Republicans will fall flat on their faces

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As
an American, and as a Republican moderate, it is disgusting to see the way a “few”
Republicans are behaving in a shameless manner. They got nothing better to
offer to the nation, and they don’t have a single good presidential candidate
for 2016 with the exception of Rand Paul, who will tear their bigotry at the
cost of his chances.


And now they are putting all their eggs in Benghazi – they will fall flat on
their effing faces, if you compare to over 30 Benghazi’s during Bush, when they
did not squeak.


Their attitude is
like the hyena’s, if I don’t get it, let me bite into them and do the damage.  It is their desperation that is causing them
to lose their senses, and they have a lot more to lose with that behavior. More
and more Republicans will see their ugliness and will dump them in 2014 if they
don’t get their act together

Mike Ghouse
A moderate Republican
 

Texas Faith: Mark Sanford and the politics of forgiveness

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Forgiveness is a central idea in every religion. All our religions are the essence of universal wisdom that are aimed at making our lives better. Whether we believe in a God or not, a learned psychologist would have prescribed repentance.  And seeking forgiveness to the one who has wronged the other releases one from the bondage of anxiety and restores normalcy to the individual.

URL – http://nabsites.net/demo/texas-faith-mark-sanford-and-politics/

  Texas Faith:   Mark Sanford and the politics of forgiveness

  

| Dallas Morning News | Published on May 14, 2013 

Mark Sanford won election to Congress from South Carolina last week after a major fall from grace. As you likely know, only a few years ago Sanford was the governor of his state. But the Republican was caught in a big lie, saying he was hiking the Appalachian Trail when he actually was in Argentina with his mistress.
His political career quickly fell apart, and so did his marriage. Sanford went from a leader with national expectations to a public figure thrown way out of the headlines.
But he’s back. Sanford defeated Democrat Elizabeth Colbert Busch by a convincing margin. He now will return to Congress, where he once served before becoming governor.
For some, there was a big ick factor to his victory. But Sanford is not the only politician who’s ever sought a second-chance. Richard Nixon came out of the political grave several times. Similarly, Bill Clinton rose and fell and rose more than once. And, after an embarrassing presidential bid in 2012, Texas’ own Rick Perry could try once more for the White House in 2016.
From a theological perspective, what are we to make of politicians seeking second chances? Forgiveness is a concept espoused in many religions. In Christianity, it is arguably the central concept.
But how does forgiveness apply in our public life? Or, at what point, does it not apply?

MIKE GHOUSE, President, Foundation for Pluralism, Dallas, and Speaker on interfaith matters, diversity and pluralism

Forgiveness is a central idea in every religion. All our religions are the essence of universal wisdom that are aimed at making our lives better. Whether we believe in a God or not, a learned psychologist would have prescribed repentance. And seeking forgiveness to the one who has wronged the other releases one from the bondage of anxiety and restores normalcy to the individual.
Life is about physical, mental and spiritual balance. We lose our spiritual balance when we mess with the balance of our surroundings. Chief Seattle had said something to this effect, that we are merely a strand in the web of the world. If we mess with it, we mess with ourselves in the end.
One of the ways of restoring the balance within and without is forgiveness and genuine repentance. An individual finds relief when he repents, and societies find freedom when they forgive the sinner.
The teachings of Jesus say that, in effect, we can blame the sin but not the sinner. And the Prophet Muhammad says: God loves those who forgive. Indeed the two sets of people God likes the most and least are the ones who forgive and the ones who are arrogant.
Forgiveness is a universal principle regardless of the religiosity of an individual or a society, and it applies in our public life as much as it applies in our personal lives.
Presidential candidates like Gary Hart, John Edwards and several governors and elected representatives were not forgiven by society. But Bill Clinton and Mark Sanford were forgiven through the ballot and it is up to them to live up to it. President Clinton lived up to it and is serving humanity and doing a lot of good to the world we live in. Mark Sanford has an opportunity to prove that he is worthy of the new leash.
However, there are conditions when it comes to public life. The individual must not repeat the wrong and cannot pretend to have washed off the sin. His or her public actions will determine if one has repented and is worthy of societal forgiveness. Forgiveness will not be retracted if they do wrong again, but they will be nailed for a new sin.

