God's Grace for Najma Ghouse

God has been good to us.
After 9 months of good medical care and God's grace, Najma, my wife is now completely under God's care and surviving with Allah’s grace, your wishes and prayers.

In the foot steps of Prophet Muhammad, as a Muslim, I draw inspiration from all faiths and share this beautiful precise expressive phrase from Jainism “ Michami Dukadam”, the essence of which is, on this day, let’s forgive and ask for forgiveness and start the next breath of life with a clean slate, free from guilt, free from anxiety, free from hate, malice, anger and all those enslaving emotions. ..... The Qur'aan says that God’s favorite person is the one, who forgives and seeks forgiveness. It is also an idea central to the teachings of Jesus Christ. I want to thank every one who has participated and will participate in this heart and mind purifying process with Najma and I..

Please say "Michami Dukadam", it will complete the transaction.

Click the link to continue: http://mikeghouseforamerica.blogspot.com/2008/05/gods-grace-for-najma-ghouse.html

Third Muslim in US Congress

Indiana Democrat Could Become Third Muslim in Congress
Race; Posted on: 2008-02-20 14:46:45 [ Printer friendly / Instant flyer ]

The First 'Muslim' Leader of the West
http://onenewsnow.com/Politics/Default.aspx?id=67807
Jim Brown
OneNewsNow

A black Democrat, seeking to win a March 11 special election in Indiana's 7th district, could become the third Muslim elected to Congress and the second currently serving in Washington.

Democrat Andre Carson is attempting to succeed his late grandmother Julia Carson, who represented inner city Indianapolis for five full terms. Carson converted to Islam more than a decade ago after reading The Autobiography of Malcolm X.

Curt Smith, president of the Indianapolis based Indiana Family Institute, is convinced Carson would closely follow in his grandmother's footsteps. "I think he would continue a pretty, what I would call, liberal outlook in terms of economic and social policies, pro-choice, [and] so forth and a very hands on, retail kind of political style," says Smith.

A concerned Smith points out that Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan delivered a eulogy at Julia Carson's funeral. "Some have suggested that Mr. Carson, the candidate, should renounce Louis Farrakhan and his kind of separatist approach to public life," he continues, "and to my knowledge Mr. Carson has not done that. So it suggests to me that he is positive towards, if not beholden to, Louis Farrakhan."

The Institute spokesman says it is important to note the distinction between black Islam practiced in prisons and inner cities and Middle Eastern Islam. He says the two have a common ideology, but the difference lies in that black Islam tends to be more of a separatist movement that promotes a non-integrated, healthy, positive, and distinct African American community and experience.
A black Democrat, seeking to win a March 11 special election in Indiana's 7th district, could become the third Muslim elected to Congress and the second currently serving in Washington.


Democrat Andre Carson is attempting to succeed his late grandmother Julia Carson, who represented inner-city Indianapolis for five full terms. Carson converted to Islam more than a decade ago after reading The Autobiography of Malcolm X.

Curt Smith, president of the Indianapolis-based Indiana Family Institute, is convinced Carson would closely follow in his grandmother's footsteps. "I think he would continue a pretty, what I would call, liberal outlook in terms of economic and social policies, pro-choice, [and] so forth and a very hand-on, retail-kind of political style," says Smith.

A concerned Smith points out that anti-Semitic Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan delivered a eulogy at Julia Carson's funeral. "Some have suggested that Mr. Carson, the candidate, should renounce Louis Farrakhan and his kind of separatist approach to public life," he continues, "and to my knowledge Mr. Carson has not done that. So it suggests to me that he is positive towards, if not beholden to, Louis Farrakhan."

The Institute spokesman says it is important to note the distinction between black Islam practiced in prisons and inner cities and Middle Eastern Islam. He says the two have a common ideology, but the difference lies in that black Islam tends to be more of a separatist movement that promotes a non-integrated, healthy, positive, and distinct African-American community and experience. "That might be more reassuring for someone with concerns; in other ways it might be less reassuring," Smith offers.

According to Smith, during the eulogy, Farrakhan endorsed Andre Carson and urged the community to send him to Congress. He says Carson has a great shot at winning the strongly Democratic 7th district in the March special election, but a number of Democrats have already lined up to challenge him in the May primary.



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From: Haleem1
Date: Thu Feb 21, 2008 6:32 am
Subject: Fwd: Invite to community event - Atlanta Islamic Community
Date: Thu, 21 Feb 2008 07:16:03 -0500

Salaamu Alaikum,

This is an invitation to the entire Atlanta Islamic community to attend the following events:

Friday, April 4, 8 pm Lecture guest speaker Sr. Laleh Bakhitar translator of the Sublime Quran. Masjid Al Mu minun, 1127 Hank Aaron Dr. SW. Requested donation $10 per person. Limited vending available (must pay in advance). The contact for this event is Sr. Hadayai Majeed. You can reach her at 678-705-1241 or 404-684-0016. You can send your donations in advance by mail to: Baitul Salaam Network, Inc., PO Box 11041, Atlanta, GA 30310 or use paypal.com (haleem1@aol.com). If you vend you must pay in advance very few spaces available for this event.

Saturday, April 5, 12 noon to 4 pm discussion topic: Let's Talk: Unity and Coalition Building. Discussion leaders (Sr. Bonita McGee, VA, Dr. Kaukab Siddique, PA and Sr. Hadayai Majeed, GA) will ask questions to stimulate full participation from attendees. Bring a pad, pen and a very open mind. Open to men and young people.

A donation of $10 is requested to defray some of the expenses for both events. Please send the donation in advance to the address listed above.

Since the lecture on Friday is held at a masjid no one will be turned away due to not bring a donation. Copies of the Sublime Quran will be available for purchase for $27.00 each.

Rooms are available at a discount rate at a newly opened motel about three miles away from both venues. If you need a room you just email for details. You will be responsible for placing your reservation and payment to the motel.

To save money we are not doing a hard copy flyer or posters.

This event is open to all in the community. Please send this to all you know.

ma salaam
Supporters of the Baitul Salaam Network, Inc.
www.baitulsalaam.net

Muslims - Obama problem

The American Muslim Community's "Obama" Problem :How do you root for a candidate who doesn't want you to root for him?

by FIRAS AHMAD

As Obamamania continues to capture the imagination of the United States, parts of the American Muslim community are no less overcome by the Illinois senator's charismatic and overpowering vision for change. It makes sense. He is a man of diverse ethnic background who seeks dialogue over war, who can credibly represent change given his independence from establishment politics and whose life story suggests an intimate understanding of the Muslim world. In many ways he represents more than Muslims could have hoped for given the radioactive nature of Islam in America over the past several years. Someone who seemingly has a sympathetic ear and background that could build bridges.

But for many reasons, Muslims are one constituency Obama does not want to court. With a wink and a nod, Obama's Muslim supporters continue to work for a candidate who cannot afford to wink back at them. Given his perceived "closeness" to Islam, and the fact that he shares a name with a former Iraqi dictator, it could be strategic suicide for the Obama campaign to vocally acknowledge organized Muslim support. At a time when endorsements are worn like badges of honor, no major candidate is looking for the Muslim vote..

