Narendra Modi, Rahul Gandhi, you and I.

The purpose of writing this note is for us to be conscious of the fact that, we will be redefining a lot of things. 

We were formed as a Secular democracy; however, we have been an exemplary inclusive democracy. Politically, India has evolved into a two party system. Unlike the clear two dominant parties in the United States,  India coalesces regional and national parties into two major coalitions; the National Democratic Alliance with Bharatiya Janata party (BJP) as its anchor, and the United Progressive Alliance with Indian National Congress (INC) as the anchor.

Loyalty to our Nation.

For almost first half of post independent India, there was literally one party rule. If you were not with the Indian National Congress then you were less than loyal to the nation. Then came a period, where BJP ruled the nation and anyone who criticized the Government-in-essence-BJP, they were considered traitors or less than loyal to India, and it went both ways.

I hope we have come to a point where loyalty to the party will not be equated with loyalty to the nation. We need to remember that neither BJP nor Congress represents more than half of the nation now.  And we will go beyond our regional or religious affiliations in our discussions. It will be one Indian’s take against the other Indian’s take and we will do our best, for the sake of civility to not slap region or religion to it.  

Let me put it the way Jesus had explained– condemn the sin and not the sinner. i.e., you and I can disagree with our takes, but not dislike each other personally. The same great ideal is in Bhagvad Gita, Quran and other holy books; we just need to practice it. 

In simple words, I may not like your support for Rahul Gandhi or Narendra Modi, but I will not dislike you at all, and nor will I hold that against you. Can we do that?

The dirt that will be thrown at each other will be for political gains of the party you support. If Khalid Azam and Niranjan Patel disagree on something, it will be a civil dialogue and nothing personal. I would also hope that we have matured enough to discuss or challenge the facts, rather than just say – what do you expect from …?  

At Dallas Indians, a 1725 member forum, we have seen ups and downs, and I hope to see civility in our conversation. I am sure we can, after all, we the Indians claim to be a civil people. 

The forum is moderated to eliminate ads, and to keep the focus on the topic at hand instead of jumping around. To join the forum, simply send an email to DallasIndians-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

As a moderator of the forum, I want to assure you, that I am free from any prejudice towards any human, let alone a fellow Indian. Meaning, if I you see you in a party, my blood will not boil, nor will I lean over my friend and whisper bad things about you in his or her ears. My disagreement with you does not become the source of disliking you.

My book "Standing up for others" is being released by the end of this month. I simply ask you this - if any one on our forum, jumps on an individual's region or religion, we all need to speak up. We are all Indians and nothing but Indians.

Jai Hind

Mike Ghouse for India
http://www.MikeGhouseforIndia.Blogspot.com 

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

Mike Ghouse is a speaker, thinker and a writer on pluralism, politics, peace, Islam, Israel, India, interfaith, and cohesion at work place. He is committed to building a Cohesive America and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day at www.TheGhousediary.com. He believes in Standing up for others and a book with the same title is coming up. Mike has a strong presence on national and local TV, Radio and Print Media. He is a frequent guest onSean Hannity show on Fox TV, and a commentator on national radio networks, he contributes weekly to the Texas Faith Column at Dallas Morning News; fortnightly at Huffington post; and several other periodicals across the world. His personal site www.MikeGhouse.net indexes all his work through many links.

Arvind Kejriwal Phenomenon

It is a delight to see inclusive politics.  I hope Arvind will affect the other politicians to emulate him. I am deeply committed towards building cohesive societies where every citizen feels included and no one is afraid to live his or her life.

I don't know if I can make it, but if I can, I want to open the Delhi state assembly session with pluralism greetings and prayers to be inclusive of every Indian from Atheist to Zoroastrian and every one in between.

Here is his full 26 minutes speech of Arvind Kejriwal: http://t.co/FppTW3aDe0
We are making a film called "Americans Together" - it will take another year or two to complete - if we get the funding, we can complete it this year. In this film, every American will be represented. The trailer is at:http://americatogetherfoundation.com/documetary/

This is a speech President Obama would have delivered. 

The last century has produced Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., Nelson Mandela, Mother and Mother Teresa, and this century has begun with Barack Obama, Pope Francis and now Arvind Kejriwal.