………..

To see all the other responses, at Dallas Morning News at: http://religionblog.dallasnews.com/2013/05/texas-faith-mark-sanford-and-the-politics-of-forgiveness.html/   

….Mike Ghouse is a speaker, thinker and a writer on pluralism, politics, peace, Islam, Israel,India, interfaith, and cohesion at work place. He is committed to building a Cohesive Americaand offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day at www.TheGhousediary.com. He believes in Standing up for others and has done that throughout his life as an activist. Mike has a presence on national and local TV, Radio and Print Media. He is a frequent guest onSean Hannity show on Fox TV, and a commentator on national radio networks, he contributes weekly to the Texas Faith Column at Dallas Morning News; fortnightly atHuffington post; and several other periodicals across the world. His personal sitewww.MikeGhouse.net indexes all his work through many links.

Urdu – Hindi Musha'era (poetry session) on Pluralism

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INVITATION to URDU/HINDI FRIENDS
Saturday, June 29, 2013 – 8 PM – 11:00 PM
URL: http://pluralismcenter.blogspot.com/2013/05/urdu-hindi-poetry-session-on-pluralism.html

We request your participation in many ways;

To be our guest attendee.
To write a poem based on the theme of Pluralism
To recite your poem in the Musha’era/ Summelan
To be a volunteer
To be a sponsor 

 

Rsvp to: ConfirmAttendance@gmail.com
Selected poetry will be published in a booklet*
The event will be broadcasted live by FunAsia TV

Hindi/ Urdu poetry pretty much covers every topic on the earth, however
this is the first time a complete focus is given to pluralism.
Pluralism is live and let live, and it is about respecting the otherness
of others. We hope we consciously lay a foundation of advancing our
culture of respect for the uniqueness of each other.

Samples of
the poetry or short stories of people doing good things without a
barriers, will be posted in the comment section below, and you can turn
that into a poem.

For details, please contact

Janab Davendra. D. Maini
Janab Irfan Ali (940) 565-1723
Janab Amin Tirmizi (817) 663-3786
Janab Noor Amrohavi (972) 859-0647
Janab Mike Ghouse (214) 325-1916

www.FoundationforPluralism.com
email: Mike@FoundationforPluralism.com

The poetry will be about Pluralism and building cohesive societies.

Pluralism in one sentence is respecting the otherness of others and
accepting the God given uniqueness of each one of us. Building cohesive
societies involve creating an environment where no human has to live I
apprehension, discomfort or fear of the other.

A panel representing at least five faiths is in the making.

Pluralism in religion, society, politics, culture, food, clothing…

If you wish to write the poetry, please contact Mike@FoundationforPluralism.com

* The poetry will be selected by a committee. It has to be sensitive
and respectful of every religion, race, ethnicity, gender, color and
nationality. It’s a conscious step in advancing our culture of
respecting each other’s uniqueness and accepting each other for who we
are. The poetry must meet the literary requirements. The completed
poetry must be in by June 15th to make it to the book.

Thank you

The Great American Culture

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PROUD OF THE AMERICAN CULTURE  
 
When I
took my kids to see Taj Mahal, there was a long line, and some guys were
trading their position for money, it’s a business for them. Obviously they recognized
us to be foreigners, and were making an all out effort to sell the closest
position. For a moment I was tempted, my kids read my face, and together in
unison, they screamed at me. NO DAD.  
Nowhere else on the
earth, people respect other people’s rights as we do here in America. We
respect other people’s time, and we respect lines. Even our president stands in
the line when he or she (in three years) visits the military bases.  We just don’t dare cut through the lines no
matter how big the lines are.


Shame on this lady from Manhattan for hiring a handicapped tour guide, so she
and her kids can cut through the lines in Disney land.  