No doubt if Obama wins the nomination, the Republicans will exploit this issue far more than Bill Clinton attempted to manipulate race in South Carolina. Republican presidential candidate John McCain will never have to say a word, the "hit job" will be manufactured and executed by the sympathetic folks at Fox News, via the airwaves with Rush and Hannity (who would have overcome their issues with McCain by then) and through tabloids like the New York Post. Vocal Muslim support for Obama, if it happens, will likely be used as subtext for character attacks against his background and to fuel baseless rumors that he is actually a stealth Islamist who will subvert the establishment after taking power. As Don Imus can attest, racism and bigotry against African Americans is now largely unacceptable in public discourse. However, the same cannot be said of vitriol against Muslims. Attacking Obama for his pseudo-association with Islam is a far safer and more acceptable strategy for right-wing zealots than attacking him for being black. So if Obama has a campaign strategist worth his or her weight, we will never hear any serious public support or defense of Muslims from him or his campaign. For Muslims to demand anything from him simply demonstrates a misunderstanding of reality. Muslim support for Obama is akin to George Bush's support for democracy in the Middle East. The mere association with the former will undercut the credibility of the latter. It is an analogy that Muslims should understand.

Obama's lack of public defense of Islam is not so much an indictment against him as it is a demonstration of the infantile state of Muslim political participation in America. While it is impossible to tell, it would be reasonable to assume that if Obama could say something nice about Muslims he would because he wants votes from any and all Americans. Muslims fit squarely into the demographic that he appeals to most. Professional, educated and young. The only reason a candidate like Obama would not say something nice about Muslims is because he is making a clear political calculation. The votes he would gain from Muslims are far less than the votes he would lose from his association with Muslims. This should be startling. Unfortunately it has not initiated the kind of discussion within the community necessary to change these political ramifications for candidates in the future. To be fair, other candidates have lost votes based on their religious affiliation. Romney, a practicing Mormon, could have had a much better shot as the Republican nominee if he were from a Protestant denomination. But in terms of public perception, Muslims are a whole other category of disrepute. We are not talking about a Muslim candidate, we are talking about supporting a candidate who denies any connection, real or perceived, to Islam.

This is a political reality that Muslims in America must face. It is a clear demonstration that the collective efforts of Muslim institution building over the last 20 years have largely failed to make any real progress when it comes to impacting the American political process, at least at the national level. Muslims have found the perfect candidate, but cannot vocally support him for fear that if they do, they may be the reason he loses. How is that for a wake-up call.

At the core of the problem is the public perception of Islam in America. While global events, and of course 9/11, play an undeniable role in shaping the image of Islam for Americans, Muslims have ignored establishing some of the most basic institutions that are necessary for any minority community who seeks to have their voice taken seriously. There are no widely circulated national publications that explain Muslim perspectives. There is no widely recognized think tank expressing Muslim understandings of policy debates. There are a scant few public intellectuals from Muslim backgrounds that articulate mainstream views or who represent general Muslim thinking. While there are a number of very talented Muslim academics, very few have been able to cross-over and achieve mainstream credibility. Every other minority community has multiple inventories in each category listed above. What Muslims have are a number of smaller efforts that lack support, lack funding and lack human resources. If Muslims have failed in all these arenas it is not for a lack of talent, but rather for a lack of collective vision.

Instead, Muslim have invested in a handful of advocacy groups that, to their credit, work extremely hard to bring a "Muslim" slant to whatever breaks in the news that day. Advocacy groups play an important part of any community, but they are not sufficient for any community to make a serious play for political clout. In fact, the degree to which Muslims are publicly represented by their advocacy is inversely related to how they will be positively perceived by the general public. Advocacy groups are inherently divisive. The African-American civil rights watchdog NAACP, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and other groups all play important roles in American democracy, but they are also polarizing organizations. Muslims need to take the edge off the way they present themselves in the broader public discussion. While this includes important and pioneering efforts like Unity productions, which has produced excellent work in the area of documentary film, much more is needed on a number of different fronts.

Policy and political decision making in America is not decided entirely on Capitol Hill. It is decided in the complex interaction of think tanks, academic institutions, book stands, radio shows, the evening news, newspapers, editorial pages, opinion polls, Hollywood blockbusters and much more. It is the confluence and interaction of all these institutions that inform how politicians behave, not the other way around. Politicians are simply seeking votes, and votes are determined by people's inclinations, perceptions, prejudices and perspectives. If you want to win politicians, you have to build constituencies by changing the way people think.

If Muslims do not want to suffer the indignation of political irrelevance for many elections to come, instead of giving money to politicians, they should start investing in journalism scholarships. They should establish fellowships for Muslim academics to take a year off and write a book for a general audience, and then back them up with a PR firm to get the book on a best seller list. They should invest in publications that demonstrate a breadth and depth of thinking on a range of issues. They should invest in think tanks that analyze public issues and present actual value to the overall public discussion. All of these institutions exist right now for Muslims in America. But for the most part they are underfunded, underappreciated and undervalued. Because the community in general has not rallied behind them, they are for the most part invisible. Because they are invisible, Muslims are effectively invisible when it comes to Obama or any other serious candidate.

Another real tragedy here is that the part of the Muslim community that has made significant headway in all these areas, the Blackamerican community, remains effectively marginalized from leadership roles in the larger Muslim establishment in America. Blackamerican Muslims have been civicaly, politically and socially engaged in America for centuries. The rest of the Muslim community discovered these words a few years after 9/11. If all Muslims did was change the public perception of Islam in America to identify more with Blackamerican Islam than Arab or Pakistani Islam, the community would move forward in leaps and bounds. It is no accident that the first Muslim congressman is black. Until the Muslim leadership in America begins to recognize and reflect this historical reality, progress on a number of fronts will be slow. The Middle East and the subcontinent will remain powder kegs for decades to come.

Muslims largely misunderstand the process by which minority communities in America achieve their proverbial "seat at the table." It is not achieved through campaign donations and political posturing. It is achieved through understanding and executing on a collective vision that nurtures real, active, social, economic and political participation that improves both one's own community and the broader community that surrounds it. It is achieved through understanding that public perception is not entirely devised by a select few, but rather it is earned through hard work and sacrifice. It is achieved when a community actually adds some value to the society from which it benefits.

There is little strategic understanding of how to develop political capital within the Muslim community in America. If there was, Obama would not have to rebuke his Muslim supporters. The proof is in the pudding. Either Muslims deal with it, or do as they have done for the last 25 years: blame the media.

____________________

FIRAS AHMAD is deputy editor of Islamica Magazine..

Ramadan Bill - US Congress

PRESS RELEASE

RAMADAN BILL - US CONGRESS

This is HISTORIC for American- Muslims and Muslims around the world. This is the first time in history that the United States Congress will commemorate and recognize the month of Ramadan as the Islamic holy month. The language from the bill text is below for your viewing.

110th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. RES. 635

Recognizing the commencement of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting and spiritual renewal, and commending Muslims in the United States and throughout the world for their faith.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
September 5, 2007

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas (for herself, Mr. MEEKS of New York, and Mr. ELLISON) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs

RESOLUTION

Recognizing the commencement of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting and spiritual renewal, and commending Muslims in the United States and throughout the world for their faith.

Whereas since the terrorist attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001, threats and incidents of violence have been directed at law-abiding, patriotic Americans of African, Arab, and South Asian descent, particularly members of the Islamic faith;

Whereas, on September 14, 2001, the House of Representatives passed a concurrent resolution condemning bigotry and violence against Arab-Americans, American Muslims, and Americans from South Asia in the wake of the terrorist attacks;

Whereas it is estimated that there are approximately 1,500,000,000 Muslims worldwide;

Whereas Ramadan is the holy month of fasting and spiritual renewal for Muslims worldwide, and is the 9th month of the Muslim calendar year; and

Whereas the observance of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan commences at dusk on September 13, 2007, and continues for one lunar month: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That--

(1) during this time of conflict, in order to demonstrate solidarity with and support for members of the community of Islam in the United States and throughout the world, the House of Representatives recognizes the Islamic faith as one of the great religions of the world; and

(2) in observance of and out of respect for the commencement of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting and spiritual renewal, the House of Representatives acknowledges the onset of Ramadan and expresses its deepest respect to Muslims in the United States and throughout the world on this significant occasion.

