PRESS RELEASE: RESHAPING CARROLLTON TONIGHT

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CANDIDATES FORUM:
Re-shaping Carrollton tonight

It is not a run of the mill candidate forum and it is not about the typical budget issue. It is about building a cohesive Carrollton where no resident has to live in apprehension of the other and more importantly, they need to feel welcome.

Program: Candidate’s forum

Date: 6: 30 PM, Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Place: Barbeque Tonite Restaurant,
Address: 2540 Old Denton Road, Suite 173, Carrollton, TX 75006
Intersection: S.E Corner of Old Denton and 190/Trinity.
We thank Salim Odhwani, owner of Barbeque Tonite for facilitating the event.
The Candidates will be asked how they would handle issue regarding Civil Unions, Racial profiling, Islamophobia, Anti-Semitism and immigration reforms. What plans do they have to keep the social cohesion in Carrollton?
The Candidates:
Place 2: Bonnie Kaplan and Anthony Wilder
Approximately, they received 37% and 32% respectively.
Place 4:  Bob Garza and Cathy Henesey
approximately, they received 37% and 30% respectively.
Carrollton is enriched with every race, religion and ethnicity.  The program will be taped and sent as a model event in series of events to take place throughout the United States of America to build cohesive societies.
It’s my dream to make our city an exemplary city in social cohesion, where we learn to respect and appreciate the uniqueness of each one of us.  Peace is a product of opening our hearts and minds and learning about each other instead of believing in dished out versions of the other. If I need to feel safe, secure and peaceful, I need to work to make sure everyone around me is safe.  If I live in fears, it is likely the others do the same.
CONTACT: MIKE GHOUSE
Text Messages & Phone: (214) 325-1916
America Together Foundation
2665 Villa Creek Dr, Suite 206, Dallas, TX 75234
ANTHONY WILDER, PLACE 2
http://www.wilderforcarrollton.com/
The candidate declined.
BONNIE KAPLAN, PLACE 2
http://www.bonniekaplan.org/
Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. My name is Bonnie Kaplan and I am running for Carrollton City Council, Place 2. Thank you for coming here this evening.
I know about budgets and economic development from having served before on the Carrollton City Council. This time, if I am fortunate enough to be elected, my emphasis will be on community.
Let me tell you two stories to illustrate. Back in the year 2000, I was serving on city council and was running for mayor. In the middle of the campaign, on Easter Sunday which was also Passover, my very large double white front doors were spray painted with a huge black swastika. My husband is a Jew, and in a Jewish household there is not a symbol that is more disgusting. We were shocked and horrified, as were many in our community. This cruel event hurt us for a very long time, for it caused us to wonder who would do something so terrible to us. Through this event, I learned what it felt like to be an outsider, ostrasized for no reason except religion and heritage.
I always had a heart and a soul for community and diversity. This event only strengthened it.
In 2009, the A.W. Perry Museum Society decided to make a quilt to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the rebuilt A.W. Perry home. I was named project leader for a fundraising event. We decided to sell squares and strips that people would purchase and sign. The signed squares and strips would be incorporated into the design of the quilt. I realized that Carrollton today looked very different than the Carrollton of 1909. One of the most obvious differences was in the demographics. Today Carrollton is a very diverse city, ethnically, religiously and socially.
I decided to seek out those who would represent the many kinds of diversity. Therefore, we reached out to everyone. No one was excluded. People who participated in the project ranged from in ages from eight to ninety-one. Many different races were included in the quilt. Some people signed because of their occupations, such as firefighters and boy scouts, others signed because of their countries of origin, such as Lebanon, Pakistan, India, Mexico, China, Vietnam and Egypt. There were patches for various churches, including Christians, Baptists, Hindu, Orthodox Armenians, Jewish and Muslims. Descendants of the original settlers of Carrollton also signed the quilt.
The signed squares and strips were sent to a quilter with no instructions on how to place them. She did not know the participants and so randomly placed the patches throughout the design. The finished quilt became of tapestry of Carrollton’s diversity and community. It represents an ideal to which we can all aspire, with all the differences stitched into one beautiful whole!


