Happy Ganesh Chaturthi

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HAPPY GANESH CHATURTHI

Among Hindus, there is a beautiful tradition of invoking that aspect of God which removes barriers and paves the way for a smoother life. The icon that represents this aspect of God is known as Ganesh, Ganesha, or Vinayak depending on the region, most Hindus around the world invoke Ganesh before they start anything in life from starting their day, to opening a new business or wearing new clothes or starting a social ceremony.

I see the essence in a ritual, rather than the ritual itself. The act of invoking the creator sets oneself on a positive path. One starts out with a good feeling that God is with him or her and will remove the barriers for him. That is the power of positive thinking that Napoleon Hill has talked about; it is psyching oneself up to do the right thing and succeed.

Every faith finds value in rituals, indeed the rituals are pathways to spiritual attainment. From the moment we are born to the last rites of our life and every moment in between is loaded with rituals whether we admit or not. Whether we go to the gym, eat our food; go to sleep, wake up, wear our clothes, drive someplace, or in our intimate moments; we follow rituals.

The Center for pluralism presents essence of festivals. When we live as neighbors, we might as well learn about each other. The best way to build cohesive societies is for its members to understand each other’s sorrows and joys, and festivities and commemorations. Wouldn’t it be nice if you know a little bit about your neighbor’s festival and perhaps invite them to your celebrations to start safe neighborhoods by understanding each other? Every human and every religious group celebrates something or the other in their way, each one is different, but the essence is the same; celebrations and commemorations. A simple language is used for most people to get a gist of it.

Please google search for all the major festivals with Mike Ghouse, and you will find entries on the festivals.

Mike Ghouse
# # #

Sound advice to Mark Zuckerberg and Sunder Pichai on hiring practices

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Mike Ghouse

Religious discrimination is on the rise across the world and must be contained before it harms businesses and our social progress. A religiously or politically prejudiced employee can affect others’ morale, cause a lot of headaches, bring lawsuits, and affect the organization’s ability to function cohesively. He or she can waste the CEO’s time and the precious resources defending and correcting the mistakes rather than focusing on business development and creating employment.
 

We are pleased to offer sound advice to the corporate CEOs on placing the right employees in supervisory positions. It is a brand-new feature and going to become increasingly important for the following reasons. 

A few facts

Cisco is facing a lawsuit for its discriminative practices by one of its managers. The problem was not with the policies of Cisco but placing the wrong people in supervisory positions. An Indian-American supervisor from the “upper caste” (religious supremacist) did not promote the “lower caste” employee. He believed that the employee did not deserve to be promoted because he was born inferior and must remain in the lowest rung of the ladder. 

Facebook’s supervisor in its India operations, Ms. Ankhi Das rejected taking down a posting that was false and harmful to society. Ms. Das supported the Indian leader who posted the anti-Muslim controversial item, and refused to take it down, despite urging from her associates and completely disregarding the policies set in motion by Mark Zuckerberg. 

That single decision has caused a lot of turmoil; the internet is flooded with this news from the Wall Street Journal to just about every journal in the world. Zuckerberg finally fired her, good riddance. What a waste of time! 

A medical Doctor in India refused to admit patients in the hospitals because they were Muslims. One of them was a pregnant woman who delivered the baby in the ambulance, and her child did not survive. Imagine if that Doctor were in America and did the same.

Shamefully, these practices have become commonplace. However, it is a significant liability for Global corporations hiring employees from India, a few of whom would discriminate against Dalits in particular, Muslims, and Christians in general. Should we have a place for them in these corporations? 

At this point in the society, you will not find a place of work, worship, playground, school, restaurant, theater and other areas of public gatherings where people of different faiths, races, and ethnicities interacting, working, studying, intermingling, playing, and even marrying each other. 

These interactions are bound to create conflicts. We must prevent such disputes so that each individual can live securely with his or her faith, culture, gender, race, sexual orientation, or ethnicity.

It is just the beginning; a few among the white supremacist and the brown supremacist will create a mess in the coming years for the global corporations who hire people without character references. 

 Sound advice 

We ask global corporations to consider the following suggestions as they can help you avoid getting sued by your employees’ reckless actions.

1. Update hiring policy — Only hire individuals who respect and practice inclusivity and do not bring religion or politics to the workplace. How can that be achieved? Ask each of your current employees to submit social testimonies. If it is a Muslim, ask him/her to provide verifiable testimonials from Hindus, Christians, Sikhs, and others. Likewise, if it is a Hindu, ask him/her to produce similar testimonials from non-Hindus.

