Texas Faith: What value should we place on compromise?

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Whether they are Republicans or Democrats, compromising their integrity for political gains is bad; that is screwing America.

They should not have positioned themselves by digging their heels. Newt Gingrich’s call not to compromise is dumb. He should have shown leadership with America’s interest in his heart calling for research and advising his party to do what is right for America, and not what is right for the GOP in 2012 – Mike Ghouse.

When it comes to making big decisions, probably most of us like to think that we are guided by a set of principles. They provide a moral, ethical compass. So, I welcome your thoughts on the value we should place on compromise. In some ways, it really is a dirty word. But without some compromise, society can’t function. How do we deal with this conundrum? – Bill McKenzie, Dallas Morning News.

Eleven Texas Faith Panelists address the issue at: http://religionblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2011/07/texas-faith-what-value-should.html
and here is my take:

MIKE GHOUSE, President, Foundation for Pluralism, Dallas

President Truman famously said, “Give me a one-handed economist! All my economists say, on the one hand on the other.” A French proverb is more decisive, “One bad general is better than two good ones.” Both of these statements are expressions of exasperation and impatience.

We don’t need an economist with one hand nor do we want a bad general. Thank God for the turmoil we are going through, I rather see the Congress, Senate and the Administration exhaust themselves debating, fighting and accusing each other on raising the debt ceiling and cutting the expenditures. At stake are $2 trillion to $4 trillion, along with the larger $14 trillion debt. This has serious implications and these men and women have taken responsibility to find the answers. Let them work for a change, let there be passions exchanged, ultimately the average Joe should win.

America is better off with diversity of opinions than slam dunk political decisions that we have to endure. Thanks to Hannity, O’Reilly and their ilk for stoking fears about the impending changes in political philosophy. It puts the burden on the administration to find answers.

Compromising their integrity for political gains is bad; that is screwing America. They should not have positioned themselves by digging their heels. Newt Gingrich’s call not to compromise is dumb. He should have shown leadership with America’s interest in his heart calling for research and advising his party to do what is right for America, and not what is right for the GOP in 2012.

The winners should be the ones who compromise from their untenable positions for the good of America, that’s who should ultimately win; Americans, and not Democrats and not Republicans.

The American public restored the checks and balances in 2010 by not giving both the houses to the same party. It was the Republican unilateralist war that bolstered our deficits and heaped irresponsible consequence on an average American family, and it was the Democratic unilateralism that pushed for the unproductive bail outs that has accelerated the ruin.

A decision is sustainable if all parties debate and own it and see its benefits to America. Let us intimately learn about the consequences of their decision through the endless debating rather than positioning. American public should not be underestimated by the politicians, whoever compromises for a political gain will be routed out, hurting America once again with unilateralism, which is responsible for the current fiasco.

Muslims Celebrate the birthday of Imam Mahdi

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The diversity in Islam is incredible, God tests out our tolerance to see if we are capable of accepting different versions of Islam, a majority of us believe in Universality, as we so proudly label God as the God of universe, not ours exclusively. We do the same with Prophet Muhammad; mercy to mankind and we have to lift ourselves to emulate to become a mercy to mankind. We continue to learn about respecting the otherness of other and accepting the God given uniqueness that Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) has prophesized.

The Islamic information center of Washington DC shared the announcement of celebration of the birthday of Imam Mahdi ( July 17) one of the great grandchildren of Prophet Muhammad, May God Bless them both.
The topic is about the Messiah.

The diversity in Islam is incredible, God continuously tests out our tolerance to see if we are capable of accepting different versions of Islam. A majority of us believe in universality of Islam and pleased to label God as the God of universe (Rabbul Aalameen) and not ours exclusively. We do the same with Prophet Muhammad; mercy to mankind (Rahmatul Aalameen) and it behooves us to lift ourselves to become the mercy to mankind.

We continue to learn about respecting the otherness of other and accepting the God given uniqueness that Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) had prophesized.

The Islamic Information Center shared the announcement of celebration of the birthday of Imam Mahdi (July 17) one of the great grandchildren of Prophet Muhammad, May God Bless them both.

Mahdi is the promised Messiah in Jewish, Christian and Islamic traditions. Indeed every tradition anchors their faith on a day when justice will be served to the whole human kind. It is a dream and it is a hope of individuals and groups. Different scenarios have been painted out by different groups from dooms day to resurrection and the bottom line remains the same; justice for everyone.

The Jewish people are still waiting for that Messiah, Christians and Muslims believe Jesus was the one and he will return to establish and re-build the kingdom of heaven where no one will live in apprehension of the other.

It is amazing how the Neocons among Muslims, Christians and Jews give a political spin to the story to suit them. The Muslim Neocons believe that when Jesus comes back he will destroy the evil forces and establish Islam and the Christian Neocons have spread the falsity that Muhammad will come and Slaughter every one or forced them to become Muslims. While the Christian Neocons believe that “their Jesus” will come and convert every Muslim, Jew, Hindu and others to Christianity. Any hatred must be verified, why do the religious right have to tell lies about others?

