Building Bridges on Turkish TV with Mike Ghouse

God wants us to live in peace, and harmony with each other.  If we follow the Sunnah (practice) of Prophet Muhammad and follow the Guidance of Quraan, we can seldom go wrong.   What does it take to build that momentum… to bring about a change in a society,   I am glad to see Muslims taking the initiatives to build a cohesive world. The Role of Muslims in building cohesive societies was broadly the topic, and Pluralism, co-existence, Islam, Israel and peace were part of the conversation.  Continued http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2012/11/building-bridges-on-turkish-tv-with.html

VIDEO = http://www.harunyahya.com/en/works/154210/

 

Thanks to the Turkish Television A9 for their program building bridges with guests from around the world. If you get the time, check out some of the fascinating interviews.

I was called to talk about Role of Muslim in the world, and Pluralism, co-existence, Islam, Israel and peace. What can we do to bring about a change in a society, what does it take... I am glad to see Muslims taking the initiatives to build a cohesive world.

On my part, I have a lot more work to do, one of them is to get Jews, Christians and Muslim to start including Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Baha’i, Wicca, Earth based and native traditions as a part of their casual conversation.

My message at the end was, God has intentionally created us to different races, religions, ethnicities and cultures, let’s honor gods wish for us to live cohesively.

God willing and media willing, I will be on a few more TV talk shows in 2013, but my dream is to be on Jon Stewart and Rachel Maddow Shows, I will make the effort to communicate pluralism with humor.

Thank you.

Mike Ghouse is a speaker, thinker and a writer on pluralism, politics, peace making, foreign policy, Islam, Israel, India, Pakistan, interfaith, and cohesion at work place or social settings. He is committed to building a Cohesive America and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day at www.TheGhousediary.com. Mike has a strong presence on national local TV, Radio and Print Media, and is a frequent guest on Sean Hannity show on Fox TV, and a commentator on national radio networks, he contributes weekly to the Texas Faith Column at Dallas Morning News, fortnightly at Huffington post, and several other periodicals across the world. His personal site www.MikeGhouse.net indexes everything you want to know about him.

How to achieve Security for Israel and Justice for the Palestinians

How to achieve Security for Israel and Justice for the Palestinians
Link: http://israel-palestine-dialogue.blogspot.com/2012/11/how-to-achieve-security-for-israel-and.html 

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The long term security of Israelis hinge on justice to the Palestinians, and peace to the Palestinians depends on the safety of Israelis. One will not happen without the other. In view of accomplishing the twin goal, both parties have failed the respective populations. The following essay may not be comfortable to a segment of Jews and Muslims, but the recommendations must be factored in to finding a sustainable solution.   

Security may be broadly defined as living without fear and apprehension, the state of security exists when the Israelis can go about shopping in the malls without caution, drop their guard when their children and family members ride a bus, and when they visit the pyramids, they can do so without second thoughts.

Justice to the Palestinians exists when they can live without worries of getting kicked out of their own homes, when have their own identity in the world as people of Palestine, have their own passport without the apartheidic restrictions, rights to the land they can call their own, and move about freely without check posts or the walls.

The Palestinians and Israelis are indeed endowed by “their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." 

Now let’s acknowledge the actions of the parties in the light of accomplishing that twin goal and put them back on the track.  

When a child or a spouse is pushed around, placed on a curfew,  threatened, and his or her liberties stripped, he or she is left with few options than cursing, hurling dishes, and  quietly or blatantly destroying the belongings of the oppressive man of the house.  In your work place, when you are pushed around, and cannot do much against the tyrant boss, what do you do? Regardless of where this happens, be it in the United States, China, Israel, Saudi Arabia or Mexico, the response would be similar. 

It is shameful to justify the behavior of the oppressor, “They did not listen to him, they were disobedient and destructive, and the man of the house did the right thing; beat the crap out of them and teach them a lesson.” 

The woman who is raped is blamed for going to the bar, or wearing a mini skirt or getting drunk while shooting the pool with the boys. This stinky attitude is even prevalent among women.     

