The problems in families, communities and countries persist because good people do not speak out against what is wrong.
The people on extreme right know only one thing; destroy the other rather than have a dialogue and resolve the conflict. When God created life he produced two varieties; animals and humans. He gave horns, fangs and paws to the animals to fight out the other with vengeance and get what they want, whereas humans were endowed with the ability to dialogue and resolve their conflicts.
Facts don’t matter to them and common sense is not in their genes, but they attract the frightened and disillusioned ones by confidently offering them false hopes. The poor souls latch on to them.
Years ago, a Catholic Nun on Tim Russet’s show “Meet the Press” had made a powerful statement. She said bullies give confidence to the frightened people with passion and give outlandish assurances, where as the sane people hesitate in making outlandish statements. So, she argued that moderate people should continue to speak the truth with reason, passion and conviction to give confidence to the people and do the right thing.
Anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, Misogyny, Homophobia, Xenophobia and other phobias are crutches of the short-sighted ones among us. I have a good record of standing against Anti-Semitism and will continue to do my share of educating the public about the ills of these phobias. Please do read “Holocaust and the Muslim Guy” in Huffington post and “Standing up with Jews” at Standing up for others.com or just Google ‘Judaism Mike Ghouse.’
Now, the rise of this ugly evil of Anti-Semitism can be squarely attributed to Prime Minister Netanyahu. He should be held accountable for the long term insecurities heaped on the people of Israel. Let me share the information in simple terms while my extensive research article is in the making.
Anti-Semitism is a wrong label in most cases, it is actually resentment born out of violation of international treaties by Israeli government. Please separate Judaism, Jews, Israel and the Israeli Government, the world has no problem whatsoever with the first three but resent the 4th one.
Check the history of voting at the United Nations; usually it is 94% of the world against 6% supporting Israelis Government’s ruthless policies, and the blind supporters are United States, UK, Spain Italy and a few others. Rarely has been a time where more than 10 nations have voted in favor of Israeli Government’s policies. By the way for the blind among us, the ones opposing the policies are people of all continents, faiths and races.
On November 30, 2017, he UN General Assembly voted overwhelmingly to disavow Israeli ties to Jerusalem as part of six anti-Israel resolutions it approved on Thursday in New York. The vote was 151 in favor and six against, with nine abstentions. Now tell me, why 151 Nations of the world should not resent Israeli government’s policies for going against the wishes of community of the nations. This is not Anti-Semitism but pure resentment for disregarding the resolutions of the world body.
Why would they not resent America for supporting such wrong doing? The Palestinian men and women are being dragged out of their homes and forcefully thrown out of their lands. No sane human being in the world will love that brutality and oppression. Humans are designed to seek justice and injustice will always be hated.
The AIPAC was needed when Israel was weak and her Arab neighbors were out to destroy her, but they went too far and lost any sense of justice and started doing to Palestinians what was wrongfully done to them over centuries. One wrong does not make the other wrong right.
I firmly stand in my support for Israel’s right to exist, but do not support its right to bully the Palestinians, grab their lands and deny them a homeland. The sadistic men may enjoy bullying and beating up the powerless but in the long haul they are guaranteeing insecurity to Israel and nurture Anti-Semitism around the world making Jews more insecure even here in America.
Look at the Iran Nuclear Deal, a good deal for Israel as it prevents Iran from making nuclear weapons. Seven Nations signed the treaty and wanted to stand by Israel, but what does Netanyahu do? Belligerently goes against it to appease his funders and some of the right leaning American Congressmen even honor him over our President? Traitors!
United Nations Security Council 2334, which passed Dec. 23, 2016 by a vote of 14-0 with the U.S. abstaining, describes Israel’s settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem as illegal and an obstacle to peace with the Palestinians. This is the first time it has happened. Trump was going against a President’s decision, why was he not called a back stabber?
If there is increase in Anti-Semitism, all of us should condemn it with ferocity but should know that injustice to one is injustice to all as Rev. Martin Luther King Jr has uttered. However, we need to hold Netanyahu accountable for the resentment he has generated in the psyche of 151 nations and all the justice seeking people in the world. It is not Anti-Semitism; it is pure resentment for Netanyahu’s policies.
Trump has added fuel to the fire, what was the need to create the Jerusalem controversy? it is ridiculous timing. He has reignited chaos in the Middle East causing Israelis to live in apprehension. Does he realize that Jews live in tensions when they travel overseas? Trump has double down on that now. Now the people of 151 Nations have reason to resent Israel even more and hate America too. We are a nation of good people run by bad government and need to speak up and make the government of the people again.
What would have been ideal is to tie the relocation of US Embassy to Jerusalem with immediate stopping of the illegal settlements. Just because they have the military might they should not act as bullies. Israel’s security hinges on Justice to the Palestinians, one would not happen without the other happening. Our policy should be based on Security to Israelis with Justice to the Palestinians, if we take that stand there will be peace in Middle East and American leadership would be respected for justness and eventually it is good for Israel, good for Palestinians and good for America.
Pope Frances has urged the community of nations to honor the UN position on Jerusalem, and of course the right leaning men in Israel and America do not respect such a great men. Power to them is being bullies and not civility.
I hope the good people of Israel and Jews around the world will drown the destructive voices with their sane voices for the sake of long term security of Israel and justice for the Palestinians.
Mike Ghouse is committed to working towards building cohesive societies and offers pluralistic solutions on the Political, religious, cultural and societal and human rights issues of the day. He is the President of Center for Pluralism and can be reached at www.CenterforPluralism.com
#Jerusalem, #Anti-Semitism, #Israel, #United Nations, # Pope Francis, #Pluralism, #MikeGhouse
Alabama’s Immigrant community wants to be one with the American born community, and to be one with all, they will participate in the elections and do the right thing and make themselves relevant along with all Americans. We have to hold the nation together from divisive politics and preserve our checks and balances built into our system of governance. We are all in this together and we want an America where no one has to live in apprehension of the other.
Alabama’s Senate election is not about Republicans or Democrats, but where the Alabamians stand on their state’s unfortunate past of racial intolerance and toxic masculinity. Roy Moore has by all rational standards failed to prove that he is a man of any true moral character.
Several polls in recent days show the election as a tossup. Expected voter turnout is 25%. Minorities make up 40% of the population making it likely that despite partisan obstacles to voting, diversity will shine through at the voting polls tomorrow. According to poll data made available by Big League-Jarvis, over 85% of likely black voters are supporting Doug Jones and 26% of Alabamians are black.
The state of Alabama is home to as many as 250,000 Muslims, with tens of thousands lining up to vote. The state has over 30 mosques, in addition to a dozen or so Buddhist and Hindu temples. Muslims are the religious minority most likely to vote for Jones, given Moore’s ongoing Islamophobic gaffes on the campaign trail. 65% of likely Muslim voters are supporting Moore, the highest out of any minority group except Black Christians. Voting data is scant, but estimates that immigrants and Muslim voters could help Democrat Doug Jones win Alabama’s special senate election.
