Bad news for Romney

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John
Bolton has become a surrogate volunteer for Romney, and this does not bode well
for presumed Presidential Nominee. Romney could increase his chances if he was
true to his own ideals of moderation, but sadly, he has fallen in to the same
pit and has surrounded himself with rash men like Bolton.

There was a little
hope a few days ago, that the Republicans will wake up and clean the party from
radicals who do nothing but destructive and divisive talk that has brought our
nation to this sad economic point in history.

It takes one to change
the world and one to destroy it.

Senator John McCain’s
individualism broke away from being a Republican communitarian momentarily,
when he spoke up against Congresswoman Michelle Bachman’s McCarthyistic
accusations against fellow Americans, then the community of Republicans joined
him, restoring common sense.

Now, John Bolton goes
against McCain, Boehner and the other Americans.

Think Progress
reports, “Today on Center for Security Policy president Frank Gaffney’s radio
show, Mitt Romney foreign policy adviser John Bolton defended Rep. Michele
Bachmann’s (R-MN) call for the U.S. government to investigate suggestions that
government employees — including a top aide to Secretary of State Hillary
Clinton — are affiliated with a Muslim Brotherhood plot to infiltrate the U.S.
government.”
Romney on Bolton,
““John Bolton insists on good results for America and is someone I respect,”
Romney said in December. “I think he’s a fine man with great capacity.”
As a moderate
Republican, I am still hoping Romney had better clean up his people. He is
studded with Bush men all over, and it is not good news for Romney. I am still
undecided, but Romney is not helping either by piling up radical men on his
side to make him a less logical choice.

_______

Mike Ghouse is a speaker, thinker and a writer on the topics of Pluralism, Coexistence, politics, interfaith, Islam and cohesive societies. He is committed to building a cohesive America and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day.

Texas Faith: Obama sparked a conversation about communitarianism v. individualism: Where do you fall?

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 URL: http://nabsites.net/demo/texas-faith-obama-sparked-conversation/

The divide between individualism and
communitarianism flashed to the surface last week during the
presidential campaign. It came about after President Obama rather famously
told a Virginia audience.  ”If you were successful,
somebody along the line gave you some help. There was a great teacher somewhere in your life.
 Somebody helped to create this
unbelievable American system that we have that allowed you to thrive.  Somebody invested in roads and
bridges.  If you’ve got a business. you
didn’t build that.  Somebody else made that happen.  The Internet didn’t get invented on its own.
 Government research created the Internet so that all the companies could make money off the
Internet.”
This may sound like an esoteric
question, but it really gets at the heart of the discussion now going on within
the presidential campaign.  Communitarianism or individualism? Where do you fall?
Texas Faith is a weekly column at Dallas Morning News managed by Editors William McKenzie and Wayne Slater, the material is contributed by several panelists, for all responses please visit  http://religionblog.dallasnews.com/2012/07/texas-faith-communitarianism-or-individualism-where-do-you-fall.html/

MIKE GHOUSE, President,
Foundation for Pluralism, Dallas


From the moment one is born to the
moment life ends, a normal human being cannot survive without nurturing. He
cannot birth himself or bury himself. There is always another human to be a
part of the support system from birth to death.

We are indeed
an individual strand in the web of the community. Whatever affects the web
affect us (Chief Seattle), and vice versa. Global warming, mad cow disease and
other issues are communitarian in nature, but driven by individuals in both
directions.
Everyone’s
psyche or conscience is a product of one’s environment, and our morality is a
necessity of co-existence.
Strict
individualism works well, as long as one is capable of taking care of one’s
self. However, no individual is free from vulnerability of accidents, diseases,
wars and old age. We are dependent on others to produce or consume.
Religions have
contributed greatly towards building the communitarian life where the
invincible (lol) and vulnerable both can live his or her life to the fullest
extent possible.
Indeed
morality is the insurance for the safety of individuals in a community.
Where do I
fall?
There is a
balance to be maintained in life. Justice is the core value and basis for the
success of any given society, without which no society can maintain its social,
moral and economic equilibrium.
One can get
away with murder or taking advantage of others. But that creates an imbalance
and rots the society with insecurity. It also puts the responsibility back on
individuals to restore that elusive and dynamic balance.
Individualism
and communitarianism can be best understood by looking at the extreme
ideologies: responsible capitalism and communism. Individuals have the burning
desire to excel and to do well, and capitalism becomes a catalyst for the
prosperity of individuals that directly benefits the society, through
incentives to the individuals, where as communism restricts growth through
forced equality. As capitalists we need to think about our own safety in the
long haul caused by inequalities.
If freedom and
justice are the core values of a given society, we need not worry about
communitarianism or individualism. Both complement each other.
_ _ _ 
Please mark your calendar for
Tuesday 9/11/2012, it’s a big event in Dallas- details at www.UnitydayUSA.com
No American has to live in
apprehension or fear of the other. There are solutions, here is a trailer of
the movie in making:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMXsTo4VYh8&feature=youtu.be

Mike Ghouse is committed to building a Cohesive
America and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day. He is a
professional speaker, thinker and a writer on pluralism, politics, civic
affairs, Islam, India, Israel, peace and justice. Mike 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 and
regularly at Huffington post, and several other periodicals across the world.
The blog www.TheGhousediary.comis updated daily.

