tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90120026080724645892024-03-16T17:26:42.406-07:00Dallas Muslim CenterA Log of Muslim Events in North Texas by the World Muslim CongressMike Ghousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01647894600183489442noreply@blogger.comBlogger309125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012002608072464589.post-21462904414253592012020-01-19T08:55:00.000-08:002020-01-19T08:55:06.957-08:00Holocaust and Genocides 2020<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="background-color: white; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0.75em 0px 0px; position: relative;">
<a href="http://holocaustandgenocides.blogspot.com/2019/12/15th-annual-holocaust-and-genocides.html" style="color: #0d0d4a; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">15th Annual Holocaust and Genocides</span></a></h3>
<h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="background-color: white; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0.75em 0px 0px; position: relative;">
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #1c1e29; line-height: 20.7px;">
<span style="line-height: 20.7px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">PRESS RELEASE<span style="font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 20.7px;">
<span style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 20.7px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #1c1e29; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Dr. Mike Ghouse</span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #1c1e29; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Center for Pluralism</span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #1c1e29; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Website: </span><a class="_e75a791d-denali-editor-page-rtfLink" href="http://www.centerforpluralism.com/" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #4a6ee0; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">www.CenterforPluralism.com</span></a></span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #1c1e29; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Website: </span><a class="_e75a791d-denali-editor-page-rtfLink" href="http://www.holocaustandgenocides.com/" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #4a6ee0; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">www.HolocaustandGenocides.com</span></a></span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #1c1e29; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">email: MikeGhouse@gmail.com </span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #1c1e29; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Office: (202) 290-3560</span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #1c1e29; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Cell: (214) 325-1916</span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #1c1e29; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<ul style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #1c1e29; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0pt 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em;">
<li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; list-style-type: disc; margin: 0pt 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Press Release - </span><a class="_e75a791d-denali-editor-page-rtfLink" href="http://www.einpresswire.com/shareable-preview/Ph3gI72imCk3afsvJWZbZA" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #4a6ee0; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">http://www.einpresswire.com/shareable-preview/Ph3gI72imCk3afsvJWZbZA</span></a></span></span></li>
<li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; list-style-type: disc; margin: 0pt 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">RSVP - </span><a class="_e75a791d-denali-editor-page-rtfLink" href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/reflections-on-holocaust-and-genocides-tickets-86666932127" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #4a6ee0; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">https://www.eventbrite.com/e/reflections-on-holocaust-and-genocides-tickets-86666932127</span></a><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </span></span></span></li>
<li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; list-style-type: disc; margin: 0pt 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Facebook: </span><a class="_e75a791d-denali-editor-page-rtfLink" href="https://www.facebook.com/events/2929516827067272/" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #4a6ee0; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">https://www.facebook.com/events/2929516827067272/</span></a><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </span></span></span></li>
<li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; list-style-type: disc; margin: 0pt 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">At this time, it is published in 148 News outlets </span></span></li>
</ul>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #1c1e29; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #1c1e29; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">15th Annual Reflections on the Holocaust and Genocides </span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #1c1e29; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #1c1e29; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">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."</span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #1c1e29; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">15th Annual Reflections on Holocaust and Genocides</span></span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">5:30 PM - 8:30 PM Sunday, January 26, 2020</span></span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Arlington Central Library, 1015 N. Quincy Street</span></span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Arlington, VA 22201</span></span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #1c1e29; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #1c1e29; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Tickets are complimentary, but donations are accepted </span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #1c1e29; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #1c1e29; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<a class="_e75a791d-denali-editor-page-rtfLink" href="http://centerforpluralism.com/donate/" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #4a6ee0; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">http://centerforpluralism.com/donate/</span></span></a></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #1c1e29; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #1c1e29; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">RSVP: </span><a class="_e75a791d-denali-editor-page-rtfLink" href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/reflections-on-holocaust-and-genocides-tickets-86666932127" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #4a6ee0; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">https://www.eventbrite.com/e/reflections-on-holocaust-and-genocides-tickets-86666932127</span></a></span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #1c1e29; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 20.7px;"></span><br /></span><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #1c1e29; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">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. </span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="color: #1c1e29; line-height: 20.7px; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #1c1e29; line-height: 20.7px; margin: 0in;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE3b2DPDgsbXAAYoBG21lKMokTefhxSh-s3dZFX-gE4EhNz4N2-QpeHOdGsJROEwRqEfSWTNJKAZdY0rGrP_DP_tzpPTEWPRXj6OCLsA8hYmfGuhqvp9hFYUQMhik6-yisSQ7jYpbxjz0S/s1600/HG2020+Flier+in+making.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; color: #0d0d4a; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="816" data-original-width="1056" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE3b2DPDgsbXAAYoBG21lKMokTefhxSh-s3dZFX-gE4EhNz4N2-QpeHOdGsJROEwRqEfSWTNJKAZdY0rGrP_DP_tzpPTEWPRXj6OCLsA8hYmfGuhqvp9hFYUQMhik6-yisSQ7jYpbxjz0S/s400/HG2020+Flier+in+making.png" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvbSHr_f94u8P7ME5h_YgKet-KJvq5bhO9v9rAH2m5cegKKFXjQdrJa7HaP3lOwL2y7N-o5PID2Nj-IA-wIaVQigUlIMFr7xPvMjtn2qcKgMB4u5qJGq88jQY_t85VmEm0b_yNV9m3E95x/s1600/HG20+poster+for+email.png" imageanchor="1" style="color: #0d0d4a; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"></span></a></div>
</div>
</div>
</h3>
<h3 style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #1c1e29; margin: 0pt 0px; position: relative;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">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.</span></span></h3>
<h3 style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #1c1e29; margin: 0pt 0px; position: relative;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></h3>
<h3 style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #1c1e29; margin: 0pt 0px; position: relative;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">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. </span></span></h3>
<h3 style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #1c1e29; margin: 0pt 0px; position: relative;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></h3>
<h3 style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #1c1e29; margin: 0pt 0px; position: relative;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></h3>
<h3 style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #1c1e29; margin: 0pt 0px; position: relative;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Speakers: </span></span></h3>
<h3 style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #1c1e29; margin: 0pt 0px; position: relative;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></h3>
<h3 style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #1c1e29; margin: 0pt 0px; position: relative;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Robert F. Teitel - Holocaust Story</span></span></h3>
<h3 style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #1c1e29; margin: 0pt 0px; position: relative;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Dr. Gregory Stanton - Signs of Genocides</span></span></h3>
<h3 style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #1c1e29; margin: 0pt 0px; position: relative;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Rushan Abbas & Omer Kanat - Uyghur Updates</span></span></h3>
<h3 style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #1c1e29; margin: 0pt 0px; position: relative;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Dr. Wakar Uddin - Rohingya Update</span></span></h3>
<h3 style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #1c1e29; margin: 0pt 0px; position: relative;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Muneer Baig - Kashmir Update</span></span></h3>
<h3 style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #1c1e29; margin: 0pt 0px; position: relative;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Dr. TO Shanavas - India Update</span></span></h3>
<h3 style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #1c1e29; margin: 0pt 0px; position: relative;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Dr. Rani Khan - Peace Pledge</span></span></h3>
<h3 style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #1c1e29; margin: 0pt 0px; position: relative;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Dr. Mike Ghouse - Genesis of this event</span></span></h3>
<h3 style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #1c1e29; margin: 0pt 0px; position: relative;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Rabia Baig - Mistress of Ceremony</span></span></h3>
<h3 style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #1c1e29; margin: 0pt 0px; position: relative;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></h3>
<h3 style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #1c1e29; margin: 0pt 0px; position: relative;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Volunteers:</span></span></h3>
<h3 style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #1c1e29; margin: 0pt 0px; position: relative;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></h3>
<h3 style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #1c1e29; margin: 0pt 0px; position: relative;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Nausheen Baig</span></span></h3>
<h3 style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #1c1e29; margin: 0pt 0px; position: relative;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Rabbi Alana Suskin</span></span></h3>
<h3 style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #1c1e29; margin: 0pt 0px; position: relative;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Jafer Imam</span></span></h3>
<h3 style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #1c1e29; margin: 0pt 0px; position: relative;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Dr. Zafar Iqbal</span></span></h3>
<h3 style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #1c1e29; margin: 0pt 0px; position: relative;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Charles Stevenson</span></span></h3>
<h3 style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #1c1e29; margin: 0pt 0px; position: relative;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></h3>
<h3 style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #1c1e29; margin: 0pt 0px; position: relative;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Sponsors:</span></span></h3>
<h3 style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #1c1e29; margin: 0pt 0px; position: relative;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></h3>
<h3 style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #1c1e29; margin: 0pt 0px; position: relative;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Would you like to be a sponsor?</span></span></h3>
<h3 style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #1c1e29; margin: 0pt 0px; position: relative;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Our budget is $2000, full or any part </span></span></h3>
<h3 style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #1c1e29; margin: 0pt 0px; position: relative;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></h3>
<h3 style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #1c1e29; margin: 0pt 0px; position: relative;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Co-Chairs:</span></span></h3>
<h3 style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #1c1e29; margin: 0pt 0px; position: relative;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></h3>
<h3 style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #1c1e29; margin: 0pt 0px; position: relative;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Dr. Rani Khan</span></span></h3>
<h3 style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #1c1e29; margin: 0pt 0px; position: relative;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Dr. Mike Ghouse</span></span></h3>
<h3 style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #1c1e29; margin: 0pt 0px; position: relative;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></h3>
<h3 style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #1c1e29; margin: 0pt 0px; position: relative;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Organized by:</span></span></h3>
<h3 style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #1c1e29; margin: 0pt 0px; position: relative;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></h3>
<h3 style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #1c1e29; margin: 0pt 0px; position: relative;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Center for Pluralism</span></span></h3>
<h3 style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #1c1e29; margin: 0pt 0px; position: relative;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></h3>
<h3 style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #1c1e29; margin: 0pt 0px; position: relative;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">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. </span></span></h3>
<h3 style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #1c1e29; margin: 0pt 0px; position: relative;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></h3>
<h3 style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #1c1e29; margin: 0pt 0px; position: relative;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"> 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.</span></span></h3>
<h3 style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #1c1e29; margin: 0pt 0px; position: relative;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></h3>
<h3 style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #1c1e29; margin: 0pt 0px; position: relative;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">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. </span></span></h3>
<h3 style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #1c1e29; margin: 0pt 0px; position: relative;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></h3>
<h3 style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #1c1e29; margin: 0pt 0px; position: relative;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">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. </span></span></h3>
<h3 style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #1c1e29; margin: 0pt 0px; position: relative;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"> </span></span></h3>
<h3 style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #1c1e29; margin: 0pt 0px; position: relative;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">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.</span></span></h3>
<h3 style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #1c1e29; margin: 0pt 0px; position: relative;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></h3>
<h3 style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #1c1e29; margin: 0pt 0px; position: relative;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">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. </span></span></h3>
<h3 style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #1c1e29; margin: 0pt 0px; position: relative;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"> </span></span></h3>
<h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="background-color: white; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0.75em 0px 0px; position: relative;">
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<div style="color: #1c1e29; line-height: 20.7px; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
</div>
</div>
</div>
</h3>
<h3 style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #1c1e29; margin: 0pt 0px; position: relative;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"># # #</span></span></h3>
<h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="background-color: white; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0.75em 0px 0px; position: relative;">
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<div style="color: #1c1e29;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 20.7px;">
<div style="color: #1c1e29;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><b><span style="line-height: 18.4px;"><br /></span></b><b><span style="color: #c00000; line-height: 27.6px;">List of Supporting Organizations (links embedded)</span></b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 27.6px;"></span><br /></span><ul style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0.5em 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em;">
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 20.7px;"><a href="http://ifcmw.org/" style="color: #0d0d4a; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Interfaith Council of Metropolitan Washington</span></a></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 20.7px;"><a href="https://www.mpac.org/" style="color: #0d0d4a; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC)</span></a></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 20.7px;"><a href="https://www.thej.org/" style="color: #0d0d4a; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Pozez Jewish Community Center of Northern Virginia</span></a></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 20.7px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Foundation for Ethnic Understanding</span></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 20.7px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">American Sikhi Educational and Empowerment Network </span></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 20.7px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Jews, Muslims and Allies Acting Together (JAMAAT<span style="color: #222222;">)</span></span></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.528px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Response USA for Relief and Development (RUSARD)</span></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.528px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://iswamd.org/" style="color: #0d0d4a; text-decoration-line: none;">Islamic Society of Washington Area</a> (ISWA)</span></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.528px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Church of Scientology National Affairs Office </span></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.528px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Jews for Jewish Muslim Understanding</span></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.528px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
</h3>
<h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="background-color: white; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0.75em 0px 0px; position: relative;">
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #1c1e29;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Send email t</span>o</span><span style="color: #1c1e29; font-weight: normal;"> </span><a href="mailto:HolocaustandGenocides20@gmail.com" style="color: #0d0d4a; font-weight: normal; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: blue;">HolocaustandGenocides20@gmail.com</span></a><span style="color: #1c1e29; font-weight: normal;"><br /># # #</span></span><br /></span></div>
</h3>
<h2 style="background-color: white; margin: 0px; position: relative;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Published at 148 News Outlets<br />A few are listed below </span></span></span></h2>
<h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="background-color: white; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0.75em 0px 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="post-header" style="font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em;">
<div class="post-header-line-1">
</div>
</div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-4877441003311988819" itemprop="description articleBody" style="font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 646px;">
<div dir="ltr" trbidi="on">
</div>
</div>
</h3>
<h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="background-color: white; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0.75em 0px 0px; position: relative;">
<div style="background: transparent; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<div style="color: #1c1e29;">
<ul style="line-height: 1.4; margin: 0.5em 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em;">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: black; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #1c1e29;">Fox News, Washington, DC<br /><a href="https://www.fox34.com/story/41548532/holocaust-and-genocides-commemoration-in-washington-dc" style="color: #0d0d4a; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: blue;">https://www.fox34.com/story/41548532/holocaust-and-genocides-commemoration-in-washington-dc</span></a></span><o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: black; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #1c1e29;">Fox News<br /><a href="http://www.wicz.com/story/41548532/holocaust-and-genocides-commemoration-in-washington-dc" style="color: #0d0d4a; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.wicz.com/story/41548532/holocaust-and-genocides-commemoration-in-washington-dc</span></a></span><o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: black; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #1c1e29;">NBC News<br /><a href="http://www.nbc-2.com/story/41548532/holocaust-and-genocides-commemoration-in-washington-dc" style="color: #0d0d4a; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.nbc-2.com/story/41548532/holocaust-and-genocides-commemoration-in-washington-dc</span></a></span><o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: black; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 14pt; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #1c1e29;">Boston Herald<br /><a href="http://markets.financialcontent.com/bostonherald/news/read/39355237" style="color: #0d0d4a; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: blue;">http://markets.financialcontent.com/bostonherald/news/read/39355237</span></a></span><o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: black; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #1c1e29;">Al Bilad Daily, Saudi Arabia<br /><a href="http://www.albiladdailyeng.com/holocaust-genocides-commemoration-washington-dc/" style="color: #0d0d4a; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.albiladdailyeng.com/holocaust-genocides-commemoration-washington-dc/</span></a></span><o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: black; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #4a6ee0;">All Event<br /><a href="https://allevents.in/arlington/reflections-on-holocaust-and-genocides/1000086666932127" style="color: #0d0d4a; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #4a6ee0;">https://allevents.in/arlington/reflections-on-holocaust-and-genocides/1000086666932127</span></a></span><o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: black; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #1c1e29;"><a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=%22Holocaust+and+Genocides+Commemoration+in+Washington,+DC%22&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&tbm=nws" style="color: #0d0d4a; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: blue;">Google News</span></a></span><o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: black; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #1c1e29;"><a href="http://search.yahoo.com/search?p=%22Holocaust+and+Genocides+Commemoration+in+Washington%2C+DC%22&ei=UTF-8" style="color: #0d0d4a; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: blue;">Yahoo News</span></a> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: black; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #1c1e29;"><a href="http://www.bing.com/news/search?q=%22Holocaust+and+Genocides+Commemoration+in+Washington%2C+DC%22" style="color: #0d0d4a; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: blue;">Bing News</span></a></span><o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: black; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #1c1e29;"><a href="https://twitter.com/search/realtime?q=%22Holocaust+and+Genocides+Commemoration+in+Washington%2C+DC%22" style="color: #0d0d4a; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: blue;">Twitter</span></a></span><o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: black; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #1c1e29;">African American News <a href="https://africanamericans.einnews.com/pr_news/506869723/holocaust-and-genocides-commemoration-in-washington-dc" style="color: #0d0d4a; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: blue;">https://africanamericans.einnews.com/pr_news/506869723/holocaust-and-genocides-commemoration-in-washington-dc</span></a></span><o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: black; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #1c1e29;">Hispanic News Today - h<a href="ttps://hispanics.einnews.com/pr_news/506869723/holocaust-and-genocides-commemoration-in-washington-dc" style="color: #0d0d4a; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: blue;">ttps://hispanics.einnews.com/pr_news/506869723/holocaust-and-genocides-commemoration-in-washington-dc</span></a> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: black; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #1c1e29;">Human Rights <a href="https://humanrights.einnews.com/pr_news/506869723/holocaust-and-genocides-commemoration-in-washington-dc" style="color: #0d0d4a; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: blue;">https://humanrights.einnews.com/pr_news/506869723/holocaust-and-genocides-commemoration-in-washington-dc</span></a></span><o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: black; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #1c1e29; font-weight: normal;">Religion News<a href="https://religion.einnews.com/pr_news/506869723/holocaust-and-genocides-commemoration-in-washington-dc" style="color: #0d0d4a; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: blue;"> https://religion.einnews.com/pr_news/506869723/holocaust-and-genocides-commemoration-in-washington-dc</span></a></span><o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOz1qbJPa6JmhmjQR8TPLzuTikRcYN24Mda2SAXC-bUrrE8BOoOVOC8Yj5eTM8nWL-mGi8AeVTFJ6FJwIV7Ey-K0F91g6my0VaUfBCML-jcoe690xrRlCuIpK1_O2jOx55OnlkXZGcrh67/s1600/HG20+GRAPHICS+-for+Eventbrite.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; color: #341eff; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="299" data-original-width="580" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOz1qbJPa6JmhmjQR8TPLzuTikRcYN24Mda2SAXC-bUrrE8BOoOVOC8Yj5eTM8nWL-mGi8AeVTFJ6FJwIV7Ey-K0F91g6my0VaUfBCML-jcoe690xrRlCuIpK1_O2jOx55OnlkXZGcrh67/s400/HG20+GRAPHICS+-for+Eventbrite.png" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="400" /></span></a></div>
</div>
</div>
</h3>
</div>
Mike Ghousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01647894600183489442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012002608072464589.post-4110510720179594882019-04-25T16:43:00.000-07:002019-04-25T16:43:01.541-07:00Book talk for American Muslim Agenda<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; margin: 9pt 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration-line: none;"><a href="https://americanmuslimagenda.blogspot.com/2019/04/hosting-book-talk-for-american-muslim.html" style="color: black; text-decoration-line: none;">Hosting book talk for American Muslim Agenda</a><br /></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">If you are a conservative, then grudgingly you'll see the value in what this book offers, and if you are on the left, you want more of it, and if you are moderate, you will dance with joy.</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSwp5canoVxwpbHPVgFCDHQ1lkHciIidD21MUUQqt_rDbCaPUHB569z9rAZaE3S2PX8dWOwq1_CH9LgH7NvHVh6aCLu-Tn5e9tmBOgBot-K7lnWwTbaH8yz5rpDKJBXoi5ZrNDF4BeGrw/s1600/MikeGhouse-image3+-+Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1034" data-original-width="1600" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSwp5canoVxwpbHPVgFCDHQ1lkHciIidD21MUUQqt_rDbCaPUHB569z9rAZaE3S2PX8dWOwq1_CH9LgH7NvHVh6aCLu-Tn5e9tmBOgBot-K7lnWwTbaH8yz5rpDKJBXoi5ZrNDF4BeGrw/s400/MikeGhouse-image3+-+Copy.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(233, 233, 233); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">HOSTING A BOOK TALK<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px;">
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18.6667px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">The book is about building a cohesive America where each one of us feels secure about our faith, race, ethnicity, culture, sexual and political orientation. Who does not want to live a tension free life at home, workplace, and in the public space? </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18.6667px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">The "American Muslim Agenda” serves a two-fold purpose. On the one hand, it separates the chaff from the grain for fellow Americans to see Muslims for who they are and not how the media projects them. On the other hand, it challenges Muslims to restore Islam to its original purpose; that is to create cohesive societies, in our case, a coherent America, where each one of the 323 Million Americans feels proud of his or her uniqueness. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">The book presents many success stories to keep the reader bemused. I am pleased to submit three versions of the blurbs on the book talk. The format can be 10 minutes or 20 minutes presentation with room for Q&A. We want our esteemed guests to go home fully satisfied with all the questions they have had about Islam and Muslims. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Our conservative friends would grudgingly acknowledge the pathway laid out in the book, while the moderates will dance with joy. If your vision of America is in tune with the book, together as Americans, we can contribute towards the greatness of our nation.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinIaTRbF90m5TIL3WwpuR6qimGpXhK9dUUoATxU0xeSludRHo051lctmNmJx9a9PO-HLjJyHoO-_WJqOsSevibDMo72JZDEq3vd2ORzgTU9kjwI9AFRAxBkMX5PHOB0IBzosLwY_LjJ30/s1600/FoxNews-MikeGhouse-SeanHannity.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="698" data-original-width="1242" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinIaTRbF90m5TIL3WwpuR6qimGpXhK9dUUoATxU0xeSludRHo051lctmNmJx9a9PO-HLjJyHoO-_WJqOsSevibDMo72JZDEq3vd2ORzgTU9kjwI9AFRAxBkMX5PHOB0IBzosLwY_LjJ30/s400/FoxNews-MikeGhouse-SeanHannity.jpg" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 1px solid rgb(233, 233, 233); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px;" />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px;">
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; text-align: justify;">
<b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">Would this book bring a change? </span></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18.6667px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Would this bring a change among Muslims towards others and others towards Muslims? Indeed, this book lays out a clear agenda to foster harmony among fellow Americans. It is akin to planting a seed and nurturing to give the beneficence to the next generation.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Some of the reservations we have about Muslims is based on what we have heard from our parents, friends, teachers, pastors, and TV. It is time for us to learn first-hand about them and remove the misunderstandings and live freely. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">It is one of the bold books written about Muslims, and it highlights the sources of extremism and how to cure it.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Unfortunately, some of the Muslim scholars from the past have reduced Islam to a religion of rituals and obedience. This book brings clarity to Muslims and fellow humans and separates the chaff from the wheat for you.</span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px;" />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px;">
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; text-align: justify;">
<b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">What is the overall theme of your book?</span></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18.6667px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">The overall theme of the book is to open people's hearts and minds towards each other. I believe that the ultimate ‘unexpressed’ purpose of humans is to live freely and be comfortable with one's culture, race, religion, ethnicity, sexuality, and individuality.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18.6667px; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="font-size: 14pt;"><i>Why do you think that this book will appeal to readers?</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">It will appeal to Muslims and Non-Muslims alike, as they have never seen the pristine, pluralistic Islam. Moreover, for the first time in Islamic history, the essence of Islam is explained. Also, for the first time, the book explains twelve values directly from the Quran that contributes towards building cohesive societies with no privileges to one over the other. It is human nature to get along with fellow beings, and this book will resonate with them and pave the path for them to see the light at the end of the tunnel.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"></span><b style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px;" />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">TEN T<b>AKE AWAY POINTS FROM THE BOOK</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px;">
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">1. The American Muslim Agenda challenges Muslims to think and restore Islam to its original purpose – i.e., to create a cohesive America, where each one of the 323 Million Americans feels secure with his or her faith, race, ethnicity culture, sexual and political orientation. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18.6667px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">2. The American Muslim Agenda paves the way for Muslims to own their mistakes, and remedy them. It corrects how fellow Americans perceive Muslims.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px;" />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">3. Islam is not about imposing (Sharia) your ideas or governing others. Islam is about living your life and letting others live theirs with freedom. That is the original Islam. Islam is about freedom and firmly stands for free will.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">4. The essence and purpose of Islam from a humanity’s (Aalameen) perspective for the first time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">5. Never before in Islamic history, twelve values of Islam that contribute to creating secure, orderly and cohesive societies have been articulated. Verses from the Quran fully back each value. Thus, the book becomes a reference manual to teach and learn about Islam.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">6. The best way to combat Islamophobia is through education, engagement, and dialogue. There are many success stories narrated including dealing with Fox News, Sean Hannity, Stuart Varney and the supposedly most of the Islamaphobes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">7. This book is the product of twenty years of research and interviews with the right, left, and the moderate fellow humans from many faiths including 150 interviews at Fox News and its many right-leaning guests.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">8. Can a Muslim become President of the United States? What does it take, there is a full chapter on the topic?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">9. In the end, it is learning to respect the otherness of the other and accepting the God given the uniqueness of each one of the 323 million Americans.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">10. There is a whole lot more, and it is all in the book.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">Talk Version 1.0<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">Title of the talk: Muslims making America the Greatest nation on earth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">Americans Muslims are committed to building a cohesive America, an inclusive America where each one of the 323 Million Americans feel secure about his/her faith, race, ethnicity, culture, sexual and political orientation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">When you are free from apprehensions, and connect with fellow workers, the workplace becomes a joy to be. You will give 100% of your heart and mind to your work, and your family benefits from having a whole of you, thus creating a little heaven for yourselves.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">Dr. Mike Ghouse, author, public speaker, pluralist, interfaith wedding officiant, and the president of the Center for Pluralism in Washington, DC., will discuss how Muslim efforts in building a cohesive America are working.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">He points out that we are Americans, we are free and brave people and must jettison our apprehensions about each other to live freely. Mike advises that if you are a conservative, then grudgingly you'll see a value in what this book offers, and if you are on the left, you want more of it, and the moderates will dance with joy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">He points out that we are Americans, we are free, and the brave people, and must jettison our apprehensions about each other to live freely. How do we accomplish that? It is by knowing each other.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">America has always led the world in science, medicine, math, agriculture, automation, information technology, exploration and all the advancements of the human race, and it is time for us to lead the world in building a cohesive nation. The book offers concrete solutions to Americans to make America a great and powerful model nation of inclusion for Americans to enjoy living their lives productively and purposefully, and the world to look up to us to emulate.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">We have to assure each other and every American without exception that we are committed to each other's security, prosperity, and peace. Our goal is to reach out to every American who has not been reached before, particularly those who do not understand us. As American Muslims, we uphold, protect, defend and celebrate the values enshrined in our constitution.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">Mike will share a few incredible success stories of dealing with our friends on the right and answer questions about Muslim efforts.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">The book “American Muslim Agenda” will become a reference manual to knowledge seekers and teachers of Islam, and those who want to see one nation, one people and one America. For Muslims, it is backed up with verses from the Quran. You can order this book from Amazon, Kindle, Barnes & Noble, Google, and other book stores. See the talking points at http://www.AmericanMuslimAgenda.com and Mike’s profile appended at https://www.linkedin.com/inmikeghouse.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">Talk Version 2:0<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">Title of the talk: Muslims making America the Greatest nation on earth</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">Americans Muslims are committed to building a cohesive America, an inclusive America where each one of the 323 Million Americans feel secure about his/her faith, race, ethnicity, culture, sexual and political orientation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">When you are free from apprehensions, and connect with fellow workers, the workplace becomes a joy to be. You will give 100% of your heart and mind to your work, and your family benefits from having a whole of you with them creating a little heaven for yourselves.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">Dr. Mike Ghouse, author, public speaker, pluralist, interfaith wedding officiant, and the President of the Center for Pluralism in Washington, DC., will discuss how Muslim effort is ongoing in building a cohesive America, where each one of the 323 Million Americans feel secure about his/her faith, race, ethnicity, culture, sexual and political orientations.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">He points out that we are Americans, we are free and brave people and must jettison our apprehensions about each other to live freely. Mike advises that if you are a conservative, then grudgingly you'll see a value in what this book offers, and if you are on the left, you want more of it, and the moderates will dance with joy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">The book paves the way for Muslims to own their mistakes, remedy them, and correct how fellow Americans perceive Muslims. Mike argues that Islam is not about imposing your ideas or governing others. Instead, Islam is about living your life and letting others live theirs with freedom. It is a bold challenge to Muslims. He shows a narration from humanity's (Aalameen) perspective of the essence and purpose of Islam for the first time in history.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">Mike articulates, for the first time in Islamic history, twelve values of Islam that contribute to creating secure, orderly and cohesive societies. He concludes that the best way to combat Islamophobia (and other phobias) is through education, engagement, and dialogue. Mike lays out a clear agenda to foster harmony among fellow Americans. It is akin to planting a seed and nurturing to give the beneficence to the next generation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">Mike believes when Muslims become one with all and defend American values with their souls, they will become part of the American story, and everyone’s language will automatically shift from us vs. them to us, the one nation under God with liberty and justice for all. As American Muslims, we uphold, protect, defend and celebrate the values enshrined in our constitution.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">This book will become a reference manual to teachers of Islam and knowledge seekers about Islam, as it is backed up verses from the Quran. You can order his book from Amazon, Kindle, Barnes & Noble, Google, and other book stores. See the talking points at http://www.AmericanMuslimAgenda.com and Mike’s profile appended at https://www.linkedin.com/inmikeghouse.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">BOOK - Version 3.0<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">The American Muslim Agenda is a primer, a blueprint, and a road map for Americans in general and Muslims in particular.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">A Muslim is someone who is a conflict mitigater and a goodwill nurturer, following the formula for peaceful societies practiced by Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and guided by the Quran.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">As a community, American Muslims have not developed any concrete plans to extricate themselves out of the chaotic situations, hostility and incessant Islamophobic rhetoric we face. Each time a terrorist acts out, we start praying and wishing that the terrorist not be a Muslim. We are Americans, and we can do better than that.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">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 reassure them that we are all in this together. Mike will share some success stories.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">When we start defending America and the American values we are in! We become an integral part of American Fabric. That is the clear objective articulated in this book.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">The book is available at Amazon, Kindle, Google, Xlibris, Barnes & Nobles, and other book stores. The softcover is priced at $19.99, and the hardcover is $29.99. It is also available as an eBook.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">The American Muslim Agenda will be in the hands of lawmakers, presidential candidates, media persons, lobbyists, think tanks, educators, interfaith activists, CEO, and fellow Americans. The book is about building a cohesive America where each one of us can live securely with our faith, race, ethnicity, and culture.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">As American Muslims, we uphold, protect, defend and celebrate the values enshrined in our constitution.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">Mike is a public speaker, author, interfaith wedding officiant, a newsmaker and the executive director of the Center for Pluralism in Washington, DC. More about him at <span style="color: windowtext;"><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikeghouse/" style="color: black; text-decoration-line: none;">https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikeghouse/</a></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">Email to: SpeakerMikeGhouse@gmail.com or text (214) 325-1916</span></div>
</div>