We believe that the best governance happens when we have checks and balances in place and the best thing that Americans can do at this time is to keep the house majority with the Republicans and give the Senate majority to the Democrats. This act will prevent slam dunking the bills through the Congress and the Senate and due discussions will take place for the benefit of Americans. If you look back, you will find that all the bad decisions were made when the President, Senate and Congress were from the same party. For the sake of America and integrity of our government, we hope the Alabamians do the right thing and I hope they elect a Democrat.
The Center for Pluralism is committed to building a cohesive America, where no American has to live in apprehension or fear of the other.
The article is by Mike Ghouse, registered as an Independent voter and President of the Center for Pluralism & Hamza Khan, founder of The Pluralism Project. We can be reached at Twitter – @MikeGhouse and @hamzaskhan and facebook @DrMikeGhouse and @hamzapolitics
A majority of Muslims celebrate New Year’s Eve like a majority of people in every group. However the orthodoxies in most faiths shun the celebrations. They falsely equate it with alcohol and lewdness and simply cannot think beyond their programmed binary mindset of Haram and Halal.
On the other hand, I urge fellow humans not to judge a people by the acts of a few. If you know 100 people closely, 97 of them would be good people and if you knew only those three, then you tend to be prejudiced, not a good thing for you or anyone.
I urge fellow Muslims to think and act, and hold on to the temptations to react. Muslims can become relevant again by going back to the basics and start thinking and questioning every dished out belief. Doesn’t Quran point out repeatedly to read, to think and to see the signs?
In the next two days many a fatwas will be hitting the market, and a “few” – yes absolutely only a few will take pride in amplifying and multiplying them on the net, as though it is an act of purifying Muslims. By the way sticklers to the traditions are a part of every faith group. No one can cast the first stone.
This essay addresses the issue that has kept Muslims in silos, ghettos, clusters or in a tiny pond. The fatwas are indeed a problem but free speech must be valued over everything, free speech is a God-given right from the day Adam was given a choice. Let people believe in whatever they want, but let them not compel others to fall in line with them. You live your life and let others live theirs. Islam strictly prohibits compulsion of any kind against one’s will.
God’s words are universal and are applicable to all aspects of life. We should not pull tricks and discretion on God’s words, then his words would not be universal and truthful.
The word Fatwa is nothing more than an “opinion” in English Language, and here is my opinion about New Year. Muslims should get out and celebrate it with fellow humans.
My knowledge is based on the instructions from Prophet Muhammad (Pbuh), who said that it is the responsibility of every individual to read and understand the book, Quran is the only reliable book he has left as guidance. All other books were invented later, we should no doubt seek wisdom but never put them on par with Quran.
Bad Fatwas are the reason for Muslims to remain on side lines. Many of the Fatwas are a cause of ghettoization of Muslims. Do you recall the fatwa of the mufti of Ottoman Empire declaring it Haram to print Quran after the printing press was invented in 1450? That prevented ordinary Muslims from having direct knowledge of the Quran for 400 years, wasn’t it against Prophet’s instructions? There are many such stupid Fatwas that have been obliterated over the years, and a lot more need to go. Reason should take over. If it is not common sense, then it is not Islam. If it does not add to building cohesive orderly societies, then it is not Islam.
Muslims should celebrate New Year’s Eve. Allah has created all things for the humans to enjoy, he has laid everything for the man between heaven and earth (Quran 55:10 “And the earth has He spread out for all living beings”) and man should be thankful and celebrate the gift of life and gift of sustenance on every possible occasion including New Year. New Year is a mile stone and should be a day of accountability of one’s action in the past year and correct the course for the next year, we should be grateful for this opportunity. Quran 55:13, ”Then which of the favours of your Lord will ye deny?”
(Please read verses 1 through 16 of chapter 55, Sura Rahman to appreciate the creator and celebrate life.)
God calls himself “Rabbul Aalameen” (creator of universe) and calls the Prophet the Rahmatul Aalameen (source of mercy for universe). Should Muslims restrict themselves or should they be servers of the universe, of all people? Isn’t the role of Muslims to contribute towards peaceful societies and be a part of the society and not apart from it? Shouldn’t Muslims be a mercy to mankind? You cannot do anything if you are not a part of the society.
The reason Muslims have conflicts with fellow Americans is because they don’t mingle, and most of the relationships are shallow. How would anyone know them? How would people get rid of the myths about Muslims if they don’t get to know them closely in different aspects of life? Of course, every faith or political group has something or the other that holds them from being one with others and they all need to work on knowing each other. Indeed that is the case with most immigrants, one of my Hindu friends says she stopped dating a white guy because there was not much to talk with him.
Ok, you don’t want to go to someone’s house for dinner or go to a party because they drink alcohol or eat pork. That should not be a barrier unless your will power is weak or you are incapable of holding yourselves. (Hindus, Jews, Jains, Buddhists, Bahais. Sikhs and all others have one problem or the other like Muslims, we all need to raise above this to build one integrated nation)
Every human will be an angel if there was no opportunity to do wrong, an average human will resist all the temptations that go against his or her will. There is an unverified story that Buddha would sit nude among naked dancing girls and chose not to be tempted or have an erection, such was his will power. If you have a strong faith you can be anywhere and be with anyone and not get blown away with seductions. It is time to test your own faith.
Let me share an example from a few years ago, our group from Memnosyne Foundation went to Mexico to inaugurate the medicine garden that my philanthropist friend Mary Ann Thompson-Frenk had donated to the Mayan Indians to continue to traditions of shamanic healing. We stayed in an all paid resort near Chichen Itza with unlimited drinks and food at our disposal and every one in our group had a ball. Three of us did not drink Alcohol – Mary Ann, Tanaka (a Shinto Priest) and I. I did not make a big deal about it, nor did I stick religion into it. We just did not drink and had a good time knowing our friends. Of course they knew I was a Muslim and respected me for following my path without anything less about others. When we go to the dinner parties, others eat pork and I don’t, it is my choice. I am a part of the society and not apart from it.
Aren’t Muslims supposed to be peacemakers, harmony establishers, goodwill nurturers and contributors to cohesive societies? How do you do that if you don’t mix with people? How do they know that you are a good human being and not what Fox News had portrayed you to be? It behooves for Muslims to celebrate New Year along with friends. It is the right thing to do and that is how we create secure societies. The more we know about each other, the greater the trust would be.
As believers in universal God and universal prophet, shouldn’t their humanity be universal as well? Isn’t what God clearly says in Quran? Whether you are a Jew, Christian, Muslim or whatever, if you are good to fellow beings (His creation) your reward is with Him. Look it up in Quran, this verse is repeated nearly a dozen times in different formats. If the early Muslims had lived aloof, no one beyond Arabia would have known them. This trend to live in silos began in 1969 and we need to reverse it. Caring for his creation is the highest form of worship and you can care only by being with them.
Let Muslims be a part of the whole, let them be with other people, this is an opportunity to build relationships, and opportunity to let fellow Americans know that Muslims are good human beings. The more we integrate the more we become one with fellow humans, bringing a sense of security to each one of the 322 Million of us; the Americans.
Let the New Year be celebratory. Gather up your neighbors who are not going to parties, bring your own food and drinks and get to know each other as fellow Americans who have a common destiny; safety, security, job, home, children, volunteerism, grand children and retirement in peace.
Muslims must celebrate the New Year in a variety of ways within their comfort zone.
