Mike GhouseComments Off on Attack on Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem
A few terrorists from among Israeli Jews stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, threw grenades, and blindly shooting the worshippers. The Israeli police injured 205 (and counting) Palestinians on the night of Laylat al-Qadr, one of the most critical nights of prayers for Muslims.
Please remember, it is not the Jews or Judaism. It is the terrorists we need get punished for violating the sanctity of the religious place. It goes against the policies of the United States.
Al-Aqsa Mosque is the third holy Mosque for Muslims.
We appeal to President Joe Biden to take decisive steps against the Israeli government for these violations and the illegal eviction of Palestinians from Jerusalem.
The president had experienced the slap on his face (expression) when he visited Israel as vice president and asked Netanyahu to stop the settlements. What did Netanyahu do? He ordered more permits to build. It was daylight robbery grabbing the lands from the Palestinians and building settlements. Now that he is the president, he has got to set things right. Since we support Israel in aid, we need to tie it to bring sanity.
I see the sinister scheming by Netanyahu. Modi may have said to him, “Look, you grabbed the Palestinian Lands, and we did the same with Kashmir, we destroyed the Babri Mosque and building Ram Temple on it, and you can do the same with Al-Aqsa and build the temple on it – no one will do a thing about it.” The United States must take immediate action.
I urge my fellow Muslims to hold their anger and do what the Prophet did, pray for the things to get better. Please remember most Jews are against this barbaric act. Many of us have started conversations with our Jewish friends to find a solution. We hope to appeal to the president and ask him to stop the aggression against Al-Aqsa mosque and stop the eviction of the Palestinians.
It is time to slap Netanyahu, bring some sanity to Israelis and the Palestinians, and make Israel obey the international laws and respect the Palestinians’ human rights before it gets challenging to handle.
More to come in a day or two.
Building cohesive societies is our focus, a community where every human feels secure about his/her faith, race, ethnicity, or culture.
Mike GhouseComments Off on Gayatri Mantra; the Universal Prayer
This article is about building bridges between Hindus and Muslims.
It is a beautiful prayer, and you can see the reflections of Sura Fatiha and Ikhlas in the Mantra. At this time, the Hindu community urges its members to chant Gayatri Mantra to rid Covid, and the Muslims are urging to recite Sura An-Nasr or Fatiha to chase the Covid. Half of any problem is belief, and if the prayers give anyone hope, go for it. Whatever works is good.
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said if you have to go to China to learn, go there. He also said in another instance that if a particular practice worked for Romans, you could practice too.
If it is not common sense, then it is not Islam. Islam is common sense.
No matter where humans live, if a similar social and cultural environment is prevalent, you will see the same wisdom emerging from different parts of the world. We are the same people spread into separate communities, nations, races, and by extension, faiths. We all came from that first human species couple (Quran 49:13).
We (People of all faiths) are programmed to believe that ours is the only culture or religion acceptable to the Creator, forgetting that HE is the creator of everything in the universe and is called Rabbul Aalameen. Verse 3:85 of the Quran needs to be studied thoroughly; Muhammad Asad’s translation offers guidance.
Gayatri Mantra is a Hymn from the ancient Indian scripture RigVeda (10:16:3), often repeated in other scriptures like Upanishads. The credit for this mantra goes to sage Vishwamitra.
About 20 years ago, I had translations of prayers in all religions – if they were written in English, all of them have the same theme – adoration of the Creator, that we bow to him and ask him to guide us on the right path.
Sri Satya Saibaba wrote, “The Gayatri is a universal prayer enshrined in the Vedas. It is addressed to the Immanent and Transcendent Divine which has been given the name ‘Savita,’ meaning ‘that from which all this is born.’ (creator).
The Gayatri may be considered as having three parts – (i) Adoration (ii) Meditation (iii) Prayer.
The Gayatri is considered the essence of the Vedas. Veda means knowledge, and this prayer fosters and sharpens the knowledge-yielding faculty. The four core declarations enshrined in the four Vedas are implied in this Gayatri mantra.”
(O) Supreme one; (who is) the physical, astral (and) causal worlds (himself). (you are) the source of all, deserving all worship. (O) radiant, divine one; (we) meditate (upon you). Propel our Intellect (towards liberation or freedom).
………………. Quran Sura Nasr (Asad’s translation)
110:1 When God’s succor comes, and victory 110:2 and thou seest people enter God’s religion in hosts 110:3 extol thy Sustainer’s limitless glory, and praise Him, and seek His forgiveness: for, behold, He is ever an acceptor of repentance
……..