2. Remove poisoned employees – Remove the existing bad apples in your basket. A Hindu Doctor was a guest at my place for a few weeks while attending the meetings related to his residency. At the end of his stay – he said, “I wish my parents had not poisoned me against Blacks, Muslims, Christians, and Jews; everything I have heard from them turned out to be false.” He continued, “I have lived in dorms with others, and now with you, my parents were plain wrong.”

He agreed, when you are biased towards others, it affects your work performance. Your relationship with fellow workers will not be cordial as you were prejudiced against them. You keep a reserve with your fellow workers, and subconsciously, you don’t trust and share everything with them. That attitude reduces your contribution to your work, and you will not be able to serve your employer with full integrity. And when you go home, you are not giving 100% to your family either, and you are obsessed with your hatred towards the other.

Would you hire a poisoned employee to work for you? Full story at https://centerforpluralism.com/reflections-on-freedom-indias-independence-day/

3. Add to employee records –- Ask your existing employees and all future hires to produce their social media records from Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Whatsapp for at least one year.

You cannot go wrong if you and your employees follow Lincoln’s wisdom, “With malice towards none.” Justice and fairness will sustain the system and pave the way for moving forward instead of fighting the side battles.

Like all other corporations, Facebook has an interest in operating in nations where there is the rule of law, cohesive functioning of society, security, and the ability to sustain and grow.

You can be a true corporate leader in setting the new standards in hiring the right employees who can uplift and contribute to the growth of their respective organizations.

RELATED ARTICLES

Poisoning your children – https://centerforpluralism.com/poisoning-your-children/
Poisoning your kids – https://centerforpluralism.com/poisoning-your-kids/
Reflection on Freedom – https://centerforpluralism.com/reflections-on-freedom-indias-independence-day/
Hindutva is not Hinduism – https://centerforpluralism.com/hindutva-is-not-hinduism/

 Dr. Mike Ghouse is the founder and president of the Center for Pluralism. He is a speaker, thinker, author, community consultant, pluralist, activist, newsmaker, and an interfaith wedding officiant. Mike is deeply committed to Free speech, Human Rights, and Pluralism in Religion, Politics, Societies, and the workplace. He has dedicated his life to building cohesive societies and offers pluralistic solutions to the media and the policymakers. More about him at www.TheGhousediary.com.

Pluralism News India focused 1.11.20

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This article was first Published on January 11, 2020 at – :https://centerforpluralism.com/pluralism-news-1-11-20/

INVITATION – 15th Annual Reflections on Holocaust and Genocides

In the last 14 years, we have covered the Holocaust and at least 2 Genocides or Massacres (In all 30) each year. We hope to talk about every possible genocide and massacre in the world in the given time. Our communities have appreciated it learning about Holocaust and Genocides, while some have complained about it for a selfish reason like what about our genocide?    I will share the full story at the event on 1/26 Sunday at 5:30 PM. Here is the press release https://www.einpresswire.com/article/506869723/holocaust-and-genocides-commemoration-in-washington-dc

Standing up for Hindus is the right thing to do

I am outspoken and spoke up, “Ambassador, the Abrahamic faith group needs to include Hinduism, Sikhism, Buddhism, and other faiths as a part of the dialogue. They feel excluded, and that should not happen.” He agreed and asked Riley to make a note. Full story at
https://centerforpluralism.com/standing-up-for-hindus-is-the-right-thing-to-do/

A Genocide is in making in India on Mike Pompeo’s watch

Every Indian wants the best for India while PM Modi is destroying India on all fronts, civility, social cohesion, and economy. He is hell-bent on ridding Christians and Muslims of India on the Hitlerian model.  He and his men running the current government want to get rid of Muslims and Christians from India, just as the Jews were done to by Hitler. If things are not checked, Indians will lose out big time.  
https://www.einpresswire.com/article/506236060/a-genocide-is-in-making-in-india-on-mike-pompeo-s-watch

Hindutva loses in US Congress

It was appalling to hear a representative of HAF, Jay Kansara, announcing in a religious freedom meeting that the Hindu American Foundation supports India Action. How can an American believe that the consent of the people does not matter?  HAF needs to take a First Amendment course to function as good American Citizens.
https://www.indiawest.com/eedition/page-a/page_8abf79ae-7208-553d-a0c9-b16f4b1017c8.html?utm_source=E-PAPER-January+10%2C+2020+issue&utm_campaign=India+West+ePaper%3A+January+10%2C+2020&utm_medium=email

 This is my Pluralistic India, is this yours too?

