Daily Blog - The Ghouse Diary

America First: Tensions, Conflicts and Politics of Elections

Mike Ghouse September 24, 2020 Comments Off

This article was first Published on 10/15/2012 12:34 pm at – : https://www.huffpost.com/entry/america-first-tensions-conflicts_b_1959567

Tensions among friends come and go, but around elections, it’s red alert.

This time of the year we are likely to tick off family members and friends because we differ in our political perspectives. Sometimes we are belligerent and push others to see our point of view as the right view, without giving them the same courtesy. Our intolerance can push us to declare the other to be wrong, dead wrong. We forget that the others can make the same declaration about us.

The most enduring value in life is our relationship, which nurtures and coddles us. That is what friends are for; to build each other. We cannot afford to let Romney or Obama pit one against the other. It would be dumb thing to give them the power to affect our relationships with family, friends and acquaintances.

We may have to guard ourselves from slipping into this abyss.

We have to learn to listen to other opinions without an ounce of disrespect. If we respect our own opinions, then most likely we will respect other opinions to be as legitimate as ours; we don’t have to agree, but acknowledge the difference.

Is our friendship based on agreeing on all issues — are we not individuals? Don’t we have a unique thumbprint, eye print, DNA, taste buds and religion buds? Why can’t we have political buds?

We have to boldly express what we believe, but must also be open to seeing a different point of view.

I have several friends and each one differs, and I am glad we all differ; that is the only way we can learn about the whole truth than getting stuck in partialities.

Here are my political buds, and I welcome your message:

I am a Republican and will remain one. I just want to assert that what you see in the GOP is not the whole truth. A majority of Republicans are moderates, and it seems that they don’t speak out and condemn the wrong statements made by the apparent leadership, but in reality, they do speak out with their ballot.

The party has mercilessly dumped men and women like Gingrich, Santorum, Bachmann and Cain who espoused an exclusive ideology; believe me they would have never made it — that is my faith in humanity. George Bush was an anomaly; personally he was a great man, but as a president, it was not him — he was a puppet of Cheney.

Romney progressed to the nomination because he remained a moderate and did not make splashing news, but when all others were rejected, he started pandering to the ones who supported the others to gain additional support, and I lost him there.

Romney is a good business man, he will make good profits for the investors and will show results for this quarter, but governance of people is not a business. It is not about profits for this quarter, it is a long haul thing. I am glad President Obama was in charge then and did the right thing by saving the auto industry.

Romney has not matured in his convictions; he is in the experimentation stage, trying to see which statement will work. He has two different views, a private view that he shares with the ones who give him money, and the public view that gives the appearance of inclusiveness. How deep is either view? God only knows. I don’t know which Romney I will get at the end. Even the GOP is not sure; if Romney can be consistent with his message, maybe I will see a new and improved Romney.

Obama did mess up, his focus should have been job creation first, and then health care. He did not recognize the statehood for Palestinians — that was something good for Israelis and the Palestinians. He failed them both. Other than that, he has been right on most of the things.

Let me give the reasons why I am voting for Obama. I believe I can count on him to stand firmly on issues giving stability to America for four more years. I know his policies will benefit a majority of Americans, and the rich will certainly benefit from the trickle up prosperity. I am glad Obama is not itching to go to war with Iran, which will mess us up for a long time to come; the average American is better off today than four years ago when the economy was on a free fall — it’s getting better now for the average American.

I know Obama is going to keep everything intact; he will not turn things upside down. Women can continue to feel secure, he will not repeal the Equal Pay Act, not repel equal insurance premiums for men and women, and will not repeal Roe v. Wade, will not do a flip on “Don’t ask, don’t tell”, and he will keep the veterans’ benefits intact — it is not an entitlement, it is what they have earned and deserved for serving our nation. He will not annul the marriages between two people of the same sex, and I know the religious freedom will remain intact and best of all, Big Bird will be alive.

We cannot let NPR die — that is the only truthful, unbiased source of news Americans have; most others are opinions of Fox and MSNBC and we need them all. Obama will keep America stable and move us forward, where as my fellow Republican will turn everything upside down. We don’t know his positions now — what will happen if he acts from the seat of his pants?

To my fellow Republicans, let’s put America first, party next.

The Choice Between Chaotic Romney and Stable Obama

Mike Ghouse September 24, 2020 Comments Off

This article was first Published on 10/22/2012 11:50 am at – : https://www.huffpost.com/entry/chaotic-romney-and-stable-obama_b_1998900

The future of America is on the red alert now. Most of us have endured through bad times by losing jobs, letting our homes be foreclosed, and living on food stamps or grace of our friends. We have seen the ravages of budget deficit and sacrifice of thousands of Americans in wars and devastation of other nations, and finally we have a grip on the situation.

Obama has set in motion the process of stabilizing the economy, and we are cruising through it toward restoring America. We are right on the trajectory. Romney on the other hand is inclined to upset everything and will take us back to the Bush era on his first day in the office, if he were elected. Why on the earth would we want to choose chaos over stability?

Obama’s Foreign Policy

Obama has brought stability after the chaotic wars in just four years.

Those who do not have a clue about foreign policy, including my friend Sean Hannity, believe that it is easy to bully other nations and get away with it. That’s not how it works out. We may get away for the time being, but we become vulnerable and live with unease, discomfort and apprehension any where we go. If we push around others, we may have to live in cages to protect ourselves. That is not us, we are a free people and want to breathe freely and live freely without fear.

Foreign policy is based on relationship between the peoples, and not between dictators or individuals. Ultimately it is the people who honor the treaties and not the individuals. Dictators come and go, but relationships between nations endure. Had we supported the oppressed Iranians against the Dictator Shah, Iran probably would not have gone fundamentalist or even theocratic; they would not have held us hostage either, as we would have been on their side.

Tonight, President Obama and his challenger, Mitt Romney, will debate on foreign policy, and on Wednesday, Sean Hannity and I will be on nationally syndicated radio to dissect the debate.

Obama has decimated Al-Qaeda and got rid of Bin Laden and Awalaki with least collateral damage, without the loss of American lives and the Afghan, Yemeni or Iraqi Civilians. No one significant has cried about the death of Bin Laden or Awalaki. Had President Bush followed Obama policy of getting the wrong guy, instead of his religion and his country, we would not have seen the devastation in our own country, let alone others.