Om: The sacred word, word of creation, first word, word of God; usually used at the beginning of a hymn;
Bhur: The physical plane of existence (which is of the nature of 5 elements)
Bhuvah: The astral plane of existence (which is of the nature of subtle elements)
Svah: The causal plane or celestial plane (plane where the existence is as subtle as ideas or notions, from which creation happens).
Tat: That, God, (Equivalent of son, in the Christian Trinity of Father, Son, and Holy Ghost)
Savitúr : Source of all, creation, supreme reality, Divine illumination (of goddess Savitri or Shakti)
Váreṇyaṃ: the foremost, fit to be worshiped, deserving oblations
Bhárgo: Great spiritual effulgence, Radiant one, one who illumines all
Devásya: Godly, divine reality, of divinity, Virtuous and joyous
Dhīmahi: We meditate on you; Dhee=intellect; Thus Dhimahi means we focus our Intellect on you
Dhíyo: Intellect, intelligence, reasoning, and discriminating faculty, which is a tool for attaining higher wisdom
Yo: Who, One is who being prayed, You (supreme one)
Nah: Our (Intellect)
pracodáyāt: Stimulate, Propel towards the higher reality
Jainism’s Navakar Mantra is universal, and there are several universal Muslim prayers, and I like this one, “Allah humma mughfirli wali wali dayya..” Seeking blessings and forgiveness for all humanity.
I have created a prayer that I recite at the end of the interfaith meetings and the Interfaith weddings with an Amen from the gathering.
Dear Creator of the Universe;
Guide us to forgive each other and forgive often. Guide us with patience to bear each other’s shortcomings. Guide us with a sense of fairness to each other. Guide us to stand up for justice for every human. Guide us to be merciful and kind to fellow humans. Guide us to create cohesive societies. Guide us to learn to respect the otherness of others.
God has spread this universe for us in the Quran,(55:10-12), he has given us Intellect and speech to communicate (55:4), and we have to maintain balance and never cross the line of righteousness (55:8). God has created everything in harmony and balance; all that he wants from us is to sustain it, so each of us can live a secure and fuller life.
Dr. Mike Ghouse is a public speaker, thinker, and author, and interfaith wedding officiant. He is the founder of the Center for Pluralism and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day to the media and the policymakers. His book American Muslim Agenda is available on Amazon. The second edition is coming with a new title American Muslim by July 4th with added chapters.
Mike GhouseComments Off on Eid-ul Fitr (Ramadan) Mubarak – How Muslims Celebrate it?
1.8 Billion Muslims across the world celebrate Eid-ul Fitr, it is the most important festival of Muslims. Eid means festivity and celebration. It is a joyful moment for Muslims to have observed 30 days of fasting on every aspect of human life. They abstain from thinking, saying, doing bad things that hurt fellow humans, and abstaining from any intake of food or liquids from sun-up to sun-down. It is time to celebrate a successful month of training in becoming an excellent disciplined human being.
It is purifying oneself bodily by getting rid of the toxins and spiritually by shedding the arrogance and feeling as equals with fellow humans. Spirituality is not wearing certain clothes but feeling that we are merely a speck in the universe; we simply one in 8 billion people. It is a great feeling to have. Humility builds bridges among fellow humans, and arrogance destroys.
Festivals are expressions of joy. Religious societies have designed the festivities to bring people together. Holi, Diwali, Ramadan, Bakrid, Christmas, Easter, Paryushana, Rosh Hashana, and Jayanthies. Then we have the civil society festivities, designed for the same purpose as the New Year, July 4th, Thanksgiving, and so many other days. In India, we celebrated all festivals together, and I hope that tradition begins here in the diaspora communities.
When we live as neighbors or live in the same town, we might as well learn about each other. The best way to build secure, cohesive societies is for its members to understand each other’s sorrows and joys, and festivities and commemorations.
It is this good feeling that Muslims celebrate or reward themselves on Eid.
This year, the Indian Muslims have much more to feel good about being a good caring human being. My Hindu friend today pointed out that the Sikhs and Muslims trained to serve fellow humans. He said it is in-built in them; they don’t need the Gurdwara or the Mosque to organize things for them.