How gross their spin is! Jesus will restore justice to humanity by messing others and converting them to Christianity or Islam. Convert he will everyone to common humanity that is spiritual aspect of Islam, Christianity and Judaism, the essence is same in all traditions and religions; Justice to prevail at the end through any one call him Messiah, Jesus or any name, the idea is same.

Within Islam we have different understandings as well; the Sunnis believe in the return of the Messiah whereas the Shia denomination believes that Imam Mahdi is the one and he will be back whereas the Ahmadiyya Muslims believe Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad is the messiah.
Islam is large enough to absorb all the strands regardless of what the politically oriented Muslims are bent on denigrating each other. Indeed, we can see the wisdom in the Prophet’s predictions that we will divide ourselves into 73 tribes. He understood the human fitra (nature) and prepared us to accept it instead of making arrogant claim to be the best, the best among us indeed is the one who is pious and who serves humanity.

This is inspirational and describes the end times well, “The Prophet of Islam proclaimed, Listen to the good news about the Mahdi! He will rise at the time when people will be faced with severe conflict and the earth will be hit by a violent quake. He will fill the earth with justice and equity as it is filled with injustice and tyranny. He will fill the hearts of his followers with devotion and will spread justice everywhere”. I was looking for a statement like this for nearly two decades.

Indeed that is the very basic to human nature justice and equity. If not now, it gives us solace knowing that the world would be better place some day. Contrast this with the fabrications by Christian Neocons that Prophet Muhammad will come in the end times and slaughter every one or force everyone to become Muslim.

I believe nature is created to have a balance; physical and spiritual. In this game tyrants get away with murders and injustices, there was Hitler, Stalin and Bin Laden and a host of the heads of the states who have ordered bombing of innocent, uprooting families, the only thing an ordinary person can hope justice is belief in the end times where everyone will be accountable. The idea that everyone will pay for it restores hope and takes the burden off of us.

Mike Ghouse is Committed to building cohesive societies – details at www.mikeghouse.net

# #

Here is the Press release.

(WASHINGTON DC — July 17, 2011) The Islamic Information Center celebrates the birthday of Imam Mahdi, one of the great great grandchildren of Prophet Muhammad, May God Bless them both.

This holiday is being marked by hundreds of millions of Muslims around the world, and is a joyous occasion.

To learn more about Imam Mahdi and his role in the modern world, please read IIC’s “Imam Mahdi Information Packet”, available for free download by simply clicking on the image below! http://www.islamicinformationcenter.org/images/stories/pdfs/ImamMahdi.pdf?utm_source=Islamic+Information+Center&utm_campaign=414d01d69e-Interfaith&utm_medium=email

“Civilizations were born and destroyed many times throughout human history, but a few concepts persist in the collective beliefs of various cultures.
One of these is the belief in a final savior that will come at the end of the world. Notions differ as to who this character is or what the conditions of the end of the world will be.
Nevertheless, the belief in a just leader who will bring truth and justice to a world of chaos and corruption is widely observed in various cultural and faith traditions, especially in those of the Abrahamic traditions. In Islam, this branch of eschatology refers to the tradition of Imam Mahdi, the leader who will lead all of humanity to the path of truth and consciousness.

Imam Mahdi has several titles, be he is generally known as the ‘Mahdi’, or the spiritual leader who is ‘rightly-guided’. Born in 868 AD, Imam Mahdi entered a period of occultation, or divine hiding, that would protect him from his enemies, and will return when he is called forth by God to fulfill his mission. This mission is necessarily one of returning justice and balance to the earth in a time of great tyranny and chaos.

Imam Mahdi will return alongside the Holy Prophet Jesus, son of Mary, to usher in a golden era of peace and tranquility.
Imam Mahdi represents the justice of God in this earth, and will answer the cries of the helpless, oppressed, and downtrodden.

The Prophet of Islam proclaimed, “Listen to the good news about the Mahdi! He will rise at the time when people will be faced with severe conflict and the earth will be hit by a violent quake. He will fill the earth with justice and equity as it is filled with injustice and tyranny. He will fill the hearts of his followers with devotion and will spread justice everywhere”.

Sharia and 2012 Elections

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DO THE REPUBLICANS UNDERSTAND SHARIAH?
www.ShariaLaws.com

As American Muslims we are committed to the safety, security and prosperity of America. That’s a pledge we take seriously and act upon it.  We are considering a Sharia conference in every major city in the US to demystify the myths about it. Every Republican candidate is talking about it without a clue and much of his/her talk is anti-fellow Americans, rather Anti-American. It is embarrassing to hear their ignorance when a good reporter asks questions.

Sharia will become a dominant theme in the 2012 Presidential Elections; the one who speaks the loudest earns the tea party support assuming that Tea Party represents the main stream Americans.  I am not sure, if we the Americans would gulp down their rhetoric or would have the time to question the veracity of the comments.

The responsibility falls squarely on us, the American Muslims to become contributors and participants in the well being, peace and prosperity of America.

We are considering a Sharia conference in every major city in the US, it will be professionally developed with the help of our Imams and Scholars and those who have problems with it. We have to answer every possible question that there is. If you are cooking things up in your mind and judging, you must be a darn Republican.

If you have the will, it’s easy to do it.

