My fasting and my prayers are my personal business, however, to encourage diversity and understanding of others. God has created each one of us and expects to know each other. Knowledge leads to understanding and understanding to acceptance of a different point of view and respecting the otherness of other amounts to honoring God, for it is he who has created diversity intentionally. Indeed, knowing each other mitigates conflicts and nurtures goodwill resulting in peaceful societies. (Reference Quraan 49:13).

http://ramadanexclusive.blogspot.com/2010/08/my-iftaar-schedule.html

True fasting is self-purification; and from this, a rich inner life brings about values such as justice, generosity, patience, kindness, forgiveness, mercy and empathy – values that are indispensable for the success of the community. Consciousness of behavior and vigilance over action are the most profound dimensions of fasting: the fasting of the heart focuses on the attachment to the divine.

The essence of Ramadan is to become Humble
http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/guestvoices/2010/08/the_essence_of_ramadan_is_to_become_humble.html

I wish a very happy Pakistan Independence day to all my Pakistani friends.

Now, it is your turn to bring independence to the millions who are going through trauma from the floods. My prayers to all those who have lost their lives and pray for the survivors to trust in the almighty for help to come.

We the people of the subcontinent also need to gain freedom from bias towards each other on religious, nationalistic or ethnic basis. We need to be free and achieve the Mukti, Nijaat, Nirvana, Moksha, Salvation and real freedom from our own littleness.

Years ago, when I was doing my radio from August 1 through 15th, we learned all about the culuture, history, civilization, geography, religions, local customs and cuisine of the Subcontinent, i.e,. India, Paksitan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka. And I recall on the 14th August, we had the Indians, Bangladeshis, Nepalese and Sri Lankans sing a line or two of the Pakistani National songs and the same was done on August 15, India’s independence day.

Here is what is needed now:

Dallas Pakistanis: There is a group that helps with bore wells in Dallas, they did the work in Darfur, Congo and Somalia. If you need access, let me know.

Louisville Friends: There is a man in Louisville who has invented fast clean water producing machines, he took a truck load of them to Haiti and he can be of great assistance.

Ayesha and I have coordinated information flow from Karachi during the earthquake in Kashmir and now she is active with the flood tragedy. Here is her note.

Flood Relief: Pakistani NGOs need Support-Cash or Kind Donations.
by Ayesha Hasan on Friday, August 13, 2010 at 9:17pm

If you’re willing to contribute, or know somebody who is then please contact the following organizations for Cash or *Kind (please scroll down) Donations.

Support can also be provided by donating the following commodities Please do not donate old/expired items.

Please make sure items are properly packed.

1. Clothing: Shalwar Kameez in various sizes for men, women and children

2. Shoes

3. Bedding

4. Tents

5. Jerricans (large plastic cans that hold 20 liters of water or other liquids)

6. Crockery & Cutlery preferably of steel

7. Buckets

8. Soaps

9. Towels

10. Rice

11. Sugar

12. Flour

13. Cooking Oil

14. Tea, Milk (tetra packs or powder)

15. Drinking Water

16. Sealed Food Items: Glucose Biscuits

Medicines:

1. Water Purification Tablets

2. Vaccines

3. Pain killers

4. Cough Syrup

5. Glucose

6. Antibiotics e.g. tetnus, amoxil, gentamycin.

7. IV cannulas- most common are 18,22,24- Butterfly cannulas: these are for children

8. IV Drip sets

9. IV drips: normal saline

10. Local anesthetics (injections)

11. Cotton bandages

12. Crepe Bandages

13. Guaze Pads

14. Cotton

15. Surgical instruments

1. Khwendo Kor (KK)

http://www.khwendokor.org.pk/

Donation in Pakistan:

Bank: HABIB BANK LIMITED

Account Title: Khwendo Kor

Account Number: 1697-00056724-01

Branch Code: 1697

Swift Code: HABBPKKA007

Branch Address University Town, Peshawar

Contact Info:

Head Office House # 130, Street # 4, Sector K-3, Phase-3, Hayatabad, Peshawar, Khyber Pukhtoonkhwa, Pakistan

Tel: +92-91-5822255, 5818589

Fax: +92-91-5829026

E-mail: info@khwendokor.org.pk

2. Voice of the Civil Society (VOTCS)

http://www.voiceofthecivilsociety.com/Home-.html

Donation in Pakistan:

Account name: Volunteers, Voice of the Civil Society

Account no: 1549-79001393-03

SWIFT CODE: HABBPKKAA007

Branch Code: 1549

Habib Bank Limited Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Block 5, Karachi

Donation in U.S.:

SunTrust Bank Lincoln Road

Miami Beach Branch

ABA Routing #063102152

Account #1000096055453

Account: Volunteers Voice of the Civil Society AKA VOTCS

Contact Info:

VOTCS – Pakistan, House no 7/2, Zulfiqar Street 4, Phase 8, D.H.A., Karachi, Pakistan.