BOB GARZA, PLACE 4
http://bobforcarrollton.wordpress.com/
The four issues identified in your request are a variety of diverse topics that have been argued at the national level for many years and all still remain virtually unresolved in the minds of most Americans. 
In my campaign literature and in several public forums, I have documented one of my 5 top goals as “fair and equitable representation for all Carrollton residents”.  Race, color, religion, sexual orientation or financial status will not be criteria used by me to determine how I will treat my constituents.
If elected, my plan is to partner with council members and together explore establishing the Diversity Round Table that existed a few years ago.  The objective would be to seek individuals that represent the vast diverse population that resides in our great city.
In my many years of life experience and all that has been brought in my  direction I have learned that fear of the unknown is perhaps what keeps us from truly understanding  our differences. We need to pursue that unknown to know who we are.
With that in mind I would recommend a three step approach.
Step 1 Education: Once the Round Table group is established an education phase would begin.  The objective is to get to know all cultures represented on an overview perhaps high level basis.
Step 2 Explore: The next phase is to explore the commonalities and perhaps the differences between each culture and analyze what and why those differences exist. 
Step 3 Celebrate: Once better prepared and educated on our commonalities and our differences we should then formulate a plan to share, display and celebrate our cultures.
These are three simple steps that should be used to build on.  We should explore what other municipalities have in place and learn from their successes.
Carrollton is a great place to work, live and raise a family that is fast growing in minority representation.  That should not be looked at as a negative but should be celebrated.


CATHY HENESY, PLACE 4
http://www.cathyforcarrollton.com/
Social Cohesion by Cathy Henesey
Word Count: 249, as requested
Wikipedia defines social cohesion as a term that   “describe the bonds or ‘glue’ that bring people together in society, particularly in the context of cultural diversity.”
 I believe that Carrollton exudes social equality as seen by all representations of individuals that live in our neighborhoods and our culturally diverse business owners. 
I think our legal citizens enjoy fair and equal conditions when it comes to housing, jobs, education, and overall social conditions. Our opportunities as a leader are to encourage our community to participate in our community beyond their comfort zone. Our city’s boards/commissions lack participants to fill seats, our HOAs are lacking citizens who want to step up as leaders and our civil and charity organizations lack board members to sustain their organizations. The opportunity is there for all citizens to make a difference.
As an elected official, it would be my responsibility to reach out to all residents of Carrollton and make them aware of the vast opportunities to get involved and how vitally important it is to keep our city thriving.
Volunteering plays a key role in economic regeneration and we need our community to stay active; it is empathy that can lead to segregation and separation. I find great inspiration from Seth Godin’s book, The Tribe, who speaks differently about getting people involved and feeling a part of something bigger. 
I live this methodology and I have an innate ability to lead and get others involved in a bigger vision than they can think individually.

Circumcision; Jews and Muslim together

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Calling it Male Genital Mutilation is going too far, it shows utter disregard for enduring religious traditions of Jews, Muslims and others comprising nearly a fourth of humanity. Mind you, it is not a practice of a vanishing cult that is here today and gone tomorrow. Continued: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mike-ghouse/circumcision-satire_b_872270.html

Mike Ghouse is a speaker, writer, thinker and an activist committed to building a cohesive America and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day – all of his work is indexed at www.MikeGhouse.net 

TEXAS FAITH: Is Rick Perry's "Day of Prayer and Fasting" about religion or politics?

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Dallas Morning News poses a question a week on issues of the day. Mike Ghouse has been offering his pluralistic take on issues along with a dozen other Texas Faith Panelists. Here is my take and everyone’s take is at: http://religionblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2011/06/is-rick-perrys-day-of-prayer-a.html
The question this week is this: If invited, would you go? Why or why not?
# # #
MIKE GHOUSE, FOUNDATION FOR PLURALISM, DALLAS
If Governor Perry invites, I will join the prayers and perhaps offer to open the event with inclusive greetings and prayers where every American feels welcome. Whether you are a Native American, follow an earth based tradition, believe in one God, multiple representations of God or No God, you must feel the embracive inclusion.