.............................................................

http://mikeghouse.blogspot.com/2007/10/ramadan-bill-us-congress.html

.............................................................

As-Salaamu Aliakum,

Ilhaam "illy" Jaffer has worked hard in getting this bill through the Foreign Affairs Committee and it will be voted on the House Floor tomorrow by Congress. Call your congressman tonite or in the morning to support the bill. Please log on to http://www.congress.org/ and enter your zip code to get the information about your congressman. One call does more good than all the talk in parties.

I have worked closely with Ilham Jaffer on Congresswoman Johnson's youth initiatives. Illy was instrumental in making that program a grand success, where some 36 youth learned about leadership, interfaith dialogue and getting along with all to create a beautiful America.

.............................................................

Mike Ghouse is a Speaker, Thinker, Writer and a Moderator. He is president of the Foundation for Pluralism and is a frequent guest on talk radio and local television network discussing interfaith, political and civic issues. He is the founding president of the World Muslim Congress with a simple theme: "Good for Muslims and good for the world." His personal Website is www.MikeGhouse.net and his articles can be found on the Websites mentioned above and in his Blogs: http://MikeGhouseforAmerica.Blogspot.com and http://MikeGhouse.Sulekha.com Mike is a Dallasite for nearly three decades and Carrollton is his home town. He can be reached at MikeGhouse@gmail.com
For a full bio: http://www.mikeghouse.net/ProfileMikeGhouse.asp

Jews Muslim pray together

Jews and Muslim worship together in Argentina

Peace just does not happen, it has to be worked at. If I am peaceful, I can reasonably expect the other to be. If my words and my actions are blowing up the conflict instead of mitigating it, then I cannot expect the other to not repeat after me.

It is the small things that lead to the big ones. Like a small step on the moon was a giant leap for the mankind.

Mike Ghouse
http://www.MikeGhouse.net


Jews and Muslim worship together in Argentina

Jewish and Muslim communities celebrated together the beginning of Rosh Hashana and Ramadan, respectively. Quoting the psalmist, Rabbi Shlomo Ben Hamu says "it is pleasant and good for brothers to dwell together".

http://www.speroforum.com/site/article.asp?idarticle=11046
Saturday, September 15, 2007
By MISNA

In Argentina, the Muslim and Jewish communities celebrated together respectively the start of Ramadan, the holy month of Islam, and ‘Rosh Hashana’, the Jewish new year. The commemoration was held in Buenos Aires on the San Martín Square, headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cults of the Republic of Argentina.

According to the local press, the Secretary of Religion, Guillermo Oliveri, took the opportunity of the coincidence of the two festivities (regulated by the different calendars) to emphasise the consistency of inter-faith dialogue in the country. He stressed that such a positive atmosphere “needs care like a garden and this gathering is a small step forward for the difficult situations in the world where there is no peace”.

Among the interventions at the gathering, participated by leaders of both religious communities, were also those of the Sheikh of the Islamic Centre of the Republic of Argentina, Ibrahim Moustafá Gabr, and the Great Rabbi Shlomo Ben Hamú. The Sheikh underlined that “this ceremony is a show of fraternity and union in the main goal of achieving love and peace in the world”, explaining that the Koran encourages to “maintain good relations with other nations” and prohibits instilling fear.

The Rabbi, in turn, cited a verse of the psalms, “it is pleasant and good for brothers to dwell together”, adding that in the orations of the Sabbaths, his community prays “for peace in the nation” that in this new year “is called for the entire world”. The director of the Latin American Jewish Congress, Claudio Epelman, added that “Jews and Muslims, both like heirs of Patriarch Abraham, are brothers in faith”.

Bishop Carlos Malfa and other figures of the Catholic community were also present at the gathering. This joint event, which can already be considered a tradition in the making, came as a result of the gathering of two years ago that brought together the national leaders of the three “religions of the book” (Judaism, Islam and Christianity) for the funeral of the late president of the Islamic Centre of the Republic of Argentina, Adel Made.

On that occasion, the spokesman for the Archbishop of Buenos Aires, Father Guillermo Marcó, emphasised that the president of the Islamic Centre “was the initiator of the dialogue we have today”. As written by the journalist Sergio Rubin in an editorial of August 2005: “Those who in these days say they do not believe in cohabitation of the Jewish-Christian west with the Islamic world must come over here to Argentina”.

Missionary International Service News Agency (MISNA)

Religion - The Lost Tomb

Muslims, Christians and The Lost Tomb
By Mike Ghouse Thursday, March 1, 2007

Every one is eagerly waiting for this Sunday, March 4th to witness or not to witness the documentary Lost Tomb.

There have been severe criticisms of James Cameron the producer and questions abound about the faith itself. Mark Davis writes in Dallas Morning News “This proud director has now joined the ranks of bottom-feeding junk pushers” and adds “Too tempting to make the logical leaps.”

One question that concerns me is the depth of the faith, rather paucity of the faith of the believers. One’s faith must be really weak to be frightened by a movie, and I often wonder, how will it offend the faith of millions?

It is not just Christians, Muslims will be offended too. That is nearly 3.4 billion people of the world comprising 2.1 Billion Christians and 1.3 billion Muslims.

Muslims believe that Jesus was taken up by God and he will return to the earth as the promised Messiah.

The Qur’aan: An-Nisaa 4: 157-158 : That they said (in boast), "We killed Christ Jesus the son of Mary, the Messenger of Allah";- but they killed him not, nor crucified him, but so it was made to appear to them, and those who differ therein are full of doubts, with no (certain) knowledge, but only conjecture to follow, for of a surety they killed him not:- Nay, Allah raised him up unto Himself; and Allah is Exalted in Power, Wise;-

Hasn’t the faith been tested for over and over again in the last 2000 years? The Da Vinci Code and many anti-christ have come and gone, but the faith of the people remains strong. Faith is the strongest belief one develops. Like they say beauty is in the eyes of the beholder, I would add, faith is in the heart of the believer. Nothing will shake it, if it does, then it is not faith any more.


Mike Ghouse is a speaker, thinker and a writer. He is president of the Foundation for Pluralism and is a frequent guest on talk radio, discussing interfaith, political and civic issues. He has appeared on the local affiliates of CBS, NBC, ABC, CNN, PBS and FOX and has been written up in the news papers. He founded the World Muslim Congress with a simple theme " good for Muslims and good for the world." The organization is driven by Qur'aan, 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 Allah, is the best in conduct. Allah Knows and is Aware. Mike believes that if people can learn to accept and respect the God given uniqueness of each one of the 7 billion of us, then conflicts fade and solutions emerge. His articles can be found at http://www.foundationforpluralism.com/ , http://www.mikeghouse.net/ and http://mikeghouse.blogspot.com/ and he can be reached at MikeGhouse@gmail.com



http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/opinion/viewpoints/stories/022807dnedimarkdavis.52a7e69.html
Mark Davis: James Cameron has no business messing with faith
'Lost Tomb' producer joins bottom-feeders as he spits on religion and science
06:28 AM CST on Wednesday, February 28, 2007

Archaeologists need to make a deal with filmmaker James Cameron. "You keep making blockbusters like Titanic and Terminator," they should tell him, "and leave the artifact analysis to us."
That would honor the arenas of both science and faith, the two concepts savaged by Mr. Cameron's latest attempt at profit.