Mike Ghousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01647894600183489442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012002608072464589.post-17927619585713143132019-02-13T17:57:00.001-08:002019-02-13T17:57:25.618-08:00American Muslim Agenda - What is it?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 17.71px;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 21.4667px;">What is that Americans Muslims want? How close are they to what you want? What can they do about it? What are your issues with each other? If you are a conservative, grudgingly, you'll see the value in this book, and if you are a moderate, you'll dance and sing along with joy.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 17.71px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 21.4667px;"><br /><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 17.71px;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 21.4667px;">You and I have a responsibility to create a world where, you, me, and our grandchildren can live without apprehensions. No matter we go, we should feel secure about faith, race, ethnicity, culture and our political and sexual orientation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 17.71px;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 21.4667px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpusOTC7YGD5vyEzpFFcIDW4yNd8ryuIc5ayUPlj7IDOM7MbAjGRF7rVBjfAceblndXhcjUE1NVplGG5wBhqCu_5d0cEAPwe6kedTqw_FlBUhz2zUmu9f2gTR_o9st2cscAeRXH1ShzKw/s1600/AMA-Book-Banner1+-+Copy.png" imageanchor="1" style="color: #165288; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="355" data-original-width="1056" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpusOTC7YGD5vyEzpFFcIDW4yNd8ryuIc5ayUPlj7IDOM7MbAjGRF7rVBjfAceblndXhcjUE1NVplGG5wBhqCu_5d0cEAPwe6kedTqw_FlBUhz2zUmu9f2gTR_o9st2cscAeRXH1ShzKw/s400/AMA-Book-Banner1+-+Copy.png" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(233, 233, 233); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 17.71px;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 21.4667px;">Would the book American Muslim Agenda bring attitudinal change among Muslims? Yes, it will, it’s akin to planting seeds and nurturing it to give the beneficence to the next generation. I know most American Muslims will wholeheartedly subscribe to the refreshed understanding of Islam, we need to expand it to more Americans.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 17.71px;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 21.4667px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 17.71px;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 21.4667px;">Some of the reservations we have about Muslims and Islam are based on what we have heard from our parents, teachers, clergy, favorite media people and others. We need to find the truth on our own and find freedom from misunderstandings. It is a blessing to be free.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 17.71px;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 21.4667px;">Muslims have shied away from confronting difficult issues about their faith, and most of them don't even have a clue about the essence of Islam, it was never articulated before in the history of Islam. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 17.71px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 17.71px;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 21.4667px;">A few medieval scholars have reduced Islam to rituals, five pillars, dhimmi, jizya, sharia, externalities, and enforcement of your rules on to others. That is not Islam, and most Muslims can recite verses that Islam is about free will. God uploaded free will into Adam’s DNA, and emphasized it in the Quran, the prophet practiced ‘freewill’ and established examples for it. Sadly, Muslims know the truth but were bullied into silence with fatwa bombs. All I have done is articulated what Muslims believe, but dared not say it. The book is the voice of the majority of ‘American’ Muslims.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 17.71px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 17.71px;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 21.4667px;">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, including 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. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 17.71px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 17.71px;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 21.4667px;">Islam is about living your life and letting others live theirs. Islam is about building cohesive societies where all of God's creation lives with dignity and freedom. In God’s universe, we are merely a speck, and no one is more privileged than the other. If you are a moderate individual of any faith, you will find the book in tune with you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 17.71px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 17.71px;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 21.4667px;">It is time to go beyond the five pillars of Islam, and I hope the Imams and Muslim scholars who are free thinkers would appreciate the contents of the book. This book may indeed become a reference manual for teaching Islamic values that contribute to creating a better world for all humanity.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 17.71px;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 21.4667px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 17.71px;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 21.4667px;">The American Muslim Agenda offers guidance to Muslims to be one with all, and it voices what Muslims believe and live with and empowers them to live their lives and let others live with free will. The book opens the door to people of other faiths to shed their biases and join hands in creating a world of safety, security, and harmony for all humanity.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 17.71px;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 21.4667px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 17.71px;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 21.4667px;">Islam is a public religion, and Muslims don't own it exclusively. You are invited to participate in discussions, including your faith. The book is expected to initiate conversations about the nature of Islam and fellow humans. I welcome your criticism (after reading the book).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 17.71px;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 21.4667px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 17.71px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 21.4667px;">You can get the book by calling 1-888-795-4274 x 4528 or get it from Amazon online or a book store. You can find the talking points at </span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="line-height: 21.4667px;"><a href="http://www.americanmuslimagenda.com/" style="color: #183e7c; text-decoration-line: none;">www.AmericanMuslimAgenda.com</a></span></span><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 21.4667px;">.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 17.71px;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 21.4667px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 17.71px;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 21.4667px;"></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 21.4667px;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Dr. Mike Ghouse is committed to building a cohesive America and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day. His new book, the “American Muslim Agenda” is about everything you wanted to know about Muslims. The book is available at Xlibris and Amazon. Mike is a public speaker, author, interfaith wedding officiant, and the executive director of the Center for Pluralism in Washington, DC. More about him at </span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="border: 1pt none; color: #00bcd5; padding: 0in;"><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikeghouse/" style="color: #165288; text-decoration-line: none;">https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikeghouse/</a></span></span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
Mike Ghousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01647894600183489442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012002608072464589.post-24285921622473991802019-01-15T10:36:00.001-08:002019-01-15T10:36:17.092-08:00 A Muslim Woman for President of the United States<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 7.5pt;">
<b><span style="color: #1b1b1b; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18pt;">MEDIA RELEASE<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 7.5pt;">
<span style="color: #1b1b1b; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13pt;">Contact: Mike Ghouse<br />(214) 325-1916 | Washington DC</span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13pt;"><a href="mailto:SpeakerMikeGhouse@gmail.com" style="color: #183e7c; text-decoration-line: none;">SpeakerMikeGhouse@gmail.com</a></span></span><span style="color: #1b1b1b; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13pt;"><br />Website: </span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13pt;"><a href="http://www.americanmuslimagenda.com/" style="color: #183e7c; text-decoration-line: none;">www.AmericanMuslimAgenda.com</a></span></span><span style="color: #1b1b1b; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 7.5pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 7.5pt;">
<b><span style="color: #1b1b1b; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">A Muslim Woman for President of the United States<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<v:shapetype coordsize="21600,21600" filled="f" id="_x0000_t75" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" stroked="f"><v:stroke joinstyle="miter"><v:formulas><v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"><v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"><v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"><v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"><v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"><v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"><v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"><v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"><v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"><v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"><v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"><v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:formulas><v:path gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect" o:extrusionok="f"><o:lock aspectratio="t" v:ext="edit"></o:lock></v:path></v:stroke></v:shapetype><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_1" o:spid="_x0000_i1025" style="height: 167.25pt; visibility: visible; width: 297.75pt;" type="#_x0000_t75"><v:imagedata o:title="" src="file:///C:/Users/Owner/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.jpg"></v:imagedata></v:shape><span style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13pt;">January 15, 2019, Washington, DC – Dr. Mike Ghouse, president of the Center for Pluralism, announced the release of the new book, “American Muslim Agenda.” The book is available at Amazon.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13pt;">Why a Muslim Woman? Why should we set the goal to elect a Muslim woman as the president of the United States of America in 2036? One of the many ways to pull ourselves up by our bootstraps is to look at our history and revive the model created by Bibi Khadija (Prophet’s wife); she made things happen, and she will open the door of integration with ease.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs2VwDTc_2CUtGc-Ell6S1_QI03UVezWK6FzuI3bQbpX9460RdWBQCN0kGVG-ln_F6DmW8t4ks3SC8UBczTcSwDW_F0AI26XZhSxNJxKzNZ8N3NIgFzG7OUgZkwXCFbU5KC56ovtce-OoP/s1600/President+of+the+United+States.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #183e7c; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="349" data-original-width="620" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs2VwDTc_2CUtGc-Ell6S1_QI03UVezWK6FzuI3bQbpX9460RdWBQCN0kGVG-ln_F6DmW8t4ks3SC8UBczTcSwDW_F0AI26XZhSxNJxKzNZ8N3NIgFzG7OUgZkwXCFbU5KC56ovtce-OoP/s400/President+of+the+United+States.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(236, 236, 236); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px;" />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13pt;">The book is a product of years of research and public engagement with Sean Hannity, Stuart Varney, Laura Ingraham, Greg Guttfield, Megyn Kelly, and along with other commentators such as Pamela Geller, Brigitte Gabriel, Robert Spencer, and nearly 15 right-leaning guests.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13pt;">Thanks to the media, both the conservative and progressive for presenting different points of view on Islam. I urge fellow Muslims to be open to criticism of Islam, the Quran, and the Prophet. Without any doubt, you will gain confidence when you gracefully address the toughest questions of fellow Americans. We owe the answers!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13pt;">American Muslim Agenda is a primer, a blueprint, a road map for American Muslims to consider. It took 18 years to complete the book replete with verses from the Quran and supported by Prophet Muhammad’s practices. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13pt;">Everything begins with a dream and a vision. Nothing ever has been accomplished without a roadmap. As American Muslims, we have not developed any concrete plans to extricate ourselves out of the chaotic situations, hostility and incessant Islamophobic rhetoric we face. Each time a terrorist acts out, we start praying and wishing that the terrorist not be a Muslim, and start blaming the media for misrepresenting Muslims.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13pt;">We are American Muslims, and we can do better than that.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px;" />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13pt;"># # #</span></div>
</div>
Mike Ghousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01647894600183489442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012002608072464589.post-29077490885691053512019-01-13T12:35:00.000-08:002019-01-13T12:35:24.093-08:00Book Relase - American Muslim Agenda <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
THE BOOK – American Muslim Agenda<br />Muslims Together Building a Cohesive America</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<img alt="" class="alignleft wp-image-7096" height="324" src="http://www.theghousediary.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/AmericanMuslimAgenda-Book.jpg.jpeg" style="border: 0px; float: left; height: auto; margin: 0.857143rem 1.71429rem 0.857143rem 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="216" /></div>
<ul style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.71429; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: outside; margin: 0px 0px 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<li style="border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 2.57143rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">To order call: 1-888-795-4274 x 4528</li>
<li style="border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 2.57143rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">To order online –<a class="x-el x-el-a px_-letter-spacing-normal px_-text-transform-none px_-word-wrap-break-word px_-overflow-wrap-break-word px_-fs-16 px_-fw-400 px_-c-rgb101__129__19 px_-text-decoration-underline px_-d-inline px_-cursor-pointer px_-ff-_Lato___arial__sans-serif px__hover-c-rgb90__115__16 _mdpx_-fs-16 _lgpx_-fs-16 x-d-ux" href="https://www.xlibris.com/Bookstore/BookDetail.aspx?Book=547287" rel="noopener" style="border: 0px; color: #00bcd5; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">https://www.xlibris.com/Bookstore/BookDetail.aspx?Book=547287</a></li>
<li style="border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 2.57143rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Softcover $19.99 / Hardcover $29.99</li>
<li style="border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 2.57143rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">If you would like to receive a signed copy, please send an email to <a class="x-el x-el-a px_-letter-spacing-normal px_-text-transform-none px_-word-wrap-break-word px_-overflow-wrap-break-word px_-fs-16 px_-fw-400 px_-c-rgb101__129__19 px_-text-decoration-underline px_-d-inline px_-cursor-pointer px_-ff-_Lato___arial__sans-serif px__hover-c-rgb90__115__16 _mdpx_-fs-16 _lgpx_-fs-16 x-d-ux" href="mailto:AmericanMuslimAgenda@gmail.com" rel="noopener" style="border: 0px; color: #00bcd5; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">AmericanMuslimAgenda@gmail.com</a></li>
<li style="border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 2.57143rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">What is the book about?</li>
<li style="border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 2.57143rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">What do the Scholars say about the book?</li>
<li style="border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 2.57143rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Talking points</li>
<li style="border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 2.57143rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Media Inquiries to <a class="x-el x-el-a px_-letter-spacing-normal px_-text-transform-none px_-word-wrap-break-word px_-overflow-wrap-break-word px_-fs-16 px_-fw-400 px_-c-rgb101__129__19 px_-text-decoration-underline px_-d-inline px_-cursor-pointer px_-ff-_Lato___arial__sans-serif px__hover-c-rgb90__115__16 _mdpx_-fs-16 _lgpx_-fs-16 x-d-ux" href="mailto:AmericanMuslimAgenda@gmail.com" rel="noopener" style="border: 0px; color: #00bcd5; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">AmericanMuslimAgenda@gmail.com</a></li>
</ul>
<hr class="x-el x-el-hr px_-letter-spacing-normal px_-text-transform-none px_-border-color-rgb226__226__226 px_-border-bottom-width-1px px_-border-style-solid px_-mt-0 px_-mb-0 px_-w-100P px_-ff-_Lato___arial__sans-serif px_-fs-16 _mdpx_-fs-16 _lgpx_-fs-16 x-d-ux" style="background-color: #cccccc; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; height: 1px; margin: 24px 24px 1.71429rem;" />
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<h2 class="x-el x-el-h4 px_-letter-spacing-normal px_-text-transform-none px_-word-wrap-break-word px_-overflow-wrap-break-word px_-fs-20 px_-c-rgb27__27__27 px_-fw-400 px_-lh-1p25 px_-ml-0 px_-mr-0 px_-mt-0 px_-mb-0 px_-ff-_Lato___arial__sans-serif _mdpx_-fs-22 _lgpx_-fs-22 x-d-ux" style="border: 0px; clear: both; color: rgb(0, 0, 0) !important; font-family: "", sans-serif !important; font-size: 1.28571rem; line-height: 1.6; margin: 1.71429rem 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="x-el x-el-span px_-letter-spacing-normal px_-text-transform-none px_-fs-unset px_-ff-_Lato___arial__sans-serif px_-fw-700 x-d-ux" style="border: 0px; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">What is the book about? </span></h2>
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
You will be pleased to see your vision of America resonate in the book. Even though the title is ”American Muslim Agenda,” it is for all Americans.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
One of the purposes in naming the book is for my fellow Americans who have misunderstood Muslims to pick up the book and read, and my fellow Muslims who have misunderstood Islam to take a look the at the pristine Islam that they long for, it is not lost, we have to revive it. Islam is not about ruling or dictating others; it is about living your life and letting others live theirs, one of the 12 strongest values of Islam is freewill that Muslims have forgotten. I have cited the Quran extensively with reinforcing practices of the prophet.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
There are occasional references of wisdom drawn from Atheism to Zoroastrianism and every faith in between. You will see Jesus in Muhammad, Torah in Quran or Bhagavad Gita’s reflections or Buddhas Middle path or Nanak’s service to humanity.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="x-el x-el-span px_-letter-spacing-normal px_-text-transform-none px_-fs-unset px_-ff-_Lato___arial__sans-serif px_-fw-700 x-d-ux" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">You may like this note that Dr. Frank Islam has highlighted.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
“I am intrigued by the book, particularly the chapter on the Essence of Islam. The great Talmudic sage Rabbi Hillel in the first century BC said, “What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbor. That is the whole Torah; the rest is the explanation of this—to study it!” Dr. Ghouse responds to Rabbi Hillel with a corollary on Islam, “God wants us to respect the otherness of the others and accept the uniqueness of each human. That is the whole Quran; the rest is the explanation of this—to study it!”</div>
<h3 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; clear: both; font-family: "", sans-serif !important; font-size: 1.14286rem; line-height: 1.84615; margin: 1.71429rem 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
MUSLIMS TOGETHER BUILDING A COHESIVE AMERICA</h3>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
This book, The American Muslim Agenda, is a primer, a blueprint, a road map for American Muslims to consider. A Muslim is someone who is a conflict mitigater and a goodwill nurturer, following the formula for peaceful societies practiced by Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and guided by the Quran. As a community, American Muslims have not developed any concrete plans to extricate themselves out of the chaotic situations, hostility and incessant Islamophobic rhetoric we face. Each time a terrorist acts out, we start praying and wishing that the terrorist not be a Muslim. We are Americans, and we can do better than that. This book paves the way for us to own the mistakes we have made, remedy them, and become fully integrated Americans. 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 good success stories to share on that front. When we start defending America and American values we are in! We become an integral part of American Fabric.</div>
<hr class="x-el x-el-hr px_-letter-spacing-normal px_-text-transform-none px_-border-color-rgb226__226__226 px_-border-bottom-width-1px px_-border-style-solid px_-mt-0 px_-mb-0 px_-w-100P px_-ff-_Lato___arial__sans-serif px_-fs-16 _mdpx_-fs-16 _lgpx_-fs-16 x-d-ux" style="background-color: #cccccc; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; height: 1px; margin: 24px 24px 1.71429rem;" />
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<h2 class="x-el x-el-h4 px_-letter-spacing-normal px_-text-transform-none px_-word-wrap-break-word px_-overflow-wrap-break-word px_-fs-20 px_-c-rgb27__27__27 px_-fw-400 px_-lh-1p25 px_-ml-0 px_-mr-0 px_-mt-0 px_-mb-0 px_-ff-_Lato___arial__sans-serif _mdpx_-fs-22 _lgpx_-fs-22 x-d-ux" style="border: 0px; clear: both; color: rgb(0, 0, 0) !important; font-family: "", sans-serif !important; font-size: 1.28571rem; line-height: 1.6; margin: 1.71429rem 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="x-el x-el-span px_-letter-spacing-normal px_-text-transform-none px_-fs-unset px_-ff-_Lato___arial__sans-serif px_-fw-700 x-d-ux" style="border: 0px; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">What do the Scholars say about the book?</span></h2>
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x-el x-el-span px_-letter-spacing-normal px_-text-transform-none px_-fs-unset px_-ff-_Lato___arial__sans-serif px_-fw-700 x-d-ux" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Bob Roberts</span>, Renowned Evangelical Pastor & Founder of Global.net Author Bold as Love</strong></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
I’m so grateful for the work of Mike Ghouse and his desire to build bridges. You will love this book, it’s about how Muslims in America think, and how we should all be connected regardless of faith. For too long, we’ve ignored the divide between Muslims and Christians and the result is we are prone to believe the worst about one another. Thanks, Mike for this important book.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
* * * * *</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x-el x-el-span px_-letter-spacing-normal px_-text-transform-none px_-fs-unset px_-ff-_Lato___arial__sans-serif px_-fw-700 x-d-ux" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Bob Crane,</span> first Muslim US Ambassador</strong></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Mike Ghouse’s path-breaking book, American Muslim Agenda, recommends a new agenda in the form of a paradigm shift from the negativism of attacking Islamophobia to the constructive support of America’s founding vision as a model of every world religion’s essence in compassionate justice. This is based on the interfaith search for transcendent truth from both scriptures and natural law in order to translate this wisdom into principles of both ethical value and jurisprudence. These principles, in turn, are essential to guide the modern think-tanks that shape policy agendas, as well as to inform the voters and legislators who have the practical responsibility to translate the vision of compassionate justice into both societal and institutional reform. This is what it has always meant to be an American.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Fi Aman Allah,</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
* * * * *</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x-el x-el-span px_-letter-spacing-normal px_-text-transform-none px_-fs-unset px_-ff-_Lato___arial__sans-serif px_-fw-700 x-d-ux" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar</span>, first Muslim woman scholar to translate the Quran sensitively! </strong><br />Endorsement for The American Muslim Agenda by Mike Ghouse The author presents a challenge to American Muslims to lose their egos and integrate themselves into being fully Muslim, fully American. They have a Muslim example to follow and it is that of spiritual chivalry (javanmardi, futuwwah).</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Spiritual chivalry is that the spiritual warrior constantly strives for the sake of others. It is not seeing yourself as superior to others, to be an enemy of your own soul for the sake of your Lord, to act justly without demanding justice for yourself. Spiritual chivalry is to manifest a beautiful character.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
The spiritual warrior (fata or the feminine, fatat) is a person who has a sense of honor, is called ‘he who breaks the idol.’ God Most High has said [in the Quran], ‘We heard a spiritual warrior named Abraham speak of them [the idols Abraham broke]’ [21:20]. And He said, ‘And he (Abraham, the spiritual warrior) made them [the idols] fragments’ [21:60]. The idol of every person is his own ego, so in reality, whoever opposes his own passions is a ‘spiritual warrior’.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
* * * * *</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span class="x-el x-el-span px_-letter-spacing-normal px_-text-transform-none px_-fs-unset px_-ff-_Lato___arial__sans-serif px_-fw-700 x-d-ux" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Dr. Tariq Cheema, </span>Founder, World Congress of Muslim Philanthropists</strong></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
“Bold and brilliant Mike Ghouse. He has not just drawn a roadmap for Muslim Americans to contribute to the society meaningfully but highlighted the unique value proposition of Muslims that mainstream America can bank upon to progress. In fragmented America today, the hope lies in the people of faith who believe in social justice and cohesion. This book is an open invitation and a call to action for all those men and women of conscience.”</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
* * * * *</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span class="x-el x-el-span px_-letter-spacing-normal px_-text-transform-none px_-fs-unset px_-ff-_Lato___arial__sans-serif px_-fw-700 x-d-ux" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Rabbi Gerald Serotta</span>, Executive Director, Interfaith Conference of Washington</strong></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Dr. Mike Ghouse is a warrior for conflict resolution and a partisan for non-partisan dialogue. He aims to bring all voices to the table of religious pluralism that he sets with the “agenda” in this book. He and I have shared presentations on panels where the perspective centers on covenantal pluralism, the idea that a God who can treasure one faith community must have the will and power to treasure all moral communities of whatever faith or of no faith. May his efforts in articulating the agenda for his beloved Muslim community inspire other faith leaders to delve self-critically and responsibly into the resources within their own religions to move beyond tolerance to a loving and robust mutual appreciation. Our times need his voice and need others to speak out as well.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
* * * * *</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x-el x-el-span px_-letter-spacing-normal px_-text-transform-none px_-fs-unset px_-ff-_Lato___arial__sans-serif px_-fw-700 x-d-ux" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Dr. Harbans Lal</span>, Emeritus Professor, and Chairman, </strong><br />Dept of Pharmacology & Neuroscience, UNT Health Science Center, Texas</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
It is only recently that many courageous scholars and public servants began to tell what the real Islam was. Guru Nanak wrote hundreds of hymns in the Sikh scripture on who is a good Muslim. I am glad to see the recent book by Mike Ghouse. Mike began nearly 15 years ago to set the stage right. He started with a radio show on the world’s religions. I remember my frequent participation there and answering Mike’s piercing questions. Then he contributed hundreds of columns in leading newspapers and magazines. Now, he came up with his book that elucidates the purpose of religion in general and the role of Islam in particular as a member of the community of faiths. I recommend this book to the Muslim community and their neighbors who are the followers of other religions. In facts, the adherents of other religions might consider Mike’s approach in spreading the sacred words of the founders of their beliefs.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
* * * * *</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x-el x-el-span px_-letter-spacing-normal px_-text-transform-none px_-fs-unset px_-ff-_Lato___arial__sans-serif px_-fw-700 x-d-ux" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Dr. Zia H Shah MD, </span>Chief Editor of the Muslim Times International.</strong></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
This beautiful, well-written book, is the next level thinking for the Muslims, many of whom still live in the medieval paradigm of ‘them’ versus ‘us.’ Mike Ghouse is the Messiah for pluralism to pull the Muslims out of a sectarian vision, to a genuine universal brotherhood and sisterhood, befitting our global village, for the 21st century.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
It is a must read for every Muslim living in the West, who is desirous of genuine integration, to benefit from all the good that rational and democratic human societies have to offer. By the same token, it is a must-read for every Westerner, who wants to grasp the genuine peaceful and inclusive vision of true Islam.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
The book is a breath of fresh air, away from the political Islam of the Islamists or the Islamophobes, a futuristic vision of coexistence, where we not only tolerate our differences but celebrate them.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
* * * * *</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span class="x-el x-el-span px_-letter-spacing-normal px_-text-transform-none px_-fs-unset px_-ff-_Lato___arial__sans-serif px_-fw-700 x-d-ux" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Dr. Frank Islam</span>, Philanthropist, and a Scholar, Washington</strong><br />I am intrigued by the book, particularly the chapter on the Essence of Islam.<br />The great Talmudic sage Rabbi Hillel in the first century BC said, “What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbor. That is the whole Torah; the rest is the explanation of this—to study it!” Dr. Ghouse responds to Rabbi Hillel with a corollary on Islam, “God has created us into different races, religions, sizes, colors and other uniqueness’s, respecting the otherness of the other and accepting the God-given uniqueness is the whole Quran and the rest is the explanation of this – to study it.”</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
* * * * *</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="x-el x-el-span px_-letter-spacing-normal px_-text-transform-none px_-fs-unset px_-ff-_Lato___arial__sans-serif px_-fw-700 x-d-ux" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Dr. Safi Kaskas</span>, Modern translator of Quran, his translations have been referenced in the book.</strong></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Dr. Mike Ghouse is a courageous American Muslim. At a time when Muslims are under attack, he courageously stood tall and walked into the enemy’s camp to talk to them and to explain Islam as he knows it.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
His book, American Muslim Agenda, is the summary of his experiences and vision for his Muslim community and America his country. I think we Muslims will be wise to listen to what he is saying and take steps away from our antiquated stands of us and them toward a new Quranic vision of competing in doing what is good.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
The future of Muslims in America is what Muslims decide to make of it. In order to be successful, we need to think and really understand the environment in which we live. We also need to understand Islam with fresh eyes on the future, taking in consideration the need to find new solutions to the new problems we are facing without compromising our basic beliefs. This requires courage and resilience. It requires leadership coming from within the Muslim community, with the ability to unite and lead.</div>
<hr class="x-el x-el-hr px_-letter-spacing-normal px_-text-transform-none px_-border-color-rgb226__226__226 px_-border-bottom-width-1px px_-border-style-solid px_-mt-0 px_-mb-0 px_-w-100P px_-ff-_Lato___arial__sans-serif px_-fs-16 _mdpx_-fs-16 _lgpx_-fs-16 x-d-ux" style="background-color: #cccccc; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; height: 1px; margin: 24px 24px 1.71429rem;" />
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<h2 class="x-el x-el-h4 px_-letter-spacing-normal px_-text-transform-none px_-word-wrap-break-word px_-overflow-wrap-break-word px_-fs-20 px_-c-rgb27__27__27 px_-fw-400 px_-lh-1p25 px_-ml-0 px_-mr-0 px_-mt-0 px_-mb-0 px_-ff-_Lato___arial__sans-serif _mdpx_-fs-22 _lgpx_-fs-22 x-d-ux" style="border: 0px; clear: both; color: rgb(0, 0, 0) !important; font-family: "", sans-serif !important; font-size: 1.28571rem; line-height: 1.6; margin: 1.71429rem 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="x-el x-el-span px_-letter-spacing-normal px_-text-transform-none px_-fs-unset px_-ff-_Lato___arial__sans-serif px_-fw-700 x-d-ux" style="border: 0px; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Talking points of the book</span></h2>
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
I have acknowledged the mistakes Muslims have made, including an apology to Jews, Christians, and Hindus and have offered solutions to go forward.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Every question you have about “American Muslims” will be answered<br />in a book signing event, or a special meeting you may consider organizing.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
1. Why I wrote the book?<br />2. Muslim Woman President of the United States in 2036<br />3. What does it take to run for public office?<br />4. What are the 12 Islamic Values to shape future societies?<br />5. Why is this book a reference Manual?<br />6. Are Muslims a part of the American story?<br />7. What does it take to be an Amin?<br /><span style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">8. Spineless Muslim Leadership</span><span style="border: 0px; font-size: 1rem; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">9. Mistakes Muslims have made and fixing them</span>10. Rejecting public Sharia<br />11. Criticism of the Quran, Islam and the prophet<br />12. Dealing with conservatives<br />13. Pristine Islam<br />14. Extremism<br />15. More</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Contact information:</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Mike Ghouse<br />(214) 325-1916<br />Washington, DC<br /><a class="x-el x-el-a px_-letter-spacing-normal px_-text-transform-none px_-word-wrap-break-word px_-overflow-wrap-break-word px_-fs-16 px_-fw-400 px_-c-rgb101__129__19 px_-text-decoration-underline px_-d-inline px_-cursor-pointer px_-ff-_Lato___arial__sans-serif px__hover-c-rgb90__115__16 _mdpx_-fs-16 _lgpx_-fs-16 x-d-ux" href="mailto:AmericanMuslimAgenda@gmail.com" rel="noopener" style="border: 0px; color: #00bcd5; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">AmericanMuslimAgenda@gmail.com</a></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Dr. Mike Ghouse is committed to building a cohesive America and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day. His new book, the “American Muslim Agenda” guides Muslims and non-Muslims alike to mitigate conflicts and nurture goodwill. The book will be available at the end of January 2019 in all the bookstores. Mike is a public speaker, author, interfaith wedding officiant, and the executive director of the Center for Pluralism in Washington, DC. More about him at <a class="x-el x-el-a px_-letter-spacing-normal px_-text-transform-none px_-word-wrap-break-word px_-overflow-wrap-break-word px_-fs-16 px_-fw-400 px_-c-rgb101__129__19 px_-text-decoration-underline px_-d-inline px_-cursor-pointer px_-ff-_Lato___arial__sans-serif px__hover-c-rgb90__115__16 _mdpx_-fs-16 _lgpx_-fs-16 x-d-ux" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikeghouse/" rel="" style="border: 0px; color: #00bcd5; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikeghouse/</a></div>
</div>
Mike Ghousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01647894600183489442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012002608072464589.post-29026664609401423582018-12-30T02:58:00.000-08:002018-12-30T03:05:47.790-08:00Holocaust and Genocides event in Washington DC <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: center;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 15.301px;">14<sup>th</sup> Annual Reflections on Holocaust and Genocides<br /></span></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="line-height: 15.301px;">Approx. 3:30 PM Sunday, January 27, 2019, | First Event at 2:00 PM<br />Jewish Muslim Perspectives on Mysticism at Islamic Society of the Washington Area<br />2701 Briggs Chaney Rd., Silver Spring, MD 20905 </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="line-height: 17.12px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="color: #0d0d4a; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJJa-wuINnZ7kfxAsOZdvy73u3NiVPEcyY_HVJiHz2aDIL4VhAKIqht_ijQZGQulAEKSuOC617lj8v51Qtq8Kxi5OraruAlaNfK8h2PlcUotrk_D3sPBi3DbQHb85kp48chCwH0ThsntsI/s1600/Holocaust+image.png" imageanchor="1" style="color: #0d0d4a; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="157" data-original-width="342" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJJa-wuINnZ7kfxAsOZdvy73u3NiVPEcyY_HVJiHz2aDIL4VhAKIqht_ijQZGQulAEKSuOC617lj8v51Qtq8Kxi5OraruAlaNfK8h2PlcUotrk_D3sPBi3DbQHb85kp48chCwH0ThsntsI/s400/Holocaust+image.png" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="400" /></span></a></span></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b><b><span style="color: blue;">CLICK FOR</span>: <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/holocaust-and-genocides-event-tickets-54157371155" style="color: #0d0d4a; text-decoration-line: none;">RSVP</a> | <a href="https://holocaustandgenocides.blogspot.com/2018/12/14th-annual-reflections-on-holocaust.html" style="color: #0d0d4a; text-decoration-line: none;">INFO</a> | <a href="http://centerforpluralism.com/mission-accomplished-at-the-center-for-pluralism/" style="color: #0d0d4a; text-decoration-line: none;">ABOUT</a></b></span></div>
<address style="background: white; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></address>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The Center for Pluralism and the World Muslim Congress are deeply committed to education and regularly bring Americans together to learn about each other’s joys and suffering. It is an initiative to build responsible civic societies, where justice and co-existence are our values.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The 14th Annual Holocaust and Genocides event is an effort to stand with all the men, women and children who have endured the apprehension of Holocaust, genocides, massacres, bombs, annihilation, land mines, hunger, rape, torture, occupation, and inhuman brutality.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The least we can do in the process of healing is to acknowledge everyone's pain in one voice. We have begun the process of coming together as one people and stand with each other, we are indeed one world and only humanity, and caring for each other bring safety and peace to all of us. 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.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">There is a shameless cruelty in us, either we shy away from facing or refuse to acknowledge the sufferings of others, worrying that it will devalue our own or somehow it amounts to infidelity to our cause. We cannot justify massacres arrogantly believing that the victims deserved it or asked for it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We have to learn and to acknowledge and reflect upon the terrible things we have inflicted upon each other and have to commit to ourselves to resist the temptations to be prejudiced and stereotype others. We cannot demand peace unless we are peaceful ourselves.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">This particular date was adopted by the sixtieth session of the United Nations on November 21, 2005, “Resolves that the United Nations will designate 27 January as an annual International Day of Commemoration in memory of the victims of the Holocaust.” Our events are scheduled on Sundays to accommodate the Jewish community’s presence.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Our safety hinges on the safety of others around us, and it behooves us to work for the safety and security of others on this little planet. We have to be continuously aware of the Holocaust and Genocides and prepare us to avert such tragedies.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We are working on initiating a course on tolerance education, so one day; we all can learn to have a heart that opens to the pain of every human, yes, we can do that.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Bringing people to understand the suffering of people has been my drive, I must say that through this program, many non-Jewish people have come to know about the Holocaust for the first time. You can see pictures people from Atheist to Zoroastrians and everyone in between has been a part of this event. Moreover, everyone has shared a prayer in the past commemorations. We have to create the awareness to get people to become activists and speak up and Never say again.<br /><br />________________________________________________</span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>FIRST EVENT AT 2:00 PM</b><o:p></o:p><br />Program: Getting Closer to God: Jewish and Muslim Perspectives on Mysticism<br /><br />Gabrial Abasi will speak on Selfless service and commitment to mysticism<br />Herb Levy is a teacher of Kabbalah<br />Andra Baylus will speak on the Sufi-inspired spiritual leader Meher Baba<br /><br />Organized by: Jewish Islamic Dialogue Society<br />________________________________________________</span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>SECOND EVENT AT - Approx 3:30 PM</b><br />Program: 14th Annual Reflections on Holocaust and Genocides<br /><br />Holocaust<br />Syrian Refugee Crisis<br />Rohingya Ethnic Cleansing - Bob Marro,<br />Uyghur Chinese Muslims - Omer Kanat<br />Crimean Tartars - Walter Ruby</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Organized by the Center for Pluralism<br /><br /><b>Supporting Organizations</b>:</span><br />
<ol>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Jewish Islamic Dialogue Society- <a href="http://jids.org/" style="color: #0d0d4a; text-decoration-line: none;">http://Jids.org</a></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Islamic Society of the Washington Area - <a href="http://iswamd.org/" style="color: #0d0d4a; text-decoration-line: none;">http://iswamd.org/</a></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">World Muslim Congress - <a href="http://worldmuslimcongress.org/" style="color: #0d0d4a; text-decoration-line: none;">http://worldmuslimcongress.org/</a></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">JAMAAT - Jews Muslims and Allies acting together</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Foundation for Ethnic Understanding</span></li>
</ol>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">________________________________________________</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The Center for Pluralism and the World Muslim Congress are deeply committed to education and relentlessly pursue building cohesive societies where no human has to live in apprehension and fear of the other.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<address style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
<div style="font-style: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>RSVP</b>: <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/holocaust-and-genocides-event-tickets-54157371155" style="color: #0d0d4a; text-decoration-line: none;">https://www.eventbrite.com/e/holocaust-and-genocides-event-tickets-54157371155</a></span></div>
<address style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><b><br />INFO</b>: </span><span style="font-style: normal; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://holocaustandgenocides.blogspot.com/2018/12/14th-annual-reflections-on-holocaust.html" style="color: #0d0d4a; text-decoration-line: none;">https://holocaustandgenocides.blogspot.com/2018/12/14th-annual-reflections-on-holocaust.html</a></span></span></address>
<address style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
<span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><br />ABOUT US</b>: <span class="MsoHyperlink"><a href="http://centerforpluralism.com/mission-accomplished-at-the-center-for-pluralism/" style="color: #0d0d4a; text-decoration-line: none;">http://centerforpluralism.com/mission-accomplished-at-the-center-for-pluralism/</a></span></span></span></address>
</address>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br />Mike Ghouse<br />(214) 325-1916<br /><span class="MsoHyperlink"><a href="http://holocaustandgenocides.blogspot.com/" style="color: #0d0d4a; text-decoration-line: none;">http://holocaustandgenocides.blogspot.com</a></span><span class="MsoHyperlink"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #0d0d4a; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="http://www.centerforpluralism.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #0d0d4a;">http://www.CenterforPluralism.com</a></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;">Dr. Mike Ghouse is a public speaker, author, interfaith wedding officiant, executive director of the Center for Pluralism in Washington, DC. He is committed to building cohesive societies and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day. More at<span> </span><u><span style="color: blue;"><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikeghouse/"><span style="color: blue;">https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikeghouse/</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></u></span></span></div>
</div>
<span class="MsoHyperlink"></span><div style="margin: 0px;">
</div>
</div>
</div>
Mike Ghousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01647894600183489442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012002608072464589.post-78135269779320692422018-12-30T02:49:00.000-08:002018-12-30T03:04:53.263-08:00Holocaust and Genocides Reflections<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: center;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 107%;">14<sup>th</sup> Annual
Reflections on Holocaust and Genocides</span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 107%;">Approx.