How do you plan your next year? Look for the article on Huffington Post. Please check out nearly 175 articles at Huffington post on a variety of subjects.
A DARK DAY FOR INDIA – CONGRESSIONAL BRIEFING ON KASHMIR & INDIA.
The briefing was held at Capitol Hill on Wednesday, December 11, 2019 – Organized by the Indian American Muslim Council. Videos and a few pictures are at the bottom
I hope all Indian-Americans who wanted to be treated equally and justly in America, want the same for the Indians in India.
Who does not want the best for India? Every Indian wants the best for India; the world’s largest democracy. It is in the interests of all civilized nations to rise on the civilizational ladder to respect the human rights and honor religious freedom of all individuals.
Right after Independence in 1947, the free people of India chose to be a civilized nation, and the consent of the people was the driving force. We chose to be a secular democracy and now, we have faltered.
Today, it is a sad day in the history of India; the current government fell into the pit of discrimination. I hope the Indians, all Indians, stand up against the new rule passed by the parliament and the Rajya Sabha. If we don’t stand up, all of us will come to regret the dark abyss and the consequential chaos we will fall into. At this time, the current Indian government has passed the discriminatory, uncivilized, shameless Citizens Bill in both the houses.
The bill gives automatic citizenship to Hindus, Jains, Sikhs, Christians, and Buddhists who were in Indian prior to 1984 and don’t have the documents, but exclude Muslims to have the same rights. How ugly can anyone be for such blatant discrimination? Would any Hindu American Indian tolerate such discrimination in America?
Now we have to look up to the Supreme Court of India for justice for Indians.
We can right the wrong we have done. A decade ago, the people of California had overwhelmingly passed a referendum to deny health care for children of undocumented families – the Supreme court went entirely against it. India can learn from the United States. You can count on equal justice from the Supreme Court of the United States and I hope we can do the same with the Supreme court of India. But more than the Supreme court, it should be the demand of all Indians that we should be treated justly and equally. That is the right Hindu, Muslim, Christian, and Sikh thing to do.
The current Indian government (different from India) has made a series of economic and social blunders. Highest unemployment in 45 years, declining reserves, corruption (Government Contracts to friends) It has all the makings of a civil war, and possible genocide in Kashmir, if we don’t stop India from where it is being led to, all we see is a disaster for all. Those who disagree, they have that right, but finding the truth is also their responsibility.
India is treading on a dangerous path of one-person rule, and it would be a significant loss to America and all the democratic nations on the earth if India went fascist.
Next time around, I hope we will not give any political party more than 51% of representatives in either house, that will save our democracy.
I hope every Indian-American who wants to be treated equally and justly in America wants the same for the Indians in India.
Here is a panel of the speakers; their full speech is in the video.
Dr. Gregory Stanton, Genocide watch | Gregory, laid out the 10 points that lead to genocide. I had warned this on 8/13/19 in a public IRF meeting with Amb. Sam Brownback.
Dr. Angana Chatterjee, professor, UC Berkley | She talked about the gross human rights violations in Kashmir, and the dangers of the new citizen’s bill passed today.
Raqib Naik, Kashmiri Journalist | He gave the statistics of the crimes committed on behalf of the current Indian Govt.
Niranjan Takle, journalist | He shared the criminal acts of Amit Shah, how he had Supreme Court Judge Loya killed and how he had faked the encounter killings. The USCIRF has already recommended sanctions placed on Amit Shah.
Aakashi Bhatt, Sanjiv Bhat’s daughter | She narrated the falsities of the state government of Gujarat in placing her father, Sanjeev Bhatt, in jail for telling the truth. Indeed, I am putting a profile of Modi together, he is predictable – Sanjeev Bhat was right – Modi gave the mobsters three days to finish the job (kill as many Muslims as they can), and you can see that pattern in all his dealings. A profile of Modi is in the making.
Teesta Setalvad, Human rights | She talked about democracy going down the tube.
Wa’el Alzayat, eMgage | He spoke about the US losing India as a bulwark against dictatorships and communism, which was articulated in the petition we presented to the Ambassador Brownback, the State Department, and the president back in October.
I hope all Indian-Americans who wanted to be treated equally and justly in America, want the same for the Indians in India.
Aakashi Bhatt and Dr. Stanton Ghouse, Niranjan, Aakashi and Naik AAkashi Bhatt and Mike Ghouse
Mike Ghouse is a thinker, author, speaker, newsmaker, and an interfaith wedding officiant. His new book American Muslim Agenda is available on Amazon, coming up are books on Human Rights and Pluralism. He is committed to building cohesive societies and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day. His information is at linked-in.
Letter to the Secretary of the State Mike Pompeo to stop the Genocide
December 18, 2019 Hon. Mike Pompeo United States Secretary of State United States Department of State 2201 C Street NW Washington, DC 20520
Dear Secretary Pompeo
Sub: You can stop the Genocide, it is on your watch
You earned a big name in the World for your initiative on religious freedom. I participated in both the ministerial in 2018 and 2019 and held four side events linking the prosperity of a nation to liberty and religious freedom.
Now, on your watch, a genocide is in the making in India, and you can stop it.
By 12/31/2021, the Christians and Muslims are to convert to Hinduism, live as 2nd class citizens, subservient to Hindu Supremacists, or disappear from India. Their slogan is Christian and Muslim Mukt (free) India. These are under the radar calls from the BJP Members of the Parliament.
Even though Prime Minister Modi says, he respects India’s constitution and bows to it every time he enters the Parliament, his intentions are otherwise. Indeed, his minions have prepared an alternate law with his connivance based on the supremacy of Hindutva (different from Hinduism). They are waiting for the majority in the upper house to introduce the Hindu Supremacist constitution.
The Hindu Rashtra – The Hindu nation follows these models:
Nazi Holocaust model – The RSS (BJP’s Parent organization) manifesto praises Hitler and Mussolini for the concept of pure race and getting ‘rid’ of Jews from Germany. Their leaders assert that the Hindus need to get rid of Muslims and Christians from India. Prime Minister Modi grew up with that ideology. More at Nazi loving Hindus, Hitler’s Hindus – https://www.haaretz.com/opinion/hitlers-hindus-indias-nazi-loving-nationalists-on-the-rise-1.5628532
A Genocide is in the making in India – If the oppression, lynching, and harassment of Muslims and Christians continue, it could lead to terrorism. Indian Muslims, however, believe that the majority of Hindus will speak up and restore dharma (righteousness) in India, and we pray that happens. https://holocaustandgenocides.blogspot.com/2019/12/india-genocide-in-making.html
Dehumanize fellow Indians through these actions:
Concrete steps were taken on behalf of Modi to dehumanize Muslims, Christians, Dalits and the Sikhs;
Kashmir was claimed unilaterally without the consent of the governed, in direct violation of India’s constitution and UN resolution. It was done overnight in sync with complete communication shut down and a curfew, which still continues.
Draconian citizenship law was enacted. 1.9 million people have been declared stateless. Hindus among them will be given citizenship, and Muslims will end up in concentration camps, similar to how China is treating Uyghurs. The fake reason given was to protect the persecuted minorities from neighboring countries who are Hindus but excluded Myanmar’s persecuted Minorities because they are Muslims.