He has pulled our troops from Iraq giving a breath of fresh air to our soldiers. There is an average of one suicide a day, this strain on our men and women has to stop and I am glad the wars are coming to an end now.

Obama did not commit American troops into Libya and further weaken our military by spreading thin, against the proposal of John McCain to bomb Libya, and years ago his itch to bomb Iran. Obama has chosen not to jump in to Syria to further weaken our military and cause far greater number of deaths, as we did in Iraq.

Obama rightfully sided with the public in Egypt, rather than dictator Mubarak. The diplomatic genius of Obama managed the affair smoothly without anti-American demonstrations in Egypt; the public saw us as their ally and not a supporter of their oppressor.

This is a major paradigm shift in our foreign policy and a successful model for many nations and many years into the future.

Obama has given more aid to Israel than any other president; he is for Israel’s security without pandering to Netanyahu and his right wing bullies, and clearly retaining full Jewish American support. Most presidents would have caved into Netanyahu and further alienate Israel in the community of nations, making it more insecure. Obama’s policies will bring security to Israel, and minimize anti-Semitism around the world and enhance respect for Israel.

Obama will do the right thing: bring enduring security to Israel and Justice to the Palestinians (one does not happen without the other). We need to give him four more years to complete the job.

The short sighted Prime Minister Netanyahu jumped on Obama for not supporting Mubarak, what he failed to see was that the peace treaty was between the people of Egypt and Israel, and not between Mubarak and Netanyahu. Had Obama pandered to Netanyahu and the front runners in the Republican primaries, the newly elected government in Egypt would have flagrantly rejected the peace treaty.

The cornerstone of Obama’s policy is justice; justice is the only thing that will earn us genuine respect and sustainable security for all.

Obama will go to war, only if necessary and not based on false intelligence as we have done over and over in the past.

Romney’s Foreign Policy

Romney has a record of pandering to the conservatives to get the nomination, then like a chameleon he modified himself to earn the support from the independents, meanwhile betraying both the conservatives and moderates. We don’t know which avatar of his we can count on.

Romney’s loyalty is to Netanyahu (not Israel), and he will threaten to go to war with Iran. When you give an opportunity to an irresponsible urchin, he will threaten every one without any idea about the consequences. The war will destroy America before it destroys Iran, but Romney does not have to worry about it. He has never put a hungry child to bed, and he never had to scramble for pennies to feed his children. He has plenty stashed up to last for a lifetime, so he can gamble on the lives of ordinary Americans.

He would have bombed Libya and bombed Syria and with that bombed our economy.

China is our biggest trading partner, by labeling it a currency manipulator on his first day in office, Romney will screw up our good relationship that was built from the Nixon days. We have problems with China, and we are capable of finding solutions without throwing fits. The power comes through effective solutions and not rhetoric to please the blood thirsty, chest thumping macho men.

Romney has not matured in his convictions; he is in the experimentation stage, trying to see which statement will work. Sadly, he has surrounded himself with Bushmen, and he is stuck. He also has two different views, a private view that he shares with the ones who give him money, and the public view that gives the appearance of inclusiveness. How deep is either view? God only knows. I don’t know which Romney I will get at the end. Even the GOP is not sure.

Obama is a sure thing; he will keep everything intact; he will not turn things upside down.

Unemployment will gradually but steadily will go down. Women can continue to feel secure, he will not repeal the Equal Pay Act, equal insurance premiums for men and women, Roe v. Wade or “Don’t ask, don’t tell.” And he will keep the veterans’ benefits intact.

As Americans, both Democrats and Republicans, we owe him another four years to bring full stability to every one of the Americans. No American should have to feel apprehension, discomfort or fear of the other.

Romney has to figure out if he is a moderate, conservative or the one for himself. Now if we the Republicans wake up to save the nation from chaos and move even two points toward Obama and give him 53 percent and dish out the 47 percent to Romney (LOL), we will save the nation.

My Religion Is the Truth — For Me

Mike Ghouse September 24, 2020 Comments Off

This article was first Published on 11/13/2012 03:55 pm at – : https://www.huffpost.com/entry/my-religion-is-the-truth-for-me_b_2120484

I am intrigued by the blatant as well as the subtle claims that, “my religion is the only true religion,” by numerous religious leaders. Of course it would be a truthful statement, if they consider adding, “…to me, as others are true to others.”

Indeed, it is a common utterance and rarely gets questioned. However, those who have matured in interfaith dialogue have learned that the truth is a larger tent and seamlessly accommodates other versions of truth. The vainglorious security in “my faith is the only true faith” is a transparent veil to them.

As beauty is in the eyes of the beholder, religion is in the heart of the believer. Your faith is as dear to you as mine is to me, religion is like the mother, no matter what anyone says or tells, my mother remains dear to me, as your mother remains dear to you, she always has her back for you.

If your taste bud relishes medium rare steak, then that is the medium your palette delivers pleasure to you. You may try raw or a well done steak, but you are likely to go back to what you were tuned with.

So, your religion is the only way for “you” as my religion is the only way for “me” to find the balance, peace and tranquility.

Your faith does not negate mine nor does mine negate yours. It should not bother you if I prostrate on the floor to be humble, similarly it should not bother me if you worship God in the form you are comfortable with. I should not be arrogant to tell you that you are wrong. Indeed, it would be wrong of me to believe that you are wrong, who am I?

You have a right to disagree with me, but you cannot build your faith by negating mine, as that would be a foundationless belief.

Your faith stands on its own merit as mine. The version of Scripture from God to you is flawless, but it is for “you” and those who co-believe with you, but not for me. My version is flawless to me, but it is for me and those who co-believe with me and not for you. Neither is wrong, you will enjoy your well done steak and I will enjoy my medium rare.

This is the most difficult thing we cope with. Faith is how you feel, it is not logic or mathematics or a fact, it is purely faith, and nothing but faith, and it is beautiful to have one.

Religion in the simplest terms is an instrument that brings the balance, peace of mind, hope and the energy needed to live on a secure life, and each religion delivers on its promise, provided it is followed sincerely. Half-assed belief yields half-assed results.

Religion is not meant to denigrate others, but living our own faith. It is a positive experience and appreciating the God given uniqueness of each one of us.

By the way, God has not signed a deal with any religion behind other’s back.