I have thoroughly enjoyed his past attempts at profit, and some of his money came from me. From the two giant movies mentioned above to the first Alien sequel to one of my all-time favorites, The Abyss , Mr. Cameron's name has usually been a guarantee of onscreen excellence.
Not any more.

This proud director has now joined the ranks of bottom-feeding junk pushers. The occasion is his Discovery Channel documentary, The Lost Tomb of Jesus, set to air on that otherwise admirable network at 8 p.m. Sunday.

Barring a last-minute burst of good judgment, this detestable program will be consumed by an audience of some size, spurred by the desire to see if the man who showed us Leonardo DiCaprio proclaiming "I'm king of the world!" has now found the remains of the King of the Jews.

I'm sorry, do I sound skeptical? Then I have aimed too timidly. My goal is to sound colossally repulsed, for there is something in Mr. Cameron's low exploit to offend nearly everyone.

It will offend the faith of millions who have about had it with pop culture hacks casting doubt on millennia of Christian beliefs. This unenlightened orgy hit a peak with the recent bug-eyed devotion to Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code, an amateurish book turned into a medium-quality Ron Howard movie of the same name.
Mr. Brown wanted it both ways. He wanted to be treated with the respect afforded a genuine theologian, yet he could always shrug when the questions got too tough, falling back on the safety net of a work of fiction.
At least Mr. Howard never delivered pseudo-authentic lectures on Bible history; he just wanted to make a profitable Tom Hanks movie.

That he did, and its audience, combined with the millions who read the book, now contains countless people who believe that Jesus got married and had a daughter.

The scolding I wish to deliver brings with it a responsibility to a stratospheric level of objectivity. That said, I'll assert flat out that Jesus may well have been a family man. My faith tells me otherwise, but faith is belief based on factors other than empirical evidence.

But willingness to doubt is one thing. Willingness to make things up is another. Not satisfied to spit on religion, Mr. Cameron also zestfully offends the standards of science.
My gripe with the cult of faux studiousness that comprised The Da Vinci Code zealots was that they felt as though they were immersed in substantive, carefully vetted historical analysis rather than clumsy conspiracy ramblings based on the flimsiest of premises.
Mr. Cameron's Lost Tomb is an even emptier exercise. His assertion is that skeletal remains found in a Jerusalem suburb in 1980 simply must be the remains of Jesus' nuclear family: wife Mary Magdalene, son Judah – hey, the Virgin Mary herself might have been the contents of one of the chests unveiled with a flourish at a news conference to hawk the documentary.

"I think we have a very compelling case," says Mr. Cameron. Perhaps he will forgive Amos Kloner, the archaeologist who first found the remains, who disagrees completely, citing that Jesus' family roots lie elsewhere and that the names found on the sides of the vessels are all fairly common, including "Jesus," found 71 times over the years.

But it's just too tempting. Too tempting to make the logical leaps. Too tempting to taunt the faithful with "evidence" that their Bible – and the resurrection that is the basis for all of Christianity – are flawed tales. Too tempting to make money from such reckless journeys in fake scholarship.

To question and speculate about the underpinnings of faith is a fair intellectual exercise. But to make wild and hurtful assertions from such a paper-thin platform reveals audacity that is hard to forgive.
Mark Davis is heard weekdays on News/Talk WBAP-AM (820) and nationwide on the ABC Radio Network. WBAP airtime is 9 a.m. to noon. His e-mail address is mdavis@wbap.com.
AOL now offers free email to everyone. Find out more about what's free from AOL at AOL.com.

Ramadan - Diwali Poem

Happy Diwali and Eid Mubarak to all!

Mike Ghouse October 21, 2006

A meri diwali hai, a meri eid hai
donon may khushi hi khushi hai

Diwali say naya saal shuru hota hai
Ramzan ek naya insaan banata hai

Diwali may ek ek baat ka hisab hota hai
Ramzan may her baat ka review hota hai

Diwali nayay saal ke liye clean slate deta hai
Ramzan pichlay saal ki slate clean karta hai

Baat hi baat may, my nay a sher likh diya Sahir
Diwali aur Ramzan say subka acha hi hota hai

Happy Diwali and Eid Mubarak to all.

Najma & Mike Ghouse
www.MikeGhouse.net
Details about the festivals are at: www.FoundationforPluralism.com

Pray for Pope Benedict XVI

Comments on His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI

Mike Ghouse September 18, 2006

Peace!

The cruelty of the civilizations has got to do with the insecurity of individuals, employing religion to their benefit. Literally asking the subjects to give up their life to secure the wealth and control of the resources for them. I would argue that it was not the religion that got them to kill and get killed, although the Kings twisted the religion and patriotism as the reason for the war by fabricating the element of fear. Our government heads of today are no different than those Kings who sacrificed the innocent lives to satisfy their whims. We have to look beyond.

Imagine the world without Religion? It would have been more chaotic. What should the general public do? We have to tell the authorities that fool me no more, you keep your hate agenda to yourselves. What the holiest of holy Pope has insinuated has nothing to do with Christianity that Jesus preached, it is an expression of his own arrogance and we have to forgive his ignorance that has caused the un-peace. To err is human. Christianity is peace indeed, individuals practitioners may not be.

Let's invoke the forgiveness element of all religions (non-religions included) to every human soul and reaffirm that hate, anger, arrogance and ill-will knocks out the tranquility and peace of mind of an individual. Let's seek the religion to bring peace of mind to each one of the 7 billion of us which will disconnect ill-will. Forgiveness re-stores peace of mind.

Please join me for a prayer followed by two interesting pieces. One of them is the renowned and one of the most respect writers: Karen Armstrong who is a Catholic.


Request his holiness Pope Benedict XVI to Join us in prayers
The Most Reverend Pope Benedict XVI

In the spirit of peace, we the members of the World Muslim Congress, are pleased to follow Prophet Muhammad's example in times of conflicts and adversity.

We request you to join us in our prayers
Dear God, we ask you to help us fill our hearts with generosity and goodwill.
Dear God, we ask you to help us remove any arrogance of righteousness possessed in us.
Dear God, we ask you to help us know each other, as we are your creation.
Dear God, we ask you to help us help the fanatics who are angry with holiest of holy's remarks.
Dear God, help us follow the spirit of all the great spiritual teachings* to bring peace and equilibrium to each one of us and to the human kind

Amen

* Baha'i, Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Islam, Jain, Jewish, Shinto, Sikh, Zoroastrian and other traditions.
Mike Ghouse
3928 Brazos Dr, Carrollton,
Texas 75007- USAMikeGhouse@gmail.com

Please join us in the series of conversations in understanding each one of the paths of spirituality.
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Papal ignorance
By Khalid AmayrehSunday, September 17, 2006