A Satire on Colorado Mass Murderer and a Message to the Opportunists

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James Holmes, the alleged shooter who killed 12 in a crowded Colorado movie theater, reportedly worked at a Muslim summer camp for underprivileged children.
Holmes, 24, spent a summer working as a counselor for an Islamic Camp in Glendale, Calif., which is run by Muslim Brothers of Los Angeles, the Los Angeles New Times reported Saturday.
He is suspected of opening fire on the crowd late Thursday night at a midnight screening in Aurora, Colo., of the new Batman film “The Dark Knight Rises.” Twelve people were killed and 58 were injured in the shooting spree.
Holmes was arrested shortly after the shootings. He reportedly set off smoke bombs before firing at the crowd.
In a statement to the Los Angeles Times, Muhammad Mureed, chief executive of Muslim Society of Los Angeles and director of Camp Islam, said of Holmes, “His role was to ensure that these children had a wonderful camp experience by helping them learn confidence, self-esteem and how to work in small teams to effect positive outcomes.” In a later e-mail, Mureed added, “That summer provided the kids a wonderful camp experience without incident.”
Palestinian President Mahmood Abbas sent a letter to President Obama on Saturday expressing his condolences and those of the Palestinian people to the families of the Americans who were murdered in the theater.
“All Palestinians stand alongside the American people in mourning over this terrible tragedy which claimed the lives of so many,” Morsi said. “We well understand the pain and loss that you are experiencing.”
A MOMENT TO REFLECT
If Joe Blow rapes a woman in your neighborhood, should the police arrest Joe, or should they arrest and harass his parents, siblings, kids, spouse, and his friends?
Joe committed the crime and his tushie needs to be hauled off, and by arresting him, it bring calmness to the neighborhood, knowing that the rapist is locked up. People would feel safe again and a sense of safety would be restored in the community.
On the other hand, imagine harassing the entire neighborhood, blaming the Mayor and the pastor or even the Bible for this criminal, we will never resolve an issue if we dance around it.
Do you remember how quickly the opportunists cashed in on Osama Bin Laden? He was the bad guy, but we destroyed nations instead of him, we blamed their religion and their book, how dumb! Did the Billion plus Muslims vote Bin Laden to do the evil? We recklessly sacrificed 5000 of our men and women in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan; and have destroyed other nations and innocent people and shamelessly called it a collateral damage.
Had we nailed the criminal Osama bin Laden in the first place, and not others, we would not have caused budget deficits, and millions of Americans would not have lost their jobs and their homes. The war mongers should never be listened to, they make their good, but the common man gets screwed. Wars destroy us more than it destroys others. The results are in our face.
Where is Pamela Geller, Brigitte Gabrielle, Fank Gaffney, Robert Spencer, David Horowitz or their ilk? It’s an opportunity for them to make a capital out of it. Of course, they will not take it up because it was not a Muslim.
CAVEAT EMPTOR
This is a spoof, a mocking imitation of an article that appeared in the JTA.org, thanks to them. The original piece has the word Jew in place of Muslim, Netanyahu in place of Mahmoud Abbas, and Palestine in place of Israel.
I hope we reflect on how our media and some of the opportunists would have reacted if this guy had gone to a Muslim camp.
A chill went up my spine imagining if it were a Muslim how much of a mess they would have created in America. Instead of going after the criminal, they would have blamed Muslims, Muslim Brotherhood in the US (Hallucination of Michelle Bachman and the other opportunists) and Islam.
It’s time for America to wake up and question the integrity of these men and women, thanks to John McCain for unleashing the power of questioning, others will follow and a trend is in the making to restore America to be just and not put with the non-sense of the opportunists.

Mike Ghouse is a speaker, thinker and a writer on the topics of Pluralism, Coexistence, politics, interfaith, Islam and cohesive societies. He is committed to building a cohesive America and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day.

Ramadan day 3 Plano Masjid

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DAY
3 – PLANO MOSQUE, SUNDDAY,
JULY 22, 2012
Plano Masjid, 6401
Independence Parkway, Plano, TX

click on pic to see larger
picture – 12 other pictures in the Flickr link above
Experiencing
Ramadan.

It’s the 3rd day of Ramadan, and Plano Masjid was my
destination. Most of the people involved in building of the mosque were part of
the Richardson Mosque eons ago, as Plano grew and filled every piece of land
that there was with homes, so did the growth of Muslim population. Now there is
another Mosque on the east side of the town called EPIC, East Plano Islamic
Center.

Plano is one of the most progressive cities in the area and took
off in mid-to-late eighties. It is also one of the top ten safest cities for
single women, no; it was # 1 at one time, Mayor Pat Evans took joy in correcting
me. Former Mayors Jeran Akers and Pat Evans were part of many a events including
Unity Day USA. Indeed, we got 4 Cricket play grounds when Jeran Akers was the
Mayor and I was President at North Texas Cricket Association then. Pat Evans has
been a part of the Unity Day since 2005. I have met the new Mayor but yet to
develop relationship.