Tel: +92.21.5464446

Email: info@votcs.com, samina@votcs.com, irum@votcs.com

VOTCS, North America, Inc.

690 NE 50th Terrace, Miami, FL 33137 USA

Tel: 1-786-367-6559

Contact Person in U.S.: Samina Ghafoor Punjwani: spunjwani@aol.com

3. Concerned Citizens Society of Pakistan (CCP)

http://www.ccp.org.pk/

Donation in Pakistan:

Bank Al-Habib

A/c No.0065-0081-001555-01-6

Title: Concerned Citizens Society of Pakistan (CCP)

Please Note: while remitting any fund please make sure to write PURPOSE OF REMITTANCE and sender complete name and address (not P.O. Box in address). The deposit can be made in any branch of Bank Al-Habib anywhere in the country.

Donation in U.S. DOLLARS:

Nostro Account Title: HABIB AMERICAN BANK NEW YORK, NY 10016 UNITED STATES

SWIFT ID: HANYUS33XXX

FED ABA NO: 026007362

OUR BANK NAME: BANK AL HABIB LIMITED, KARACHI

PAKISTAN OUR SWIFT ID: BAHLPKKAXXX

OUR NOSTRO ACCOUNT NO: 20729933

ULTIMATE CREDIT TO: M/S.CONCERNED CITIZENS SOCIETY OF PAKISTAN

ACCOUNT NO: 0065-0081-001555-01-6

Donation in POUND STERLING GBP:

NOSTRO ACCOUNT TITLE: HABIBSONS BANK LIMITED, LONDON, U.K.

SWIFT ID: HSBLGB2LXXX SORT CODE: 40-50-83

OUR BANK NAME: BANK AL HABIB LIMITED, KARACHI, PAKISTAN

OUR SWIFT ID: BAHLPKKAXXX

OUR NOSTRO ACCOUNT NO: 21003565

ULTIMATE CREDIT TO: M/S.CONCERNED CITIZENS SOCIETY OF PAKISTAN

ACCOUNT NO: 0065-0081-001555-01-6

Donations in EURO:

NOSTRO ACCOUNT TITLE: COMMERZBANKA.G. FRANKFURT, GERMANY

SWIFT ID: COBADEFFXXX

IBAN CODE: DE82500400000880712501

OUR BANK NAME: BANK AL HABIB LIMITED, KARACHI, PAKISTAN

OUR SWIFT ID: BAHLPKKAXXX

OUR NOSTRO ACCOUNT NO: 400880712501

ULTIMATE CREDIT TO: M/S.CONCERNED CITIZENS SOCIETY OF PAKISTAN

ACCOUNT NO: 0065-0081-001555-01-6

Contact Info:

Mobile: +92-3084318767

Email: concernedpakistan@gmail.com

Email: info@ccp.org.pk

4. Omar Asghar Khan Development Foundation (OAKDF)

Home

Donation Info:

Account Title: Omar Asghar Khan Development Foundation

Current Account #: 0030445261000455

Bank: MCB Bank (1028), Super Market, Islamabad-Pakistan

SWIFT Code: MUCBPKKAMCC

All cash contributions are tax exempt

Tax exemption #6043/RTO/ATD/2008-09 dated 12 May.2009

Contact Info:

2-B, Parbat Road F-7/3, Islamabad-PAKISTAN

Telephone: ++92 51 2611092/4

Fax: ++92 51 2611090

Email: info@oakdf.org.pk

*Support can also be provided by donating the following commodities Please do not donate old/expired items.

Please make sure items are properly packed.