Muslims together can work and build a safer and secure America for every one of the 301 Million Americans.  This is your conference in your town, organized and managed by you. I hope all of us can call ISNA, CAIR, ICNA and other national organizations to take this project up.

 We can do this for under $ 5000.00 per city. I have done over 40 events including the ones over 600 attendees within that budget.  We should not expect the national organizations to put this event out, we have to do it on our own with their supervision to standardize the event. You’ll have to raise the funds locally- 100 Muslims $50/each or other combinations will do it. The question we have to ask is, are we willing to do it or find it comfortable to talk about our love of Islam without doing a thing.   

I am a volunteer and will be happy to assist anyone anywhere. 
Together we can come up with great plans and just do it.

For the starters, I have pulled a few key articles together; there are much better articles out there, Insha Allah, we will gather them all and urge Muslims to post on their sites, the more places it is published, the better off we are.  

10 ARTICLES

The articles range from simplicity for a lay person to understand  ( Sumbul, Nezar , Nasim, Amjad and Mike’s articles) to Mainstream press writing ( Amy Sullivan and Justin Elliott),  to Scholarly presentations ( Dr. Yusuf Zia Kavakci and  Dr. Mohammad Omar Farooq) . I hope to gather article critical (Plenty) of Sharia as well. If you know a great article, please share, together we can complete the spectrum and add value to its understanding. I further request that you post this on your site or ask those who have a site to post. The more it shows up in search engines, the better off we are collectively.

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Sharia in one Gulp – Mike Ghouse

Sharia in its simplest form is a how-to manual based on the Qur’an and the Hadith (Prophet Muhammad’s sayings). It is a human effort to understand the concept of justice enshrined in the Qur’an for day-to-day living.

– http://sharialaws.blogspot.com/2011/07/sharia-in-one-gulp.html
– http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mike-ghouse/sharia-law-not-in-america_b_653250.html 

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What Sharia law actually means – Justin Elliott

Sharia is more than simply “law” in the prescriptive sense. It is also a methodology through which a jurist engages the religious texts to ascertain divine will. As a jurist-made law, the outcome of this process of ascertaining divine will is called fiqh (positive law), which is the moral and legal anchor of a Muslim’s total existence.
http://sharialaws.blogspot.com/2011/02/what-sharia-law-actually-means.html

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Who’s Afraid of Sharia? – Sumbul Ali Karamali

Hasn’t the whole notion of shariah in America gotten a bit out of control? No, it hasn’t — it’s gotten hugely, obscenely, ignorantly out of control. Aha! The six principles must be about killing infidels, veiling women, stoning people for adultery, honor killings and female genital cutting, right? Nope.

http://sharialaws.blogspot.com/2010/09/whos-afraid-of-shariah.html

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Sharia the law system inspired by the Quraan – Wikipedia

Sharia is often referred to as Islamic law, but this is wrong, as only a small part is irrefutably based upon the core Islamic text, the Koran. Correct designations would be “Muslim Law”, “Islam-inspired”, “Islam-derived,” or even “the law system of Muslims.”This is well known to most Muslims, yet Sharia is always referred to as “based upon the Koran”, hence it is the “will of God.”
http://sharialaws.blogspot.com/2011/03/sharia-law-system-inspired-by-quraan.html

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Sharia is Not what you think it is – Imam Abdul Malik Mujahid

When some American pundits call sharia, “a growing threat to the United States,” Muslim Americans wonder what in the world are they talking about. Sharia is overwhelmingly concerned with personal religious observance, not with constitutions and laws.

http://sharialaws.blogspot.com/2011/06/sharia-is-not-what-you-think-it-is.html

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The Myths of Sharia Law in America – Amy Sullivan

If you are not vitally concerned about the possibility of radical Muslims infiltrating the U.S. government and establishing a Taliban-style theocracy, then you are not a candidate for the GOP presidential nomination. In addition to talking about tax policy and Afghanistan, Republican candidates have also felt the need to speak out against the menace of “sharia.”

http://sharialaws.blogspot.com/2011/07/myths-of-sharia-law-in-america-httpwww.html

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Sharia – Dr. Mohammad Omar Farooq

“While Islam under the leadership of Prophet Muhammad brought liberation and freedom from human bondage and ushered in scientific, technological, economic and cultural progress as part of a dynamic civilization, the Shariah as it is being presented today seems to do (and probably promise more of) just the opposite. Why? In this essay, it is argued that one pivotal problem has to do with some fundamental misunderstanding about Islam and Shariah.

http://sharialaws.blogspot.com/2008/03/sharia-value.html

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Sharia, Fiqh and Islamic Law – Imam Dr. Yusuf Ziya Kavakci

Dr. Kavakci is one of the 500 most influential Imams in the world
Sharia recently became a hotly debated subject. Archbishop of England made a statement at the middle of many statements, that has given the opportunity of Islamic law and Shari to be discussed and debated by westerners and some times the discussion apparently was taken out context. It is, as I believe, a fact that Sharia, Fiqh in its early stages got established and developed in the wide area of the world, mainly where Roman law was dominant.