Why would I want to go? Most aspects of life like politics, religion, culture and society remain monopolized by a few, not necessarily because they vehemently guard its ownership, but because others have dug in their heels as well and have not reciprocated to the “half hearted” invitation.  I am committed to work towards a cohesive America, and would not want to miss an opportunity to place every one on a level playing field.

The wisdom is reiterated in every tradition, when an enemy walks toward you in reconciliation, you are to run towards him or her as both will benefit from the ensuing change. Most people follow this advice and some don’t. Indeed, God helps those who help themselves.

If this is a political stunt by Governor Perry, he will fall flat on his face, he has the opportunity to demonstrate his sincerity by giving a dignified space to every belief, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, exclusionists, pluralists, evolutionists and creationists. The Atheists, humanists and others will join if they are honored with space to express their wish for fellow Americas without invoking God. I do hope the prayers are for the wellbeing of every one of the 26 Million Texans and 312 Million Americans.

If he is using this event as a prelude to run for the President, it is another opportunity for him to be a change maker like Presidents Reagan and Clinton who have reshaped the divisive politics into an inclusive one.  They were in tune with the sentiments of the moderate majority of Americans; and likewise, it would be difficult to beat Obama with divisive politics, Americans believe in live and let live and who ever aligns with them has a faint chance.# # #

Mike Ghouse is a speaker, writer, thinker and an activist committed to building a cohesive America and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day – all of his work is indexed at http://www.mikeghouse.net/
# # #
I am deeply moved by the universality of your sentiments, every one has expressed the desire for this possible prayer to be all inclusive. This is my dream, to build a cohesive America, where every one of the 26 Million Texans and 311 Million Americans feel included and welcome. I am grateful to my City Carrollton, where the Mayors have welcome the Pluralism prayers; all inclusive prayers. Here is a part of the prayer and hope to post the full prayer on the site… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mc9D9guPMY&feature=youtu.be the script is available at: http://nabsites.net/demo/pluralism-prayes-at-carrollton-city/

Monday Humor

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http://nabsites.net/demo/monday-humor/

Living a fuller life is experiencing everything possible out there. Happiness is a choice and it should not be dependent on things, it should be based on basic contentment, gratitude that we have a life to experience; contentment is being grateful that you can hear but cannot see, it is contentment when you can see but cannot walk…  it is contentment when you can eat a square meal and have a friend who and you accept each other without demands. I have found happiness is a choice and gratitude is the pillar on which it stands.  Enjoy the following humor

Note: This is the only writing that is not my own at the www.theghousediary.com
Mike Ghouse
————————————————- 
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN COMPLETE & FINISHED
No English dictionary has been able to explain the difference
between the two words. In a way that’s easy to understand.
Some people say there is no difference between COMPLETE
& FINISHED. I beg to differ because, there is!!!
When you marry the right MAN, you are “COMPLETE”..
And when you marry the wrong one, you are “FINISHED”!
And when the right one catches you with the wrong one, you are …
“COMPLETELY FINISHED” !!!
————————————————-  
WOMEN’S HUMOROUS SEX
My husband came home with a tube of K Y jelly
And said, ‘This will make you happy tonight.’
He was right!
When he went out of the bedroom, I squirted it all over the doorknobs.
He couldn’t get back in.
————————————————-  
Saturday  morning I got up early, quietly dressed, made my lunch, and slipped quietly into the garage.  I hooked up the boat up to the  van and proceeded to back out into a torrential downpour. The wind was blowing 50mph, so I pulled back into the garage, turned on the radio, and discovered that the weather would be bad all day.
I went back into the house,  quietly undressed, and slipped back into bed. I cuddled up to my wife’s back; now with a different anticipation, and whispered, “The weather out there is terrible.”
My loving wife of 5 years replied, “And, can you believe my stupid husband is out fishing in that?”
And that’s how the fight started…
————————————————-  
After retiring, I went to the Social Security office to apply for Social Security.
The woman behind the counter asked me for my driver’s License to verify my age.
 I looked in my  pockets and realized I had left my wallet at home.  I told the woman that I was very sorry, but I would have to go home and come back later.
The woman said, ‘Unbutton your shirt’.
So I opened my shirt revealing my curly silver hair.
 She said, ‘That silver hair on your chest is proof enough for me’ and she processed my Social Security application.
When I got home, I excitedly told my wife about my experience at the Social Security office.  She said, ‘You should have dropped your pants. You might have gotten disability too.’
And then the fight started…
————————————————-  
CREATING A RELIABLE INCOME
If you are in Texas, Illinois, Maryland, New York and Pennsylvania switch your energy provider to Ambit, the change is seamless and the service superb and benefit many including savings. If you have an interest you can create a part time income out of it, just referring friends to switch.
————————————————-  
SPEAKER MIKE GHOUSE