1. Clothing: Shalwar Kameez in various sizes for men, women and children

2. Shoes

3. Bedding

4. Tents

5. Jerricans (large plastic cans that hold 20 liters of water or other liquids)

6. Crockery & Cutlery preferably of steel

7. Buckets

8. Soaps

9. Towels

10. Rice

11. Sugar

12. Flour

13. Cooking Oil

14. Tea, Milk (tetra packs or powder)

15. Drinking Water

16. Sealed Food Items: Glucose Biscuits

Medicines:

1. Water Purification Tablets

2. Vaccines

3. Pain killers

4. Cough Syrup

5. Glucose

6. Antibiotics e.g. tetnus, amoxil, gentamycin.

7. IV cannulas- most common are 18,22,24- Butterfly cannulas: these are for children

8. IV Drip sets

9. IV drips: normal saline

10. Local anesthetics (injections)

11. Cotton bandages

12. Crepe Bandages

13. Guaze Pads

14. Cotton

15. Surgical instruments

August 11, 2010- 8:30 PM CST

Muslims around the world will begin fasting from Wednesday, August 11, 2010 and for a whole month thereafter.

We have to respect and honor the sentiments of every one who was a victim of terrorism and their friends and relatives who have suffered through this….

The Ground Zero Mosque is engaging the American Public and bringing out emotions and intellectualism to the forefront to tackle the issue of co-existence. The questions abound…..

In behalf of the men and women who have lost their loved ones, a few are genuinely opposing the building of the communtiy Center, a few are Altruistic and want the center to stand out as a beaocon of hope and peace and yet a few are falling prey to the political opportunists. At the end, if we envision an America that is good for all, we have to consider dropping the “me, me, and me” and yeild to what is good for America, the land of the free.

If Saudi is a bad country, why do we want to emulate them?

Continued: http://mikeghouseforamerica.blogspot.com/2010/08/ground-zero-mosque-articles.html

Mike Ghouse is a speaker, thinker and a writer of Pluralism and offers pluralistic solutions for the issues of the day. He is a frequent guest in the media and his work is encapsulated in 22 Blogs and 3 websites listed at www.MikeGhouse.net

July (15)
No Sharia in America
Empowerment of Women on Radio 1220
Further activity in July
Unity Day USA – 6th Annual Event
Women; changing the society
Parliament of Worlds Religions in 2014
BLAMING RELIGION
My Cow, my real story
Bottom line prayers-wishes
Standing up for Jews, Gays and Mexicans, why shoul…
FOX TV, Sean Hannity and Mike Ghouse about NASA to…
July 4th – what does freedom mean to you?
Sharia Laws in America
Sulha Joint prayers by Jews and Muslims
Burqa Ban – Hannity, Gabrielle and Ghouse on Fox T…

June (12)
Happy Fathers, Daughters and Sons day
Shape your life, you are the decider
Diversity is the standard
GRATITUDE
PATRIOTISM
Helen Thomas
Pleasures of life
Jesus Cartoons
Gaza, Israel, Flotilla and consequences
Memorial day reflections
Ghosts, witches and Rohini
I wrote many things, but had not updated on this d…

May (3)
TODAY IS NATIONAL PRAYER DAY Let’s pray, reflect o…
National Prayer Day happenings on Thursday
Ghouse speaks at Dallas Immigration rally

April (12)
Honoring Imam Dr. Yusuf Zia Kavakci today
Khuda Hafiz Pakistan
Celibacy and Sex Scandals
Atheism on rise
Spring is here
Women, Saints, Rabbis, Imams and clergymen
Freedom of Religion in Japan
Doniger’s book on Hindu history – Factual errors
A tribute to Eliott Dlin
Religious Conversions
Prophet Muhammad’s birthday celebrations
Holli, Milaad, Purim and Black History

February (19)
Feb 18, 2001 – My Mother embarked on her eternal j…
What about Muslim Brotherhood?
East v. West
Pictorial Report – Holocaust and Genocides
Facebook activity
Obama names Indian-American Muslim as special envo…
Happy President’s day
Happy Mahashiva Ratri
Valentines Day taking on a new meaning
weekending February 14, 2010
Snow in Dallas, Texas
Native American Heritage Day – corrospondence
Peace pledege
What is freedom?
New meaning of Dharma, Artha, Kaama, and Moksha
Can women be Imams:
India, communal conflicts and solutions
Balance in life
Mitigating communal conflicts

January (14)
How to live with corrupt people
Diversity is Ignorance – Swami Vivekanand
Haiti – held myself from crying
Ghouse speaks at Unitarian Universalist Church
Press Release on Holocaust and Genocides
Haiti and Earthquake
Palestine: Myths and Truths
Facbook dialogue – God, Jerusalem, Obama
Pluralism and Islam
Who Owns God?
Honoring Baker & Kallenberg
My Name is Mike Ghouse
Birthday today, not really
A Great Pluralist, Abdurrahman Wahid passed away.