http://sharialaws.blogspot.com/2011/07/sharia-fiqh-and-islamic-law_15.html

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Demystifying Sharia – Nasim Rehmatullah and Amjad Mahmood Khan

Shariah is a misunderstood and misused concept. Critics of Islam frequently employ terms like “creeping shariah” to stoke fear amongst the masses. The Park 51 controversy and the increasing media focus on Islam provide an opportunity to educate Americans about the true teachings and practices of Islam concerning shariah.

http://sharialaws.blogspot.com/2011/07/demystifying-shariah.html

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Sharia law is not a threat – Nezar Hamze, Cair

You can’t turn on the news these days or pick up a newspaper without seeing or reading about Islam, Muslims or Sharia law. Unfortunately, most of what you hear is from politicians with a religious viewpoint or media outlets creating an illusion of an enemy.

http://sharialaws.blogspot.com/2011/07/sharia-law-is-not-threat.html

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Mike Ghouse committed to nurturing the pluralistic values embedded in Islam.  More about him at www.MikeGhouse.net

Muslim Canadians Should Ease Out of Prayers in Public School

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CLARIFICATION TO THE ARTICLE
No one is free from misunderstanding a situation and becoming judgmental. 
Finding the truth is our own responsibility, Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) offered guidance, that we must verify before judging other’s character, lest  you not regret.   

Someone actually wrote to me demanding my opposition to Muslim Prayers in Canadian School, that may be his frustration speaking, but not the wisdom, indeed I encourage people to pray, the right thing to do.  

Muslim students have been holding Friday congregational prayers at the school and that is a beautiful. However, one of the other religious groups raised questions about it, which brings the issue of accommodation in public space.
Let’s say the other’s want to hold their congregational prayers on Saturday or Sunday. The school has to run power and pay for other utilities – who is going to pay for that?  

Shouldn’t the school be fair? If they are fair then people of other faiths want to hold their congregations on Saturday and Sunday or in the evenings. The School should not deny any one. What if there is more demand for the space and a few get denied? 

Parents pay taxes for learning school curriculum that is common to all. Friday congregation at school may not cost a penny to school, as nothing is changed, but the question comes, what happens when others want to do it on other days…  

Let the Muslim parents arrange for a bus to pick up children and take them to the nearest mosque and bring the kids back to school. Or let there be an interfaith group that helps developing relationships that will save conflicts.

The officers and school are in a difficult situation now. As Muslims we need to free them from this entanglement and ease them out of the situation as smoothly as we can. 

The most important thing for community is to weigh in on the long term cohesiveness of the society. We all need to co-exist as harmoniously and conflict-less as we can.   

FULL ARTICLE AT:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mike-ghouse/muslim-canadians-urged-to_b_891938.html

KRLD RADIO – MIKE GHOUSE ON RICK PERRY’S SINCERITY

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Scott Braddock of CBS news interviewed me on the air this morning about Governor Perry’s initiative about prayers.
Mr. Perry has called in 50 governors to his prayer fest; it amounts to inviting every one of the 301 million Americans. He is not sincere, he is appeasing his voter base, the evangelicals and no one but Evangelicals will be allowed to pray, may be a few token Methodist, Presbyterians and others.  

If Perry is sincere, he would call this “exclusive evangelical enclave” and just do it. No one will object to it.  There is no need to pose it as national prayer day or invite the 50 governors. Who is he duping? Do we need a guy like this to run our country? 

If he is sincere about America, I expect him to meet with every individual or groups regardless of their affiliations; Klansmen, Wicca, Hindu, Muslims, Atheists, GLBT, Native Americans, Evangelicals or Mormons. He needs to meet with them and listen to them. If they ask him to visit their community center or place of worship, he should do so without being labeled. He represents every American without having to agree with their interests. He should communicate his stand clearly. 

On the top of this he is mixing politics with religion. America stands out in the world for keeping the Church and State separate and that is the reason we have had such a great governance of the people for the people. Let religion remain in people’s hearts and state run the civic affairs.  We cannot let America fall to the bottom with such mixing.  

If you are a Baptist, Catholic, Mormon or a Methodist out there speaking up for your rights, it is precisely because of the separation of church and state that you have a voice.  If our founding fathers had not done that, you would have had no say. Let’s not mess with what is sacred to our land; separation of Church and State. And I am glad an organization is suing Perry to prevent ruining our nation. Even if you are an evangelical it is in your long time interest to do the right thing.  The world is a better place today because of our model of governance, there is a lot more we need to do, rather than regress.  

Stand opposed to ruining America; let the Church and State remain separate. 

2.   TEXAS FAITH: Are Perry and Obama responsible for the religious company they keep?
http://nabsites.net/demo/texas-faith-are-perry-and-obama/

5.   TEXAS FAITH: Is Rick Perry’s “Day of Prayer and Fasting” about religion or politics? http://religionblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2011/06/is-rick-perrys-day-of-prayer-a.html

Mike Ghouse is a speaker, thinker, writer and a frequent guest on Hannity show and nationally syndicated Radio shows and Dallas TV, Radio and Print Media. He presides America Together Foundation and is committed to building a cohesive America and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day.