What is the need to understand other faiths?

As an observer of future religious trends, I believe that by the end of 2020, there will not be a major city in America, and perhaps in the world, where you will not find people of different faiths, cultures, ethnicities, races, nationalities and social backgrounds working, eating, playing, marrying and doing things together.

We need to prepare ourselves for those eventualities to prevent possible conflicts, and lay a good foundation for nurturing goodwill and effective functioning of the societies. Exclusive communities will become a thing of the past. If you live amidst others, you had better respect their beliefs, as you expect them to do the same for you.

Pluralism is not a religion; it is an attitude of respecting the otherness of others and accepting the God given uniqueness of each one of us. I will be happy to speak to your group at church, school, college or work place as well as political meetings. Pluralism is our future.

Interfaith Christmas: Making God Boundless

Mike Ghouse September 24, 2020 Comments Off

This article was first Published on 12/24/2012 05:11 pm at – : https://www.huffpost.com/entry/interfaith-christmas-making-god-boundless_b_2347856

No matter what faith you belong, the Interfaith Christmas can offer everything you had always wanted and mor: to live in peace with fellow beings without feeling apprehension, discomfort or the fear of the other.

Christmas is about celebrating the birth of a man who taught us how to build a cohesive society, which he called the kingdom of heaven. Whether we are Christians, or even believe in God, it simply means building a society that is free from arrogance, hate, malice, prejudice and insecurities, firmly built with love and forgiveness, the panacea to the conflicts we face today.

2012-12-21-Interfaith.Christmas.PluralismCenter.jpg

When you love your neighbor as you love yourselves (Mark 12:31), then conflicts fade and solutions emerge.

Love your neighbor means fighting the mean instincts in us to look down upon fellow humans and the uniqueness of their faith, culture, race, ethnicity or sexual orientation. A majority of Christians, like the majority of people in all faiths, get their religion right, and do not look down upon Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, Mormonism and others traditions as “cults” or an inferior belief or a practice; instead, they do the most difficult thing to do; to treat all the Children of God as equals in humility.

It is time for us to practice compassion, kindness, love and forgiveness towards each other, including those who do not get their religion right. That is the essence of the message of Jesus Christ and Christmas is about celebrating that message.

When you forgive others, not only you free yourselves from the bondage of getting even, or nagging thought of revenge and persistent tension, but you also free them (Luke 1:77). When you forgive others, their presence will not raise your blood pressure or make you run from them. Forgiving is indeed liberating.

The powerful idea of forgiveness has given me everything I wanted: freedom. When my mother and my late wife passed away, we had the opportunity to clean each other’s slates from anxiety, apprehension or discomfort and become free. Of course, that idea is in every religious tradition. Jainism calls it Michami Dukdam, the act of forgiving each other.

Who is not humiliated with rejection? As a child, parent, sibling, spouse, student or coworker, you might have experienced rejection, and it certainly is not a good feeling. It’s a down spiral. But when you embrace the other, you have accepted him or her, or others have accepted you to be a part of the whole and interconnected, it restores the human spirit, which Rev. Moon called the divine principle. It amounts to honoring God who has created each one of us intentionally unique.

The man who taught this idea lived by example by embracing the lepers and socially rejected people of the time like prostitutes. A hug in spirit is an anecdote to rejection, and President Obama said it well, referring to the children in Newtown, Conn.: “Hug them tightly.”

John 14:6: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

As a person committed to pluralism and interfaith attitudes, I deeply revere Jesus, and take him as my mentor, and consider him to be the first pluralist on earth. However, I read John 14:6 as an inclusive statement, rather than an exclusive claim, I see the largeness of his message. If we “follow him” and become like him, to be free from prejudice, to be free-from ill-will, to forgive and to love thy neighbor as yourselves, then that is a guaranteed path to living a life in heaven (peace) whether you are religious or not. Indeed, Lord Krishna says, “Surrender to me,” and Allah says, “Submit to my will” — and God wants his creation to remain intact in harmony and balance with all its components like a big web (Chief Seattle).

Each one of us follows the teachings of Jesus. I am not talking about the ritual and political Christianity, but the spiritual Christianity, which is boundary less and about freedom, and without the private club attitudes (Mark Siljander in the book, “A Deadly Misunderstanding”) defining who is and who is not a Christian, Muslim, Jew, Hindu, Buddhist or other.

We may have to reflect and see if each one of has created God in our own image, either we limit him to our shell size and our ownership, or an universal God that is boundless, uncontainable, untamable and yet ours, yours and every one’s.

Christmas is about celebrating the birth of Jesus who emphasized on those values that are dear to each one of us, regardless of our belief.

One of the most frequently used words during Christmas season is peace. Indeed, it is a reflection of the innermost desire within each one of us, whether we are Christians or not. Christmas is an annual milestone that intensifies the desire to have peace for oneself and for others.

Christmas evokes kindness, empathy and goodness toward fellow beings; it’s a euphoric feeling of renewal that Jesus taught to the world, it is a sense of completion one feels when he or she finds in tune with humanity. Jesus showed the way by embracing the whole humanity regardless of who they were. Jesus is one of my mentors, and he is the first known pluralist on the earth. Christmas is a celebration of that refreshed feeling.

In the spirit of celebrating Christmas, I urge people of all faiths to reflect upon the message of Jesus Christ without the politics of Christianity. On this Christmas day, reach out to everyone.

As the Jewish Scriptures say, Ve’ahavta la’ger: You must love the stranger for that guaranteed happiness it generates. Jesus reached out to the ones who were abandoned by the society; Prophet Muhammad said, the least you can give to others is hope and a smile; the Hindu Scriptures want you to treat the whole world as one family; Buddha, the learned one, taught the joys of living for others.

The Sikh faith is indeed founded on the principle of caring for humanity; the Jains and Baha’i believe our joy comes from taking care of others. The Wicca, Native and earth-based traditions believe in taking care of what we see: life and the matter. I am particularly moved by His holiness Rev. Moon, who has built up a kingdom of goodness with a powerful mission of his work, living for the sake of others.

Jesus holds a special place in every one’s heart, but particularly among Christians and Muslims, comprising over half the population of the world.