Happy Mothers's day- there is no one like her

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URL – http://nabsites.net/demo/happy-motherss-day-there-is-non-one/

Mother is the ultimate definition of selflessness! No matter what
happens to the world or even her, she is there for you in your need; she recognizes
your need much before you know it.  Of course, every day is Mother’s day,
and each one of us honors her in a variety of ways. From simple caring to doing
things for her that makes her most happy. Mothers don’t need a whole lot, they
just need attention. Remember you were showered by her attention when you
needed it? 

America is an amazing land, I love our culture and the way we do things. Even though, every day is a Mothers day for some, this particular day, the 2nd Sunday of May is dedicated to her. She becomes the center of attention, and she is indeed the queen Mother.

Its time to express gratitude to her, it restores the spiritual balance in each one of us.  Life is about transactions, each time we received a “good” we become indebted to the giver, but when we give back to the giver or find alternate ways of giving back, then we regain our spiritual balance, bringing us nirvana, salvation, mukti and freedom.

I also appeal to each divorced father with kids to muster up the courage to tell his ex-wife that you appreciate her for raising your kids responsibly well. You have to learn to give credit where it belongs, she may appreciate it, but certainly your kids will reluctantly appreciate it.

A majority of us are fortunate to have the love and affection of the mother to bless our lives. However, there are some mothers who have not been good to their kids and I feel your anguish if you are the one,  but assure you that, you are a blessed one to have made it in life without mothers love. 

This is one way of honoring her – that is spending time to think, and appreciate her. Those who have lost their mother, take the time to reflect upon all the little things she did for you, and possible write something about her, so your kids can appreciate you.

Let me share how I have learned to express my gratitude to my mother, may be it will kick in some of your own memories. 

My father passed away in 1977 and I was the sole income earner for the family for many years after that. However, on my visits to her, she demanded private time with me apart from the other siblings, and for whatever stupid reason, I resisted it and did not do it. One day, a great man told me “all mothers want is attention and nothing more.” Then, when I went to see her, I decided to sit next to her for at least two hours, not argue and not disagree, but just shut up and listen to her.  OMG, she would beam endlessly and I loved it, and kicked myself for not doing it earlier, all she wanted was to know was that, she has not lost her son,  and he still cares about her. Indeed, now when I go home, I do the same with my sister,  park myself next to her for a few hours, and the happiness I see on her face is just worth everything.

Those of us who do not have a mother, they can still please her for our own spiritual balance, by spending our mental time with her. In my case, I do the prayer of gratitude and write about her and spend at least three to four hours mulling about her. 
Those of us who did not have a mother from the word go, and those who did not have a good relationship, I admire you for making it in the life without her love and affection, I am sorry this happened to you. If it makes you feel any good to talk, please feel free to do that, my number is in the about section. Those mothers who do not have any one, happy mothers day to you. There are many people wishing you, including myself.
I am pleased to copy some of my writings from a last few years.  
The Baha’i faith, “For mothers are the first educators, the first mentors; and truly it is the mothers who determine the happiness, the future greatness, the courteous ways and learning and judgment,the understanding and the faith of their little ones.”
In the Hindu tradition Mother is worshiped and she is represented by Ma Saraswati (source of knowledge), Ma Lakshmi (source of income) and the likes… Mother’s face is equated with God’s face, a song celebrates Mother by saying, if I have seen your face mother, I have seen God.
Prophet Muhammad was asked by his associates as to who is the most important person in one’s life – he says,”Mother”, they ask again, the answer was “Mother again” and same response was given for the third time, such is the importance given to mother. He said, your heaven, your paradise and your peace of mind comes to you by serving your mother.
In Jewish tradition, your heritage is determined by your Mother, you are a Jew because of your mother. Many Christians consider Mother Mary, as Mother of God, and for many others she is the spiritual mother.
In the native traditions, be it American, European,African, or Asian, Mother is creator in the form of mother Earth.
Despite your tradition and religious teaching to do great things,  there are bad guys and bad girls out there. Growing up in a very small town (then),  I distinctly remember three bothers killing their mother and throwing her in the town’s lake for her wealth,  and a son pushing his mother into a deep well so he can have her jewelry. Religions don’t matter to the bad guys, and those guys belonged to two different religions. But for every bad guy out there, there are a 1000 good ones and I know hundreds of such good stories.
You will find mother is placed at the highest spiritual level in all religions, traditions and life forms. Those who have a mother to see, you are the blessed one, those who don’t, you have her blessings.
Those who have tensions with your mother, ask her blessings, you will find the best happiness of life in that asking.
I lost my mother twelve years ago and here is a dedication to my mother I wrote http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2011/05/mother-my-story-happy-mothers-day.html
Happy Mother’s day. 