Every Indian wants the best for India. In my pluralistic India, each one of us makes an effort to see that every Indian feels secure about his/her language, religion, culture, food, clothes, head coverings, ethnicity, race, or other uniqueness. We have practiced respecting the otherness of the other for nearly 5000 years; indeed, that is my pluralistic India. Is that yours too?

This is my pluralistic India, is this yours too?

Hindu deities and symbols desecrated, and Muslims condemn it.

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This article was first Published on January 11, 2020 at-https://centerforpluralism.com/hindu-deities-and-symbols-desecrated-and-muslims-condemn-it/

Hindu deities and symbols desecrated, and Muslims condemn it.

 A few hooligans calling themselves Muslims have done the un-Muslim thing by drawing derogatory images of Kali Devi, and OM symbol during the protests in Odisha and Bangalore, India. 

 The Quran, chapter 6, verse 108, (Pickthall Translation), “Revile not those unto whom they pray beside Allah lest they wrongfully revile Allah through ignorance. Thus, unto every nation have We made their deed seem fair. Then unto their Lord is their return, and He will tell them what they used to do.” 

 I am surprised that no one asked them to take the signs down. Generally, someone or the other takes that step. The word kafir meant that those who differ and don’t believe what you believe. A Muslim is a Kafir to a Hindu, and a Jew is a Kafir to Christians. But, in India, it certainly is used as a derogatory term, and I condemn the misuse of it.   

 It behooves on us (Muslims and Hindus) to talk about this event and find a way to avoid it, instead of brooding and multiplying the conflict. I am glad Sant Gupta, my fellow Indian-American, shared this with me, and this is how you begin a dialogue. I want him to know that a majority of Muslims want justice and fairness for all, if he knows enough Muslims, he will believe that. Neither the bad guys among Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists, Jews, Christians, or any group represent the whole statistically. 1% fringe does not represent 99% of the good ones.   

If I were present at those two events, I would have stopped them.   

In 2010, (Dallas, Texas) when Pastor Fred Phelps of Westboro Baptist Church demonstrated against 7 Jewish places of worship, newspapers, school, and the Holocaust Museum. I was there in all the 7 places standing up for our Jewish friends. A Jewish kid was holding a hate-filled placard Infront of the Holocaust Museum, and I asked him to take it out, everyone looked at me, and I repeated, “Fred Phelps is hateful, I am a Muslim and am standing with you, and let’s not hate them and instead pray for them.” Mike Jacobs, a holocaust survivor, and I got several survivors together in the lobby and led the peace prayer.

Reference article at https://swarajyamag.com/news-brief/from-devi-in-hijab-om-as-nazi-symbol-to-kaafiro-se-azadi-recent-protests-show-hindutva-hate-is-hindu-hate

 Once a Muslim group organized a rally across the White House, I was listed as a speaker. During the discussions, they were planning on displaying placards that were borderline critical of America. I disagreed and said you could be critical of Trump or anyone you want but not America and designed the placards to be effective. They did not accept my designs, and I chose not to go to the rally. Two years down the road, Wall Street Journal, The Daily Beast, and several papers reported that it was a part of the Russian scheming. Here are the three reports within this link. https://theghousediary.com/beware-of-fake-protests-to-malign-indians/

Since the fringe elements from among Hindus are lynching, harassing and raping Muslims, Christians and Dalits in India, uncontrolled, the temptation to blame Hinduism and Hindus increased.  I have made an effort in every piece of communication to not do that including the rally in front of the Indian Embassy last month.  Here are two pieces about it.

My Muslim friends continuously ask me, why did the Government let go of Yogi Adityanath and Sadhavi and others for making criminal statements. Indeed, once his fellow speaker said to dig out Muslim women from graves and rape, such as the hatred, and it happened.  

 All of us have to speak up against such an ugly display of hatred and find solutions.

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 available at linked-in.

Holocaust and Genocides Reflection in 2020

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This article was first Published on January 18, 2020 at-:https://centerforpluralism.com/holocaust-and-genocides-reflection-in-2020/

PRESS RELEASE

Dr. Mike Ghouse
Center for Pluralism
Website: www.CenterforPluralism.com
Website: www.HolocaustandGenocides.com
email: MikeGhouse@gmail.com 
Office: (202) 290-3560
Cell: (214) 325-1916

15th Annual Reflections on the Holocaust and Genocides

The purpose of this event is education, information, and activism. We hope to learn and acknowledge our failings and make a personal commitment to our share of saying, “Never Again.”