December (36)
New year Reflections
Pluralism Goals for 2010
Neocons Redefined
The Gaza March
AVATAR – a movie about co-existence
Funeral and Wedding
McGriff_Hollie wedding
Quraan 2:62
250 Religious Symbols
My Books
Representing other religions
Religious communicators
Imam, Rabbi, Pastor, Pundit
A tribute to Jesus
National Public Radio
Parliament event
Obama’s Blunder
Ismaili Muslims
12 Apostles
Holocaust Museum
Musuem of Indigenouse People
Parliament 15
Parliament 14
Parliament 13
Parliament 12
Parliament 11
Parliament 10
Parliament 9
Parliament 8
Parliament 7
Parliament 6
Parliament 5
Parliament 4
Parliament 3
Parliament 2
Parliament 1

November (12)
Mike Ghouse to Speak at Parliament of Worlds Relig…
Eid Mubarak – happy eid-al-adha
Thanksgiving, an expression of gratitude.
Fort Hood – Allahu Akbar
The Dangerous Idea of Protecting Religions
Vande Mataram Conflict
Fort Hood Tragedy
Kashmir and Sanity
Fort Hood Massacre
Ean and Jan Sullivan
Sir Syed Day
Freedom should be free

October (14)
Dallas Morning News with Muslims
Diwali Messaage at the Hindu Temple
Dallas Peace Center Retreat
Dr. Ashis Brahma visits
Diwali Dinner in Irving
Yvonne Ridley in Dallas
History of Holocaust
So what if you don’t believe in God?
Religion in one sentence
Texas Rule of Law Conference
Diwali Vandana, Prayers and Greetings
A Humanitarian Forum on Gaza
Melbourne, Australia
Moses in Judaism, Christianity and Islam

September (6)
Mike on Fox TV tonite
Are we an Island?
3000 Muslims Pray at Capitol Hill
Religious Arrogance
Stereotyping Muslims and Jews
Bias against Jimmy Carter

August (4)
Happy Janamashtami
Humor for the day
Good people at the Airport
Dallas Neighborhoods

July (8)
Love is a wireless connection
Fact or Emotion?
Redneck woman on the plane
Happiness is independent of
Learning to receive
Jeff and Fern Wedding Pictures
Relationships – Sister
Free from Bias

June (3)
What is freedom?
Conservatives V Neocons
Placing the blame

May (5)
Momentous week of my life
Facebook and Religion
The American Bin Ladens
Love or Hate?
Unity Church, Richardson

April (10)
$600 New Car
Is your faith Superior?
Mike Ghouse, Bio
White Lies?
Patriotism?
Stereotyping
Finding the truth
My Headstone
Exclusivism
Al-Qaeda

March (7)
Ambassadors for Peace
Pluralism & Nationality
Happy Muslim Men
Human Rights, Islam & Muslims
Religion and Women
Romantic evening
Friends so many

February (7)
Facebook poem
Muslim Matrimonials
George V. Barry
Gay Lesbians
Israel-Palestine peace
Zionism and Judaism
My websites and Blogs

January (4)
Gaza Appeal Video
JFK Quote on Justice
Obamas interview in 1996 – my impressions
Gandhi on Jews & Middle-East

November (8)
Quraan is basic, hadith is supplementary
Hadith is supplementary to Quraan
Mike is not of Muslim lineage?
Preventing Christian from top spot
What is Pluralism
Is praying public or private?
Muslim country with Non-Muslim head?
Ghouse diary

Teacher: “What is common between JESUS, KRISHNA, MOHAMED, GANDHI and BUDHA?”
Indian: “All were born on government holidays…!!!
#

Teacher: What is difference between Orange and Apple?
Indian: Color of Orange is orange, but color of Apple is not APPLE
#

Indian1: I got a brand new Ford IKON for my wife!
Indian2: Wow!!! That’s an unbelievable exchange!!!
#

Judge: Don’t U have shame? It is the 3rd time U R coming to court..
Indian: U R coming daily, don’t U have shame?
#

Teacher: Which is the oldest animal in world?
Indian: ZEBRA
Teacher: How?
Indian: Bcoz it is Black & White

#

WHO DOES NOT HAVE A PROBLEM?