URL for this article – http://nabsites.net/demo/happy-motherss-day-there-is-non-one/

……

Mike Ghouse is a

speaker,
thinker and a

writer
on

pluralism,

politics,
peace,

Islam,

Israel,

India,

interfaith,
and cohesion at work place. He is
committed to building a

Cohesive
America

and offers pluralistic solutions on
issues of the day at

www.TheGhousediary.com.
He believes in

Standing up for others
and has done that throughout his life as
an activist. Mike has a presence on
national and local TV, Radio and Print
Media. He is a frequent guest on

Sean
Hannity show
on Fox
TV, and a commentator on national radio
networks, he contributes weekly to the
Texas Faith Column at

Dallas Morning News;
fortnightly at

Huffington post;
and several other periodicals across the
world. His personal site

www.MikeGhouse.net
indexes his work through many links.

MY PRAYERS (DUWA) FOR PAKISTAN

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URL – http://nabsites.net/demo/my-prayers-duwa-for-pakistan/


As an Indian American, and as a
Pluralist, I had always wished a stable and sustainable democracy for the
people of Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka. The golden rule for living is, you wish for others what you
cherish it yourselves. This is a joyful event for all of us in the subcontinent.

For the first time in their 67 years of
history, a smooth democratic transition is happening today, the people of
Pakistan are freely electing their representatives to govern. We, the community of nations, congratulate the people of Pakistan for
the exercise of their freedom. This hopefully would be a model to other Muslim majority nations to follow.
Please join me in a prayer to ask God to make this transition sustainable, and may God make this as
peaceful as possible.  May God bring peace and prosperity to every
Pakistani, be it a Baha’i, Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Jain, Jewish, Sikh,
Muslim Sunni, Muslim Shia, Muslim Ahmadi, Muslim Ismaili, Muslim Bohra, Zoroastrians,
the tribals and all others.
May God give the courage
to every Pakistani to stand up for each other, and may Justice become the core
of the new government.
God bless Pakistan,
Amen!
Pakistan Paindabad.
  
Fellow Americans, please vote for your local representatives today in the Muncipal elections, today is the last day to vote.
Mike
(214) 325-1916
—-
Mike Ghouse is a speaker, thinker
and a writer on pluralismpolitics,
peace, IslamIsraelIndiainterfaith,
and cohesion at work and social settings. He is committed to building a Cohesive America and
offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day at www.TheGhousediary.com. Mike
has a strong presence on national and local TV, Radio and Print Media. He is a
frequent guest on Sean Hannity show on Fox TV, and a commentator on
national radio networks, he contributes weekly to the Texas Faith Column
at Dallas Morning News, fortnightly at Huffington post, and
several other periodicals across the world. His personal site www.MikeGhouse.net indexes
everything you want to know about him.  

Who should you Vote this Saturday?

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As a Republican, I care about my nation and my region,
and I urge you to scrutinize the Republican candidates in particular,
we have more extremists among us than the Democrats. We want to move
forward and not fight with each other, we don’t need these assess to govern us.

Dump
those who show a discriminatory attitude, talk or act towards women,
people of other race, ethnicity or religion. Even if they are African
Americans, Hispanic or Asians, some of them stink.

