Standing up for Malala Yousufzai in Dallas, Texas
Christians, Hindus,
Muslims, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains and others
from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka and other Diaspora came
together to stand up in solidarity with Malala at FunAsia Center tonight at
8:00 PM.
Muslims, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains and others
from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka and other Diaspora came
together to stand up in solidarity with Malala at FunAsia Center tonight at
8:00 PM.
The event was organized
by John Hammond, Sharriq Hamid and Shabnam Modgil of Fun Asia Center, a model
center in Dallas that brings Desi communities together. This is a good business
idea that is worth emulating across the United States and the world. Details
are at www.Funasia.net
by John Hammond, Sharriq Hamid and Shabnam Modgil of Fun Asia Center, a model
center in Dallas that brings Desi communities together. This is a good business
idea that is worth emulating across the United States and the world. Details
are at www.Funasia.net
 |
| The man who came after every one was gone with his own candles, Dr. Arif Jamal and Mike Ghouse were the other two left on the ground |
Shabnam Modgil opened
the event followed by an array of speakers including, Sharriq Hamid, Tina
Sharma, Dr. Mona Shah, Ghulam Jangda, Nadeem Zaman, Dr. Ayyub, Anjum Anwar, myself
and John Hammond.
The following is an
outline of my talk:
outline of my talk:
Malala has become a
catalyst for a change that Pakistan was looking for decades; her suffering will
bring a new beginning, new sawera (morning) and a new azm (determination) to
Pakistan. It was heartwarming to note that 50 Key Muslim Scholars issued a
statement condemning the extremism displayed by a looney; the support for
Malala is increasing by the day. The candle light vigil is not only observed in
Pakistan, but throughout the world, including India, Canada and the United
States.
catalyst for a change that Pakistan was looking for decades; her suffering will
bring a new beginning, new sawera (morning) and a new azm (determination) to
Pakistan. It was heartwarming to note that 50 Key Muslim Scholars issued a
statement condemning the extremism displayed by a looney; the support for
Malala is increasing by the day. The candle light vigil is not only observed in
Pakistan, but throughout the world, including India, Canada and the United
States.
To honor this unity of people from different faiths and nationalities, let me
share the religious greetings from different faiths, as we are gathered here
tonight, all greetings are designed to acknowledge the stranger with a desire
to connect and a possible friendship. Whether it is Namaste, Salam, Shalom, and
Satsriakal or peace, it is has the same ingredient in it. You are welcome to
recite quietly, in chorus or don’t have to participate.
Every human is built to
feel good with unity, and tonight, we are witnessing it again, people put all
the barriers down and have joined in for Malala. Thanks to every one of you who
repeated the following greetings in chorus;
feel good with unity, and tonight, we are witnessing it again, people put all
the barriers down and have joined in for Malala. Thanks to every one of you who
repeated the following greetings in chorus;
Baha’i – Allah‘u’Abha
Buddhism – Buddha Namo
Christian – Peace to you
Hindu – Namaste
Jain – Jai Jinendra
Jewish- Shalom
Muslim – Salaam
Native American – blessings of mother earth
Sikh- Satsriakal
Muslim – Salaam
Native American – blessings of mother earth
Sikh- Satsriakal
Wicca – To goodness we bow
Zoroastrian – Hamazor Hama Ashobed.
Pakistan has endured extremism, and it reached its
peak when a teenage girl was threatened not to seek education, and was shot and
she is hurt. Prophet Muhammad had said to go the far ends of the earth to learn.
My friends, this catalytic event is for
changing the course of history in Pakistan.
peak when a teenage girl was threatened not to seek education, and was shot and
she is hurt. Prophet Muhammad had said to go the far ends of the earth to learn.
My friends, this catalytic event is for
changing the course of history in Pakistan.
God has promised in Quraan that when things get
worse, he will send a prophet, messenger, a peacemaker or an event to restore
the goodness. Krishna in Bhagvad Gita promises that whenever adharma (un-righteousness)
takes over the society, he will appear and restore the dharma (righteousness).
This is that moment to restore trust and safety for every Pakistani, and hope
it can be built where no Pakistani has to live in fear of the other.
worse, he will send a prophet, messenger, a peacemaker or an event to restore
the goodness. Krishna in Bhagvad Gita promises that whenever adharma (un-righteousness)
takes over the society, he will appear and restore the dharma (righteousness).
This is that moment to restore trust and safety for every Pakistani, and hope
it can be built where no Pakistani has to live in fear of the other.
The solution does not lie in matching their
extremism with our in-tolerance towards them, there is no end to that, what we
need to find is a way to have a dialogue with them, they are obviously misguided
from some source, we need to go that source with them and remove it from the
root, and with their consensus, and not through oppression. It can be done.
extremism with our in-tolerance towards them, there is no end to that, what we
need to find is a way to have a dialogue with them, they are obviously misguided
from some source, we need to go that source with them and remove it from the
root, and with their consensus, and not through oppression. It can be done.
Let’s keep building this momentum, the world is
with Malala, I am the very best for Pakistan and her people.
with Malala, I am the very best for Pakistan and her people.
Two days ago, another event was organized and
it is summarized at Malala, we stand with
you and your commitment to education http://nabsites.net/demo/malala-we-stand-with-you-and-your/
it is summarized at Malala, we stand with
you and your commitment to education http://nabsites.net/demo/malala-we-stand-with-you-and-your/
Mike Ghouse is committed to building a Cohesive America and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day. He is a professional speaker, thinker and a writer on pluralism, politics, civic affairs, Islam, India, Israel, peace and justice. Mike is a frequent guest onSean Hannity show on Fox TV, and a commentator on national radio networks, he contributes weekly to the Texas Faith Column at Dallas Morning News and regularly atHuffington post, Smirking Chimp and several other periodicals across the world. The blogwww.TheGhousediary.com is updated daily and MikeGhouse.net indexes all his activities.