3:30 PM Sunday, January 27, 2019, | First Event at 2:00 PM <br />
Jewish Muslim Perspectives on Mysticism at Islamic Society of the
Washington Area<br />
2701 Briggs Chaney Rd., Silver Spring, MD 20905 </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="color: #0d0d4a; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJJa-wuINnZ7kfxAsOZdvy73u3NiVPEcyY_HVJiHz2aDIL4VhAKIqht_ijQZGQulAEKSuOC617lj8v51Qtq8Kxi5OraruAlaNfK8h2PlcUotrk_D3sPBi3DbQHb85kp48chCwH0ThsntsI/s1600/Holocaust+image.png" imageanchor="1" style="color: #0d0d4a; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="157" data-original-width="342" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJJa-wuINnZ7kfxAsOZdvy73u3NiVPEcyY_HVJiHz2aDIL4VhAKIqht_ijQZGQulAEKSuOC617lj8v51Qtq8Kxi5OraruAlaNfK8h2PlcUotrk_D3sPBi3DbQHb85kp48chCwH0ThsntsI/s400/Holocaust+image.png" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></span></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b><b><span style="color: blue;">CLICK FOR</span>: <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/holocaust-and-genocides-event-tickets-54157371155" style="color: #0d0d4a; text-decoration-line: none;">RSVP</a> | <a href="https://holocaustandgenocides.blogspot.com/2018/12/14th-annual-reflections-on-holocaust.html" style="color: #0d0d4a; text-decoration-line: none;">INFO</a> | <a href="http://centerforpluralism.com/mission-accomplished-at-the-center-for-pluralism/" style="color: #0d0d4a; text-decoration-line: none;">ABOUT</a></b></span></div>
<address style="background: white; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></address>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The Center for Pluralism and the World Muslim Congress are deeply committed to education and regularly bring Americans together to learn about each other’s joys and suffering. It is an initiative to build responsible civic societies, where justice and co-existence are our values.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The 14th Annual Holocaust and Genocides event is an effort to stand with all the men, women and children who have endured the apprehension of Holocaust, genocides, massacres, bombs, annihilation, land mines, hunger, rape, torture, occupation, and inhuman brutality.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The least we can do in the process of healing is to acknowledge everyone's pain in one voice. We have begun the process of coming together as one people and stand with each other, we are indeed one world and only humanity, and caring for each other bring safety and peace to all of us. 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.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">There is a shameless cruelty in us, either we shy away from facing or refuse to acknowledge the sufferings of others, worrying that it will devalue our own or somehow it amounts to infidelity to our cause. We cannot justify massacres arrogantly believing that the victims deserved it or asked for it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We have to learn and to acknowledge and reflect upon the terrible things we have inflicted upon each other and have to commit to ourselves to resist the temptations to be prejudiced and stereotype others. We cannot demand peace unless we are peaceful ourselves.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">This particular date was adopted by the sixtieth session of the United Nations on November 21, 2005, “Resolves that the United Nations will designate 27 January as an annual International Day of Commemoration in memory of the victims of the Holocaust.” Our events are scheduled on Sundays to accommodate the Jewish community’s presence.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Our safety hinges on the safety of others around us, and it behooves us to work for the safety and security of others on this little planet. We have to be continuously aware of the Holocaust and Genocides and prepare us to avert such tragedies.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We are working on initiating a course on tolerance education, so one day; we all can learn to have a heart that opens to the pain of every human, yes, we can do that.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Bringing people to understand the suffering of people has been my drive, I must say that through this program, many non-Jewish people have come to know about the Holocaust for the first time. You can see pictures people from Atheist to Zoroastrians and everyone in between has been a part of this event. Moreover, everyone has shared a prayer in the past commemorations. We have to create the awareness to get people to become activists and speak up and Never say again.<br /><br />________________________________________________</span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>FIRST EVENT AT 2:00 PM</b><o:p></o:p><br />Program: Getting Closer to God: Jewish and Muslim Perspectives on Mysticism<br /><br />Gabrial Abasi will speak on Selfless service and commitment to mysticism<br />Herb Levy is a teacher of Kabbalah<br />Andra Baylus will speak on the Sufi-inspired spiritual leader Meher Baba<br /><br />Organized by: Jewish Islamic Dialogue Society<br />________________________________________________</span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>SECOND EVENT AT - Approx 3:30 PM</b><br />Program: 14th Annual Reflections on Holocaust and Genocides<br /><br />Holocaust<br />Syrian Refugee Crisis<br />Rohingya Ethnic Cleansing - Bob Marro,<br />Uyghur Chinese Muslims - Omer Kanat<br />Crimean Tartars - Walter Ruby</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Organized by the Center for Pluralism<br /><br /><b>Supporting Organizations</b>:</span><br />
<ol>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Jewish Islamic Dialogue Society- <a href="http://jids.org/" style="color: #0d0d4a; text-decoration-line: none;">http://Jids.org</a></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Islamic Society of the Washington Area - <a href="http://iswamd.org/" style="color: #0d0d4a; text-decoration-line: none;">http://iswamd.org/</a></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">World Muslim Congress - <a href="http://worldmuslimcongress.org/" style="color: #0d0d4a; text-decoration-line: none;">http://worldmuslimcongress.org/</a></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">JAMAAT - Jews Muslims and Allies acting together</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Foundation for Ethnic Understanding</span></li>
</ol>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">________________________________________________</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The Center for Pluralism and the World Muslim Congress are deeply committed to education and relentlessly pursue building cohesive societies where no human has to live in apprehension and fear of the other.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<address style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
<div style="font-style: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>RSVP</b>: <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/holocaust-and-genocides-event-tickets-54157371155" style="color: #0d0d4a; text-decoration-line: none;">https://www.eventbrite.com/e/holocaust-and-genocides-event-tickets-54157371155</a></span></div>
<address style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><b><br />INFO</b>: </span><span style="font-style: normal; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://holocaustandgenocides.blogspot.com/2018/12/14th-annual-reflections-on-holocaust.html" style="color: #0d0d4a; text-decoration-line: none;">https://holocaustandgenocides.blogspot.com/2018/12/14th-annual-reflections-on-holocaust.html</a></span></span></address>
<address style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
<span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><br />ABOUT US</b>: <span class="MsoHyperlink"><a href="http://centerforpluralism.com/mission-accomplished-at-the-center-for-pluralism/" style="color: #0d0d4a; text-decoration-line: none;">http://centerforpluralism.com/mission-accomplished-at-the-center-for-pluralism/</a></span></span></span></address>
</address>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br />Mike Ghouse<br />(214) 325-1916<br /><span class="MsoHyperlink"><a href="http://holocaustandgenocides.blogspot.com/" style="color: #0d0d4a; text-decoration-line: none;">http://holocaustandgenocides.blogspot.com</a></span><span class="MsoHyperlink"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #0d0d4a; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="http://www.centerforpluralism.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #0d0d4a;">http://www.CenterforPluralism.com</a></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;">Dr. Mike Ghouse is a public speaker, author, interfaith wedding officiant, executive director of the Center for Pluralism in Washington, DC. He is committed to building cohesive societies and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day. More at<span> </span><u><span style="color: blue;"><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikeghouse/"><span style="color: blue;">https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikeghouse/</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></u></span></span></div>
</div>
<span class="MsoHyperlink"></span><div style="margin: 0px;">
</div>
</div>
</div>
Mike Ghousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01647894600183489442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012002608072464589.post-67170073964077367042018-12-30T02:43:00.000-08:002018-12-30T02:43:19.111-08:00Mission Accomplished<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
I hope your vision for America resonates with our work. If you feel, this is what you always wanted America to be, I welcome you to join the Center for Pluralism as a volunteer, donor (big or small), inspirer, encourager, and a writer with all your heart mind and soul. Please feel free to send me an email or call me. It is worth your while to glance at the work we have done.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Towards the end, I have included a few sample videos and profile links representing the diversity of our work. Each video has a description for you to choose what you want to watch.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Everything in life, both war and peace begin with an individual’s dream and actions, and people join in and make a movement. We have accomplished an unbelievable amount of work, it is all in front of you.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Whatever we do, we do it wholeheartedly with all our heart, mind and soul.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Mike Ghouse<br />Mike@CenterforPluralism.com<br />(214) 325-1916</div>
<h2 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; clear: both; font-family: "", sans-serif !important; font-size: 1.28571rem; line-height: 1.6; margin: 1.71429rem 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">1. MY PERSONAL MISSION</strong></h2>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
My personal mission is to open people’s hearts and minds towards fellow beings. I am committed to building cohesive societies where each member of the society feels secure with his/her faith, race, gender, ethnicity, culture, politics, shape, size and other uniqueness.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Please do not judge me by seeing pictures, videos, or articles on the internet with people on the extreme left or the right, alt-right conservatives, and progressives, and with members of every faith from Atheism to Zoroastrianism, Native American and LGBTQ communities. I meet them with the express purpose of knowing and understanding different points of view to develop pluralistic solutions on issues of the day.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Our problems erupt from the fact that the majority bulldozes the aspirations and hopes of the minorities when it is their turn. Bulldozing the Affordable Care Act by Trump Admin would not have happened, had Obama sought the Republican votes to pass the act in the first place even though it was not needed. One of my policymaking goals is to advance the idea that critical bills in the House and the Senate must be passed with 66.67% majority to gain wider consensus, thus representing a larger swath of Americans, offering sustainability and stability of policies formed by either Democrats or the Republicans.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Real conflicts come into play when someone robs your space, grabs your food or hurts your loved ones, these are real conflicts, other than these all other conflicts are imaginary and can be handled through dialogue. You can Google search my name with the name of any religion, or a major festival, and you will find ample information, it is all voluntary effort for people to learn about each other. I respect and accept all religious, political and cultural traditions as valid to its followers. Culturally, I respect the otherness of other cultures and hold programs to express that. I have no barriers between another human and me and I don’t consider anyone to be my enemy either, nor do I believe anyone is out there to get me. I am content and peaceful with who I am.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
I am blessed to witness the fruits of my work and will continue to offer pluralistic solutions on issues of the day to the media, religious, civic and political leadership. Much of my work in pictures and video links are put together in a 60-page document appended with my profile at linked in. <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikeghouse" style="border: 0px; color: #00bcd5; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikeghouse</a>/ and here is a summary of the different things we have done in behalf of the Center for Pluralism, formerly the Foundation for Pluralism.</div>
<h2 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; clear: both; font-family: "", sans-serif !important; font-size: 1.28571rem; line-height: 1.6; margin: 1.71429rem 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 0px; color: blue; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">2. SHAPING AMERICA’S FUTURE</span></h2>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
We are committed to a building a cohesive America, and we have several programs, events and workshops to be a catalyst to bring about the results, some of them are listed below.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Ten years from now, 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, races, and ethnicities interacting, working, studying, intermingling, playing and even marrying each other. These interactions are bound to create conflicts and it is our duty to prevent such conflicts, so each American can live securely with his or her faith, culture, gender, race, sexual orientation or ethnicity.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
We have already witnessed how the natives (those who have been here for several generations) feel about the new Americans. It is not a phobia, but a natural feeling of losing one’s way of life, and one’s world.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
A vast majority of us have heard things about each other from our family members, friends, news, social media our teachers. Our hearsay knowledge of others pushed us to instantly form opinions about others. As responsible individuals, we must strive to strip stereotyping and build pathways to ensure the smooth functioning of our society, whether it is the workplace or our neighborhoods.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
We need to reassure each other, particularly the disconnected ones, that together as Americans, we are committed to safeguarding the American way of life. No American needs to worry about losing his or her way of life. Together as Americans, we uphold, protect, defend and celebrate the values enshrined in our Constitution; a guarantor of the way of life each one of us wants to lead.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
The Center for Pluralism will continue to bring non-stop actions in bringing Americans together from different faiths, political affiliations, societies, and cultures and be a catalyst for a safe and a secure America for each one of us, as we move through this transition.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
As we learn to respect the otherness of others and accept the God-given uniqueness of each one of us, then conflicts fade and solutions emerge.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Please visit our website and participate as a volunteer, sponsor or a donor. We are a Washington based non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<img alt="" class="alignnone wp-image-5856" height="488" sizes="(max-width: 709px) 100vw, 709px" src="http://centerforpluralism.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Shaping-Americas-future-300x207.jpg" srcset="http://centerforpluralism.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Shaping-Americas-future-300x207.jpg 300w, http://centerforpluralism.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Shaping-Americas-future-624x430.jpg 624w, http://centerforpluralism.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Shaping-Americas-future.jpg 641w" style="border: 0px; height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="709" /></div>
<h2 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; clear: both; font-family: "", sans-serif !important; font-size: 1.28571rem; line-height: 1.6; margin: 1.71429rem 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">3. THE FIRST STEP IS TAKEN </strong></h2>
<div>
<strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Our mission is to learn, explore, exchange, inform and share the knowledge of pluralism with every human being, at least the ones in our ambit. Pluralism is simply developing an attitude of respecting the otherness of the others and accepting the God-given uniqueness of each one of the fellow humans.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
The first step is accomplished with the establishment of the Center for Pluralism. The next step is to establish a credit course in pluralism to coach politicians, civic, religious and business leaders to shape our future with informed inclusive leaders. The leaders who would learn to respect the otherness of the other and accept the God-given uniqueness of each one of their constituents. They can dislike an individual based on their personal experience, but not because of an individuals’ race, faith, ethnicity, shape, size or culture.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
I am seeking fellow Americans to join me, who not only wish to see a world where people get along with each other and enjoy their lives at work and home but also want to be a catalyst for such a change. Employers want productive employees and not the ones who are tense and distrust the fellow worker because he/she is a Jew, Muslim, Christian or a Hindu, Mexican, Arab or Chinese, Black, or White. A tense free environment creates a peaceful person who will give 100% of his attention to the family when she or he is home with them instead of being occupied with getting even with the guys at work.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
If you have a similar vision to see a world where each one of us lives securely, then prosperity comes to all, and particularly to you, the contributor, the donor, and the philanthropist towards creating such environment. I have always admired Bill Gates, he is one of the rare humans who has become a billionaire by making millionaires out of the people working for him. He saw his prosperity comes by helping others prosper. I am of the belief that if we can create a safe world for each one of us, all of us will benefit in the end and live with contentment, after all, that is why we bust our asses at work.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Our organization is yours when you join. At the Center for Pluralism, we realize that the purpose of government, religion or a social and civic organization is to ensure all its members will have an opportunity to live their lives in pursuit of their happiness regardless of their invincibility or vulnerability.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
The process of positive change begins by “Respecting the otherness of the other and accepting the God-given uniqueness of each one of us resulting in conflict mitigation and goodwill nurturance.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
All our activities at the Center for pluralism are geared to bring Americans Together in social, religious, cultural, political, business, civic and other settings. The more we know each other, the fewer the conflicts would be. We have programs in place to achieve this mission. We need your support to take it to the world.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
One man can make a difference; indeed, all the good and bad things in the world are initiated or dreamt up by an individual, and others join in to create the movement.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Concerned with the divisiveness and discord that I have witnessed over the years, as you may have, I made a commitment to reverse the change. Indeed, I give credit to Brigitte Gabrielle, who and I have battled off on Sean Hannity show on Fox News over a period of 7 years, I told her that she can continue to pit one American against the other, and I will work on bringing Americans together, thus we formed America Together Foundation (known as Center for Pluralism) in contrast to her Act for America. Our vision is to see each one of us live securely in the pursuit of life, liberty, and happiness. A tense America is not good for anyone, neither a divisive America, it takes away your freedom to live without tensions.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
I am motivated by all the holy books, all the books. Our significant achievement started with our Radio show called “Wisdom of Religion, all the religions.” We did 780 hours of Radio show explaining the essence of each religion, and three sets of workshops on twelve different religions. You will find a similar verse in all the books, the verse in Quran (49:13) says, that the world is one large family, born out of the first traceable couple (Adam & Eve) spread out on the earth into different tribes, nations, races, and religions. The wisdom in the Quran suggests that the best ones among you are those who take the time to know each other’s uniqueness, the more you know about the other, the fewer the myths you hold about them. Indeed, knowledge leads to understanding and understanding to acceptance and appreciation of the uniqueness of the otherness of the other in creating peaceful societies.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
What inspires me? Prophet Muhammad’s attitude towards problems, he saw “Conflict Mitigation and goodwill nurturance and acted upon finding resolutions to every conflict he came across through dialogue. He was committed to building cohesive societies where no one had to live in fear of the other. One of these days, I will write a book on that. The inclusive embrace of Jesus and the idea of forgiveness, condemning the sin and not the sinner is the foundation for building better societies. Lincoln’s bold decision to free the slaves, and Mahatma Gandhi’s pat on my back twice in my dream with the words ”Son, you have work to do’ has inspired me.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
My late mother laid it on me by saying, when you meet me in heaven, I want you to tell me that you were helping someone while you took your last breath of life rather than counting money. My father always taught us to “respect the otherness of the other” and quoted the verses from the Quran. Finally, Steve Jobs made me quit my business and pursue my passion and live a full life. There is no money in this, it is pure volunteerism. Please remember, I could make a heck of a lot of money with two masters degrees or go back into the home building and make it big, but I chose to make my life purposeful and meaningful and follow my passion. Two of the individuals I knew died in car accidents and their hard-earned wealth was squandered and did not go with them, I wish they had invested in our work and left a legacy.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Our work is not for a single faith, race or community. Our Board of Directors are represented by different races and faiths and we are waiting to have more people join us, provided, they are “willing” to be prejudice-free. If I want to retire securely, and want my kids and grandkids to live worry free, I have to create a world where all are secure. My security hinges on the security of the people around me. It behooves me to invest my energies here.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
The Center for Pluralism is committed to awakening people to respect the otherness of the other and accept the given uniqueness of each other. I believe when we do that, conflicts fade and solutions emerge. We have programs to make that happen and are listed on the home page <a href="http://www.centerforpluralism.com/" style="border: 0px; color: #00bcd5; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">www.CenterforPluralism.com</a></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Currently, there are three organizations in the world who are actively producing the work on Pluralism including the Center for Pluralism, Harvard University, and Aga Khan’s Pluralism Center. I invite you to seriously consider joining us and take this further, that is if want to give legs to your wishes. I want to retire and go on speaking tours.</div>
<h2 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; clear: both; font-family: "", sans-serif !important; font-size: 1.28571rem; line-height: 1.6; margin: 1.71429rem 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">4. HAPPY ACCOMPLISHMENTS </strong></h2>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
You feel happy when you see justice is served to everyone, You feel good at the end of most movies when the good wins over the villainous characters. I am happiest when people open their heart, minds, and souls towards fellow humans. A few quick examples from our workshops, lectures, and seminar are as follow:</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Individuals who had no idea about Hinduism began respecting Hinduism, and many have started reading Bhagavad Gita to understand Hinduism. Some of them dropped their bias against Atheism and started seeing their point of view without denigrating. A few started seeing Paganism as another tradition rather than looking down upon it. Many of them have accepted homosexuality as a part of the society, Many people who hated Islam started learning that they were misinformed and stopped being Islamophobes and living free from tensions.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Sean Hannity of Fox News cut down his hyperbole against Quran, he has a copy of the “correct” translation of the Quran and knows how to read it – three verses before and three after the supposedly maligned verse to give a full picture of justice and sense of fairness of the verse. Sean also learned that there is a difference between Personal and Public Sharia, and his criticism rightfully focused on the flawed aspect rather than the whole body of Sharia. Stuart Varney on Fox News announced that he would not use the phrase Muslim Terrorist any more when he saw that individuals are responsible for bad acts and not their religions. The Late Jeff Weiss of Dallas Morning News stopped attacking Islam exclusively and started seeing the same mistakes by individuals in other groups, he became an equal opportunity basher in his Faith column at Dallas Morning News. Examples abound and we may put together a book of achievements someday for people to see how they can be contributors towards better societies.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Our Annual Holocaust and Genocides program has produced knowledgeable people from Atheist to Zoroastrians and everyone in between, until 2006, the Synagogues offered Holocaust education to Jews on Yom HaShoah, but now people of all faith have participated in our events and make a commitment of never again. We are all in with them in their tense moments. In our annual Unity day programs when an Imam led the pledge of allegiance and a Hijabi girl sang the national anthem, it put a dent in the attitudes of acceptance of Muslims as fellow Americans. The Native Americans felt good about their inclusion in the Thanksgiving Celebrations. Festival of Faiths is about celebrating American faiths from Atheism to Zoroastrianism. Pluralism is about inclusion and respecting the otherness of the other. We have to shape the future of a secure America for everyone by including everyone.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
One of the few complaints about God is that he forgot to include “Exclusion” and “Arrogance” as mortal sins. They are the root cause of all evil on the earth and he forgot these two and listed all other important stuff in all the religions of the worlds, both oral and written traditions.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
If you are looking for instant results, you will be disappointed, it takes years for people to see the value based on one’s actions. Bhagavad Gita says, do the work as a duty and not for the fruit of it, God in the Quran says, Muhammad, your job is to give the message and it is up to me to give the will to the people and suggests him not to be frustrated. Indeed, I take that message seriously. The most critical value of life is free will.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Islam teaches me that God is not the exclusive property of anyone, rather, we are all his creation, he is the creator of the entire universe, so is Prophet Muhammad, the man who is a mercy to everyone in the universe, life, and matter. The message of all the great souls like Moses, Jesus, Zoroaster, Krishna, Buddha, Mahavira, Abraham, Jesus, Rama, Muhammad, Nanak, Bahaullah, and several others is for the entire humanity, they were not the exclusive property of anyone. They were as universal as the Sun and the Moon, their message should not be monopolized by any group, they are a guide to humanity. I thank God every day for falling the barrier between me and another human, there is so much joy in being free from prejudices.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Today in Dallas, we have 10 clergies from different faiths, who did the workshop with me on Quran – they read the truth first hand in the Quran, and have learned to separate the false charges that the Quran teaches violence or wants “to kill the infidels wherever you find them”. They see the Quran as a book of guidance to create cohesive societies. I want to do the same for all faiths. All faiths are equally dear to me.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
You will be surprised to know that even Muslims have misunderstood the purpose and essence of Islam, the traditional educators keep repeating what is dished out to them by scholars from medieval times during the crusades. You will get to read what the scholars say, and also the peeled out version of Pristine Islam in the upcoming challenging book American Muslim Agenda, the information is at <a href="http://www.americanmuslimagenda.com/" style="border: 0px; color: #00bcd5; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">www.AmericanMuslimAgenda.com</a></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
The workshops and radio shows on understanding the essence of religions is continued to be appreciated by those who benefited from it by ridding the poison of ill-will towards others. If you have an interest in enlarging this work, please join the Center for Pluralism with your spirit, energy, time and money. The only condition for membership is your ‘willingness’ to be bias-free towards any human including Republicans and Democrats.</div>
<h2 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; clear: both; font-family: "", sans-serif !important; font-size: 1.28571rem; line-height: 1.6; margin: 1.71429rem 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">5. BUSINESS CONSULTANT</strong></h2>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
As a consultant, I have turned around failing businesses into successful ones. I have established and been instrumental in establishing several non-profit organizations from scratch. I will continue to take up assignments on a fee basis.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
The MBA program from the University of Dallas and the M.Com from Bangalore University has equipped me with grasping any aspect of business and enhancing its performance. Dealing with people of nearly 50 nationalities, and every faith and political hue has given me the ability to understand people’s motivations and create a cohesive effective working environment.</div>
<h2 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; clear: both; font-family: "", sans-serif !important; font-size: 1.28571rem; line-height: 1.6; margin: 1.71429rem 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">6. MY SECRET</strong></h2>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
No one wanted to be the first, and I have done things that no one has done before. One of the 67 examples listed below is holding a Demonstration against ISIS on the steps of Lincoln Memorial – Fox News supported and lauded it, and right after that, 11 other demonstrations took place within a month. They were hesitant, once one paves the way, others will follow.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
In my English class at Central College in Bangalore, my friends called me Everready. That has stuck to me and has become a part of me. I am never hesitant to be the first one to raise the hand, clap or volunteer and take the lead. A few may resent that, but that is me. I have been sitting on the front bench most of my life.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
My whole life is an experience of taking on challenges whether it is business or social work or even sports and entertainment. Nothing I have done has been done before. Whatever I do, I do it wholeheartedly. I take failure as necessary stepping stones for accomplishing the mission.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Let me share the secret – Bruce Williams, a Radio talk show host in the early ’80s blasted me for asking if I can “try” working part-time in business to see if that works. He said either you do it or you don’t, the idea of trying is nothing but setting up for failure. That was the best advice I have received in my life in contrast to the story of Temoor Lung’s story of try, try again. Tariq bin Ziyad’s story of burning the ships when he crossed the straights of Gibraltar has deeply influenced me, his message was crystal clear; there is no going back. A commitment is a commitment! This has been my life, I jump with two feet in whatever I do with all of my mind, heart, and soul into it.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Mother Teresa’s wisdom has helped me deal with people on the extreme left and the right. I meet people with the attitude that I have no enemies and no one is out to get me. If I am biased, then I cannot blame the others for their bias, if I am not inclusive I cannot ask others to be inclusive. That is the reason I can sit with Sean Hannity, talk with Pamela Geller and walk with Brigette Gabriel or deal with anyone on the extreme left or right because I don’t see them as a threat to me, they are not my enemies. In John McCain’s words, we are fellow Americans that differ.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Back to Mother Teresa, she said, “If you want to make peace with your enemy, go talk with them.” Talking among friends does not change the equation, talking with the ones opposed to you has a chance of putting a dent into the relationship. The Quranic verse 41:34 beefs it up when it says, treat your enemy with kindness, who knows, they may become the best of your friends. it is has happened to me several times. The Chinese proverb fits right in with this if you want to eliminate your enemy for good, make friends with them and that is what Jesus must have meant, love your enemies. The purpose of all their effort is to create cohesive societies, where no one has to live in fear of the other.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Goethe’s wisdom runs in my veins now, “Until one is committed, there is hesitancy… Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. Whatever you can do or dream that you can do, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it. Begin it now.”</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Ray Bradbury, “If we listened to our intellect, we’d never have a love affair. We’d never have a friendship. We’d never go into business because we’d be cynical. Well, that’s nonsense. You’ve got to jump off cliffs all the time and build your wings on the way down.”</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
That is what I have done, jump off the cliffs, been hurt a few times, but overall, I am happy with my life. I have one life to live and want to live it in full and live purposefully.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Dr. Abdul Hamid Abusulayman “There is a clear distinction between doubts and problems. Doubts provoke obstruction, frustration, and discouragement, whereas problems inspire motivation, action, and diligence.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
And I have formed my own quotations, one of them is, ” Whatever you do in life, do it wholeheartedly, there is joy in it for everyone around including ourselves” I give credit to my younger brother Shan for this attitude, Kaleem for the phrase “Life is a time pass” and it is, the youngest one, Farooq for his caring attitude towards the family. Of course, my sister Dilshad has been a stable positive influence in my life. I have learned from my daughter Mina and son Jeff as well and frequently mention them in my workshops what I have learned from them. One of them is “Gee Dad, God can be worshipped in so many ways.” I am blessed with my friends Abusaleh Shariff, Adil Khan, and Zafar Iqbal from Delhi, Dallas, and DC respectively.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Doing things wholeheartedly is one of the many motivational talks I give along with Michami Dukadam, i.e., cleaning each other’s slate and starting over.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<img alt="" class="alignnone wp-image-5874" height="557" sizes="(max-width: 739px) 100vw, 739px" src="http://centerforpluralism.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/MikeGhouse-12.16.18-300x225.jpg" srcset="http://centerforpluralism.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/MikeGhouse-12.16.18-300x225.jpg 300w, http://centerforpluralism.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/MikeGhouse-12.16.18-240x180.jpg 240w" style="border: 0px; height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="739" /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
</strong><h2 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; clear: both; font-family: "", sans-serif !important; font-size: 1.28571rem; line-height: 1.6; margin: 1.71429rem 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">7. FOX NEWS/ SEAN HANNITY</strong></h2>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Sean Hannity gave me the national presence. After 110 TV Shows, 150 Nationally Syndicated Radio shows, Sean gave the best concession anyone can ask: the Major accomplishment with him was he stopped bashing Quran and understood there are two types of Sharia, the Public Sharia has aspects that American Muslims reject, and the private Sharia is between an individual and God – that is how one prays, fasts, gives charity, cares for fellow beings. This had a considerable impact on the outcomes. When Peter King, the then chairman of the Homeland security committee, he said to CNN upon Boston bombing, that 96% of Muslims are good people, that was a 180 degrees turnaround and Sean Hannity affected that in a conversation with me at his retreat.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
More about it in the Video about Hannity: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gd-mgSFziII" style="border: 0px; color: #00bcd5; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gd-mgSFziII </a><br />Dealing with difficult ones: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=HiEHbdK84Gk" style="border: 0px; color: #00bcd5; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=HiEHbdK84Gk</a><br />Sharia Explained: <a href="http://sharialaws.blogspot.com/" style="border: 0px; color: #00bcd5; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">http://sharialaws.blogspot.com/ </a></div>
<h2 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; clear: both; font-family: "", sans-serif !important; font-size: 1.28571rem; line-height: 1.6; margin: 1.71429rem 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">8. FOX NEWS/ STUART VARNEY</strong></h2>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Stuart Varney on Fox declared he will not use the phrase Muslim Terrorists and instead use Terrorists among Muslims. It took me quite some time to get to that point. Videos available at Google and youtube. One of them: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=3&v=aGSti7f9F-A" style="border: 0px; color: #00bcd5; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=3&v=aGSti7f9F-A</a></div>
<h2 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; clear: both; font-family: "", sans-serif !important; font-size: 1.28571rem; line-height: 1.6; margin: 1.71429rem 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">9. DALLAS MORNING NEWS</strong></h2>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Thanks to Dallas Morning News’ Texas Faith Column, where I wrote 250 pieces over a period of 5 years, each article weaves thru several faith traditions, it is a common road that all religions travel upon. No tradition was excluded. The readers cherished the articles as they started seeing the essential values of their faith in other faiths.<br />Google search: Dallas News Mike Ghouse Texas Faith</div>
<h2 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; clear: both; font-family: "", sans-serif !important; font-size: 1.28571rem; line-height: 1.6; margin: 1.71429rem 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">10. HUFFINGTON POST</strong></h2>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
About 125 Articles over a period of 10 years, mostly interfaith pieces. My fellow Americans start seeing the beauty of each festival in each religion and started relating to it. When you do that, the biases evaporate into thin air.<br />Link: <a href="https://www.huffingtonpost.com/author/mikeghouse-302" style="border: 0px; color: #00bcd5; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">https://www.huffingtonpost.com/author/mikeghouse-302</a><br />LInk: <a href="https://www.huffingtonpost.com/author/mike-ghouse" style="border: 0px; color: #00bcd5; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">https://www.huffingtonpost.com/author/mike-ghouse </a></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">OTHER NEW PAPERS</strong> include Op-Ed News, Indian Panorama, The Daily Arab News, Al-Bilad and a host of others. About 300 Newspapers covered the Quran burning event around the world, even Iranian and Somali Newspapers have published my articles. And all South American Newspaper carried my picture on their front page when I walked into Farmers Branch Mayor’s office with fellow Americans to protest against the draconian immigration policy the City wanted to pursue.</div>
<h2 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; clear: both; font-family: "", sans-serif !important; font-size: 1.28571rem; line-height: 1.6; margin: 1.71429rem 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">11. PRESIDENT TRUMP</strong></h2>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Reaching out to President Trump – I produced a simple 4 paragraph dream letter for President Trump to review. I went to C-PAC meeting for all the three days, and passed the message to Matt Schlapp, President of the conservative Union, he read it, it is on video, and said, he will give it to President Trump. The next day, I handed the letter to VP Pence, emailed or texted all the Trumps men and women – Then on the first address to the joint house, he started his speech, the first two sentences were an expression in my letter. I had asked him to speak for Jews, Muslims, Hindus, and the Mexicans, he excluded Muslims and Mexicans from the speech.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
“Fellow Americans, you chose me to be your President, and now help me do the right thing. Listen carefully, stop those ‘few’ guys who are a threat to fellow Americans, particularly the bomb threats against the Jewish Community Centers which is not acceptable. We will hunt them down and punish them accordingly.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Stop the radicals from harassing the Jews, Muslims, Sikhs, Immigrants, African Americans or anyone for that matter, the actions of those few are a terrible reflection on my administration. I will not tolerate anyone messing with fellow Americans under my Presidency, neither should you? Stop them now.” Google search “CFP delivers the letter to President Trump.” or<br /><a href="http://centerforpluralism.com/cfp-delivers-the-letter-to-president-trump/" style="border: 0px; color: #00bcd5; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">http://centerforpluralism.com/cfp-delivers-the-letter-to-president-trump/</a></div>
<h2 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; clear: both; font-family: "", sans-serif !important; font-size: 1.28571rem; line-height: 1.6; margin: 1.71429rem 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">12. HILLARY CLINTON</strong></h2>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Two days before the election on 11/06/16, I wrote a Dream Speech for Hillary at Huffington Post. What is unique about that speech is the inclusion of fellow Americans who were ignored, had Hillary listened to me, she would not have lost elections. What is rewarding is, Peggy Noonan wrote the same idea two weeks after the elections, and she got the Pulitzer prize for it. She needs to share that with me! Here are a few excerpts:</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
My priority is to reach out to my fellow Americans who had it right until the disaster from wars brought misery to them; the white Americans. We are going to find ways and means for them to recover from the difficult times they have endured while others Americans have prospered.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Believe me, the Black Americans, Jewish Americans, Muslim Americans, immigrant Americans, and all other Americans want each one of us to prosper, particularly the disaffected White Americans. Our prosperity hinges on the prosperity of people around us and the success of nations around us. None of us will succeed if some of us are left behind.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
I am committed to restoring justice to my fellow Americans who lost their jobs in manufacturing, to fellow Americans who live on farms and to fellow Americans who do not have an education or technical skills. All the men and women who are plumbers, electricians, repairmen, drivers, janitors, and small business owners, and taking care of them is a priority of my administration. We will restore our glory days, and in the end, no American will be left out.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Hillary’s last-ditch effort – the final speech<br /><a href="https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/hillarys-last-ditch-effort-the-final-speech_us_581f90f8e4b0102262411963" style="border: 0px; color: #00bcd5; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/hillarys-last-ditch-effort-the-final-speech_us_581f90f8e4b0102262411963</a></div>
<h2 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; clear: both; font-family: "", sans-serif !important; font-size: 1.28571rem; line-height: 1.6; margin: 1.71429rem 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">13. AMBASSADOR BROWNBACK</strong></h2>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
The Ambassador for Religious freedom has a great group of people updating him on religious freedom across the world. I am one of the many signatories to several letters sent to different heads of the government to preserve the religious liberty of the people, including India.<br />Google: Brownback Ghouse, you will find several articles.</div>
<h2 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; clear: both; font-family: "", sans-serif !important; font-size: 1.28571rem; line-height: 1.6; margin: 1.71429rem 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">14. INTERFAITH WEDDING OFFICIANT</strong></h2>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Interfaith marriages are becoming the new norm of society. In a few years, one out of two unions would be of interfaith. Yes, this is across the board, whether you are a Muslim, Jew, Hindu, Christian, Sikh, Baha’i, Atheist or the other. According to the Pew survey, 40% of people of faiths will be marrying a person of another religion, it is higher among Jews, it’s 50%.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
I am blessed to have officiated secular ceremonies for a few, and religious interfaith ceremonies for Jewish-Christian, Hindu-Christian, Bahai-Jewish, Hindu-Jewish, Atheist-Jain, and several other combinations. Being a Muslim, I am pleased to have officiated weddings for Muslims in a variety of combinations; Muslim-Christian, Muslim-Jewish, Muslim-Hindu, Muslim-Mormon, Muslim-Sikh, Muslim-Jain, Muslim-Buddhist and Muslim and an Atheist.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Website: <a href="http://interfaithmarriages.org/" style="border: 0px; color: #00bcd5; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">http://interfaithmarriages.org/</a></div>
<h2 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; clear: both; font-family: "", sans-serif !important; font-size: 1.28571rem; line-height: 1.6; margin: 1.71429rem 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">15. A HAND OF FRIENDSHIP WORKED WITH A VIOLENT GROUP</strong></h2>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
In October 2015, a group that did not like Muslims were planning to hold anti-Muslim demonstrations across 19 mosques in the United States. At a meeting of 30 plus Muslim leaders, chaired by Congressman Keith Ellison at CAIR’s national headquarters, they were about to decide to close the Mosques and not deal with the gun toters. Thanks to Congressman Keith Ellison for letting me speak, which was seconded by Dalia Mogahed and the whole narrative changed. I presented it as an opportunity to welcome the strangers with full hospitality by serving them water, hot dogs, and waving American Flags. When they come expecting Muslims to resist and hostile, they will find that Muslims are not what they thought they were, they were kind and hospitable people. It will speed up the process of acceptance of Muslims as a part of the American family of faiths. A press release was sent, and thank God, they decided, their teasing will not work and canceled the demonstrations across the nation. The full story is on this website.</div>
<h2 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; clear: both; font-family: "", sans-serif !important; font-size: 1.28571rem; line-height: 1.6; margin: 1.71429rem 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">16. MUSLIM CREATE A MODEL FOR CONFLICT MITIGATION</strong></h2>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
When Pastor Jones decided to burn 2998 copies of the Quran in Mulberry, Florida – my immediate concerns were the safety of Americans serving in Afghanistan, the Journalists reporting from conflict zones and the safety of fellow Americans traveling around the world.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
I wrote a press release that hit all the major newspapers of the ‘world.’ New York Times, Washington Post, Huffington Post, Religion News, Saudi Gazette, Times of India and many papers responded positively with write-ups. The event closed peacefully, the Department of State and Department of Defense also got involved in it.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
The most significant success came when I walked into Mulberry, Florida. Mayor Hatch did not want to deal with the Quran-burning Pastor Terry Jones, but extensive conversations and assurances that it was the right thing to do made him join, the other mayors, sheriff Grady, and the commissioners joined us in the movement along with Butch Rahman, Curtis Rahman, Suzanne Carter, and other volunteers. It is a funny story about a Muslim landing in Mulberry and what he had to face.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Pastor Jones’s right to free speech was acknowledged; the event communicated to the Muslim world that our God-given right to free speech is not to be compromised, regardless of the vileness of the statement. Ultimately, it is the freedom that uplifts the whole of humanity; indeed, it is as much an Islamic value as it is American.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
An alternate Muslim behavioral model was established in Mulberry to become the standard for future conflicts; we can call it a genuine Islamic response based upon the Quran and the examples of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), Jesus Christ, and Mother Teresa. If we get the funding, we will make a documentary that will skillfully manage different conflicting issues of free speech and what is sacred. Indeed, the concept was encouraged by major institutions, including the Brookings Institution and the US Department of State. The department indicated an interest in showing it in US embassies around the world.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
It is one of the biggest events for me in resolving the conflict in a non-violent way and setting a model for future conflicts. Three hundred plus newspapers around the world covered it. It is a real-life drama that happened in Mulberry, Florida – a compelling story loaded with elements of human aspirations, fears, suspense, distrust, discrimination, anger, kindness, hope, tenderness, and even a car chase. It all ends on a happy note. Funds permitting we are looking to make a documentary called Sacred, it is a forty-five minutes film about conflict mitigation and goodwill nurturance. What is freedom of speech and what is sacred? It is based upon Prophet Muhammad’s formula applied in negotiating the conflict between free speech and desecrating what is holy – the Quran. Info – several articles and videos. It is a good story to tell.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">17. QURAN BASHING PASTOR</strong></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
As a society, we have faltered in blaming the group or the religion for the acts of individuals. The words of Pastor Jeffress generates fear, anxieties hate and ill-will, it is him and not the reflection of his Church, even if the congregation sheepishly claps and gives a standing ovation when the pastor calls out, “Islam is an evil evil religion and Quraan is a book written by a false prophet” with full passion. This is the story of how education can make a difference. The conference was about reading the difficult verses of the Quran by 10 religious leaders in front of a live audience.<br />Info: <a href="https://quraanconference.blogspot.com/" style="border: 0px; color: #00bcd5; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">https://quraanconference.blogspot.com/ </a><br />info: <a href="https://www.dallasnews.com/news/news/2010/09/19/In-defense-of-Islam-pursuing-9397" style="border: 0px; color: #00bcd5; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">https://www.dallasnews.com/news/news/2010/09/19/In-defense-of-Islam-pursuing-9397</a><br />Video: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1ogquq1nlQ" style="border: 0px; color: #00bcd5; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1ogquq1nlQ</a></div>
<h2 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; clear: both; font-family: "", sans-serif !important; font-size: 1.28571rem; line-height: 1.6; margin: 1.71429rem 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">18. ESTABLISHED NON-PROFITS</strong></h2>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
I undertook the responsibility to start American Muslim Institution from Scratch, zip, zero and established it and put it on the Map of Washington. All in 20 months. If you go to TheGhouseDiary.com and type in the words “Mission Accomplished Mike Ghouse,” you will get the full summary. <a href="http://www.theghousediary.com/mission-accomplished-american-muslim/" style="border: 0px; color: #00bcd5; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">http://www.theghousediary.com/mission-accomplished-american-muslim/</a></div>
<h2 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; clear: both; font-family: "", sans-serif !important; font-size: 1.28571rem; line-height: 1.6; margin: 1.71429rem 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">19. HOLOCAUST & GENOCIDES – (Annual Event since 2006)</strong></h2>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
A purposeful event to reflect on human failings, with the intention of learning to prevent such happenings as individuals, and reaffirm, “Never Again.”<br />Website: <a href="https://holocaustandgenocides.blogspot.com/" style="border: 0px; color: #00bcd5; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">https://holocaustandgenocides.blogspot.com/ </a><br />Video: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uneRYgYfgWI&t=794s" style="border: 0px; color: #00bcd5; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uneRYgYfgWI&t=794s</a></div>
<h2 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; clear: both; font-family: "", sans-serif !important; font-size: 1.28571rem; line-height: 1.6; margin: 1.71429rem 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">20. UNITY DAY</strong> <strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">USA (Annual event Since 2005)</strong></h2>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Bringing Americans together to rededicate our pledge to one nation with liberty and justice for all.<br />Website: <a href="http://unitydayusa.com/" style="border: 0px; color: #00bcd5; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">http://Unitydayusa.com </a><br />Video: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1Wxo-vSMjc" style="border: 0px; color: #00bcd5; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1Wxo-vSMjc</a></div>
<h2 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; clear: both; font-family: "", sans-serif !important; font-size: 1.28571rem; line-height: 1.6; margin: 1.71429rem 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">21. THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS (Annual Event Since 1993)</strong></h2>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
A time of gratitude and celebrations of cultural pluralism and appreciating men and women amidst us who have learned to accept each other as they are and how they express their joys through their unique cultural dances.<br />Website: <a href="http://thanksgivingcelebrations.org/" style="border: 0px; color: #00bcd5; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">http://thanksgivingcelebrations.org/ </a><br />Video: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyDBHp4GQaM" style="border: 0px; color: #00bcd5; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyDBHp4GQaM</a></div>
<h2 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; clear: both; font-family: "", sans-serif !important; font-size: 1.28571rem; line-height: 1.6; margin: 1.71429rem 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">22. FESTIVALS OF THE WORLD – 25th year</strong></h2>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
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 ce<span class="text_exposed_show" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">lebrates 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.</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Website: <a href="http://centerforpluralism.com/festivals/" style="border: 0px; color: #00bcd5; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">http://centerforpluralism.com/festivals/ </a></span>Video: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vAwvoqz01I&t=7s" style="border: 0px; color: #00bcd5; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vAwvoqz01I&t=7s</a></div>