Three things about your faith

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A Hindu, Jew, Christian, Muslim, Baha’i, Zoroastrian and a Buddhist wrote a 250 word essay on “three things from my faith that influences me in my daily life”. To each person it is different. I am pleased to share mine, and when others give their permission, I will share theirs. You are welcome to write yours about your faith.
Three Islamic teachings that influence me daily in 250 Words
 
Respecting the otherness of other
 
 My Mother often quoted the following verse from Quraan, 109:7 “To you is your moral law, and unto me, mine?” It means respecting the otherness of other, and it is one of the most profound chapters in my life and is the basis for Pluralism, indeed the whole chapter is about conducting a civil dialogue.  My life is about learning to respect the otherness of other and appreciating the God given uniqueness of each one of the seven billion of us. http://quraan-today.blogspot.com/2008/07/sura-kafirun-un-believers.html
 
 Gratitude
 
For every good we receive, we have to give out an equal amount good to bring the balance to zero. Since most of us cannot reciprocate an equal value, a mere thank you does it.
 
Gratitude is the element of life that completes a spiritual transaction for the human beings. It restores one’s peace of mind and spiritual balance. My Father recited Sura Rahman frequently after the morning Prayers. The Verse 55:13 is repeated umpteen times. “Then which of the favors of your Lord will ye deny?”
 
Accountability
 
Humans are endowed with free will, to choose the right or wrong actions and live with the consequences. One of the most influential scenes for me is the Day of Judgment, where you stand alone with your records, as your parents, siblings and kids are busy with their own records. Those who do not believe in God, may consider this day to be your solitary moment to answer yourselves and go through anxieties and serene moments.  However, God’s grace plays a role at the end, he alone knows the insignificant good that you thought you had done, but may have contributed to monumental good.
 
Mike Ghouse is a speaker, thinker and a writer on Pluralism, Islam, Peace and social justice. His work is indexed at www.MikeGhouse.net
 
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Runoff elections in City of Carrollton

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Candidates Forum for the runoff elections in Carrollton, the conversation will be about building a cohesive Carrollton.

PRESS RELEASE

The City of Carrollton has earned a reputation for its greatness and location, and now it is our duty to set ourselves as an exemplary town in social cohesion, where the God given diversity of each one of the 130,000 of us would function cohesively to build a safe, secure and welcoming Carrollton.

Four positions were up for elections at the council and on Saturday, May 14, 2014, Mr. Matthew Marchant was elected as Mayor with a clear majority and Mr. Terry Simmons was elected unopposed from Place 6. However, for place 2 and 4 no candidate received the required 50% votes leading to a runoff election on Saturday, June 18, 2011.

The Candidates are:

Place 2: Bonnie Kaplan and Anthony Wilder

Approximately, they received 37% and 32% respectively.

Place 4: Bob Garza and Cathy Henesey

approximately, they received 37% and 30% respectively.