Two men, one American and an Indian were sitting in a bar drinking shot after shot.
The Indian man said to the American, “You know my parents are forcing me to get married to this so called homely girl from a village whom I haven’t even met once.’ We call this arranged marriage. I don’t want to marry a woman whom I don’t know or love. I told them that openly and now have a hell lot of family problems.”

The American said, “Talking about love marriages… I’ll tell you my story.”

I married a widow whom I deeply loved and dated for 3 years.. “After a couple of years, my father fell in love with my step-daughter and married her, so my father became my son-in-law and I became my father’s father-in-law.”

Legally now my daughter is my mother and my wife my grandmother. More problems occurred when I had a son. My son is my father’s brother and so he is my uncle.

Situations turned worse when my father had a son. Now my father’s son, my brother is my grandson. Ultimately, I have become my own grand father and I am my own grandson.. And you say you have family problems???
#

I hope you got the much deserved break for the moment.
Enjoy the rest of the day

Mike
#

She dropped me off at the departure terminal at 6:57 and the plane was to take off at 7:10 and I ran from the door to the ticket counter. Even in my middle school I did not run that fast, I must have run fast like a disappearing shadow at sunrise. The lady at AA counter said I could not check the bag in it was too late. However, she agreed to let me carry it with the caveat that I am taking a chance. Gee, it took about a minute or two and then I took off…. and came to full halt at the security check. The announcement came on the radio, last call for boarding AA, Flight # 529 to Dallas.

I walked up to the lady who checks the Drivers license and the ticket and said, “I just heard the last call to the flight, would you let me in” … By God, ten men and women in the front line said “Go” in sync, and the lady said, if they let you, I will let you in. Then the chorus came back “Please go”. For a moment I did not know what to say and stood there like a dummy, they chorused again “Please go” and the lady said, they say you can go now. In those few short seconds, I recalled a scene from the movie crocodile Dundee, where the guy was passed on over peoples heads towards Kathleen Turner and they all said in Chorus “he says he loves you”.

Then I placed my things on the belt towards the scanner, the angel in front me, picked up my carrying bag and placed it in front of hers and said “Mike, please go”. She had heard my name at the check. Golly, it was such a beautiful experience!

Out of the scanner, I dashed for the 1000 meters again, before that, the scanner lady walked up and pulled two pens from my back pocket, which I had forgotten to speed up the process. Any way, I was on the run again, and about 100 meters down, the electric cart came, the lady stopped and said are you catching the flight to Dallas? Like a two year old, I shook my head in big agreement, she said hop in and out she drives… like a bat out of the hell with the siren and all and slams the breaks in front of the check in gate.

I was waking up from my dream, when the check in man saw my bag. I still had my waist belt over my shoulders, luckily the pants stayed on, thanks to Yasmeen for feeding me well. He smiled and said you are guilty aren’t you? The toddler in me could not disagree with him. He said “run” after he scanned my ticket in a jiffy.

There I was on the plane all excited and called Yasmeen, that is the first time in our relationship she probably did not understand a word I said and I did not know what I was saying either. The excitement from the good people was too much… every one from the ticket counter through ticket scanner was fabulous! God bless them all.

All that frustrations about poor road signage disappeared into thin Air.

Thanks to all of them and God for creating loving human beings all around with so much love.

#

8:30 AM, August 4, 2009

I was in the Municipal Court of Judge Kaufman for a citation.

The Citation was for the trash placed in front of house that I take care of for a friend; the City had issued a citation for a penalty up to $1000.00.

However, I was visiting the property on my routine Sunday drive, and I called in the guys and the trash was removed the next day, the City Attorney produced the picture of the trash sitting in front of the house. The Judge dismissed the case as the trash was removed immediately.

After that, I praised the City for taking this action, as one of the former Neighborhood Commissioners of the City of Carrollton; I admire the action taken by the City; issuing the citation for trash on the street. This sure will improve the quality of neighborhoods and the perceived values. I asked the Judge if I could take the picture and he authorized me to do so for my blog. Here it is.

Mike Ghouse