<h2 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; clear: both; font-family: "", sans-serif !important; font-size: 1.28571rem; line-height: 1.6; margin: 1.71429rem 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">23. PLURALISM AWARDS</strong></h2>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
To encourage fellow Americans to reach out and serve beyond their own folks, nearly 50 such individuals have been recognized their outstanding serving tot he community, these are individuals with prejudice towards none.<br />Video: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6H9V0h7Jr_M&t=251s" style="border: 0px; color: #00bcd5; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6H9V0h7Jr_M&t=251s</a></div>
<h2 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; clear: both; font-family: "", sans-serif !important; font-size: 1.28571rem; line-height: 1.6; margin: 1.71429rem 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">24. AMERICAN AMIN AWARD</strong></h2>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
It is about community building. The idea behind this recognition is to encourage Muslims to reach out and build relationships with fellow Americans and create cohesive societies where harmony and peace prevail. Indeed, that is the simplest purpose of Islam. Islam is not about governance, ruling others, imposing your values on others, Islam is about learning to live in harmony with ourselves and with others.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Web: <a href="http://centerforpluralism.com/american-amin-award/" style="border: 0px; color: #00bcd5; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">http://centerforpluralism.com/american-amin-award/</a><br />Video:</div>
<h2 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; clear: both; font-family: "", sans-serif !important; font-size: 1.28571rem; line-height: 1.6; margin: 1.71429rem 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">25. WORKSHOPS ON RELIGION</strong></h2>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
When we live as neighbors, fellow workers, students, players, activists and inhabitants of the same city, it behooves us to learn about each other’s beliefs, motivations, moments of celebrations, devotions or commemorations. The more we know about the other, the less mythical they would become creating a friendly environment for all of us to function efficiently in whatever we do. Knowledge leads to understanding and understanding to acceptance of the otherness of others leading us into tension free and sustainable prosperity.<br />Website: <a href="http://centerforpluralism.com/workshops/" style="border: 0px; color: #00bcd5; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">http://centerforpluralism.com/workshops/ </a><br />Video:</div>
<h2 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; clear: both; font-family: "", sans-serif !important; font-size: 1.28571rem; line-height: 1.6; margin: 1.71429rem 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">26. STANDING UP FOR OTHERS</strong></h2>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Societies are built to protect the rights of individuals whether they are invincible or vulnerable. If you don’t stand up for others, why should anyone stand up for you? It is all about Human rights and religious freedom. A book is in the planning and hopes to release it in 2019.<br />Website: <a href="http://www.standingupforothers.com/" style="border: 0px; color: #00bcd5; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">www.Standingupforothers.com </a><br />Video: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lb_3rr8zB-g&t=17s" style="border: 0px; color: #00bcd5; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lb_3rr8zB-g&t=17s </a></div>
<h2 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; clear: both; font-family: "", sans-serif !important; font-size: 1.28571rem; line-height: 1.6; margin: 1.71429rem 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">27. WISDOM OF RELIGION – RADIO SHOW</strong></h2>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Summary: Our radio show was called Wisdom of Religion, all the beautiful religions. The purpose was to simplify each faith so that the person on the street can get the essence of that faith. This was broadcasted on AM Radio 1150 in Dallas, Texas. A total of 780 hours were dedicated to studying of the religions – 104 hours each for Christianity, Hinduism, and Islam on Monday, Thursday and Friday respectively. 52 hours each for Atheism, Bahai, Buddhism, Interfaith, Jain, Judaism, Sikhism and a few hours on the annual program and pluralism.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Info: <a href="http://pluralism.org/news/dallas-hosts-new-multi-faith-radio-show/" style="border: 0px; color: #00bcd5; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">http://pluralism.org/news/dallas-hosts-new-multi-faith-radio-show/ </a><br />Info: <a href="https://www.smu.edu/Perkins/News/News_Archives/Archives2012/Faith_Forum_Panel/Ghouse" style="border: 0px; color: #00bcd5; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">https://www.smu.edu/Perkins/News/News_Archives/Archives2012/Faith_Forum_Panel/Ghouse</a>Info: <a href="https://www.pressreader.com/usa/the-dallas-morning-news/20090614/281968898661320" style="border: 0px; color: #00bcd5; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">https://www.pressreader.com/usa/the-dallas-morning-news/20090614/281968898661320</a><br />info: to be uploaded<br />Video:</div>
<h2 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; clear: both; font-family: "", sans-serif !important; font-size: 1.28571rem; line-height: 1.6; margin: 1.71429rem 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">28. MEMORIAL DAY </strong></h2>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Memorial Day resonates with American Muslims, and I am blessed to have joined in the tradition of honoring our Veterans on this Memorial day by visiting the Cemeteries for a short prayer for the last eight years. It is an annual event and I hope to bring interfaith gatherings to honor our men and women.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Info: <a href="http://centerforpluralism.com/muslims-honor-veterans-memorial-day/" style="border: 0px; color: #00bcd5; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">http://centerforpluralism.com/muslims-honor-veterans-memorial-day/</a><br />Video: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUCHWggiwqw&t=28s" style="border: 0px; color: #00bcd5; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUCHWggiwqw&t=28s</a></div>
<h2 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; clear: both; font-family: "", sans-serif !important; font-size: 1.28571rem; line-height: 1.6; margin: 1.71429rem 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">29. JULY 4TH – ANNUAL EVENT</strong></h2>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
CFP is one of the organizations that has produced an unbelievable number of articles on July 4th and integration. We need to start thinking and acting as one people. July 4th is a great opportunity for Americans to come together and celebrate our freedom.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Info: <a href="http://centerforpluralism.com/happy-july-4th-muslim-contributions-to-america/" style="border: 0px; color: #00bcd5; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">http://centerforpluralism.com/happy-july-4th-muslim-contributions-to-america/ </a><br />info: <a href="https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/muslims-pay-tribute-to-veterans-on-memorial-day-2017_us_592c1258e4b08861ed0ccaf6" style="border: 0px; color: #00bcd5; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/muslims-pay-tribute-to-veterans-on-memorial-day-2017_us_592c1258e4b08861ed0ccaf6</a><br />Video: to be uploaded</div>
<h2 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; clear: both; font-family: "", sans-serif !important; font-size: 1.28571rem; line-height: 1.6; margin: 1.71429rem 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">30. VETERAN’S DAY – ANNUAL EVENT</strong></h2>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
We are grateful to the men and women in uniform, who risk their lives in defending our freedom and guarding our safety. I have always made a point to salute them and certainly participate in the Veterans Day Parade and have spoken at homeless Veterans centers. <strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></strong></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Info: <a href="http://centerforpluralism.com/veterans-day-parade-in-dallas/" style="border: 0px; color: #00bcd5; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">http://centerforpluralism.com/veterans-day-parade-in-dallas/</a><br />Video: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q43qnhfZ93A&t=20s" style="border: 0px; color: #00bcd5; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q43qnhfZ93A&t=20s</a></div>
<h2 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; clear: both; font-family: "", sans-serif !important; font-size: 1.28571rem; line-height: 1.6; margin: 1.71429rem 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">31. RELIGIOUS FREEDOM</strong></h2>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Summary: to be updated<br />Info:<br />Video:</div>
<h2 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; clear: both; font-family: "", sans-serif !important; font-size: 1.28571rem; line-height: 1.6; margin: 1.71429rem 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">32. SHARIA LAWS</strong></h2>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Summary: As Americans, we are apprehensive about the Sharia laws and the fears are real for some people. I say, fear not, American Muslims have no appetite for the Sharia as practiced in a few orthodox nations, and no American Muslim wants the Public Sharia, except the Private Sharia which is between an individual and God. Sharia serves as the constitution in other nations, and it badly needs amendments like our constitution.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Info: <a href="http://www.sharialaws.com/" style="border: 0px; color: #00bcd5; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">www.ShariaLaws.com</a><br />Video: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBcUVQmi6dU&t=102s" style="border: 0px; color: #00bcd5; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBcUVQmi6dU&t=102s</a></div>
<h2 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; clear: both; font-family: "", sans-serif !important; font-size: 1.28571rem; line-height: 1.6; margin: 1.71429rem 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">33. BLASPHEMY LAWS</strong></h2>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Summary: Blasphemy laws have no basis in the Quran, God is about justice and mercy, and not cruelty and tyranny. Those who claim to defend the dignity of God, Prophet, Quran, and Islam really do not have faith in them. They are afraid God, Prophet, Quran, and Islam will disappear from the face of the earth without their protection. They are wrong! We are bloody mortal beings here today and gone tomorrow, whereas God, Prophet, Quran, and Islam have been around and will always be there. There should be no punishment for Blasphemy, it is not in the Quran and it was not practiced by the prophet.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Info: <a href="http://blasphemylaws.blogspot.com/" style="border: 0px; color: #00bcd5; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">http://blasphemylaws.blogspot.com/</a><br />Video:</div>
<h2 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; clear: both; font-family: "", sans-serif !important; font-size: 1.28571rem; line-height: 1.6; margin: 1.71429rem 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">34. 9/11 GROUND ZERO MOSQUE</strong></h2>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Summary: America missed an opportunity in leading the world and set the tone for a world of co-existence. The center was to become a Mecca for teaching Pluralism. Sadly, Imam Feisal did not respond on a timely basis. Pamela Geller and I fought off from Day 1 of the demonstrations against the mosque on Hannity Radio. I was on Hannity for a whole week. While the tragedy will never fade from our memories, we have to consider the political opportunists who have opposed the Muslim Center near Ground Zero? The revelations are as clear as the daylight, the right-wing politicians had gone berserk and hung on to tiny branches to save their political careers, and it is an abuse of Patriotism to have political gains. I was fully involved in the conversation</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Site: <a href="http://groundzeromosque.blogspot.com/" style="border: 0px; color: #00bcd5; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">http://groundzeromosque.blogspot.com</a><br />Washington Post: <a href="https://www.onfaith.co/onfaith/2010/07/26/on-mosque-us-should-stand-on-moral-high-ground/5118" style="border: 0px; color: #00bcd5; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">https://www.onfaith.co/onfaith/2010/07/26/on-mosque-us-should-stand-on-moral-high-ground/5118</a><br />Video links at the site.</div>
<h2 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; clear: both; font-family: "", sans-serif !important; font-size: 1.28571rem; line-height: 1.6; margin: 1.71429rem 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">35 RAMADAN NEWS</strong></h2>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Summary: Everything you always wanted to know about Ramadan. The website RamadanNews.com is down, but you can visit its predecessor <a href="https://ramadanexclusive.blogspot.com/" style="border: 0px; color: #00bcd5; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">https://ramadanexclusive.blogspot.com/</a></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Video:</div>
<h2 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; clear: both; font-family: "", sans-serif !important; font-size: 1.28571rem; line-height: 1.6; margin: 1.71429rem 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">35. QURAN COMMENTARY</strong></h2>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Summary: I have corrected the wrongful understanding of about 20 verses, another 40 to go.<br />Info: <a href="http://www.quraantoday.com/" style="border: 0px; color: #00bcd5; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">www.Quraantoday.com</a><br />Video:</div>
<h2 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; clear: both; font-family: "", sans-serif !important; font-size: 1.28571rem; line-height: 1.6; margin: 1.71429rem 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">36. ISRAEL PALESTINE DIALOGUE</strong></h2>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Summary: to be updated – everything about the issue.<br />Website: <a href="http://israel-palestine-dialogue.blogspot.com/" style="border: 0px; color: #00bcd5; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">http://israel-palestine-dialogue.blogspot.com/</a><br />Video:</div>
<h2 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; clear: both; font-family: "", sans-serif !important; font-size: 1.28571rem; line-height: 1.6; margin: 1.71429rem 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">37. PLURALISTIC ETHOS OF INDIA</strong></h2>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Summary: to be updated<br />Website: <a href="http://mikeghouseforindia.blogspot.com/" style="border: 0px; color: #00bcd5; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">http://MikeGhouseforIndia.blogspot.com</a><br />Video:</div>
<h2 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; clear: both; font-family: "", sans-serif !important; font-size: 1.28571rem; line-height: 1.6; margin: 1.71429rem 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">38. INTERFAITH WEDDING OFFICIANT </strong></h2>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Summary: to be updated<br />Website: www.InterfaithMarriages.org<br />Video:</div>
<h2 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; clear: both; font-family: "", sans-serif !important; font-size: 1.28571rem; line-height: 1.6; margin: 1.71429rem 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">39. CRICKET</strong></h2>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
In 1996 we held an Exhibition Cricket Match between the Ambassadors (or someone from the Embassy) of Cricket playing nations represented by UK, India, Pakistan, Australia, Bangladesh, NewZealand, South Africa, Jamaica, and others. Putting Dallas on Cricket map of the world. When I was the president of the North Texas Cricket Association, the organization grew from a team of 6 to 30 teams, and I secured several cricket grounds from different cities including four in Plano. I also instituted the first ever Cricket development program – where all the players had to go through mandatory continuing education through renowned umpires including Greg Chapel. Our organization won the award for Best Cricket development in the Western Hemisphere.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Info: to be updated</div>
<h2 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; clear: both; font-family: "", sans-serif !important; font-size: 1.28571rem; line-height: 1.6; margin: 1.71429rem 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">40. ACTIVISM </strong></h2>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
My heroes are the activists, who get out on the street and demonstrate against injustice to anyone anywhere. These demonstrators are the reason we have the freedom and democracy in our nation. Over the last 25 years, I have taken part in many demonstrations and have organized a few. Had we listened to Michel Moore and Cindy Sheehan, we would have saved nearly a million people’s lives.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
I thank God and Mother Teresa for inspiring me with her words, “If you want to make peace with your enemies,” she said, “go talk with them.” I thank God and my parents for instilling guts in me to speak up and reach out to the most difficult people on the planet. I have spoken and participated in the Gaza Rally, which a few of my right-wing Jewish friends had difficulty with. And in the same year, I participated, spoke, prayed and stood with the Jewish community at the Holocaust Museum, two Synagogues, Texas Jewish post, and Akiba Academy, and of course, a few right-wing Muslims had a problem with that. What they fail to see is what their holy books say -Saving a life is like saving the whole humanity.</div>
<h2 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; clear: both; font-family: "", sans-serif !important; font-size: 1.28571rem; line-height: 1.6; margin: 1.71429rem 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">41. WORLD MUSLIM CONGRESS</strong></h2>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
WMC is a think tank formed in 2001 with the intent of restoring Islam to its pristine nature and stripping all the cultural elements from it. We had a strong yahoo group called WorldMuslimCongress with 1800 members from across the world vigorously debating about the issues. More at <a href="http://www.worldmuslimcongress.org/" style="border: 0px; color: #00bcd5; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">www.WorldMuslimCongress.org </a></div>
<h2 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; clear: both; font-family: "", sans-serif !important; font-size: 1.28571rem; line-height: 1.6; margin: 1.71429rem 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 0px; color: blue; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">42– 67 Items will be uploaded asap.</span></h2>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
I am grateful to many many people who have been an influence in my life, from my parents, sibling, kids, spouses, friends, bosses, co-workers, customers, clients, vendors, patrons, fans and well wisher and just the people I know. One of these days, I will list all their names as an expression of gratitude. My sister Dilshad has been the most steady influence in my life.</div>
<h1 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; clear: both; font-family: "", sans-serif !important; font-size: 1.5rem; line-height: 1.5; margin: 1.71429rem 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
A few<strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Profiles</strong></h1>
<ol style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.71429; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: outside; margin: 0px 0px 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<li style="border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 2.57143rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Dallas Morning News 1 of 4 – <a href="http://www.dallasnews.com/news/columnists/steve-blow/20100919-In-defense-of-Islam-pursuing-9397.ece" style="border: 0px; color: #00bcd5; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">http://www.dallasnews.com/news/columnists/steve-blow/20100919-In-defense-of-Islam-pursuing-9397.ece</a></li>
<li style="border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 2.57143rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Religion News – <a href="https://religionnews.com/2013/09/09/commentary-pay-no-attention-to-the-man-behind-the-burning-qurans" style="border: 0px; color: #00bcd5; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">https://religionnews.com/2013/09/09/commentary-pay-no-attention-to-the-man-behind-the-burning-qurans</a>/</li>
<li style="border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 2.57143rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Times of India – <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/From-Muslims-in-America-a-novel-protest-against-Quran-burning/articleshow/21982162.cms" style="border: 0px; color: #00bcd5; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/From-Muslims-in-America-a-novel-protest-against-Quran-burning/articleshow/21982162.cms</a></li>
<li style="border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 2.57143rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Holocaust and the Muslim Guy – <a href="https://www.huffingtonpost.com/mike-ghouse/holocaust-and-the-muslim-_b_4629509.html" style="border: 0px; color: #00bcd5; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">https://www.huffingtonpost.com/mike-ghouse/holocaust-and-the-muslim-_b_4629509.html</a></li>
<li style="border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 2.57143rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">My 9/11 Story – <a href="http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2014/09/911-my-personal-journey-from-2001.html" style="border: 0px; color: #00bcd5; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2014/09/911-my-personal-journey-from-2001.html</a></li>
<li style="border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 2.57143rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Indian Pluralist – <a href="http://mikeghouseforindia.blogspot.com/2012/12/mike-ghouse-indian-american-pluralist.html" style="border: 0px; color: #00bcd5; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">http://mikeghouseforindia.blogspot.com/2012/12/mike-ghouse-indian-american-pluralist.html</a></li>
<li style="border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 2.57143rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">My name is Mike Ghouse – <a href="http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2010/01/my-name-is-mike-ghouse.html" style="border: 0px; color: #00bcd5; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2010/01/my-name-is-mike-ghouse.html</a></li>
<li style="border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 2.57143rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Muslim Times – <a href="https://themuslimtimes.info/2018/07/12/dr-mike-ghouse-one-of-the-best-muslim-voices-for-pluralism-joins-muslim-times-team/" style="border: 0px; color: #00bcd5; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">https://themuslimtimes.info/2018/07/12/dr-mike-ghouse-one-of-the-best-muslim-voices-for-pluralism-joins-muslim-times-team/</a></li>
<li style="border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 2.57143rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Saudi Gazette <a href="http://live.saudigazette.com.sa/article/56767/A-proper-response-to-an-inflammatory-act" style="border: 0px; color: #00bcd5; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> http://live.saudigazette.com.sa/article/56767/A-proper-response-to-an-inflammatory-act</a></li>
<li style="border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 2.57143rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">About</li>
</ol>
<h1 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; clear: both; font-family: "", sans-serif !important; font-size: 1.5rem; line-height: 1.5; margin: 1.71429rem 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Videos: </strong>A sampling of diverse, small to large events.</h1>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
There are about 2000 videos with over 350 on National TV. Just place Mike Ghouse Videos in Google Search and you will get most of them and I am trying to list them all at <a href="https://mikeghousevideo.blogspot.com/" style="border: 0px; color: #00bcd5; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">https://mikeghousevideo.blogspot.com/</a></div>
<hr style="background-color: #cccccc; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; height: 1px; margin: 24px 24px 1.71429rem;" />
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Dallas Immigration Rally for Immigration Reforms</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1" frameborder="0" height="469" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OrjU0KULv-Y?feature=oembed" style="border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="625"></iframe></div>
<hr style="background-color: #cccccc; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; height: 1px; margin: 24px 24px 1.71429rem;" />
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Annual Holocaust and Genocide event – Since 2006</strong></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
We have to learn to acknowledge and reflect upon the terrible things we have inflicted upon each other, and we have to commit to resisting the temptations to be prejudiced or to stereotype others. We cannot demand peace unless we are peaceful ourselves.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1" frameborder="0" height="352" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/uneRYgYfgWI?start=61&feature=oembed" style="border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="625"></iframe></div>
<hr style="background-color: #cccccc; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; height: 1px; margin: 24px 24px 1.71429rem;" />
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Festival of Faiths – Celebrating America</strong><br />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 ce<span class="text_exposed_show" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">lebrates 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.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1" frameborder="0" height="352" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2vAwvoqz01I?start=163&feature=oembed" style="border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="625"></iframe></div>
<hr style="background-color: #cccccc; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; height: 1px; margin: 24px 24px 1.71429rem;" />
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Positive Power of Engagement with Sean Hannity and Fox News</strong><br />Many people have difficulty with Sean Hannity, some of them hate him, if you watch my interactions with him, he is another fellow with different information, if you see his point of view with patience, then he will see your point of view. Don’t expect the results in one or two interactions, it took me four years, and the humiliation I endured, in the beginning, was worth it at the end.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1" frameborder="0" height="352" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/gd-mgSFziII?feature=oembed" style="border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="625"></iframe></div>
<hr style="background-color: #cccccc; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; height: 1px; margin: 24px 24px 1.71429rem;" />
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Apology to Jews, Christians, and Hindus</strong><br />This is the story of the Quran mistranslations, how politicians and the insecure men seek the change through false information. My sincere apology to Christians, Jews, Hindus and others who have read the wrong translation of the Quran. It is also the story of how Bhagavad Gita was a catalyst in choosing Islam to be my faith along with Karen Armstrong’s book on Muhammad.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1" frameborder="0" height="352" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5ZOFLQSAOhA?feature=oembed" style="border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="625"></iframe></div>
<hr style="background-color: #cccccc; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; height: 1px; margin: 24px 24px 1.71429rem;" />
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Native Americans Greetings</strong><br />Religious greetings from major religions, religious greetings are the icebreakers, they break the apprehension that comes with a stranger.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1" frameborder="0" height="352" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/u27uKQm60iI?start=36&feature=oembed" style="border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="625"></iframe></div>
<hr style="background-color: #cccccc; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; height: 1px; margin: 24px 24px 1.71429rem;" />
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">At Capitol Hill with Congressman Don Beyer</strong></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Now, thank God, I know many Senators and Congressmen and have held several events on Capitol Hill – and a few more to be held this year. To me they are our representatives, they are not Republicans or Democrats to me. I reach them as Americans. I am at equal ease with both the parties.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1" frameborder="0" height="352" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/if1cjK1ABXw?feature=oembed" style="border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="625"></iframe></div>
<hr style="background-color: #cccccc; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; height: 1px; margin: 24px 24px 1.71429rem;" />
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Sikh Community Honored</strong><br />Our annual Unity Day event honors exemplary individuals and organizations for their work in promoting peaceful methods in resolving conflicts. The Jewish Community, the African American Community, and the Muslim communities have been honored over the years and here is the Sikh community of Dallas was honored for the exemplary role in dealing with the Wisconsin Shooting.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1" frameborder="0" height="352" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-usoXuTrclI?feature=oembed" style="border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="625"></iframe></div>
<hr style="background-color: #cccccc; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; height: 1px; margin: 24px 24px 1.71429rem;" />
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Veterans Day</strong><br />It is a tradition among many faiths to pray for humanity and seek blessings for those who sacrificed their lives for the benefit of all, and many an American will be visiting the cemeteries around the country to pay their homage. Annual visits to Veterans Day parade and speak at Homeless Veterans Luncheons, visit them at VA Hospital.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1" frameborder="0" height="352" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vdLB5X1E54g?feature=oembed" style="border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="625"></iframe></div>
<hr style="background-color: #cccccc; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; height: 1px; margin: 24px 24px 1.71429rem;" />
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Memorial Day </strong><br />“The freedom that you and I cherish did not come to us on a platter, and was not ‘a given’ either; it was earned for us through the sacrifices of men and women who fought for it. It is particularly an important day for all the immigrants who enjoy the freedom and all the opportunities America offers, and owe that gratitude to our veterans. Every Memorial Day, as an American and a Muslim I stop at different veteran Cemeteries, in 2010 I drove from Louisville, Ky to Dallas, Texas and stopped at every Veteran’s Cemetery in the 850 Miles drive.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1" frameborder="0" height="352" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KUCHWggiwqw?feature=oembed" style="border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="625"></iframe></div>
<hr style="background-color: #cccccc; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; height: 1px; margin: 24px 24px 1.71429rem;" />
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Dr. Frank Islam interviews Mike</strong><br />When I moved to Washington DC, Dr. Frank Islam honored me with an interview on his show, here I laid out the goals I wanted to achieve with my move.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1" frameborder="0" height="469" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4Qalk61ob18?feature=oembed" style="border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="625"></iframe></div>
<hr style="background-color: #cccccc; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; height: 1px; margin: 24px 24px 1.71429rem;" />
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Civil Dialogue Explained</strong><br />There is a chapter in the Quran, a model for teaching how to conduct civil Dialogue. A full chapter is included in the upcoming book, info at www.AmericanMuslimAgenda.com</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1" frameborder="0" height="352" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/bCRJSBfl58Y?feature=oembed" style="border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="625"></iframe></div>
<hr style="background-color: #cccccc; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; height: 1px; margin: 24px 24px 1.71429rem;" />
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">To President Obama – Say yes to Palestine</strong><br />It was during the UN vote to recognize Palestine. The United States made a mistake by not recognizing Palestine, it would have paved the way for peace and relieved Jews from the pangs of the conscience they endure between being just and secure.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1" frameborder="0" height="352" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oNYmI6MlhZw?feature=oembed" style="border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="625"></iframe></div>
<hr style="background-color: #cccccc; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; height: 1px; margin: 24px 24px 1.71429rem;" />
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">What is Unity Day?</strong><br />I wrote the full story of 9.11, I was on Radio on that day trying to bring coherence to the chaos of the day. Which was read by over 1.5 Million people? It is a day to…. hear it on the vide in 59 seconds.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1" frameborder="0" height="352" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/U1Wxo-vSMjc?feature=oembed" style="border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="625"></iframe></div>
<hr style="background-color: #cccccc; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; height: 1px; margin: 24px 24px 1.71429rem;" />
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Muslims are an integral part of America from the very beginning</strong><br />Muslims are a part of America from the very beginning, watch the video</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1" frameborder="0" height="352" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/videoseries?list=PLRSNqW6IK-6Jg7m8nlaWc_EvYsByfedaB" style="border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="625"></iframe></div>
<hr style="background-color: #cccccc; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; height: 1px; margin: 24px 24px 1.71429rem;" />
<div class="entry-title" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Symposium: Are Religious Scriptures a source of conflict or harmony?</strong>A Rabbi, Imam, Pastor, and a Pundit respond at Capitol Hill event – At CFP, our seminars are in-depth and going beyond the politically correct surface polishing.</div>
<div class=" fb_reset" id="fb-root" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" aria-hidden="true" data-mce-fragment="1" frameborder="0" id="fb_xdm_frame_https" name="fb_xdm_frame_https" scrolling="no" src="https://staticxx.facebook.com/connect/xd_arbiter/r/j-GHT1gpo6-.js?version=43#channel=f626e10f04479&origin=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.theghousediary.com" style="border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" tabindex="-1" title="Facebook Cross Domain Communication Frame"></iframe></div>
<div style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="fb-video fb_iframe_widget fb_iframe_widget_fluid_desktop" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/Dr.MikeGhouse/videos/10160745332295249/?fref=mentions" data-width="625" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" class="" data-mce-fragment="1" frameborder="0" height="1000px" name="fb2f0e8c6d4ea4" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/v3.2/plugins/video.php?app_id=&channel=https%3A%2F%2Fstaticxx.facebook.com%2Fconnect%2Fxd_arbiter%2Fr%2Fj-GHT1gpo6-.js%3Fversion%3D43%23cb%3Df15c52cbcb6d%26domain%3Dwww.theghousediary.com%26origin%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.theghousediary.com%252Ff626e10f04479%26relation%3Dparent.parent&container_width=729&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FDr.MikeGhouse%2Fvideos%2F10160745332295249%2F%3Ffref%3Dmentions&locale=en_US&sdk=joey&width=625" style="border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="fb:video Facebook Social Plugin" width="625px"></iframe></div>
<hr style="background-color: #cccccc; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; height: 1px; margin: 24px 24px 1.71429rem;" />
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Intra-faith Dialogue</strong><br />For the first time in the United States, we held an intrafaith dialogue between Sunni, Shia and Ahmadiyya Muslims at Rice University in Houston. Since then, we have done three more programs.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1" frameborder="0" height="352" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TNGfBUXGm4I?feature=oembed" style="border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="625"></iframe></div>
<hr style="background-color: #cccccc; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; height: 1px; margin: 24px 24px 1.71429rem;" />
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Dealing with Quran Burning Pastor Terry Jones</strong><br />We hope to make a documentary on this, it will make a very exciting movie – What is sacred? Holy books, Mother, Prophet, Flag, and Freedom of Speech and…?</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
It is a successful real-life story set in Mulberry, Florida coupled with a compelling romantic saga woven around the Quran burning event, filled with human aspirations, relationship issues, suspense, humor, action, and disappointments. It has all the ingredients of a successful Hollywood film.<br />The script is ready, we need funding!</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1" frameborder="0" height="352" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/p5Y5bPD17iA?feature=oembed" style="border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="625"></iframe></div>
<hr style="background-color: #cccccc; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; height: 1px; margin: 24px 24px 1.71429rem;" />
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Sharia Explained</strong><br />Even Muslim have misunderstood the origins of Sharia, it is not divine, as it is believed to be, it is a human effort created to serve justice, and since it is human, it has its own flaws that need fixing. The upcoming book has a full chapter on this – info about the book at www.AmericanMuslimAgenda.com</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1" frameborder="0" height="352" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XBcUVQmi6dU?start=355&feature=oembed" style="border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="625"></iframe></div>
<hr style="background-color: #cccccc; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; height: 1px; margin: 24px 24px 1.71429rem;" />
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Fox News with Stuart Varney – Stuart said that he will not use the phrase Muslim Terrorism any more after he understood that individuals commit the crime and not religions</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1" frameborder="0" height="352" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/aGSti7f9F-A?feature=oembed" style="border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="625"></iframe></div>
<hr style="background-color: #cccccc; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; height: 1px; margin: 24px 24px 1.71429rem;" />
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
$5 MILLION DOLLARS TO MIKE GHOUSE</div>
<div id="fb-root" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
<div class="fb-video fb_iframe_widget fb_iframe_widget_fluid_desktop" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/MikeGhouse/videos/1438210749532124/" data-width="625" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" class="" data-mce-fragment="1" frameborder="0" height="1000px" name="f123a32e8cad21c" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/v3.2/plugins/video.php?app_id=&channel=https%3A%2F%2Fstaticxx.facebook.com%2Fconnect%2Fxd_arbiter%2Fr%2Fj-GHT1gpo6-.js%3Fversion%3D43%23cb%3Df2d70464e063e64%26domain%3Dwww.theghousediary.com%26origin%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.theghousediary.com%252Ff626e10f04479%26relation%3Dparent.parent&container_width=729&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FMikeGhouse%2Fvideos%2F1438210749532124%2F&locale=en_US&sdk=joey&width=625" style="border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="fb:video Facebook Social Plugin" width="625px"></iframe></div>
<hr style="background-color: #cccccc; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; height: 1px; margin: 24px 24px 1.71429rem;" />
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
God can be worshipped in so many different ways</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1" frameborder="0" height="352" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/c7CfJaOpzyU?start=251&feature=oembed" style="border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="625"></iframe></div>
<hr style="background-color: #cccccc; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; height: 1px; margin: 24px 24px 1.71429rem;" />
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Defending Obama Care (note, I was a Republican then, but an independent since 2014)</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1" frameborder="0" height="352" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kWQrVPyeaqI?feature=oembed" style="border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="625"></iframe></div>
<hr style="background-color: #cccccc; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; height: 1px; margin: 24px 24px 1.71429rem;" />
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Motivational Talk on Gratitude – The Appaiah Story</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1" frameborder="0" height="352" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wyDBHp4GQaM?start=24&feature=oembed" style="border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="625"></iframe></div>
<hr style="background-color: #cccccc; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; height: 1px; margin: 24px 24px 1.71429rem;" />
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Dealing with Quran Burning Pastor in Urdu/Hindi Language</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1" frameborder="0" height="352" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Xxa69A5Xn3o?feature=oembed" style="border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="625"></iframe></div>
<hr style="background-color: #cccccc; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; height: 1px; margin: 24px 24px 1.71429rem;" />
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Honoring Reverend Moon and Neil Armstrong</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1" frameborder="0" height="352" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lkBCBRDV_Mo?feature=oembed" style="border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="625"></iframe></div>
<hr style="background-color: #cccccc; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; height: 1px; margin: 24px 24px 1.71429rem;" />
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Address the Annual Convention of Muslim</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1" frameborder="0" height="352" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AXNS365UEw4?feature=oembed" style="border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="625"></iframe></div>
<hr style="background-color: #cccccc; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; height: 1px; margin: 24px 24px 1.71429rem;" />
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Gurdwara Garland</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1" frameborder="0" height="352" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vNxrf8fFU0I?feature=oembed" style="border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="625"></iframe></div>
<hr style="background-color: #cccccc; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; height: 1px; margin: 24px 24px 1.71429rem;" />
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Quran Workshop in Dallas</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1" frameborder="0" height="352" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hClTnD2kXaQ?feature=oembed" style="border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="625"></iframe></div>
<hr style="background-color: #cccccc; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; height: 1px; margin: 24px 24px 1.71429rem;" />
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Quran Bashing Pastor Challenged – Part I</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1" frameborder="0" height="352" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LMN8Zy1kc64?feature=oembed" style="border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="625"></iframe></div>
<hr style="background-color: #cccccc; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; height: 1px; margin: 24px 24px 1.71429rem;" />
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Fox News with Megyn Kelly about beheading in Oklahoma</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1" frameborder="0" height="352" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/eWczluM5l8o?feature=oembed" style="border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="625"></iframe></div>
<hr style="background-color: #cccccc; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; height: 1px; margin: 24px 24px 1.71429rem;" />
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Fox News with Greg Gutfield about Bikini wear in Indonesia</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1" frameborder="0" height="352" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/O0bgdrRDgdk?feature=oembed" style="border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="625"></iframe></div>
<hr style="background-color: #cccccc; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; height: 1px; margin: 24px 24px 1.71429rem;" />
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Fox News with Laura Ingram about Pamela Geller and blood Libel</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1" frameborder="0" height="352" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/P8Wn6EwlWWA?feature=oembed" style="border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="625"></iframe></div>
<hr style="background-color: #cccccc; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; height: 1px; margin: 24px 24px 1.71429rem;" />
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Ghouse Defending Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London on Fox News</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1" frameborder="0" height="352" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-_p9-mZ88iM?feature=oembed" style="border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="625"></iframe></div>
<hr style="background-color: #cccccc; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; height: 1px; margin: 24px 24px 1.71429rem;" />
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Mike Ghouse upon Bil Laden’s death</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1" frameborder="0" height="469" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LaHbotHwTck?feature=oembed" style="border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="625"></iframe></div>
<hr style="background-color: #cccccc; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; height: 1px; margin: 24px 24px 1.71429rem;" />
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Americans Together – A documentary to be made upon funding… here is a sampler</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1" frameborder="0" height="352" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/YMXsTo4VYh8?feature=oembed" style="border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="625"></iframe></div>
<hr style="background-color: #cccccc; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; height: 1px; margin: 24px 24px 1.71429rem;" />
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Forgotten video – Part I</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1" frameborder="0" height="352" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/HCrNhDrFYL4?feature=oembed" style="border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="625"></iframe></div>
<hr style="background-color: #cccccc; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; height: 1px; margin: 24px 24px 1.71429rem;" />
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Part II – My story</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1" frameborder="0" height="352" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mLiQeOo9oEs?feature=oembed" style="border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="625"></iframe></div>
<hr style="background-color: #cccccc; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; height: 1px; margin: 24px 24px 1.71429rem;" />
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Hannity, Mike Ghouse on Fox News ( 1 of the 300 videos)</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1" frameborder="0" height="352" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/HiEHbdK84Gk?feature=oembed" style="border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="625"></iframe></div>
<hr style="background-color: #cccccc; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; height: 1px; margin: 24px 24px 1.71429rem;" />
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Addressing Salana Jalsa at the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1" frameborder="0" height="352" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Lvc8fTIoKUg?feature=oembed" style="border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="625"></iframe></div>
<hr style="background-color: #cccccc; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; height: 1px; margin: 24px 24px 1.71429rem;" />
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Assorted Clips</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1" frameborder="0" height="352" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oZQ-FT8GfiQ?feature=oembed" style="border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="625"></iframe></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">What is a Cohesive Society, and how does it help America?</strong></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Take the human body as an example – to function normally, all our body parts and organs have to work in coordination, and they function their role if we feed them the right energy. What if we don’t eat right? When we have a headache or heart problem, we cease to function cohesively, right?</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Extend this to the social aspect of our lives, i.e., our interactions with other people. In a given family, or at a workplace, community center, our states, and our nations, we do not act as one nation. If we lose the common objective, we tend to go in different directions instead of finding solutions.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Chief Seattle, a Native American said this correctly, “All things are connected. Whatever befalls the earth befalls the sons of the earth. Man did not weave the web of life; he is merely a strand in it. Whatever he does to the webs, he does it to himself.”</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Examples – the community is a bus!<br />America is God’s own country. Indeed it is. It is a representation of everything God has created on this planet from the sea to the shining sea. We have green pastures, rivers, mountains, deserts, snow, rainfall, storms; we have a cold to hot climates.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
We are one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. We are represented by every race, nationality, ethnicity, language, culture, and religion.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
We are blessed with every possible faith that you can imagine on the earth, there is no other nation represented by this many faiths. Together as Americans, we believe in one God, no God, and many God representations; we think him to be male, female and genderless; we believe it to be a being, non-being, and everything; unknown and innumerable names.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
We have families who opt to live a simple life with no modern amenities and us families who live in the lap of luxury that is unmatched anywhere.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
We believe in our constant declaration of independence, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
=============================<br /><strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> What does inclusion mean? How does it benefit the common man?</strong></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Do you remember the hurt you felt when a group of associates huddled in the corner and did invite you to the conversation? Do you remember two of your family members were talking together, and when you walked in they stopped talking… you feel frustrated when you are excluded. You lose interest…. you are onto a project, and your spouse is not aware of it, you know how he or she feels?</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Inclusion is inspiring, it breeds enthusiasm and commitment to the common purpose.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Two days before the election in 2016, I wrote an imaginary speech for Hillary Clinton and published it in the Huffington Post. It called for her to “Include” the disaffected Americans, mainly the suburban and the ones who lost their jobs in manufacturing. Had she done that, Trump would not have earned their sympathy.<br />Inclusion is important.<br />=============================<br /><strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Does Pluralism beneficial to the business?</strong></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Absolutely! Every business, religious, political, and community service organization wants people to get along with each other, be productive and live out with least tensions.<br />Let me share a quote from Maya Angelou, “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
And when they feel bad, their productivity goes down, and it is infectious, others will crawl too. You switch gears to go into either “getting even” mode or resentment towards the other. This consumes you at the workplace, Then you carry the tension home, and you don’t give 100% to your family it deserves, neither you nor your family or the people at work are happy.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
But when we learn about Pluralism, most things can be shaped to reach our goals of cohesion and one nation.<br />When you have a conflict with someone, don’t carry it with you, sit down and have a conversation – the pain from that conversation is worth the freedom you will have for a long time to come.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Real Example: 4 work associates going for lunch, two scenarios!<br />=============================</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">7. What is the most significant contribution of CFP to America?</strong></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
It will be instrumental in shaping the future of America.Ten years from now, 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, races, and ethnicities interacting, working, studying, intermingling, playing and marrying together. The future is bound to create conflicts, and the CFP is determined to shape that future where all of us can live without apprehension and fear of the other.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
=============================<br />Dr. Mike Ghouse is a public speaker and the founder and President of the Center for Pluralism in Washington, DC. He is committed to building cohesive societies and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day. More about him at <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikeghouse/" style="border: 0px; color: #00bcd5; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikeghouse/</a> and <a href="http://www.theghousediary.com/mike-ghouse-my-mission/" style="border: 0px; color: #00bcd5; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">http://www.theghousediary.com/mike-ghouse-my-mission/</a> and <a href="http://www.muslimspeaker.com/" style="border: 0px; color: #00bcd5; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">www.MuslimSpeaker.com</a> and <a href="http://www.interfaithspeaker.com/" style="border: 0px; color: #00bcd5; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">www.interfaithspeaker.com</a></div>
</div>
</div>
Mike Ghousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01647894600183489442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012002608072464589.post-37057516074744611962018-06-13T13:24:00.001-07:002018-06-15T10:11:54.286-07:00Ramadan Mubarak - Reflections on Celebrations<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
A few Ramadan questions are answered here; why do we celebrate on different days? What is it with the Moon? How do you greet Muslims on this day? What kind of culinary delights are out there? How do Muslims celebrate in different parts of the world? Ramadan TV Commercials? A bit of politics too and lots of Eid Mubarak symbols at the link.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<img alt="" class="alignnone wp-image-683" height="309" sizes="(max-width: 626px) 100vw, 626px" src="http://ramadannews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/RamadanMubarak-9-1-300x148.jpg" srcset="http://ramadannews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/RamadanMubarak-9-1-300x148.jpg 300w, http://ramadannews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/RamadanMubarak-9-1-768x378.jpg 768w, http://ramadannews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/RamadanMubarak-9-1-624x307.jpg 624w, http://ramadannews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/RamadanMubarak-9-1.jpg 799w" style="border: 0px; height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="626" /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