@ 4th minute - What does a common man want? Monica and Anjum have delivered an identical speech in the documentary.
  
@ 7:30 minute - it's all inclusive, he defines who is an Aam Aadmi
@ 9:00 inclusive of all religions
@15:00 inclusive of all parties;  BJP and congress - it is Indians together
@18 - political inclusivism
@18:30 - rehabilitation
@20 - faith in people's honesty
@22 - 1339 Rapes in Delhi? 2nd only to New York - it's a serious issue and his response was what I expected - punishment and not revenge.

I was to cut down my time and focus on the book and building the curriculum to teach Pluralism - but I could not resist this phenomenon; Arvind Kejriwal. 

My article on Arvind Kejriwal - http://www.opednews.com/articles/India-Arvind-Kejriwal-swo-by-Mike-Ghouse-2014-Elections_Aam-Aadmi-Party_Arvind-Kajriwal_Bharatiya-Janata-Party-131230-153.html

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Mike Ghouse is a speaker, thinker and a writer on pluralism, politics, peace, Islam, Israel, India, interfaith, and cohesion at work place. He is committed to building a Cohesive America and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day at www.TheGhousediary.com. He believes in Standing up for others and a book with the same title is coming up. Mike has a strong presence on national and local TV, Radio and Print Media. He is a frequent guest onSean Hannity show on Fox TV, and a commentator on national radio networks, he contributes weekly to the Texas Faith Column at Dallas Morning News; fortnightly at Huffington post; and several other periodicals across the world. His personal site www.MikeGhouse.net indexes all his work through many links. 

Arvind Kejriwal sworn in as Chief Minister of New Delhi and follows Lincoln's idea of government

Published at OpEd News
URL - http://www.opednews.com/articles/India-Arvind-Kejriwal-swo-by-Mike-Ghouse-2014-Elections_Aam-Aadmi-Party_Arvind-Kajriwal_Bharatiya-Janata-Party-131230-153.html

New Delhi, India. Mr. Arvind Kejriwal is sworn in as the 7^th Chief Minister (Governor) of New Delhi, a Union Territory of India, in the likes of Puerto Rico in the United States.

Governor Najeeb Jung Swearing in Chief Minister Arvind Kajriwal 

80,000 people packed the historical Ramlila Maidan (grounds) for the  swearing-in ceremony. Kejriwal received thunderous applause for just about every sentence he uttered in his opening speech. The people of Delhi were in a mood for an honest uncorrupted politician; it was similar to the Obama moment on November 4, 2008.   I was moved when he said, "The politics of this country has destroyed everything, but people have shown that honest politics is possible. Elections can be fought with honesty and won with honesty."    

Arvind Kejriwal is practicing what Abraham Lincoln had envisioned about government; of the people for the people by the people.  

This is a historic moment in Indian democracy for common man to have a say. Traditionally the multi-party system coalesces into two major coalitions; the National Democratic Alliance with Bharatiya Janata party (BJP) as its anchor party, and the United Progressive Alliance with Indian National Congress (INC) as its anchor.

The voters of the state of New Delhi have defeated the incumbent Congress party by reducing them to 8 seats in the assembly of 70 seats; 33 went to Bharatiya Janata Party, 2 short of forming the government, and 28 seats to the brand new, less than a year-old AAP -- Aam Aadmi Party, the common man's party.

The party head Arvind Kejriwal was asked to form the government as BJP could not form the government. The congress party offered their support of their 8 members, giving AAP a 36-seat majority in the house.

Kejriwal refused to form the government, and said becoming the governing party is not important but ensuring proper governance is the way to go forward. Instead of grabbing the power he rejected the offer. Arvind Kejriwal reminds me of Nelson Mandela who walked away from power for another term.

A genuine democracy must be a natural thing to humans who respect the otherness of others. Kejriwal is one such fellow, and did the right thing by asking the very people who elected him to deliberate and decide if he should form the government.  Indeed, Mr. Kejriwal is reclaiming what it means to be the government of the people.

The public said, he should form the government provided the support from the Congress is firm, and congress having no options, gave him unconditional support to form the government.