The Hutus justified the massacre of Tutsis, as the oppressors always do.  When President Habyarimana of Rwanda was assassinated in 1994, the Hutu majority went on a killing spree and we witnessed the Rwandan Genocide of the Tutsis. When Prime Minister Indira Gandhi of India was assassinated in 1984, the Hindu mobs went on a killing spree of the Sikhs. The Muslim mobs have gone on torturing the minorities in Pakistan, Indonesia and elsewhere. The words used and justifications made were similar.  The oppressors, rapists, murderers and tyrants always justify their behavior. 

Hamas Terror 

We unequivocally condemn Hamas for their random shelling of the rockets into Israel; and the shameful acts of terrorizing the civilian population in Israel.  As a Muslim I protest their acts, and request the Organization of Islamic Countries to join the Muslims worldwide in condemning these acts, and demand Hamas to give up terrorizing the innocent and seek solutions through civil process.

Paul Goldstein, my Jewish American friend living in Norway writes, “These (acts) have instilled fear into the daily lives of innocent Israeli civilians throughout the country, and have hit major cities, causing injuries, damage, and fatalities. Many hundreds of rockets are hitting Israel daily.” And he adds, “No country in the world can or should tolerate being subjected to continuous rocket attacks against its major population centers. With sadness, I concede that Israeli military action is necessary in this emergency situation to protect its citizens in safety, Jews and Arabs alike.” 

President Obama also defended Israel, “Israel has every right to expect that it does not have missiles fired into its territory, “and, "If that can be accomplished without a ramping up of military activity in Gaza, that's preferable...”

The actions of Hamas are unforgivable, and I appeal to the thoughtful among you, did we give them choices to act differently?  

 “When peace comes, we will perhaps in time be able to forgive the Arabs for killing our sons, but it will be harder for us to forgive them for having forced us to kill their sons.” -  Former Prime Minister of Israel, Golda Meir.

Israeli Reaction 

In every ugly massacre or genocide, whether it was the Hutsies, Hitler, Saddam, Assad, Gaddaffi or others; they rulers wanted to teach a lesson to the entire population for the acts of the few.    

Can we justify these acts to keep the urchins, spouses or irritants in their place? I am severely disappointed at the short-sightedness of President Obama and his administration.  We should have paid attention to the missiles long time ago and found solutions then, instead of waking up one day and justifying brutal retaliation.  

What was Prime Minister Netanyahu doing all these months, instead of initiating a dialogue he chose to pound Gaza, did the think that the missiles will stop reigning on their own?  

The illegal settlements and lawlessness has to stop; it brings despair to the Palestinians who want peace. The brutal retaliation needs to stop, it is a burden that the Prime Minister may escape but the Israelis will have to carry it on their psyche for generations to come. Is that the kind of Nation Israelis want?  Does violence solve the problems, has it ever?  

Unintended consequences  

If the United Nations were to place “Cease fire” for vote today, more than likely, 178 nations will vote yes, and five will go against it including the United States, Israel and a few dependent nations. Do you think the people of the 178 nations feel resentment and bitterness toward the powerful? This is not good for Jews or Israel and the world in the long haul. 
The retaliatory actions taken by Netanyahu, and endorsed by Obama are detrimental to Israel’s security in the long run.  Their actions do not mitigate conflicts, but flare up and prolong the eternal dream of Jews to live in peace and security. Not only that, they massively contribute to the growing anti-Semitism which has been the very reason for the suffering of Jews for over 3000 years.  

 Injustice against the weak will not go un-reacted to, the only thing the people around the world will feel is build resentment towards the United States and certainly events like this will contribute to Anti-Semitism. Take a look at the Anti-Israel rage across globe as violence in Gaza goes on http://rt.com/news/protest-israel-gaza-war-984/
Call for action. 

The United Nations need to call for an immediate cease-fire; both parties need to hold the fire. Goldstein, “Israel cannot cease hostile action on its own side while Hamas continues to terrorize with impunity the citizens of major cities with long-range rocket attacks.” 