I urge Muslims around the world to take a minute to stop and appreciate the men and women who serve our nation, the armed forces, national guard, police, firefighters and others who are out there to guard our freedom and secure the safety of individuals and families. I have done this time and again, and I always remember the Louisville experience, where the police officer asked me to forward the email to him, asking Muslims to appreciate them, and after the Eid prayers, he had forwarded it to many police officers.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
I urge Muslim organizations to issue a press release to this effect, and this is our appeal from the World Muslim Congress, a think tank committed to building a cohesive America. WMC is a part of the Center for Pluralism.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Pluralism is alive and kicking in Islam – i.e., respecting the otherness of others! Indeed, there are many schools of thought, and the good clergymen always point out the different traditions, Dr. Imam Kavakci, one of the leading Muslim Scholars, always advised on that basis. It is up to the individual to follow what he or she is conditioned or comfortable with. The non-pluralistic Muslims resort to name calling the others who take a different path. But all of them celebrate the festival.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
A month-long fasting should clean up our bodies, hearts, minds, and souls, it means we are not biased towards anyone, we have no wall between us and another human, and that we are committed to peace and harmony. What others do to you does not matter, but how you behave towards others is all that matters in making America great again. All of us need to live without apprehension regardless of what we believe, wear, look and talk, and this is the work of Center for Pluralism and World Muslim Congress.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
By the way, I am an independent, and not a Republican or a Democrat and I am a Pluralist Muslim, like a majority of Muslims – i.e., respecting the otherness of others, and accepting the God-given uniqueness of each one of his beautiful creation.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
All of this at <a href="http://ramadannews.com/ramadan-celebrations-eid-mubarak/" style="border: 0px; color: #00bcd5; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">http://ramadannews.com/ramadan-celebrations-eid-mubarak/</a></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Mike Ghouse</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
When is the Eid? Ramadan Celebrations? Is it Friday, Saturday or even Sunday? For some, it will depend on when the moon (first day) is sighted.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Pluralism is alive and kicking in Islam – i.e, respecting the otherness of others! Indeed, there are many schools of thought, and the good clergymen always point out the different traditions, Dr. Imam Kavakci always advised on that basis. It is up to the individual to follow what he or she is conditioned or comfortable with. The non-pluralistic Muslims resort to name calling the others who take a different path. But all of them celebrate the festival.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<img alt="" class="wp-image-653 alignleft" height="288" sizes="(max-width: 288px) 100vw, 288px" src="http://ramadannews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/RamdanKareen-300x300.jpg" srcset="http://ramadannews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/RamdanKareen-300x300.jpg 300w, http://ramadannews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/RamdanKareen-150x150.jpg 150w, http://ramadannews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/RamdanKareen-768x768.jpg 768w, http://ramadannews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/RamdanKareen-624x624.jpg 624w, http://ramadannews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/RamdanKareen-180x180.jpg 180w, http://ramadannews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/RamdanKareen-60x60.jpg 60w, http://ramadannews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/RamdanKareen.jpg 960w" style="border: 0px; float: left; height: auto; margin: 0.857143rem 1.71429rem 0.857143rem 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="288" />Since the beginning of Islam, there have been debates as to what constitutes moon sighting. Some interpret that there has got to be a minion to declare that they have seen it themselves with their own eyes, while others do not accept it unless they have seen it themselves. It is also acceptable if the moon is sighted elsewhere, but now, each group has to have their own moon sighting. In the United States, there is an organization that monitors moon sighting and announces it in advance. Over the millennium we learned to accept and respect the otherness of other.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Politics plays a crucial role in our Temples, Synagogues or Churches, Mosques are no different. A few scientifically-inclined-Muslims have adopted NASA’s calculations believed to be precise. However, four different traditions are operating concurrently; i) Strictly Calendar, ii) NASA iii) Sighting with bare eyes and iv) sighting by others in the community.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
The NASA-oriented and the Calendar-group miss out the fun, joy, and exhilaration of waiting and watching the needle thin moon on the horizon. The whole family gets out on the rooftops, or higher grounds, some even climb electric poles, and a few will drive out where they can see the sky without obstacles, kids would climb on parent’s shoulders, and a few go from place to place shouting in excitement, did you see it? It is like the belief in Santa Claus, Angels, and other myths, each tradition fulfills one’s emotional needs and every one becomes sentimental. After all, if celebration does not have the excitement, it is not a celebration.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
America’s spirit of freedom touches every soul, no matter what religion or tradition they follow. American Muslims are no different, they prefer to have a pre-set date to start fasting and the celebration called “Eid” pronounced as Eeed as in Eeel. The idea is for them to take a day off from work or get an optional day off for their children from the schools. Always, the joy multiplies when the family and friends celebrate it together. They prefer to start on a pre-set date and trust the calculations.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
The conflicts are the same everywhere on the earth. Each group subscribes to one of the four systems mentioned above. America is no different; you will find celebrations on one or three different days in any given city, the Sunnis, being the largest group has the greater division within, while the Sufis, Shias, Ismailis, WD Mohammad, Bohra and Ahmadiyya follow the pre-determined dates.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
The consensus may be attributable to having central spiritual leadership in all groups except the Sunni. However like the American Public wishes to see the Republicans and Democrats drop the party lines and focus on what is good for America, the Muslims also wish they could celebrate the Eid on one single day. It ain’t going to happen, it is human to differ. It is against the spirit of Ramadan to denigrate, diminish and devalue other practices.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
The essence of Ramadan is to become humble, simple and free from ill-will, anger, meanness, and hate. Let’s fill our hearts with goodwill and honor Ramadan by saying “Eid Mubarak” or Happy Eid to everyone who celebrates on a different day in the same town. The essence of Ramadan is joy and let’s not prick the bubble; God has not signed a pact with anyone behind other’s back to favor one and disfavor the other. Let’s allow God to be an honest God who is just, kind, merciful and loving as Quran says. Let’s rejoice the differences of interpretations. If you want to celebrate every day, go to every celebration.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
In the spirit of Ramadan, I pray that Ramadan gets into our hearts and minds and make us embrace all factions of Muslims without undermining their tradition and further pray that we treat every human on the earth with dignity, respect, and care.</div>
<h2 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; clear: both; color: rgb(0, 0, 0) !important; font-family: "", sans-serif !important; font-size: 1.28571rem; line-height: 1.6; margin: 1.71429rem 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 0px; color: blue; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Conflicts within</span></h2>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
The Shia-Sunni conflict we see in Iraq is new to both groups of Muslims, conflicts have always been there. The violence in conflict is new and took birth after our invasion of Iraq, which sowed the seeds of division. Shamefully, the Shia and Sunni played right into it. Our short-sighted foreign policy is pitting Saudi Arabia against Iran. Iran is not a threat to anyone, it is the false propaganda by Netanyahu, and the salesmanship of defense contractors to sell Arms to Saudi, and the Saudi monarchs have bought the idea.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
I wish we could sell peace and democratic education that will benefit everyone in the long haul. I pray, the leadership of these two nations make a bold move and meet in Singapore and hash out the differences.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
In the spirit of Ramadan, I hope the Pakistani people will wake up and fix the discriminative clauses in their constitution towards minorities, particularly the belligerent attitudes towards Ahmadiyya Muslims. If Ramadan cannot purify us, not sure what will. As Iqbal would have said it, “tujhe kya milega ramzan may ” – that what is the point in observing Ramadan if it does not purify you? I wish Muslims choose to follow the foundation of Islam; Amin, that is caring for every human being and seeking peace and harmony by respecting the otherness of others. No human is more privileged than the other and only God is the judge of one’s faith.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
That is indeed the wisdom expressed in Qur’an, Al-Hujurat, Surah 49:13: “O mankind! We have created you male and female, and have made you nations and tribes that ye may know one another. The noblest of you, in sight of God, is the best in conduct. God Knows and is Aware of everything you do.”</div>
<h2 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; clear: both; color: rgb(0, 0, 0) !important; font-family: "", sans-serif !important; font-size: 1.28571rem; line-height: 1.6; margin: 1.71429rem 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 0px; color: blue; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Muslims must do this</span></h2>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
I urge Muslims around the world to take a minute to stop and appreciate the men and women who serve our nation, police, firefighters and others who are out there for the safety of individuals and families. I have done this time and again, and I always remember the Louisville experience, where the police officer asked me to forward the email to him, asking Muslims to appreciate them, and after the Eid prayers, he had forwarded it to many police officers.</div>
<h2 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; clear: both; color: rgb(0, 0, 0) !important; font-family: "", sans-serif !important; font-size: 1.28571rem; line-height: 1.6; margin: 1.71429rem 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 0px; color: blue; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">What else? </span></h2>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Everything you always wanted to know about Ramadan is here at <a href="http://www.ramadannews.com/" style="border: 0px; color: #00bcd5; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">www.RamadanNews.com</a></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Ramadan around the world at <a href="http://ramadannews.com/videos-ramdan-around-the-wordl/" style="border: 0px; color: #00bcd5; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">http://ramadannews.com/videos-ramdan-around-the-wordl/</a></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Ramadan Commercials by McDonald at <a href="http://ramadannews.com/ramadan-commercials/" style="border: 0px; color: #00bcd5; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">http://ramadannews.com/ramadan-commercials/</a></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Ramadan Culinary at <a href="http://ramadannews.com/ramadan-traditions/" style="border: 0px; color: #00bcd5; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">http://ramadannews.com/ramadan-traditions/</a></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
The essence of Ramadan at <a href="http://ramadannews.com/essence-of-ramadan-may-be-traceable-in-your-faith/" style="border: 0px; color: #00bcd5; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">http://ramadannews.com/essence-of-ramadan-may-be-traceable-in-your-faith/</a></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
What does God want? http://ramadannews.com/happy-ramadan-what-does-god-really-want/</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
You can also read “The Rituals of Ramadan” followed by the “Spirit of Ramadan”.<br />Usually, Arabic Speaking people call it Ramadan, all others call is Ramzan, both are acceptable terms.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">There should be at least 100 ways of wishing the festivities:</strong></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<em style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Ramadan Mubarak!<br />Salamat Hari Raya<br />Eid Mubarak<br />İyi Ramazanlar<br />Ramadan Kareem<br />Hayırlı Ramazanlar<br />Hoşgeldin Ramazan,<br />Happy Eid-ul-Fitr</em></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
If you know the greetings in any other language, please send an email to MuslimVision2020@gmail.com to be included for the next Eid.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Mike Ghouse is committed to building cohesive societies and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day through the <a href="http://www.centerforpluralism.com/" style="border: 0px; color: #00bcd5; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Center for Pluralism</a> and <a href="http://www.worldmuslimcongress.org/" style="border: 0px; color: #00bcd5; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">World Muslim Congress</a> and its affiliate sites including <a href="http://www.ramadannews.com/" style="border: 0px; color: #00bcd5; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">www.RamadanNews.com</a> and <a href="http://www.ramadannews.com/" style="border: 0px; color: #00bcd5; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">www.MuslimSpeaker.com</a> and <a href="http://www.interfaithspeaker.com/" style="border: 0px; color: #00bcd5; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">www.InterfaithSpeaker.com</a></div>
</div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<img alt="" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-656" src="http://ramadannews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/RamadanMubarak-7-287x300.jpg" height="300" sizes="(max-width: 287px) 100vw, 287px" srcset="http://ramadannews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/RamadanMubarak-7-287x300.jpg 287w, http://ramadannews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/RamadanMubarak-7.jpg 450w" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="287" /> <img alt="" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-675" src="http://ramadannews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/RamadanNews.com-23-300x300.png" height="300" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" srcset="http://ramadannews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/RamadanNews.com-23-300x300.png 300w, http://ramadannews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/RamadanNews.com-23-150x150.png 150w, http://ramadannews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/RamadanNews.com-23-624x626.png 624w, http://ramadannews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/RamadanNews.com-23-180x180.png 180w, http://ramadannews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/RamadanNews.com-23-60x60.png 60w, http://ramadannews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/RamadanNews.com-23.png 718w" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="300" /><img alt="" class="alignnone wp-image-654" src="http://ramadannews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/RamadanMubarak-5.jpg" height="333" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="251" /> <img alt="" class="alignnone wp-image-679" src="http://ramadannews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/RamadanNews.com-27.jpg" height="332" sizes="(max-width: 331px) 100vw, 331px" srcset="http://ramadannews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/RamadanNews.com-27.jpg 250w, http://ramadannews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/RamadanNews.com-27-150x150.jpg 150w, http://ramadannews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/RamadanNews.com-27-180x180.jpg 180w, http://ramadannews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/RamadanNews.com-27-60x60.jpg 60w" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="331" /><img alt="" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-657" src="http://ramadannews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/RamadanMubarak-8.jpg" height="225" sizes="(max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px" srcset="http://ramadannews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/RamadanMubarak-8.jpg 225w, http://ramadannews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/RamadanMubarak-8-150x150.jpg 150w, http://ramadannews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/RamadanMubarak-8-180x180.jpg 180w, http://ramadannews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/RamadanMubarak-8-60x60.jpg 60w" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="225" /> <img alt="" class="alignnone wp-image-674" src="http://ramadannews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/RamadanNews.com-22-300x182.png" height="222" sizes="(max-width: 366px) 100vw, 366px" srcset="http://ramadannews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/RamadanNews.com-22-300x182.png 300w, http://ramadannews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/RamadanNews.com-22-768x466.png 768w, http://ramadannews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/RamadanNews.com-22-624x378.png 624w, http://ramadannews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/RamadanNews.com-22.png 780w" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="366" /><img alt="" class="alignnone wp-image-658" src="http://ramadannews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/RamadanMubarak-9-300x169.jpg" height="196" sizes="(max-width: 348px) 100vw, 348px" srcset="http://ramadannews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/RamadanMubarak-9-300x169.jpg 300w, http://ramadannews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/RamadanMubarak-9-768x432.jpg 768w, http://ramadannews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/RamadanMubarak-9-624x351.jpg 624w, http://ramadannews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/RamadanMubarak-9.jpg 800w" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="348" /><img alt="" class="alignnone wp-image-678" src="http://ramadannews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/RamadanNews.com-26.jpg" height="194" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="256" /></div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<img alt="" class="alignnone wp-image-673" src="http://ramadannews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/RamadanNews.com-21.jpg" height="232" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="341" /> <img alt="" class="alignnone wp-image-660" src="http://ramadannews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/RamadanMubarak-11-300x300.jpg" height="235" sizes="(max-width: 235px) 100vw, 235px" srcset="http://ramadannews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/RamadanMubarak-11-300x300.jpg 300w, http://ramadannews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/RamadanMubarak-11-150x150.jpg 150w, http://ramadannews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/RamadanMubarak-11-180x180.jpg 180w, http://ramadannews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/RamadanMubarak-11-60x60.jpg 60w, http://ramadannews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/RamadanMubarak-11.jpg 500w" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="235" /><img alt="" class="alignnone wp-image-676" src="http://ramadannews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/RamadanNews.com-24-300x180.jpg" height="191" sizes="(max-width: 318px) 100vw, 318px" srcset="http://ramadannews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/RamadanNews.com-24-300x180.jpg 300w, http://ramadannews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/RamadanNews.com-24-768x461.jpg 768w, http://ramadannews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/RamadanNews.com-24-624x374.jpg 624w, http://ramadannews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/RamadanNews.com-24.jpg 900w" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="318" /> <img alt="" class="alignnone wp-image-677" src="http://ramadannews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/RamadanNews.com-25-300x225.jpg" height="198" sizes="(max-width: 264px) 100vw, 264px" srcset="http://ramadannews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/RamadanNews.com-25-300x225.jpg 300w, http://ramadannews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/RamadanNews.com-25-240x180.jpg 240w, http://ramadannews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/RamadanNews.com-25.jpg 320w" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="264" /> <img alt="" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-659" src="http://ramadannews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/RamadanMubarak-10-300x232.png" height="232" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" srcset="http://ramadannews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/RamadanMubarak-10-300x232.png 300w, http://ramadannews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/RamadanMubarak-10-768x595.png 768w, http://ramadannews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/RamadanMubarak-10-1024x793.png 1024w, http://ramadannews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/RamadanMubarak-10-624x483.png 624w" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="300" /> <img alt="" class="alignnone wp-image-663" src="http://ramadannews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/RamadanMubarak-14-300x225.jpg" height="230" sizes="(max-width: 307px) 100vw, 307px" srcset="http://ramadannews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/RamadanMubarak-14-300x225.jpg 300w, http://ramadannews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/RamadanMubarak-14-768x576.jpg 768w, http://ramadannews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/RamadanMubarak-14-1024x768.jpg 1024w, http://ramadannews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/RamadanMubarak-14-624x468.jpg 624w, http://ramadannews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/RamadanMubarak-14-240x180.jpg 240w, http://ramadannews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/RamadanMubarak-14.jpg 1280w" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="307" /><img alt="" class="alignnone wp-image-662" src="http://ramadannews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/RamadanMubarak-13-300x178.jpg" height="185" sizes="(max-width: 312px) 100vw, 312px" srcset="http://ramadannews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/RamadanMubarak-13-300x178.jpg 300w, http://ramadannews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/RamadanMubarak-13-624x370.jpg 624w, http://ramadannews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/RamadanMubarak-13.jpg 651w" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="312" /> <img alt="" class="alignnone wp-image-664" src="http://ramadannews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/RamadanMubarak-15-300x193.jpg" height="185" sizes="(max-width: 288px) 100vw, 288px" srcset="http://ramadannews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/RamadanMubarak-15-300x193.jpg 300w, http://ramadannews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/RamadanMubarak-15-768x494.jpg 768w, http://ramadannews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/RamadanMubarak-15-624x401.jpg 624w, http://ramadannews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/RamadanMubarak-15.jpg 950w" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="288" /> <img alt="" class="alignnone wp-image-667" src="http://ramadannews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/RamadanMubarak-0-287x300.jpg" height="317" sizes="(max-width: 303px) 100vw, 303px" srcset="http://ramadannews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/RamadanMubarak-0-287x300.jpg 287w, http://ramadannews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/RamadanMubarak-0.jpg 450w" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="303" /> <img alt="" class="alignnone wp-image-670" src="http://ramadannews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/RamadanMubarak-3-278x300.jpg" height="317" sizes="(max-width: 294px) 100vw, 294px" srcset="http://ramadannews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/RamadanMubarak-3-278x300.jpg 278w, http://ramadannews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/RamadanMubarak-3-768x829.jpg 768w, http://ramadannews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/RamadanMubarak-3-948x1024.jpg 948w, http://ramadannews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/RamadanMubarak-3-624x674.jpg 624w, http://ramadannews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/RamadanMubarak-3.jpg 1000w" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="294" /><img alt="" class="alignnone wp-image-665" src="http://ramadannews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/RamadanMubarak-16-300x188.jpg" height="176" sizes="(max-width: 281px) 100vw, 281px" srcset="http://ramadannews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/RamadanMubarak-16-300x188.jpg 300w, http://ramadannews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/RamadanMubarak-16-768x480.jpg 768w, http://ramadannews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/RamadanMubarak-16-1024x640.jpg 1024w, http://ramadannews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/RamadanMubarak-16-624x390.jpg 624w, http://ramadannews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/RamadanMubarak-16.jpg 1440w" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="281" /> <img alt="" class="alignnone wp-image-668" src="http://ramadannews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/RamadanMubarak-1-300x168.jpg" height="176" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="314" /><img alt="" class="alignnone wp-image-666" src="http://ramadannews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/RamadanMubarak-17-300x172.jpg" height="179" sizes="(max-width: 312px) 100vw, 312px" srcset="http://ramadannews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/RamadanMubarak-17-300x172.jpg 300w, http://ramadannews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/RamadanMubarak-17-768x439.jpg 768w, http://ramadannews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/RamadanMubarak-17-624x357.jpg 624w, http://ramadannews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/RamadanMubarak-17.jpg 934w" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="312" /> <img alt="" class="alignnone wp-image-669" src="http://ramadannews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/RamadanMubarak-2.jpg" height="185" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="295" /> <img alt="" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-671" src="http://ramadannews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/RamadanMubarak-4-300x201.jpg" height="201" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" srcset="http://ramadannews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/RamadanMubarak-4-300x201.jpg 300w, http://ramadannews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/RamadanMubarak-4-768x515.jpg 768w, http://ramadannews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/RamadanMubarak-4-624x418.jpg 624w, http://ramadannews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/RamadanMubarak-4.jpg 800w" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="300" /></div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1.71429rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Mike Ghouse is committed to building cohesive societies and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day through the <a href="http://www.centerforpluralism.com/" style="border: 0px; color: #00bcd5; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Center for Pluralism</a> and <a href="http://www.worldmuslimcongress.org/" style="border: 0px; color: #00bcd5; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">World Muslim Congress</a> and its affiliate sites including <a href="http://www.ramadannews.com/" style="border: 0px; color: #00bcd5; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">www.RamadanNews.com</a> and <a href="http://www.ramadannews.com/" style="border: 0px; color: #00bcd5; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">www.MuslimSpeaker.com</a> and <a href="http://www.interfaithspeaker.com/" style="border: 0px; color: #00bcd5; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">www.InterfaithSpeaker.com</a></div>
</div>
Mike Ghousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01647894600183489442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012002608072464589.post-14995119598961832982016-03-02T02:10:00.002-08:002016-03-02T02:10:26.388-08:00Can Muslims and Christians co-exist – Symposium report 1 of 2<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px;">
<span style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Can Muslims and Christians co-exist – Symposium report 1 of 2<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">San Antonio, TX, Saturday, February 27, 2916 -- Pastor Charles Flowers of Faith outreach center called on Christians and Muslims to share their perspectives on the subject matter in a symposium organized on Friday and Saturday.<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCJdJ5CZ7RRZdo1b7Pf2v0m6qblyJ14bjPU0-pZsgcXlUf-GGMNOj4dw9x-RSsLKMYdzIXAwBMKufVFrlw-3mGJmZ7XZOSXsmKIqfgsb16V_sraVcmB4AJQjD4po5lutkQqCOyoz413Giu/s1600/1-MuslimsChristiansCoexist-SanAntonio-Mikeghouse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #0c0c0c; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCJdJ5CZ7RRZdo1b7Pf2v0m6qblyJ14bjPU0-pZsgcXlUf-GGMNOj4dw9x-RSsLKMYdzIXAwBMKufVFrlw-3mGJmZ7XZOSXsmKIqfgsb16V_sraVcmB4AJQjD4po5lutkQqCOyoz413Giu/s400/1-MuslimsChristiansCoexist-SanAntonio-Mikeghouse.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid transparent; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">No matter how difficult these conversations are, they are necessary to understand and learn about each other. God almighty in Quran says, the best ones among you are those who take the time to learn about each other, when we learn about each other conflicts fade and solutions emerge. God has created everything in order and in balance, and human greed and insecurities knock this balance off, and God advises us to restore it for our own good. The act of restoration is indeed a religious inspiration. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Every religion is beautiful and each one is designed to bring peace, tranquility and salvation to oneself, one learns to live in peace with himself or herself and with others. There is a shortage of Pastors, Rabbis, Imams, Pundits and religious men and women who have the integrity to say that others religions must be equally beautiful. My daughter said when she was around 10, “Dad, if the pastor tells the truth that all religions are beautiful, why would any one flock to his church?" The minute one feels or claims that his faith is the truth (and others are not), and is superior, it is religion no more, politics and greed have taken over the soul. To sell religion and have larger congregations, one has to lie about other faiths, what a shame!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><br />Thanks to Pastor Flowers and Mrs. Janice Flowers for organizing this event, we were able to clarify a few misunderstandings, but a whole lot more needs to be done. God willing we will continue to strive to create heaven on the earth, where no one has to live in fear of the other. Pastor Flowers is a genuine guy, as he moderated the event with utmost sincerity and honesty, I applaud him for that.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Misinformation about Allah, Islam, Quran and the Prophet was painful to sit through and listen, particularly coming from my brothers who were former Muslims. May God bless them, and give them the knowledge to see that God is God of all humanity despite how we perceive him, her or it is one and the same. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 20.02px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">On the other hand, we (Muslims) have failed to question the authenticity of the Hadiths, Ibn Hisham's Seerah, the Sharia and the </span><span style="line-height: 24px;">exegesis</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> by Tamiya, Katheer, Maududi, Banna and others. Some of us have put these books on par with Quran, which we should have never done. In the next few yeas, we will be ready to sign a joint declaration that Quran is the only book for Islam - and the only quotes from Quran about Islam will be considered authentic.<br /><br />We have to fix some of the Hadiths and Sharia books to be authentic and reflect Prophet Muhammad's character who was a mercy to mankind. I don't blame some of our friends from other faiths for being scared of what they read, and most of the time, they quote from these doubtful books, sincerely </span><span style="line-height: 24px;">believing</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> that it is Islam. As a Muslim, Quran is the only book for me, the material in other book will be authentic, only if it contributes to building peaceful cohesive societies. (</span><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mike-ghouse/two-islams-the-mangledup-_b_5748280.html" style="color: #0c0c0c; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; text-decoration: none;">Two Islams</a><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">) </span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">The format of the symposium did not allow me to present another point of view except shaking my head in disagreement when I heard things were way off. I was tempted to walk out a few times, instead I started scribbling Jesus' mantra to turn the other cheek, meaning don't do or say anything to aggravate the situation and started praying like them, asking the lord to forgive them, for they know not. </span></span><br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 20.02px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">We cannot blame others for misunderstanding us without clarifying such misunderstandings, and making an effort to know others' perspective. We have a lot of work to do. As Muslims, we have the </span><span style="line-height: 24px;">responsibility</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> to create a better world for all humanity.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">The speakers included three former Muslims; Daniel Akbari, Kamal Saleem and Taufiq, and two practicing Muslims Raheel Reza and Mike Ghouse. Lt. Col. Roy White, and Joe Carey, both Christian Activists laid out the programs to counter Jihadis. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">The social issues were addressed by four different speakers. Bishop Harry Jackson offered three lenses to look at the presidential candidates and I applaud him for his inclusivity, he responded positively if the candidate were a Muslim or a Hindu, if he or she would be qualified to serve. What a joy it was to hear him out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Mrs. Alice Patterson presented how the primaries and precincts work. Her story of overcoming bias is worth listening to, and I have fought with myself not to have any bias towards another human and related with her story. Indeed she played a major role in organizing prayers when a Blackman </span><span style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Alfred Wright</span><span style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> was dragged to death in Jasper, Texas in 2013.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> Dr. Fernando Cabrera’s talk on education resonated with me, indeed, his parents told him exactly what my parents did – get education!<br /><br />Gilbert Hernandez’s presentation was a big hit for me, and I hope to dedicate time for his project. So many young men and women are lost to the vultures form Gangs and Drug cartels. Muslim Youth are also facing similar problems, as a community we are deeply concerned and want to do everything to safeguard our kids from being recruited by the extremists. Gilbert’s passion to save our youth is admirable and I hope to connect him with Muslim organizations, they have a good system down to address this sorry state of affairs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Blessed are the peacemakers, said Jesus on Mount Beatitude, which Prophet Muhammad practiced, and became a mercy to the universe. Following in their footsteps, unwaveringly, I hung on to their wisdom and remained a conflict mitigater and a goodwill nurturer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Raheel Raza and I gave our presentations on Friday night, which were received very well. I have full written up on my presentation, and will be available under the title of “My speech at San Antonio interfaith symposium about Muslims and Christians” at </span><span style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><a href="http://www.theghousediary.com/" style="color: #0c0c0c; text-decoration: none;">www.TheGhousediary.com</a></span><span style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><br /><br />My commentary on the presentations of Kamal Saleem, Daniel Akbari, Lt. Col. Roy White, and Joe Carey will be finalized after the video or audio presentation becomes available to make sure I can quote them verbatim.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Pastor Charles Flowers concluded each segment with a summary and a graceful prayer. Fortunately, he chose to advance my calling that finding the truth is one's own responsibility. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">My last offering towards the very end of the program was that I will review each item and share my comments and suggestions about the program and publish it. Those who want to see another perspective are welcome to it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">My responsibility is to address the phobias and allay the fears; no American has to live in apprehensions or fear of fellow Americans. My role is to build bridges and free my friends from ill-will and malice.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Yes, Muslims and Christians have coexisted and will continue to do so, despite the shortcomings on both sides that mess up the relationships. I'll summarize the historical, theological and social perspectives at a newspaper and then at the websites American Muslim Institution and ATF. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">This is one of the rarest conferences I have attended where the host has set the highest standards of hospitality. How many people can I thank? Rosalie Astran, Zulmarie Santiago, Abraham Martinez and of course,<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Twenty years from now our pastors, imams, rabbis, pundits, shamans and all the religious clergy will be telling the truth – that faith is in the heart of the believer just as beauty is in the eyes of the beholder.<br /><br />My faith is Islam and it is not superior to any religion, nor is any religion superior to Islam, claiming superiority is arrogance, and God in Islam does not favor arrogance, as it is the root cause of all evil and conflicts. Most Muslims get that right and a few don’t, just as with all other religions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">May God bring humility to us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 20.02px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 20.02px;" />
<div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 20.02px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8U6cyz3EsjOJ-abFB50HJeZRnq6PORzGTac5tpM4sMThye7-sfccvIY9bajdn2tVuEOU2OYvxikfwmzk4J-L_zlIMiCrnpSp1Qcz-rvGnelHsrML1mEVO6yBr8D7NRh_y2S9b7qRsh9pu/s1600/1-PastorCharlesFlowers-MuslimsChristiansCoexist.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="color: #0c0c0c; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8U6cyz3EsjOJ-abFB50HJeZRnq6PORzGTac5tpM4sMThye7-sfccvIY9bajdn2tVuEOU2OYvxikfwmzk4J-L_zlIMiCrnpSp1Qcz-rvGnelHsrML1mEVO6yBr8D7NRh_y2S9b7qRsh9pu/s400/1-PastorCharlesFlowers-MuslimsChristiansCoexist.JPG" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid transparent; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></div>
<br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 20.02px;" />
<div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 20.02px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgF-hpE4ewDmkC_uH2SdJhKf7y-Onnj_ZA7ZZaTAxycg032S7x5tfGl0cP34LSfdJ3U_E-h6QeZFPbRKrqM75blWZgKhZOImn_A-vMrwPF4SPdq5Kd_NP-NeKvqrIJ2jn1ctBCmLPl-Xii/s1600/2-MikeGhouse-MuslimsChristiansCoexist.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="color: #0c0c0c; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgF-hpE4ewDmkC_uH2SdJhKf7y-Onnj_ZA7ZZaTAxycg032S7x5tfGl0cP34LSfdJ3U_E-h6QeZFPbRKrqM75blWZgKhZOImn_A-vMrwPF4SPdq5Kd_NP-NeKvqrIJ2jn1ctBCmLPl-Xii/s400/2-MikeGhouse-MuslimsChristiansCoexist.JPG" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid transparent; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="300" /></a></div>
<br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 20.02px;" />
<div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 20.02px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFsE-sPk6OQYdHVV5Yo0E-cXEbkg_uwOTsUfvyp1QJJ7DdAIWBucr613vGGefThJWbBGdUnJwTitiuq2eUd4D28u-bmhFmUdWIvOz4H1saIoEIpDccBtwZh9A-gYIxxTibHpf3ru4VX_Pe/s1600/2-MuslimsChristiansCoexist.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="color: #0c0c0c; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFsE-sPk6OQYdHVV5Yo0E-cXEbkg_uwOTsUfvyp1QJJ7DdAIWBucr613vGGefThJWbBGdUnJwTitiuq2eUd4D28u-bmhFmUdWIvOz4H1saIoEIpDccBtwZh9A-gYIxxTibHpf3ru4VX_Pe/s400/2-MuslimsChristiansCoexist.JPG" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid transparent; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></div>
<br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 20.02px;" />
<div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 20.02px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC15UwSZkocFbS8e3VWbLH6nNFb4pK6DC7McuB0lMjejnrfo1PvdhE-b4lQoWdNVP_zszkNxBVooHIMqwMFEJtcYft8ilsQGN-wS4qXUsCfKKg1ehTcuo23lDQrsSWEHyC42ATh3GMvx2r/s1600/2-RaheelRaza-MuslimsChristiansCoexist.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="color: #0c0c0c; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC15UwSZkocFbS8e3VWbLH6nNFb4pK6DC7McuB0lMjejnrfo1PvdhE-b4lQoWdNVP_zszkNxBVooHIMqwMFEJtcYft8ilsQGN-wS4qXUsCfKKg1ehTcuo23lDQrsSWEHyC42ATh3GMvx2r/s400/2-RaheelRaza-MuslimsChristiansCoexist.JPG" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid transparent; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></div>
<br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 20.02px;" />
<div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 20.02px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Pm7Y8bSiwRkLkq7JaxB69F5CsR_sTFixz98QNBNiv8vb0V9M8tYoVx1g4WHoWqDSgf28vLgoBJImFDQ1vsIQcspQzCpARWPq8Iy-LGn9Kj3PpLVlJgmR5wV6ljNs_1w0Xjgfu4_K45fX/s1600/3-alicePatterson-MuslimsChristiansCoexist.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="color: #0c0c0c; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Pm7Y8bSiwRkLkq7JaxB69F5CsR_sTFixz98QNBNiv8vb0V9M8tYoVx1g4WHoWqDSgf28vLgoBJImFDQ1vsIQcspQzCpARWPq8Iy-LGn9Kj3PpLVlJgmR5wV6ljNs_1w0Xjgfu4_K45fX/s400/3-alicePatterson-MuslimsChristiansCoexist.JPG" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid transparent; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="300" /></a></div>
<br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 20.02px;" />
<div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 20.02px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDnCJYMo_0RhG0kpNxZGy7YS3JjJq5n508XDlxDwAq4QWMVF0xWZsu24zz6tOrhQbMGr6A90EybFulPbd0ST8vziRI7cTt_6H2WpFm9nA23YNQBv2zWEdx5ckuACNwlVnjYp_rBgHaXyVb/s1600/3-GilbertHernandez-MuslimsChristiansCoexist.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="color: #0c0c0c; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDnCJYMo_0RhG0kpNxZGy7YS3JjJq5n508XDlxDwAq4QWMVF0xWZsu24zz6tOrhQbMGr6A90EybFulPbd0ST8vziRI7cTt_6H2WpFm9nA23YNQBv2zWEdx5ckuACNwlVnjYp_rBgHaXyVb/s400/3-GilbertHernandez-MuslimsChristiansCoexist.JPG" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid transparent; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="300" /></a></div>
<br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 20.02px;" />
<div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 20.02px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-92m7SWAqP5Jdm6-2AuXXCumIcFhvAPHhSfz8h0rZDZofRe_1aiv8CPB19udPJwesmr_uKlAQhnYeU_ShkLqffsxQpkouNZ1f4GTXafAZ9cgG0L_9Z2hFoyym4u_BLXX5eBeojPu7EyJk/s1600/4-.BishopHarryJackson-MuslimsChristiansCoexist.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #0c0c0c; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-92m7SWAqP5Jdm6-2AuXXCumIcFhvAPHhSfz8h0rZDZofRe_1aiv8CPB19udPJwesmr_uKlAQhnYeU_ShkLqffsxQpkouNZ1f4GTXafAZ9cgG0L_9Z2hFoyym4u_BLXX5eBeojPu7EyJk/s400/4-.BishopHarryJackson-MuslimsChristiansCoexist.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid transparent; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="300" /></a></div>
<br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 20.02px;" />
<div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 20.02px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCq8A8mCD8mFaeZM9NQfAfBYCoeCWHms5a3DVuE5U77C52PcDmZ-MGUiEvJeLX9rmA7nXUggfEsmkueVogxE4taoyRpy-3TEPjFGYDzeF-_XEeuKinmH4U7DN2Gwmra8BmPMQWNvJkMTlO/s1600/4-KamalSaleem--MuslimsChristiansCoexist.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="color: #0c0c0c; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCq8A8mCD8mFaeZM9NQfAfBYCoeCWHms5a3DVuE5U77C52PcDmZ-MGUiEvJeLX9rmA7nXUggfEsmkueVogxE4taoyRpy-3TEPjFGYDzeF-_XEeuKinmH4U7DN2Gwmra8BmPMQWNvJkMTlO/s400/4-KamalSaleem--MuslimsChristiansCoexist.JPG" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid transparent; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Thank you,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Mike Ghouse, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">(214) 325-1916<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Washington, DC <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 21.45px; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Dr. Mike Ghouse is a community consultant, social scientist, thinker, writer, newsmaker and a professional speaker on </span><span style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><a href="http://foundationforpluralism.blogspot.com/" style="color: #0c0c0c; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="http://foundationforpluralism.blogspot.com/">Pluralism</a></span><span style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">, </span><span style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><a href="http://http/www.mikeghouse.net/InterfaithSpeaker_MikeGhouse.asp" style="color: #0c0c0c; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="http://http//www.mikeghouse.net/InterfaithSpeaker_MikeGhouse.asp">Interfaith</a></span><span style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">, </span><span style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><a href="http://www.worldmuslimcongress.com/" style="color: #0c0c0c; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="http://www.worldmuslimcongress.com/">Islam</a></span><span style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">, </span><span style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><a href="http://http/centerforamericanpolitics.blogspot.com/" style="color: #0c0c0c; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="http://http//centerforamericanpolitics.blogspot.com/">politics</a></span><span style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">, </span><span style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><a href="http://www.standingupforothers.com/" style="color: #0c0c0c; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="http://www.standingupforothers.com/">human rights</a></span><span style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">, and foreign policy. Mike is committed to building </span><span style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><a href="http://americatogetherfoundation.com/" style="color: #0c0c0c; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="http://americatogetherfoundation.com/">cohesive societies</a></span><span style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day. More about him in 63 links at </span><span style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><a href="http://www.mikeghouse.net/" style="color: #0c0c0c; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="http://www.mikeghouse.net/">www.MikeGhouse.net</a></span><span style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> and his writings are at </span><span style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><a href="http://theghousediary.com/" style="color: #0c0c0c; text-decoration: none;" title="http://theghousediary.com/">TheGhousediary.com</a></span><span style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> </span></div>
</div>
Mike Ghousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01647894600183489442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012002608072464589.post-57917031378590360362016-02-16T10:37:00.003-08:002016-02-17T19:51:40.537-08:00Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) practice must end now<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 20.02px; margin: 9pt 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Female Genital Mutilation | www.WorldMuslimCongress.com</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 20.02px; margin: 9pt 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">This is a brutal practice of cutting the genital part of women by insecure men of the past, but continued today by equally insecure men. I have put together several articles here below. It is cruel, inhuman and violates the inalienable rights of women to life, liberty and happiness, and secondly, the religious leader Syedna Burhanuddin of the Bohra Muslim Community has refused to stop the practice. I have written a letter to him but he has since passed away and his successor is no different. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 20.02px; margin: 9pt 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Muslim and Christians should join hands to stop this, as it is practiced by a fraction of them in the name of their religion.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 20.02px; margin: 9pt 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Many have taken up to stop this inhuman practice and we should all join this.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 20.02px; margin: 9pt 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Warning: The pictures too graphic, especially the one with raw blade. Most of the pictures are from Africa to illustrate the point and perhaps due to the limited availability of such practices.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsdvTzm1oVtMmWWISrHAryxu_Sfcpjem8f_rOJJMYX3QF6OEyGblyROnpLsXEWOMi25zcx50JcuzsE2-Tzr-4BPIamE-HZXUBCAOnWaSH0s1KCgkynbnYy6eY6kdrxQ_iBLMLrYxOYd1s/s1600/fgm+PETITION.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsdvTzm1oVtMmWWISrHAryxu_Sfcpjem8f_rOJJMYX3QF6OEyGblyROnpLsXEWOMi25zcx50JcuzsE2-Tzr-4BPIamE-HZXUBCAOnWaSH0s1KCgkynbnYy6eY6kdrxQ_iBLMLrYxOYd1s/s400/fgm+PETITION.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; line-height: 20.02px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfO6-Lxzr-314IK6nDaqw7Hdcj4PNHGKD-yC342iaZprVjQ2EAbIgAqMKjGH6sh6R8xS6U7s2UC-V8R3o2PCZCNpOZFkf1yxU1JB_liIccr4vwSOLgCHEGD3Gtp3sgvJLD2aq5G2eRSQxU/s1600/FGM-+End+it.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfO6-Lxzr-314IK6nDaqw7Hdcj4PNHGKD-yC342iaZprVjQ2EAbIgAqMKjGH6sh6R8xS6U7s2UC-V8R3o2PCZCNpOZFkf1yxU1JB_liIccr4vwSOLgCHEGD3Gtp3sgvJLD2aq5G2eRSQxU/s400/FGM-+End+it.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(231, 231, 231); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 20.02px; margin: 9pt 0in 0.0001pt;">
</div>
<ol style="background-color: white; line-height: 20.02px;">
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Female Genital Mutilation among Bohra Muslims - A report - not for children, too graphic pictures to bear.<br /><a href="http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2011/11/female-genital-mutilation-among-bohra.html" style="color: black; text-decoration: none;">http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2011/11/female-genital-mutilation-among-bohra.html</a></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Setting the record Straight, Female Genital Mutilation<br /><a href="http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2012/04/mutilating-facts-setting-record.html" style="color: black; text-decoration: none;">http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2012/04/mutilating-facts-setting-record.html</a></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Scientific knowledge at practice was banned in the USA in 1996<br /><a href="http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2013/06/female-genital-mutilation-cutting-fgm.html" style="color: black; text-decoration: none;">http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2013/06/female-genital-mutilation-cutting-fgm.html</a></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Female genital cutting<br /><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xk1XpaXP3RU" style="color: black; text-decoration: none;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xk1XpaXP3RU</a></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Bohra Women slam cruel tradition of female genital mutilation India Today – NDTV<br /><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgwCt9N6OOA" style="color: black; text-decoration: none;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgwCt9N6OOA</a></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eR7DkaXCBtM</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Female Genital Cutting: An Unknown Global Concern – by Mariya Taher<br /><a href="http://www.fairobserver.com/culture/female-genital-cutting-an-unknown-global-concern-42053/" style="color: black; text-decoration: none;">http://www.fairobserver.com/culture/female-genital-cutting-an-unknown-global-concern-42053/</a></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">FGC and the Law: Why Criminalization Isn’t Enough<br /><a href="http://blogs.cfr.org/women-around-the-world/2016/02/09/female-genital-cutting-and-the-law-why-criminalization-isnt-enough/" style="color: black; text-decoration: none;">http://blogs.cfr.org/women-around-the-world/2016/02/09/female-genital-cutting-and-the-law-why-criminalization-isnt-enough/</a></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/feb/08/victim-fgm-speaking-out-cut-genitals-culture-of-silence?CMP=oth_b-aplnews_d-1" style="color: black; text-decoration: none;">http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/feb/08/victim-fgm-speaking-out-cut-genitals-culture-of-silence?CMP=oth_b-aplnews_d-1</a></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">End Female Genital Mutilation in India<br /><a href="https://www.change.org/p/end-female-genital-mutilation-in-india" style="color: black; text-decoration: none;">https://www.change.org/p/end-female-genital-mutilation-in-india</a></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="http://www.safehandsforgirls.org/" style="color: black; text-decoration: none;">http://www.safehandsforgirls.org/</a></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Join the Global Conversation to #endFGM Imam Magid and Coptic Pastor<br /><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmfflgHKCfU" style="color: black; text-decoration: none;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmfflgHKCfU</a></span></li>
</ol>
<div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; line-height: 20.02px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji9wTVOQSRlmA6csiyzI8XSBNitHon2Edpto-h2q6KvmSmkliz1CiBa8UCduQSP6tuly-ua0yFgbwaHwaWr8A9KN8rw5rSr3VqCn0vI9b5DLe2rtJ8dEAdhuonbWQdnufv9lMkL8gDEL7Y/s1600/Senegal-FGM-women.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji9wTVOQSRlmA6csiyzI8XSBNitHon2Edpto-h2q6KvmSmkliz1CiBa8UCduQSP6tuly-ua0yFgbwaHwaWr8A9KN8rw5rSr3VqCn0vI9b5DLe2rtJ8dEAdhuonbWQdnufv9lMkL8gDEL7Y/s400/Senegal-FGM-women.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(231, 231, 231); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div style="background-color: white; line-height: 20.02px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 20.02px;" /></span>
<br />
<div style="background-color: white; line-height: 20.02px;">
<span family="SANSSERIF" lang="0" ptsize="10"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Mike Ghouse<br />Text or Talk at (214) 325-1916<br /><br />Dr. Mike Ghouse is a community consultant, social scientist, thinker, writer, news maker, and a speaker on Pluralism, Interfaith, Islam, politics, terrorism, human rights, India, Israel-Palestine and foreign policy. He is committed to building cohesive societies and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day. Visit him in 63 links at www.MikeGhouse.net for his writings at TheGhousediary.com and several blogs listed there in. </span></span></div>
</div>