Over 1000 articles have been published on Pluralism, Interfaith, Islam, India and cohesive societies. Two of his books are poised to be released this fall on Pluralism and Islam. He is available to speak at your place of worship, work, school, college, seminars or conferences. His work is encapsulated in 27 blogs, four websites and several forums indexed at http://www.mikeghouse.net/

TERROR HITS INDIA AGAIN

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Mumbai, July 13, 2011. Three serial blasts have hit three different parts of Mumbai, killing 8 and injuring several.

When tragedy hits, we need to come together and focus on finding the fountain head for such evil acts and remove the cancerous cell and hold on to the temptations to blame anyone else. Blaming will do further damage to the society in times like this. This would be patriotic thing to do; to preserve life and safety of citizens.

If you committed a crime, let’s haul your ass to jail and bring justice for the crimes against the public. Your parents, siblings, spouse, neighborhood, community, religion or state has nothing to do with your evilness. If we want justice and peace, get the bad guys and not mess with good people.

Let no Indian look at the other with suspicion, out of a 1.2 billion people a dozen are responsible for this cowardice, we need to get them and get their fountain head. That is the right thing to do… one mishap should not tear India further apart. Hold on to the temptations to blame and you will serve your motherland right.
This is the time for us to come together.

As an American Indian Muslim I condemn this acts of terrorism.
Jai Hind

Jai Hind


Mike Ghouse
http://mikeghouseforindia.blogspot.com/
Mike Ghouse is a speaker, thinker, writer and a frequent guest on Hannity show and nationally syndicated Radio shows and Dallas TV, Radio and Print Media. He presides America Together Foundation and is committed to building a cohesive America and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day. Over 1000 articles have been published on Pluralism, Interfaith, Islam, India and cohesive societies. Two of his books are poised to be released this fall on Pluralism and Islam. He is available to speak at your place of worship, work, school, college, seminars or conferences. His work is encapsulated in 27 blogs, four websites and several forums indexed at http://www.mikeghouse.net/

Inclusive Prayers at City of Carrollton

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Inclusive Prayers at City of Carrolton
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
By Mike Ghouse
I am proud of my City, the city of Carrollton for adopting inclusive prayers prior to the City Council Meetings. Tonight was my fifth time this year and we began this process about three years ago. We are a blessed city to have taken the lead in the nation to say who we are and we are blessed with Mayor Matthew Marchant and a great city council and staff.
LET’S PRAY
Dear creator and causer of the universe,
in your name we want to create a cohesive and peaceful Carrollton with care kindness and dignity to every one of the 130,000 residents of this beautiful City.
Dear God,
 please accept our gratitude in every name we call upon you; Manito, Yahweh, Elahi, Ishwar, Allah, Mahavira, Buddha, Wahe Guru, Ahura Mazda, mother earth and Jesus Christ.
Guide us to talk act and believe that we are one nation under you
Guide us to value and practice the principles of liberty and justice for all of your creation without prejudice.
We have gathered here this evening as representatives of a diverse community.

Thank you lord for inhabiting our city with all of your creation; represented by every race, nationality, ethnicity, language, culture and religion. We see you as one, none and many and in every form; male, female, genderless and non-existent, being and non-being, nameless and with innumerable names.

Help up to preserve the diversity and plurality you have chosen for us.  

As we undertake this mission we are painfully aware of the ignorance,
the prejudice, the fear, the mistrust and the hatred that divide people in our world today.
We recognized that these destructive attitudes are found not only in the other, but in ourselves as well.
Dear God, purify our hearts and minds
Dear God, give us wisdom and give us the courage
Dear God, help me welcome Anthony Wilder and Bob Garza to serve us.
Dear God, guide our Mayor, council and the staff to have an open heart and mind towards your creation and help them make the decision that you would be pleased with.
In your name we bow, Amen.
Mike Ghouse is a speaker, thinker, writer and a frequent guest on Hannity show and nationally syndicated Radio shows and Dallas TV, Radio and Print Media. He presides America Together Foundation and is committed to building a cohesive America and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day.

Over 1000 articles have been published on Pluralism, Interfaith, Islam, India and cohesive societies. Two of his books are poised to be released this fall on Pluralism and Islam. He is available to speak at your place of worship, work, school, college, seminars or conferences. His work is encapsulated in 27 blogs, four websites and several forums indexed at http://www.mikeghouse.net/

TEXAS FAITH: Are Perry and Obama responsible for the religious company they keep?

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Is it  fair to link Perry to some of the more controversial ideas of his sponsors – any more than it was fair to tie Obama to Wright? What are the limits of guilt by association? What responsibility does somebody in public life have when organizing a religious event and bringing in sponsors with religious ideas others might find offensive?
# # #
MIKE GHOUSE, President, Foundation for Pluralism, Dallas

We should not tie Perry to Hagee or Wagner, nor should we have tied Obama to Wright. They stand on their own and should be accountable for what they say and do, and not who they listen to or friends with. 
If Perry were to run for the President, I expect him to meet with every individual or groups regardless of their affiliations; Klansmen, Wicca, Hindu, Muslims, Atheists, GLBT, Native Americans, Evangelicals or Mormons. He needs to meet with them and listen to them. If they ask him to visit their community center or place of worship, he should do so without being labeled. He represents every American without having to agree with their interests. He should communicate his stand clearly.
As a Pluralist, I have endured such labeling from the extreme right wingers among Muslims, Jews, Christians and Hindus. It is ironic that a few Muslims call me a Zionist and a few Jews call me an Islamist, and the Christians and Hindus don’t spare me either. I am neither and have no bias towards any. Not all right wingers resort to that rhetoric except the extremists among them. They expect your blind support, if you question them; they ambush you with, “you are either with us or against us.” We need to grow up; life has a lot more color than black and white. I am in touch with extremists to liberals with a lot of moderates in between, we have to learn about each other to understand and take a comprehensive pluralistic approach towards public policy.