Burning Churches, chasing, beating, and raping Christians even on Christmas day.
Lynching Muslims on the streets, homes, and falsifying that they were carrying and eating beef. One hundred twenty-five lynched to date with no punishment to the criminals.
Fake encounters with police, killing people to frighten the daylights out of the Muslims, Christians, and Dalits.
Progressively destroy any signs of Christian and Muslim presence in India by destroying Mosques, and burn the churches. Change the names of cities and thoroughfares.
The Democratic institutions of India are operated and managed by Modi’s cult members. They did not even spare the Supreme Court, Modi’s right-hand man Amit Shah got judge Loya murdered as he refused to discharge Shah from Murder Charges.
No more free press, except a few all, have been covered to carry government propaganda.
Indians are protesting, over 33 cities held massive protests including one town with 100,000 people. The BJP guys joined the students’ protests at AMU and Jamia Millia Universities and burn the buses to fix the blame on Muslims. Over 50 students are missing and hundreds in Jail and several more wounded.
The consequences
A significant loss to America, an ally thus far will become a “country of particular concern” and burden to the United States.
India will not be a reliable bulwark against Chinese influence due to internal chaos and instability.
3. India will not be an investment destination for Americans. The corporations with a conscience may not want to do business.
4. There are telltale signs of genocide in the making. If these trends continue, India may become a rogue nation like Nazi Germany and may be stuck in an Afghanistan-like the situation for decades to come.
5. The big losers will be Indians, the middle class, and the rich Indians who have made well in the last two decades, stand to lose now.
What can Secretary Pompeo do?
1) The Secretary can leverage bilateral trade agreements with India to end the violation of human rights and restore freedom.
2) The Secretary can demand India to allow the commissioners of USCIRF to visit India and report the facts. It’s shame that American officials are refused a visa to Kashmir and India.
3) The Secretary can ask Article 370 to be restored and let freedom prevail in Kashmir. Let the governance be earned with the consent of the governed. India’s first Prime Minister Nehru had said, let’s receive the vote of Kashmiris with love and not threats and force.
4) Let the protests continue without imposing a curfew, or commit violence against the civilians and blame them.
5) The Secretary can slap sanctions against Mr. Amit Shah and those involved in violations of human rights, as recommended by the USCIRF.
6) Remove the religious discrimination clause in the citizenship bill. Let every Indian be treated as equal.
7) Follow India’s existing constitution, and let there be no harassment and lynchings of her citizens.
8) Indian-Americans who support discrimination laws in India may be required to take a course in the constitution and the First Amendment to keep their citizenship.
The two-plus meeting needs to be canceled or get assurances from the visiting ministers that they will follow the Human rights, and stay as a part of civilized nations.
If America does not stand up for religious freedom, then who will?
Initiated by: Mike Ghouse, Center for Pluralism
supported by: Kaleem Kawaja, American Indian Muslims
Washington DC Protests against Modi Government’s CAA and NCR A few pictures are at the bottom and more will be added.
Sunday, December 22, 2019, Washington, DC – The Indian community came together to express their protest against the discriminatory acts that Modi’s Indian Parliament has passed. An estimated 350 to 500 people gathered around Mahatma Gandhi’s statue across the Indian Embassy on Massachusetts Avenue. It was a very enthusiastic audience.
The Indians in Washington, DC, in solidarity with Indians across the world, held the protests to register their disapproval of the new laws passed by the Modi Government. Over 50 demonstrations have taken place in India, and some have exceeded 300,000 people in participation.
The purpose of the demonstration was to urge the Modi government to undo the acts and restore sanity and freedom to the people of Kashmir and India. We were sailing smoothly, and what was the need to mess up with Kashmir and CAA and NRC? It was a useless action. Furthermore, stop the brutal oppression of the Student Protests in Jamia, AMU, and other universities. Stop the fake encounters; in the end, the truth will triumph.
The acts – Citizens Amendment Act and the National Citizen’s Registry go against the spirit of the constitution that all Indians are equal before the law and that citizenship should not be based on religion.
Great Slogans were chanted, notably, the Azaadi slogan popularized by Kanhaiah Kumar.
Upon my turn, I welcomed the guests with a Namaste, Salam, Sat Sri Akal, Jai Jinendra, Budhha Namo, and Hamazor Hama Ashobed and Peace to you. Jai Bhim is another greeting that is a big part of Indian greetings. The protests were about inclusion, and we wanted to make sure no one felt excluded at the rally, hence, the inclusive religious greetings. The next number was group singing the Indian National Anthem, the song that binds every one of the 1.3 billion Indians. It is good to see the goosebump emotions when people sing the National Anthem.
The following Organizations were involved in putting this event together. CMRI, IAMC, AIC, AIM, OFMI, ISPJ, AAMC, GT, BCMC, CAIR, ICNA, USIPI, and CFP. The leadership of Dr. Rehan Khan, Kaleem Kawaja, Asif and others is appreciated.
There is not a single Indian who does not want the best for his/her motherland. At this time, the current political government is tarnishing the image of Mother India, and the protest is a patriotic effort to restore India back to her glory days where all Indians got along and trusted each other. We need to restore those days back again. We cannot allow any politicians to place any Indians in conflict with the other. Please remember, the politicians come and go, but we have to live, work and do things together. Let our loyalty be to fellow Indians and not the temporary Indian politicians.
Protests must go on – as Swami Vivekananda had said, arise and awake till the goal of unity is achieved.
My life mission is to open people’s hearts and minds towards each other. I believe the descriptions of paradise or heaven in each faith carry the same essence – a conflictless, tension-free living. One feels safe and secure like a baby in a mother’s lap. How do we achieve that here on the earth? We have laid down a blueprint for such a society at the home page our website www.CenterforPluralism.com including what we have accomplished.
A part of that education is learning about each other, and understanding the essence of each faith. As a part of our work, we put out a summary of each religious leader from Moses, Krishna, Jesus, Mohamed, Rama, Zarathustra, Nanak, Bahaullah, Confucius, Buddha, Mahavira, and several others. I have been writing about these civic personalities in how their work, preaching, and teaching contributes towards creating a better world for all humanity.
Here is a short talk I gave about Prophet Muhammad at the home of one of the honored members of the DMV Muslim Community – Dr. Ishrat Hussain. I usually do a full speech on the topic for about 20-30 minutes.
We have sent you ˹O Prophet˺ only as a mercy for the whole world.
What is the whole world? It is the life, life of every living being, and everything that we can see and visualize. God says, the prophet is a blessing to the entire universe that we know and will know.
What about God? Isn’t he the creator of the same Aalameen (Universe)?
So, if we follow God’s wisdom, it behooves us to follow Muhammad’s knowledge, all-inclusive wisdom– for the entire Aalameen.
What does that make us? Mukhlooqul Aalameen (humans for the good of the universe). Our role is to restore goodness for the entire humanity. We should be the conflict mitigators and goodwill nurturers.
Muhammad’s words, actions, and wisdom bring Justice and goodwill to everything in the universe. When People feel justice in their daily life, they feel safe, and when people feel secure about who they are, they are at peace. That is what we have to be, to make people feel secure about their race, religion, ethnicity, culture and whatever uniqueness they have.