Mike Ghousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01647894600183489442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012002608072464589.post-55263991899577715232016-01-30T11:13:00.001-08:002016-01-30T11:13:09.689-08:00Moderate Muslim speaker<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #222222; line-height: 20.16px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Since 9/11, talk show hosts, journalists, lawmakers, interfaith authorities and thought leaders have asked: “Who are the authentic moderates of Islam?” Where are moderate Muslims to join the debate on social, civic, religious and political issues, including racism and violent extremism? And, “Who speaks for American Muslims?”</span></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #222222; line-height: 20.16px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Steve Blow of Dallas Morning News<strong style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </strong>wrote, "Over and over you hear it said: If Muslims oppose terrorism, why don't they stand up and say it? If that has been you, Mike Ghouse ought to be your hero."</span></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #222222; line-height: 20.16px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Muslims are sick of the terrorists, ISIS, Al-Qaeda, Boko Haram and their ilk committing evil acts and conveniently passing the buck to their religion, and Muslims are neither happy with those few gullible Americans who are too eager to buy the poor excuses of these gangs. Instead of punishing these criminals, they are hell bent on finding faults with the religion.</span></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #222222; line-height: 20.16px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In behalf of <a class="external" href="http://americanmusliminstitution.org/" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #29568f; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">American Muslim Institution</a> a rally was organized on the steps of Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC, on Friday, November 20, 2015. The symbolic location was chosen to mirror the effort of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who brought a positive change to the American civil Society with his famous, “I have a dream” speech. Dr. Ghouse believes that this effort has seeded the momentum for yet another positive change; acceptance of Muslims as equals with the process of integration.</span></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #222222; line-height: 20.16px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A reporter asked what would be achieved by condemning or demonstrating here at Lincoln Memorial. Dr. Ghouse responded, “Evil exists because good people do nothing about it, we the good people are doing something about it; we are condemning the evil acts of ISIS, and sending them a clear message that the world condemns their act and that they have no place among the civil societies unless they surrender and give up terrorism, violence and extremism.</span></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #222222; line-height: 20.16px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">At the National Press Club, Dr. Ben Carson was asked if he verifies the information he relays about Muslims and Islam. The lack of response led Dr. Ghouse to offer advice and guidance to him, and if he considers the advice, he will save himself a lot of regrets and time on doubling down on the false information, and if he were smart, he can earn at least 3 Million Muslim votes.</span></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #222222; line-height: 20.16px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Dr. Mike Ghouse is a proud, unapologetic Moderate Muslim and a passionate advocate of Pluralism in religion, society, politics, race, dining, clothing, dancing, sports and every aspect of life. He is a public speaker, thinker, writer and a commentator who is considered an authority on Pluralism and Interfaith relations in America, and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day.</span></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #222222; line-height: 20.16px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><strong style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><u style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Phyllis Curott</u></strong><strong style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">,</strong> the Vice Chair of Parliament of World’s Religions writes," Mike Ghouse has the courage of his convictions - he carries a spark of inspiration that can only be called Divine…..”</span></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #222222; line-height: 20.16px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><strong style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Religion News Service</strong>,<br />" (RNS) A Florida pastor plans to burn a pile of Qurans on the 9/11 anniversary, and interfaith activist Mike Ghouse says, “It is not what (the pastor) will do, it is what we do as Americans and American Muslims that matters.”</span></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #222222; float: left; line-height: 20.16px; margin: 4px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<ins class="adsbygoogle" data-ad-client="ca-pub-9067887996992607" data-ad-slot="4800035593" data-adsbygoogle-status="done" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; display: inline-block; height: 250px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; width: 300px;"><ins id="aswift_1_expand" style="background: transparent; border: none; display: inline-table; height: 250px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; visibility: visible; width: 300px;"><ins id="aswift_1_anchor" style="background: transparent; border: none; display: block; height: 250px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; visibility: visible; width: 300px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><iframe allowfullscreen="true" allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="250" hspace="0" id="aswift_1" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" name="aswift_1" scrolling="no" style="background: transparent; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; left: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" vspace="0" width="300"></iframe></span></ins></ins></ins></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #222222; line-height: 20.16px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #222222; line-height: 20.16px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Dr. Ghouse has appeared in more than 150 TV Talk shows, including 102 with Sean Hannity alone. He has served as<br />subject expert hundreds of times on nationally syndicated radio shows. Many listeners have heard his informed opinions at the time of the Quran Burning issue in Mulberry, Florida, Quran Bashing in Dallas Texas, during the Ground Zero Mosque, Boston Bombing, Garland, Phoenix, Washington and other major conflicts.</span></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #222222; line-height: 20.16px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He has published more than 3000 articles on a variety of topics, of these; more than 1000 are on Pluralism, including 225 pieces in the “Texas Faith” column of the Dallas Morning News and 130 articles at <em style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Huffington Post</em>. A thousand articles on politics, Israel Palestine Dialogue, India, and Terrorism, foreign policy, movies, sports, culture and motivation. The rest of the thousand are about the Pluralistic values of Islam and Muslims.</span></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #222222; line-height: 20.16px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">American Muslims are committed to a prosperous and secure American for every one of the 318 Million Americans.</span></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #222222; line-height: 20.16px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Full story and the links at: <a class="external" href="http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2015/10/the-voice-of-moderate-islam-in-america.html" rel="nofollow" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #29568f; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2015/10/the-voice-of-moderate-islam-in-america.html</a></span></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #222222; line-height: 20.16px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Contact:</span></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #222222; line-height: 20.16px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Mike Ghouse (214) 325-1916</span></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #222222; line-height: 20.16px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">SpeakerMikeGhouse@gmail.com</span></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #222222; line-height: 20.16px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #29568f; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a class="external" href="http://www.theghousediary.com/" rel="nofollow" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #29568f; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">www.TheGhouseDiary.com</span></a></span></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #222222; line-height: 20.16px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />Published at<br />1. <a href="http://empowerednews.net/moderate-muslims-speak-out/1860967/" style="color: #0c0c0c; text-decoration: none;">http://empowerednews.net/moderate-muslims-speak-out/1860967/</a></span></div>
</div>
Mike Ghousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01647894600183489442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012002608072464589.post-44778385332603577362016-01-26T16:41:00.002-08:002016-01-26T16:46:29.963-08:00What is Islam?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span class="s1" style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 16.5px; line-height: 24.75px;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">Islam is a beautiful system, like all other faiths devised to restore sanity and common sense in a given society through simple basics like building trust, being truthful, be a security to fellow beings, stand up for justice, practice non-judgementalism, jettison arrogance and adopt humility, and kindness.<br /><br />These are the seven principles of building cohesive societies where no human has to live in apprehension or fear of the other, indeed that is the foundation of Islam and a few Muslim have forgotten it. We have to restore it now for building a cohesive world, where people live their lives and let others live theirs.<br /><br />Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) laid that foundation, and those seven principles made him an Amin, an individual who lives his life per those principles. Unfortunately, a </span></span><span style="background: white; font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">few have made Islam to be a political system, which it is not. Indeed, sadly all religions have become political systems of you or me, rather than spiritual system of we are in this together.<br /><br />Preparing a talk on the subject.<br /><br />Mike Ghouse<br /><a href="http://www.muslimspeaker.com/">www.MuslimSpeaker.com</a><br /><a href="http://www.interfaithspeaker.com/">www.InterfaithSpeaker.com </a></span></div>
Mike Ghousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01647894600183489442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012002608072464589.post-8989853816834304702016-01-18T06:27:00.000-08:002016-01-18T06:27:11.076-08:00Muslim Speaker <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidNm8QTjEX04Wy3MW1w7OsKvzJ0xm8Aqn2Nqyv2b8RiKUaATOuRo69oJkzI9HrUtSo6veedf_dguVwfBi14-al8H3YYn_63vCZEv2vrmYS8PyIm_gTn3-lzekBe3H8n4fbVbOAsq2htvc/s1600/MikeGhouse.MuslimSpeaker2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidNm8QTjEX04Wy3MW1w7OsKvzJ0xm8Aqn2Nqyv2b8RiKUaATOuRo69oJkzI9HrUtSo6veedf_dguVwfBi14-al8H3YYn_63vCZEv2vrmYS8PyIm_gTn3-lzekBe3H8n4fbVbOAsq2htvc/s400/MikeGhouse.MuslimSpeaker2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />Dr. Mike Ghouse is a community consultant, social scientist, thinker, writer,
news maker, and a speaker on <a href="http://foundationforpluralism.com/">Pluralism</a>, <a href="http://www.mikeghouse.net/InterfaithSpeaker_MikeGhouse.asp">Interfaith</a>, <a href="http://www.worldmuslimcongress.com/">Islam</a>, <a href="http://http//centerforamericanpolitics.blogspot.com/">politics</a>,<a href="http://terrorismcounter.blogspot.com/"> terrorism</a>, <a href="http://www.standingupforothers.com/">human rights</a>, <a href="http://mikeghouseforindia.blogspot.com/">India</a>, <a href="http://www.israelpalestinedialogue.com/">Israel-Palestine</a> and foreign
policy. He is committed to building <a href="http://americatogetherfoundation.com/">cohesive societies</a> and offers
pluralistic solutions on issues of the day. Visit him in 63 links at
www.MikeGhouse.net for his writings at TheGhousediary.com and several blogs
listed there in.<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Mike Ghousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01647894600183489442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012002608072464589.post-30473202071433184332016-01-14T14:13:00.002-08:002016-01-14T14:13:39.974-08:00Muslim Success Stories | Congratulations to Dr. Babar Cheema<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; line-height: 20.02px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Muslim Success Stories | TheGhouseDiary.com </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; line-height: 20.02px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Louisville, KY, January 12, 2016 -- Dr. Babar Cheema and I ran into each other in Louisville Airport terminal. I was heading to Washington and he was returning from Washington.<br /><br />From time to time, I would like to write the Muslim success stories, not the ones who make lots of money, but the ones' who do things that will create better safer and secure societies for all. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; line-height: 20.02px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs__BZDpv4qKIQEl6WOjEgmp5zGSGWmXU0YP3dCPvuPpiImXCTeArSeZU4zwznL6o10LGl3ydZ6TqhHf2XS-0NG3UoaZ6nhkYN4mWWgsGEg28xWU6aT4Z-UD0HLzhZjkX1p_GcXjIKiaCh/s1600/Babar.Cheema.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; color: #0c0c0c; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs__BZDpv4qKIQEl6WOjEgmp5zGSGWmXU0YP3dCPvuPpiImXCTeArSeZU4zwznL6o10LGl3ydZ6TqhHf2XS-0NG3UoaZ6nhkYN4mWWgsGEg28xWU6aT4Z-UD0HLzhZjkX1p_GcXjIKiaCh/s400/Babar.Cheema.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid transparent; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="311" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">What a joy it was to know that he was an honored guest at President Obama’s state of the Union address last night. Dr. Mohammad Babar Cheema and a few others have worked relentlessly in building relationships with fellow Americans of all hues, and this note is to appreciate his work and to acknowledge his contributions.<br /><br />If you know any other Muslim who was invited, please let us know with their information, the least we can do is acknowledge and encourage others to get out and be a part of the society.<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; line-height: 20.02px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Congratulations Dr. Cheema!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; line-height: 20.02px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; line-height: 20.02px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This is how we become part of the American story, thanks for setting the example. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; line-height: 20.02px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; line-height: 20.02px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I urge every Muslim to make that effort, to get out and be with the people, if you can afford, please invite a Christian, Jewish, Hindu, African American, Hispanic, Chinese and an Arab family to dinner, at least once a month. For God's sake get to know each other as friends and kindly keep religion and politics out of the conversation, don't even try it. We all need to connect with each other as fellow Americans with common concerns. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; line-height: 20.02px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; line-height: 20.02px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">If God gives me life, I want to do something very big this December, and want to celebrate those Muslims who have built relationships with at least 10 families of different faiths including- Atheists, Baha’i, Buddhists, Christians, Hindus, Jains, Jews, Native Americans, Pagans, Shinto, Sikhs, Wicca, Zoroastrians and others. Each denomination in Christian and Muslim traditions counts as one. There is no limit to how many Muslims can do that. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; line-height: 20.02px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; line-height: 20.02px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I'll be happy to share simple guidelines to make the dinner successful and memorable for everyone. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; line-height: 20.02px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />Here is a link to the extraordinary work that testifies their work in building good relationships.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; line-height: 20.02px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2015/09/are-muslims-part-of-american-society.html?m=1" style="color: #0c0c0c; text-decoration: none;" title="http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2015/09/are-muslims-part-of-american-society.html?m=1">http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2015/09/are-muslims-part-of-american-society.html?m=1</a><br /><br /> </span>Dr. Mike Ghouse is a community consultant, social scientist, thinker, writer, news maker, and a speaker on <a href="http://foundationforpluralism.com/" style="color: #0c0c0c; text-decoration: none;">Pluralism</a>, <a href="http://www.mikeghouse.net/InterfaithSpeaker_MikeGhouse.asp" style="color: #0c0c0c; text-decoration: none;">Interfaith</a>, <a href="http://www.worldmuslimcongress.com/" style="color: #0c0c0c; text-decoration: none;">Islam</a>, <a href="http://http//centerforamericanpolitics.blogspot.com/" style="color: #0c0c0c; text-decoration: none;">politics</a>,<a href="http://terrorismcounter.blogspot.com/" style="color: #0c0c0c; text-decoration: none;"> terrorism</a>, <a href="http://www.standingupforothers.com/" style="color: #0c0c0c; text-decoration: none;">human rights</a>, <a href="http://mikeghouseforindia.blogspot.com/" style="color: #0c0c0c; text-decoration: none;">India</a>, <a href="http://www.israelpalestinedialogue.com/" style="color: #0c0c0c; text-decoration: none;">Israel-Palestine</a> and foreign policy. He is committed to building <a href="http://americatogetherfoundation.com/" style="color: #0c0c0c; text-decoration: none;">cohesive societies</a> and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day. Visit him in 63 links at www.MikeGhouse.net and a bulk of his writings are at TheGhousediary.com and several blogs listed there in. </span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14.3px;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
Mike Ghousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01647894600183489442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012002608072464589.post-45186867724277418452015-12-31T11:22:00.001-08:002015-12-31T11:44:06.450-08:00Results for Muslims <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; line-height: 20.02px;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 20.02px;">
<span style="line-height: 19.9333px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span style="color: blue;">Results for America Together Foundation, World Muslim Congress and the Foundation for Pluralism. </span></i><br /><br />There are many outcomes we desire. Here is what we have done and continue to do, and if this appeals to you, we ask your support.<br /><br />Conflicts fade and solutions emerge when we learn about each other, and demystify the myths about others. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 20.02px;">
<span style="line-height: 19.9333px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 20.02px;">
<span style="line-height: 19.9333px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">What have we done? It’s a successful three fork strategic action plan; engage with TV, Print and Radio Media, engage with polarized minds and, be a catalyst in social integration.<br /><br />All our work is about taking the relationships from detached estrangement to positive engagement with successful outcomes, almost all our activities are bridge building in nature. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 20.02px;">
<span style="line-height: 19.9333px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />1. Positive engagement with Fox News, instead of running away from it. We chose to work with Sean Hannity and Stuart Varney, who finally promised not to use the phrase “Muslim Terrorist” or bash Quran. I have been on Hannity for six years and have appeared on 110 TV shows and innumerable Syndicated Radio shows and about 5 times on Stuart Varney Show, and nearly 150 times on Fox News. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDMuE4bdYW4" style="color: blue; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Video-1</a>, <a href="http://video.foxbusiness.com/v/4631439376001/american-muslims-speaking-out-against-isis/?#sp=show-clips" style="color: blue; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Video -2</a>, </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 20.02px;">
<span style="line-height: 19.9333px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 20.02px;">
<span style="line-height: 19.9333px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">2. Unity Day USA, turning a negative 9/11 day into a positive unifying day for over 12 years in a row now. <a href="http://www.unitydayusa.com/" style="color: blue; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">www.Unitydayusa.com</a></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 20.02px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 20.02px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.9333px;">3. Holocaust and Genocides – for 10 years now, we have been building bridges with people, and almost all communities who have endured these brutalities by coming together and seeing the humanness in each one of us and reflect on never again. </span><a href="http://www.holocaustandgenocides.com/" style="color: blue; cursor: pointer; line-height: 19.9333px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">www.HolocaustandGenocides.com</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 20.02px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 20.02px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 20.02px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.9333px;">4. Thanksgiving Celebrations and Awards Night – for 18 years, we have been sharing different cultural expressions with fellow Americans. </span><cite><span lang="EN" style="color: #666666; line-height: 19.9333px;"><a href="http://www.thanksgivingcelebrations.org/" style="color: blue; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="cursor: pointer; font-style: normal;">www.</span><span style="cursor: pointer; font-style: normal;">thanksgivingcelebrations</span><span style="cursor: pointer; font-style: normal;">.</span><span style="cursor: pointer; font-style: normal;">org</span></a><br /><br /><br /><b></b></span></cite><span style="line-height: 19.9333px;"></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 20.02px;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 20.02px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.9333px;">5. Peacefully easing the Quran burning pastor Terry Jones into oblivion through non-violent positive engagement. If funds become available a documentary will be made for the Muslim world to understand free speech and for non-Muslims to clearly understand that violence is not Islamic but comes from the fringe among us. <a href="http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2014/04/reestablishing-right-muslim-attitudes.html%20%0b%0d" style="color: blue; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2014/04/reestablishing-right-muslim-attitudes.html</a></span><br /><span style="line-height: 19.9333px;"><br /></span><span style="line-height: 19.9333px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 20.02px;">
<span style="line-height: 19.9333px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">6. Successfully handled Quran bashing by Pastor Robert Jeffers into an educational event and creating a positive understanding about Quran among pastors, clergy, rabbis, and others. These ten pastors in Dallas will defend the sanctity of Quran with their church members, as they were a part of the solutions in the conference. Umpteen TV and Newspaper write ups about it. <a href="http://www.quraanconference.com/" style="color: blue; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">www.QuraanConference.com</a></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 20.02px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 20.02px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 20.02px;">
<span style="line-height: 19.9333px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">7. In Summary – over 3000 Articles on Islam, Pluralism and other matters are written. 175 TV appearances, over 150 syndicated Radio shows, and over 30 major events to bring people together.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 20.02px;">
<span style="line-height: 19.9333px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 20.02px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.9333px;">Our mission at America Together Foundation is simply this; “To build a cohesive America where no American has to live in tension, apprehension or fear of the others.” We need an America where Muslim, Jews, African Americans, Latinos and all others feel safe, and want their children’s life style to continue to be secure despite Trumps and other hiccups.<br /><br /> <a href="http://www.americatogetherfoundation.com/" style="color: blue; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">www.Americatogetherfoundation.com</a>,<a href="http://www.foundationforpluralism.com/" style="color: blue; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">www.foundationforpluralism.com</a> and <a href="http://www.worldmuslimcongress.com%20/" style="color: blue; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">www.WorldMuslimCongress.com </a>;</span></span><div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span id="rolx_document"></span><br /></span><hr align="center" size="2" width="100%" />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span id="rolx_document"></span></span></div>
<div>
</div>
<span style="line-height: 19.9333px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: red;">We can do a lot more to turn things around for Muslims and fellow Americans, please donate generously at</span>: <a href="http://americatogetherfoundation.com/donate/" style="color: blue; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"></a><a href="http://americatogetherfoundation.com/donate/" style="color: blue; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://americatogetherfoundation.com/donate/</a></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 20.02px;">
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><hr align="center" size="2" width="100%" />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span id="rolx_document"></span></span></div>
<div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 20.02px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span style="color: green; line-height: 19.9333px;">What did I write about Sean Hannity, Stuart Varney and Fox News today?<br />Let me know, and I will be happy to email you.</span></i><br /><span style="line-height: 19.9333px;"><span style="color: green;"><i><br /></i></span></span><span style="line-height: 19.9333px;"><span style="color: green;"><i><br /></i></span>Mike Ghouse<br />(214) 325-1916</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 20.02px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 19.9333px;">Dr. Mike Ghouse is a community consultant, social scientist, thinker, writer, newsmaker and a professional speaker </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 19.9333px;">on </span><span style="background-color: transparent; line-height: 19.9333px;"><a href="http://foundationforpluralism.blogspot.com/" style="color: blue; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="http://foundationforpluralism.blogspot.com/">Pluralism</a></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 19.9333px;">, </span><span style="background-color: transparent; line-height: 19.9333px;"><a href="http://http/www.mikeghouse.net/InterfaithSpeaker_MikeGhouse.asp" style="color: blue; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="http://http//www.mikeghouse.net/InterfaithSpeaker_MikeGhouse.asp">Interfaith</a></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 19.9333px;">, </span><span style="background-color: transparent; line-height: 19.9333px;"><a href="http://www.worldmuslimcongress.com/" style="color: blue; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="http://www.worldmuslimcongress.com/">Islam</a></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 19.9333px;">, </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 19.9333px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 19.9333px;"><a href="http://http/centerforamericanpolitics.blogspot.com/" style="color: blue; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="http://http//centerforamericanpolitics.blogspot.com/">politics</a></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 19.9333px;">, </span><span style="line-height: 19.9333px;"><a href="http://www.standingupforothers.com/" style="color: blue; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="http://www.standingupforothers.com/">human rights</a></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 19.9333px;">, <a href="http://terrorismcounter.blogspot.com/" style="color: blue; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Terrorism</a>,</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 20.02px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 19.9333px;"> and foreign policy. Mike is committed to building </span><span style="line-height: 19.9333px;"><a href="http://americatogetherfoundation.com/" style="color: blue; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="http://americatogetherfoundation.com/">cohesive societies</a></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 19.9333px;"> and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day. Visit him - 63 links at </span><span style="line-height: 19.9333px;"><a href="http://www.mikeghouse.net/" style="color: blue; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">www.MikeGhouse.net</a></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 19.9333px;"> and his writings are at </span><span style="line-height: 19.9333px;"><a href="http://theghousediary.com/" style="color: blue; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">TheGhousediary.com</a></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 19.9333px;"> </span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
Mike Ghousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01647894600183489442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012002608072464589.post-53814484998610267412015-12-25T13:09:00.003-08:002015-12-25T13:09:28.146-08:00Holiday readings on Christmas day and Milad-un-Nabi<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 21.56px;">
<span style="line-height: 21.5333px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I am pleased to share a few notes for your joyful reading on this auspicious day, when more than half of the world population is praising two men who brought the message of peace to the world, and who wanted the world to live in harmony and balance between each other and their environment. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.15pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.15pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1. Holiday Reading</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.15pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">2. Joan and Katherine made my day<br />3. What is Pluralism?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.15pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">4. Invitation to a historic event</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.15pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">5. How can you help?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.15pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.56px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 16.478px;"> </span></span><hr align="left" size="2" width="100%" />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 16.478px;"></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 21.56px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /><span style="line-height: 16.15pt;">The current world population is 7.3 Billion, and the Christians and Muslims together add up to 3.9 Billion (2.2 Billion Christians and 1.7 billion Muslims ). God places a huge responsibility on our shoulders to keep the world intact, they way he created, with all elements of the creation functioning together cohesively. </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="line-height: 16.15pt;">We have an obligation to create safe and secure societies for all of us, every human, where everyone minds his own unique life (be it social, cultural, spiritual or religious) but yet nurtures the connectivity of all beings. At American Muslim Institution, we take this responsibility seriously and will take the </span><span style="line-height: 21.5333px;">initiatives</span><span style="line-height: 16.15pt;"> to forge the ideals of one nation, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. We are committed to a cohesive and safe America for everyone. </span><br /><br /><span style="line-height: 16.15pt;">To understand a cohesive world, our bodies are an example. Each organ of our body system is interconnected, and the heart, brain, kidneys, lungs, liver, stomach and anus are all coded to work with each other, no organ is superior to the other and all are equally partners in our system. If one element malfunctions, or loses its balance, it will affect the normal functioning of all. That is how God created a cohesive universe, and the cohesive planet earth, where life, matter and environment function together in balance. If we lose any balance, we mess up our own safeness. </span><br /><br /><span style="line-height: 16.15pt;">Chief Seattle, a Native American said this perfectly, “All things are connected. Whatever befalls the earth befalls the sons of the earth. Man did not weave the web of life; he is merely a strand in it. Whatever he does to the webs, he does it to himself."</span></span><br /><br /><span style="line-height: 16.15pt;">Both Jesus and Muhammad created a vision of such a cohesive world in the form of heaven, where every soul would live in eternal bliss, a conflict free zone, living their own bliss and letting others live theirs. This vision is expressed in the form of Pluralism, an attitude of respecting the otherness of others and accepting the God given uniqueness of each one of us, and when we reach that level of integrity in our attitudes, conflicts fade and solutions emerge, and that was their vision. </span><br /><br /><span style="line-height: 16.15pt;">I call Jesus, the first pluralist in the world and Muhammad the second one sequentially. Indeed, both the men were (are) a mercy to mankind. Neither of them was needed, if the world was created to be 100% perfect, the world is indeed built-in with 1/10</span><sup style="line-height: 16.15pt;">th</sup><span style="line-height: 16.15pt;"> of 1% of extremity or </span><span style="line-height: 21.5333px;">anomaly</span><span style="line-height: 16.15pt;">, that is capable of messing the balance of the entire 99 - 9/10</span><sup style="line-height: 16.15pt;">th</sup><span style="line-height: 16.15pt;"> of the world. One embraced the diversity of God’s creation and the other prayed for the ignorance embedded within others. Together they offered solutions to restore the world through forgiveness, humility, kindness, justness and acceptance of the otherness of others.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.15pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.15pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.15pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">The other half of the population is guided by great men like Zarathustra, Moses, Krishna, Rama, Buddha, Confucius, Mahavir, Nanak, Bahaullah and a host of others from the native and earth based traditions including those who do not believe in a defined God, but advocate creating balance in the society. All of spiritual masters taught us to be kind and gentle to the fringe among us. Each one of them taught to respect the sanctity of life. A majority of us get that right and the fringe among us don’t, and it is our duty to include them kindly and gently to be a part of the norm as Jesus did. </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.15pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 21.56px;">
<b><span style="line-height: 16.478px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Joan and Katherine made my day!<br /></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 21.56px;">
<span style="line-height: 17.12px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">While driving to Staples this morning to pick up the banner for the event on Saturday, I got a call from a Katherine, she seemed so happy about the joint birth celebration of Jesus and Muhammad (pbuh) that I had to pull over to listen to her sentiments and what a joy it was to hear her out. She said, she sees hope, when the people of two of the largest religions come together to create harmony in the world. She was full of praise for Rizwan Jaka, the chairman of the board of trustees for ADAMS center. It was indeed a joy to know the work of Rizwan and his entire team at ADAMS center in creating such a cohesive environment. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 21.56px;">
<span style="line-height: 17.12px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 21.56px;">
<span style="line-height: 17.12px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I reached Staples, and had to wait, while waiting, I opened the email, the first one was from Joan Greenbaum, and it read, “And thank you for the invitation and honor to be a part of the Season of Peace celebration. My hope is that the celebrations of the births of these two men, who were instrumental in teaching all of us about peace and humanity, will remind those who have lost sight of our shared heritage, that we are all children of God. And remind them that we want a civil society that values all.”</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 21.56px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /><br /><span style="line-height: 17.12px;">Both of them made my day! They were good positive voices and notes. I was excited and had to call in my friends, as many as I can, including Ambassador Islam Siddiqui and Dr. Aquilur Rahman, President and Chairman of AMI respectively, and who inspire me to do more, </span><span style="line-height: 17.12px;">but then I did not call other friends as I got tied up on the phone. Thanks to my</span><span style="line-height: 17.12px;"> board of Directors at AMI who encourage me and are committed to a beautiful America.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 21.56px;">
<span style="line-height: 17.12px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">There is more! The Muslim community in Washington, DC has done a great job in building relationship with members of the families of faiths. As we have done in Dallas with so many events from the Foundation for Pluralism, America Together Foundation, Irving Mosque, The Islamic Center of Richardson and others. Louisville Kentucky has also set a great example, and the Phoenix people have set a record in turning hostility into friendliness with the armed protesters. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 21.56px;">
<span style="line-height: 17.12px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 21.56px;">
<span style="line-height: 17.12px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Indeed, we are doing the right things; we need to continue doing them as the work is not a match for the gravity of the negativity out there. That negativity can be minimized by doing more interfaith understanding. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 21.56px;">
<span style="line-height: 17.12px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 21.56px;">
<span style="line-height: 17.12px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I appeal to those few Muslims among us to seriously look at the larger picture and examples of the prophet and his work. He was the first man in the universe to conduct interfaith dialogue, right in his Mosque; this is a great Sunnah we need to follow. He was Amin (a great citizen who is trust worthy, truthful, just, and kind with no barriers between him and God’s creation) first, and that is what we have to work on, to be the Amins, the great citizens of this nation, and all else will fall in its place. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 21.56px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 21.56px;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 21.56px;">
<span style="line-height: 17.12px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Thank God, over the last 22 years, I am blessed to have written over 3000 articles, and ahve given innumerable talks. Of them, 1000 were on every aspect of Islam, a thousand on politics, foreign policy, sports, movies, personalities etc and a 1000 about Pluralism. I am also blessed to have many friends from every faith (including Atheists) cultural, social and racial and ethnic traditions. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 21.56px;">
<span style="line-height: 16.478px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 21.56px;">
<span style="line-height: 19.26px;"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">What is Pluralism? </span></b></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 21.56px; margin-bottom: 4pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We have crystallized the definition of pluralism to, “respecting the otherness of the others and accepting the uniqueness of each one of us”. Pluralism is nothing but an attitude of live and let live, and it is applicable in every aspect of life including culture, society, religion, politics, gender, food, ethnicity, race and other uniqueness’s.<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 21.56px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #191919;">By the end of 2020, there will not be a major city in America, and perhaps in the world, where you will not find people of different faiths, cultures, ethnicities, races, nationalities and social backgrounds working, eating, playing, marrying, and doing things together.<br /><br />We need to prepare ourselves for those eventualities to prevent possible conflicts, and lay a good foundation for nurturing goodwill and effective functioning of the societies. Exclusive communities will become a thing of the past. If you live amidst others, you must also respect the otherness of others, as you expect them to do the same for you.<br /></span>You are who you are, and I am who I am. As long as we don't mess with each other’s space, sustenance and nurturence, and mind our own business, we all will do well. If we can learn to respect the otherness of other and accept the God-given uniqueness of each one of the seven billion of us, then conflicts fade and solutions emerge. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 21.56px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 21.56px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">You are responsible for other’s actions but your own. Internally it will burn you inside; externally you’ll be punished by the society. No one but you should be blamed for your actions. If you murder someone, it’s you, who needs to be hauled off, not your parents, spouse, siblings, or your children. If you are a rapist, it is you who needs to be punished and not your teacher, mayor, congressman, senator, imam, pastor, pundit, rabbi, shaman, clergy, Quran, Bible, Torah, Avesta, Bhagvad Gita, Guru Granth Saheb, Kitab al Muqaddas and other holy books of any religion for that matter.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 21.56px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />Pluralism is not a set of rules, it is simply an attitude of live and let live religiously, politically, culturally and socially. We are committed to building cohesive societies, where no human has to live in apprehension, discomfort or fear of a fellow being.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 21.56px;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.56px;">
<span style="line-height: 14.4pt;"><span style="color: navy;"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Invitation</span></b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.56px;"></span><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.56px;" /></span>
<div style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.56px;">
<i style="line-height: 14.4pt;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"To a historic event"</span></span></i></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.56px;"><o:p></o:p></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.56px;"></span><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.56px;" /></span>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.15pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It is for the first time in history of Christianity and Islam, that Muslims and Christians are celebrating the birth of Jesus and Prophet Muhammad on the yet another historic place; the steps of Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.15pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />Saturday, December 26, 2015 at 1:00 PM<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.15pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Enjoy the Christmas Carols & Milad Nasheeds<br />Bring your own chair and an umbrella<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.15pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlWpaH60Nhn_UMg2jx5RvGwbP7GJ0jrYSGfQfJBFWrzvTPC-7O1prUr8M8_KSkPGxBrbzrTWfQiFKnDKFcGcxrAf1KoftpFc5WiCPhEPx_CmHpa-WSGJQwqOuqxOCJy-enHuPm5axtWADp/s1600/Lincoln+Memorial.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #183e7c; line-height: normal; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlWpaH60Nhn_UMg2jx5RvGwbP7GJ0jrYSGfQfJBFWrzvTPC-7O1prUr8M8_KSkPGxBrbzrTWfQiFKnDKFcGcxrAf1KoftpFc5WiCPhEPx_CmHpa-WSGJQwqOuqxOCJy-enHuPm5axtWADp/s400/Lincoln+Memorial.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(236, 236, 236); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; line-height: 21.56px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHgZctYdN8J_swGB2Y02MJ497OEf2j5oHDyB9IBehOCM2A973zwNEPinl-S8UbaRSPmFFKD7OOK_R8BtZWddQDWMH9WqAkCXT1RdjOxrsn3LpTPxCBvuMYaHkBvkj2-aVDXu40OIFIYUWD/s1600/Season.of.Peace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #183e7c; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHgZctYdN8J_swGB2Y02MJ497OEf2j5oHDyB9IBehOCM2A973zwNEPinl-S8UbaRSPmFFKD7OOK_R8BtZWddQDWMH9WqAkCXT1RdjOxrsn3LpTPxCBvuMYaHkBvkj2-aVDXu40OIFIYUWD/s400/Season.of.Peace.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(236, 236, 236); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.56px;" /></span>
<div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; line-height: 21.56px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9aEqaLAM-kSKbatdl_jjINF0Bjzmh2iDag2zIem5R7JrSG5zFlluDHzyFB5-xZrlumu4Vs49a45MBE7WCW_fQUfIRxTMX0um2HkJrvz0YPvPiYuayca-nHoZbekRRtQFnVFye3ChcRlCe/s1600/r-I-HAVE-A-DREAM-large570.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #183e7c; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9aEqaLAM-kSKbatdl_jjINF0Bjzmh2iDag2zIem5R7JrSG5zFlluDHzyFB5-xZrlumu4Vs49a45MBE7WCW_fQUfIRxTMX0um2HkJrvz0YPvPiYuayca-nHoZbekRRtQFnVFye3ChcRlCe/s400/r-I-HAVE-A-DREAM-large570.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(236, 236, 236); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; line-height: 21.56px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.15pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />Parking - Road side public parking subject to availability.<br /><br />Rail and Bus - The nearest metro stations are<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Foggy Bottom<span class="apple-converted-space"> (23rd St. & I St. NW) and Smithsonian (12th St. &Independence Ave. SW). The Circulator Bus also runs to the Lincoln Memorial along Independence directly from the Union Station.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.15pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />EVENT IS FREE, BUT PLEASE REGISTER AT<b>:</b><a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/merry-christmas-milad-mubarak-tickets-20040393356" style="color: #183e7c; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">https://www.eventbrite.com/e/merry-christmas-milad-mubarak-tickets-20040393356</a><br /><br />Its an interfaith event supported by many organizations.<br />Details at:<span class="apple-converted-space"> <a href="http://americanmusliminstitution.blogspot.com/2015/12/season-of-peace-joint-celebration-of.html" style="color: #183e7c; text-decoration: none;">http://americanmusliminstitution.blogspot.com/2015/12/season-of-peace-joint-celebration-of.html</a></span><br /><br />Latest Press Release: <a href="http://americanmusliminstitution.blogspot.com/2015/12/press-release-first-time-in-history.html" style="color: #183e7c; text-decoration: none;">http://americanmusliminstitution.blogspot.com/2015/12/press-release-first-time-in-history.html</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.15pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /><span style="color: #38761d;"><b>How can you help? </b></span><br /><br />1. First attend the event on Saturday and invite your friends to join.<br />2. Write a heart felt note, why is it necessary to know each other**<br />3. Depending on the time, I may record your 1 Minute speech as a feed back of the event.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.15pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">4. Donate if you can.<br /><br />We have a lot more work to do to build a cohesive America where no American has to live in apprehension or fear of the other. To do this work, takes money, and we invite you to seriously your tax deductible donations to American Muslim Institution, 110 Maryland Av, NE, Suite 508, Washington, DC 2002.<br /><br /><span style="line-height: 21.5333px;">Link to this note, if you would like to share. </span><a href="http://americanmusliminstitution.blogspot.com/2015/12/holiday-readings-on-christmas-day-and.html" style="color: #183e7c; line-height: 21.5333px; text-decoration: none;">http://americanmusliminstitution.blogspot.com/2015/12/holiday-readings-on-christmas-day-and.html</a><br /><br />God bless you and God bless America. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.15pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.15pt;">
<hr align="left" size="2" width="100%" />
</div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.56px;"><b>If you wish to read more about these two guys:</b></span></span><br />
<h3 style="background: white; margin: 9pt 0in 0in; position: relative;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><ul style="line-height: 1.4; margin: 0.5em 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em;">
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Celebrating Prophet Muhammad's birthday<br /><a href="http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2015/12/celebrating-prophet-muhammads-birthday.html" style="color: #183e7c; line-height: 15pt; text-decoration: none;">http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2015/12/celebrating-prophet-muhammads-birthday.html</a></span></li>
</ul>
</span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15pt;">
</div>
<ul style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.56px; margin: 0.5em 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em;">
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 15pt;">How I Connect With Prophet Muhammad -</span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="line-height: 15pt;"> <span style="color: #0c0c0c;"> </span></span><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mike-ghouse/how-i-connect-with-prophet-muhammad_b_2547782.html" style="color: #183e7c; line-height: 15pt; text-decoration: none;">http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mike-ghouse/how-i-connect-with-prophet-muhammad_b_2547782.html</a></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.56px;"></span><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.56px;" /></span>
<ul style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.56px; margin: 0.5em 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em;">
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 15pt;">Interfaith Christmas –Making God boundless </span><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mike-ghouse/interfaith-christmas-making-god-boundless_b_2347856.html" style="color: #183e7c; line-height: 15pt; text-decoration: none;">http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mike-ghouse/interfaith-christmas-making-god-boundless_b_2347856.html</a></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.56px;"></span><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.56px;" /></span><br />
<ul style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.56px; margin: 0.5em 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em;">
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 16.478px;">The 1444th Birth Celebration of Prophet Muhammad -</span><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mike-ghouse/festivals-of-the-world-mi_b_4579452.html" style="color: #183e7c; line-height: 16.478px; text-decoration: none;">http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mike-ghouse/festivals-of-the-world-mi_b_4579452.html </a></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.56px;" /></span><br />
<ul style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.56px; margin: 0.5em 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em;">
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 16.478px;">A Muslim's Christmas -</span><span style="color: #0c0c0c; line-height: 16.478px;"><a href="http://dallasmorningviewsblog.dallasnews.com/2015/12/texas-faith-when-baby-jesus-meets-neiman-marcus.html/" style="color: #183e7c; text-decoration: none;">http://dallasmorningviewsblog.dallasnews.com/2015/12/texas-faith-when-baby-jesus-meets-neiman-marcus.html/ </a></span></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 16.478px;"><span style="color: #0c0c0c;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.56px;"></span></span>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.15pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span><span style="color: #222222;">Thank you,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="color: #222222;"><br />Dr. Mike Ghouse is a community consultant, social scientist, thinker, writer, news maker, and a speaker on </span><a href="http://foundationforpluralism.com/" style="color: #183e7c; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc;">Pluralism</span></a><span style="color: #222222;">, </span><a href="http://www.mikeghouse.net/InterfaithSpeaker_MikeGhouse.asp" style="color: #183e7c; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc;">Interfaith</span></a><span style="color: #222222;">, </span><a href="http://www.worldmuslimcongress.com/" style="color: #183e7c; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc;">Islam</span></a><span style="color: #222222;">, </span><a href="http://http/centerforamericanpolitics.blogspot.com/" style="color: #183e7c; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc;">politics</span></a><span style="color: #222222;">,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><a href="http://www.standingupforothers.com/" style="color: #183e7c; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc;">human rights</span></a><span style="color: #222222;">,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><a href="http://mikeghouseforindia.blogspot.com/" style="color: #183e7c; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc;">India</span></a><span style="color: #222222;">,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><a href="http://www.israelpalestinedialogue.com/" style="color: #183e7c; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc;">Israel-Palestine</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #222222;"> </span></span><span style="color: #222222;">Terrorism and foreign policy. Over 3000 Articles have been published on the subjects. He is committed to building </span><a href="http://americatogetherfoundation.com/" style="color: #183e7c; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc;">cohesive societies</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #222222;"> </span></span><span style="color: #222222;">and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day. More about him in 63 links at<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><a href="http://www.mikeghouse.net/" style="color: #183e7c; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc;">www.MikeGhouse.net</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #222222;"> </span></span><span style="color: #222222;">and bulk of his writings are at TheGhousediary.com</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.15pt;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.15pt;">
<span style="line-height: 21.5333px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">** send the note to MikeGhouse@aol.com </span></span></div>
</div>
Mike Ghousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01647894600183489442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012002608072464589.post-52998199155134179652015-12-24T13:05:00.000-08:002015-12-24T13:05:33.111-08:00First time in history – Celebration of birth of Jesus and Prophet Muhammad on the steps of Lincoln Memorial.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 107%;">PRESS RELEASE</span></b><span style="line-height: 107%;"><br />
<br />
Mike Ghouse (214) 325-1916 <br />
Washington, D.C.,<br />
</span><a href="mailto:Mike@AmericanMuslimInstitution.org"><span style="line-height: 107%;">Mike@AmericanMuslimInstitution.org</span></a><span style="line-height: 107%;"><br />
</span><a href="http://www.americanmusliminstituition.org/"><span style="line-height: 107%;">www.AmericanMuslimInstituition.org</span></a><span style="line-height: 107%;"> <br />
<br />
</span><b><i><span style="line-height: 107%;">First time in history – Celebration of
birth of Jesus and Prophet Muhammad on the steps of Lincoln Memorial.</span></i></b><br />
<br /><span style="line-height: 107%;">
Washington, D.C., December 22, 2015 – For the first time in the history of
Christianity and Islam, the Christians and Muslims are jointly celebrating the
birth of Jesus Christ and Prophet Muhammad, and it is on the historic steps of
Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjghXKvwXAjp06IIcztgMEexVlcdccBQmfCDVQg8aOL8n9dYrgsSDtiVTIM143Tofnd7HmyMn-WL_QfiGzsgzSTMG_dmTST2H6qE0XbNDqKB0AvklO7Ga5DaXRD18IMaOglL4A9L7FFGWg/s1600/Season.of.Peace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjghXKvwXAjp06IIcztgMEexVlcdccBQmfCDVQg8aOL8n9dYrgsSDtiVTIM143Tofnd7HmyMn-WL_QfiGzsgzSTMG_dmTST2H6qE0XbNDqKB0AvklO7Ga5DaXRD18IMaOglL4A9L7FFGWg/s400/Season.of.Peace.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
<br /><span style="line-height: 107%;">
What: Interfaith celebration of Christmas and Milad</span><br /><span style="line-height: 107%;">
Date: Saturday, December 26, 2015</span><br /><span style="line-height: 107%;">
Time: 1:00 PM </span><br /><span style="line-height: 107%;">
Place: On the steps of Lincoln Memorial, Washington, DC</span><br /><span style="line-height: 107%;">
Bring your own Chair and Umbrella</span><br />
<br /><span style="line-height: 107%;">
Transportation: Listed below </span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;">Mike Ghouse, the Executive Director of American
Muslim Institution, a proactive voice for American Muslims said, “It is a
God-given opportunity to further strengthen our bonds with each other on the
auspicious occasion of the birth of Jesus Christ and Prophet Muhammad which
fall on 25th and 24th of December, respectively. It provides us a great
spiritual incentive to know each other for better. We have an obligation to create a safe and
secure America for all of us.”<br />
</span><span style="line-height: 107%;"><br />
</span><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;">Dr. Aquilur Rahman, Chairman of the AMI Board
said</span><span style="line-height: 107%;">, “We chose this location, as it
signifies another great event in our history, Rev. </span><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;">Martin Luther King’s dream speech which became a
catalyst in fulfilling the vision of our founding fathers that we are all
created equal. We have one more step to take towards a cohesive America.”<br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--></span><span style="line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is a symbolic interfaith event with Christmas Carols and
Milaad Nasheeds and a short message from faith leaders, an inclusive event to
build a safe, secure and cohesive America. The more we know each other, the
fewer misconceptions we will have. “ <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><br />
</span><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;">Rizwan Jaka,
Chair, Board of Trustees & Interfaith Co-Chair, All Dulles Area Muslim
Society (ADAMS)</span><span style="line-height: 107%;"> adds,“ God wants all of us to come
together and create a safe and secure America for each one of us, we are all in
this together, and let’s appreciate this to uphold religious freedom and beckon a peaceful and prosperous 2016 and more.”