If you know
about them, tell your friends about them. They are no good bums and not
good for our cities in the long run. Let the causers of tension in our
communities go! Hatred towards one is hatred towards all.

YES
to those who talk about including every one and moving forward together,
whether they are Republicans or Democrats; white, black or brown; man
or a woman.
Saturday, May 11, 2013 – is the day to vote in all municipal elections across the nations.  

Mike Ghouse
A moderate Republican
www.MikeGhouse.net

Texas Faith: Do we put too much emphasis on the brain to explain human behaviors?

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The social scientists have a greater role to play in completing the transaction of human behavior to separate the genuine conflicts from imagined ones to keep societal equilibrium. The new conflicts are a product of people of different faiths, cultures and races, working, eating, playing, marrying, and doing things together. Even with minimal interactions we have at this time, it is generating conflicts between those who believe their path alone brings salvation and those who believe in other avenues. 

  Texas Faith:  Do we put too much emphasis on the brain to explain human behaviors?

  

| Dallas Morning News | Published on May 7,  2013Do we put too much emphasis on the brain?

That thought came to me after reading a recent New York Times piece that questioned whether kidswho are being diagnosed with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder may simply suffer from loss of sleep. Wrote Dr. Vatsal Thakkar, a clinical assistant professor of psychiatry at New York University’s School of Medicine:
“I don’t doubt that many people do, in fact, have A.D.H.D.; I regularly diagnose and treat it in adults. But what if a substantial proportion of cases are really sleep orders in disguise?”
Don’t get me wrong. I am fascinated by how much more we know about the brain’s influence over our behaviors. Recently, I did an interview with Dr. Sandra Bond Chapman of the Center of BrainHealth at University of Texas at Dallas. She talked about how the brain’s development affects early learning. You can read more about her thoughts at this link.
Still, I have wondered whether the science of brain chemistry has risen to such a place that we may overlook other reasons for behavior. That includes whether the old-fashioned notion of sin could perhaps also explain the actions people take. Could it be that man’s rebellion against God is driving people to act the way they do as much as any influence their brain has on their actions?
We can never quantify the reasons for actions, but I would like to hear your thoughts about this issue: Are we relying too much on the science of the brain to explain human behaviors?

MIKE GHOUSE, President, Foundation for Pluralism, Dallas, and Speaker on interfaith matters, diversity and pluralism

When our universe came in to existence, two major components were its outcome; matter and life. Matter, comprising the sun, planets, moon, and everything else in the universe was programmed to maintain its own equilibrium, and doing precisely what they were scheduled to do. As humans, we were not set on a fixed program, but are equipped with a brain to freely guide us to find our own dynamic balance.
When we go off the balance, we consciously or instinctively make attempts to regain that elusive balance, failure to do so will result in a variety of pleasant and unpleasant actions that we may enjoy and or painfully endure. For guidance, we reach out to the stocked shelf and grab elements of religion like forgiveness, repentance, prayers, meditation and a variety of prescriptions to reboot our system.
Are we relying too much on the science of the brain to explain human behaviors?
Not at all, we are still at a nascent stage of exploring all that our brain does reflexively by the deficiency or excess of the chemicals. The more we identify the elements the greater chances we have of mitigating the nature of our being. Thanks to the insights unearthed in the interview with Dr. Sandra Bond Chapman. It gives a lot of hope.
However, a greater part of our behavior is nurtured by the social aspect of the environment, including what transpires in the developmental stage of our lives and as a member of the society at large. The founding fathers of human behavior like Freud, Jung and others were successful in identifying the behavioral issues stemming from nurture.
And now the social scientists have a greater role to play in completing the transaction of human behavior to separate the genuine conflicts from imagined ones to keep societal equilibrium. The new conflicts are a product of people of different faiths, cultures and races, working, eating, playing, marrying, and doing things together. Even with minimal interactions we have at this time, it is generating conflicts between those who believe their path alone brings salvation and those who believe in other avenues.
Pluralism is the upcoming social supplement for salvation. If we can learn to respect the otherness of others and accept the God-given uniqueness of each one of us, then conflicts fade and solutions emerge for cohesive and functional societies.