The Muslims call him Isa-Masih, the one who heals and one who brought life to the dead. The name of Jesus appears 27 times in Quran and one of the 114 Chapters is dedicated to Maryam, Mother Mary and the virgin birth. We may differ in what he means to us, but we respect him beyond our imagination. My faith is incomplete, if I don’t believe in Jesus and the other prophets who came to bring goodness to us.

As a Muslim I will be celebrating Christmas, recommitting myself to listen to Jesus and follow his path of inclusiveness. And in my Islamic tradition, I will reflect on chapter 19 of Quran, dedicated to Maryam, Mother Mary, and pray on his birthday. I will pray that we all honor his message of creating peace and building cohesive societies where no one has to be apprehensive of the other. Amen!

My singular wish for this Christmas is to follow the path of Jesus. It means to make an effort to be like him, to be prejudice free; to be free from ill-will and malice, to forgive and embrace those whom we don’t like. I wish us to be free from all biases. Amen!

As people of faith, we have to muster up courage to say, “My religion teaches humility to me, and humility builds bridges among people, and today, I seriously consider rejecting arrogance to claim my religion is the only right path. I understand, arrogance is the mother of all conflicts and assert that my religion works for me, just as other religions work for others.”

Today, I pledge to release God from my cocoon and make him boundless. Will you do yours?

Merry Christmas y’all.Related pieces:

Charting a Successful Life in 2013 With a Firm Commitment

Mike Ghouse September 24, 2020 Comments Off

This article was first Published on 12/28/2012 11:19 am at – : https://www.huffpost.com/entry/charting-a-successful-life-in-2013-with-a-firm-commitment_b_2372394

Whether you go into a relationship, marriage, worship, business, teaching, service or any adventure, your success in 2013 will be determined by the faith you have, and your commitment to the venture.

If you go in with an attitude of trying out, more than likely the following will happen: A few things will go wrong, or hurdles will come up, and in response you shake your head and say, “I knew it was not going to work out.” What do you do then? Instead of making it work, you will be spending your energy back peddling, and finding “reasons” to back out. Indeed, it is time to ask, “If I fail myself, why should God and others give me a pass?” You have to have faith and commitment to succeed.

Years ago, we were driving over the Royal Gorge Bridge in Cannon City, Colo., a very tall bridge for an acrophobic person like me; indeed, my legs froze that day, and I still get the nightmares about it followed by a new lesson each time. What happens if the bridge collapses? I see myself hanging on to the railings of the broken bridge with one hand, down below is an endless pit, and up above is the noise of the breaking bridge, with an imaginary clock winding down: 15 seconds to a total collapse.

I have many choices in those 15 seconds: curse the engineers, blame Colorado bridge authority, blame the car for not flying out to the other end, and of course blame myself for taking that trip, or simply have faith in God and figure a way out of it. I usually wake up when I have my arms on the solid ground and my body is dangling down the cliff below, and hearing the massive blast of the bridge banging in the gorge somewhere below. Don’t we have this situation in our lives daily?

On the other hand, if you are committed, when a problem surfaces, your attitude will be, “Well, I am Mario of the Game, these hurdles are a part of the game to get to the end point. I am supposed to pass all these hurdles, knock the monsters and overcome the difficulties to get to my point.” As you get beat up on the path, but also beat the odds and cross the hurdles, you cheer, and say to yourselves, “A few more to go…” The energy to succeed builds up to pass through the rest of the hurdles to reach the end point and win. I have watched my kids play Mario and have learned quite a bit.

One of the most quoted incidents in history about commitment is burning of the ships in A.D. 711. Tarek Ziyad, the Moorish commander landed his forces on the Mediterranean coast of the Iberian Peninsula with 7,000 troops. He immediately ordered burning of the ships, and said there is no going back, and that was the power of commitment. In the game of football, when the running back has the ball in his hand, no matter how many players pile up on him in a tackle, he is committed to get at least a yard out of it. You can apply this to everything you do in life.

Most successful people that I have talked to, have the same attitude; they are committed to make it happen, and not try.

The following words have changed my life, and I hope they inspire you as well.

Goethe:

“Until one is committed, there is hesitancy … Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. … Whatever you can do or dream that you can do, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Begin it now.”

And this:

“If we listened to our intellect, we’d never have a love affair. We’d never have a friendship. We’d never go into business, because we’d be cynical. Well, that’s nonsense. You’ve got to jump off cliffs all the time and build your wings on the way down.”

Dr. Abdul Hamid Abusulayman: “There is a clear distinction between doubts and problems. Doubts provoke obstruction, frustration and discouragement, where as problems inspire motivation, action and diligence.”

Whether you are an Aborigine, Aztec, Baha’i, Buddhist, Cheyenne, Choctaw, Christian, Hindu, Hopi, Jain, Jew, Maya, Muslim, Native American, Shinto, Sikh, Tao, Wicca or Zoroastrian, you have guidance to live a happier life and the essence of which is embedded in your tradition. You have your own moral compass if you are an atheist or an agonostic.

Think about these seven things to guide you to successfully coast through 2013, and add your own to the list.

1. Tying the loose ends of life, bringing a closure to every little thing.
2. Volunteering to serve others with no expectations or returns.
3. Living within the means.
4. Meditation for five minutes a day in the bus, train or in the car.
5. Every word you use must build relationships and not hurt it.
6. Apologize for the mistakes, truthfulness is empowering.
7. Forgiving liberates you and lowers your blood pressure, whether the one you hate is around or not.

Whatever you do, do it wholeheartedly. There is a joy in it for you and the ones who receive the good from you. The bottom line is quit griping about life, just enjoy what you got, change what you can, reject what you must, but go on with life. It will change your perspective and life becomes meaningful.

Fifty years ago, my little brother always came up with a stomach ache whenever he was asked to go to market and bring vegetables. But when my Dad threatened him with cutting his allowance, he would then get up and go. We always wondered if he was going to go anyway, why the drama? Neither he was happy, nor my parents. Later on he got the idea that doing things wholeheartedly makes him a winner and everyone around him rejoiced as well. All of us learn our lessons. It happens to us daily, we have to be conscious in creating happy environments around us.

And now, as a member of the society, we have to do our share in building a cohesive Society, where no American has to feel apprehension, discomfort or fear of the fellow American. No matter where you live, the dreams and aspirations are the same: to live freely.