Take the example of Aswad – the black stone in the wall of the Kaaba. I will cut the story short, as every one of you knows it.
A dozen leaders of the tribe were fighting among themselves as to who is privileged to place the stone back in the wall.
They came to Muhammad – the man who was known as Amin – someone who will be just, fair, and trustworthy in his dealings with the other. They did not expect anything but Justice… and they got it.
Muhammad could have very well placed the stone in the wall and end their conflict. But, being the mercy to humanity, he saw the need to mitigate their conflict and nurture goodwill.
Now imagine this – 12 leaders stand around the Sheet of cloth, and Muhammad asked them to lift it together.
What’s going through their minds? Were they ready to kill each other for the right to lift that stone? Now they are looking at each other… what’s happening? They are in this together, sharing the privilege, happily lifting the cloth. What’s happening to their conflict? It is fading, and what else is happening? The nurturance of goodwill. Do they respect Muhammad More? Do they trust him more? AlhamduLillah, they do!
I was blessed to be the Amin at the Hindu Temple in Dallas, where two groups got into fist fighting – and they asked me to be a conflict mitigator and a goodwill nurturer. I played that role again when Pastor Jones was going to burn 3000 copies of the n in Mulberry, Florida. If we get the funding, we are looking to make a short movie, highlighting what an Amin means?
Is it possible that a Muslim man with a beard is sitting in the airport and a beautiful woman is sitting nearby – she is sick of all the men staring at her and she comes to this man – and says, can I sit by you? I feel secure around a Muslim man? Is this possible? Can we achieve that?
What does it take to be the Amin? We have to earn the trust of all humanity – Jews, Hindus, and everyone – and be good to them.
Given the situation, a few of us tend to be angry at Hindus for their goal to rid of Muslims and Christians from India. But that is wrong, Hindus are our friends, a few bad guys are difficult, we all have to find solutions.
How did Muhammad deal with bad guys? When the pelted stoned at him, he prayed for them, didn’t he? When the lady threw trash on him, he went to inquire about wellbeing… That is what it takes to be Amin.
His vision for women was liberating. His idea of an ideal civil society was for a single woman to travel from Madinah to Damascus and back unharmed, unharassed. That is the vision of a civil society he had.
His mercy extends to everything that you can see, think and visualize. He was the first women’s liberator. 1400 years ago, he said women can own their own business and property and they can initiate and end a marriage out of their free will, at that time, and even 100 years ago, women were considered men’s property and they did not even vote in America, let alone own the property.
He was also called Amin – the full meaning of the word is someone whom fellow beings can trust, and feel secure around him, his ideas and his wisdom. He believed in free will, did not believe in compelling anyone to believe in anything against his or her will.
Mike Ghouse is a thinker, author, speaker, newsmaker, and an interfaith wedding officiant. His new book American Muslim Agenda is available on Amazon, coming up are books on Human Rights and Pluralism. He is committed to building cohesive societies and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day. His information is linked-in.
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. He is my hero, he is my mentor, and he is the first known pluralist on the earth. Christmas is a celebration of that refreshed feeling.
One of the most frequently used words during the 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 the world.
Jesus holds a special place in everyone’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 the Quran and one of the 114 Chapters is dedicated to Maryam, Mother Mary, and the virgin birth.
Quraan, Surah Al-Imran 3:49 (Asad):
“I have come unto you with a message from your Sustainer. I shall create for you out of clay, as it were, the shape of [your] destiny, and then breathe into it, so that it might become [your] destiny by God’s leave; and I shall heal the blind and the leper, and bring the dead back to life by God’s leave; and I shall let you know what you may eat and what you should store up in your houses. Behold, in all this there is indeed a message for you, if you are [truly] believers.”
Indeed, Muhammad Asad interprets it as, “it is probable that the ‘raising of the dead’ by Jesus is a metaphorical description of his giving new life to people who were spiritually dead; cf. 6:122 – “Is then he who was dead [in spirit], and whom We thereupon gave life, and for whom We set up a light whereby he can see his way among men — [is then he] like unto one [who is lost] in darkness deep, out of which he cannot emerge?” If this interpretation is — as I believe — correct, then the “healing of the blind and the leper” has a similar significance: namely, an inner regeneration of people who were spiritually diseased and blind to the truth.”
Following Jesus is a tough calling.
It means we have to be prejudice-free; free from ill-will and malice, must be willing to forgive and embrace those whom we don’t like. Indeed, Jesus taught us to create the kingdom of heaven on earth, where no human has to be apprehensive of the other. It was the same calling by Moses, Krishna, Muhammad, Buddha, Mahavira, Nanak, Confucius, Bahaullah, Zarathustra and all the spiritual masters from different traditions, their mission was to bring order in a disorderly world, restore trust in each other with kindness care and dignity to everyone in the society.
Christmas is also a day of expressing our gratitude for everything we are blessed with, least of which is breathing, ability to smell, see, touch and care. Then, someone needs to be thanked, beginning with the creator all the way to someone who gave you hope to live.
Christmas is also a time to wish well to someone you don’t like and benefit from the idea of forgiveness Jesus taught. There is nothing like the feeling you get from wishing someone well. Try it, may this Christmas bring you peace of mind and free you from all that hurts.
As a Muslim, I will be celebrating Christmas, recommitting myself to listen to Jesus and follow his path. And in my Islamic tradition, I will reflect on chapter 19 of the 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!
Merry Christmas y’all.
I have written over two dozen articles on Christmas, a few are included here
Making God boundless, an interfaith Christmas – https://www.huffpost.com/entry/interfaith-christmas-making-god-boundless_b_2347856
Friends, there is a lot of work that needs to be done! The Center for Pluralism is making progress in highlighting the critical issues faced by the minorities and vulnerable groups at domestic as well as international level. We are reaching out to the White House, Department of State and the legislators and the Senators for mobilizing their support to restore sanity. There is a genocide in making in India, and we need to join hands and raise our voices to bring sanity.
Please visit our website to learn more about our programs and vision which is similar to yours – to create societies where all the people feel secure regardless of their ethnicity, culture, faith or political or sexual orientation. Our December work is listed in this link. http://centerforpluralism.com/reflections-for-holidays/
The Center for Pluralism is also known as the America Together Foundation. We are a 501 (C) (3) non-profit organization and all donations are tax exempt as per the laws of the US government. We need your support; please donate generously before the end of the year and become part of the change.
A nonprofit 501 (c) (3) Organization Mail Check to – Center for Pluralism, 3210 8th Street, SE, Suite 5, Washington, DC 20032
Mike Ghouse Center for Pluralism Website: www.CenterforPluralism.com (214) 325-1916 Mike@CenterforPluralism.com SpeakerMikeGhouse@gmail.com # # #
Happy New Year
Each year is a new milestone in your life. Indeed, the New Year’s eve is as much a day of celebrations as is a day of reflections. You reflect on the reasons you did not get what you wanted out of 2019, and the party is cheering for the effort you made to be where you are today. Here are a few suggestions to chew on, and it is worth your while to glance at it. https://theghousediary.com/2019-message-of-optimism-happy-new-year/
India’s pluralistic ethos will survive
As an Indian American, I want the best for my motherland and I want her to be among the top ten civilized nations. At this time, the current government is straining India’s social fabric, and it is our patriotic duty to not let India fall from grace. We need to speak up to save India.