<br />
<br />
<br />
Syed Moktadir, President of ADAMS and the Vice Chairman of the U.S. Muslim
& Christian Coalition (MCC) for the Protection of Christian and Religious
Minorities in Arab World said, "the birth of Jesus and Muhammad (Peace Be
Upon Them) brought so much blessing and light to our world that the hearts of
the faithful continue to be full of love and passion for both of them and for
all the prophets of God who came to guide humanity to worship God alone and
unite the humanity through His worship. This event is yet another manifestation
of that interfaith unity."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><br />
This is an initiative of American Muslim Institution and </span><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;">the All Dulles
Area Muslim Society (ADAMS), one of the largest Muslim communities/mosques in
the DC Metro Area and in the United States.</span><span style="line-height: 107%;"> <br />
<br />
</span><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;">Parking - Road side public
parking subject to availability.</span><span style="line-height: 107%;"><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">Rail and Bus - The nearest metro stations are<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Foggy Bottom<span class="apple-converted-space"> (23rd St. & I St. NW) and Smithsonian
(12th St. &Independence Ave. SW). The Circulator Bus also runs to the
Lincoln Memorial along Independence directly from the Union Station.<br />
<br />
A few articles worth your read about Prophet Muhammad<br />
<br />
A Muslim’s Christmas - </span></span></span><a href="http://thearabdailynews.com/2015/12/15/a-muslims-christmas/"><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;">http://thearabdailynews.com/2015/12/15/a-muslims-christmas/</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;">Celebrating Prophet Muhammad’s birthday - </span></span><a href="http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2015/12/celebrating-prophet-muhammads-birthday.html"><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;">http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2015/12/celebrating-prophet-muhammads-birthday.html</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"> <br />
<br />
How do I connect with Prophet Muhammad - </span></span><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mike-ghouse/how-i-connect-with-prophet-muhammad_b_2547782.html"><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;">http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mike-ghouse/how-i-connect-with-prophet-muhammad_b_2547782.html</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><br />
<br />
1444<sup>th</sup> Birth Celebration of Prophet Muhammad - </span></span><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mike-ghouse/festivals-of-the-world-mi_b_4579452.html"><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;">http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mike-ghouse/festivals-of-the-world-mi_b_4579452.html
</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><br />
Arguments about Prophet Muhammad’s birth celebrations - </span></span><a href="http://www.worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2015/12/prophet-muhammads-birthday-argument.html"><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;">http://www.worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2015/12/prophet-muhammads-birthday-argument.html</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><br />
</span><span style="line-height: 107%;"> #
# #<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>
Mike Ghousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01647894600183489442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012002608072464589.post-39595604818935960272015-12-08T15:07:00.002-08:002015-12-08T15:07:36.966-08:00Muslim Speaker Mike Ghouse<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 20.02px; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: 'helvetica neue', arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">The Voice of Moderate Islam in America - Mike Ghouse</span></span><span style="font-family: 'helvetica neue', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18pt;">:<br />email: <a href="http://SpeakerMikeGhouse@gmail.com/" style="color: black; text-decoration: none;">SpeakerMikeGhouse@gmail.com </a><br />Text/talk: (214) 325-1916 Washington | Dallas</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 20.02px; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: 'helvetica neue', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16.5px; line-height: 23.1px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWn-U8qu7o5RvBJgqgFVorLqIOTL_6Ahw2wD1SrlIr4Im6fc3Jy-IEl8V_BbNKP2PqD8WYXuP5piARnVcVW7KPaU61Z7-X1xQ_WLbSq6jL1-e6AAauI0eLtXfAjC74S2zhyphenhyphen7cDAm3dRlXB/s1600/MikeGhouse.MuslimSpeaker.12.8.15-B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWn-U8qu7o5RvBJgqgFVorLqIOTL_6Ahw2wD1SrlIr4Im6fc3Jy-IEl8V_BbNKP2PqD8WYXuP5piARnVcVW7KPaU61Z7-X1xQ_WLbSq6jL1-e6AAauI0eLtXfAjC74S2zhyphenhyphen7cDAm3dRlXB/s640/MikeGhouse.MuslimSpeaker.12.8.15-B.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="451" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 20.02px; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: 'helvetica neue', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 16.1pt;">
<b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><v:shapetype coordsize="21600,21600" filled="f" id="_x0000_t75" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" stroked="f"> <v:stroke joinstyle="miter"><v:formulas><v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"><v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"><v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"><v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"><v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"><v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"><v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"><v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"><v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"><v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"><v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"><v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:formulas><v:path gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect" o:extrusionok="f"><o:lock aspectratio="t" v:ext="edit"></o:lock></v:path></v:stroke></v:shapetype><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_1" o:spid="_x0000_i1025" style="height: 309.75pt; visibility: visible; width: 467.25pt;" type="#_x0000_t75"><v:imagedata o:title="_DSC0098" src="file:///C:\Users\SARDAR~1\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image001.jpg"></v:imagedata></v:shape></span></b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br />Since 9/11, Americans across the political spectrum have been asking, “Who are the authentic moderates of Islam, and where are they?” And, “Who speaks for American Muslims?” Talk show hosts, journalists, lawmakers, interfaith authorities and thought leaders have asked: Where are moderate Muslims to join the debate on social, civic, religious and political issues, including racism and violent extremism?<br /><br />Their spokesman is Dr. Mike Mohamed Ghouse, who recently has moved to Washington, D.C.<br /><br />Dr. Ghouse is a proud, unapologetic Moderate Muslim and a passionate advocate of Pluralism in religion, society, politics, race, dining, clothing, dancing, sports and every aspect of life. He is a public speaker, thinker, writer and a commentator who is considered an authority on Pluralism and Interfaith relations in America, and he offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day.<br /><br />Who is a Moderate Muslim? Some one who lives his life and let others live theirs, and some one who minds his own business. He or she will not look down upon other people's faiths, traditions and practices, but considers them to be as unique as his or her own, but never inferior. In every group; religious, social, national, political or racial, there is always the right and extreme right who is intolerant and wants to impose his or her ideals on others. The left and extreme left on the other hand has no boundaries. Moderates are usually 90% of any group, but they do not engage in anything and mind their own business and take up when things when they really get out of hand. The new breed of Moderates like Dr. Ghouse are full of passion to save the nation and the communities for the common good of all Americans. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 16.1pt;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 16.1pt;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">What is Pluralism? It is simply, he says, “respecting the otherness of others, and accepting the God-given uniqueness of each one of the 7 billion of us. When we do that, conflicts fade and solutions emerge.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 16.1pt;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 16.1pt;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">He is respected by his peers as a patriotic American and firmly stands for the American values such as the freedoms established by the First Amendment. In fact, Dr. Ghouse considers the U.S. Constitution a sacred document that respects and honors every human being. He exalts America’s immortal Declaration of Independence. While living in Dallas for more than three decades, he became a fixture at Veteran’s-Day ceremonies and </span><a href="x-apple-data-detectors://3/" style="color: black; text-decoration: none;" title="x-apple-data-detectors://3/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">July 4</span></a><a href="x-apple-data-detectors://3/" style="color: black; text-decoration: none;" title="x-apple-data-detectors://3/"><sup><span style="color: blue; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">th </span></sup></a><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">parades. He has spoken at innumerable luncheons for homeless veterans and visits with veterans at VA hospitals. Dr. Ghouse drives around the Veterans’ cemeteries on Memorial Day and offers prayers for all those who have defended our freedom. He will fight and defend the freedom of America any time and all the times.<br /><br />Dr. Ghouse also served as a Commissioner at City of Carrollton, Texas for two terms.<br /><br />He has contributed significantly to the richness of America, and his gift to America would be the gift of Pluralism, an old attitude emerging as a new discipline that he intends to teach and promote through workshops. Dr. Ghouse hopes to train America’s candidates for higher office regarding what the founding fathers meant when they declared that “all humans are equal.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 16.1pt;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 16.1pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Dr. Ghouse believes in building a cohesive America, where no American has to live in apprehension or fear of the other and which will be achieved through personal interaction. To that end, he has organized 17 <a href="http://thanksgivingcelebrations.blogspot.com/" style="color: #0c0c0c; text-decoration: none;">Thanksgiving celebrations</a>; 12 <a href="http://www.unitydayusa.com/" style="color: #0c0c0c; text-decoration: none;">Unity Days USA</a>; and 10 ceremonies to honor victims of <a href="http://www.holocaustandgenocides.com/" style="color: #0c0c0c; text-decoration: none;">Holocaust and Genocides</a>.<br /><br /><b>Dedicated Both to Islam and to ‘the Other</b>’<br /><br />Dr. Ghouse defines “moderate Muslim” as someone who respects the otherness of others and accepts the God-given uniqueness of each person in God’s creation. He has published more than 1000 articles on diverse aspects of <a href="http://www.worldmuslimcongress.com/" style="color: #0c0c0c; text-decoration: none;">Islam</a> and maintains a blog on <a href="http://www.quraantoday.com/" style="color: #0c0c0c; text-decoration: none;">Quran</a>, <i><a href="http://sharialaws.blogspot.com/2013/02/genesis-of-sharia-law.html" style="color: #0c0c0c; text-decoration: none;">Sharia</a></i>, <a href="http://blasphemylaws.blogspot.com/2012/04/blasphemy-laws-go-against-islam.html" style="color: #0c0c0c; text-decoration: none;">Blasphemy</a>, Apostasy, Hijab, Reforms, <i>Ramadan</i>, Women’s issues and community relations. He is driven by the pluralistic wisdom in Quran, and his mission is authenticated by many a verse from Quran, including 49:13, which generally means because each one of us is created to be an unique individual, we are bound to have conflicts between family members, nations, religions and communities, and it is because we don’t know each other and when we start to genuinely learn about the other, myths disappear into thin air and peace dawns on us.” There is a full video of his talk on </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7Tyt7raIXM" style="color: black; text-decoration: none;" title="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7Tyt7raIXM"><span style="color: blue; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Pluralism in Islam</span></a><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">.<br /><br />Continued at: <a href="http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2015/10/the-voice-of-moderate-islam-in-america.html" style="color: black; text-decoration: none;">http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2015/10/the-voice-of-moderate-islam-in-america.html</a></span></div>
</div>
Mike Ghousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01647894600183489442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012002608072464589.post-57149875647186845232015-11-20T03:08:00.003-08:002015-11-20T03:28:43.468-08:00American Muslims against ISIS gather up on the steps of Lincoln Memorial<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.56px;"><span style="line-height: 22.8267px;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">PRESS RELEASE</span></b></span></span><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.56px;" /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.56px;"><span style="line-height: 22.8267px;"><br />Mike Ghouse (214) 325-1916<br />Mike@AmericanMuslimInstitution.org<br />website: <a href="http://www.americanmusliminstitution.org/" style="color: #183e7c; text-decoration: none;">www.AmericanMuslimInstitution.org</a></span></span><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.56px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #c00000; line-height: 21.56px;"><span style="line-height: 22.8267px;"><b><br /></b></span></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.56px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #c00000; line-height: 21.56px;"><span style="line-height: 22.8267px;"><b>American Muslims against ISIS gather up on the steps of Lincoln Memorial</b></span></span><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.56px;" /><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.56px;" /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.56px;"><span style="line-height: 16.478px;">Washington, DC, November 19, 2015 – Muslims around the world and particularly Americans Muslims have been sick of the terrorists, particularly the ISIS and the Al-Qaeda guys ever since they started terrorizing the lives of innocent people. We mourn the loss of lives in France, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Nigeria and elsewhere in the world and firmly stand against the terrorists.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8eWfV2PoixqXh_GmoO8y36NVVb9pvUPr-2TTTCto_2wJC6ZPIDQD3i5sN9jnwvj4xSlSXuiEIUFOV1oWI-GuBsj0_TyYMSV1bNNRai2weuzuVwsrJ3Me0ObMm3GNpXIUsvogqHYNzNxZH/s1600/Lincoln+Memorial.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8eWfV2PoixqXh_GmoO8y36NVVb9pvUPr-2TTTCto_2wJC6ZPIDQD3i5sN9jnwvj4xSlSXuiEIUFOV1oWI-GuBsj0_TyYMSV1bNNRai2weuzuVwsrJ3Me0ObMm3GNpXIUsvogqHYNzNxZH/s400/Lincoln+Memorial.jpeg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(236, 236, 236); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.56px;"><span style="line-height: 16.478px;"><br />Given the short notice prior to the Thanksgiving weekend, the Muslims of Washington, DC have organized a gathering of Americans of different faiths to come together on the steps of Lincoln Memorial and make the statements of condemnations.</span><span style="line-height: 16.478px;">We hope this event effectively conveys a message to the terrorists that the world is against them, and that we are all in this together; opposing terrorism and condemning ISIS. </span></span><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.56px;" /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.56px;"><span style="line-height: 16.478px;"><br /></span><span style="line-height: 17.12px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; line-height: 16.478px;">You are all invited to join us on the steps of Lincoln Memorial:</span></span></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.56px; margin: 0.5em 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em;">
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 17.12px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Date: 11/20/15</span></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 17.12px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Day: Friday |</span></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 17.12px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Time: 3:00 -4:30 PM </span></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 17.12px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Place: On the steps of Lincoln Memorial, Washington, DC</span></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="line-height: 17.12px;">Website: </span><span style="line-height: 17.12px;"><a href="http://www.americanmusliminstitution.org/" style="color: #183e7c; line-height: 19.6px; text-decoration: none;">www.AmericanMuslimInstitution.org</a></span></span></li>
</ul>
<div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; line-height: 21.56px; text-align: center;">
<span style="line-height: 17.12px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8eWfV2PoixqXh_GmoO8y36NVVb9pvUPr-2TTTCto_2wJC6ZPIDQD3i5sN9jnwvj4xSlSXuiEIUFOV1oWI-GuBsj0_TyYMSV1bNNRai2weuzuVwsrJ3Me0ObMm3GNpXIUsvogqHYNzNxZH/s1600/Lincoln+Memorial.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #183e7c; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></a></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.56px; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.56px;"><span style="line-height: 17.12px;"><br /><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 16.478px;">The purpose of this gathering is to send a clear message to the ISIS and their ilk, that American Muslims are angry about their actions. They are to be charged for the violations of human rights, forcing women into slavery, conversions at gun point, harassment of Christians, Yazidis, Shias, Jews, Sunnis and other minorities, and most certainly creating chaos and abusing the name of Islam.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><br /><br /><span style="line-height: 17.12px;">We cannot tolerate any of these acts and we urge our president to speak out in behalf of fellow humans, and give them three days notice to back off, surrender, and repent for their actions or face the consequences.</span><br /><br /><span style="line-height: 17.12px;">We invite Americans of all faiths and no faiths to join us in standing up against ISIS. Yes, we the Muslims are as angry as average American. Indeed, we are all in this together.</span><br /><br /><span style="line-height: 17.12px;">We pledge that we are one nation under the flag, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.</span></span></span><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.56px;" /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.56px;"><span style="line-height: 17.12px;"><br /></span><span style="line-height: 17.12px;">Please join us on the steps of Lincoln Memorial.<br /><br /># # #</span></span><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.56px;" /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.56px;"><span style="line-height: 17.12px;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.56px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 17.12px;"><b><span style="color: blue;">SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS</span></b></span><span style="background-color: white; color: blue;"> </span><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.56px;" /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.56px;"><span style="line-height: 17.12px;"><span style="line-height: 17.12px;"><br />We will be listing as many participating organizations as we can. Please send an email with the name of your organization, website and your phone number, and we will add to the list below.</span></span></span></span><br />
<div style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.56px;">
<span style="line-height: 17.12px;"><span style="line-height: 17.12px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.56px;">01. ADAMS Center, All Dulles Area Muslim Society</span><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.56px;" /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.56px;">02. American Muslim Institution, Washington, DC</span><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.56px;" /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.56px;">03. Washington Area Jews for Jewish Muslim Understanding</span><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.56px;" /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.56px;">04. Geotrees, An Intercultural Crossroads for the History of the Future</span><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.56px;" /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.56px;">05. Islamic Community Center of Potomac</span><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.56px;" /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.56px;">06. Foundation for Pluralism</span><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.56px;" /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.56px;">07. The world Organization for Resources development and Education.</span><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.56px;" /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.56px;">08. Muslims for Peace, Justice and Progress </span><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.56px;" /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.56px;">09. United Maryland Muslim Council</span><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.56px;" /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.56px;">10. Howard County Muslim Council</span><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.56px;" /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.56px;">11. UMA Interfaith Alliance</span><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.56px;" /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.56px;">12. Muslim Community Center of Maryland</span><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.56px;" /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.56px;">13. Montgomery County Muslim Foundation</span><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.56px;" /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.56px;">14. Islamic Center of Greater Toledo </span><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.56px;" /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.56px;">15. Islamic Center of Long Island</span><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.56px;" /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.56px;">16. IMANA International Collaboration</span><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.56px;" /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.56px;">17. UMMAA Broadcasting</span><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.56px;" /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.56px;">18. Hillside Islamic Center New Hyde Park NY</span><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.56px;" /><span style="background-color: white;"><br /><span style="line-height: 17.12px;">We appreciate the PSA announcements from Stuart Varney and Jennie Lubart of Fox News and we invite them to cover this event. </span></span></span></div>
Mike Ghousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01647894600183489442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012002608072464589.post-5474753897000812112015-11-17T15:24:00.002-08:002015-11-17T15:24:17.309-08:00Islamic way to bust terrorism<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 15pt;">Washington, DC, November 17, 2015 -- We have tried the Bush way and Obama way of handling terrorism, neither has worked, the first one created more of it, and second one has not mitigated it either. As a moderate Muslim, I offer the Islamic way of handling terrorism. </span><br /><br /><span style="line-height: 15pt;">Here is the plan.</span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfHMByxZiotvTUohP7iVY7laLda9fPMVw-m-YNbiBx-hwhWScbdnmh322h0qS7uyPw-mXsnOnTUkwDXiqR4u2nbxWf-d6lrDtNRexbAQMN511JNrsE1spQseWHXzYJSUKi8sFOTUsRp5SU/s1600/Obama.to.give.threedays.notice.to.ISIS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #0c0c0c; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfHMByxZiotvTUohP7iVY7laLda9fPMVw-m-YNbiBx-hwhWScbdnmh322h0qS7uyPw-mXsnOnTUkwDXiqR4u2nbxWf-d6lrDtNRexbAQMN511JNrsE1spQseWHXzYJSUKi8sFOTUsRp5SU/s400/Obama.to.give.threedays.notice.to.ISIS.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid transparent; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20.02px;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"><span style="line-height: 15pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20.02px;"></span></span>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; line-height: 15pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; line-height: 15pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">After due preparations and consultations, in behalf of the United Nations, President Obama is requested to deliver a three days notice to Mr. Baghdadi and his deputies;<br /><br />“Mr. Baghdadi, you have three days to stop killing innocent people and destroying Allah’s creation; life and environment. If you do not heed the warning, we will hunt you down and ambush wherever you hide. If not, we will gas you guys, few square miles at a time, not to hurt you, but to capture and put you on trial and ask you to give up the false claims you are making about your religion. Mind you, the Muslims soldiers from around the world will be in the front line against you.”<br /><br />President to continue , “ We will give you copies of the Quran and make you read and understand until you get that right - not what is dished out to you by the<i> Ulema</i> (Scholars) of the past, but what God tells you in the Quran.”<br /><br />The Quran tells you in 5:32, "If anyone slays a person, it would be as if he slew the whole people: and if any one saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life of the whole people." And “Enjoin doing what is right and forbid what is wrong,” Quran 9:71. The wisdom is simple – God created everything in harmony (55:06-55:10) and you have messed it up big time. And it is our responsibility as fellow humans to forbid you from doing that, and restore harmony and cohesiveness of Allah’s creation. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; line-height: 15pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />You know, Allah advises us to be kinder and gentler towards you if you reconsider and surrender. If you repent and bow down toward Allah’s guidance to preserve the balance and harmony of the world around you, we will be lenient. He promises glad tidings to "all" believers (9:112), and we hope you would become a believer in the Quran that you claim to be.<br /><br />By the way, you don’t own Allah, the Prophet, Islam or the Quran. It is the book of wisdom for the whole humanity and you cannot claim exclusive ownership of it. (<a href="mailto:http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mike-ghouse/quran-is-not-for-muslims_b_6174940.htm" style="color: #0c0c0c; text-decoration: none;" title="mailto:http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mike-ghouse/quran-is-not-for-muslims_b_6174940.htm"><span style="color: blue;">Huffington Post</span></a>). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; line-height: 15pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; line-height: 15pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Insha Allah, we will be restoring peace and sanity to the planet.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; line-height: 15pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; line-height: 15pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The President concludes with this, “Blaming the religion is the dumbest thing to do, because we cannot beat, kick, hack, shoot, hang, kill or bury a religion, it’s an intangible thing my fellow Americans! We can blame the individuals and restore trust and harmony back in the society. “<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; line-height: 15pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />God bless America.<br /><br />Dr. Mike Ghouse is a community consultant, social scientist, thinker, writer, news maker, and a speaker on <a href="http://foundationforpluralism.com/" style="color: #0c0c0c; text-decoration: none;">Pluralism</a>, <a href="http://www.mikeghouse.net/InterfaithSpeaker_MikeGhouse.asp" style="color: #0c0c0c; text-decoration: none;">Interfaith</a>, <a href="http://www.worldmuslimcongress.com/" style="color: #0c0c0c; text-decoration: none;">Islam</a>, <a href="http://http//centerforamericanpolitics.blogspot.com/" style="color: #0c0c0c; text-decoration: none;">politics</a>, <a href="http://www.standingupforothers.com/" style="color: #0c0c0c; text-decoration: none;">human rights</a>, <a href="http://mikeghouseforindia.blogspot.com/" style="color: #0c0c0c; text-decoration: none;">India</a>, <a href="http://www.israelpalestinedialogue.com/" style="color: #0c0c0c; text-decoration: none;">Israel-Palestine</a> and foreign policy. He is committed to building <a href="http://americatogetherfoundation.com/" style="color: #0c0c0c; text-decoration: none;">cohesive societies</a> and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day. More about him in 63 links at www.MikeGhouse.net and bulk of his writings are at TheGhousediary.com </span></div>
</div>
Mike Ghousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01647894600183489442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012002608072464589.post-87135209618149689652015-09-27T12:57:00.002-07:002015-09-27T12:57:29.011-07:00Moderate Muslim Speaker, thinker and a writer<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.45px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.45px;">Moderate Muslim Speaker Mike Ghouse<br /><a href="mailto:SpeakerMikeGhouse@gmail.com" style="color: #0c0c0c; text-decoration: none;">SpeakerMikeGhouse@gmail.com</a> </span>(214) 325-1916<span style="line-height: 21.45px;"><br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; line-height: 20.02px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk0LJlg71c6dD6bRGS7kYOWd8Rr0GSN4cN731rJNvstD-imMVCRymjwWSvE4HRU4zyzgBxA0GqnVgeulxi7Fl3OmUZvt9Wngq9luNtWqjHWAsN0LR12n4KDKZPVIb29r_z4FDTDCJXRqfT/s1600/11.MikeGhouse_090609.www.MikeGhouse.net.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #0c0c0c; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk0LJlg71c6dD6bRGS7kYOWd8Rr0GSN4cN731rJNvstD-imMVCRymjwWSvE4HRU4zyzgBxA0GqnVgeulxi7Fl3OmUZvt9Wngq9luNtWqjHWAsN0LR12n4KDKZPVIb29r_z4FDTDCJXRqfT/s320/11.MikeGhouse_090609.www.MikeGhouse.net.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid transparent; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="312" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 21.45px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.45px;"><br />Dr. Mike Ghouse is a public speaker, thinker, writer and a commentator on <a href="http://foundationforpluralism.blogspot.com/" style="color: #0c0c0c; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: blue;">Pluralism</span></a>, <a href="http://www.worldmuslimcongress.com/" style="color: #0c0c0c; text-decoration: none;">Islam</a>,<span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://mikeghouseforindia.blogspot.com/" style="color: #0c0c0c; text-decoration: none;">India</a>,</span> <a href="http://www.israelpalestinedialouge.com/" style="color: #0c0c0c; text-decoration: none;">Israel-Palestine</a>, <a href="http://centerforamericanpolitics.blogspot.com/" style="color: #0c0c0c; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: blue;">Politics</span></a> and other issues of the day. He is a human rights activist, and his book standing up for others will be out soon, and Mike has published over 3000 articles on the subjects.<br /><br />He is producing a full feature film “Sacred" and it is about changing perceptions about Muslims and Muslims adopting the non-violent principles enshrined in Quran and Prophet's examples in dealing with conflicts.<br /><br />He has presence on National and International Media, and appeared over 120 times on Fox News, including 102 times with Sean Hannity and over 75 times on syndicated Talk Radio shows. NPR, VOA, Local and other overseas networks. He is a writer at major news papers including Dallas Morning News and Huffington Post. All about him is listed in 63 links at<a href="http://www.mikeghouse.net/" style="color: #0c0c0c; text-decoration: none;">http://www.MikeGhouse.net</a> and his writings are at www.TheGhousediary.com - Mike is committed to building cohesive societies and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day.<br /><br /><b>Google Profile</b> has reached 10,639, 927 Views and Personal profile has hit over 15 Million. It lists some of the accomplishments and proud moments. <a href="https://plus.google.com/108969690090944956820/about" style="color: #0c0c0c; text-decoration: none;">https://plus.google.com/108969690090944956820/about</a> </span><b><span style="line-height: 21.45px;"><br />Dr. Ben Carson </span></b><span style="line-height: 21.45px;">out-trumps Trump in Discriminatory Attitude.<br /><a href="http://americanmusliminstitution.blogspot.com/2015/09/dr-ben-carson-out-trumps-trump-in.html" style="color: #0c0c0c; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="http://americanmusliminstitution.blogspot.com/2015/09/dr-ben-carson-out-trumps-trump-in.html">http://americanmusliminstitution.blogspot.com/2015/09/dr-ben-carson-out-trumps-trump-in.html</a><br /><b>Pope Francis</b> – He is a mercy to mankind, one of the greatest human beings of this century. Have written over 25 articles on him, start here.<a href="http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2015/09/pope-francis-is-my-imam-that-is-my.html" style="color: #0c0c0c; text-decoration: none;">http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2015/09/pope-francis-is-my-imam-that-is-my.html</a><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 21.45px;">
<b><span style="line-height: 21.45px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 21.45px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 21.45px;">Donald Trump</span></b><span style="line-height: 21.45px;"> - Muslims have become the latest Punching Bag in the Republican Party Presidential Campaign for 2016<br /><a href="http://americanmusliminstitution.blogspot.com/2015/09/donald-trump-muslims-have-become-latest.html" style="color: #0c0c0c; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="http://americanmusliminstitution.blogspot.com/2015/09/donald-trump-muslims-have-become-latest.html">http://americanmusliminstitution.blogspot.com/2015/09/donald-trump-muslims-have-become-latest.html</a><br /><b>Ahmed Mohamed: </b>Islamophobia Strikes a 14 year old Ahmed Mohamed in Texas<br /><a href="http://americanmusliminstitution.blogspot.com/2015/09/islamophobia-strikes-14-year-old-ahmed.html" style="color: #0c0c0c; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="http://americanmusliminstitution.blogspot.com/2015/09/islamophobia-strikes-14-year-old-ahmed.html">http://americanmusliminstitution.blogspot.com/2015/09/islamophobia-strikes-14-year-old-ahmed.html</a><br /><b>Pluralism in Islam</b> - <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7Tyt7raIXM" style="color: #0c0c0c; text-decoration: none;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7Tyt7raIXM</a><br /><br /><b>Muslim Speaker</b> <a href="http://mikeghouse.net/MuslimSpeaker.MikeGhouse.asp" style="color: #0c0c0c; text-decoration: none;">http://mikeghouse.net/MuslimSpeaker.MikeGhouse.asp</a><br /><br /><b>Pluralism/ Interfaith Speaker</b><a href="http://www.mikeghouse.net/InterfaithSpeaker_MikeGhouse.asp" style="color: #0c0c0c; text-decoration: none;">http://www.mikeghouse.net/InterfaithSpeaker_MikeGhouse.asp</a><br /><br /><b>Speaker on Israel</b> - <a href="http://israel-palestine-dialogue.blogspot.com/2014/12/speaker-on-israel-mike-ghouse.html" style="color: #0c0c0c; text-decoration: none;">http://israel-palestine-dialogue.blogspot.com/2014/12/speaker-on-israel-mike-ghouse.html</a><br /><br /><b>Sharia:</b> <a href="http://www.sharialaws.com/" style="color: #0c0c0c; text-decoration: none;"></a> <a href="http://sharialaws.blogspot.com/2013/02/genesis-of-sharia-law.html" style="color: #0c0c0c; text-decoration: none;">http://sharialaws.blogspot.com/2013/02/genesis-of-sharia-law.html</a> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 21.45px;">
<b><span style="line-height: 21.45px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 21.45px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 21.45px;">Fixing Sharia Law</span></b><span style="line-height: 21.45px;">: <a href="http://www.opednews.com/articles/Fixing-Sharia-Laws-by-Mike-Ghouse-Apostasy_Blasphemy_DNA-Rape-Kit_Divorce-140115-276.html" style="color: #0c0c0c; text-decoration: none;">http://www.opednews.com/articles/Fixing-Sharia-Laws-by-Mike-Ghouse-Apostasy_Blasphemy_DNA-Rape-Kit_Divorce-140115-276.html</a><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 21.45px;">
<b><span style="line-height: 21.45px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 21.45px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 21.45px;">Blasphemy</span></b><span style="line-height: 21.45px;">: <a href="http://blasphemylaws.blogspot.com/2012/04/blasphemy-laws-go-against-islam.html" style="color: #0c0c0c; text-decoration: none;">http://blasphemylaws.blogspot.com/2012/04/blasphemy-laws-go-against-islam.html</a><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 21.45px;">
<b><span style="line-height: 21.45px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 21.45px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 21.45px;">Freedom of Speech</span></b><span style="line-height: 21.45px;">: <a href="http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2014/11/let-bill-maher-speak-islam-supports.html" style="color: #0c0c0c; text-decoration: none;">http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2014/11/let-bill-maher-speak-islam-supports.html</a><br /><br /><b>Criticism of Prophet</b>: <a href="http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2012/11/criticism-of-islam-prophet-muhammad.html" style="color: #0c0c0c; text-decoration: none;">http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2012/11/criticism-of-islam-prophet-muhammad.html</a><br /><br /><b>My 9/11 Story</b> - <a href="http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2014/09/911-my-personal-journey-from-2001.html" style="color: #0c0c0c; text-decoration: none;">http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2014/09/911-my-personal-journey-from-2001.html</a><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 21.45px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 21.45px;"><br />Holocaust and Muslim Guy </span></b><span style="line-height: 21.45px;">- <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mike-ghouse/holocaust-and-the-muslim-_b_4629509.html#es_share_ended" style="color: #0c0c0c; text-decoration: none;">http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mike-ghouse/holocaust-and-the-muslim-_b_4629509.html#es_share_ended</a><br /><br /><b>Fatwas</b>: <a href="http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2015/05/shia-sunni-takfiris-not-acceptable.html" style="color: #0c0c0c; text-decoration: none;">http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2015/05/shia-sunni-takfiris-not-acceptable.html</a><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 21.45px;">
<b><span style="line-height: 21.45px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 21.45px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 21.45px;">Intra faith Dialogue</span></b><span style="line-height: 21.45px;"> - <a href="http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2013/02/muslim-intra-faith-dialogue-in-houston.html" style="color: #0c0c0c; text-decoration: none;">http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2013/02/muslim-intra-faith-dialogue-in-houston.html</a><br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 21.45px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 21.45px;">America wins</span></b><span style="line-height: 21.45px;"> with the new Muslim Group in Washington, D.C.,<br /><a href="http://americanmusliminstitution.blogspot.com/2015/09/america-wins-with-new-muslim-group-in.html" style="color: #0c0c0c; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="http://americanmusliminstitution.blogspot.com/2015/09/america-wins-with-new-muslim-group-in.html">http://americanmusliminstitution.blogspot.com/2015/09/america-wins-with-new-muslim-group-in.html</a></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 21.45px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 21.45px;">Keith Ellison</span></b><span style="line-height: 21.45px;"> The AMI Launch story tweeted by Congressman Keith Ellison and Special Representative Farah Pandith<br /><a href="http://americanmusliminstitution.blogspot.com/2015/09/congressman-keith-ellison-and-special.html" style="color: #0c0c0c; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="http://americanmusliminstitution.blogspot.com/2015/09/congressman-keith-ellison-and-special.html">http://americanmusliminstitution.blogspot.com/2015/09/congressman-keith-ellison-and-special.html</a><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 21.45px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 21.45px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 21.45px;">FOX NEWS</span></b><span style="line-height: 21.45px;">: Mike Ghouse will be on Hannity Radio at 5:00 with Hannity, Jasser and Gabrielle today<br /><a href="http://americanmusliminstitution.blogspot.com/2015/09/mike-ghouse-will-be-on-hannity-radio-at.html" style="color: #0c0c0c; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="http://americanmusliminstitution.blogspot.com/2015/09/mike-ghouse-will-be-on-hannity-radio-at.html">http://americanmusliminstitution.blogspot.com/2015/09/mike-ghouse-will-be-on-hannity-radio-at.html</a></span></span></div>
</div>
Mike Ghousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01647894600183489442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012002608072464589.post-75460444291212926812015-07-17T04:09:00.003-07:002015-07-17T04:09:46.491-07:00Ramadan's Universalism for Hindus, Christians, Jews and others<span style="color: #111111; line-height: 23.1000003814697px;"><span style="line-height: 21.4500007629395px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This article tracks the general purpose of religion and how each religion can appeal to people of different faiths. Religions and festivities came into being to bring people together and not divide them. Here we explore Ramadan, two of the major festivals of Muslims.</span></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #111111; line-height: 23.1000003814697px;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 21.4500007629395px;">
<span style="line-height: 21.4500007629395px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 21.4500007629395px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUEGorfJzPieX2fr4yiOP7FBu4-eGpmgszUcTqc8Hj_wbrejeCKiQOmuNC56JgArD6JBjU5Gn5SfZmnA_qis5a_gOKtbdLKqWhHUa6Di_pNT5bCdFogPAcFUNYifQl0UU7-pq4QCcHDzU/s1600/InterfaithScienceofRamadan2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; color: #0c0c0c; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><span style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUEGorfJzPieX2fr4yiOP7FBu4-eGpmgszUcTqc8Hj_wbrejeCKiQOmuNC56JgArD6JBjU5Gn5SfZmnA_qis5a_gOKtbdLKqWhHUa6Di_pNT5bCdFogPAcFUNYifQl0UU7-pq4QCcHDzU/s320/InterfaithScienceofRamadan2.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="315" /></span></span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.4500007629395px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 21.4500007629395px;">Interfaith Science of Ramadan: </span><span style="line-height: 21.4500007629395px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 21.4500007629395px;">The essence may be traceable in your faith</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 21.4500007629395px;">
<span style="line-height: 21.4500007629395px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />Whether you are an Atheist, Baha’i, Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Jain, Jewish, Native American, Pagan, Shinto, Sikh, Wicca, and Zoroastrian or from any other tradition, you may feel a sense of connection with the spirit of Ramadan.<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #111111; line-height: 23.1000003814697px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 23.1000003814697px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 21.4500007629395px;">God is a word for the cause that creates, sustains and recycles this universe, and belongs to all that exists and is not the exclusive dominion of anyone. </span><span style="line-height: 21.4500007629395px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 21.4500007629395px;">No matter how and what name you call upon him – he (she or it) cannot be a different causer for each one of us.</span><span style="line-height: 21.4500007629395px;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #111111; line-height: 23.1000003814697px;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 21.4500007629395px;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 21.4500007629395px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />The physical aspect of human journey from the sperm and an egg stage through the death is programmed precisely. The formula is same for all of humanity; and there is no such thing as a Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu or other gene.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 21.4500007629395px;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 21.4500007629395px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />Regardless of what is being said about origins in terms of evolution, creation or the big bang, the undeniable fact is our existence, and we have to figure out how to live with each other.<br /><br />When the universe came into being, two main products of the process were Matter and Life.<br /><br />While the matter is programmed to be in self-balance and functions precisely for which it is designed, like the Sun, Jupiter, Earth or the Moon playing its part, the (human) life on the other hand was not programmed; we were given complete freedom, guidance and intelligence to create our own balance for survival.<br /><br />A balanced society is where every one of us functions cohesively in small parcels of this big World Wide Web. It is sustained by respecting the otherness of others and accepting the God given uniqueness of each one of us. If we mess with the web, we mess with ourselves ultimately. If we mess with the environmental balance we will pay for it, just as we bear the loss of health if we mess with what we eat, drink and smoke. There is a consequence for imbalance.<br /><br /><b>Birth of Religion</b><br /><br />We lose the balance if we don’t trust and lie to each other, rob the other, and not keep the promises we make to fellow beings. This is when religion appears; it is the love of the creator for his creation, just as a mother loves her children –someone among us will rise and restore that balance. Didn’t Moses, Krishna, Buddha, Jesus, Muhammad and other masters restore the righteousness and balance in the society? I hope you can relate with this thought in your own scriptures and legends.<br /><br />An identical spiritual wisdom emerges in different parts of the world simultaneously; the greatest example would be how a mother figures out what to do with her crying baby in the jungles of Amazon or the high society in London. <br /><br />Indeed, beauty is in the eyes of the beholder, and as a corollary I would say, faith is in the heart of the believer, and every religion is dear to its believer. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 21.4500007629395px;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 21.4500007629395px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 21.4500007629395px;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 21.4500007629395px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Religion is about love for fellow beings, a majority of us in every religion get that right but for a few, who keep messing up the cohesiveness of the society. Those few are not an identifiable group, but the infraction in each one of us when we become biased towards the others. Religion is never the problem; it is the individuals who don’t get their religion right are the problem.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 21.4500007629395px;">
