In a Congressional Briefing organized by the Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC) alongside a coalition of 18 organizations, Dr. Mike Ghouse spoke on the Indian Police Service and its carrying of false cases against Muslim leaders such as Umar Khalid and Khalid Saifi despite independent investigations proving their innocence.
deo & text https://iamc.com/muslim-leader-umar-khalid-denied-bail-remains-in-jail-despite-proof-of-innocence/
Thank you.
Mike Ghouse, President
www.CenterforPluralism.com
Review by Mike Ghouse
The story is about how the Aryans invaded India and controlled the indigenous masses by manufacturing messages and claiming that they came from God and instilled fear among the masses.
It is a raw narrative about how the Aryans conquered India by the oldest technique known to humankind; divide and rule. They claimed themselves superior to the natives and created the varna systems, also known as the caste system. The Brahmans were on the top whereas most of the native population was considered subhuman and placed them in the lowest rung of the society called Shudras, the untouchables. The natives were told that the varna system was God’s word and instilled fear among them to obey the Brahmans. The Shudras suffered severe humiliation and deprivation of all human rights. The Brahmans declared that God created the untouchables to serve them and the Shudras believed it was their duty to serve the Brahmans, as it was God’s law.
They spread this narrative, “The Varnas were created from the body of the Brahma, the creator of the world. The Brahmanas were created from his naval; the Kshatriyas from his hands; the Vaishyas from his thighs and the Sudras from his feet.” In Indian culture, feet mean inferior.
I watched a documentary on Al-Jazeera about the plight of Dalits https://www.islamicity.org/81475/indias-dalit-revolution-l-101-east/ – and what struck me was this statement, “We hate ourselves for what God has given us. and we question how we came into being.” This is such a sad statement! To be Dalit is God ordained, hence, they did not rebel against the injustices, mistreatment, and oppression.
Healing is a very difficult task, the discord and division will continue as long as Modi is at the helm and has a deep-seated hatred for the others (Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, and Dalits) continue. You can see the depiction in the film and how the upgraded Shudras were ‘Used’ to keep their flock at the bottom. The “divide and rule” has worked in the past, and will continue to work, which we witnessed in the UP elections. Modi is not a Brahmin but an upgraded shudra to keep the others as enslaved people to serve his masters; RSS, Ambani, and Adani.
The film is divisive, like the Kashmir Files mixing a lot of lies with a few facts. The acting is terrible, and the screenplay is poorly written. But the film makes the point and it is worth watching.
The film deals with Manusmriti, a brutal ideology of the supremacy of one group of people over all others. It has deeply penetrated the psyche of many Hindus. Even though it has nothing to do with Hinduism, it has become a part of it. Manusmriti is against human rights, justice, and the US laws of equality for all humans. Our Immortal declaration of independence states, “We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal, that their Creator endows them with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness“.
The film points out that Manusmriti was the creation of one supremacist man, Manu. It is time for Hindus to collectively reject it, but unfortunately, otherwise, the RSS plans to make it the law of the land. It will mess up India. Indian women will be reduced to slaves of men, and the Shudras and other minorities will not have a vote or can even speak. If they do, they will be thrown into jail.
The substantial part of the movie is the shameless treatment of fellow humans, labeling them as Shudras. As a teen, I have witnessed that humiliation and have fought against that on the street corner water taps. Thanks to my father, who invited the Shudras into our home, we ate from the same plates, and my mother made tea, and they drank it from the same cups. He made no distinction between human beings when discrimination and mistreatment of the Shudras were common everywhere.
Even though discrimination is illegal in independent India, it is embedded in the psyche of many but not all Hindus, and it has even migrated to the United States. We need to stop our nation from such pollution. We need the United States to remain the nation we found when we came.
Thanks to the organizations like Hindus from Hindus for Human Rights, Sadhana, and others who are liberated from the clutches of Manu and subscribe to the Immortal declaration of our independence wholeheartedly. We must admire them.