India has the highest unemployment rate in the last 45 years, half of the automotive production and sales jobs are gone, the GDP is 4.5% – Nothing is going right under Modi Raj, they don’t have a clue about the economy. If corrective courses are not taken, the Indian economy will tank miserably.
The scheming politicians are fooling almost 1/3rd of the innocent Indians. I hope my fellow Indians wake up and demand jobs, instead of rejoicing the lynchings, and harassment of Muslims, Dalits, and Christians.
What kind of civilization are we fostering?
Already the US and UK have issued a travel advisory, it is an embarrassment that India is not a safe place for women to travel. The Prime Minister sets the tone for national culture, but he praises the police brutality, clamps down on free speech, tells the media not to report the incidents.
The good news is India’s pluralistic ethos is solidly embedded in the Indians. The dirty politicians have made several attempts to pitch one Indian against the other, but in the long haul, the good civilized people of India will regain their nation. Satyameva Jayate.
The entire nation saw the shameful happening of Nirbhaya and Asifa gang rape cases, and Ansari lynching case from the same lense; It is against our culture. The members of BJP rejoiced and rewarded the criminals and Mr. Modi did not speak until the whole nation stood up for the victims.
The good news is India has survived Indira Gandhi, and it will survive Narendra Modi. The good days will return after we endure another four years or make a no-confidence move against Modi and restore India as soon as possible.
Holocaust and Genocide Event
The 15th Annual reflections on Holocaust and Genocides event is scheduled for Sunday, January 26, 2020, between 6 and 8:30 PM. Education is the purpose; we have to learn, acknowledge and reflect upon the terrible things that we humans have inflicted upon each other, and we have to understand that our safety hinges on the safety of all others around us. For the last 15 years we have talked about 30 different Genocides and this year we will be talking about Genocide in Making in Uyghar, Rohingya, Kashmir, and Assam. http://holocaustandgenocides.blogspot.com/
A Muslim’s Christmas
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. He is my hero, he is my mentor, and he is the first known pluralist on the earth. Christmas is a celebration of that refreshed feeling. Full story https://centerforpluralism.com/a-muslims-christmas/
Happy Hanukkah
“It is the holiday celebrating the triumph of hope over fear, light over darkness, and the powerless over the powerful.” He went on to say that Chanukah is about “understanding that when we connect with the transformative power of the universe, the Force of Healing and Transformation, YHVH, we become aware that the powerless can become powerful.” https://centerforpluralism.com/happy-hanukkah-3/
Muhammad the Peacemaker
Muhammad’s words, actions, and wisdom bring Justice and goodwill to everything in the universe. When People feel justice in their daily life, they feel safe, and when people feel secure about who they are, they are at peace. That is what we have to be, to make people feel secure about their race, religion, ethnicity, culture and whatever uniqueness they have.. https://centerforpluralism.com/muhammad-the-peacemaker/
Indian Americans protest against Modi in Washington, DC
There is not a single Indian who does not want the best for his/her motherland. At this time, the current political government is tarnishing the image of Mother India, and the protest is a patriotic effort to restore India back to her glory days where all Indians got along and trusted each other. We need to restore those days back again. We cannot allow any politicians to place any Indians in conflict with the other. Please remember, the politicians come and go, but we have to live, work and do things together. Let our loyalty be to fellow Indians and not the temporary Indian politicians. https://centerforpluralism.com/indian-americans-protests-against-modis-acts-in-washington-dc/
How to exterminate Muslims from India.
This piece was written in 1999, all that has started happening now. India is facing a potential genocide of Muslims and Christians. Mr. Modi and his party are completely brainwashed by their parent organization RSS, which is patterned after Nazi supremacists and believes in the superiority of their race. Indeed, the founders of RSS have said that Hitler did the right thing by getting “rid” of Jews to maintain the purity of the German race, and Hindus should do the same “Rid” of Christians and Muslims from India. They have studied the Spanish model to implement in India and now have started taking steps towards achieving that goal, A majority of the Hindus are like the majority of any group of people – who simply don’t believe such a gruesome thing can happen in India. The good news is in the last week, the whole nation has stood up against the policies of the Modi Government. https://centerforpluralism.com/how-to-exterminate-muslims-in-india/
What do parents want?
What parents wish is nothing different than what Children want – a little time with them; a few minutes of one-on-one with them. If you get a chance today, make that call to your loved one, one individual a day, or once a week, you will see the difference it would make in your life. Whatever stage of life you are at now, spend the time with your family. All other things come and go, friends come and go, jobs and businesses come and go, but they will always be there. Here is the story of actor Dharmendra and I – https://theghousediary.com/what-do-parents-want/
Don’t Poison your children
Do you have the right to screw up your children’s lives by poisoning them against fellow humans, in our case, fellow Americans? If you are biased towards others, that is entirely up to you, but you have the choice to free yourself and enjoy the rest of your life or carry it to your grave or crematorium. Please don’t bias your children towards others. Here is a full story https://centerforpluralism.com/poisoning-your-kids/
I chose to live in an all-Black Neighborhood
Much of my decision to move into a Black neighborhood is grounded into my commitment to building a cohesive America where each one of the 323 million of us feels secure about his/her faith, race, and ethnicity, and cultural, political, and sexual orientation. My idea of America is shaped by the vision of our founding fathers, President Lincoln, Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr, President Obama, and the Quran. I love being one with all now. Here is my experience https://portofharlem.net/snippets19/sep252019-move-black.html
Major Festivals of religions for December 2019
There is no major festival of Christianity, Judaism, Jain, Native American and other traditions
12/23/19 Hanukkah Starts (Jewish) 12/24/19 Christmas Eve (Christian) 12/30/19 Hanukkah Ends (Jewish) 12/31/19 New Year’s Eve (Civic)
01/02/20 Guru Gobind Singh Birthday (Sikh) 01/10/20 Mahayana New Year (Buddhist) 01/14/20 Lohri (Sikh) 01/15/20 Makarasankaranti (Hindu) 01/19/20 World Religion Day (Bahai) 01/20/20 Martin Luther King Jr Day (Civic) 01/26/20 UN Holocaust Memorial Day (All faiths) 01/28/20 Martyrdom of Fatimah (Muslim)
Interested in shaping America’s future?
Just imagine an America where you feel secure about who you are; your religion, ethnicity, culture, and the kind of food you eat or the type of clothes you wear. At the Center for Pluralism, we are committed to building a cohesive America, an America where each one of us feels secure about our ethnicity, faith, culture, race, political and sexual orientation, and other uniqueness. To accomplish that vision, we have several programs, events, and workshops to be a catalyst to bring about the results. If you are interested, particularly youth, take a look at our home page Center for Pluralism, and if our vision syncs with yours, join us in the movement. Send email to Mike@CenterforPluralism.com
Each time a terrorist acts out, we start praying and wishing that the terrorist was not a Muslim. Then condemnations follow that the terrorist is on the fringe, he is not one of us, or he is an extremist. Then we will start fighting the fires and start defending the faith and get frustrated. We are American Muslims, and we can do better than that.