Yes, we both have our misunderstandings and misgivings and peculiar beliefs and convictions, both as individuals and as religious and cultural communities. However, it would be unforgivable if we allowed these differences to marginalize let alone neutralize the fundamental common grounds between our religions, commonly called the Abrahamic religions. There is always a huge reservoir of quotes, positive and negative, about religions and religious symbols. A Muslim or non-Muslim could easily amass a preponderance of quotes and texts from the Old Testament, for example, to prove that the Bible advocates murder. In truth, the Prophet of Islam, Muahmmed (Peace be on him), never ever really called for spreading religion with the sword. The Quran states in Surat (chapter) al-Nahl, v. 134, "Invite to the path of thy Lord with wisdom and good advice, and argue with them kindly, for Thy Lord is well aware of those who go astray and He is aware of those who follow true guidance." Indeed, the very next verse states that "if thou should punish (aggressors) punish only in proportion to the aggression inflicted upon you, but if ye be patient, it will be better for the patient."Let us take Indonesia , the largest Muslim country in terms of population size, as an example. Historically, it is well known that no Muslim armies had ever set foot on the huge archipelago. Yet all these millions chose to embrace the religion endeared to them by Arabian merchants and sailors who had exemplified to the natives the Islamic ideals of honesty, purity and faithfulness. A few days ago, a Jewish lady, who had lost 8 relatives in the 9/11 terrorist attacks, appeared on Aljazeera TV, explaining why she decided to revert to Islam only a few months after the landmark tragedy. She simply said that "I found truth in Islam." The same can be said about the estimated 20,000 Americans who have embraced Islam after 9/11. Besides, what modicum of objectivity and honesty can there be in the words of an emperor who had lost his throne and empire because of Islam.? What else would we expect from the mouth of that loser?Furthermore, the Pope should have realized that he lives in a glass house. I want to remind him of the history of the Catholic Church upon the helm of which he now sits. It was the Church that burned scientists alive, it was the Church that invented the Indulgences and Simony systems, it was the Catholic world that invented the Inquisitions, the pogroms, and all other abominations associated with its dark practices against critics and opponents, including Christians who didn't extend fealty to Rome . And the Crusades? And the Holocaust? Must we re-open these dark chapters again? Do we have to remind his holiness that in the past century alone, over a hundred million Christians were killed by other Christians in numerous wars, including two world wars? May we remind his holiness that he himself sixty years ago was a member of the Hitler Youth? And then how about the spread of Catholicism in South America ? Was it done through the example of platonic love and self-abnegation?"

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We cannot afford to maintain these ancient prejudices against Islam The Pope's remarks were dangerous, and will convince many more Muslims that the west is incurably Islamophobic

http://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,,1874653,00.html#article_continueKaren ArmstrongMonday September 18, 2006
The Guardian

In the 12th century, Peter the Venerable, Abbot of Cluny, initiated a dialogue with the Islamic world. "I approach you not with arms, but with words," he wrote to the Muslims whom he imagined reading his book, "not with force, but with reason, not with hatred, but with love." Yet his treatise was entitled Summary of the Whole Heresy of the Diabolical Sect of the Saracens and segued repeatedly into spluttering intransigence. Words failed Peter when he contemplated the "bestial cruelty" of Islam, which, he claimed, had established itself by the sword. Was Muhammad a true prophet? "I shall be worse than a donkey if I agree," he expostulated, "worse than cattle if I assent!"
Peter was writing at the time of the Crusades. Even when Christians were trying to be fair, their entrenched loathing of Islam made it impossible for them to approach it objectively. For Peter, Islam was so self-evidently evil that it did not seem to occur to him that the Muslims he approached with such "love" might be offended by his remarks. This medieval cast of mind is still alive and well.
Last week, Pope Benedict XVI quoted, without qualification and with apparent approval, the words of the 14th-century Byzantine emperor Manuel II: "Show me just what Muhammad brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." The Vatican seemed bemused by the Muslim outrage occasioned by the Pope's words, claiming that the Holy Father had simply intended "to cultivate an attitude of respect and dialogue toward the other religions and cultures, and obviously also towards Islam".
But the Pope's good intentions seem far from obvious. Hatred of Islam is so ubiquitous and so deeply rooted in western culture that it brings together people who are usually at daggers drawn. Neither the Danish cartoonists, who published the offensive caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad last February, nor the Christian fundamentalists who have called him a paedophile and a terrorist, would ordinarily make common cause with the Pope; yet on the subject of Islam they are in full agreement.

Our Islamophobia dates back to the time of the Crusades, and is entwined with our chronic anti-semitism. Some of the first Crusaders began their journey to the Holy Land by massacring the Jewish communities along the Rhine valley; the Crusaders ended their campaign in 1099 by slaughtering some 30,000 Muslims and Jews in Jerusalem. It is always difficult to forgive people we know we have wronged. Thenceforth Jews and Muslims became the shadow-self of Christendom, the mirror image of everything that we hoped we were not - or feared that we were.
The fearful fantasies created by Europeans at this time endured for centuries and reveal a buried anxiety about Christian identity and behaviour. When the popes called for a Crusade to the Holy Land, Christians often persecuted the local Jewish communities: why march 3,000 miles to Palestine to liberate the tomb of Christ, and leave unscathed the people who had - or so the Crusaders mistakenly assumed - actually killed Jesus. Jews were believed to kill little children and mix their blood with the leavened bread of Passover: this "blood libel" regularly inspired pogroms in Europe, and the image of the Jew as the child slayer laid bare an almost Oedipal terror of the parent faith.

Jesus had told his followers to love their enemies, not to exterminate them. It was when the Christians of Europe were fighting brutal holy wars against Muslims in the Middle East that Islam first became known in the west as the religion of the sword. At this time, when the popes were trying to impose celibacy on the reluctant clergy, Muhammad was portrayed by the scholar monks of Europe as a lecher, and Islam condemned - with ill-concealed envy - as a faith that encouraged Muslims to indulge their basest sexual instincts. At a time when European social order was deeply hierarchical, despite the egalitarian message of the gospel, Islam was condemned for giving too much respect to women and other menials.

In a state of unhealthy denial, Christians were projecting subterranean disquiet about their activities on to the victims of the Crusades, creating fantastic enemies in their own image and likeness. This habit has persisted. The Muslims who have objected so vociferously to the Pope's denigration of Islam have accused him of "hypocrisy", pointing out that the Catholic church is ill-placed to condemn violent jihad when it has itself been guilty of unholy violence in crusades, persecutions and inquisitions and, under Pope Pius XII, tacitly condoned the Nazi Holocaust.
Pope Benedict delivered his controversial speech in Germany the day after the fifth anniversary of September 11. It is difficult to believe that his reference to an inherently violent strain in Islam was entirely accidental. He has, most unfortunately, withdrawn from the interfaith initiatives inaugurated by his predecessor, John Paul II, at a time when they are more desperately needed than ever. Coming on the heels of the Danish cartoon crisis, his remarks were extremely dangerous. They will convince more Muslims that the west is incurably Islamophobic and engaged in a new crusade.
We simply cannot afford this type of bigotry. The trouble is that too many people in the western world unconsciously share this prejudice, convinced that Islam and the Qur'an are addicted to violence. The 9/11 terrorists, who in fact violated essential Islamic principles, have confirmed this deep-rooted western perception and are seen as typical Muslims instead of the deviants they really were.

With disturbing regularity, this medieval conviction surfaces every time there is trouble in the Middle East. Yet until the 20th century, Islam was a far more tolerant and peaceful faith than Christianity. The Qur'an strictly forbids any coercion in religion and regards all rightly guided religion as coming from God; and despite the western belief to the contrary, Muslims did not impose their faith by the sword.