All our work is about contributing towards a better society; mitigating conflicts and nurturing goodwill, in 2013, we need your support to do more things including conducting workshops, lectures and seminars to do our share of good in the society.

In promoting pluralism, in 2012, 48 articles have been written in Dallas Morning News, 21 in The Huffington Post, and altogether 375 pieces in a variety of magazines and newspapers around the world. Eleven appearances on Sean Hannity, nine on local TV, 16 on national radio networks, two major events, the Unity Day USA, and spoke at innumerable places about the need to build cohesive societies. A film is in the making and the book will be out.

We are committed to religious and political pluralism in America and invite you to journey with us in creating a better America for every one of the 312 Million of us. We are one nation under God with liberty and justice for all.

The Ideal Interfaith Inaugural Benediction

Mike Ghouse September 24, 2020 Comments Off

This article was first Published on 01/16/2013 02:46 pm at – : https://www.huffpost.com/entry/president-obamas-ideal-inaugural-benediction_b_2481579

One of the many roles of a president is to shape and nurture the direction of the nation, and President Obama has been a good shepherd. Indeed, he is committed to building an America, where each one of us becomes a nurturer to the other, and eventually, each strand in the web of our society will coalesce in building our nation to function cohesively. The president’s wisdom is crystal clear, “We rise and fall together as one nation.”

Our nation has come a long way in fulfilling our immortal declaration, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.”

Indeed, it was the consent of an overwhelming majority of gays and lesbians, Native and African Americans, women and men, Hindus and Muslims, atheists and Wiccans, Hispanics and Pagans, and others that the president derives his powers from, and he has the mandate to shape an inclusive America.

We are yet to be truthful to our own pledge — that we are “one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” Our benediction should strongly reflect the sentiment of oneness of our nation under God, and shed our hypocrisies of excluding fellow Americans even in our national prayers.

Please join me with your affirmative Amens to each sentiment of the benediction.

Dear causer of the universe. please accept our gratitude in every name we call upon you including; Mahio, Manito, Yahweh, Elohim, Allah, Ishwar, Buddha, Wahe Guru, Ahura Mazda, Mother Earth and Jesus Christ.

Dear Creator, thank you for enriching our nation with people from different races, nationalities, ethnicities, orientations, languages, cultures and religions.

Dear God, together as Americans, we see you as one, none and many; we see you as male, female and genderless; we take you as a being as well as nonbeing; you are nameless to some of us and multiple names to others; and together, we believe we are one universe, one people and one humanity.

Dear God, in your name we want to create a cohesive and peaceful America with care, kindness and dignity to every one of the 312 million of us, as well as 7 billion of us in the world.

Dear God, guide us to talk, act and believe that we are one people; and one indivisible nation under you.

Dear God, as we undertake the mission of building cohesive societies under the guidance of President Obama, where no American has to live in apprehension or fear of the other, we are painfully aware of the ignorance, fear, mistrust and ill-will that divides us, help us open our hearts and minds toward receiving each other.

Dear God, we are very close to fulfilling the immortal declaration of our founding fathers that, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.”

Dear God, guide our president, judiciary, Senate and Congress to serve our nation, and be faithful to our pledge, “one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”

Dear God, guide us to protect our second amendment, and give us the sanity and wisdom to remove the mass killing assault weapons in the hands of irresponsible fellow Americans.

Dear God, guide us to take care of our needy and give us the heart to uplift everyone in the ditches on to a level playing field.

Dear God, bless our nation with productivity, good health and jobs so we can take care of our families and preserving their dignity.

Dear God, help us over a period of the next four years to learn to live within our means.

Dear God, guide us to become conflict mitigaters and good will nurturers.

Dear God, Protect our men and women in uniforms committed to our safety and well being.

Dear God, help us think, speak and act peace every moment of the day.

Dear God, give us your infinite wisdom and give us the courage to do the right thing, every moment of the day.

Help us learn to respect the otherness of other in each one of us, and accept the god given uniqueness to each of us.

In your precious name we bow.

Amen.Pluralist benediction samples:

City of Carrollton (City Council)
Chicago Bible College
Immigration rally (benediction in the 2nd half of the video)

How I Connect With Prophet Muhammad

Mike Ghouse September 23, 2020 Comments Off

This article was first Published on 01/25/2013 09:43 pm at – : https://www.huffpost.com/entry/how-i-connect-with-prophet-muhammad_b_2547782

How do I relate with the prophet? I don’t wear clothes like him, eat like him or live like him. But when it comes to respecting fellow beings, nurturing goodwill, mitigating conflicts, forgiving others and building cohesive societies, I can relate.

Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was born on 12th day of Rabi’ al-Awwal, the third month of the Islamic calendar, and the year was 571 A.D. The birth celebrations will continue through this week, and if you wish to greet a Muslim, you can say, Milaad (birth) Greetings, Happy Maulood-an-Nabi, Maulood-an-Nabi Mubarak, happy Eid Milaad and Milaad’s blessings to you.

2013-01-25-HappyMilaad.ProphetBirthday.MikeGhouse.jpg

First thing first, he took the larger view of the society and became a model of what it takes to be an exemplary citizen. The first requirement of any civil society is to trust each other in living their daily life safely and without fear of the other. He earned the trust of the society for being truthful, honest in his dealings, trustworthy and just. The Jews, Christians, pagans and others called him Amin, the trust worthy. That was indeed the first foundational Sunnah (prophet’s example).

Wherever he saw conflicts between people, he found a way to mitigate and nurture goodwill amongst them. Indeed, he was committed to building a cohesive society, where no one feared the other, and he continuously built upon creating balance and harmony in the society. Blessed are the peacemakers, said Jesus! Indeed, Prophet Muhammad is my mentor.

Muslims celebrate his birthday in a variety of ways, including cooking the simplest food as an expression of humility. They sing the likes of Christmas carols, called Milaad, Nasheed, even Milaad Carols and other names. I have found it peaceful to think about his work and reflect on how I could relate with him, the ultimate peacemaker.

Do I forgive often? Do I stand up for the rights of others? Am I a blessing to fellow humans? Do others feel secure and safe around me? Today, I have concluded my day with a short prayer and a commitment and get on the road. God willing, I will follow him to the best of my ability.