You are invited to join;

What: Candidates Forum

When: Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Time: 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM

Place: Barbeque Tonite Restaurant, 2540 Old Denton Road, Suite 173, Carrollton, TX 75006 (S.E Corner of Old Denton and 190/Trinity).

“Unlike all the previous candidate forums, this meeting will focus on building a cohesive Carrollton, indeed in the previous meetings, I had forwarded the same question but the candidates did not get a chance to respond due to time constraints.” said Mike Ghouse, President of America Together Foundation.

The candidates will be asked to share their approach on building a cohesive Carrollton, and how they will include and care for the well being of every resident. They will be further asked to give a one minute response to their take on issues such as: Civil Unions, Racial profiling, Islamophobia, Anti-Semitism and immigration reforms.

The early voting begins on June 6th leading to the Election Day on Saturday, June 18, 2011.

The candidates are invited to submit a write up on each issue up to 50 words and 250 words for how they are going to achieve the social cohesion, it will be printed in a small booklet to be handed out to the public and the media, and will be published at www.Carrolltondiary.com as well as sent out as a story to the media. This must be submitted before 10:00 PM on Monday June 6th to go to the printer.

America Together Foundation is formed in response to ACT America, as introduced by Sean Hannity on Fox TV and Hannity Radio Shows. The organization will focus on bringing Americans together with a series of educational programs to address the critical issues facing our nation in an open forum to find pluralistic solutions to restore the cohesiveness of our society and work towards building a safe and secure America.

Mike Ghouse is set out to go on a talk tour of 10 major cities in America this fall with a goal to open our hearts and minds towards fellow Americans. No American has to live in anxieties, discomfort or fear of the other.

Mike Ghouse is a frequent guest with Sean Hannity and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day. He can be reached at (214) 325-1916 and email MikeGhouse@aol.com and all of his work is listed at http://www.mikeghouse.net/

Hannity Radio, Hannity, Horowitz & Ghouse

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2:00 PM EST TUESDAY 5.31.2011
Hannity Radio, Hannity, Horowitz & Ghouse
http://nabsites.net/demo/hannity-radio-hannity-horowitz-ghouse/

Three disgusting topics for discussion, I don’t think the three of us would have a different take on the topic, except that Horowitz may use this platform to spew Anti-Islam rhetoric, hope to keep him from that and have him focus on the topic, which the right wingers are good at, jumping from topic to topic.
3. Muslim Ukraine girl, 19, ‘stoned to death after taking part in beauty contest
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1392454/Muslim-girl-Katya-Koren-19-stoned-death-beauty-contest-Ukraine.html
This is not acceptable to Muslims, and should not be acceptable to anyone. There is no such punishment prescribed in Quraan. It’s a practice that has come about from the middle ages. First we condemn this act of torture, then the act of stoning to death. Islam does not permit this; this is where Sharia law is abused, misused so show political muscle. On the other hand in the last ten years there have been three instances of stoning women to death, where as women are being murdered, abused and butchered all over the world whether religion is cited or not in every society. Perhaps in New York alone three women were brutally murdered by their spouses in one year.
The one saving grace is there are a lot more discussions, conferences and debates within Islam about these topics, it will have its cumulative effect within a few year.
2. Murdered teenager becomes new symbol for Syrian uprising
http://www.france24.com/en/20110530-murder-teenager-new-symbol-syrian-uprising-arab-spring-protest-demonstration-violence
“Hamza al-Khatib, a 13-year-old Syrian boy who disappeared following an anti-government protest in late April, appeared to have been brutally tortured before his death. Pictures have added fat to the fire in the ongoing Syrian revolt.”
Police brutality ‘at the heart’ of uprising Torture and violent death at the hands of Syria’s security services have been widely documented, but what sets Hamza’s killing aside is his age, and the apparent willingness of the state to inflict brutality on children.
My friend has just got back from Syria and has taped horror filled instance of vicious murders by the Asad Regime. I urge Muslims around the world to vociferously condemn this.  I hope this boy will change.
3. Egyptian general’s admittance of forced ‘virginity checks’ of female protestors causes outrage. http://english.alarabiya.net/articles/2011/05/31/151289.html
 We should not only be outraged, but take action against this non-sense, who the hell is he to put women through this? He needs to provide security to men and women at the protest and take pride in fulfilling his duties in providing safety of the citizens instead of scrutinizing them.
Sean, this is not a good thing, where I have nothing but to condemn these ugly men masking in a Muslim label. More work for Muslims to do.
Check out the Stations http://www.hannity.com/stations
Mike Ghouse on Hannity Show http://www.hannity.com/guest/ghouse-mike/10804
You are welcome to post your short comments.