Perry claims the Prayer fest was his idea; he has indeed an opportunity to prove that he is not under the exclusive influence of evangelicals. He can do so by holding inclusive prayers to demonstrate that he is fit to represent all Americans. We are one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all and are represented by every race, nationality, ethnicity, language, culture and religion. We see God as one, none and many and in every form; male, female, genderless and non-existent, being and non-being, nameless and with innumerable names.

Here is a verse from Quraan on the topic 5:8 “O YOU who have attained to faith! Be ever steadfast in your devotion to God, bearing witness to the truth in all equity; and never let hatred of any-one lead you into the sin of deviating from justice. Be just: this is closest to being God-conscious. And remain conscious of God: verily, God is aware of all that you do.”

For all the 9 takes on the issues please visit Dallas Morning News at:  http://religionblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2011/07/texas-faith-are-perry-and-obam.html
Mike Ghouse is a speaker, thinker, writer and a frequent guest on Hannity show and nationally syndicated Radio shows and Dallas TV, Radio and Print Media. He presides America Together Foundation and is committed to building a cohesive America and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day.

Over 1000 articles have been published on Pluralism, Interfaith, Islam, India and cohesive societies. Two of his books are poised to be released this fall on Pluralism and Islam. He is available to speak at your place of worship, work, school, college, seminars or conferences. His work is encapsulated in 27 blogs, four websites and several forums indexed at http://www.mikeghouse.net/

Muslim Prayers in Canadian Public Schools

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Peace and Prosperity of a nation hinges on separation of Church and the State. Indeed America, Canada and other societies have been able to harness talented people without regard to their religion, race or ethnicity for the collective benefit of the societies and every participant has advanced with it.

 It is because of this freedom Christians, Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs, Baha’is, Zoroastrians, Buddhists, Atheists, Wicca, Native traditions and others have the opportunity to become proud contributors in building the nations and in turn enjoy its fruit.

As the beneficiaries of this sacred value, we have to continue to guard against mixing church and the state. As Muslims of America and Canada, we have to do our Jihad in reigning on temptations of mixing the two in every level we can. When my late wife ran for the City council it was made clear to everyone that she was running as a citizen and not a Muslim and we sought people from every race, religion and ethnicity. Indeed her funeral prayers were attended by just about every representation of Dallas. We are all in this together for the collective good that yields individual good.

The Canadian Muslim Congress is taking a stand to stop Muslim prayers in public schools, I do not agree with many of their stances, but on this one, they are doing the right thing. Please consider the wisdom in supporting them.

Every group should have access to pray, even if the school has one child who is an Atheist, Zoroastrian, Native American, Oloriyo, Wicca or any tradition, his or her parents must have equal access to the facilities to do their prayers or group talks. Indeed, freedom to assemble must have no boundaries and restrictions. We are a leading civilization of the free world, and we ought to be worth emulating by other nations to create a better world for the benefit of all of God’s creation.

What is good for the goose has got to be good for the gander. To build cohesive societies where trust is the norm, and commitment to the idea of a society where no one is apprehensive of the other becomes customary, we have to treat everyone justly. Fairness ought to be valued by all including the self proclaimed conservatives.

The fanatics in each religious group will recklessly play the majority card, as if the majority gives them the right to be tyrants to deny the rights of those who are in a minority. Good God has not signed a deal with any one behind others back. He is not a Christian, Muslim, Jew, Hindu, Sikh, Baha’i or otherwise. Ironically, each group builds its worth by denying the rights to sub-groups within their category. Religions have unabashedly transformed into private clubs.

Holding of a prayer service in a public school implies a tacit endorsement or dominance of that religion or the group of religions. The group may or may not be affixing their version of the religious seal on the school, but it eventually gets branded. None of our public schools of learning need to be exclusive clubs.

Muslims have great examples to offer. The mosque in Richardson, Texas does not lend its cultural hall to any activity that is ascribable to a particular denomination, including a few groups who celebrate the birth of Prophet Muhammad. A few years ago, Turkey, a Muslim majority democracy, had banned reciting verses from Quran in an event in Ankara where people of other faiths were participants. They are good examples to follow.

Published at OpEd news on July 10, 2011
http://www.opednews.com/articles/Muslim-Prayers-in-Canadian-by-Mike-Ghouse-110709-678.html

The best thing for the school is to untangle itself from any religious affiliation. When our interests become subservient to the interest of the society at large, no one will lose but gain. That’s how we build civil societies.
I urge the Muslim and Christian groups to hang on to the conservative values of peace and safety for every resident, and volunteer to ease out of the situation and not create an entanglement for the school. Let this not be an entitlement.