1:53 Minutes movie at https://youtu.be/-JOPGAB4IEM
Dr. Mike Ghouse is a Social Scientist, Public Speaker, thinker, author, newsmaker, and an Interfaith Wedding Officiant. He is deeply committed to Pluralism in Religion, Politics, Societies, Human rights, and religious freedom. He is the founder and president of the Center for Pluralism, Director at World Muslim Congress, a think tank, and a wedding officiant at Interfaith Marriages. His new book American Muslim Agenda is available on Amazon, and “Standing up for others” and “Madame President” are coming soon. He is committed to building cohesive societies and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day. More about him at TheGhouseDiary.com
***CHALLENGING THE VERACITY OF THE FILM KASHMIR FILES***
You have already read a ton about the film Kashmir Files. I have read the propagandists as well as the critics, but I have not seen the movie yet, and plan to see it soon. I gather there are a lot of falsities in it along with a few truths, and the Hindutva group is thrilled, and Modi has endorsed it. However, Anupam Kher and Vivek Agnihotri have shared in tens of Tweets before Modi’s election, that both Hindus and Muslims have suffered in this, and we cannot propagate hate and work on bringing these communities together. Then when Modi was elected, the chameleons change their colors and now have produced a movie that spills hatred towards Muslims. No doubt terrorists have hurt all of us, but we cannot blame Hindus or Muslims for that.
At the bottom of the article, there are links to articles on the subject. As Anupam Kher
What is the problem?
Muslims in India will have a tough time in the coming days. The Genocide call will get the full throttle. When the Hindutva brigade walks out of the theater, they will be loaded with hatred for Muslims, and we don’t know what they will do and who they will hurt. This is not good for India business-wise, socially, and morally. I hope Indian society does not degenerate into killers, lynchers and destroy the great society we were in. What kind of poison we are injecting into our Hindu youth? Will they be normal people?
Consider these facts.
What can be done?
We hope a reasonable effort will counter the social fracturing and the nation together to bring peace and prosperity. If Indian Americans take no action, bad times are ahead for everyone except Modi, Adani, and Ambani who may flee the country. It is the public that gets screwed.
Don’t miss this video critique by Ashok Kumar Pandey of the film Kashmir Files
https://youtu.be/rFC8_S_USjM
Reference Articles
The articles that I have read and recommend reading.
May God guide us on the right path and do the right things.
Thank you.
Mike Ghouse
The Karnataka High Court has passed the verdict. “Hijab not an essential part of Islam” Three judges gave the judgment.
It is a sad day for Muslim girls accustomed to Burqa; it is not comfortable for them to go without it. It is like “telling” Hindu women not to put the pallu on their heads or wear the bindi on their foreheads.
A woman has a right to wear what pleases her, as long as it is not anyone’s loss. No one should have the right to dictate what a woman wears. As I had written earlier, the girls made a huge mistake; they would have won the case if they claimed Burqa was their cultural practice.
As Muslims, we differ on the issue of Burqa; many among us see this form of Burqa as cultural development and not a religious one. Religion only requires covering the bosoms, which most women from different faiths wear.
I am pro-choice; let the woman decide what she wears. No one should compel her to wear a Burqa or mini-skirt or a bindi.
Muslims are law-abiding citizens, they have accepted even bad decisions without protests, like the hand over the land to build the Ram Temple and so many other judgments. We hope the students accept the court’s verdict wholeheartedly and continue their education. Education is more important in Islam than the Burqa in the classroom.
Mike Ghouse
Muslim Man Forces His Wife To Wear Burqa
It is not good news. This guy is not following Islam. First, there is no compulsion, and second, he did not treat his wife with respect and dignity. He has acted independently, nail him for his actions, his religion has nothing to do with his actions, his faith was entirely against his practice.
Mike Ghouse
Mike Ghouse is the founder and president of the Center for pluralism and director at the World Muslim Congress. We are deeply committed to building cohesive societies where every human feels secure about his (or her) faith, race, ethnicity, culture, and other uniqueness. More about Mike at TheGhouseDiary.com
Is there a life after death? Many religions teach that there is a life hereafter. There is a paradise or hell, depending on how you lived your life.
If you are God-conscious – that is God-like with a bias towards none, and be just and caring for his creation; life, and matter, then you are going to paradise. On the other hand, you “may” go to hell if you are the wrongdoer. The word “may” is used because God is merciful; if you have done one simple good thing for his creation, you may get the pass.
In Hindu and some Buddhist traditions, you will be repeatedly born until you do no wrong and achieve moksha (freedom), which is nothing but paradise – a state of mind without tensions, apprehensions, and conflicts.
All the various religious traditions, including Atheism, have the same goal: freedom today, tomorrow, and forever.
The law of karma does not spare any wrongdoer and most certainly rewards all the righteous ones.
Reward and punishment are necessary to put everyone on the moral ground of harmony.