A few of them gather on their own and serve fellow humans. Since covid started taking tolls on human life, Muslims in India have taken the responsibility to perform the last rites of dead bodies of Hindus and others, as the families of the deceased persons did not want to touch or be near them. There are thousands of such cases, including a few BJP leaders who died; a few examples are here in this link. https://gooddeeds.info/category/funerals/ and https://Youtube.com/GoodDeedsbyMuslims.
Eid Begins with Chand Raat.
The moon cycle is 28, 29, or 30 days. After observing 28 days of fasting, Muslims will start looking for the appearance of the moon. Once it is spotted – Chand Raat and festivities begin, shops open up, and people go on a buying frenzy. It is like shopping for Diwali or Christmas at the last minute. It is a joyous moment.
Eid Ka Chand
Also, most of the perishable items for cooking had to be purchased a day earlier, determined by moon sighting. It is a tradition as refrigeration was not available in South Asia until 50 years ago. Nasa predicts the moon sighting accurately, but tradition is tradition (the song in the movie Fiddler on the roof).
I am sharing the practice in South Asia: India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka with some variations.
Mehendi
Mehendi
Women and girls gather up from the neighborhood and do the Mehendi/Henna on their hands and feet. The men and boys will have few spots on their hands. It is not a religious thing but a part of the culture.
Eid Day
One of the first things Muslims do is meet their obligation towards needy fellow humans and pay their dues.
New Clothes
Wearing new clothes is always a celebration, particularly for children. It is one reason people donate to families in advance so the have-nots can also feel the festival. Eid multiplies when everyone around you is happy, and it behooves us to ensure that it happens.
New Clothes
Fitra
Before the Eid gathering (usually) around 9 AM, every Muslim who possesses food and funds over their needs donates to charity to help the needy. It is called Fitra or Fitrana. It is about $5 in the United States, and you can multiply that by 3 million going into the pot for the deserving. There is no ceiling to give, but one must give. That is how we help the needy. But most people pay it out much earlier.
Zakat
It is an obligation one has towards fellow humans to donate a specific portion of his/her wealth to the needy. The customary practice is 2.5% on capital assets and a higher amount on precious metals and livestock. The funds usually go to Bait-ul Maal, an organization set up to receive such funds, and you can give directly to any family or charity. Baitul Maal distributes the funds to life-sustaining, educational and humanitarian aid to the underserved populations.
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “Let the left hand not know what the right hand gives.” Its profound wisdom is that don’t boast or brag about your giving, and let the receiver of the charity not be humiliated or lose his freedom in your presence to speak up if he/she differs from you. Such is the emphasis placed on giving and liberty.
Breakfast
Each family has a different practice. Rotis and Kuftas were a tradition in my home; it was usually a lighter breakfast compared to the lunch.
Breakfast
Eid gathering
Practices vary, first in my town and Bangalore and then the patterns in the United States.
Around 9 AM, Muslims of the town gather at the Mosque and then March to the Eid-Gah, which is about a mile reciting “God is great and thank him.” Eid-Gah is a place built to pray in large numbers, and it is usually at the edge of a Khabrastan (cemetery). In Dallas, Louisville, and other Cities, they rent the convention center to accommodate the large gathering.
Eid Prayers
Time to gather up for the prayers. The Imam or the guest speaker gives a short sermon reminding Muslims of their duties to fellow humans and congratulating them for being good Muslims – aka Good citizens. Namaz follows the speech ending with the words Eid Mubarak.
Eid Prayers
Hugging
Hugging
muslim family back home and hugging shake hand when eid mubarak or hari raya
It is time to put our difference and hug each other. It is three hugs, and my interpretation for each hug is the non-verbal “forgive me,” “I forgive you,” and “Let’s start with a clean slate.” After the hugs, you feel purged from ill-will towards the other, and it is also a time to make up with the people you carried the burden of ill-will. By now, you have purified yourselves from ill-will, malice, jealousy, and other things that are negative thoughts about fellow humans. Eid is celebration and happiness.
Khabrastan/Cemetery
One of Muslims’ most beautiful inclusive prayers is to ask the creator to forgive all the dead and the alive humans and shower them with His peace and blessings. The Eid-Gah in my home town is attached to the Khabrastan. We visited each grave of the family and friends and collectively prayed for all people. In the US, we can recite the same prayer from wherever we are. It is also time to seek forgiveness from those you were rude to and said the wrong thing.
Cemetery
Real happiness comes from repentance and forgiveness. It releases one from the built-in known and unknown tensions.