Mike Ghouse is committed to building a cohesive America and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day. He is a speaker, thinker, writer and a frequent guest on Hannity show and nationally syndicated Radio shows and Dallas TV, Radio and Print Media. Over 1000 articles have been published on Pluralism, Interfaith, Islam, India and cohesive societies. Two of his books are poised to be released this fall on Pluralism and Islam. His work is encapsulated in 27 blogs, four websites and several forums indexed at mikeghousedotnet.

Don’t make Allies with Jews and Christians

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Don’t make Allies with Jews and Christians
Qura’an , Sura Al-Ma’idah (The Table Spread) Verse: 5: 51

This myth suits the right winger Muslims, Christians and Jews alike, where as the moderate majority goes on living and befriending every one they connect with without regard to religion, race, ethnicity or culture. 
Qur’an is a book of wisdom that guides humanity to find ways to co-exist in harmony, in spiritual terms that is Islam. God is not your property or mine, God belongs to all, we are all his, her or its’ creation and he loves his creation and offers that wisdom to every tribe, community and a nation. No one is above the other to him, only those who score 100 get extra recognition, all others pass and a few fail.
I know a few basics in Arabic; read and write and understand some. But there are enough translations out there to keep you up with its essence. I have resisted the temptation to learn Arabic – for I do not want to lose my ability to understand it as a non- Muslims would understand and bridge the gap as much as I can.
Here is the actual translation by Muhammad Asad;
5:51 (Asad) O YOU who have attained to faith! Do not take the Jews and the Christians for your allies: they are but allies of one another [72] and whoever of you allies himself with them becomes, verily, one of them; behold, God does not guide such evildoers. [73]

[72] According to most of the commentators (e.g., Tabari), this means that each of these two communities extends genuine friendship only to its own adherents-i.e., the Jews to the Jews, and the Christians to the Christians-and cannot, therefore, be expected to be really friendly towards the followers of the Qur’an. See also 8:73, and the corresponding note

[73] Lit., “the evildoing folk”: i.e., those who deliberately sin in this respect. As regards the meaning of the “alliance” referred to here, see 3:28, and more particularly 4:139 and the corresponding note, which explains the reference to a believer’s loss of his moral identity if he imitates the way of life of, or-in Qur’anic terminology-“allies himself” with, non-Muslims. However, as has been made abundantly clear in 60:7-9 (and implied in verse 57 of this surah), this prohibition of a “moral alliance” with non-Muslims does not constitute an injunction against normal, friendly relations with such of them as are well-disposed towards Muslims. It should be borne in mind that the term wali has several shades of meaning: “ally”, “friend”, “helper”, “protector”, etc. The choice of the particular term – and sometimes a -combination of two terms-is always dependent on the context.(Quran Ref: 5:51 ).”
When there is a conflict with one, you make allies with the other to find solutions, it is human nature. But If there is already an alliance between the other two, as it is explicit in the verse, then you proceed with caution, a common human trait, as the purpose of finding solutions gets stinted.  You are on your own to figure out the best solution.
When Ferdinand expelled Jews and Muslims, they were allies against Christian ire at that time, they were allies in Spain, and they were allies in Jerusalem during the crusades. 
The Palestinian Christians and Muslims are allies against Israel’s occupation, and you find different combinations to find security and balance among those who are oppressed.
The reference to evil doers applies to those who are evil doers and resist finding a peaceful solution. Evil doers are those who are a hindrance to peaceful existence, and it could be Muslims, Jews, Christians or anyone.
Despite how the verse is interpreted by the right,  the Muslims and Jews were allies in Spain and elsewhere, indeed the Jewish history calls it their Golden period. The Israel Palestinian conflict has really goofed up a lot of equations, giving it different colors and nuances.
Indeed the right wingers among Muslims believe the verse to mean not to make friends with Jews and Christians. That is not the case with most moderate Muslims as they see them fellow beings in a belief in oneness of God.
Now if the Circumcision ban, Kosher/ Halal ban gains grounds Jews and Muslims will be allies against a common threat to their existence, again it is a natural things, as Quraan calls it Fitra.   I was one of the first Muslims to stand up with Jews on many occasions including the impending-but-going-to-failed ban on circumcision.
(http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mike-ghouse/circumcision-satire_b_872270.html )
The nature of right wingers no matter what religion they wear translates into pre-emptive attacks as a measure of security.  They are insecure and constantly live in imagined threats, and pump themselves to explode on to others, some bomb other nations, some attack on public media. The real clash occurs between the right wingers of religions and politicians and not the majority of good people.
I am friends with humanity regardless of their religion.  I have chosen to be a Muslim and I will remain one with no bias towards one single human being.  I am writing a pieces called Mukhlooqul Aalameen – an extension of Rabbul Aalameen to Rahmatul Aalameen to Mukhlooqul Aalameen, that is the ultimate in Islamic spirituality, you become Brahma where no distinctions between you and another being fade.
Mike Ghouse is committed to building cohesive Societies and nurturing the pluralistic values embedded in Islam for the good of humanity. What is good for Muslims has got to be good for the world and Vice-Versa to sustain peace and harmony on the planet.