Prior to Swearing in Ceremony governor Jung and Kajriwal
(image by LiveMint.com)

The world can learn about austerity from Mr. Kejriwal.   The members of the United States Congress believe austerity means cutting off on food stamps and unemployment benefits to the needy, making them more miserable and unproductive.   Shamelessly, when the government shut-down happened, the members of the US Congress got paid and denied the same to ordinary government workers.    Kejriwal believes the austerity begins from the top. He took the subway to Ramlila grounds where swearing in ceremony took place, and he plans to live in his own house and has asked his ministers to do the same.   

He urged his cabinet ministers to remain humble and not fall into the trapping of power and become arrogant. He has taken a strong stand against corruption and bribes, and has promised not to spare any one.   He was vigilant and covered most bases, "Sometimes I am very scared as people have pinned their hopes on us and I pray to God to give us courage and keep us on right track so that we don't commit any mistake."

He has a bold message for Indian National Congress; inclusiveness without pragati (progress) will not cut it, and the message to Bharatiya Janata Party; unnati (prosperity) without inclusiveness is not sustainable either.  

Democracy works!  This man Arvind Kejriwal did not have money like the other two parties, but had clearly defined goals and won the hearts and minds of the people. Indeed Obama had a clear mission; inclusive goals for the greater good of Americans against Romney's wealthy supporters who funded nearly a billion dollars to his campaign in vain.

The government of people by the people for the people is a good foundation for sustainable democracies. I wish Mr. Kejriwal the very best in delivering goodness to benefit citizens at large, inclusive of those who opposed him.

The only worry, I have about the Aam Aadmi Party is -- how will they ensure the corrupt people from creeping in to their system?  As long as they are a Delhi-based manageable party, they would be fine, but if they go national, do they have the time to place safeguards and checks and balances in place?

In a press conference in December 2001, General Pervaz Musharraf gave me 6-7 minutes' time in the midst of huge media crowd in Washington DC. My major question to him besides Cricket Diplomacy was -- have you got a  "what-if plan"; should you not be there, do you have institutions built up to carry the democracy forward? His answer was typical Desi -- Oh, yes, don't worry, we have figured it out everything. 

I will ask the same question to Arvind Kejriwal, what if you fall sick or die in an accident, is your system in place to move forward on its own? Do you have enough people deeply oriented with your ideals to carry the mantle? A sustainable government should be based on a system and not individuals.

My recommendation for Kejriwal is to remain in Delhi and prove that his system works, and resist the temptation to expand to other parts of the country and not dilute his mission.

IBN network has bestowed the Indian of the year award to Arvind Kejriwal, a well-deserved award. Congratulations Mr. Kejriwal! The following 6 minutes' video on YouTube is worth watching to understand a genuine democracy -- of the people by the people for the people with apologies to those who do not understand Hindi/Urdu.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQTZCG48cwo

Disclosure: I am a moderate Republican who supports Obama for his inclusive policies that benefit the society at large, and a supporter of Indian National Congress for their inclusive governance.

http://www.MikeGhouse.net

Mike Ghouse is committed to building a cohesive America and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day. He is a speaker, thinker, writer and a frequent guest on Hannity show and nationally syndicated Radio shows and Dallas TV, Radio and Print (more...)

                   

The views expressed in this article are the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of this website or its editors.

India: Narendra Modi's words sound hollow after the court verdict

 December 26, 2013. The district court in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, validated the recomendations of the special-investigation team and dismissed the charges against Mr. Narendra Modi's involvement in the Gujarat massacre in 2002.  He was the Chief Minister of the state then and is now. 

Immediately after the verdict, Mr. Modi tweeted, "Satyameva Jayate" -- that truth triumphs at the end.  The words sound hollow. 

Referring to the 2001 earthquake, he wrote on his blog, "Hundreds of lives were lost. Lakhs were rendered homeless. Entire livelihoods were destroyed. In such traumatic times of unimaginable suffering, I was given the responsibility to soothe and rebuild. And we had wholeheartedly plunged ourselves into the challenge at hand."

Of course the hardcore supporters will lap it up, but this should have happened as an initiative and not as a reaction.


Mr. Modi, did you not have the responsibility to soothe and restore the lives of the riot victims, at least with some heart if not wholeheartedly? If you had cared for them, the world would have been with you and you did not have to play these games.