15th Annual Reflections on Holocaust and Genocides
5:30 PM – 8:30 PM Sunday, January 26, 2020
Arlington Central Library, 1015 N. Quincy Street
Arlington, VA 22201

Tickets are complimentary, but donations are accepted
https://centerforpluralism.com/donate/

RSVP:  https://www.eventbrite.com/e/reflections-on-holocaust-and-genocides-tickets-86666932127

We hope you will walk out of the event with a genuine feeling of being a contributor towards building a cohesive world where no human has to live in apprehension or fear of the other. 

The Jewish community has been commemorating the Holocaust event since 1953, known as Yom HaShoah in Synagogues around the world. The general public learns it by visiting the Holocaust Museums and educational institutions.

At the Center for Pluralism, we are committed to spreading knowledge of the Holocaust and Genocide through interfaith and public events, including the Annual reflections. 

Speakers: 

Robert F. Teitel – Holocaust Story
Dr. Gregory Stanton – Signs of Genocides
Rushan Abbas & Omer Kanat – Uyghur Updates
Dr. Wakar Uddin – Rohingya Update
Muneer Baig – Kashmir Update
Dr. TO Shanavas – India Update
Dr. Rani Khan – Peace Pledge
Dr. Mike Ghouse – Genesis of this event
Rabia Baig – Mistress of Ceremony

Volunteers:

Nausheen Baig
Rabbi Alana Suskin
Jafer Imam
Dr. Zafar Iqbal
Charles Stevenson

Sponsors:

Would you like to be a sponsor?
Our budget is $2000, full or any part 

Co-Chairs:

Dr. Rani Khan
Dr. Mike Ghouse

Organized by:

Center for Pluralism

Our format consists of four parts; Interfaith prayers, Holocaust, Genocides, Massacred and the Pledge of Peace. Silently, we will acknowledge all suffering, but physically we are limited to a few Genocides each year.

 This year, a Holocaust survivor will share his story, followed by updated Uyghur, Rohingya, and the signs of making of Genocide in India. I urge everyone to watch the Schindler’s list and Civil War movies to grasp the signs.

I believe, when we acknowledge each other’s grief and participate in each other’s commemoration, we connect with the humanness within ourselves and seed the relationship of understanding and caring for each other. 

There is a shameless cruelty in us, either we shy away or refuse to acknowledge the sufferings of others, worrying that it will devalue our own, or amounts to infidelity to our pain, and every community and nation has suffered through this. To all those who have endured the Holocaust, Genocides, Massacres, Ethnic Cleansing, Land Mines, Hunger, Rape, Torture, Occupation, Expulsion, and inhuman brutality, we must say, you are not alone. The least we can do in the process of healing is to acknowledge every one’s pain in one voice. 

I cannot be safe if the people around me are not, and I will not have peace if people around me don’t. It is in my interest to seek a peaceful world for one and all.

This is a Muslim initiative to assure fellow humans who have endured the Holocaust, Genocide, ethnic cleansing, massacres, rapes, injustice and other atrocities that we are all in this together to create a better world. Tikkun Olam is our sacred duty.

List of Supporting Organizations (links embedded)

Send email to HolocaustandGenocides20@gmail.com

# # #

Published at 148 News Outlets
A few are listed below

Defending Prophet Muhammad

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A few miscreants among Muslims could not bear a derogatory posting about Prophet Muhammad and created a mess in Bengaluru. Was it needed?

Someone had said, Muslims will put with any insults about anything, but they cannot handle criticism of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).

If Muslims really believe (not rhetoric) that Prophet Muhammad is a Rahmat for the Universe, then we have to accept that he is a prophet for the whole of humanity. Isn’t he?

He does not need anyone to defend him, he was there, and he will be there forever, and his message will always be appreciated. He bore criticism, insults, and threats to his life – but he prayed for them instead (Taif example). He is not going to disappear by comments or criticism. Have faith in his message of peace and non-violence and practice it.

Muslims have shamelessly failed in presenting the Prophet as a mercy to humanity. When an idiot draws an ugly painting of him, a cartoon or calls him names, we should follow his sunnah (example) in responding to them – to pray for them instead of becoming violent as they did in Bengaluru. 

Our violence confirms to the miscreants that the prophet teaches Muslims to be a Zulmat and not a Rahmat. 
We appreciate all the IMAMS who have guided the Bengaluru Muslims to be a Rahmat. We urge our imams to continue to preach his Sunnah to be non-violent. 