Imam Yaseen Shaikh posted great messages on the
face book;

Imam Yaseen Shaikh, more
pictures in the link
“Reminder:
Community Iftaar at Masjid does not mean we sit with our family and friends of
same ethnic background to breakfast. It means we breach the barriers we have
created and create a bond of brotherhood and sisterhood by building friendships
and relationships with brothers and sisters beyond our ethnic background during
these If tar’s. Please try to sit with somebody you don’t know, break bread
together, build friendship, bond, and then invite them and their family over for
Eid. Many Muslim’s feel isolated on Eid because they are not Desi or Arab. Let’s
change this.”

Indeed that has been our effort as well, to visit every
mosque of every denomination, to know each other and familiarize with the
uniquenesses of each other. Quite a lot has been written in the last two years
on this Blog. Except the actual prayers, the ritual prayers, most other
practices differ from community to community.

Plano
Masjid Probably is closer to Richardson Mosque in its practices, I am using the
word probably because I have not been a part of this mosque, but I do know many
of my friends who are a part of this mosque to make that
assumption.
I
was pleasantly surprised to see a large number of young people during the time
of Iftaar, but at the prayer, there were two rows of adults. I was wondering
where they came from. They were not at the Iftaar and of course, I did not
check if there were two different venues for Iftaar. Normally all people sit
together and break the fast.

In
the kitchen where they were making plates with dates and fruits, it was good to
see an adult asking the teens to wear the gloves to handle the food. Indeed,
yesterday at Richardson Mosque, each one in the food supply and service was
wearing gloves.

Neither
yesterday, nor today, there were napkins to wipe the fingers. I have found this
to be a common practice among most of the homes as well, napkins is the last
thing on their mind, collectively as well as individually. I wiped it on my
sleeve, no, I am just kidding. I wiped inside of my pant pockets.


Mike
Ghouse is committed to doing his individual share of building cohesive societies
and invites you to the 8th Annual Unity Day USA on Tuesday, September 11, 2012.
Details at www.UnitydayUSA.com, it’s an event that builds bridges and uplifts
every American.

Ramadan day 2 Richardson Mosque

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Experiencing
Ramadan

Please
note that the Ramadan diary is written for our Muslim and non-Muslims friends
alike, hence the language is un-typical. We will do our best to weave through
references that our Christian, Hindu, Jewish and other friends can relate with.
By the way, we have been talking (Radio) and writing about the essence of major
festivities of all religions so we can understand each other. It is a call from
God to learn about each other and know each other, when we do that, myths about
others disappear, we open up to friendships without reserve or
fear.

SATURDAY, JULY 21, 2012
Dallas
Central Mosque, 840 Abrams Road,
Richardson, TX
75081
Website: www.Iant.com

Tonight
is the 2nd day of Ramadan, and I went to the Richardson Mosque, my
home Mosque (below) and the standard bearer for North Texas Mosques. A majority
of the Mosques (Sunni tradition) more or less follow the traditions followed
here. This is the first “major” Mosque in North Texas and almost every Muslim
who has been in Dallas prior to turn of the century has been a part of this
Mosque. Of course we have over 35 Mosques and several Musallas (Mini-Mosques) in
North Texas; we have enough people to have one for every denomination.

The euphoria of Ramadan lends to the fellowship (Ramadan day 1) that we
all desire and look forward to. It generates the same good feeling of kindness
and piety that Christians feel during Christmas and Hindus during Navaratri,
Jews during Rosh Hashanah and others during their
festivals.


The
best way to enjoy Ramadan is to go early to the Mosque, and I went way too early
which lend me to talk with key people and of course, take pictures of the
sanctuary for my friends. For my Muslim friends, I highlight the uniqueness of
each denomination, much of which is cultural.

Click to enlarge 25 pics in the
link

My
first visit was with our Imam, Dr. Yusuf Zia Kavakci (more about him in the
links below) who and I have worked together on different occasions for almost 20
years from the Asian News days; he has been on my Radio show several times in
the Mid-Nineties. Our conversation is usually about intra-faith and interfaith
issues. In some of the most critical moments of my public life, he and Imam Zia
Shaikh of Irving have been great guides. There was a situation in 1996 and again
in 2005 at the Unity Day where we handled it fairly well. From time to time, he
has appreciated my approach that is free from the back-home-baggage.

Richardson
Mosque has been a home Mosque to me, although I do not go there frequently, it
feels home. For those living outside the United States, you may find this as a
news item that almost every Muslim (both male and female) drives to the mosque;
there are no separate residential areas where people of any religion live
exclusively. Even though there is a trend for developing smaller neighborhoods
around the Mosques, it will not become the life style. In the long haul
integration (not assimilation) is essential for the overall good of individual
communities and nation as a whole.
Click to enlarge 25 pics in the
link

As
I was walking out of Imam Kavakci’s office, I ran into my friend Brother
Muhammad Suleman, he was the past president of the Islamic Center and president
during the 9/11 crisis, he was also featured in High Profile in Dallas Morning
News, a great honor for our community. He and I have worked on many projects
together including two years on my Radio show, wisdom of religion (all the
religions), where he and I spent two years on Radio talking about Islam on every
Friday morning for an hour. Please say your get well prayers for Mrs. Suleman
who is in hospital today.