What happens if the civil and criminal laws of the land were to say, “Man, you can murder, rape, cheat or loot; there is no punishment for you?”
Will justice be served to the criminals, wrongdoers, and mass murderers?
Are the concepts of “reincarnation and “life hereafter” merely explanations for questions about what happens after death? Each tradition talks about reincarnation and life hereafter as a fact.
For a majority of the people, the idea of reincarnation or life hereafter works; they are satisfied with the explanations given to them. Are you?
What are your thoughts?
I received an odd question today at the Center for Pluralism, asking me to send material against Atheism. Here was my response.
Atheists, once we’re belligerent, and persecuting others, they got the wrong label for doing that and unfortunately it has stayed with them. But Atheists of today are as humanistic as Muslims, Jews, Hindus, Christians, Buddhists, and others.
Indeed, there is 1% of belligerent extremists among all groups from Atheist to Zoroastrians – not because of their religions but because they did not get their religions right.
I was an atheist once, then learned first hand about Islam by rejecting all that was said in the marketplace. Finding the truth was essential to me as it brings relief to the soul. I chose to be a Muslim, and I have nothing against Atheists and defend their right to be who they are.
I firmly believe in one of the oft-cited verses of the Quran’ “I don’t worship what you worship, nor you worship what I worship” and ends with “your faith is dear to you as mine is dear to me.” There are six verses in chapter 109 – the Kafirun. Not one verse suggests or hints that others’ belief is anything less.
Those of you who jump to cite verses without thinking, I have a suggestion for you, for your peace of mind. If a verse troubles you, the best way to understand it is to read three verses before and three after, and at least 4 translations to weed out 2 (out of 75) bad translations that are dead wrong. Those authors are dead, if I meet them now, I will sit down with them and explain Islam. Islam in every which way is about creating peace, mitigating conflicts, and nurturing goodwill for all of God’s creation. If you don’t get this, then you are not following Islam. I say, “If it is not common sense, then it is not Islam.”®
Islam emphasizes free will many times, but I will be happy to cite 4 concrete examples. Quran also reminds you frequently to think, question, and reason. Once again, I reiterate, “If it is not common sense, then it is not Islam.”®
We do workshops on understanding each one of the traditions from Atheists to Zoroastrians, and last year, a Christian man posted hateful messages on my Facebook for talking about Atheism. We have to defend the sanctity of every tradition, they are not wrong, it is the evil side in us that sees a fault in religions.
I don’t have any material against Atheism, nor will I support ridiculing Atheism. On the other hand, I have defended their right and will continue to do so. As a Pluralist, I consider it my sacred duty to stand up for the rights of all humans and as a Muslim, I defend the sanctity of every religious tradition. However, as a Pluralist and a Muslim, I will stand against those who hurt, harass, rape, lynch, murder, beat, burn, denigrate and destroy others’ right to be who they are.
You want to learn more about the Quran – please come to the workshop on the Quran coming soon, watch for the date at the Center for Pluralism site. Truth relieves one from apprehensions. I will be joined by experts in the Quran and follow the guidelines we have set.
More at http://standingupforothers.blogspot.com/2012/04/speaking-up-for-atheists.html?m=1
Mike Ghouse is the founder and president of the Center for pluralism and director at the World Muslim Congress. We are deeply committed to building cohesive societies where every human feels secure about his (or her) faith, race, ethnicity, culture, and other uniqueness. More about Mike at TheGhouseDiary.com
Thank you.
A visit to the Church of Scientology
If you have heard differently about the Church of Scientology, listen to it from me as well. When I came to Washington DC six years ago, we were looking to do our 3rd series of workshops on the essence of religions, all the beautiful religions, 13 of them. They were: Atheist/Humanist, Bahai, Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Jain, Jewish, Muslim, Native American, Scientology, Sikh, Wicca, and Zoroastrian.
The door was not open to holding the workshops in different places of worship – and they said they would open it if I removed Atheism from the list. I was unwilling to do that, Atheists are a part of America like everyone else, and we need to learn about them. No American must be excluded from any public gathering, definitely organized by the Center for Pluralism. Finally, I ran into Sue Taylor, the National Affairs Director of the Church of Scientology; she sponsored the series and provided refreshments to the guests.