As a kid I learned things about him and did not relate with him at all, he was too divine and remote for me. All that changed when I read the book “Muhammad” by Karen Armstrong. She narrates his life from a non-religious point of view, as a civic leader of the society, a dimension that I appreciated it very much. Karen Armstrong’s book is one of the five reasons I chose to become a Muslim after a lapse of nearly three decades. He was a man that I can relate with, making decisions that create trust, mutual respect and a sense of fairness among his people at that time. That was indeed the role of every prophet and peacemaker of the time.

When someone hurts me, I think of the prophet, he advised against score keeping and piling revenge and aggravating each other, and I love the freedom it gives me, freedom from brooding and obsession to get even with the other.

When someone dialogues with me, prophet’s words jump at me, to respect the otherness of other, without having to agree but respectfully differ and move on. Indeed, it is a big lesson in conducting civil dialogue.

When I am frustrated, I think of prophet’s narration, God told him to do his work, and not worry if people don’t get his message, give them the room to make up their own minds, and let me guide them, and you respect everyone’s free will.

Every day, I think about the Prophet, how he would have found a solution to a given conflict, and all I see is the application of the principles of fairness and justice to every human, with goodness and inclusiveness.

My spiritual mentors are Muhammad (pbuh) and Jesus (pbuh), and my civic mentors are Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., and Barack Obama.

When I think of getting even with someone who maligns me, I think of the advice of Prophet Muhammad and Jesus: The best thing we can do is to forgive the other; it brings relief and frees us from being possessed.

When I see injustice done to others, the prophets words ring again, the least you can do is to speak out against injustice. Injustice to one is injustice to the whole humanity.

When I see inequality in our society, our immortal declaration of independence kicks in for me, that all men are created equal. I think of prophet’s last sermon, where he said no man is superior to the other and that all are equal.

Whenever I think of the liberation of women, I think of the prophet, he was perhaps the first women’s libber; and he officially liberated women from the shackles of the bondages. He was a radical of his time, as Jesus was, and said women are free to marry or divorce, own their own business and property, separate from their husbands, and he introduced the idea of consent and free will in marriage. Let’s not judge America by the Newtown, Aurora and Oak Creek murderers, and let’s not judge Muslims by the misogynistic men among them either.

Whenever I feel judgmental toward others, the prophet’s voice pulls me back, only God knows everything about the other, not me, then let me not judge anyone without the full knowledge.

When I think of standing up for others, I think of Gandhi and MLK, if we don’t stand up for others, why should anyone stand up for us.

Whenever the idea of being better than others crosses my mind, I think of the prophet, who said, I am a human like you, and don’t make a God out of me or paint my pictures and put me on the pedestal. He even said to his daughter, you earn your paradise through your good deeds, the good you do to the fellow beings and not because you are the Prophet’s daughter.

Whenever arrogance attempts to creep in me, I hear the words of the prophet, “Treat all prophets the same, no human is above the other” — instead of saying I am the greatest prophet and listen to me. Feeling and practicing equality is the way for creating peaceful societies.

I will be writing a full chapter on the prophet in my upcoming book, as to how I relate with him in my daily life, and I have learned to give a 20 minutes motivations talk on “Prophet the Peacemaker” and that is rejoicing.Further reading:

Milaad Mubarak!

Hyderabad Bomb Blasts: What’s Next?

Mike Ghouse September 23, 2020 Comments Off

This article was first Published on 03/07/2013 01:06 pm at – : https://www.huffpost.com/entry/hyderabad-bomb-blasts-whats-next_b_2784491

The bomb blasts in Hyderabad, India on Feb. 21 killed many and injured dozens of people.

We mourn the death of every one killed in this mayhem, and empathize with their families through special Muslim prayers. May their souls rest in peace, Om Shanti, Om Shanti, and Inna Lillahi O Innna Ilaihi ur rajeeoon (From God we come and to God we go). Every life is precious and in this context, every Indian life is sacred.

As a Muslim, I am tempted to blame bad guys among Muslims, but what good will it do to India? Deepen hatred for the Muslims? If I blame Hindus, what good will it do to India? Will it bring harmony or tear up our nation further apart?

It is a shame that we have among us, men who cannot find solutions through a dialogue and resort to violence.

What do we want as Indians? If we want a society where everyone gets along and minds his own business, then let’s do things to take us there, let our language build bridges and not place wedges between the people.

It is human to seek justice. When we watch the Bollywood or Hollywood movies, the end is usually good, good wins over bad, we sigh and we feel secure. We cheer when the bad guy gets beaten, we feel good about it, not necessarily because he was beaten, but because justice prevailed. Satyameva Jayate!

It’s not just the movies, but also in real life, we seek the same: justice. When 23-year-old Damini was gang raped in a New Delhi bus, the whole world stood up for justice for her, and each one of us had our own sense of justice. When 14-year-old Malala was shot, the world stood up with her as well.

Whether Malala was a Hindu, Christian or a Muslim, or Damini was Dalit, Brahman or Sikh, our outrage would have been the same, would it not? We have to continually stoke the goodness embedded in us and keep it alive.

We all seek justice and Justice is the ultimate truth in preserving trust in a given society to function cohesively and effectively. Blaming Religion will not bring the joy that we cherish in seeing the villain beat up in our movies, or a bully in the neighborhood gets beaten. It is justice that gives us relief and restores normalcy in our society.

I request that the thrill seekers in India who want to make it a Hindu and Muslim issue to consider this seriously.

The Communal Riots

During the communal riots in Jabalpur (India) in the early ‘60s, both Muslims and Hindus were killed in the mayhem, as it happens every time. I wish every father in India, America and elsewhere teaches this lesson to his kids. He told us the “individuals” are responsible for the bloodshed and not the religions. If we get the guy who started the conflict and punish him for disturbing peace, we would have saved so much anguish and bloodshed. He was crystal clear in his message.

My father emphasized that blaming a religion does not restore justice. He said we must blame the individuals who caused it and punish them accordingly for disturbing the peace and thus bring a resolution to the conflict by serving justice. He said you cannot annihilate, kill, hang or beat the religion, then why bark at it?