900,
yes, Nine Hundred people were in the community hall waiting for the Adhan
(prayer call) to signify the time to break the fast. In Jerusalem, they fire a
gun into air to signify end of Suhoor (pre dawn meal) as well as Iftaar. I was
held at the check point for Masjid Al-Aqsa by an Israeli guard, that is another
story. In smaller mosques, people gather around as a groups and there will a
personal announcement (refer to day 1) to break the fast.

Take a look at
the plates on the tables, a piece of Banana, three dates, a piece of water
melon, a glass of milk and water. The plates were all set up for people to pick
one and take their seat at the tables. Once again, that is 5 billion dates
consumption across the world, today! Why dates? That is another story, I have
written two years ago, but will re-incorporate when I see dates are flooded in
some mosque this month. Each Mosque has evolved into its own
practice.

After breaking the fast, the next call you hear is Aqama,
fairly similar to the Adhan right before the congregational prayers. Anyone can
lead the prayer, even though Dr. Yusuf Zia Kavakci is the imam (pastor, pundit,
rabbi, shaman, clergy, minister), he designates one of his students from his
academy to lead the prayers, and he has 60 Huffaz (plural for Hafiz, the one who
memorizes the whole Quraan) in Dallas, and one of them is the world renowned
one: Rashad Hussain the US Ambassador to OIC.

Click to enlarge 25 pics in the
link
We
were back to the community hall for dinner, a large open building that
accommodates nearly 1000 seated in theater style. The hall is used for basket
ball and other community activities including interfaith dinners. Nearly five
years ago, my late wife Najma’s funeral prayers were held here, the Fire
Marshall did not allow more than 2200 people, the capacity for the standing
room, that’s how Muslim funeral prayers are conducted; in standing posture. She
left in peace and thanks to our friends from every faith for participating in
the prayers.

Click to enlarge 25 pics in the
link

Serving
dinner for 900 people is not easy! Mr. Waqar Qazi runs the Silver Spoon
restaurant and has become quite adept in handling catering to large gatherings.
There are a few pictures of the kitchen where the volunteers formed an assembly
line that beats Henry Ford’s assembly line; they placed the food on the plate
consisting of Salad, Rice, lentil-veggies, and Chicken curry in healthy
portions. About 6 plates were placed on a tray and put on the counter… the
volunteers grabbed the tray and walked to each table, and delivered the food….
All in 20 minutes! Yes 20 Minutes! That is amazing accuracy!

Click to enlarge 25 pics in the
link

There
was a senior citizen, who did not want to be pictured or named, but the people
in Richardson know him, he is probably in his seventies, but has the energy of a
young man and was managing the food serving and delivery very effectively. He
was literally running all over the place to ensure everything ran smoothly.
Thanks to this unknown soldier.
The
other lead volunteer (forgive me if there was another one) was Amir Omar, the
Richardson City Councilman (pictured with a tray in his hand, clean shaven
head). He is one of the four or five who made the trips from the counter to the
tables delivering all that food in 20 minutes.

Click to enlarge pic -25 pics in link

Today,
he is one of the most popular council men in North Texas, because he is
there with
every community volunteering his time generously. He is an example of how to be a
fully participating and contributing member of the society. He is a true
representative of Richardsonians. He is on facebook as well, tag him
and show you support.


Yunus Anthony, announced a gathering
of new converts, and I regret not making it to that corner, but did talk to him,
who was also at the Carrollton Mosque yesterday. I hope he and his group will
serve as volunteers for the Unity Day event on Tuesday, September 11, 2012. God
willing, I will be visiting Churches, Temples, Synagogues and other places of
worship to find volunteer to represent every race, ethnicity and faith to be
present at the Unity Day. www.UnitydayUSA.com

By
the way years ago, Richardson Mosque started a Medical clinic to serve the
people who do not have insurance, it is for everyone, and people from all faiths
and traditions visit this clinic for care. I am proud of this clinic, where
Muslims are contributing to the well being of the overall society. Of course,
there are other initiatives and other clinics, and that will be expressed in a
different context.

Indeed,
Richardson Mosque is an example of being a part of the society, serving the
society. I believe that is the purpose of a Mosque, a community center. More
about the Mosque at www.Iant.com

Coming up; the Islamic village http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7bjh56GU-0&feature=player_embedded#!