Over the years, I have been a part of the Church, not a member, but attend L.Ron Hubbard’s birthday and other vital events organized by the Church. They never asked, nor put pressure on me to join them, not once. I took time to go through some of the greatest common sense quotes framed in their office and studied his biography. He was a great man and has established the Church to care for fellow humans. They have programs to rehabilitate drug addiction, particularly youth, and several other programs to uplift fellow humans. And they stand up for the religious freedom of all humans regardless of their religions.
As a kid, I was always fascinated by the incredible polymaths during the Abbasid Caliphate, “who were incredibly gifted scholars, astronomers, philosophers, and mathematicians.” They accomplished so much in their lifetime, and they continue to inspire me. Then comes L. Ron Hubbard’s legacy of being a scientist and a learned man in many disciplines, just as Ben Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and others. I want to be like them.
In 1979, I was in Los Angeles strolling on Hollywood Blvd; on the sidewalk was a bookstall, and the volunteers were handing out the book called Dianetics. They took me into a vast building and listened to a lecture there, and I am not sure if it was L. Ron Hubbard. I heard them, and it appealed to me; I was a humanist then through 1999. Since my college days, I have been a big follower of Dr. Abraham Kovoor, a Sri Lankan Doctor who can be rightfully called the father of modern Atheism.
Once we announced the workshop series, including Scientology, one of my Facebook friends, a Christian, was belligerent against me. He could not fathom a Muslim presenting a workshop on Atheism, he accused me quite a bit on Facebook, but I did not delete his comments. I believed in free speech. Then individuals clergies from two other faiths said they would attend if we removed the Church of Scientology from the series. We did not.
The Center for Pluralism is committed to building cohesive societies where every American feels secure about their faith, race, ethnicity, culture, or other uniqueness. No one is more privileged than the others; they need to produce a certificate signed by God if they are.
Pluralism is not about compromise; it is about working through dialogue to respect each other; if they cannot, and the discussion fails, then taking alternate actions is the right thing to do.
The more we learn about each other, the fewer the conflicts. The Center for Pluralism states that if we can learn to respect the otherness of the other and accept the uniqueness of each other, conflicts fade, and solutions emerge.
The picture was taken at the Church of Scientology while recently talking about L. Ron Hubbard’s birthday.
Mike Ghouse is a speaker, thinker, pluralist, Muslim, and interfaith wedding officiant. He is the founder and president of the Center for Pluralism and a think tank director called World Muslim Congress. More about him at www.TheGhouseDiary.com
compiled through different sources
The ashes symbolize both death and repentance. During this period, Christians show repentance and mourning for their sins, because they believe Christ died for them.
(CNN) – It’s Ash Wednesday, the start of the Lenten season. For those who celebrate, it’s a time for fasting, repenting and reflecting on mortality in the weeks leading to Easter Sunday. After service or mass, church attendees are invited to receive ashes on their forehead, often in the shape of a cross pattern.
It starts with Ash Wednesday — this year on March 2 — and ends a day before Easter (April 17 this time) which celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Lent lasts for 40 days, excluding the six Sundays, and represents Jesus’ time in the wilderness, praying and fasting, and being tempted by Satan.
The ashes placed on one’s forehead are a symbol of that. As the priest applies them in a cross formation on someone’s forehead, they will say either, “Turn away from sin and believe in the Gospel” or “Remember that you are dust, and unto dust you shall return.”
Many Catholics leave the mark on all day but wash it off before bedtime. Ashes also tend to flake off by themselves, or get rubbed away by absentminded forehead brushings.
The Center for Pluralism publishes the essence of major festivals from many religions, so that, as neighbors we can learn about each other’s festivities and commemorations. The more we know about each other, the fewer the conflicts would be, and greater the goodwill for all of us to live in peace and harmony.
Mike GhouseCenter for Pluralism Www.CenterforPluralism.com
Religious Freedom this week, March 1, 2022
Presentation by Mike Ghouse at the IRF Round Table meeting
https://theghousediary.com/religious-freedom-this-week-march-1-2022/
I am pleased to share some of the happenings this week.
The United States has a significant role in ensuring religious freedom worldwide. We will be taken seriously and respected by people of faith, particularly the minorities. Unfortunately, we pass up on a few nations and beat up others. When the world sees our duplicity, they will not take us seriously.
We urge Secretary Blinken and President Biden to take bold steps in listening to the recommendations of USCIRF and follow it through and not be selective in applications of their recommendations.
We feel for the People of Gaza and Palestine; when Israel bombed and destroyed hospitals and killed children, we remained silent. Now we are rightfully condemning Russia for doing the same to the Ukrainians – How should the Palestinians feel?