Humor: How to start a fight with your wife

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I have always enjoyed “Laughter the best medicine” at Readers Digest. Many thanks to my friends from across the world who share laughter,  please share yours as well. It helps bring about a refreshing change in one’s moods. I enjoy it and I hope you do too. Its amazing how many of us get even now and then. I have my share of humor, but this one is not mine. Next time, how to start fight with husband.
 # # #

My wife was hinting about what she wanted for our upcoming anniversary.
She said, “I want something shiny that goes from 0 to 150 in about 3 seconds.”
I bought her a bathroom scale.
And then the fight started…….
# # #

My wife was standing nude, looking in the bedroom mirror.

She was not happy with what she saw and said to me,
“I feel horrible; I look old, fat and ugly.  I really need you to pay me a compliment.’
I replied, “Your eyesight’s damn near perfect.”
And then the fight started……..
# # #
When our lawn mower broke and wouldn’t run, my wife kept hinting to me that I should get it  fixed.  But, somehow I always had something else to take care of first, the shed, the  boat, making beer.. Always something more important to me. Finally she thought of a clever way to make her point.
When I arrived home one day, I found her seated in the tall grass, busily snipping away with a tiny  pair of sewing scissors. I watched silently for a short time and then went into the house. I was gone only a minute, and when I  came out again I handed her a toothbrush. I said, “When you finish cutting the grass, you  might as well sweep the driveway.”
The doctors say I will walk again, but I will always have a limp.
# # #
If you are in Texas, Illinois, Maryland, New York and Pennsylvania switch your energy provider to Ambit, the change is seamless and the service superb and benefit many including savings. If you have an interest you can create a part time income out of it, just referring friends to switch.
If you are aware of a need for a speaker on Pluralism, Islam, Interfaith and Social cohesion, please forward my link www.MikeGhouse.net  Thank you.

Urdu | Memorial Day

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The following video documentary on Handwritten Urdu Newspaper in Chennai is simply mesmerizing! The only handwritten Newspaper in the world! And today is Memorial day, a day dedicated to honor the loved ones who are no more.  I am dedicating this write up to Najma, my late wife on this Memorial Day.

I love writing Urdu and there is not a day that I don’t scribble something or the other in Urdu. It was a good feeling to see this down-to-the-earth documentary. It was a pleasure to hear about the prevalent secular ethos in that news paper office.

In the early sixties we had three Urdu Newspapers in Bangalore; Pasban, Jumhoor, Azad and Salaar, there are many more now and I forgot the weekend news papers we had.  

I hope you’d love this video:

http://gizmodo.com/5804614/this-is-the-last-handwritten-newspaper

Indeed, I am infatuated with Urdu, interestingly it was Urdu that had pulled me towards my late wife Najma at a Mushaira in Richardson after which she had joined me on my TV and Radio shows as a co-host and a year later we married. She was superb in her diction and choice of words, people loved to hear her out on the radio; I would pull the car over and listen to her whole program. I can never forget Farida Jalal yielding her portion of emceeing to Najma in a Bollywood show, Lata Mangeshkar was enthralled and said “Najmaji aap ki awaaz bahut hi sunder hai aur aap bahut achchi Urdu bolti hain”.

I am dedicating this write up to Najma to honor her memories on this memorial day.