Edi
When you reach home, the family earner gifts the other members with cash. When I was a kid, my father gave me 4 Annas (like 1/4th of a Rupee), my cousin Munawar and I dashed to the store behind our home and bought an Orange Soda each, and that was our joy!
Eid Lunch
You visit families and friends and, in each place, taste a little bit of food. Every home is an open house for much of the afternoon. You can taste such a wide variety of foods!
Eid Lunch items
Eid Mubarak! Ramadan Mubarak, Happy Eid, Eid Blessings are the different phrases to wish your friends.
Time to thank the men and women in the uniform.
When you see a policeman, fireman, and those who serve in the army, navy, air force, marines, and others, please express your gratitude to them to ensure our safety and protect our freedoms. They put their life at risk for us. I had a beautiful experience in Louisville. I thanked the police officer at the convention center as I entered the facility and showed him my thank you note. He was excited and asked me to forward the email, and after the Eid prayer, he told me that he had shared it with the entire police department in Louisville with an appreciation for Muslims.
Dr Mike Ghouse
Dr. Mike Ghouse is public speaker, author, commentator and an interfaith wedding officiant. He is the founder and president of the Center for Pluralism and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day to the media and the policymakers. More about him at www.TheGhouseDiary.com
222 years ago, on this day, May 4th, 1799, Tipu Sultan was martyred. He was one of the first Indians to fight colonialism and resisted the East India Company. The British was defeated three times in a row and would have been thrown out for good on the 4th time but for the traitor Mir Sadiq, who gave the whereabouts of Tipu to Governor-General Cornwallis, who commanded the British forces. As Tipu walked out of the door, they killed him from behind. Yes, it was the same Cornwallis that George Washington defeated.
There is a rumor out there that Tipu Sultan funded George Washington’s war against the British; we are still searching for the information. If it were true, I plan to place a statue of Tipu Sultan in Washington DC.
Even though Tipu Sultan was King of the state of Mysore, he always signed the documents as a Citizen and servant of the people.
Tipu Sultan was the inventor of Rockets and the Torpedo, still known as Bangalore Torpedo. I am glad he is given due credit for his invention. His name is always associated with Rockets.
He was one of the most secular rulers of the state, and the entire state of Karnataka loves him, and sadly when BJP entered the state, they made it communal – that is a Hindu-Muslim thing. His birth anniversary is celebrated as Tipu Jayanthi across Karnataka, but shamefully the BJP has resisted it.
Tipu Sultan was born in my neck of the woods – 14 miles from my home (Yelahanka) in Devanahalli, now home to Kempe Gowda International Airport of Bengaluru. Before the airport started, I met with late Girish Karnad, a big fan of Tipu Sultan, and wrote plays to name the airport in Tipu Sultan’s name, and he was also considering the same. However, I am glad Kempe Gowda’s name is affixed to the airport. Kempe Gowda is the founder of Bengaluru and was the head of my town Yelahanka, and my home was his home built 500 years ago. Tipu Sultan’s ammunition depot’s wall rested on the wall of my house.
Sadly, his fort in Devanahalli and Bangalore are neglected and are in bad shape. It is a shame; we Indians don’t value history and historical monuments.
In 1999, the Karnataka state celebrated Tipu Sultan bicentennial anniversary, and they made a few busts of Tipu Sultan.
Dr. Chikke Range Gowda is an authority on Tipu Sultan and has done a thorough research and has written books about Tipu Sultan; and he presented the bust to me, and I cherish it.
Mike Ghouse is the founder and president of the Center for Pluralism and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day to the media and the policymakers. More about him at www.TheGhouseDiary.com
Modi is a traitor to Mother India; he destroys the relations between her sons and daughters by painting some as demons to get votes. He is power-hungry and nothing but that. I hope the 33% of Indians who support him see India’s bleak future with Modi at the helm.
Thank God, the majority of Hindus, indeed 67% of Indian Hindus, were not persuaded by the communal agenda of BJP. Still, he has polarized a few Hindus, and we are likely to see communal riots in the next few months. I hope Mamta handles them for any wrongdoing in disturbing communal harmony.
BJP thrives not on creating jobs, health facilities, and clean water but by ratting up marginal Hindus to look to their fellow Indians as their enemy – the Muslims.
I grew up amidst Hindu families; all my father’s close friends were Hindus (I wouldn’t say I like to use the word Hindu or Muslim but to make the point). Some of them have turned communal, and it saddens me.