The early conquests in Persia and Byzantium after the Prophet's death were inspired by political rather than religious aspirations. Until the middle of the eighth century, Jews and Christians in the Muslim empire were actively discouraged from conversion to Islam, as, according to Qur'anic teaching, they had received authentic revelations of their own. The extremism and intolerance that have surfaced in the Muslim world in our own day are a response to intractable political problems - oil, Palestine, the occupation of Muslim lands, the prevelance of authoritarian regimes in the Middle East, and the west's perceived "double standards" - and not to an ingrained religious imperative.
But the old myth of Islam as a chronically violent faith persists, and surfaces at the most inappropriate moments. As one of the received ideas of the west, it seems well-nigh impossible to eradicate. Indeed, we may even be strengthening it by falling back into our old habits of projection. As we see the violence - in Iraq, Palestine, Lebanon - for which we bear a measure of responsibility, there is a temptation, perhaps, to blame it all on "Islam". But if we are feeding our prejudice in this way, we do so at our peril.
· Karen Armstrong is the author of Islam: A Short History

Request the most reverend Pope Benedict XVI to Join us in prayers
The Most Reverend Pope,

In the spirit of peace, we the members of the World Muslim Congress, are pleased to follow Prophet Muhammad's example in times of conflicts and adversity.

We request you to join us in our prayers
Dear God, we ask you to help us fill our hearts with generosity and goodwill.
Dear God, we ask you to help us remove any arrogance of righteousness possessed in us.
Dear God, we ask you to help us know each other, as we are your creation.
Dear God, we ask you to help us help the fanatics who are angry with holiest of holy's remarks.
Dear God, help us follow the spirit of all the great spiritual teachings* to bring peace and equilibrium to each one of us and to the human kind
Amen

* Baha'i, Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Islam, Jain, Jewish, Shinto, Sikh, Zoroastrian and other traditions.
Address: 3928 Brazos Dr, Carrollton, Texas 75007- USAPhone: (214) 325-1916

Please join us in the series of conversations in understanding each one of the paths of spirituality

Temple demolition

WMC condemns demolition of Hindu Temple
Jun 13 2006 10:12PM comments rss:

PRESS RELEASE

June 13, 2006.
Muslims condemn the demolition of Hindu Temple in Lahore

Dallas, Texas - The World Muslim Congress condemns the demolition of Hindu Temple in Lahore and urges the Government of Pakistan to restore the temple.

Muslims follow Islam, a monotheistic religion but not a monolithic religion. Muslims who have deeply imbibed the teaching of Islam condemn the act of demolition of the temple in Pakistan.

We do appreciate that several opposition members of the National Assembly of Pakistan from the Pakistan Peoples Party, and Pakistan Muslim League reportedly objected and moved a motion against the demolition, saying such an act could have a bearing on Pakistan's relations with neighboring countries.

We urge the people and the Federal government of Pakistan to join us in not only in condemnation but in restoration.

Allah through the holy Qur’an says: "O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that ye may know each other (not that ye may despise (each other). Verily the most honored of you in the sight of Allah is (he who is) the most righteous of you. And Allah has full knowledge and is well acquainted (with all things) - al-Hujurat 49:13

"Prophet Mohammad emphasized Good deed is one that makes life better for others, as planting a tree would provide shade and fruit for all in the future

The second Caliph Umar set an example of respecting the sanctity of places of worship when he conquered Jerusalem. At the time of the evening prayer the Bishop of the Church of holy sepulcher offered him a nice place to pray in the church but he refused, saying that he fears that generations after him may try to take over and convert the church to a Mosque. So he prayed out side the church.

The old truism is a valuable lesson and a golden rule preached by all religions "treat others as you wanted to be treated".
It is not about religion in the narrow sectarian terms, it is about respecting other people's right to have their own place of worship as Islam enjoins and is an important article of the Geneva Conventions.

We urge every one who considers humanity a family to denounce such acts no matter where they take place.

# # # # # # # # # # # # #
Contact:
Mike M. Ghouse - MikeGhouse@gmail.com
Mirza A. Beg - mirza.a.beg@gmail.com
World Muslim Congress
3928 Brazos Drive, Carrollton, TX 75007
www.WorldMuslimCongress.com
Hindu temple in Lahore demolishedhttp://www.hindustantimes.com/news/7598_1719330,000500020000.htm Press Trust of India Islamabad, June 13, 2006 16:16 IST
The only Hindu temple in the Pakistani city of Lahore has been demolished to pave the way for construction of a multi-storied commercial building.
The temple was recently demolished after officials of the Evacuee Property Trust Board (EPTB), the government body maintaining properties of minorities, specially Hindus and Sikhs, reportedly concealed facts from the board chairman about the nature of the building, daily 'Dawn ' reported on Tuesday.
A private developer was allowed to demolish 'Krishna Mandir' at Wachhoowali, Rang Mahal and raise a commercial building in its place in violation of the EPTB's own scheme for management and disposal of urban evacuee trust properties, it said.
Quoting documents, the paper said board officials did not mention that the property being given to an influential jeweller of the area, was a Hindu temple.
Had the officials indicated in the correspondence with the chairman that the property was a Hindu temple, he might have rejected the request for its transfer to the jeweller-developer for the construction of a four-storey commercial building, an EPTB official was quoted as saying.
The demolition was objected to by several opposition members of the National Assembly like Pakistan Peoples Party, and Pakistan Muslim League-N, who reportedly moved a motion against the demolition, saying such an act could have a bearing on Pakistan's relations with neighbouring countries.The demolished Krishna temple was the only Hindu place of worship in the city.
This is the second Hindu temple to have been permitted to be demolished by EPTB administrator Chaudhry Javed Bashir, sources in the EPTB said. He had permitted demolition of a temple at Vehari in Punjab province last year for construction of a commercial building.
Demolition of temples would only disparage the reputation of the country in the comity of nations as an anti-minority state, the sources said.
The EPTB Scheme for Management and Disposal of Urban Evacuee Trust Properties, 1977, categorically prohibits the sale or demolition of an evacuee trust property that is part of appurtenance to a shrine, a religious place or a building of historical or architectural importance

Krishna Temple is Safe

WMC expresses relief: Krishna Temple is safe

Jun 18 2006 4:41AM comments rss:

PRESS RELEASE
June 16, 2006

World Muslim Congress expresses relief at the safety of Krishna Temple.

Dallas, Texas : Thursday, June 15, 2006. The World Muslim Congress expresses relief upon hearing that the Krishna temple is safe in Lahore. We pray that the news from Rediff.com is true.

We thank God for the good news that the Krishna Temple is safe in Lahore
We thank the Hindu Community for remaining Calm during this crisis.
We thank the support expressed by the Pakistani Community to restore the temple.
We thank the Muslim community across the world, US and India for condemning it.
We thank the innate nature in humans to respect other people's property.
We thank the Government of Pakistan in allocating Rs.13.8 Million for repair of the Temples
We thank the Government of Pakistan for allocating funds to re-store the Sikh Temple at Nankana Saheb.

The World Muslim Congress aims to give voice to the silent majority of Muslims, those who believe in leading a good life by contributing their time, effort and energy towards shaping a just society. A society where helping families, building bridges between communities, and foster love, justice and peace would be the norm.Through the revolution in travel and communication the world has indeed become a global community. Every one is a neighbor to every one else, we aspire to nurture the concept of good neighborliness in the world. Our advisory board will be represented by individuals from every faith. It is time for us to be equal citizens of one world, our home. This is a major paradigm shift in how the religious organizations would be conducting their business in the coming years.Insha Allah, the organization will officially come into full operation on Tuesday, July 4th, 2006. Mike M. Ghouse - MikeGhouse@gmail.com
Mirza A. Beg - mirza.a.beg@gmail.com

World Muslim Congress
www.WorldMuslimCongress.com (August release)


Krishna temple is safe: Pakistanhttp://ia.rediff.com/news/2006/jun/15temple.htm?q=np&file=.htm
June 15, 2006 23:37 IST
Pakistan on Thursday denied media reports that the only Krishna temple in Lahore has been razed and said the temple is safe.