Muhammad Yunus, an Indian Muslim intellectual, suggests Muslims to offer special prayers for Hindu victims of the senseless bombing of fellow Indians, and adds, “Let this be a clarion call to both Muslims and Hindus of India to shun religious bigotry. They are racially the same lot as any genetic profiling can demonstrate and have paid very heavily in flesh and blood and possessions in riots, exodus, wars, migrations and forced evictions dating from the unholy partition of India. The peddlers of hatred must therefore be resisted by all sensible people to avoid merciless retaliatory killing of a community of innocent people be it in terror attack or communal violence. “

My Suggestion

Let’s get the bad guy, beat him up and let it end like a Bollywood movie. Does it matter who the bad guy is, what he eats, drinks, wears or believes?

The cheap thrill of blaming the religion will create more frustrations, and will not bring the relief as it would in getting the bad guy. If we blame an intangible like religion, we simply cannot kill it, bury it, hang it or beat it and bring justice. But when we lock up the bad guys, it brings relief and restores trust in the society and without any fear or protection, we can go to the malls, mosques, temples or movie houses, that are what we want and that is what we should work for.

If the trouble maker is caught, both Hindus and Muslims ought to celebrate it together regardless of what religion the bad guy professes. Get the man and keep the religion out of the equation.

Will Shiite and Sunni Islam Ever Reconcile?

Mike Ghouse September 23, 2020 Comments Off

This article was first Published on 03/24/2013 01:54 pm at – : https://www.huffpost.com/entry/will-shiite-and-sunni-islam-ever-reconcile_b_2898461

Facts don’t matter. It did not matter to the leadership of President Bush and his obedient followers. They chose to believe what they had decided to believe about WMD, despite the information to the contrary.

Muslims leadership is no different, each one of the sect is entrenched with certain beliefs, and facts don’t matter to them either. Indeed, accepting facts will make the earth beneath them disappear. If Sunnis accept Shiite version as a fact and/or Shiites see the Sunni version as the truth, their whole theology collapses, each one will cease to exist, and for that reason, no one will subscribe to each others’ “facts.”

The chasm between the two groups was born out of Prophet’s last sermon.

2013-03-18-ShiaSunniIslamMiikeGhouse.HuffingtonPost.jpg

Sunni Muslims believe that Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) had said that he was leaving the book (Quran) behind him for his followers to learn, understand and practice the religion. Each one is individually accountable for his or her actions, while the Shiite Muslims believe that Prophet had also said he was leaving behind his progeny to offer guidance.

Both the versions are authentic to the believers, and this is the problem. If the Shiite version is accepted by the Sunnis, then they would have to accept that the spiritual leadership is passed on through Prophet’s family and accept the Shiite imams as their spiritual guides. On the other hand, if Shiites were to accept the Sunni version, then they will find themselves rudderless; there is no formal spiritual leader in Sunni Islam. Although the Caliphs ran the communities through 1924, they were not necessarily the spiritual guides; there were civic and political leaders.

Even if we were to recover the real voice and speech of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), neither group will believe in it; it amounts to wiping out their current beliefs, and it isn’t going to happen.

It is best to follow the guidance from Quran and let you believe what works for you and I believe what works for me, as long as we do not mess with each other’s space, sustenance and nurturance. Both will go to Janna (paradise) if we care about God’s creation.

As the saying goes, beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. I would add that faith is in the heart of the believer. Shiite beliefs have worked for Shiites, just as Sunni, Wahhabi, Ahmadiyya, Bohra, Ismaili, Salafi, Sufis, Deen Muhammad, Barelavi, Deobandi and other beliefs have worked for each one of them for centuries. Do we see the need for a change?

Religion is not a football game where the touchdown will be decided if the guy’s foot or any part of his foot was inside the line while catching the ball in the end zone. Religion is not that precise. A sinful woman can give water to a thirsty animal and earn God’s grace, and a drunk who has never prayed can share food with his neighbor and get preference over the Namazi (someone who prays all times). Islam is a big universal religion, and is not defined by petty lines. All will go to paradise, God assures in Quran that whether you are a Jew, Christian or other, you need not worry, he will recompense for the good you do. The bottom line is, if you take care of fellow beings, animals and environment — indeed serving and preserving God’s creation means serving God.

We have conflicts among us, not real ones, but the ones that do not affect our space, sustenance and nurturance. God has intentionally created us to be different, he created us from a single couple into many tribes, communities and nations, and he expects us to be different, but he also expects us to know each other, and figure out how to preserve his creation and not mess with it. The best among you, he says is the one who is righteous, the one who cares about God’s creation with no exclusions.

We need to learn about our differences, that are human curiosity, however we need to do our Jihad, our inner struggle in fighting the temptation to denigrate the other in any fashion. Here again God loves us, and guides us how to dialogue without ever putting each other down.

The Sunnis include all of Prophet’s wives as his family, whereas the Shiites limit it to the Prophet’s daughter, Hazrat Fatima, and her husband, Hazrat Ali, and their descendents. A side note, there are Sunnis who claim to be direct descendents of the Prophet, as if to claim special privileges. Islam is about equality and humility and not privileges. No one in Islam is special unless it is for his actions, piety and deeds. The Prophet even told Fatima that there is no free ticket to her to paradise, just because she is the daughter of the Prophet, so what makes any one think that he or she has privileges? Prophet wiped the vainglorious privileges completely, as it is arrogant to claim such status, and God does not like it because arrogance messes with his peaceful creation, where as humility builds bridges to create peaceful societies.

Prophet appointed Hazrat Bilal, a freed African Slave at that time, to the highest position of calling Muslims to prayers. It was meant to shut the arrogant ones that he was a slave. He explained the beauty of a cohesive society for the pompous ones to let go of their snobbishness and stand in the same line in the prayers no matter who was standing next to them. He liberated women (considered chattel, men’s personal property even in the United States a century or two ago) and announced women are free individuals like men, who were free to marry, divorce, own the property and business. Of course, men are men, no matter what race, religion or nationality they belong to, most of them get it right, a few don’t.

Prophet continued with his mission and said all will do the fasting to imbue a sense of humility. And remember he made Zakat (tithe) proportionate so all can contribute to the common good funds. Did he make the Hajj (Pilgrimage once a life time) a requirement for all? Heavens no, and this is the only thing that is not required, because of the affordability factor. Islam is never against making money and getting rich as long as you are fair and just to the resources that make you rich.

As a Sunni, I implore fellow Muslims to learn to respect each other’s traditions and beliefs. There is no point in proving each other wrong. I urge Shiite, Sunni and Ahmadiyya Muslims to accept the otherness of the other without the temptation to correct the other. Just follow the guidance of Allah and the Prophet — be good to fellow beings.