BJP has sowed the seeds of hate in Bengal. I am so glad Tamil Nadu and Kerala rejected BJP and Bengal knocked them out. I feel sorry about the people of Assam.
Mike GhouseComments Off on Grim Situation in India
GRIM SITUATION IN INDIA & THANKS TO THE UNITED STATES It is time to free India from Modi – called Modi Mukt India
I am saddened by what is happening in my motherland, India. Thanks to millions of Indian Americans who are making every effort possible in doing their share of the work in restoring India. It is the love of the motherland that drives all of us to care for India. Indeed, every human on the earth who has migrated to other lands by force, disastrous situations, or voluntarily feels that obligation, and it is natural.
Bodies are being cremated everywhere, on the roadsides, school grounds, parks, and wherever they can find the space, and many bodies are rotting as there is not enough firewood to burn. People are dying because they cannot breathe; there are no oxygen supplies. Hospitals have no place left. Even some of the hospital’s beds are loaded with two patients. No one knows what to do. It is chaos everywhere. The cloud of death is everywhere.
Thanks to the United States for coming to India’s rescue – C30 Planes are carrying loads of Oxygen concentrators and medicines. What remains is to release the raw material for the vaccines so India can mass produce them and handle the situation. We also thank Saudi Arabia, UAE, Pakistan, and other nations who have volunteered to help.
I recall the late sixties when India was going through a famine, and the US AID was there at that, we shipped loads of corn and flour to help alleviate the problem. Americans have always been there to rescue people in difficult situations.
The people of India hold Mr. Modi responsible for this disaster, he is a spin master and will create a false narrative again and fool a third of the Indians again. We have to make him accountable. More about it in the links below. More about it in the links below
“Today, the United States deployed the first of several emergency COVID-19 relief shipments to India. Arriving in New Delhi from Travis Air Force Base on the world’s largest military aircraft, the shipment includes 440 oxygen cylinders and regulators, generously donated by the State of California. In addition, on this first flight, USAID will send 960,000 Rapid Diagnostic Tests to identify infections early to help prevent the community spread of COVID-19, and 100,000 N95 masks to protect India’s frontline healthcare heroes.
Today’s announcement builds on USAID’s ongoing efforts to mitigate the pandemic in India. USAID has provided over $23 million in assistance since the start of the pandemic, directly reaching nearly 10 million Indians. USAID is quickly procuring 1,000 medical oxygen concentrators that will be used in 320 primary health care facilities. USAID programs have helped save lives and treat individuals infected with COVID-19; reduce COVID-19-related stigma; strengthen case-finding and surveillance; and mobilize innovative financing mechanisms to bolster emergency preparedness and pandemic response.
For decades, USAID has worked in close partnership with India to address many of the country’s most pressing health challenges, including maternal and child mortality, polio, HIV, and tuberculosis. “
Please do not donate anything to India’s PM CARE fund until an audit is allowed to give an account of billions of dollars they have received. India’s Prime Minister is one of the most corrupt politicians globally; an investigation is warranted.
The scientists, medical community, and others had suggested in August 2020 that India needs to prepare for the covid onslaught; the Modi government did not care or made preparations for this contingency. Instead, they were campaigning among the masses to win elections in a few states of the Union.
Most of you are aware of the situation. India has recorded the highest number of infections on a single day peaking at 392,488. The infection rate was down in February but surged again with the super spreader events like election rallies held by Mr. Modi where millions thronged to hear him. He did not wear the mask nor asked the public to do so. Social distancing did not mean anything to him. Add to that the Kumbh Mela, where nearly 1.5 million Hindu devotees took a dip in the river Ganges again with no precaution.
Mr. Modi’s mismanagement has caused this severity. He is interested in his image and continues creating false narratives about his success. Nothing else matters to him. He lives in a bubble-like most of the dictators, and shame on his cabinet ministers and others who constantly fill his ears with praises instead of correcting him. He has failed in everything; everything he touches goes sour. He is bad news for India and he and his sycophant ministers need to be put on trial and bring justice to the nation.
Given this – India should be free from Modi – it is time to free India from Modi
Mike Ghouse is the founder president of the Center for Pluralism and offers pluralistic solutions to the media and the policymakers. More about him at www.TheGhouseDiary.com
Mike GhouseComments Off on Modi’s Government is Condemned
Mike Ghouse
Thanks to the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) for its recommendation of India as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) designation in its 2021 Annual Report on April 21, 2021.
