of sense. Here is another one of Susan's miracles.

Make this year purposeful. Here’s how, says Mike Ghouse
http://abetoday.com/2012/01/02/make-this-year-purposeful-here%E2%80%99s-how-says-mike-ghouse/

INJECT MEANING

Whether you are with your family, friends or alone, you can make your new year meaningful and reflective.

KNOW THYSELF
For many years, I have set aside “TWO HOURS” yes, just two hours on New Year’s Eve or Day and have focused on different aspects of my life and found a lot of peace and tranquility in knowing who I am and what I want out of life.

DEFINED REFLECTION
In those two hours, I allow nothing else to crawl on my mind or deviate from the job I sat down for – knowing and defining myself.

HIT THE HEADLINES
All you have to do is write down a few headlines like family, friends, job, business, personal budget, travel, gratitude, freedom, society, volunteerism, spirituality, physical fitness, entertainment and finally your role in family and the society.

SHORT AND SWEET

You can write on the palm of your hand, notes section of the cell phone or a napkin in a restaurant.

JOURNEY INWARDS

This is a trip to yourselves, you’ve been to places, done things, met people… it is time to visit yourselves and enjoy the connection. You’ll love it.

TIED UP IN LOVE
FAMILY – Thoughts on strengthening the bonds and spending more time with family – first I would write randomly with no sequence or priority, but just thoughts in bullet format, then I go back and enhance and reflect on each relationship within my family.

FRIENDLY RELATIONS
FRIENDS – same process, who are my closest friends, what kind of things I need to continue to do to nurture the relationships? Reflect on each friend and what I want to happen with that relationship.

PLAIN SAILING OR FORK IN THE ROAD?

BUSINESS/PROFESSION – Where am I going with it, where will I be in a year, two or five years? I don’t have to be perfect and precise, but just a thought of having an idea of where I will be is good. Then develop from it. Those employed securely need not worry, you are blessed.

LOVELY LUCRE
BUDGET -- Take a look at your income from all sources and then put down monthly fixed payments that you have to pay. Then add those payments that you can do away with or add on to. Figure out what to do with the shortage or surplus.

DREAM DESTINATIONS

TRAVEL – At least dream about it.

TIME TO THANK
GRATITUDE – Who all we need to thank for the good they have done.

FREE TO LOVE AGAIN
FREEDOM -- Who all we need to forgive for the pain they have given us, and the misery we have heaped on them. How do I free myself from that apprehension? My blood should not boil when I see them or I should not get the urge to punch them upon sight.

STAND UP AND BE COUNTED
SOCIETY – I scream out loud that things are not right; there is injustice, corruption, bigotry … Am I going to do something about it? Would I become their enemy or find a solution for all of us to co-exist and mind our own business.

PILLAR OF SUPPORT
The least I can do is support someone who is standing up for justice and making efforts to create a better world for everyone. From just saying, I appreciate your work, to sending them a check to volunteering with them spreading the word and everything in between.

POINTS OF VIEW
YOUR ROLE -- What role do you want to play in the society? Speak up when you see something is wrong, write a comment on blog or newspaper, or tell friends that there is another point of view to consider… make a genuine effort to see another point of view.

SOOTHING SITUATIONS
On my part I have determined that whatever I talk, think and act will lead towards mitigating conflicts and nurturing good will and I will make every effort NOT to aggravate a situation. What is that you want to do? You think about it.

TOUCHING SOUL
SPIRITUALITY -- have I taken the time to visit myself, am I in tune with myself? Can I make a serious effort to spend 5 minutes in the morning and 5 in the evening – just to close the eyes and remain calm, do nothing, think nothing and refresh myself. Or take a course in meditation, or a video… you don’t need to say any words or invoke God, just you and you with stillness.

FORGE AHEAD
2011 -- How did you do it in 2011? No need to brood, instead use the time to improve on the things you have done wrong and cherish on the things you have done right.

YOUR LIST
You can make your own list, please do this exercise, it is worth your time and you will start finding meaning in your life.

IN THE DRIVER’S SEAT
Make your own list… at the end of the two hours, you will find relief, comfort and a sense of purpose in life.

CREATING COHESION
On my part I am committed to build a cohesive America, and have laid out the outline at the website www.AmericaTogetherFoundation.com . If you like it join me, together we can do our share of work in creating a better world. You can volunteer, you can organize events, you can write or you can send a check from $50 to $5000 and see your time and money work for a better America. We are a non-profit organization and your monies are tax deductible.

WRITING TALLYBy the way, I will be writing another reflective article on New Year’s. I wrote 315 Pieces this year thus far… and hope to write a few more by the end of the year. They are all at www.Theghousediary.com

PARADISE BECKONS
Enjoy this beautiful song on the theme of visiting myself. It is one of my favorite songs.

I've Never Been To Me by Charlene with lyrics
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhQWND9jKDA&feature=player_embedded 

Mike Ghouse
Committed to building a cohesive America
www.MikeGhouse.net

Clergy and Muslim Leaders Welcome Rally for Religious Freedom at City Hall

Note: This site share my writings exclusively, however, when the news papers, radio or TV has a comment or a press release about me, it will be included and mentioned - Mike

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Courtesy: Examiner

http://www.examiner.com/ecumenical-in-fort-worth/clergy-and-muslim-leaders-welcome-rally-for-religious-freedom-at-city-hall

(Dallas) Mr. Mike Ghouse, president of the Foundation for Pluralism, and a Muslim leader, has endorsed the Faith, Freedom and Family Tour rally at Dallas City Hall on Monday, Jan. 2, 2012. Mr. Ghouse, a columnist for the Dallas Morning News, joins local civic and religious leaders, including TV talk show host Ester Davis, as well as Japanese-Americans wearing Japanese kimonos, who will be on hand to welcome two university students stopping in Dallas during a 2,300-mile bicycle ride to raise awareness about the Japanese treatment of minorities. The rally will take place Monday at 10:00 a.m. at the flag poles in front of Dallas City Hall.