………..

To see all the other responses, at Dallas Morning News at: http://religionblog.dallasnews.com/2013/05/texas-faith-do-we-put-too-much-emphasis-on-the-brain-to-explain-human-behaviors.html/

….Mike Ghouse is a speaker, thinker and a writer on pluralism, politics, peace, Islam, Israel,India, interfaith, and cohesion at work place. He is committed to building a Cohesive Americaand offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day at www.TheGhousediary.com. He believes in Standing up for others and has done that throughout his life as an activist. Mike has a presence on national and local TV, Radio and Print Media. He is a frequent guest onSean Hannity show on Fox TV, and a commentator on national radio networks, he contributes weekly to the Texas Faith Column at Dallas Morning News; fortnightly atHuffington post; and several other periodicals across the world. His personal sitewww.MikeGhouse.net indexes all his work through many links.

Imran Khan, can he be an exemplary prime minister?

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Thanks to Daily Times, Pakistan for publishing this.
Its at: http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2013%5C05%5C08%5Cstory_8-5-2013_pg3_5

By Mike Ghouse


The fitna was started by Maulana Maududi; had it not been for him, Ziaul Haq and Bhutto, the Pakistanis would not have been belligerent towards fellow Pakistanis 


Imran Khan is by far the least-worst candidate among the field of candidates for Pakistan. Indeed, he can be an exemplary candidate if he fixes some of the flaws of sectarianism blatantly expressed by him. Khan’s statement that he has not asked the Ahmadiyya Muslims to vote for him is disturbing. Shouldn’t the future head of Pakistan’s government care about “all” Pakistanis? Does he not want to represent them? He sounded precisely like the Romney guy, thank God for saving America from him (Disclosure: I am a Republican, and he lost because not all Republicans voted for him). I see those reflections in Khan; he is playing like Romney in the last few weeks of the campaign, appeasing the right wing.

The second statement was made in Urdu, reaffirming that the Ahmadiyya are not Muslims because they do not subscribe to the Khatimun Nabiyeen, the finality of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) as the last prophet, as if he exclusively represents the Sunni Muslims and the hell with the others. Is this acceptable? As a leader of the nation he represents everyone, whether they believe in the Prophet (PBUH) or not. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) himself set the example of respecting Jews, Christians and others who did not believe in him, and not only that, he signed the treaty with them to co-exist and co-govern their own affairs per their own laws.

If Khan is like one of those other bad guys, that would be different; but he is a decent man and probably the only hope for Pakistan. He has earned that by being honest and a non-appeaser. Now worried about winning, he has started appeasing the mullahs, and speaking the language of the Jhangvi idiots who want to declare Pakistan as a Sunni nation; the next would be Ahle-sunnat, and then those among Ahle-Sunnat whose pants length is precise to the millimeter. There is no end to appeasing or calming down the fanatics, and they would extract a pound of flesh from him.

The question is why Khan should worry about the insignificant Ahmadiyya, Shia or Hindu minority. Is that the right thing to do? Did Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) not speak out for the oppressed? Here are some civil examples, and I hope at least the Pakistani Americans would understand and support it. 

1. Civil rights acts were passed to right the wrong done to the African Americans, a tiny minority. It was passed by the white majority; it was for the common good and justice, that all men are equal. Shouldn’t Islamic Republic of Pakistan adopt this? Isn’t that an Islamic value? 

2. Lincoln’s abolishment of slavery for Africans was passed by the white majority, indeed the only voters in senate then were white.

3. Barack Obama took the risk to stand up with the LGBT community where as everyone thought it was the death nail for him politically; even Muslims gave him over 80 percent of their vote, despite his support for the same sex marriage.

4. Humanity in general and Muslims in particular are guided to stand up for justice. Only the civility of majority can change things. 
Minorities do not have a voice in Pakistan and they live on with apprehensions. The Hindu parents worry when their daughter will be abducted and forced to convert or when the Ahmadiyya girl student will be kicked out of school or their graves are desecrated, Shias ordered out of the bus and shot point blank and Christians will be framed with blasphemy charges. Societies are judged by how they treat their minorities, women and children. Good Pakistanis are letting bad things happen in their names.