I am pleased to share some of the work we have done, in dealing with the Quran burning pastor in 2013.

Thanks to the Imams in Bengaluru, who have constantly urged Muslims to be peaceful. We are pleased to share some information for the consideration of our IMAMS, who can effectively communicate in Juma khutbas. 

If Muslims can fund $30, 000 we can a full movie to change how Muslims are perceived.
 
Our First press release in 2013 
http://quranburningpastorterryjones.blogspot.com/2013/08/planned-muslim-response-to-quran.html

It prompted a lot of action – it was covered by nearly 300 newspapers from around the world, a few are listed below – every major newspaper has published the material.

WASHINGTON POST – Pay no attention to the man behind burning Quran
https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/on-faith/commentary-pay-no-attention-to-the-man-behind-the-burning-qurans/2013/09/09/8ae7dcc4-197f-11e3-80ac-96205cacb45a_story.html

TIMES OF INDIA – For Muslims in American, a novel protest
 http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/From-Muslims-in-America-a-novel-protest-against-quran-burning/articleshow/21982162.cms

SAUDI GAZETTE – A proper response to an inflammatory act
http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index.cfm?method=home.regcon&contentid=20130821177617

HUFFPOST – Muslims pro-act against Quran burning
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/muslims-proact-against-qu_b_705571

CBS News – Florida Pastor arrested before the could burn Qurans
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/fla-pastor-arrested-before-he-could-burn-qurans/

INDIA LIFE – Pamela Geller and Garland shooting
https://indialife.us/article.php?id=45240&device=desktop

VIDEO: Muslim response to Quran burning
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsQq-tbJ89k&feature=youtu.be

VIDEO: Muslim response to Quran burning in Urdu/ Hindi
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xxa69A5Xn3o

AHL-E-BAYT – It was published, and cannot find the link at this time.

Mike Ghouse is the author of the book American Muslim Agenda, more about him at www.TheGhousediary.com

A purposeful event in Washington DC – Reflections on the Holocaust and Genocides.

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This article was first published on 29 January, 2020 at https://centerforpluralism.com/purposeful-event-in-washington-dc-reflections-on-the-holocaust-and-genocides/

Sunday, January 26, 2020, Washington, DC – The 15th Annual reflections on Holocaust and Genocides program was held at the Arlington Central Library in Arlington, VA. The purpose of this event is education, information, and activism. We hope to learn and acknowledge our failings and make a personal commitment to say, “Never Again.”

Tikkun Olam, that is restoring harmony in the world is our sacred duty. We invite everyone from Atheists to Zoroastrians to attend this event and feel their humanity. We hope you will walk out of the program with a genuine feeling of being a contributor towards building a cohesive world where no human has to live in apprehension or fear of the other.

We had a great line up of speakers, and we will premiere the video within a week. The speakers included Robert Teitel, a Holocaust survivor who shared his personal enduring the Holocaust. Dr. Gregory Stanton did not mince his words and laid out ten signs of recognizing a genocide in the making. Walter Ruby, Walter Ruby, and Ibrahim Anli announced the work of their organizations in repairing the world. , 

Dr. Wakar Uddin just returned from the International Court in the Hague, where the court has levied penalties against the government of Burma for the atrocities committed against Rohingya and rehabilitate them back in their homeland. 

Mr. Omer Kanat is actively working to stop the Genocide of the Uyghurs in China, and he shared the misery China is inflicting on them. Mr. Muneer Baig called for all Kashmiris to have freedom restored and invited the pundits to come back and start living the good syncretic life of all Kashmiris. Dr. T O Shanavas gave a compelling PowerPoint presentation about what is going on in India in terms of economy, destruction of social structure, and what the Newspapers from around the world are saying.  

Dr. Rani Khan concluded the program with the Peace pledge. Ms. Rabia Baig emceed the event flawlessly, and Dr. Mike Ghouse opened the program with pluralism greetings and could not present his take on the issues due to time constraints. 

We thank Dr. Frank Islam for being the major sponsor of the event, and Dr. Rani Khan, Dr. Arif Mehmood, and Dr. Maqsood Chaudhry for sponsoring the event. Nausheen and Ehsan Baig for caring for the refreshments and volunteering. We also thank Charles Stevenson and Dr. Zafar Iqbal for volunteering.