<b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 21.4500007629395px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />Ramadan and you.<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 21.4500007629395px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #333333; line-height: 21.4500007629395px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">From the moment we are born to the last rites of our life, and every moment in between is laden with rituals, even though some of us may deny it. Whether we go to the gym, eat, sleep, wear clothes, drive or talk on the phone, we follow rituals.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 21.4500007629395px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #333333; line-height: 21.4500007629395px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Rituals signify the milestones of our daily life. Every significant moment of the day is a ritual. It is an unwritten way of measuring our progression, a memory pattern to bring discipline to our actions.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 21.4500007629395px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #333333; line-height: 21.4500007629395px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Discipline is necessary to do things on time, manage personal relationships, drive to a destination or keep within budget. The result of disciplined behavior is worthwhile for most people. When we are joyous, whether we are a theist or not, we have to express that sentiment, otherwise a sense of incompleteness lingers in our hearts.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 21.4500007629395px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #333333; line-height: 21.4500007629395px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The spiritual masters have captured the human gravity towards rituals and have molded it with the art and science of self-discipline in their respective religions. The noble purpose of each one of them was to bring a balance in our lives and a balance with our environment.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 21.4500007629395px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 21.4500007629395px;">Every faith is composed of a set of unique rituals to bring discipline and peace to human life. Fasting is one of the five key rituals that<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/news/islam" style="color: #0c0c0c; text-decoration: none;" target="_hplink"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #b06be0; line-height: 21.4500007629395px; padding: 0in;">Muslims</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 21.4500007629395px;"> </span></span><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 21.4500007629395px;">around the world observe.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 21.4500007629395px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 21.4500007629395px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/news/ramadan" style="color: #0c0c0c; text-decoration: none;" target="_hplink"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #b06be0; line-height: 21.4500007629395px; padding: 0in;">Ramadan</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 21.4500007629395px;"> </span></span><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 21.4500007629395px;">is the ninth month of the<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/news/islam" style="color: #0c0c0c; text-decoration: none;" target="_hplink"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #b06be0; line-height: 21.4500007629395px; padding: 0in;">Islamic</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 21.4500007629395px;"> </span></span><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 21.4500007629395px;">lunar calendar and is generally observed with a ritual precision; it is an annual training or a refresher. It requires one to abstain from food, drink, intimacy, ill-will, ill-talk, ill-actions and other temptations from dawn to dusk, every day for a month. One has to rise above his or her baser desires.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/news/islam" style="color: #0c0c0c; text-decoration: none;" target="_hplink"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #b06be0; line-height: 21.4500007629395px; padding: 0in;">Islam</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 21.4500007629395px;"> </span></span><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 21.4500007629395px;">gifts this month to its followers to inculcate discipline to bring moderation to their daily lives. Twenty five hundred years ago, Buddha, the enlightened one taught that human suffering is caused by unrestrained desire to possess and had recommended a middle path, and the same recommendation was made by Prophet Muhammad fourteen hundred years ago.<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 21.4500007629395px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 21.4500007629395px;">Although<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/news/ramadan" style="color: #0c0c0c; text-decoration: none;" target="_hplink"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #b06be0; line-height: 21.4500007629395px; padding: 0in;">Ramadan</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 21.4500007629395px;"> </span></span><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 21.4500007629395px;">is popularly known in the west for its culinary delicacies and fancy iftars (ceremonial breaking of fast at sun down), the spirit and intent of<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/news/ramadan" style="color: #0c0c0c; text-decoration: none;" target="_hplink"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #b06be0; line-height: 21.4500007629395px; padding: 0in;">Ramadan</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 21.4500007629395px;"> </span></span><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 21.4500007629395px;">lies in a human transformation in a month-long inner spiritual journey of finding oneself in tune with spirituality.<br /><br />Hindus can see that transformation in nine days of fasting during Navaratri, the Jains in 8-10 days of fasting during Paryushana, Christians during 40 days of lent, Jews for 7 days around Yom Kippur….likewise you find fasting is a way of life in most traditions.<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 21.4500007629395px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #333333; line-height: 21.4500007629395px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">God has no need for the hunger or thirst of someone who hurts others, violates their dignity or usurps their rights, said Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). The fasting of the stomach must be matched by the fasting of the limbs. The eyes, ears, tongue, hands and feet all have their respective fasts to undergo. The tongue's temptations, for example -- lies, backbiting, slander, vulgarity and senseless argumentation -- must be challenged and curbed to maintain the integrity of the fast.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 21.4500007629395px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 21.4500007629395px;">Consciousness of behavior and vigilance over action are the most profound dimensions of fasting: the fasting of the heart focuses on the attachment to the divine. That is when<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/news/ramadan" style="color: #0c0c0c; text-decoration: none;" target="_hplink"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #b06be0; line-height: 21.4500007629395px; padding: 0in;">Ramadan</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 21.4500007629395px;"> </span></span><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 21.4500007629395px;">really becomes a source of peace and solace, just as Christmas or Dussera goes beyond the rituals to bring forth kindness, charity and caring.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 21.4500007629395px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 21.4500007629395px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #333333; line-height: 21.4500007629395px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">True fasting is self-purification; and from this comes a rich inner life that bring about values such as justice, generosity, patience, kindness, forgiveness, mercy and empathy -- values that are indispensable for the success of the community.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 21.4500007629395px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #333333; line-height: 21.4500007629395px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Knowing about hunger is different from knowing hunger. Empathy is not an intellectual equation; it is a human experience. Our hardness of heart often springs from our distance from the human condition of others. The poor, sick, disenfranchised, oppressed -- we rarely walk a mile in their shoes, not even a few steps. "Rest assured," cautioned one teacher, "if you do not taste what it feels like to be hungry, you will not care for those who are."<br /><br />Ramadan will come and go with such stealth that we cannot but be reminded of our mortality. What is it that we value and why? Habits, customs, even obsessive behavior like smoking can be curtailed with relative ease in the face of a higher calling.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 21.4500007629395px; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 21.4500007629395px;">For fasting to be truly universal, its benefits must extend beyond the fraternal ties of Muslims and must extend to forging a common humanity with others. Fasting is meant to impart a sense of what it means to be truly human, and its universality is reflected by its observance in Baha’i, Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Jain, Jewish, Sikh, Zoroastrian and other faiths. More about Ramadan at </span><a href="http://www.ramadanexclusive.com/" style="color: #0c0c0c; text-decoration: none;"><span style="line-height: 21.4500007629395px;">www.Ramadanexclusive.com</span></a><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 21.4500007629395px;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="e-b t-b txt" id="txt1437038354445" style="line-height: 1.8em; margin: 0px auto 2em; max-width: 760px; position: relative; width: 756px; z-index: 10;">
<i><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Let the spirit of Ramadan develop an understanding and respect for each one of God’s creation – that is all of us. Ramadan Mubarak!</span></span></i></div>
<div class="e-b i-b i-b-m" id="ib-1437040403294" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #232931; line-height: 1.8em; margin: 0px auto 2em; position: relative; width: 630px; z-index: 21;">
<div class="fig-bx" style="clear: both; width: 630px;">
<figure class="img-fig box fade transition zoom in" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.15s linear; box-sizing: border-box; float: left; margin: 0px; opacity: 1; transition: all 0.15s linear; width: 630px;"><div class="ar-hldr" style="overflow: hidden; position: relative; width: 630px;">
<div class="ar" style="padding-bottom: 349.796875px;">
</div>
<img height="175" src="https://saddahaq.blob.core.windows.net/multimedia/15414367-ramadan-mubarak-hd-wallpapers-in.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid transparent; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: 349.796875px; left: 0px; margin: auto; padding: 5px; position: absolute; top: 0px; width: 630px;" width="320" /></div>
</figure></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #111111; line-height: 23.1000003814697px;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 23.1000003814697px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #111111; line-height: 20.0200004577637px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br style="line-height: 21.5599994659424px;" /></span></span>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #111111; line-height: 23.1000003814697px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 23.1000003814697px;">Mike is a speaker, thinker, writer, pluralist and a human rights activist committed to building cohesive societies and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day. Info in 63 links at </span><a href="http://mikeghouse.net/" style="color: #073763; text-decoration: none;" title="http://mikeghouse.net/"><span style="line-height: 23.1000003814697px;">MikeGhouse.net</span></a><span style="line-height: 23.1000003814697px;"> and writings at</span><a href="http://theghousediary.com/" style="color: #073763; text-decoration: none;" title="http://theghousediary.com/"><span style="line-height: 23.1000003814697px;">TheGhouseDiary.com</span></a><span style="line-height: 23.1000003814697px;"> </span></span></div>
Mike Ghousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01647894600183489442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012002608072464589.post-44195383401435349952015-07-03T04:28:00.002-07:002015-07-03T11:58:17.461-07:00July 4th is one of the best Muslim Holidays to celebrate<h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="background-color: white; font-stretch: normal; margin: 0.75em 0px 0px; position: relative;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">July 4th, Muslims and America | World Muslim Congress<br /><a href="http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2015/07/july-4th-is-one-of-best-muslim-holidays.html" style="color: black; text-decoration: none;">http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2015/07/july-4th-is-one-of-best-muslim-holidays.html</a></span></span></h3>
<h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="background-color: white; font-stretch: normal; margin: 0.75em 0px 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: normal; line-height: 20.0200004577637px; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: normal; line-height: 20.0200004577637px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcbzkb0qKshRBmmcjSSMz8DB3hP4CByX6-q_aL84MFYIM7djVFO7RX5SHn0cXa_fOgNALgyUEYA7Di9Nx4AhH1xjSdoIGMnCZU1l3U7AyPVxsiNctGIsTQmEPyb5RYXAEpadrQ7XpalEpq/s1600/AmericanFlag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcbzkb0qKshRBmmcjSSMz8DB3hP4CByX6-q_aL84MFYIM7djVFO7RX5SHn0cXa_fOgNALgyUEYA7Di9Nx4AhH1xjSdoIGMnCZU1l3U7AyPVxsiNctGIsTQmEPyb5RYXAEpadrQ7XpalEpq/s1600/AmericanFlag.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(231, 231, 231); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" /></span></a></div>
</h3>
<h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="background-color: white; font-stretch: normal; margin: 0.75em 0px 0px; position: relative;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">As you read through the article below, you will find every reason to claim July 4th as a Muslim Holiday also. It has given us life, liberty and paved the way in pursuit of our happiness.<br /><br />I am planning to move to Washington, D.C., to work on the things that I have been working for over 20 years as a volunteer; i.e., doing my share of work in building a cohesive America, where no American has to live in apprehension or fear of the other.</span></span></h3>
<h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="background-color: white; font-stretch: normal; margin: 0.75em 0px 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-1538578018120501669" itemprop="description articleBody" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 550px;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 1.4;">
<span style="line-height: 16.4779987335205px;"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 1.4;">
<span style="line-height: 16.4779987335205px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Holiday Reading: Weekly bulletin # 27 – July 2, 2015</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<hr align="center" size="2" style="line-height: 1.4;" width="100%" />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><br /><span style="line-height: 22.0219993591309px;"><span style="color: blue;"><b>July 4th, Tipu Sultan, Muslims and America - A great opportunity for Muslims to become a part of the American Story. </b></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 22.0219993591309px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_AC4D2Sx5PWMuOqRGIy7mKIgT5FbYLFZPWzmf370Cfp2IxUKXnNOSOGZxE4jFws7M73ef5VpZTgfYv4luPhIwdYa-ONoO7Vk1PN7f2CNSsQOh27hFpI_3744VTV53HOd8MXy9HtBYT6Ew/s1600/OpedNews.MikeGhouse.TipuSultan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; color: #0c0c0c; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_AC4D2Sx5PWMuOqRGIy7mKIgT5FbYLFZPWzmf370Cfp2IxUKXnNOSOGZxE4jFws7M73ef5VpZTgfYv4luPhIwdYa-ONoO7Vk1PN7f2CNSsQOh27hFpI_3744VTV53HOd8MXy9HtBYT6Ew/s200/OpedNews.MikeGhouse.TipuSultan.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid transparent; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="154" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 22.0219993591309px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">We have to be proud of our combined heritage, our journey began from the birth of our nation on July 4, 1776. Two of the three first nations that recognized the sovereignty of America were Muslims; Morocco and Mysore (India), read on. .... We have come a long way in being 'equals' that our founding fathers had envisaged in our immortal declaration of independence.<br /><br />....Now, no one will dare denigrate African Americans, Jews and the GLBT communities. However, Muslims are an easy target to heap negative statements without any consequence. Time has come to put an end to the loose talk and hold them accountable. However, we need to do our share of the work in becoming fully participating members of the society to earn a dignified space in .... I hope you find this article meaningful and share it with your friends. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 22.0219993591309px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 22.0219993591309px;"><b>LINK </b>- <span style="color: #073763;"><a href="http://www.opednews.com/articles/Muslims-and-Americans-a-s-by-Mike-Ghouse-American-History_American-Muslims_Declaration-Of-Independence_Democracy-150702-786.html" style="color: black; text-decoration: none;">http://www.opednews.com/articles/Muslims-and-Americans-a-s-by-Mike-Ghouse-American-History_American-Muslims_Declaration-Of-Independence_Democracy-150702-786.html</a></span><br /><br /><b>THE GREAT INTEGRATION PLAN FOR 2016 </b><br /><span style="color: #073763;"><a href="http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2015/07/muslim-integration-plans-for-july-4-2016.html" style="color: black; text-decoration: none;">http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2015/07/muslim-integration-plans-for-july-4-2016.html</a></span></span><span style="line-height: 20.0200004577637px;"><br /></span><br /><span style="line-height: 22.0219993591309px;"><br /></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<hr align="center" size="2" style="line-height: 1.4;" width="100%" />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 22.0219993591309px;"><span style="color: blue;"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><br />Bad Islamic books in the market need to be shelved. </span></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 22.0219993591309px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOgZCA0X15zxGS506Lnmig0HQazCQChsu7OEuS0_F53gAjxDlpwsD5TLBEz-Y5XaPp8JuY8-RzKQxWOpxxz2U1jWW0ErYw06TKZEYfIiLDTsKanPXaHOK5HmjLFoL-gll-OaBKoWBPGivM/s1600/Bad-Islamic.Books.Need.to.be.Shelved..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; color: #0c0c0c; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><img border="0" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOgZCA0X15zxGS506Lnmig0HQazCQChsu7OEuS0_F53gAjxDlpwsD5TLBEz-Y5XaPp8JuY8-RzKQxWOpxxz2U1jWW0ErYw06TKZEYfIiLDTsKanPXaHOK5HmjLFoL-gll-OaBKoWBPGivM/s200/Bad-Islamic.Books.Need.to.be.Shelved..jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid transparent; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="200" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 22.0219993591309px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Over a period of time, the books written by Ibn Taymiyyah, Ibn Kathir, Hasan Banna, Qutub, Maududi and their likes have been unfortunately equated with Quran. While Quran is the eternal guidance, their work was a product of 'their times', and whatever they wrote was a reaction to the tough situations they were dealing with, and certainly lacked the universalism of God and the Prophet that Quran preaches, both were referred to as God of the Universe and Mercy to the Universe. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 22.0219993591309px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 22.0219993591309px;">LINK - <span style="color: #073763;"><a href="http://thearabdailynews.com/2015/06/29/bad-islamic-books-need-shelved/" style="color: black; text-decoration: none;">http://thearabdailynews.com/2015/06/29/bad-islamic-books-need-shelved/ </a></span></span><br /><span style="line-height: 22.0219993591309px;"><br /></span></span><hr align="center" size="2" width="100%" />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue;"><b><br />Ghouse speaks about Fox News - </b></span><b style="color: blue;">How do we change the world around us? </b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiX5KVvxWI-EZebqYKq4ehyphenhyphenGrFLqaCGlp1QmW12n3KWg6UYjn1hQn_RyMw2AttEym89UCqJF4c8Fs5yN0mmR1o2gJ4je8BIHck_zlXOZemRnrJkpZ_MEmlwK5k81Wq3dQNj-ahXBnXk-6p/s1600/MikeGhouse.Speaks.Aligarth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; color: #0c0c0c; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><img border="0" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiX5KVvxWI-EZebqYKq4ehyphenhyphenGrFLqaCGlp1QmW12n3KWg6UYjn1hQn_RyMw2AttEym89UCqJF4c8Fs5yN0mmR1o2gJ4je8BIHck_zlXOZemRnrJkpZ_MEmlwK5k81Wq3dQNj-ahXBnXk-6p/s200/MikeGhouse.Speaks.Aligarth.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid transparent; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="200" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Today, we are at cross roads of leaving behind 100 lousy years of post-colonial trauma, and setting up the next 100 years. This is the time for us to shape our destiny…</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">One of the major flaws in our thinking is our misplaced focus on Akhira. We need to invest our time in fixing this flawed thinking and change the future of Muslim Ummah. Two major things have happened thru the power engagement; He has stopped attacking Quran in the last two years and had agreed to (but has failed a few times) to use the phrase “Radicals among Muslims” instead of “Radical Muslims.” It was a huge concession! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Video: <span style="color: #073763;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDMuE4bdYW4" style="color: black; text-decoration: none;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDMuE4bdYW4</a> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Script: <span style="color: #073763;"><a href="http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2015/07/mike-ghouse-speaks-on-commitment-akhira.html" style="color: black; text-decoration: none;">http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2015/07/mike-ghouse-speaks-on-commitment-akhira.html</a></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<hr align="center" size="2" width="100%" />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue;"><b>A discussion about Pluralism in Islam from Quran and the Prophet</b></span><br /><span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvWGU6OmoXeP-ICRDnzoLc-Um9JYm-l1PTLeYiVXXp8uis7PrVPauBP01F0CMXGEVn50fNRsWJ5UFEBlv9kIKT7Kmf4dno-Tbou-Fy0F9cxgOtOq3azd5Hukxwr2wAVNUcAwHEVVqMLMqH/s1600/SanaAnwar1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; color: #0c0c0c; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><img border="0" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvWGU6OmoXeP-ICRDnzoLc-Um9JYm-l1PTLeYiVXXp8uis7PrVPauBP01F0CMXGEVn50fNRsWJ5UFEBlv9kIKT7Kmf4dno-Tbou-Fy0F9cxgOtOq3azd5Hukxwr2wAVNUcAwHEVVqMLMqH/s200/SanaAnwar1.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid transparent; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="200" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">One of the character building activities of Muslims is to be non-judgmental, indeed we utter the phrase " God alone is the master of the Day of Judgment" at least 17 times a day, but yet we jump to conclusions without taking the time know. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Pluralism is not a religion, it is simply an attitude of live and let live, it is not a mixture of things either. You are who you are, and I am who I am, when we learn to accept and respect the God given uniqueness of each one of us, conflicts fade and solutions emerge. Discussion includes two verses from Quran and two practices of the Prophet to make the point.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><br />LINK - <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7Tyt7raIXM" style="color: black; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #073763;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7Tyt7raIXM</span></a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span><hr align="center" size="2" width="100%" />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: blue;">RAMADAN ARTICLES:</span></b></span><ul style="line-height: 1.4; margin: 0.5em 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em;">
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 23.1000003814697px; text-indent: -24px;"><span style="line-height: 23.1000003814697px;"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Ramadan Mubarak<br /><br /><span style="color: #111111; font-weight: normal; line-height: 21.5599994659424px; text-indent: 0px;">May this Ramadan be a blessing to the entire universe, Amen! God is not anyone's property, he belongs to all and no matter what name and how you call upon him, it is the same creator. There is no such thing as a Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu or other God. God is a fancy word for the cause that created this universe. Since 2010, God has blessed me to visit a mosque a day for Iftaar (breaking the fast), and thank God, I have visited every Mosque of every denominations in Dallas including the Al Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem - that is over 40 different Mosques. </span><br style="color: #111111; font-weight: normal; line-height: 21.5599994659424px; text-indent: 0px;" /><span style="color: #111111; font-weight: normal; line-height: 21.5599994659424px; text-indent: 0px;"><br /></span><span style="color: #111111; font-weight: normal; line-height: 21.5599994659424px; text-indent: 0px;"></span><br style="color: #111111; font-weight: normal; line-height: 21.5599994659424px; text-indent: 0px;" /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #111111; font-weight: normal; line-height: 21.5599994659424px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDY17gxjxQq2vkv0InrD2Rf1KCU0PtLMpPumdLIFWhRTmLDKsEgFu__IwFPyoxXTjqmHG0oRp-LpCXZkj80xr2x0gW_3ITj3d2ooCm4U0BkhDlIUosOC-FbJgJy4Im6WmszDbwkppW60Q/s1600/RamadanExclusive.com.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #073763; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDY17gxjxQq2vkv0InrD2Rf1KCU0PtLMpPumdLIFWhRTmLDKsEgFu__IwFPyoxXTjqmHG0oRp-LpCXZkj80xr2x0gW_3ITj3d2ooCm4U0BkhDlIUosOC-FbJgJy4Im6WmszDbwkppW60Q/s400/RamadanExclusive.com.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #111111; font-weight: normal; line-height: 21.5599994659424px; text-indent: 0px;">The purpose of visiting different Mosque was to learn about each others' varied traditions - to respect the otherness of others as God has guided, and to get rid of the Takabbur (arrogance) in us- Humility builds bridges and arrogance kills it. We have to remember, that other traditions are dear to others, as our traditions are dear to us.<br /><br />Ramadan is also a month to knock out the ignorance about others, take time to visit Synagogues, Churches, Temples, Gurdwaras and other places of worship, God is all over and in every thing. You can read some of the articles about Ramadan - the spirit, rituals, politics and traditions of Ramadan on the left panel at</span><span style="color: #073763; font-weight: normal; line-height: 21.5599994659424px; text-indent: 0px;"> <a href="http://www.ramadanexclusive.com/" style="color: black; text-decoration: none;">www.RamadanExclusive.com</a></span></span></b></span></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 23.1000003814697px; text-indent: -24px;"><span style="line-height: 23.1000003814697px;"><b><span style="color: #073763;">Spirit of Ramadan</span> </b></span></span><span style="line-height: 23.1000003814697px; text-indent: -24px;"><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mike-ghouse/spirit-of-ramadan_b_939961.html" style="color: #0c0c0c; text-decoration: none;">http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mike-ghouse/spirit-of-ramadan_b_939961.html</a></span></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #073763; line-height: 23.1000003814697px; text-indent: -24px;"><b>Essence of Ramadan</b></span><span style="line-height: 23.1000003814697px; text-indent: -24px;"><br /><a href="http://www.faithstreet.com/onfaith/2010/08/11/the-essence-of-ramadan-is-to-become-humble/8585" style="color: #0c0c0c; text-decoration: none;">http://www.faithstreet.com/onfaith/2010/08/11/the-essence-of-ramadan-is-to-become-humble/8585</a></span></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 23.1000003814697px; text-indent: -24px;"><b><span style="color: #073763;">Politics of Ramadan </span></b></span><span style="line-height: 23.1000003814697px; text-indent: -24px;"><a href="http://ramadanexclusive.blogspot.com/2011/08/politics-of-ramadan-on-moon-sighting.html" style="color: black; text-decoration: none;">http://ramadanexclusive.blogspot.com/2011/08/politics-of-ramadan-on-moon-sighting.html</a></span></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: #073763;">Traditions of Ramadan</span></b><br /><a href="http://ramadanexclusive.blogspot.com/2010/09/traditions-of-ramadan.html" style="color: black; text-decoration: none;">http://ramadanexclusive.blogspot.com/2010/09/traditions-of-ramadan.html</a></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: #073763;">Pluralism in Ramadan</span></b><br /><a href="http://ramadanexclusive.blogspot.com/2014/06/ramadans-pluralism-message-intrafaith.html" style="color: black; text-decoration: none;">http://ramadanexclusive.blogspot.com/2014/06/ramadans-pluralism-message-intrafaith.html</a></span></li>
</ul>
<div>
<hr align="center" size="2" width="100%" />
<span style="line-height: 23.1000003814697px; text-indent: -24px;"><span style="line-height: 23.1000003814697px;"><b><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><br />Successfully changing perceptions about Muslims, and changing ourselves, a movie will be made subject to funding. </span></span></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyTT6So1I-DmBSF6T6VLXJtmZGMchidrH0IgzKRM5KCrmnVwa6l5zLlm1fQl2lJKYGTQMegck5zLvdW7pT-mBCgSwIR_tdNsvVtlpqqtsrMlE4hdmJ4_bidGRptJ47U6ZyBq2dvdtao7Ab/s1600/Sacred+postcard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; color: #0c0c0c; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyTT6So1I-DmBSF6T6VLXJtmZGMchidrH0IgzKRM5KCrmnVwa6l5zLlm1fQl2lJKYGTQMegck5zLvdW7pT-mBCgSwIR_tdNsvVtlpqqtsrMlE4hdmJ4_bidGRptJ47U6ZyBq2dvdtao7Ab/s200/Sacred+postcard.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid transparent; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="127" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">It is a successful story of changing perceptions about Muslims and mending our own behavior to align with what can be called an Islamic behavior. It’s a big report – A new paradigm for the Muslim world - What is Sacred, Flag, Holy Books, Mother, Freedom of Speech?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Sacred Film is about a successful real life event set in Mulberry, Florida coupled with a compelling romantic story built around the Quran burning incident. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">The film skillfully manages conflicting issues of freedom of speech v what is sacred; safety of Americans v violent reactions; and radicalism v. pluralism. It is an embodiment of conflict mitigation and goodwill nurturence based on teachings of Jesus Christ and Prophet Muhammad. It is a model for building cohesive societies. Indeed, the concept is encouraged by major institutions.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Through “Sacred”, the world will witness positive changes taking shape; it encourages what Muslims ought to be – the Amins, and how they will be perceived by the society at large. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Sacred is an exemplary story of ordinary Muslim Americans working with fellow Americans of different faiths in forging a new paradigm; a cohesive America where no American has to live in tension, apprehension or fear of the other.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">LINK - <span style="color: #073763;"><a href="http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2014/04/reestablishing-right-muslim-attitudes.html" style="color: black; text-decoration: none;">http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2014/04/reestablishing-right-muslim-attitudes.html</a></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<hr align="center" size="2" width="100%" />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"> Sharia-ism, a drama </span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZAzjMOw7RBw2bo-jECcBPDWA0bEfPuYhUbW1HSK42DnRfdVLgvfBKmKGeqXrbdnjS-JUfqODN1PbDxYs9JmsumU-7FO-KFLD0Fo1N3I3AssSqNK_4JpdEbPYODzck0a1D55SgZzjHH7zE/s1600/Sharia-ism.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; color: #0c0c0c; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><img border="0" height="147" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZAzjMOw7RBw2bo-jECcBPDWA0bEfPuYhUbW1HSK42DnRfdVLgvfBKmKGeqXrbdnjS-JUfqODN1PbDxYs9JmsumU-7FO-KFLD0Fo1N3I3AssSqNK_4JpdEbPYODzck0a1D55SgZzjHH7zE/s200/Sharia-ism.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid transparent; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="200" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Please watch this docu-dram to understand the difference between Allah's Sharia, and man Made Sharia. There are three good paragraphs about the difference between Allah's Sharia and man made Sharia in the article "Bad Islamic books" above. Allah's Sharia is always right, but the one we made is as human as we are. This is a 32 Minutes documentary produced by Hasan Mahmud in cooperation with several Muslim organizations including World Muslim Congress. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Video: <a href="http://hasanmahmud.com/index.php/movies/sharia-ism-movie" style="color: black; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #073763;">http://hasanmahmud.com/index.php/movies/sharia-ism-movie</span></a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Genesis : <a href="http://sharialaws.blogspot.com/2013/02/genesis-of-sharia-law.html" style="color: black; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #073763;">http://sharialaws.blogspot.com/2013/02/genesis-of-sharia-law.html</span></a></span><hr align="center" size="2" width="100%" />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><br /><span style="line-height: 21.4500007629395px;"><b><span style="color: blue;">Rohini Salian, India's new Hero </span></b></span><span style="line-height: 21.4500007629395px;"><br /></span><br /><span style="line-height: 21.4500007629395px;"><b><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="line-height: 21.4500007629395px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaxIcYVnUUetQjj6tF0X2WEmm96NUxuCLDWeWxCx0hAxzguJnE0NihYQzFst8XGvuRxVBtdjtQn1UM-Zhw-BdcEKzQi3kqe6PjXBXZvWj5O1BgKYEjQrSk9o0If3YfHPgzNN5XNWHL1UiB/s1600/rohini-salian-IndiaHero.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; color: #0c0c0c; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaxIcYVnUUetQjj6tF0X2WEmm96NUxuCLDWeWxCx0hAxzguJnE0NihYQzFst8XGvuRxVBtdjtQn1UM-Zhw-BdcEKzQi3kqe6PjXBXZvWj5O1BgKYEjQrSk9o0If3YfHPgzNN5XNWHL1UiB/s200/rohini-salian-IndiaHero.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid transparent; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="200" /></span></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 21.4500007629395px;">A great country ensures her population enjoys a sense of security, where each person feels safe. Every now and then a few short-sighted men take short cuts to justice cutting themselves short, besides others in the process. When things go astray, out of control, Lord Krishna had predicted, and to me it sounds like the law of nature, that someone from among us will appear and restore Dharma. These are men and women who see a big picture and not a selfish "me, me and me only.” Here comes Rohini Salian, the woman we need to salute.</span><br style="line-height: 21.4500007629395px;" />LINK - <span style="color: #073763;"><a href="http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2015/07/rohini-salian-we-salute-you-you-are.html" style="color: black; text-decoration: none;">http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2015/07/rohini-salian-we-salute-you-you-are.html</a></span></span><hr align="center" size="2" width="100%" />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue;"><b><br />What is a cohesive America look like?</b></span><br /><br />Here is a 10 Minutes video<br /><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMXsTo4VYh8" style="color: black; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #073763;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMXsTo4VYh8</span></a><span style="color: #073763;"><br /></span>If you like and want to donate to carry the work - please visit: <a href="http://americatogetherfoundation.com/donate/" style="color: black; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #073763;">http://americatogetherfoundation.com/donate/</span></a></span><div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><span id="rolx_document"></span><br /></span><hr align="center" size="2" width="100%" />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><span id="rolx_document"></span></span></div>
<div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><br />My responsibility would be to conduct dialogue and encourage understanding within the Muslim community, and with other religious communities. Our goal is to earn a dignified social, religious, political and cultural space in the society-at-large through active engagement. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">In dealing with most situations, we will adopt the ideals of the prophet; conflict mitigation and goodwill nurturence in our endeavors in building a cohesive America, where every American enjoys his or her life in the pursuit of his or her happiness.</span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</h3>
<h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="font-stretch: normal; margin: 0.75em 0px 0px; position: relative;">
<span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><i>Please tell us in three bullets with or without short explanations, the three most important priorities that American Muslims should undertake now. Send an email to</i>- </span><a href="http://MuslimVision2020@gmail.com/" style="color: black; text-decoration: none;"><i style="font-weight: normal;">MuslimVision2020@gmail.com </i></a></span></span></h3>
<h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="background-color: white; font-stretch: normal; margin: 0.75em 0px 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="post-body entry-content" itemprop="description articleBody" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 550px;">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">When you are in DC, please feel free to call on me. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><br />Thank you,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><br />Mike Ghouse</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><span family="SANSSERIF" lang="0" ptsize="10" style="color: blue;"><a href="https://plus.google.com/108969690090944956820/about" style="color: #0c0c0c; text-decoration: none;">Google Profile</a></span><span family="SANSSERIF" lang="0" ptsize="10" style="color: teal;"> </span><span family="SANSSERIF" lang="0" ptsize="10" style="color: blue;">- 9.7 Million Views</span><span family="SANSSERIF" lang="0" ptsize="10" style="color: teal;"> |</span><span family="SANSSERIF" lang="0" ptsize="10" style="color: blue;"> <a href="http://mikeghouse.net/Profile.asp" style="color: #0c0c0c; text-decoration: none;">Personal Profile</a></span><span family="SANSSERIF" lang="0" ptsize="10" style="color: teal;"> </span><span family="SANSSERIF" lang="0" ptsize="10" style="color: blue;">15 Million Views</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Mike is a speaker, thinker, writer, pluralist, TV-Radio commentator and a human rights activist committed to building cohesive societies and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day. His info in 63 links at MikeGhouse.netand writings at TheGhouseDiary.com </span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</h3>
Mike Ghousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01647894600183489442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012002608072464589.post-16364090593616473262015-06-22T07:33:00.000-07:002015-06-22T07:33:00.947-07:00Ramadan Mubarak, a short note<span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.5599994659424px;">May this Ramadan be a blessing to the entire universe, Amen! God is not anyone's property, he belongs to all and no matter what name and how you call upon him, it is the same creator. There is no such thing as a Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu or other God. God is a fancy word for the cause that created this universe. Since 2010, God has blessed me to visit a mosque a day for Iftaar (breaking the fast), and thank God, I have visited every Mosque of every denominations in Dallas including the Al Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem - that is over 40 different Mosques. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 21.5599994659424px;" /><br />
<div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 21.5599994659424px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDY17gxjxQq2vkv0InrD2Rf1KCU0PtLMpPumdLIFWhRTmLDKsEgFu__IwFPyoxXTjqmHG0oRp-LpCXZkj80xr2x0gW_3ITj3d2ooCm4U0BkhDlIUosOC-FbJgJy4Im6WmszDbwkppW60Q/s1600/RamadanExclusive.com.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #073763; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDY17gxjxQq2vkv0InrD2Rf1KCU0PtLMpPumdLIFWhRTmLDKsEgFu__IwFPyoxXTjqmHG0oRp-LpCXZkj80xr2x0gW_3ITj3d2ooCm4U0BkhDlIUosOC-FbJgJy4Im6WmszDbwkppW60Q/s400/RamadanExclusive.com.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a><br /></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.5599994659424px;">The purpose of visiting different Mosque was to learn about each others' varied traditions - to respect the otherness of others as God has guided, and to get rid of the Takabbur (arrogance) in us- Humility builds bridges and arrogance kills it. We have to remember, that other traditions are dear to others, as our traditions are dear to us. Ramadan is also a month to knock out the ignorance about others, take time to visit Synagogues, Churches, Temples, Gurdwaras and other places of worship, God is all over and in every thing. You can read some of the articles about Ramadan - the spirit, rituals, politics and traditions of Ramadan on the left panel at www.RamadanExclusive.com<br /><br />Please feel free to leave your comments</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 21.5599994659424px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 21.5599994659424px;" /><br />
<div style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 21.5599994659424px;">
<span family="SANSSERIF" lang="0" ptsize="10" style="font-family: Arial;">Thank you,</span><span family="SCRIPT" lang="0" ptsize="10" style="color: black; font-family: Mistral;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span family="SCRIPT" lang="0" ptsize="18" style="color: black; font-family: Mistral;">mike ghouse</span><span family="SANSSERIF" lang="0" ptsize="18" style="color: black; font-family: Arial;"> </span></span><span family="SANSSERIF" lang="0" ptsize="14" style="color: black; font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span> </span><span family="SANSSERIF" lang="0" ptsize="10" style="color: black; font-family: Arial;"><br />(214) 325-1916<br /><br />Mike is a speaker, thinker, writer, pluralist, TV-Radio commentator and a human rights activist committed to building cohesive societies and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day. His info in 63 links at<a href="http://mikeghouse.net/" style="color: #073763; text-decoration: none;">MikeGhouse.net</a> and writings at <a href="http://theghousediary.com/" style="color: #073763; text-decoration: none;">TheGhouseDiary.com</a> </span></div>
Mike Ghousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01647894600183489442noreply@blogger.com0