5. It is the Muslim thing to stand up against oppression.

6. ‘Baad may karliengaye’ (we will do it later), after election, is a lie. It will never happen. The foundation of Khan’s campaign should be based on integrity. As 96 percent of Pakistanis prefer freedom of faith as per the new Pew survey about Muslim attitudes towards the Sharia. Who is he representing then?

In all the cases above, there was an assumption that the majority does not favour it. Just like the statements from a few Pakistanis that Ahmadiyya should not call themselves Muslims. It is a Pakistani thing and not a Muslim thing.

Perhaps the issue started with the dictator brainwashing the vocal Pakistani public, because before that people minded their own business. The fitna was started by Maulana Maududi; had it not been for him, Ziaul Haq and Bhutto, the Pakistanis would not have been belligerent towards fellow Pakistanis. Had that evil draconian anti-Islamic Hudood laws was not shoved on to Pakistanis, they would be standing up for the rights of all Pakistanis. Dictator’s Hudood laws have become Allah’s laws now, what an Irony. The germs have infected Bangladesh and Indonesia, and now affecting a few Indian Muslims as well.

Muslims around the world have little prejudice towards the Ahmadiyya. I meet large groups of Muslim scholars, imams and ministers from Muslim nations twice a year for coaching in pluralism. They do not have the bias that a few Pakistanis vocalise. I firmly believe if there is referendum, where individuals will not be identified, the Pakistani public will overwhelmingly want to get rid of the Hudood laws and the harassment of the Ahmadiyya Muslims.

A few, just a few will say why on earth is Ghouse supporting the Ahmadiyya? My answer is simple: it is not support for the Ahmadiyya, but rather an effort to preserve the character of Muslims and Islam, which is to stand up for Justice. I have nothing to gain but hear ugly words from a few. I am better off spending my time making money, aren’t I? Doesn’t that make me run from the responsibility of doing my personal share of work towards a better world? The Prophet (PBUH) said that the least you can do is to speak up, didn’t he?

The issue is really not about Khatimun Nabiyeen, but do we as Muslims believe that Islam allows us to mistreat those who are not Sunnis? Khan should have said the Ahmadiyya (not Qadianis, which is like the N word to them) are Pakistanis, and they have every right to vote, instead of reiterating that they are not Muslims, and that as a possible head of the government I represent them and to represent them, I would ask for their vote. 

Democracy is not an easy system, it asks a lot from everyone. It is testing one’s ability to hear different opinions without feeling hatred for the others. Most Muslims have democracy in their hearts and souls; many more are yet to get it. Thank God, I was a minority in India, and a minority in the US. The majoritarian arrogance is not by the majority, but by a few among them, who assume a blanket authorisation by the silence of the real majority. It is time for
the majority to speak up and get Imran Khan to represent every Pakistani without discrimination. If not he is just another politician claiming to follow the Prophet (PBUH), but he is not.

Mike Ghouse is a speaker, thinker and a writer on pluralism, politics, peace, Islam, Israel, India, interfaith, and cohesion at work place. He is committed to building a Cohesive America and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day at www.TheGhousediary.com. He believes in Standing up for others and has done that throughout his life as an activist. Mike has a presence on national and local TV, Radio and Print Media. He is a frequent guest on Sean Hannity show on Fox TV, and a commentator on national radio networks, he contributes weekly to the Texas Faith Column at Dallas Morning News; fortnightly at Huffington post; and several other periodicals across the world. His personal site www.MikeGhouse.net indexes his work through many links

Tippu Sultan – India's brave king against the mighty British empire

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I am honored to be a part of the History of the state of Karnataka,
and a recipient of one of the two brass busts of Tippu Sultan made on
the 200th commemoration. I am glad to be a part of the history, but I am not history yet.