Chapter 17 is about electing a Muslim Woman President of the United States in 2036, and what all the different things Muslims have to do to get there. Will it happen? You bet, it will.
The American Muslim Agenda is the latest book on the market. It is a primer, a blueprint, and a roadmap for American Muslims. There is only one America, and all of us are fully integrated parts of that nation. We need to learn to engage with those who are opposed to us, and I have some success stories to share on that front.
This book is a product of twenty years of research and thousands of discussions in which Muslims, non-Muslims, and “Islamophobes” have participated in it. This includes debates on Fox News with Sean Hannity, Stuart Varney, Pamela Geller, Brigitte Gabrielle, Robert Spencer, Jamie Glazov, Raymond Ibrahim, Walid Shoebat, Wafa Sultan, and several others.
The book is a Muslim effort in building a cohesive America, that is good for each one of the 323 MIllion Americans. The book is available at Amazon, Kindle, Barnes & Noble and other book stores.
Mike Ghouse is a thinker, author, speaker, newsmaker, and an interfaith wedding officiant. His new book American Muslim Agenda is available on Amazon, coming up are books on Human Rights and Pluralism. He is committed to building cohesive societies and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day. His information is linked-in.
On this auspicious day of the 550th anniversary of Guru Nanak Devji’s birthday, as a Muslim, and on behalf of the Center for Pluralism, I wish peace, harmony, and blessings to the world. This spirit of uniting people is the need of the day, and may this Gurpurab bring that light to the world.
Guru Nanak, like all the great souls of the world, was concerned about the conflicts between different communities in India during his time. He started a movement to bring the Hindus and Muslims together and uplift the downtrodden and the Dalits and remove the caste barriers and bring sanity to the world. The central value of his teachings is serving fellow humans and caring for others.
I am pleased to share a few points, including my interest. It is a story long overdue, and I have cut down the piece in half due to space. Thanks to Indian Panorama for publishing this piece.
Personal
My Nana, whom we called “Sikh Nana” wore precisely the same colorful turban the Sikhs wear. I see him in many pictures of the Guru Nanak. I am a Sardar myself, of course, that is my alias name. I had extensive conversations with the Sikhs in the mid to late sixties, who served at Yelahanka Airforce Station and came to our mill to get their wheat grounded into flour, and I had the opportunity to spend time and learn about Sikhism.
Thanks to my social studies book in the sixth grade at the Urdu Middle School in Yelahanka, a suburb of Bangalore. The book had two pages each for all the religious icons of the world. That’s when I learned about Guru Nanak and Sikhism. I took my kids to the Garland Gurdwara Sahib several times, and I have visited all the five Gurdwaras in Dallas, Texas. We held two significant events in our annual programs – one was to honor Sikhs for their exemplary model of dealing with Wisconsin shooting, and the other was to commemorate the Sikh Genocide.
Pluralism
The Center for Pluralism defines Pluralism, “Respecting the otherness of the other,” and accepting the God-given uniqueness of each one of us. Guru Nanak believed in respecting the otherness of the other and was never hesitant to call on the corrupt practices that did not recognize the equality of others. He made a point to teach those values whether you were a peasant or a king, pauper or wealthy, he proclaimed, God was accessible to every human equally.
Guru Nanak said that a true Hindu and true Muslim is one who follows his path, and several centuries later, Mahatma Gandhi reiterated that a good Sikh is a good Hindu and a good Muslim is a good Christian.
The lowest among the low castes, lower than the lowliest, Nanak is with them: He envies not those with worldly greatness. Lord! The glance of grace falls on the land where the humble are cherished.
Guru Nanak believed in living the God-given life to the fullest extent. Like Buddha and Prophet Muhammad, he did not ask anyone to give up living their life and become an ascetic. He preached that spirituality is serving fellow humans and being one with all.
“A holistic understanding of Peace, undergirded by ideas of equality and fraternity, is a part of the Sikh tradition. The very origin of Sikhism is linked to overcoming communal hatred and divisions of his time. Guru Nanak emphasized universal kinship as the highest of religious aspirations and urged his followers to treat all human beings as brothers and sisters. Particularly crucial for Sikhism is the overcoming of all discrimination based on caste, class, or creed – which are impediments for Peace.” Pursuing Peace in a pluralistic world.
I had the pleasure of endorsing two books on Sikhism this year. One is called “Guru Nanak’s Religious Pluralism and the Guru Granth Sahib” by Dr. Harbans Lal and Roshan Attrey. What makes this book different from others is its emphasis on Pluralism and interfaith aspects of the Sikh belief system.
Dr. Harbans Lal writes, “A pluralistic society is one where multiple things, multiple viewpoints, multiple belief systems, can exist at the same time. More importantly, it is a society where minority religious groups can maintain their cultural and religious traditions without any fear.” The other book is Unity in Diversity by Daljit Singh Jawa, and I wrote on the cover, “Who could write a book on interfaith in the most authentic way?
The very foundation of Sikhism is Pluralism. The Guru Granth Sahib, the holy book of guidance, is composed of Hindu and Muslim spiritual teachings.
Of course, rituals are pathways in finding whatever you are set to find, and Sikhism also has religious rituals.
Langar
When you think of Sikhs, one of the first things that come to your mind is service. They strongly believe in feeding the hungry, and their food is like the last supper; it never ends. Great food!
Diana Eck, writes in Dallas Morning News, “This hospitality is not just a gesture; it is foundational to the Sikh faith. Eating together is what knits the Sikh community together and breaks down the barriers that divide the wider human community. In caste-conscious India of the 15th century, when the teacher Guru Nanak first gathered what became the Sikh community, the common meal was an egalitarian human revolution. In plain ritual language, it spelled out the fact that among Sikhs, there would be no discrimination of high caste or low, no male or female, no Muslim or Hindu, no Sikh or non-Sikh. We are just people, equal in the eyes of the one God. Eating together symbolizes a Sikh’s rejection of discrimination and prejudice. May we all share more common meals as we discover what “we the people” truly means.”
Sikhs set an exemplary model for conflict mitigation.
On August 5, 2012, a gunman Wade Michael Page walked into the Sikh Temple in Oak Creek, Wisconsin and opened the fire killing six people causing tremendous panic and apprehension. It all started with the murder of Balbir Singh Sodhi, a gas station owner in Phoenix, Arizona. The harassment continued, the humiliation of Dr. Prabhjot Singh, a Sikh Professor in New York and harassment of Mr. Jagjeet Singh, a truck driver by a Judge in Mississippi.
They followed the teachings of Guru Nanak by responding to the Wisconsin massacre with patience, forbearance, and kindness, and it was the right thing to do when tragedy befalls a community. They set a new benchmark in America for dealing with adversity.
The Sikhs across America chose the most powerful tools of all: Prayer and forgiveness. Indeed, it resonates with the teachings of all the great masters, and recently Mahatma Gandhi’s Dandi March and Martin Luther King’s march in Selma. It disarms the oppressor, and the message of goodness gets conveyed.
The selfless service to humankind, known as Seva, is central to the teaching of Sikhism. There is no thought of reward or gains, and it is pure service to fellow beings.