A structure was demolished to make way for the construction of a commercial complex, but there was no temple there, a foreign office statement said.

'The only Krishna temple that exists in Lahore is safe and the temple referred to in a section of the press is an abandoned property being used partly for residential and commercial purposes since the time of the independence according to a clarification of Evacuee Trust Property Board of Pakistan,' a Foreign Office statement said.
'The media report is factually incorrect. In fact, the Krishna temple is situated on Ravi Road, Lahore, whereas the property under reference is in Rang Mahal, Lahore. Both the locations are several kilometers apart,' it said.
However, there is a temple in Wachhowali Bazar in Lahore, which is about 300 feet away from the property under reference. That temple too is intact, the foreign office said.

Contrary to the alleged demolition, the Evacuee Trust Property Board has made considerable improvements in a number of temples including the Krishna temple, at the cost of Rs 13.8 million during the last three years, it said.
Report in a Pakistani newspaper that the only Krishna temple in Lahore has been demolished for construction of a commercial complex sparked off a strong reaction by the Sangh Parivar, including the Bharatiya Janata party, and the Indian government sought a clarification from Pakistan on the issue.
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India-Pak-Temple Demolition
The All India Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawarat (AIMMM) on Wednesday deplored the demolition of a Hindu temple in Lahore which was in the custody of the Evacuee Property Trust Board, a government body.
In a statement, it called upon the Pakistan Government to respect minority rights and international law, which include religious freedom of the minorities and respect of their places of worship.
The AIMMM demands that the Government of Pakistan stop the construction proposed on the site and instruct the board to rebuild the temple unless a representative body of the Pakistani Hindu community offers to take up the reconstruction.
The AIMMM also calls upon the Government of India to invoke Nehru- Liaquat Agreement, 1950 and take up the case with the Government of Pakistan.
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PRESS RELEASE
June 13, 2006.
Muslims condemn the demolition of Hindu Temple in Lahore
Dallas, Texas - The World Muslim Congress condemns the demolition of Hindu Temple in Lahore and urges the Government of Pakistan to restore the temple.
Muslims follow Islam, a monotheistic religion but not a monolithic religion. Muslims who have deeply imbibed the teaching of Islam condemn the act of demolition of the temple in Pakistan.
We do appreciate that several opposition members of the National Assembly of Pakistan from the Pakistan Peoples Party, and Pakistan Muslim League reportedly objected and moved a motion against the demolition, saying such an act could have a bearing on Pakistan's relations with neighboring countries.
We urge the people and the Federal government of Pakistan to join us in not only in condemnation but in restoration.
Allah through the holy Qur’an says: "O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that ye may know each other (not that ye may despise (each other). Verily the most honored of you in the sight of Allah is (he who is) the most righteous of you. And Allah has full knowledge and is well acquainted (with all things) - al-Hujurat 49:13
"Prophet Mohammad emphasized Good deed is one that makes life better for others, as planting a tree would provide shade and fruit for all in the future
The second Caliph Umar set an example of respecting the sanctity of places of worship when he conquered Jerusalem. At the time of the evening prayer the Bishop of the Church of holy sepulcher offered him a nice place to pray in the church but he refused, saying that he fears that generations after him may try to take over and convert the church to a Mosque. So he prayed out side the church.
The old truism is a valuable lesson and a golden rule preached by all religions "treat others as you wanted to be treated".
It is not about religion in the narrow sectarian terms, it is about respecting other people's right to have their own place of worship as Islam enjoins and is an important article of the Geneva Conventions.
We urge every one who considers humanity a family to denounce such acts no matter where they take place.
# # # # # # # # # # # # #
Contact:
Mike M. Ghouse - MikeGhouse@gmail.com
Mirza A. Beg - mirza.a.beg@gmail.com
World Muslim Congress
3928 Brazos Drive, Carrollton, TX 75007
www.WorldMuslimCongress.com

Bahai, Jews, Sufis & Parsees

Apolgoy to Zoroastrians, Bahai, Sufis and Jews

We hope the harassment of Zoroastrians, Jews, Bahais and Sufis in Iran is completely false, and pray it does not happen. I feel your pain and agony. What the Zoroastrian community has gone thru over centuries in the hands of the ruthless majority

May 24 2006 2:06AM comments rss:

Wednesday, May 24, 2006
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to: Zoroastrians, Baha'I, Jewish and Sufi communities
Fr: Mike Ghouse, President, World Muslim Congress.
________________________________________________

Hamazor Hama Ashobed - I Care about you and your well being
Allaho Abho - Glorious God
Shalom - Peace to you
Salam - Peace

We hope the harassment of Zoroastrians, Jews, Bahais and Sufis in Iran is completely false, and pray it does not happen.

I feel your pain and agony. What the Zoroastrian community has gone thru over for centuries in hands of the ruthless majority - from a gross expulsion to continuous harassment. It is a very painful thing to endure. Bahaulla, the founder of Baha'I faith was expelled and he spent his last few years of his life in Haifa. The Sufi Muslims are being harassed and are having difficulties in practicing their rituals. The Jewish community has gone thru turmoil since Khomeini's regime. And now Ahmedinejad is shaking every thing up for his own political survival or some such scheming. He is making irrational statements. I hope sanity returns and the good people of Iran prevail over him.

Martin Niemoller's poem keeps coming to my mind. We are in it together, all of us need to join and speak out against injustice. The world is truly split into two groups: the Good and the bad. If you are a bad guy, no matter what religion you follow, you are going to be a bad guy. Evil transcends religion. The good guys are the dominant people but are silent, and it is their silence that encourages evil people to do bad things.

Hope is the one thing that has carried mankind thru the most difficult times. That hope, is messed up time and again. I understand living in constant fear and constant appeasement mode is very difficult and frustrating. The majoritarian attitudes are nothing but shameful. That majority in Iran are Muslims, and it is a shame on them for their arrogance in believing that theirs is the only way, and not giving value to other faiths as their own faith calls for.

I am thankful to God that I a Muslim and am grateful that I am from a religious minority community both in India and the US. This helps me understand and empathize with the suffering and pain of others. All minorities seem to endure similar fear and grief. I do sincerely pray that the few extremists among the majorities ought to experience living like a minority. Some times I wish I could shake up those few tyrannical Muslim regimes and make them learn the examples of the first four governors (Caliphs) of Islam; who were kind, just and administered fair rule with liberty and justice for all.

My apologies to the Zoroastrians, Sufis, Baha'i and Jews, that my co-religionists have caused so much pain, tension and suffering. It is a shame on them. Prophet Muhammad said some thing to this effect: Stand up against injustice if you see one.... towards the end of discourse he emphasizes; the least you can do is speak up. The least we can do is rally support and urge AhmediNijad to be respectful of others and give the minorities full freedom to practice their faith and treat all citizens with justice and fairness. Insha Allah, we are working on it.

Towards this first step, we have incorporated the organization called ' World Muslim Congress' today, May 23, 2006. The World Muslim Congress' advisory board will include a representative from every faith, and I hope this will pave the way for a more pluralistic approach towards people and issues as they come up. My goal is to make it one of the most transparent organizations. It will be open to all. Insha Allah it will be a fully functioning organization from Unity day forward on September 11, 2006.