However, you still have the time to show if you really have a pure heart that does not discriminate any one. Mr. Modi said, "I pray to God that no bitterness seeps into my heart". Please do the praischit (repentance);  prayers alone won't cut it, and they are merely words.

Should we buy the following statement: "However, it was from these very built-up emotions that I had appealed to the people of Gujarat on the day of the Godhra train burning itself, fervently urging for peace and restraint to ensure lives of innocents were not put at risk."

Should we buy this statement from Rahul Gandhi, your opponent, if he delivers this: "However, I was totally opposed to corruption in the UPA government, I was shaken to the core. 'Grief', 'Sadness', 'Misery', 'Pain', 'Anguish', 'Agony' with the way things are happening, I am here to change it and put India back on prosperity that reaches every Indian."


After twelve years and countless investigations and interviews, he comes up with this to build momentum and position himself as a good guy: "I was shaken to the core. 'Grief', 'Sadness', 'Misery', 'Pain', 'Anguish', 'Agony' - mere words could not capture the absolute emptiness one felt on witnessing such inhumanity." Really? It took twelve years for you to share that in an opportunistic time?

He continues, "On one side was the pain of the victims of the earthquake, and on the other the pain of the victims of the riots. In decisively confronting this great turmoil, I had to singlemindedly focus all the strength given to me by the almighty, on the task of peace, justice and rehabilitation; burying the pain and agony I was personally wracked with."

Mr. Modi, you still have the time to take action.  Here are the suggestions. 

1. Restore the lives of refugees uprooted in the riots; find them minimum housing and a path to earn a livelihood. Let them be accommodated amidst all others with caring attitudes.  In the long run we have to build desegregated societies for the good of all.

2. Inclusive governance, to include Muslims on the internal advisory of the Chief Minister to make security decisions on a voluntary basis with nothing to gain. 

3. Justice to the families of the ones who have lost their lives, both Hindu and Muslim without discrimination.

4. Find the truth about burning of 59 passengers in the train in the most transparent way -- to bring closure to doubts on both sides or acknowledge the findings and live with it.

5. Punishment for anti-Muslim and anti-Christian attitudes in the state machinery, just like the strong anti-corruption rules instituted by the Chief Minister.

6. Meet with local Muslim, Dalit, Sikh, and Christian leadership on a regular basis, not to appease them, but to hear them out and prevent injustice to them.

7. Earn the goodwill of the people affected by restoring their lives and seek forgiveness from them.

Remember, Muslims and other minorities are not looking for favors or handouts, but just fair treatment and an opportunity to be productive citizens.  If Mr. Modi can demonstrate that he is a good human being, and put in to practice the above seven points for the next five years, he would earn the goodwill of the people and could hope to be the Prime Minister of India for several terms. 


Jai Hind


OpEd News: Narendra Modi's Nakshatra's are not in his favor  
http://www.opednews.com/articles/Narendra-Modi-s-Nakshatras-by-Mike-Ghouse-Anti-christian_Bharatiya-Janata-Party_Business_Congress-131227-999.html

Huffington post - India's future, Narendra Modi and moving forward.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mike-ghouse/indias-future-narendra-mo_b_4177079.html

Modi's letter after the lower court's decision
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/allaboutnarendramodi/was-shaken-to-the-core-by-2002-gujarat-riot-narendra-modi/article1-1166877.aspx

Mike Ghouse is a speaker, thinker and a writer on pluralism, and committed to building cohesive societies and offers pluralistic solutions. 

http://www.MikeGhouse.net

Mike Ghouse is committed to building a cohesive America and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day. He is a speaker, thinker, writer and a frequent guest on Hannity show and nationally syndicated Radio shows and Dallas TV, Radio and Print (more...)

                   

The views expressed in this article are the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of this website or its editors.

Narendra Modi's Nakshatras are not in his favor, he needs to save the embarrassment.

http://www.opednews.com/articles/Narendra-Modi-s-Nakshatras-by-Mike-Ghouse-Anti-christian_Bharatiya-Janata-Party_Business_Congress-131227-999.html

Narendra Modi's Nakshatras (stars) are not in his favor, and the Grahan (eclipse) is hovering over him like a dark shadow casting its Rahu Kala (inauspicious times). His run for the Prime Ministership is ashubh (unlucky) for the 2014 elections. We recommend him to withdraw from the race, finish the current term as the Chief Minister of the state and lay a solid foundation for the next run.