Thanks to Jack Pagano for filming the event. The event is an initiative of American Muslims who choose to stand up for the rights of all humans, and the Center for Pluralism has been organizing the program for the last 15 years. Our commitment is to create a world where you, me, and everyone feels secure with our faith, race, ethnicity, culture, and national origins.

 A complete report, press release, and video will be out soon. 

Press Release – ​http://www.einpresswire.com/shareable-preview/Ph3gI72imCk3afsvJWZbZA

 Website – www.HolocaustandGenocides.com

PRESS RELEASE

Dr. Mike Ghouse
Center for Pluralism
Website: www.CenterforPluralism.com
Website: www.HolocaustandGenocides.com
email: MikeGhouse@gmail.com 
Office: (202) 290-3560
Cell: (214) 325-1916

15th Annual Reflections on the Holocaust and Genocides

The purpose of this event is education, information, and activism. We hope to learn and acknowledge our failings and make a personal commitment to our share of saying, “Never Again.”

We hope you will walk out of the event with a genuine feeling of being a contributor towards building a cohesive world where no human has to live in apprehension or fear of the other. 

The Jewish community has been commemorating the Holocaust event since 1953, known as Yom HaShoah in Synagogues around the world. The general public learns it by visiting the Holocaust Museums and educational institutions.

At the Center for Pluralism, we are committed to spreading knowledge of the Holocaust and Genocide through interfaith and public events, including the Annual reflections. 

Center for Pluralism

Special Note for Indians: In the last 14 years, we have covered nearly 30 genocides and difficult events such as the Sikh Genocide, Plight of Kashmiri Pundits, Gujarat Massacre, Bangladesh Genocide among other events in the world. These are not against anyone but highlighting the human suffering inflicted by fellow humans.

Our format consists of four parts; Interfaith prayers, Holocaust, Genocides, Massacred and the Pledge of Peace. Silently, we will acknowledge all suffering, but physically we are limited to a few Genocides each year.

This year, a Holocaust survivor will share his story, followed by updated Uyghur, Rohingya, and the signs of making of Genocide in India. I urge everyone to watch the Schindler’s list and Civil War movies to grasp the signs.I believe, when we acknowledge each other’s grief and participate in each other’s commemoration, we connect with the humanness within ourselves and seed the relationship of understanding and caring for each other. There is a shameless cruelty in us, either we shy away or refuse to acknowledge the sufferings of others, worrying that it will devalue our own, or amounts to infidelity to our pain, and every community and nation has suffered through this. To all those who have endured the Holocaust, Genocides, Massacres, Ethnic Cleansing, Land Mines, Hunger, Rape, Torture, Occupation, Expulsion, and inhuman brutality, we must say, you are not alone. The least we can do in the process of healing is to acknowledge every one’s pain in one voice. 

I cannot be safe if the people around me are not, and I will not have peace if people around me don’t. It is in my interest to seek a peaceful world for one and all.

This is a Muslim initiative to assure fellow humans who have endured the Holocaust, Genocide, ethnic cleansing, massacres, rapes, injustice and other atrocities that we are all in this together to create a better world. Tikkun Olam is our sacred duty.

# # #

List of Supporting Organizations (links embedded)

Published at 148 News Outlets
A few are listed below 

Facebook and Zuckerberg can correct hiring practices

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PRESS RELEASE
Contact: Mike Ghouse
email: SpeakerMikeGhouse@gmail.com
Website: www.CenterforPluralism.com
Phone (214) 325-1916

Dear Mr. Zuckerberg,

We are contacting you to bring to your attention the mishandling of Facebook Policies in India. One of your key employees, Ms. Ankhi Das, did not allow hate speech by political leaders to be taken down due to her connections with the political party. It is affecting your reputation.

Mr. Zuckerberg, you cannot go wrong if you and your employees follow Lincoln’s wisdom, “With malice towards none.” Justice and fairness will sustain the system and pave the way for moving forward instead of fighting the side battles.

We ask that you consider the following suggestions as they can help you avoid getting sued to by your employees’ reckless actions.

1. Update hiring policy — Only hire individuals who respect inclusivity and do not bring politics to the workplace. How can that be achieved? Ask each of your current employees to submit social testimonies. If it is a Muslim, ask him/her to provide verifiable testimonials from Hindus, Christians, Sikhs, and others. Likewise, if it is a Hindu, ask him/her to produce similar testimonials from non-Hindus.

2. Remove poisoned employees – Remove the existing bad apples in your basket. A Hindu Doctor was a guest at my place for a few weeks while attending the meetings related to his residency. At the end of his stay – he said, “I wish my parents had not poisoned me against Blacks, Muslims, Christians, and Jews; everything I have heard from them turned out to be false.” He continued, “I have lived in dorms with others, and now with you, they were plain wrong.”