I suggest for each one of you, on your own to start going to each other’s place of worship and see the devotion each group has in the way they pray. I would not ask anyone to do this, if I did not do it myself. I am blessed to have been in every mosque including the Kaaba, Masjid Nabwi, Masjid Aqsa and Bait-al-Muqaddas. I have prayed and iftaared regularly in Bohra, WD Muhammad, Ahmadiyya, Shia, Sunni, Sufi and just about every traditions with the exception of Ismailis. Insha Allah, God may fulfill me with that wish and the wish to pray in Shiite’s holy mosque of Imam Ali.

Knocking prejudice out toward fellow Muslims is peaceful. Try it. You may cherish it. Alhamdu Lillah, I walk my talk.

Insha Allah, we will do more intra-faith dialogue and learn to respect each other for what we believe, and not get hell bent on proving and denying each other’s faith. I will do my personal share of work in bringing unity for common goodness. All it takes is more of us to take the stand and hold such meetings and learn about each other for creating a better world (Quran 49:13).

Reference: http://www.worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2013/03/sunni-muslims-at-shia-and-ahmadiyya.html

What if the Boston Terrorist Turns out to Be a Muslim?

Mike Ghouse September 23, 2020 Comments Off

This article was first Published on 04/18/2013 05:00 pm at – : https://www.huffpost.com/entry/what-if-boston-terrorist-is-muslim_b_3108305

The purpose of this article is to invoke common sense to those who cherish chaos and like to aggravate it further, rather than restore the society to normalcy. It is for those who are anxious to turn their frustrations into blaming anything in sight for kicks including Obama and Muslims.

This piece explores the effects of our thoughts, conversations and actions on the society. Do we want to build a cohesive America where no American has to live in apprehension, discomfort or fear of fellow Americans?

What if a Texan from Dallas is the one who set the bombs? Should the Bostonians blame Mayor Mike Rawlings of Dallas, and Governor Perry for this disgusting act? Should Governor Deval Patrick decide to bomb Dallas into oblivion?

What if the nut is a Catholic or a Baptist? Would you suggest going after his Father and Pope Francis, or his Pastor and Rev. Fred Luter, President of Southern Baptist Convention, respectively?

Consider another scenario: If a single woman wants to move from Seattle to New York or Dallas, and asks your recommendation. Based on statistics, would you say: “Don’t go to New York, they are murderers. In 2010 they murdered 866 people, and sure don’t go there, they are rapists, they raped 2, 771 women.”

If you are a New Yorker, what would be your response?

If he were to advice against Dallas, my city, I will say baloney; get your head out of the sand. I have been living here for more than 30 years. Rape and murder are shameful facts of life, but thousands whom I’ve known for a long time, go to work and come back to the safety of their homes every day.

What if the nut case is a Muslim?

Just as the New Yorkers and Texans would feel outraged, Muslims ought to feel the same. Should New Yorkers apologize to this woman from Seattle for the rapes and murders in their state? Should Texans do the same? Should a Muslim apologize for the acts he did not commit?

Sean Hannity was outraged about an article about White Privilege, which Tim Wise wrote in Timwise.org: “It is a lesson about race, about whiteness, and specifically, about white privilege. White privilege knows that even if the bomber turns out to be white, no one will call for whites to be profiled as terrorists as a result, subjected to special screening, or threatened with deportation.” He lists about 50 terrorists from Tim McVeigh to Floyd Raymond Looker. We call them loonies instead, but don’t use the same yard stick if it were a Muslim.

Justice

Blaming the individual murderers and rapists and punishing them is the right thing to do, instead of bombing whole of Texas into oblivion. Restoring trust in the society is the key to successful civil societies and it comes through justice. If I commit a murder, haul my heinie to the jail and not my folks, my mayor, imam, religion or my ethnicity, which is stupid.

Justice will be done when you blame the individual and punish him per the law of the land, but blaming intangibles like his community and religions does not serve justice, but aggravates the cohesiveness and hurt everyone in the process.

If the Boston terrorist turns out to be a Muslim, haul him off. His religion has nothing to do with his criminal act. No Muslim needs to apologize for the acts of a bad guy either; it would be as if every one of the 8,336,697 New Yorkers would be apologizing to the woman from Seattle for the murders and rapes by fellow New Yorkers.

We have the state to take care of the criminals, and as patriotic Americans, we don’t need to tear our nation apart — that is what the extremists want.

David Liepert writes in “The American Muslim”:

Please God, don’t let it be a Muslim that’s responsible. I make that prayer because of the fear I feel for innocent Muslims who might suffer from an anti-Muslim backlash like what happened in Iraq and Afghanistan, a litany and a fear that I know is shared with me by Muslims around the world. … When that happens instead of being part of that communal drawing together even well intentioned good acts can prompt exclusion and rejection, while the absence of any response can prompt suspicion and condemnation, leaving everyone with damaged relationships, hurt feelings and sometimes even inappropriate retaliations, consequences that are unquestionably worse than having no relationship at all.

Vultures

Vultures spot dying animals and hover over them to die, and come down and devour the carcasses. Erik Rush, a Fox News contributor, is one such vulture. He said, “Kill All Muslims.” He is not alone. More vultures are likely to join him, including the members of the Congress and Senate. These vultures need to become patriotic Americans and focus on passing the bill on background checks and limiting the possession of assault weapons. They could have saved 3,300 people in just four months since the Newtown incident, or they can choose to be accessories to murderers of innocent people in the coming months by not banning the military weapons in the hand of the criminals. Killing fellow Americans is an act of treason, aren’t these guys traitors?

What do Americans want?

A majority of Americans want a society where everyone feels safe, and secure without the fear of other.

Our Founding Fathers laid the ground work for such a society, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” If the Fox News media men and some of the congressman genuinely believe in this, half of the problem will be solved.

Martin Luther King Jr. expressed that in his speech: “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.”

Chief Seattle, a Native American said this perfectly: “All things are connected. Whatever befalls the earth befalls the sons of the earth. Man did not weave the web of life; he is merely a strand in it. Whatever he does to the webs, he does it to himself.”

John F Kennedy: “And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country. My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.”

We are one nation under God and we need to think, talk and act to act as one.