Please note that there are issues everywhere in the world. Highlighting these issues in no way diminishes the tragedies of others; this is the issue at hand and that is our focus, that is our human limitation to deal with it. We urge you to take up the issue that you can focus on and bring a resolution. We are all volunteers and all of us have an equal opportunity and un-equal potential to serve. A month ago a Muslim Saint's shrine was erased by a City in India, and Kazakhstan wants to confiscate the land that belongs to Hare Krishna Temple. All of these hateful incidents are a cancer in our societies, and we need to cure them for the benefit of all.

Zoroastrians Today - The movie
Date: Friday, June 9th 2006Venue: DCTV87 Lafayette Street, New York, NY 10013 _http://www.dctvny.org/_(https://shmail.safehorizon.org/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.dctvny.org/)Subways: 4,5,6 Brooklyn Bridge/City HallTime: 7:15pm 9:30pm Cost: Free
Format: The screening will begin at 7:30pm. It will be followed by a brief “question and answer session while you are sipping on French Merlot orChenin Blanc, generously donated by Cobra Beer, and munching on cashew nuts andenjoying samosas.Film: Zoroastrians Today is a personal journey about a filmmaker whodelves into the urgent issues facing her community. She tackles the subjects ofconversion into the faith; dwindling numbers (there are less than 200,000Zoroastrians in the world today); and the treatment of Zoroastrians, as areligious minority, in Iran. The film is shot in Iran, Vancouver, Chicago, Boston,Bombay and New York over the last 4 years, and is an hour long.Features: The film features some very articulate Zoroastrians on both sidesof the issue and extremely rare footage of a conversion ceremony and the Towers of Silence“ the resting place of deceased Zoroastrians.Preview the trailer of Zoroastrians Today at:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3222765191601652959&pr=goog-sl

www.MikeGhouse.net
www.FoundationforPluralism.com
www.WorldMuslimCongress.com - in the making

Model : Muslim-Jewish ties

Dear Friends,

It is one of the most powerful messages I have read and Insha Allah, I will preserve this to repeat every time I see people are wronged anywhere in the world.

This is the spirit of co-existence that needs to be modeled after. I would urge every peace seeker in deed to take steps on his or her own to create that world around him or her. Peace is not the word, it is the work.

Below the article, I have added another such piece "Each community is a beautiful bus"

Mike Ghouse
www. MikeGhouse.net
www.FoundationforPluralism.com
www.WorldMuslimCongress.com

Morocco: a model of Muslim-Jewish ties
http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0109/p09s01-coop.html?s=yaho

The tone of tolerance for the nation's Jewish minority begins with the king.

By Serge Berdugo CASABLANCA, MOROCCO – As the flames of anti-Semitism continue to be fanned across much of the Islamic world, there is a risk that today's youth will grow up believing that Arabs and Jews were simply not meant to coexist, let alone thrive together.

That idea conflicts with history - and is a falsehood today. My country, Morocco, illustrates the viability and vitality of a Jewish community - my community - in an Arab country. It's a model of harmony other Muslim nations should follow.

The Jewish people have been a presence in Africa's Maghreb region for more than 2,000 years. North African Jews and Muslims traveled north and thrived together in southern Europe for more than 700 years. In 1492, when we refused to convert to Christianity, we were expelled - together - from Spain. And together we successfully sought refuge in Morocco, which accepted us into its society and institutions.

DEAN ROHRER

In the MonitorTuesday, 01/09/07
A history of defending Jews

Morocco's leaders have always made the well-being of the Jewish people a top priority. During World War II, when the Vichy government of occupied France announced that it had prepared 200,000 yellow stars for the Jews of Morocco, King Mohammed V replied that he would need 50 more for him and his family. He refused to make any distinction between his citizens.

The importance of a nation's leader setting the tone for recognition, respect, and treatment of minority faiths can- not be overstated. Today, King Mohammed VI has declared his religious, historical, and constitutional obligation to protect the rights, liberties, and sacred values of the Jews in Morocco.

This commitment dramatically affected Morocco's reaction at moments of great challenge. After May 16, 2003 - the Moroccan 9/11, when five terrorist bombs exploded, three directed at Jewish targets - King Mohammed VI expressed condolences at a Jewish Center, condemning the criminal acts and reaffirming his determination to protect Jews and all Moroccan citizens.

In doing so, he defined the attack as one upon all Moroccan society, awakening the national conscience and strengthening the bonds between us. Moroccans of all faiths responded with candlelight vigils at bombing sites and demonstrations attended by nearly 1 million participants.

Many Moroccan Jews have emigrated to Israel and elsewhere, but the attachments to our homeland are unique. "Morocco never loses a Jewish citizen - we gain an ambassador," Mohammed VI's predecessor, King Hassan II, once said. Today, there are 1 million such "ambassadors" all over the world and 600,000 in Israel alone.

We Jews who call Morocco home have a vibrant community that includes 30 functioning synagogues and three school networks, which many influential Muslim families choose for their own children. Moroccan Jews serve as counselors to the king, ministers, colonels, members of parliament, judges, and ambassadors. On Jewish holy days, Muslim authorities, out of respect, attend our services.

With help from the Moroccan government, we started a foundation to preserve Jewish historical sites. And we support research on our community - including 30 doctoral dissertations presently under way by Muslim candidates.

Muting the extremists' call

Are we an isolated society? Hardly: Moroccans young and old have access to as wide an array of media and ideological diversity as anywhere in the Islamic world. Yes, the extremists' call is heard here, too, but make no mistake - it's the response that differs. The tones of tolerance, trumpeted by a government that believes that Moroccan Judaism is an intrinsic and permanent part of the national culture, overwhelm the extremists' siren song.

Are we a historical accident or the path forward? Perhaps the answer is that our historical good fortune now has to be transformed into a model for others. We are more relevant outside our border than ever before.
Other world leaders must realize that the path forward lies not in fanning the fires of the moment, but in setting a tone of authentic coexistence that will endure.

• The author is the president of Morocco's Jewish Community Council.

EACH COMMUNITY IS A BEAUTIFUL BUS

Mike Ghouse

Each community, each nation and each faith is like a beautiful bus; when you plan to go somewhere, you make sure all its tires have the same amount of air pressure for it to run effectively, to give better mileage, lasting tire wear..... all the mechanical parts must be greased, all the parts must be checked for a safe, stable and sure journey.

We need to work together to ensure that every one is on par to ride the road of progress, we need to fill the tire if the pressure is inadequate, instead of asking the tire to fill itself. Whose loss is it if the tire does not fill itself? We have to help the communities that are at a disadvantage. We need to bring them to a well balanced, smoothly functioning society. Ignoring one tire or a community is an irresponsible thing for the bus journey.

It is the responsibility of each person in the world to make a better world. Each day we need to ask ourselves, what have we done today to make the world a better place?

Peace and prosperity of our World hinges on justice and plurality, absence or deficiency of it will cause the BUS to slow down. It is in the interests of Community of the Nations to bring up the people in ditches on to a level playing field, and let them compete from that point forward. Imagine each community to be a tire of the bus, if all the tires have adequate air pressure, the smoothness of the journey is certain, assured and safe.


Each one of us needs to be the 'source' of goodwill to bring that equilibrium. You and I are not safe if the world around us isn't. All change begins with you and me. And I pledge that whatever I do, I will do it to bind people together, and will be a source of goodwill.

Try filling your heart with goodwill and fight with yourselves to remove any prejudice you may have..... some day, you would have changed the lives of at least a few people around you, but more than any one else, it will be you who will find boundless joy in yourselves.
Be contagious with your freedom.

Best wishes

Mike Ghouse
www.MikeGhouse.net
www.FoundationforPluralism.com
www.WorldMuslimCongress.com