 Thank you, Mike, for your response. As a follow up question to your response, may I ask you if you know the Arabic of the Quran and if you are familiar with the terms and the words that the people of the Tribe of Quraish used in the time of the Prophet Muhammad?

You say that Yusuf Ali was influenced by the Mufassirs in his translation of the Quran. Perhaps, you are correct in your understanding, but would you please explain who those Mufassirs were and where they got their knowledge from?

For your information, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which is the cradle of Islam and whose only official language is Arabic, has approved only one English translation of the Quran and it is by Yusuf Ali. His translation was scrutinized by a committee of Arabic speaking scholars of Quran, Hadiths and Tafsir and they also looked into each word Yusuf Ali has used in his translation.

Only after a thorough examination of his translation and commentary, was Ali’s translation approved for being very close to the Arabic words of the Quran – a privilege and honor that no other translator of the Quran has been able to earn from the very nation of which Muhammad was a son and a Prophet!

Now coming to Mohammad Asad, he has translated verse 5:51 almost in the same words that Yusuf Ali and Pickthall have used in their respective translations. Asad’s translation reads:
“O ye who believe! Take not the Jews and the Christians for your friends and protectors: They are but friends and protectors of each other. And he amongst you that turns to them (for friendship) is of them. Verily God guideth not a people unjust.”
Since Asad appears to you to be more credible in the translation of the Quran than other translators, can you please tell me if you agree with the above translation of his, and if you follow what Allah has clearly told the Muslims in regard to their relationship with the Jews and Christians?
As a Muslim, do you take the Jews and the Christians to be your friends and if you do, can you please tell me if you have not become a Jew (if you have taken a Jew as your friend) or a Christian (if you have taken a Christian as your friend)?
Or, do you think that the passages of the Quran, like the above, need to be changed, or “interpreted” differently, keeping our present time and circumstances in mind?
Your considered and educative discourse will be very helpful to me. Thanks.
Mohammad Asghar
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From: “MikeGhouse@aol.com”

Sent: Fri, July 8, 2011 10:01:15 AM

Subject: Re: Logans Challenge to Frequent Sean Hannity Guest Mike Ghouse

AA

Muhammad Asad is by far the best, not absolutely, but relatively.
While Yusuf Ali, Pickthall were the early ones, they were going in circles and were influenced by the Mufassirs of the yore. Need fresh thinking.
The bad ones are done by the Europeans and Hilali Khan
Mike
In a message dated 7/8/2011 11:08:18 A.M. Central Daylight Time, xxxxx@yahoo.com writes:
Mike,

You have written:

“Robert Spencer, Geert Wilders, Brigitte Gabriel, Nonie Darwish, Wafa Sultan, Alan Dershowitz, Ali Sina and a host of others are guided by those translations and it suits them to sell hate and frightened nincompoops write those checks. “
Could you please let me know which translation of the Quran into English you believe is correct and it is done by whom? In other words, whose translation of the Quran you have read or are reading to make the above claim? Thanks.
Mohammad Asghar
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From: “MikeGhouse@aol.com” MikeGhouse@aol.com

Sent: Thu, July 7, 2011 10:10:05 PM

Subject: Logans Challenge to Frequent Sean Hannity Guest Mike Ghouse

Facts don’t matter to some. They did not matter to Bush
I am pleased to respond to Logan’s challenge on the net hoping he and his friends will be open to seeing another point of view. I pray that he and his friends read this with an open mind and an open heart. (of the 3200 words nearly 2400 are quotes from Quraan)
Each one of us bears responsibility to do his or her share of work in creating cohesive societies where everyone feels safe and secure, and trust one another to make life easier for one and the others. You and I are responsible for our own actions and we have to do our share of good in creating such societies. We have a choice not do a thing and not hear from any.
Just around the crusades, the European kings commissioned a hostile Quran translation to foster warfare against Muslim invaders to get their subject to go fight for them. Then after the fall of Ottoman Empire, a Muslim turns around and produced a hostile translation of Quran to inflame Muslims against Christians and Jews.
Religions were introduced to bring sanity to people, most people get it and few don’t. There are a few Muslims, Christians, Hindus, Jews and others who don’t get their religion and resort to oppression and hate mongering without realizing it. If they spend their energy on building peace we will have a much better society to live.
Robert Spencer, Geert Wilders, Brigitte Gabriel, Nonie Darwish, Wafa Sultan, Alan Dershowitz, Ali Sina and a host of others are guided by those translations and it suits them to sell hate and frightened nincompoops write those checks.
I am willing to discuss this further, if there is intellectual discussion without judgments, if not, don’t expect me to correspond any further. I have referenced some material below where a few men have run off instead of dealing with the issues they raised.

Here is my respose to Logann’s challenge: http://www.smirkingchimp.com/thread/mike-ghouse/37186/my-challenge-to-frequent-sean-hannity-guest-mike-ghouse

Your comments at the site are appreciated.

Mike Ghouse