Narendra Modi
(image by www.NarendraModi.com )

If he has ambitions to become the Prime Minister of India, then he and his supporters need to go back to the drawing board and begin planning for the next election cycle.   

Even though huge crowds are showing up at his rallies for his oratorical skills, it will not likely to translate into votes. Modi represents a small percentage of Indians who have everything to gain from the business deals including the short-sighted industrialists, but ultimately all the gains will be lost if the cohesive structure of the society remains busted.

What good is the prosperity when fellow Gujaratis live in apprehension and fear of the other?   What good was the prosperity of Germany when everything collapsed anyway?   Like Modi; they focused on growth rather than the social structre.

A handful of Hindus may rejoice killing Muslims, and similarly a few Muslims may cherish killing Hindus, shame on them. Unchecked, these act will do more harm to the fabric of society in the long haul than the economy.   Do Indians have to live in fear of the other; is that the India we want? There is a dire need for truth and reconciliation in India. Modi has not done what it takes for the head of a state to do; to give hope and a sense of justice to the people of Gujarat.    

Modi's followers in the US have poured in millions of dollars to buy favors from the men and women on Capitol Hill and the Senate -- it's all down the drain now.   Being ethical is critical to these representatives and the influential Republicans like Pete Sessions, Cathy McMorris Rodgers and others have quickly distanced themselves from the Indians who abused their name and their seal. They gave a false impression that the Republican conference was a sponsor of the event where Modi was going to speak via Satellite.   It is wrong to believe that they can fool these representatives; instead, they will make a fool out of these Indians and collect all the needed funds for their campaign, but will not fall into the trap of questionable ethics, and that is what keeps American going.

If these guys spend money on building a better India than tearing it up, they will do some good. What does "building a better India" mean? It's building a cohesive India, where no Indian has to live in apprehension or fear of the other. The great idea of Vasudhaiva Kutumbukum has been torn into pieces by the BJP to treat Non-Hindu Indians as lesser Indians than themselves, this not only goes against the constitution but the very essence of Hinduism that they purportedly claim to represent exclusively.   Swami Vivekananda appreciated the idea of equality taught in Islam, and I wish he had propagated the wisdom of Vasudhaiva Kutumbukum; i.e., that the whole humanity is one family and therefore all must be treated equally with dignity.

The US Congress has introduced a bipartisan resolution (H.R  417 ) calling on the US government to continue to deny the visa to BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate on the grounds of religious freedom.   Even if Modi were elected, which is seriously doubted with the looming Nakshatras of mistakes, it would be an embarrassment to India. The United States Government will continue to deny the visa; his moral wrongs outweigh his business success. He cannot count on the Jewish or Israeli support either, when the time comes, they will remember Modi as an admirer of Hitler, the killer of 6 Million Jews.

Modi's speeches have become a fodder for the nightly comedy shows. He has made gross mistakes on Indian history, geography and even got mixed up about the key personalities of his own party. Modi banned a movie called Fanaa from being shown in his state because the Bollywood actor had disagreed with him on a political issue. How safe would freedom be under his governance?
 
With or without Modi, India will march forward as it has been for thousands of years, and will continue till eternity. Narendra Modi needs to demonstrate leadership and sincerely subscribe to the value of Vasudhaiva Kutumbukum and treat every Gujarati as a part of the whole family, if one is hurt, everyone is hurt and must be cared for.

The BJP on the other hand needs to honor the freedom of every Indian, the freedom to drink, eat, wear and believe whatever one wants to believe. Whether you are a Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Christian, Jain or Buddhist, you should have the right to eat beef, goat, camel, pig, lamb, fish or vegetables, and that should be entirely your choice and not government's imposition.  

If my kids are hungry, I would rather convert to a religious group that offers food to my kids, and I should have the freedom to convert to any religion that offers me the money to take care of my needs. What's wrong with that? Politicians change their loyalties for power in India every day.  If I go out for lunch or dinner with female friends on Valentine's Day, what is your problem, what difference does that make in your life? My Indianness does not change a bit with my belief, and what I eat or wear. Modi needs to believe and speak up when one's freedom is violated.
He has five more years to change and practice goodness. He needs to finish his term serving Gujarat and earn the respect from every Indian. I suggest he withdraw his candidacy and save himself and his supporters from an avalanche of embarrassment.