The designation is good for India (the current government) as it paves the way for restoring religious freedoms to her minorities, including Dalits, Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, and the average Hindus.
India will always remain a great nation and will continue to sustain its 5000-year history of Pluralistic ethos. Leaders come and go, but India will not be shaken.
The designation is not against India; it is against the Modi government, which has earned this condemnation for its gross violations of religious and civic freedoms. Add to that the mismanagement of Covid, economy, and social cohesion.
Unfortunately, it has severe consequences, and the Indian public will bear the brunt of it. Millions of employees and corporations who have benefited through the worldwide IT jobs and foreign direct investments stand to lose. All the gains they had in the last 30 years stand to vanish.
As an Indian-American, I am dedicated to saving my motherland and urge the Indian Public and the CEOs of major corporations to speak out against the nation’s destruction. Modi and his men can choose to bring in health, economic and social experts and listen to them instead of acting from the seat of his pants. As a last resort resign and let capable people run the nation until the new elections.
Modi is a slick snake oil salesman; he has promised many things and failed them in all. The only thing he has delivered is the Ram Janmabhoomi Temple in Ayodhya. The question to my fellow Indians is, do they want a job, food on the table, comfortable housing, and a decent burial for their loved ones, or would the Temple satisfy them?
Look at Modi’s failures – the black money is not collected; he has kept it if it was ever collected. The promise of 150,000 Rupees in every Indian’s bank account was a lie to get the votes. The Demonetization wiped out many small businesses and savings of the average Indians, so did the GST. The farmers were betrayed, their life was made difficult for protesting against selling them to his friends without their knowledge. He has sold the likes of HAL, Railways, and other public companies for a phooti-kaudi-ke-daam (pennies) to his friends. Rafel deal is one of the many corruptions he got away with. He forgave billions in loans to his rich buddies and let farmers commit suicides for petty loans. He remained silent when 29 men from his state ran away with billions of dollars to the UK and other nations.
Modi does not listen to anyone and takes actions unilaterally like a dictator in the dark hours of the night. He gave four hours’ notice to the migrant workers throwing them helter-skelter on the roads with no food or water. He usurped the freedoms of Kashmiris without their consent, shut their internet down, and passed the disgusting discriminatory Citizens Amendment Act.
He has lost influence in South Asia. India was gathering momentum to earn a seat on the UN Security Council, and he blew it. He is destroying democratic institutions like the Supreme Court of India, the free press, educational and health care systems, and the list is endless.
The India Working Group/ International Religious Freedom Round Table (WG/IRF-RT) released the following statement, “Accordingly, we would like to express our collective affirmation of USCIRF’s recommendation due to the risk of India becoming even more emboldened to commit egregious religious freedom violations had they not been addressed by the international community. Such severe religious freedom violations include – but are not limited to – state anti-conversion legislation, the implementation of the discriminatory Citizenship Amendment Act, and a profound religious intolerance that has pervaded both culture and legislatures and has encouraged mob violence against India’s religious minorities. Religious freedom violations are further compounded by various other human rights violations, such as the closure of advocacy organizations, the targeting of journalists, and thus the breakdown of freedom of speech and association.”
CPC designation is not a punishment. Instead, it is guidance urging India to respect fundamental human rights, including free speech, liberty, and pursuit of happiness for the people of India. Indeed, India is a signatory to the United Nations’ Human Rights declaration. Still, his actions are causing nearly 400 million Christians, Muslims, Dalits, and Sikhs to live in constant fear, leading to social unrest and civil war.
By designating India as a Country of Particular Concern, American will pave the way to strengthen its ally and help it retain its political stability, and avert a potential civil war. India may, after all, become America’s strongest ally against the spread of dictatorial regimes in South Asia and most certainly act as a bulwark against China.
We hope the State Department will endorse the CPC designation and the President will sign it, followed by sanctions to restore sanity, political stability, and social cohesion.
Mike Ghouse is the founder and president of the Center for Pluralism, committed to offering pluralistic solutions to the media and the policymakers. More about Mike at https://www.TheGhouseDiary.com
Mike GhouseComments Off on Do You Have Someone To Thank?
Dr Mike Ghouse Founder of Center For Pluralism
Covid is wreaking havoc and has taken 3.5 Million lives in one year, and I don’t know how many more millions are gone and will be gone.