In the interest of Security for Israelis and Justice for the Palestinians, President Obama has to play an honest broker of peace, which will be tough on our ally Israel. Demand the Israeli Parliament to invite Hamas leadership to join the talk immediately on our grounds at the Rose Garden. If Saudi Arabia and Egypt are convinced about our sincerity, they will bring Hamas aboard.

Our support to Israel or Palestine should be based on results. We have caused the conflict to prolong, and we bear the responsibility to find solutions. We need to be just and honest.

The Jewish people want sincerity as much as the Palestinians, they don't want duplicity from our leadership, and they had plenty of that in since 1948. They need sincerity and security for Israel and Justice for the Palestinians.

The two state solutions is the way to go forward and one of the most fundamental items to be included in the transaction is to develop a school curriculum without malice towards each other.  A new generation must be raised with hope and goodwill, so they can live in peace and prosperity. This should be an uncompromising goal. 

This is a life time opportunity for President Obama to forge peace between these two people, who have endured a lot of pain and both deserve relief. It’s time for him to earn that Nobel Prize that was dished out to him. 

It is in the interest of the world to build cohesive societies, where no one has to live in apprehension, discomfort or fear of the other.  The people of Israel have more options and power to change things, than the Palestinians. May God give sanity to the aggrieved parties to find peace. Amen!

Please visit:

• Video: Katie Pavlich and Mike Ghouse on Sean Hannity -http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZGO6UIIxDg
• http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mike-ghouse/israel-and-palestine-moving-forward_b_1258261.html
• http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mike-ghouse/commitment-to-israelpales_b_1263793.html
• http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mike-ghouse/commitment-to-israelpalestine_b_1263803.html
• Mike Ghouse on Chris Krock/ Steve Malzberg Showhttp://muslimspeakers.blogspot.com/2012/11/mike-ghouse-on-steve-malzberg-radio-show.html

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Mike Ghouse is a speaker, thinker and a writer on pluralism, politics, peace making, foreign policy, Islam, Israel, India, Pakistan, interfaith, and cohesion at work place or social settings. He is committed to building a Cohesive America and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day at www.TheGhousediary.com. Mike has a strong presence on national local TV, Radio and Print Media, and is a frequent guest on Sean Hannity show on Fox TV, and a commentator on national radio networks, he contributes weekly to the Texas Faith Column at Dallas Morning News, fortnightly at Huffington post, and several other periodicals across the world. His personal site www.MikeGhouse.net indexes everything you want to know about him.

Peace in Israel and Palestine begins with you and me

Thomas Friedman (New York Times) beat me to it; this is the solution for the endless conflict in the Middle-East. I urge the right wing Jewish, Muslim and Christian organizations not to hate him for writing this piece, it is something they wanted to begin with but went about in the wrong way, their passion and support is crucial to be applied in the right path, the path of peace in the holy land of Moses, Solomon, Jesus and Muhammad.  My prayers for Friedman for writing this piece and God willing I am writing one to supplement his efforts. 

Continued: http://israel-palestine-dialogue.blogspot.com/2011/05/peace-in-israel-and-palestine-begins.html  

Obama will deliver security to Israel and justice to Palestinians

We read a whole lot of material from the right wingers, though they have an aggressive presence in the Mediascape, they do not represent the majority. The American Public does not subscribe to the view of Bush, Romney, Palin and their likes and neither the Israeli public subscribes to the views of Netanyahu or the AIPAC.

It’s in our interest to hear the Jewish public and intellectuals to shape or re-form our understanding on the issues. Attacks on Obama are disingenuous, his policy will get the Jews what they have been seeking for eternity; Security.

Continued http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2011/05/obama-will-deliver-security-to-israel.html

Gaza Solutions

The Gaza Solutions
Mike Ghouse,
Saturday, December 27, 2008

The world sympathized with Israel for the rockets they endured in their backyards, but when they get on the revenge bandwagon and indiscriminately kill, they lose sympathy. The oppressed ones all around the world including the majority of Israelis and Jews feel the pain of this violence, it flies in the face of our continued efforts to stop massacres, it is time for all of us to speak up. This is not the act of peace making; this is the act of destroying a people.