Here are a few pieces I have written
about Dr. Kavakci and others issues, I need to put together the work we did
through MRRT, the Muslim Rapid Response Team in 2003 in responding
to baseless allegations that the local media
levied on the Imam and this Mosque. Thanks to Dallas Morning News for publishing
it.

v Honoring
Imam Dr. Yusuf Zia Kavakci today
http://nabsites.net/demo/honoring-imam-dr-yusuf-zia-kavakci/

v There
is only one Islamhttp://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2010/04/there-is-only-one-islam.html

v Are
Muslims a part of the American society? http://nabsites.net/demo/are-muslims-part-of-american-story/

v A call
from God to know each other
http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2012/01/mission-of-world-muslim-congress.html

v Dallas
Interfaith Imamshttp://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2012/07/dallas-interfaith-imams-and-ramadan.html

v Ramadan
day 1, 2011http://nabsites.net/demo/day-1-of-ramadan-2011/

v A
challenge to Muslims, are we fit to be Americanshttp://nabsites.net/demo/my-challenge-to-muslims-are-we-fit-to/

v Sharia
Issueshttp://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2011/07/sharia-issues-in-2012-and-solutions.html

v Facebook
– You are welcome to visit my my facebook page: www.facebook.com/SpeakerMikeGhouse
 the others has reached the maximum of 5000 friends – –

Mike
Ghouse is committed to doing his individual share of building cohesive societies
and invites you to the 8th Annual Unity Day USA on Tuesday, September 11, 2012.
Details at www.UnitydayUSA.com, it’s an event that builds bridges and uplifts
every American. Watch the trailer of the upcoming film – Americans Together,
building a cohesive America at
www.AmericaTogetherFoundation.com

Standing up for the Tea Party

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When
someone is accused of wrong doing, it is the duty of every human to stand up
for them; ultimately everyone would be better off.

The ABC news has
messed up, “and issued a report Friday
suggesting that the horrific shooting at a Colorado movie theater was
perpetrated by a suspect with ties to the movement, the situation had a
familiar feel to it, tea party leaders say.”

Although the report may suit many who hate the politics of the Tea Party, but
speaking up against false suggestions is the right thing to do.

My
instant reaction smelled the wrongness of the suggestion that the murder was
linked to the Tea Party. I deliberated about the dangerous and sinister accusations
aggressively made against Muslims almost every week by the individuals
affiliated with the Tea Party, then a verse from Quraan popped  in my ears, “don’t let your bias of others make
you unjust towards them”, bingo, I was back home with my original reaction. Justice
is the ultimate panacea to the ills of the society.

Here I
am calling on ABC News to give equal time to the tea party members to clarify
their position. Individuals may be wrong, but never a group of people.

I was
intrigued by Lu
Ann Busse’s statement, “There’s been repeated incidents where people have an
agenda to demonize a certain segment of the population, whether it is the tea
party or similar groups,” Busse said. “They try to use everything to demonize
and marginalize us, and I think it’s totally irresponsible and not the way
people should act.”

Indeed,
I am concerned about that statement, and ask Lu Ann Busse, who is currently
running for the Colorado House and a former Tea Party leader  to join me in condemning similar statements
made by Tea party affiliated men and women like Michelle Bachman, Herman Cain, Sara
Palin and countless others for political gains.

We need to set the country on the right track by speaking up against wrong
doing, no matter who it is.

All it takes is one man to fix the ills of our society, and one man to mess it
up.   I salute John McCain for speaking up against
Michelle Bachman, and appreciate all the sheep that jumped behind him like Ed
Rollins, John Boehner and a host of others.

I
am pleased to stand up for the Tea Party in this regard, and I have stood up
for everyone from Atheists to Zoroastrian and every one in between at http://standingupforothers.blogspot.com/
_______
Mike Ghouse is a speaker, thinker and a writer on the topics of Pluralism, Coexistence, politics, interfaith, Islam and cohesive societies. He is committed to building a cohesive America and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day. 

Ramadan day 1 Carrollton Mosque

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DAY 1 – CARROLLTON MOSQUE, FRIDAY, JULY 20, 2012 
URL: http://nabsites.net/demo/ramadan-day-1-carrollton-mosque/

Experiencing Ramadan

This is an effort to document and record the Iftaar experience with every Muslim denomination, it is a journal of how each tradition within Islam, and a sub sect within each practices Ramadan. The biggest idea that jumps out is seeing the differences and understanding that they are cultural and not religious.

Much is written in this blog, but the focus will be today’s experience. Over the years, I have been visiting different Mosques for Friday prayers, and today, it was the Frisco Mosque (picture below), a temporary Mosque in down town Frisco, as the construction for the new Mosque is about to start.

First Iftaar of Ramadan at Carrollton Mosque
Carrollton Islamic Center, 1901 Kelly Blvd, Carrollton, TX 75006

Nearly 150 people attended the Iftaar, possibly because of the invitation to witness the ground breaking ceremony to expand the Mosque.  www.carrolltonmasjid.org 
Click the picture to enlarge 
There is one thing that I have been missing in the mosques; fellowship.
However, it was a beautiful experience tonight at the Carrollton Mosque.  The weather was remarkably pleasant and the fellowship was perfect. Usually people dash in and out, but this evening all of us had an opportunity to sit down and socialize and wait for the sunset. 

The Christian Church has a formal structure to encourage fellowship. Almost every Church I speak at, has a follow up gathering in the fellowship hall for visiting with each other. I had always longed for that environment in a Mosque, it is not common, nor is it conducive for Muslims now, as they  have to go back to work after the Friday congregational prayers. However, the original Mosques were  community centers for people to come together. My references is strictly the United States, and India, where I am from. I have no idea how they do in Muslim majority nations where Friday is a holiday for them. I hope someone shares that.