The goal of the tour is to raise public awareness of the fact that since 1966 more than 4,000 Unification Church members in Japan, as well as significant numbers of members of other faiths, have been abducted and confined for months or years of psychological and physical abuse in an effort to break their faith. Mr. Luke Higuchi, a Japanese survivor of abduction and forced conversion, will report his experience at the rally.

Mr. Ghouse recently has written:

“We in Dallas welcome these bike riders who highlight an issue that we should all think about. As global citizens we need to commit ourselves to building cohesive societies in which no one has to live in anxiety, apprehension, discomfort or fear of the other. This is what all of the spiritual masters wanted to do. This is what Jesus wanted to do, to create the Kingdom of Heaven.”

As has been reported on Examiner.com and elsewhere, two young scholars of Japanese and American descent, Mr. Seijin Tranberg and Mr. Joshua Wildman, both 22, began their Freedom Ride on December 15, 2011 in Atlanta, the birthplace of the U.S. Civil Rights Movement, under the banner of “Faith, Freedom, and Family.”Prior to starting their tour, Mr. Tranberg briefed twelve congressmen at their offices on Capitol Hill. All 12, representing states from Georgia to California, expressed support for persecuted religious people of the world by signing Mr. Tranberg’s route map and posing with him for photographs

Some freedoms U.S. citizens take for granted are established by law within the borders of other countries but are still emerging in practice. In Japan, for example, religious freedom is guaranteed in its constitution, but Japanese authorities have not yet acted to prevent and prosecute violent crimes committed in the name of faith-breaking, perpetrated against members of minority faiths. Mr. Tranberg also is calling the rally to raise awareness of the rights abuses against religious minorities the world over, including Baptists in Russia, Coptic Christians in Egypt, Bahai’s in Iran, and many others.

Both Tranberg and Wildman have Japanese mothers and American Fathers. They also share membership in a persecuted minority faith, that of the Unification Church, founded by Rev. Sun Myung Moon. Representatives of several persecuted minority groups, including Nigerian Christians, Hindus, Ahmadiyya Muslims, Sikhs, Scientologists and others have been invited to participate. The rally celebrating their stop here in Dallas, at City Hall Plaza, already has sparked supportive comment from local leaders. Rev. Don E. Peavy, Sr., Associate Minister, New Vision Christian Church in Fort Worth has written:

“We wish Seijin and Joshua Godspeed in their momentous adventure to spread the Gospel of the common bond we all share as children of God. Their mission is particularly critical at this moment given the mass killings in Nigeria on Christmas Day and the religious insensitivity and intolerance which continue to keep far too many people from living the abundant life for which Jesus the Christ came into the world.”

The two bike riders will pedal out of Dallas Monday, January 2, and head west, to arrive in Los Angeles by Jan 29, 2012. Along the way they will be greeted by clergy, human-rights activists and well-wishers.

Contact:

Laura Lea

media relations HSA UWC

Unification Church of Texas

Phone: (281) 772-4116 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (281) 772-4116 end_of_the_skype_highlighting

Thanks to my facebook friends.

I just turned 60 and it feels good.

of the 6575 friends, 1710 of you wished me on my birthday and New Year between my two facebook walls. www.facebook.com/MikeGhouse and www.facebook.com/MikeGhouse2

My 1st resolution was to respond to each one of you for the time you took to wish me, and thank God I have been able to put time aside to respond to everyone but 31 in a cluster. I will wrap that up tomorrow along with the ones I hav...e received in my email, another 1000 of friendship greetings. I am truly overwhelmed with your affection. Thank you.

My 2nd resolution was to tie the loose ends of the life.

My 3rd item was to take 5 minutes every morning and evening to begin and close my day. I have begun that today.

You can do it too.

Please take 7 minutes to read about making your 2012 purposeful and meaningful. http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2011/12/purposeful-2012.html

PUBLIC SERVICE IN 2011

Thanks to Dallas Morning News, Huffington Post, Washington Post and several periodicals for publishing 318 articles, thanks to Sean Hannity for having me on his TV show twelve times, and thanks to nationally syndicated radio show for eleven appearances.

Thanks to Dallas communities for attending a few successful events that we organized in building a cohesive America including Reflections on Holocaust and Genocides, Unity Day (9/11), and several other events.

Thank God for helping me present pluralistic solutions on issues of the day. If we can learnt to respect the otherness of other, and accept the God given uniqueness of each one of us, then conflicts fade and solutions emerge.

God willing with your support, I will continue to write, speak, think and address on the issues of politics, religion and the social ills of the society like stereotyping, racism, Islamophobia, Anti-Semitism, anti-GLBT and other pressing issues that divide us. I am committed to building a cohesive America where no American has to live in the fear of the other, one brick at a time.

Thank you for your support,

Mike Ghouse
www.MikeGhouse.net