When we announce a nation to be a “Country of a Particular Concern,” it is not a punishment, but asking the leaders of those nations to follow the human rights and religious freedoms and be on par with the community of civilized nations, what is wrong with that?
Here are a few issues for the week:
President Sisi of Egypt has banned journalists from discussing religion after a talk show host cast doubt on Quran. For thousands of years, Mr. Sisi should know that people have cast their doubts and questioned the Bible, Torah, Quran, Gita, and other holy books. It should lend to a discussion and not ban it. The Center for Pluralism will be writing a letter addressed to Presidents Biden and Sisi and seeking support from fellow NGOs with their signatures. https://english.alaraby.co.uk/news/egypt-looks-ban-journalists-discussing-religion
Russia keeps punishing Evangelicals in Crimea. Since Russia annexed the Crimean Peninsula from Ukraine in 2014—one of the central points of conflict in the current clash between the two countries—Protestant Christians in the territory have faced more significant government penalties for practicing their faith. Evangelical Protestants in Crimea received the most sentences. At least nine people from Pentecostal, Baptist, and other Protestant churches were fined for “missionary activity.”
On all counts, India continues to fall in the pit – from severe violations of religious freedoms to breaking democratic institutions, harassing the journalists, and taking away freedoms guaranteed under the constitution. We are disappointed President Biden has not spoken to Prime Minister Modi on India’s violations. It makes people disrespect us for the selective abuses and preferred status.
Ohio State passed bipartisan legislation requiring high schools to accommodate religious needs, specifically clothing and head coverings during sports competitions. The Jewish, Christian, Muslim groups and the American Civil Liberties Union fully supported the senate bill, and it passed unanimously in the state legislature, passing the House 89-0 and the Senate 33-0.
We hope other states follow Ohio and other nations can also learn, particularly the State of Karnataka in India, which has banned students from wearing Hijab in colleges.
Mike Ghouse
Center for Pluralism
www.CenterforPluralism.com
Mike Ghouse
Feb 26, 2022 – We condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Mr. Putin has gone nuts to invade another country in this day and age and behaves like the crazy kings of yesteryears who were obsessed with robbing their neighbors’ land. We must protect and defend the sovereignty of Ukraine, and Putin must be pushed back. The emphasis is on pushing Putin, instead of Russia, because the people of Russia have not permitted him to invade Ukraine.
Hitler and Putin are made of the same dictator genes. Their obsession with expanding their territories is dangerous to the world.
I am a pacifist and oppose wars. Wars are the acts of stupid people. God has given us a voice to communicate and resolve conflicts, whereas animals butt their heads and kill each other as they are incapable of dialogue to resolve their disputes.
Putin is a liar. A few months ago, as the Russian army was gathering by the Ukraine border, he said he had no intention of invading Ukraine.
Dialogues have failed; he is obsessed and doesn’t see the destruction he is bringing to the Russian and the Ukrainian people. He is not a reasonable man dialogue is not working with him. We have to find a way to take him out and wipe out his army without hurting the civilian population. We are a powerful nation to do good.
The entire world is angry at Putin for invading Ukraine and is supporting the United States and NATO to stop Russia, except a few nations; China, India, and Israel.
Russia does not need fake allies like India and Israel, who are silent and letting their partner dig its own grave; it is morally wrong. The people of India and Israel need to aggressively seek their nations to be full-fledged democracies again and their leaders represent them, and not let one-person rule by his whims.
Naftali Bennet and Narendra Modi represent the nations that are our allies, but they behave like dictators and not the elected representatives. Bennet wants to support Russia to legitimize Israeli aggression against Palestinians, and Modi wants to legitimize his revocation of the statehood of Kashmir. Given that, they cannot help us, the United States, their ally. Never count on dictators.
The Palestinians have every reason to be upset; where the hell was the United States when Gaza was bombarded, killing thousands of the Palestinians? That was twice! How should they feel now? The US is speaking out against Russia but remained shamelessly silent when Israel bombarded them. Is there an element of racism? Do we consider the Palestinians lesser humans? The United States needs to be honest and just and care for the human rights and religious freedom of all people. Our actions must be beyond reproach.
Mike Ghouse is a speaker, thinker, activist, and author. He is the founder and president of the Center for Pluralism committed to building cohesive societies. www.CenterforPluralism.com