The Sikh community was appreciated by one and all at the annual Unity Day USA in Dallas.
5 Gurdwaras were presented with a trophy as an appreciation for their exemplary model of conflict mitigation
Dallas. Mayors of Richardson, Garland, Police, and Fire chiefs and representatives of 5 Gurdwara’s were honored, Bob Mong, CEO of Dallas Morning News, Dr. Harbans Lal, and the event Chair Mike Ghouse. More pictures https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikeghouse/albums/72157636856041595/Show
Reconciliation.
Sikhism began as a reconciliatory effort in nurturing goodwill between people of different faiths. On this 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak, I would urge Sikhs and others to reconcile the sparks of ill-will over the existence of Sikhism.
We need to revive the spirit of reconciliation. We need to pull our heads out of the sand and face the world and bring long-lasting freedom to all of us. An awkward but heart to heart dialogue among communities is the way forward, and we cannot pass on the ill-will gene to the next generation, if we understand the source of the conflict, we can find a solution.
The sparks of the conflict lay dormant and burst into flames as a surprise resulting in the Sikh Genocide of 1984, which needs addressing squarely. Justice is due to the families who lost their loved ones. I will not go into details, but we need to understand the pain of the mothers who are still waiting to know the whereabouts of their children. Justice is the only cure to build peaceful societies.
The conflict with Mogul Kings needs to be reviewed and understood in its historical context. The power struggles between competing Kings are a part of the equation.
On this auspicious occasion of Gurpurab, the Sikhs can make a genuine effort to pay tribute to the spirit of Guru Nanak Dev and remove the misunderstandings that erupted from a wrong translation of a verse in the Quran. It happened four centuries ago during the reign of Aurangzeb and has been rightfully etched in the psyche of some Sikhs. I have shared the correct version of the verse with Dr. Avtar S. Dhaliwal from Tennessee. It originated at the Parliament of World’s religions in Melbourne, Australia, a decade ago.
The partition of India has caused a lot of unforgettable pain; children were mercilessly thrown from the moving trains, women raped, and men were brutally murdered. The pain will not go away, but we can make an effort to prevent this pain from passing it on to the next generation in the form of ill-will. The children don’t deserve to carry our problems.
If the people who suffered on all sides sit down face to face and see the humanity in each one of them, we can learn to purge our hearts from the pain. I have talked with Hindu, Muslim, and Sikh families who have endured that pain. Most of them have forgiven each other, don’t hold it against the offspring of the others.
The Sikh Community has done outstanding work in rebuilding abandoned mosques, temples, and churches. May this goodwill continue and embrace all humanity. Indeed, the land for the Golden Temple was a grant by King Akbar, and the first brick for the Golden Temple was laid out by a Muslim fakir. We have a good history that we need to cherish.
The Indian community is grateful to the Sikh Community for standing up to defend the Maryada of Kashmiri Muslim women, after the abrogation of article 370 in Kashmir. I know, millions of Muslims prayed for the Sikh community for doing the right thing, and I know many Muslim women have cried and prayed for the Sikhs. I had a tear in my eyes as well to know that the people are still there on this earth and thank Guru Nanak for creating a beautiful community of authentic sevaks.
Congratulations on building the Kartarpur Corridor. That is one thing the Indian and Pakistani politicians have done well.
The following piece about Kartarpur is from the wire.
The significance of Kartarpur
The Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan likened it to Madina for Muslims, perfect comment.
“For the last 18 years of his life, the founder of Sikhism, Guru Nanak, stayed at Kartarpur in Pakistan’s Narowal District. This was the location where Guru Nanak founded the first Sikh commune, laid the code of ethics and also chose the second guru for the new religion.
“Kartarpur, which lies on the banks of river Ravi, also marks the last resting place of Guru Nanak with both a grave and a samadhi. It’s a direct reference to the legend of the fight that broke out between Guru Nanak’s Muslim and Hindu devotees over his funeral rites. There are several versions – some say that a mighty storm disrupted the fight. Another says that night fell over the bickering devotees, who then promised to resume the argument the next day. But, when both sides convened again, they found the body had disappeared and had been replaced by a mound of flowers. The Hindus cremated half of the flowers, while the Muslims buried their share.
“Till last year, there had been a two-storey decrepit gurdwara building amidst farmlands stretching as far as the eye can see. Now, it is at the centre of a massive complex of kitchens, dormitories and langar hall – which have cropped up since the ground-breaking ceremony on November 28 last year,” Mitra writes.
Who initiated Kartarpur corridor? Mitra writes, “The controversial embrace between Pakistan army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa and former Indian cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu had thrown the Kartarpur corridor project into public spotlight.
“Sidhu later told Indian media that Bajwa told him that Pakistan would open the corridor to Gurudwara Darbar Sahib at Kartarpur on the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak in 2019. It took the Indian side by surprise, as corridor proposal had been on the backburner for years.
“The Indian government tried to pip Pakistan by getting cabinet approval first and then holding the foundation stone ceremony on November 26 last year at Dera Baba Nanak, two days before Pakistan’s scheduled ground-breaking event at Kartarpur.”
How has the Kartarpur corridor survived India-Pakistan tensions over the past year? “For over 70 years, devotees could only gaze across the border to Kartarpur Darbar Sahib from a high embankment near Dera Baba Nanak. Therefore, the ability to physically pay obeisance at Kartarpur by travelling from one shrine to another has huge emotional resonance in Punjab. This is recognised by all the political parties in the state – who have all competed politically to show their devotion to the cause.
“When Sidhu boasted that his visit paved way for the Kartapur project, the Shiromani Akali Dal was not amused. SAD is in alliance with the BJP not just at the Centre, but also in Punjab. Any hurdle in the project could have led to blowback and impact their plans to return back to power.
“Congress chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh also does not see eye-to-eye with his party colleague, Sidhu – and has publicly expressed his security misgivings about the corridor. But, he knows that Kartarpur could lead to a lot of political capital, which he doesn’t want to Sidhu to run away with all the credit.
“The general elections in April-May this year meant that domestic politics would not allow the NDA government to be seen to be pulling out of the Kartarpur project, despite the February Pulwama attack and the subsequent Balakot airstrikes.
“For Pakistan, the August 5 move by India in Kashmir did put it in a dilemma – but it was an obvious choice but to push ahead with finishing the Kartarpur corridor. Pakistan’s position that the visa-free corridor was a ‘gift’ to the Sikh community without any political motive meant that it could not let setbacks in the bilateral relationship dictate its policy on Kartarpur project. It was also easy to sell the project domestically, especially when it seems that Indian media reports project New Delhi’s view about the security concerns in opening the corridor,” Mitra adds.
May the noor (divine light) of Guru Nanak brighten the world. Amen! Let each one of the
humans live freely and securely with their Turbans, Hijabs, Kippas, dhotis, crosses, and the robes. Amen!
Speaking at this event in New York
Mike Ghouse is a thinker, author, speaker, newsmaker, and an interfaith wedding officiant. His new book American Muslim Agenda is available on Amazon, coming up are books on Human Rights and Pluralism. He is committed to building cohesive societies and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day. His information is linked-in.