Tippu Sultan’s vision of India was Swaraj (self rule) not British Raj.
He was killed in the 4th war of Mysore against the British on this day,
May 4th 1799. History records that his confidant and assistant leaked
the information to the British about Tippu’s whereabouts and that’s how
the native kingdom fell to the colonists.

On the
bi-centennial commemoration of his death in 1999, two brass busts were
made. One is with former Prime Minister Deve Gowda, then Chief Minister
Deve Gowda, and other one was presented to me by Dr. Range Gowda, an
expert on Tippu Sultan and author of many books.

 

Indeed, when
my father was running for the City council, it was festivity at our
home, the public address systems (we called it loud speakers then)
were set and Lavani (folk singing in Kannada Language) were sung, how
Mir Sadiq, Tippu’s deputy betrayed him. I am trying to recall that in
Kannada with failures. My father was also elected Mayor of the city back
in 1952, and he was elected on the day I was born or vice-Versa.

Tippu was a secular King in the times when it was not a common thing.
Dr. Gowda’s research is an eye opener. Unfortunately, a few right
wingers in India have maligned him for the excesses’ done by his fanatic
deputies in Kerala and Mangalore, where they forced Hindus and
Christians to convert to Islam. On the contrary, Tippu granted lands to
build temples, and he defended the Sringeri Matt (Hindu Sanctuary) from
attacks from Marathas, and has protected the Ranganatha Temple in
Srirangapatna. Indeed, the first Christian church in the state was
built in Mysore City with a land grant from Tippu Sultan that was before
the British invaded. His deputy Poornayya was a Hindu.

In a
free society, falsities come with the facts, and we have to live with
it. I have been to all his places. Indeed his Toop Khana – the artillery
depot sat next to my house in Yelahanka, the wall of our house joined
the wall of Tippu’s depot known as Chattra now – where they conduct
weddings, and my sister’s wedding was conducted in it and my best friend
Jaichand Sugalchand Sajjanraj Jain’s wedding was also conducted there.

When I was a kid, I messed with everything my Dad did, in front of our
house, while digging for a wall, I jumped into the trench to dig
foundation with axe, boom, one hit, and there was a massive hole. I
screamed and came out of the trench, later it took truck loads of dirt
to fill it in. and they said it was Tippu’s tunnel. No one verified or
reported that to anyone. Unfortunately that is not a custom in India. We
don’t value the old stuff unlike here in America, which would have
become a heritage.

The house we lived was the house where Kempe
Gowda, founder of Bangalore lived. I have asked my nephew to save the
500 year old rosewood columns and the arches, and I hope to do something
with it. It is historical.

Tippu goes on the record as the
only 2nd head of the state in human history that was on the front line
of battle field defending his state. He also has a record among all the
British colonies to be the only one who captured and imprisoned the
British soldiers.

The Kingdom of Mysore was also among three
nations in the world that recognized American Independence and
apparently July 4th was celebrated in Sri Rangapatna, the State Capital
of Mysore in 1776.

Don’t forget he is the father of Rockets and
inventor of Torpedo, known as Bangalore Torpedo. The British and
American scientists have given him due recognition. Indeed, India’s
first satellite was made in Bangalore as well.

Thank you.

Mike Ghouse
(214) 325-1916/ text

……. Mike Ghouse is a speaker, thinker and a writer on pluralism,
politics, peace, Islam, Israel, India, interfaith, and cohesion at work
place. He is committed to building a Cohesive America and offers
pluralistic solutions on issues of the day at www.TheGhousediary.com.
He believes in Standing up for others and has done that throughout his
life as an activist. Mike has a presence on national and local TV, Radio
and Print Media. He is a frequent guest on Sean Hannity show on Fox TV,
and a commentator on national radio networks, he contributes weekly to
the Texas Faith Column at Dallas Morning News; fortnightly at Huffington
post; and several other periodicals across the world. His personal site
www.MikeGhouse.net indexes all his work through many links.

— with Vanja B Krupa and 27 others.