I really enjoyed the Iftaar, everyone got to sit down and chat up with each other, and one Sheikh was asked to give a short talk, he was good, and did give a short talk in the few minutes left to do the Iftaar.  Apparently he is from Morocco. 

So when the sun’s last ray disappeared, the Amir  (by the way his name is Aamir, but pronounced differently) announced that it was time to break the fast. Traditionally it starts with a bite  of the Dates * and  in some traditions it is the water.   Can you imagine the consumption of  nearly 5 billion dates tonight across the world to break the fast? 

Each mosque has a little different tradition, for instance, in Madinah Masjid (Carrollton)  the Imam recites the Iftaar prayer, and the group repeats after him before they break the fast, however, it is little different in Shia tradition, and Ahmadiyya tradition is identical with the Sunni tradition. Insha Allah, I will document the differences to understand and respect them as cultural practices rather than religious ones. 
19 Pictures: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikeghouse/sets/72157630675003498/show/
Iftaar was followed by the Maghrib (dusk) prayers, there is very little difference in traditions, but there is some. Thank God, arrogance has no place in my heart to say which one is standard, it is what is in one’s heart that matters. 
The next thing was the ground breaking ceremony, each one in the leadership got a shovel and a hard hat, and started filling the hole with the dugged out dirt. It should have been the other way around.  They even got a silver shovel for the Amir – the leader: Dr. Amir Shakil.  Glad to see the women taking their turn and even the kids got to throw up some dirt with excitement.

Dinner was healthy and good, the Arabic puffed up bread was fantastic, one of my favorites.  I just wanted to say to my wife that I ate only half the bread watching my cholesterol.  The beans were excellent! Good choice of food!

It was a pleasure to meet some of the friends after a long time.  I remembered 20+ names but there were several more I could not.  I just cannot get the names out, so I will not list any. I don’t want to hurt the feelings of those few whose name is blocked in my mind.  About ten years ago, I could call on every name in most gatherings, I just cannot do it it now, the mind blanks out.  Dear God, help me out the names! 

It was a beautiful Iftaar and the evening.
Mosque in Frisco, one of the fastest growing cities in America.
Something to think about

Two years ago, I was intrigued by a tafseer/ exegesis that I read in this Mosque, the book was printed in Madinah, about what idolatry meant. It was a beautiful writing and I wanted to read that again and perhaps copy (iphone pic), but have not found the book again. It had the broadest meaning and would have been perfect to talk about in the interfaith gatherings. Indeed, I had a similar conversation with Michael Wolfe prior to release of his film “The message”. I will have to go back and check again where this wonderful book is.
I was early, so I read Sura Baqra- the second chapter in Urdu, the translation was done by Dr. Tahir-ul Qadiri. The flow was much better than some of the other translations.  I did not get to read the whole chapter, but a few verses made me stop and think .
2:212, (Qadiri translation) starts with, “life for the Kafirs was set up for the worldly pleasures.”  The word Kafir was used as though there is a community of people out there, who are called Kafirs. Kafir is a generic word for those who hide the truth, deny the truth or pretend the truth to be different, and it is an individual attribute rather than a group label. I will have to study and read Asad’s translation. Although it has the simplest meaning, it has acquired a derogatory status to ridicule other people.
2:222 (Qadiri Translation) – talks about avoiding intimacy with wife until she is pure or clean again. I have severe difficulty with that translation. It gives the impression that a woman is unclean or impure. Instead, if the translation had said, “avoid intimacy with wife until she is through with the menstruation,” it would have meant a natural process. Dr. Qadiris’s translation falls in the same pit as the other ones before.    I will have to check Dr. Laila Bakhtiar’s or Edip Yuskel’s translation on that.  

Even the translation of 2:223 does not meet the civility prophet Muhammad taught. Please remember, Quraan is divine and God’s word, and it is always about justice, fairness and for goodness of the humanity. The issues we are having are with translations, even the Arabic writers have mis-intepreted it. The burden of finding the truth falls squarely on us, after all, no one but us is responsible for our actions on the Day of Judgment. 

An individual asked me if will be back tomorrow,  and I said probably two weeks from now. As a reason, I explained to him that I visit a mosque a day of different denominations during Ramadan. He jumped the gun and asked if I went to the Shia Mosque, which is an yes. He was too eager to say they were wrong. He told me that the Prophet in his last sermon was clear; he was leaving his Sunna and the book to the people, but they add his family to it. I said, that is correct, those are the two different versions, he said, but they are wrong – I said, they are wrong to you, but not to them.  He was silently staring at me to understand that, which I appreciated.

I continued, “they think the Sunnis are wrong.” He held back, and I am glad he did. The best thing is to accept the different interpretations, but not agree as a matter of principle. He countered it is the same Hadith, how can they say otherwise. It took me a while to keep his innocence intact, yet make the point.  I said I have no problem with what they believe; I don’t believe what they believe, and they don’t believe what I believe… I am not superior to them, nor they are superior to me. I am right in my way, as they are right in their ways….I asked him if he can guess where my analogy comes from? He guessed it right and I hope you do too. 

Mike Ghouse is committed to doing his individual share of building cohesive societies  and invites you to the 8th Annual Unity Day USA on Tuesday, September 11, 2012. Details at www.UnitydayUSA.com, its an event that builds bridges and uplifts every American.