Continued at: http://www.mikeghouse.net/Articles/Gaza.Solutions.asp

Reflections on Holocaust and Genocides -II

Reflections on Holocaust and Genocides
Details at: http://www.holocaustandgenocides.org/

We cannot complain if we do not participate. I am sure each one of you has discovered the difficulties of being in public or doing a public event.

I. Communications

Those of us who are activist are so focused on the suffering of the Palestinians that we miss seeing the solutions. Solutions lie not in rhetoric but doing things and taking the steps and having a plan. Almost all criticism on this issue stems from not READING the material and shooting from the hip. We all have to improve on it. Please read the press release again and pay attention to the logo, and then they will understand. If one does not get it from these two, then we should focus with those who understand the larger vision and completely ignore the ranting. http://www.foundationforpluralism.com/Articles/Holocaust-and-Genocides-download.asp

II. Diversion

The Bush regime is nearly successful in placing a wedge between PA and Hamas, instead of streamlining their efforts to secure a homeland for all Palestinians, they are fighting each other. The Neocons really don’t give a rat’s xxs about Israelis and Palestinians, they just keep creating chaos, have you seen any good come out of their policies in the last sixty years? I hope Obama will genuinely bring goodness to both the people. In this program we are doing to reflect upon Holocaust and Genocides, a few Muslims are doing the same, diversions – if only they read; Genocides include all of them. Has any one figured out the pictures in the logo? They need to, to at least have the knowledge of the problem about Palestinians.

III. Wisdom

We need to employ different methods to bring justice to the Palestinians and Israelis; there are as many Israelis who want peace as the Palestinians and the people from across the world, Muslim or not. Different approaches are being taken towards achieving peace. The opposers are just a few and they unleash diversions and temptations to get the good work off from happening. Insha Allah, may Allah keep me committed to peace through commitment and work and help me not fall to the diversion temptations of the few.

My approach is to bring the ignored problems as a parcel of other problems; it is an approach that may place at least a little dent. A little dent here and there adds up. We just cannot have benefit to ourselves, they will not last long, what is good for us has to be good for others for it to sustain. Justice will always last longer than injustice.

IV. Meanness

I opened a blog http://www.holocaustandgenocides.com/ and some extremist from either Jewish or Muslim community or both have reported it as spam – more specifically hate content. There is none there; it will take a few days to remove the blockade of this blog. So I jumped immediately and opened a page on the existing website and linked to http://www.holocaustandgenocides.org/

The extremists obviously do not have the intelligence to read; the extremist may have thought that adding Genocides to the title will dilute the misery of Holocaust that has been exclusive for 60 years. The Majority of Jews want to bring a closure and want to bring justice to the situation. Take it from me, the Arab Governments or the so called Islamic countries have not gathered up guts or have the wisdom to take bold steps to solve this problem yet, but the Jews will, they did it in Bosnia saving thousands of Muslim lives and they would do it again in Darfur and God willing they will bring a resolution to the Palestinian problem with or without Muslims.

The extremist among us may have thought that the Palestinian issue was ignored. The dummy did not see it in the logo nor read it that it is an all inclusive issue. The majority of Good Muslims see the need to take an inclusive approach, the first step of it would be to sincerely and honestly understand the suffering, build a solid relationship based on humanness of us. There are enough Muslims out there who are sick of the 60 years of ranting with no results. It is time to let each one work their system. Insha Allah, we can work our system and leave it to Allah for the success or failure of it.

V. Solutions

I sincerely hope the Muslims and Jews quit stereotyping each other. Both the groups have same percent of extremists and 98% of good people. All of us have to work together for the goodness of all.

The Palestinians need peace and hope, and the Israelis need security, both are achievable and it may take a few more years to get there. Justice will ultimately prevail and both people deserve and want it. It is time to go work and quit giving lip sympathy to Palestinians and instead do the real work, however tiny it may be.

Mike Ghouse