A few Indian Americans need to understand freedom and become the peace Ambassadors to India. Instead of funding bigotry; they need to promote religious freedom that they cherish here in America but want to deny it to others in India.

Here is a proposal for Modi

1. Restore the lives of refugees uprooted in the riots, find them minimum housing and a path to earn a livelihood. Let them be accommodated amidst all others with caring attitudes, in the long run we have to build de-segregated societies for the good of all.
2. Inclusive governance, to include Muslims on the internal advisory of the Chief Minister to make security decisions on a voluntary basis with nothing to gain.  
3. Justice to the families of the ones who have lost their lives, both Hindu and Muslim without discrimination.
4. Find the truth about burning of 59 passengers in the train in the most transparent way - to bring closure to doubts on both sides or acknowledge the findings and live with it.
5. Punishment for anti-Muslim and anti-Christian attitudes in the state machinery, just like the strong anti-corruption rules instituted by the Chief Minister.
6. Meet with local Muslim, Dalit, Sikh, and Christian leadership on a regular basis, not to appease them, but to hear them out and prevent injustice to them.
7. Earn the goodwill of the people affected by restoring their lives and seeking forgiveness from them.
Remember, Muslims and other minorities are not looking for favors or handouts, but just fair treatment, and an opportunity to be productive citizens.   If Mr. Modi can demonstrate that he is a good human being, and put in to practice the above seven points for the next five years, he would earn the goodwill of the people and could hope to be the Prime Minister of India for several terms.
Jai Hind

Mike Ghouse is a speaker , thinker and a writer on pluralism , politics , peace, Islam , Israel ,India , interfaith , and cohesion at work place. He is committed to building a Cohesive Americaand offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day at www.TheGhousediary.com .  

http://www.MikeGhouse.net

Mike Ghouse is committed to building a cohesive America and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day. He is a speaker, thinker, writer and a frequent guest on Hannity show and nationally syndicated Radio shows and Dallas TV, Radio and Print (more...)

                   

The views expressed in this article are the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of this website or its editors.

Same Sex marriage criminalized by Supreme Court of India, it is an UN-wise decision

Published at OpEd News:

The Supreme Court's decision on December 11, 2013 to uphold section 377 of the Indian Penal code that criminalizes same sex marriage is not wise, and needs to be challenged.  Is the judgment influenced by the undue belligerence from the right wing Hindu, Muslim and Christian leaders or is it in the spirit of the constitution?     
The hallmark of a civil society is respecting the otherness of others and accepting the God-given uniqueness of each member of the society. The Supreme Courts decision to uphold the archaic Victorian law from 19th century does not bode well for an India that has been woven with the pluralistic ethos for nearly five millenniums.

Martin Luther King Jr. was right, injustice to one is injustice to all, and I would add, prejudice to one will end up in prejudice for all.
It is incredible that Australia, another colony of the British Empire has made an identical decision, on the very same day to uphold the primitive prejudices towards homosexuality.

The basis for this judgment and the conflict stems from Section 377 of Indian Penal code enacted by the British Raj in 1861. It criminalizes sexual activities "against the order of nature", including homosexual acts. In July 2009, the Delhi State High Court rejected the archaic law as unconstitutional in respect to sex between consenting adults. On December 11, 2013, the Supreme Court of India overturned the Delhi High court ruling in a sexually graphic document .  However, the matter is left to the legislators (Members of Parliament) to repeal, uphold or modify. 
The Legislators simply cannot wipe out India's heritage found in Kama sutra depictions of Gay and Lesbian acts on the friezes of Temples in Khajuraho and elsewhere. Its part of Indian history and part of the culture. 

Sexual postures Khajuraho Temple Carving
(image by www.environmentalgraffiti.com)

Sexual postures Khajuraho Temple Carving
(image by www.environmentalgraffiti.com)

Picture coutesy - Khajuraho Temples

The Politicians are vying to fortify their strongholds. This will play a major role in the upcoming Indian elections

Indian Politicians speaking up
(image by www.timesofIndia.com )

picture courtesy: Times of India

The Bharatiya Janata Party (comparable to GOP) will stick with the Supreme Court's decision to woo the right wing vote. An unusual combination of right wing Hindus, Muslim and Christians have taken a stand against same sex marriage, they want to keep the section 377 intact. 