Gun Control and Colorado Shootings

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Thank God, the killer is caught identified as James Holmes, 24, in the deadly mass shooting at Aurora, Colorado, Movie Theater. He killed 12 and wounded nearly 50 – their fault? None. His fault? Irresponsibility.

The NRA says guns don’t kill people, and that is true. Indeed it is the loonies that kill people. I am with NRA and we should have the freedom to bear arms, however, safety of other citizens must be guarded as well.

It can be done by doing similar things like auto insurance requirement to drive a vehicle, it is not a regulation, but safety of the public and protection of the innocent. We also have a strong no drink and drive policy, and I don’t see why we don’t focus on no putting some licensing and insurance requirements.

NRA needs to take this up and work on self regulating the purchase of guns.

1. Let there be a criminal check on gun buyers
2. Let there be a licensing requirement
3. Renew the license annually.
4. Training, let there be intensive training, like the martial arts.

The funds from licensing can to go towards education. When you buy a motor cycle, you have to go through the training for safety. NRA must seriously consider this proposal.

Mike

IS THIS THE AMERICA YOU WANT?

No American has to live in apprehension or fear of the other.
There are solutions, here is a trailer of the movie in making:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMXsTo4VYh8&feature=youtu.be

Please let me know if you wish to you have more information.
Thank you

Mike Ghouse
(214) 325-1916
America Together Foundation
www.AmericaTogetherFoundation.com
Dallas, Texas

Ramadan Mubarak – God wants what?

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Welcome to Ramadan, this column is about the politics, traditions and the spirit of Ramadan.

Like a mother who wants her children to live well, like a teacher who wants his students to do well, and like a chef who wants his patrons to enjoy his food…. God wants every one of his creation to live in harmony and do well.  


No one is deprived of God’s love; he has reached every human through a peace maker, messenger, prophet, reformer or simply a wise man or a good friend that brings sense to living. The creator offers a variety of guidance to the mankind, no matter where you live, the guidance is there, the guidance that leads to live in peace, and without fear of the other.
Religion is one such instrument that God guides us through, and there are many of them, at least 250 traditions including a dozen major ones. Each tradition does well for the believer in bringing peace to oneself.

Today, the one tradition I am talking about is Islam, and one of its beautiful aspects that helps build cohesive societies. 
Ramadan Mubarak

Welcome to Ramadan, it begins on Friday the 20th of August, 2012. It is the month of fasting, a month of learning about others, connecting with others, developing empathy with fellow beings and above all reaching new heights in piety and spirituality,  Taqwa as it is called. It is to become closer to God and emulate his qualities of unselfishness, forgiveness and love. It is a month of practicing service to fellow beings and developing self discipline to learn to live they way we want, and being conscious of every moment of the day for 30 days.  

I am working on an article on Ramadan, which I stopped, instead to write about Michelle Bachman and her tantrums which shall appear at Huffington post tomorrow.  Meanwhile here are a few things I have written.
The Politics of Ramadan at Washington Post

Politics plays a crucial role in our Temples, Synagogues or Churches, Mosques are no different. A few scientifically-inclined-Muslims have adopted NASA’s calculations believed to be precise. However, four different traditions are operating concurrently; i) Strictly Calendar, ii) NASA and iii) Sighting with bare eyes and iv) sighting by others in the community.

Muslims around the world will begin fasting from Friday, July 20, 2012 and for a whole month thereafter, however, for some of them it will begin (only) if the moon is sighted. The story is same with the Jewish and other traditions that follow lunar calendar. Rosh Hashanah like Ramadan comes 11 or 12 days earlier each successive year. Continued at http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/guestvoices/2010/08/the_essence_of_ramadan_is_to_become_humble.html

The Spirit of Ramadan at Huffington Post

The spiritual masters have captured the human gravity towards rituals and have molded it with the art and science of self-discipline in their respective religions. The noble purpose of each one of them was to bring a balance in our lives and a balance with our environment.

Every faith is composed of a set of unique rituals to bring discipline and peace to human life. Fasting is one of the five key rituals that Muslims around the world observe. Rituals signify the milestones 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. Continued http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mike-ghouse/spirit-of-ramadan_b_939961.html
The Traditions of Ramadan at Ramadan Exclusive

its celebration time when Muslims around the world anxiously wait for the first moon of the ninth Lunar month to appear on the sky. The families gather in their backyards, or get on the nearest hillock or climb on the top of their homes and wait for the pencil thin moon to appear on the horizon, and when it does, jubilation begins. Continued at: http://ramadanexclusive.blogspot.com/2010/09/traditions-of-ramadan.html

Welcome to Ramadan at Ramadan Exclusive

Insha’Allah, the first day of Ramadan will begin on Friday, July 20, 2012 and Eid al-Fitr on Sunday, August 19, 2012 per the announcement from ISNA. Continued at: http://ramadanexclusive.blogspot.com/2012/06/welcome-to-ramadan-2012.html

Quraan says, had God willed, he would have made every one of us alike – then he says, he chose to make us into different tribes and nations from the same couple (or the same source). Then he goes on to challenge us to know each other – he knows that our conflicts stem from not knowing each other, and living with misinformation about others,  when we know each other,  conflicts fade and solutions will emerge.
Every religion means peace and Justice and that is acceptable to God. He says, you need not worry who you are, as long as you take care of your neighbor, I will recompense you. Each one of us is responsible for our Karma.
He concludes ( Quraan 49:13) that the best among us is the one who knows each other, learns about each other and respects each other. If we take the time, to learn, every religion is out there to bring goodness to humanity.  