About the Pluralism and Secularism in India, which I am a product of, I found those attitudes across the board. Even last year when I was in Bangalore and addressed the Muslim leadership gathering, the tone was same; co-existence and pluralism drawn from Islam and Hinduism at works.

I am pleased to quote my mother on this topic that I wrote on Mother’s day, “She was a pluralist. My youngest brother Farooq runs a real estate business in  Bangalore, and his manager had hung the picture of Lord Krishna in the office; he asked my Mother about it, she was blunt, “do you have your religious symbols hung on the wall? He said, yes, and she said, let him have his. Dear Mother, I salute you and I am going to brag about you.” article at http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2011/05/mother-my-story-happy-mothers-day.html

I did not realize how much of Urdu runs through my veins, however I am yet to  give expression to it. I was writing to my mother until she was alive and kept writing  to my sister when she was in Rae Barielly and Secunderabad with my brother in Law who served in the Indian Army. However I used to write “Afsanay” short stories in Urdu and have written several Nazams and Ghazals in the  past, and have written a few Rubayee’s lately on Pluralism and social cohesion, they sound just like my mentor Sahir Ludhianavi. My sister writes for Salaar in Urdu and she has agreed to translate my work in Urdu for publication in Bangalore, my home town.

When I became single, I was looking for someone who does not have barriers between her and another human being. Religion, Race or Ethnicity was never an issue to me, so I talked with so many from literally every possible background …and I was joyous to know so many women from Muslim, Hindu, Parsee, Jain, Christian, Jewish, Sikh, Buddhist and different backgrounds were equally open about religion, race or ethnicity.  Most of them had described themselves as spiritual not religious.  

Then I realized, it wont’ be fair to her that I want to go to the Mushaera and she  will not enjoy it.  Grudgingly, I  was willing to miss seeing a woman in Saree or Shalwar Qamees, but Urdu was another thing. I see many of my friends in that boat here in Dallas and other cities, where the guys or the girls have to go-it-alone as their spouse does not speak Urdu. They cannot even enjoy listening to the songs without a timer for “my turn”. 

Thank God, I finally met Yasmeen, who was everything I was looking in a life partner and darn, she spoke Urdu!  God willing, we hope to host a few poetry sessions in Urdu and Hindi  next year. I’d rather attend the Public Mushaera when politics is cut out. We attended one in Louisville and it was fabulous. I had written a poem on Social cohesion and it was a cross between Iqbal and Sahir… I abandoned it, as I do not want to sound like I have copied them. Temptations to write it out again comes to my mind repeatedly, but I will be knowingly manipulating it not to sound like Sahir, then it will not be genuine poetry. Well, I will have to write another one and stop reading Iqbal and Sahir.

Happy Urdu and Reminiscent Memorial day

# # #

Mike Ghouse is a speaker, thinker, futurist and a writer on the topics of Pluralism, Coexistence, interfaith, Islam, India and cohesive societies. He is committed to building cohesive America and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day.  His work is indexed at http://www.mikeghouse.net/ 

Note to Desis – you do not wish a Happy Memorial day; it is a day of remembrance and not rejoice.

Muslims should stand up against harassment of fellow Muslims

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A few abstracts:

To have the power to affect a positive change in a given society one must be just. It is not justice when one gains at the wrongful expense of others. Many a Muslims have lost the gut in their voice because they have failed to stand up for others

Secondly, we cannot validate and propagate a false idea that the majority has a right to dictate the minorities to accept their status as subjects. Should the majority of Americans believe in the rhetoric that Muslims are terrorists and must be kicked out of the planes and prevent them from building a place of worship?

Fourth, many Muslims have been brainwashed like most others to believe in things fed by the politicians. Whatever their government says is embraced by them as unadulterated truth. President Reagan ….

Islam is large enough to absorb all the strands. Indeed, we can see the wisdom in the Prophet’s predictions

continued at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mike-ghouse/muslims-to-stand-up-again_b_866341.html

If you disagree, express it at the post, if you agree it is even more important to build up the momentum…

Mike Ghouse