He agreed, when you are biased towards others, it affects your work performance. Your relationship with fellow workers will not be cordial as you were poisoned against them. You keep a reserve with your fellow workers, and subconsciously, you don’t trust and share everything with them. That attitude reduces your contribution to your work, and you will not be able to serve your employer with full integrity. And when you go home, you are not giving 100% to your family either, and you are obsessed with your hatred towards the other.

Would you hire a poisoned employee to work for you? Full story at https://centerforpluralism.com/reflections-on-freedom-indias-independence-day/

3. Add to employee records –- Ask your existing employees and all future hires to produce their social media records from Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Whatsapp for at least one year.

Like all other corporations, Facebook has an interest in operating in nations where there is the rule of law, cohesive functioning of society, security, and the ability to sustain and grow.

You can be a true corporate leader in setting the new standards in hiring the right employees who can uplift and contribute to the growth of their respective organizations.

 
Dr. Mike Ghouse, President
Center for Pluralism, Washington, DC

India’s Future on her 74th Independence Day

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 By Mike Ghouse

India is one of the first nations on the earth to practice Pluralism, i.e., respecting the otherness of the others. While the Hindu ethos considers the world as one family, also known as Vasudhaiva Kutumbukum, the Islamic, Christian, and other traditions also subscribe to the idea that we one family originated from a single couple. Together, these values ‘had’ contributed to India’s post-independence political stability. Those values are in peril now.

As a nation, we are bestowed with diversity; the characteristics of the entire world are contained in our country. Collectively we are Adivasis, Atheists, Bahais, Bos, Buddhists, Christians, Dalits, Hindus, Jains, Jewish, Muslims, Sikhs, Tribal, Zoroastrians, and every possible grouping. We are also Brown, Black, White, and Yellow. India ‘was’ indeed God’s own country until recently. 

 India welcomed people of different faiths and accepted them, it ‘was’ a model of co-existence. Now the divisiveness, discord, and distrust are tearing India apart.

There is not a single Indian who does not love his/her motherland. It is inborn, it is natural, all of us care about our mothers and our motherland. Each one of us wants the best for our country and our people.

When things are not going in the right direction, it is our duty to at least speak up and shape the future, that we would all cherish. We all have to uplift each other, together we will achieve prosperity.

How do we get out of this? 

On August 15, 2020, we will be celebrating the 74th Independence Day and we need to determine as a nation if we love our motherland, or is this a stunt for the politicians to pit one against the other to have their gains. Our mother wants all of her children to get along with each other. No mother likes her children to fight.    

Lord Krishna, blessings upon him, whose birth celebrations conclude this week, said, whenever adharma (chaos) takes over a people, I will emerge from among you to restore dharma (righteousness). We hope the time has come for that catalytic change.

We are not a dictatorship or a monarchy, where an individual dictates how we behave and what we do. We are a democracy, and we decide how we want our nation to be.

The political leaders are good at coining new phrases, the slogan “sab ka saath, sab ka Vikas aur sab ka Vishwas” is pragmatic and is the right attitude to bring prosperity to the nation. Thus far, it is nothing but a political slogan as the leadership has not brought the Indians together, nor have they earned public trust. 

The change begins with leadership.   

Prime Minister Modi is demonstrably silent, Goonga, as we call in Hindi. When Asifa was raped, and her body was mutilated – when Tabrez Ansari was brutally murdered, and the video was circulated, and when Dalit girls were raped and hung on trees, Modi did not speak. When a church was vandalized, when attempts were made to evict Sikhs from their land as settlers, and about 120 such incidences, the man shamelessly remained silent. However, when he saw the national outrage, he paid lip service.

 If Modi were to speak after each incident, the chaos would subside, the lynching of fellow Indians will stop. All he has to say is I will not tolerate any Indian harassing a fellow Indian, and the violators will be punished severely, and follow through it. But will he? If he does not speak, the mighty Indian ship will start sinking economically and socially – everyone stands to lose.

 The change also begins with our children.

 As a parent, should you poison your children towards others and screw their lives? The answer should be no, but yet we do it. 

 A doctor, a son of my friends’ friend, was a guest at my place for a few weeks while attending meetings related to his residency. At the end of his stay – he said, “I wish my parents had not poisoned me against Blacks, Muslims, Christians, and Jews; everything I have heard from them turned out to be false.” He continued, “I have lived in dorms with others, and now with you, they were plain wrong.”  