Be good to yourselves and every one around you. Happy Ramadan.

 Mike Ghouse is committed to nurturing the pluralistic values of Islam and welcomes everyone to explore Www.worldMuslimCongress.org and several related sites listed at: http://mikeghouse.net/Sites.MuslimsTogether.IslamTogetherFoundation.com.MikeGhouse.asp . The site www.MikeGhouse.net  lists everything about Mike. 


God in a flash – The Higgs Boson particle

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This is a great discovery; it helps us understand the wisdom of God even more. First of all, we are proud of the contributions of a Muslim scientist Dr. Abdus Salam in this discovery, may God bless his soul.  Indeed, we are proud of every Scientist, Doctor, Engineer, Astronomer and others who have contributed towards the well being of humanity, the works is as divine as the work of theologians.
Science does not contradict religion, but simply seeks to understand the logic behind God’s wisdom. God wants us to seek knowledge, and declares that the best among us are the ones who knows. Knowledge leads to understanding and understanding to appreciation of the creation and the creator.   

God is not a being, not a thing, not a male or a female, per Islam it is the noor, a system, and the closest word  to describe is Life energy, however, no word can fully describe the creator. The God particle is just a name to an element that the creator embedded in every life form.
There is a formula out there that replicates the regeneration process in all species, which Darwin thought was an anomaly that became an established pattern. So this creator God sprinkled this particle which has carried the world forward, this God particle has helped in ensuring that the species continue in each format they have evolved.
It is fascinating; I hope to learn more about it.
Someday, we may genuinely earn the title of Ashraful Mukhlookhat;  most informed beings, most self sustainable beings… God wants us to learn more, … the more we know the closer we get to the Creator. We will find in tune with the creation and the creator.
My mother use to recite a poetry which ran something like this, isn’t it amazing the things that were meaningless to us once, become meaningful as we grow? I thank my mother for showering that wisdom on me.

Banday ko khuda mat kaho, banda khuda nahin

Lekin phir bhi, khuda say juda banda nahin.
Don’t call the created (humans) the creator, the created is not the creator
However, the creator and created are not different entities.

Some Muslims will not agree with this, however when God talks about being closer to us than our jugular vein, and then, when someone achieves closeness to God, to be God like, he or she achieves the Taqwa.

The faith of Scientist and Doctors could be stronger than the theologians; one sees God’s work every day, whereas the other believes. Taqwa meter will perhaps give more points to the ones who know and who learn.
Thank Hasni Essa for posting sharing the following article and Muhammad Irtaza for adding the verses from Quran.  I was intrigued by the source of his translation about Concave Mirror, so I looked up; it’s a niche or mehrab in Asad’s translation.

24:35 (Asad) God is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The parable of His light is, as it were, [50] that of a niche containing a lamp; the lamp is [enclosed] in glass, the glass [shining] like a radiant star: [51][a lamp] lit from a blessed tree – an olive-tree that is neither of the east nor of the west [52] the oil whereof [is so bright that it] would well-nigh give light [of itself] even though fire had not touched it: light upon light![53] God guides unto His light him that wills [to be guided]; [54] and [to this end] God propounds parables unto men, since God [alone] has full knowledge of all things. [55]

 Thank you. 
Mike Ghouse
Muslims Together
Salamun Alaykum.
God is the light of the heavens and the earth.
[24:35] GOD is the light of the heavens and the earth. The allegory of His light is that of a concave mirror behind a lamp that is placed inside a glass container. The glass container is like a bright, pearl-like star. The fuel thereof is supplied from a blessed oil-producing tree, that is neither eastern, nor western. Its oil is almost self-radiating; needs no fire to ignite it. Light upon light. GOD guides to His light whoever wills (to be guided). GOD thus cites the parables for the people. GOD is fully aware of all things.
The light of God is so powerful that a flash of it caused a mountain to crumble.  The light of God cannot be seen with our eyes.  
[7:143] When Moses came at our appointed time, and his Lord spoke with him, he said, “My Lord, let me look and see You.” He said, “You cannot see Me. Look at that mountain; if it stays in its place, then you can see Me.” Then, his Lord manifested Himself to the mountain, and this caused it to crumble. Moses fell unconscious. When he came to, he said, “Be You glorified. I repent to You, and I am the most convinced believer.” 
God is not physically  present in our material world.  The so-called “God particle”  is not part of God.  It is created by God.  Our limited knowledge cannot grasp the greatness of God.
[39:67] They can never fathom the greatness of GOD. The whole earth is within His fist on the Day of Resurrection. In fact, the universes are folded within His right hand. Be He glorified; He is much too high above needing any partners.