You got up this morning, and you are about to complete your day, and hopefully, you get up tomorrow morning. Do you feel a sense of gratitude towards that invisible energy keeping you and your loved ones alive? What would be a single sentence you would say to that energy?
I am one of the vulnerable ones, 69, and on Dialysis three times a week, and I got up in the morning, went to the doctors for the annual check-up, and came home. Thank God for that. However, I feel saddened that so many people who are known and not known to me are losing their loved ones—my prayers for them.
Please donate your funds to any organization you wish to take care of the ones who cannot. If you and I are gone in an accident, covid, or natural death, whatever we have little or in abundance will not be helpful to us.
Are you ready to be one among the millions of departing souls? I have been thinking and imagining that possibility and mentally prepared for it. Please tie the loose ends of your life and live in peace or go in peace; make sure you write your Will in your handwriting today and then get it done through an attorney.
The Will is necessary as it brings you freedom from anxieties. Every one of us is a mortal being. The Will is about what should be done to your precious belongings should you croak. How and who to handle your death and the last rites, and who should make the decision if you cannot. Tie the loose end of life, my friends; you will find freedom.
Spiritual freedom is indeed the most outstanding achievement in one’s life, and it permanently clings to you till eternity. Those who can free themselves from tension, pain, anxiety, apprehension, hostility, malice, pressure, tension, stress, strain, and conflicts, are showered with blessings of peace and joy. It is good to be free.
Could you clean up your slate, my friends? Make an effort and tie the loose ends.
What would I say? I would say, Alhamadu’Lillah as a Muslim, which means all praise is due to the creator or causer of the universe.
What would be your personal, spiritual or religious one-liner?
Mike GhouseComments Off on Thank You, MR. President
What makes America great is defending Americans from external and internal (diseases) enemies, saving their lives, and giving them hope.
Mr. President, you took charge of the ship’s helm and boldly declared 100 Million shots in 100 days, and everyone jumped in with you, and together as a nation, we did it twice as much; that is leadership. We are a lot safer today than 100 days ago.
Americans are grateful to you for the $1400 check. It helped every American, and they spent the money to keep the economy working and sustaining current jobs. We thank you, and the nation expresses its gratitude.
Now, boldly go after the infrastructure; America is with you. Mr. President, follow President Reagan’s path, ask the Americans to call their Senators and Congressmen to listen to their constituents.
70% of Americans approve of your leadership. We need at least 70% of Senators and Congressmen to start representing their constituents, put them on the right path, and have them listen to their voters for the common good of Americans.
As an Indian American, I am devastated by what is happening in India. I appreciate you for taking it up and sending oxygen and the raw material to produce the vaccines – you will be saving millions of lives. God bless you.
We live in the greatest nation on the earth. Thank you.
Mike GhouseComments Off on My Talk At Irf This Morning
I get attacked frequently for my stance on Human rights and religious freedom issues, particularly from the Indian Americans. Three weeks ago, a guy was banned from the IRF round table for attacking me, and thanks for the massive support from fellow Americans on that issue. Today, one Purnima was listening; and she is from Chicago, and she is full of hate for Muslims and Christians, and at least ten among her group of 60 are full of hate and violent people. By the way, I stand for the rights of every human with no exceptions.
The following outline is from my short talk at the International Religious Freedom Round Table today. ……. First of all, I thank the Biden Administration and the CEO’s of major corporations for working on a rescue plan for India. The situation is dreadful, and people are dying for a lack of oxygen. The funerals and burial grounds are total – they are cremating the bodies on the roadside.
This issue is very personal to me. My Grandmother told us much of our family was wiped out in the 1918 Heza (Spanish Flu). She said as they would take someone to bury and return from the cemetery, another body was ready to be taken.
Her story was merely a story to me, but now it has become a reality when I see what is happening in India.
May God save Indians and the people around the world from this pandemic. ** Now the Good News
The United States once again is coming to rescue India from egregious violations of religious freedoms.
Thanks to the USCIRF for designating India as the country of particular concern. The designation is a huge favor, as it would avert a possible civil war and keep India as our reliable Ally.
The designation is not against India, but it is against the mismanagement of civil society by Modi Government.
It is a clarion call to get his act together and restore freedoms and provide security to nearly 400 Million minorities from Christian, Muslim, Dalit, Sikh, and intellectuals of India.
The designation is good for India as it paves the way for restoring religious freedoms to the People of India.
I will be sharing an Op-Ed piece by the title, “Why India is designated as the Country of Particular Concern, and what are the consequences.