 He agreed, when you are biased towards others, it affects your work performance. Your relationship with fellow workers will not be clean as you were poisoned against them. You keep a reserve with your fellow worker, and subconsciously, you don’t trust and share everything with them. That attitude reduces your contribution to your work, and you will not be able to serve your employer with full integrity. And when you go home, you are not giving 100% to your family either, and you are obsessed with your hatred towards the other. 

Would you hire someone like that to work for you? 

 We have to reject the poison injected into us by our parents, teachers, and religious men. It takes away the joy of conflict-free living.  A time will come when the employers will require your social media postings and any history you have of prejudice towards others. Cisco in California has a lawsuit on their hands – the upper cast guys mistreated the “lower cast” (I hate to use that word to describe another human) guy and will pay a penalty. The Medical doctors in India had denied medical service to minorities, we need to introduce laws to ban them from coming to the United States. Who knows, they may not let Christians and Muslims get the right treatment. We may want to introduce laws to fire those who are racist, they are poisoned evil men. We need also to track the individuals who want all the equal rights in America, but shamelessly want to deprive the same to the minorities in India. If they have to pay a penalty most of them will straighten out.

Our attitudes need to re-align 

As the cities become cosmopolitan, you will not find a place of work, worship, playground, school, restaurant, theater, and other areas of public gatherings where you will not see people of different faiths, and ethnicities are interacting, working, studying, intermingling, playing and even marrying each other.

These interactions are bound to create conflicts. We must prevent such disputes, so each Indian can live securely with his or her faith, culture, gender, race, sexual orientation, or ethnicity. 

 God created each one to be a unique being with our thumbprint, eye print, taste buds, religious buds, and DNA, and we have lost that ideal in the last few years. We cannot force others to do what we want without giving them the same right to tell us what they want us to be. 

A vast majority of us have heard ‘false’ things about others from our friends, news, social media, or our knowledge of others, and we instantly form opinions about others. As responsible individuals, we must strive to strip stereotyping and build pathways to ensure our society is functioning smoothly.

We need to reassure each other, loudly and clearly, that together as Indians, and we must commit to safeguarding every Indian’s lifestyle, however different that maybe. Together as Indians, we must uphold, protect, defend, and celebrate the values enshrined in our Constitution, a guarantor of the way of life for each one of us.

Let me state this clearly, “My peace and tranquility hinges on the peace of people around me,” and “My safety is tied to the security of people around me.” It behooves me to build societies where all are secure; it guarantees my security and tension free life. 

 As we learn to respect others’ otherness and accept the God-given uniqueness of each one of us, conflicts fade, and solutions emerge. 

Mike Ghouse is the founder and president of the Center for Pluralism. He is a speaker, thinker, author, consultant, pluralist, activist, a news-maker, and an interfaith wedding officiant. He is committed to building cohesive societies and offers pluralistic solutions to the media, public, and policymakers. More at www.TheGhousediary.com 

Kamala Harris is a winner

      Comments Off on Kamala Harris is a winner

Congratulations to Kamala Harris, Joe Biden and the Democratic Party for selecting the right candidate. Biden made his first right decision by selecting Kamala Harris as his running mate. She will change the role of Vice-presidency and will be more active in domestic politics, and most certainly, she will not be a docile poodle like Pence. Kamala will stand her ground; we needed a VP who can say no to the president; she will be the one. On his part, Biden will be a secure individual who would welcome debates and discussions about doing the right thing for America.

Sen. Harris is progressive and inclusive. She will not buy into the prejudices that held the nation back. Her intellectualism is a breath of fresh air. Indeed it was worth our time to watch her grill Judge Bret Kavanaugh and attorney general nominee William Barr. Those Indian Americans who are still struggling with racism and prejudices; may go to Trump to align with his racism, casteism, classism, and bigotry. But there are not many of them.

Again, congratulations to Kamala Harris, Joe Biden, and the Democratic party. I wish there were a debate between Trump and Harris. She will tear him apart and would not let him bullshit his way through.

Biden has to reach out to the Trump supporters, embrace every American, no one should feel excluded. No more “deplorable” language.

By the way, she has received my book American Muslim Agenda.

Mike Ghouse is a speaker, thinker, author, consultant, pluralist, activist, and a news-maker. He is committed to building cohesive societies and offers pluralistic solutions to the media, interest public, and the policymakers. More about him at www.TheGhousediary.com