Baba Ramdev is one of the most watched Yoga Gurus on Indian Television, and has endorsed the BJP's Prime Ministerial Candidate Narendra Modi. Even if Modi wants to do the right thing, he is stuck with a fixed-up position by Baba Ramdev who is anti-Gay.

Being a shrewd business man, Ramdev is offering his Ashram to " cure the curse of homosexuality " just as Marcus Bachman's (Michelle Bachman's husband) had floated his clinic.


Rahul Gandhi, also the virtual Prime Ministerial candidate from the Congress Party (the likes of Democratic Party) has jumped right in to the fray in defense of the rights of Gay and Lesbian community. Not sure if this is a political move or if he genuinely believes in individual liberty and freedom, but glad to see someone carrying the torch of freedom. 

One of the roles of Government is to protect the society at large from crimes of robbing, stealing, lying, rape, incest, child abuse, women abuse, murders, or breaking contracts of marriage, business and not fulfilling the social and legal contracts. There is a punishment meted out for all such violations that affect the individuals emotionally and financially. .

One of the commonest items that surfaces regularly in these discussions is whether Homosexuality is nurtured or is it a part of human nature. Does it matter?

As long as two independent and sane individuals consent to be life partners, and it does not hurt one or the other physically, emotionally and psychologically, and it does not rob anything from any one, they must have the freedom to life, liberty and pursuit of their happiness.

The Government has no business in passing moral judgments on the personal acts between two consenting adults. If the Christians, Hindus, Muslims and others believe that it is immoral and punishable, then they should leave to that to God. Let the issue be  between them and God and not the business of religious police, when there is no harm done to any members of the society, there is no crime committed.

Whether one believes in a single God, multiple Gods or no God, it is one's personal faith, and that is strictly between the individual and God and not the civil society. 

The right wing Christian and Muslim clergy justifies the Sodom and Gomorra story and start acting and judging others, as if they are God or God's appointed Sheriffs. Indeed, the story does fan the prejudices against fellow beings. Per the scriptures, God did punish a group of people for their lewdness and the right to punish is the prerogative of God not  humans. Religiously, God has not given the right to take one's own life or others.

These men deliberately ignore the key commandments of God which requires them to be human, and to be God like; just and merciful above all else.

Every religious or social group has fought against oppression from others, and to defend themselves they needed men (at that time), and the only way to ensure the supply is to instill fear of God to keep the men from becoming gay (as if it is the truth).  The argument is based on fear that if all of us become gay, we would not have next generation to defend us. What a poor reasoning to deny other people their God-given right?

Everything God has created is diverse and intentional. We are all part of the greater system that includes the entire range of GLBT and straight men and women, this is indeed the God formula.

The world's most beautiful lesbian woman does not feel any attraction for the world's handsomest man on the earth, and vice-versa, instead they feel the attraction in the person of same sex.  Who are we to dictate who one likes, or who falls in love with whom?  One is not gay because it is fashionable; one is gay because that is how one is inclined.

Let go of ignorance, let us learn to respect the otherness of others and accept who each of us. By giving respect to homosexuals, you are not going to open a flood gate for the world to become gay, others are not going to become gay for the heck of it. It is a very difficult decision for them not to be gay, just as it is difficult for the straight guys to be gays or straight girls to be lesbians.  Let us all have the freedom to live as freely as we can. Let's be truthful to ourselves,  and let others be truthful to themselves.
Mary Ann Thompson-Frenk, co-founder and president of Memnosyne Foundation beefs up the need to build a cohesive society with this statement, " (Let's) pray for the day we will be judged not by our skin color, gender, what gender we choose to make love to, or how we praise God, but by our integrity and contribution to our fellow man."  Amen to that.

In a democracy everyone has a right to believe and express what he or she believes freely. We need to respect the freedom we have, and do everything to respect others freedom. Our freedom is meaningless and disgustingly selfish, if we don't defend and care for others freedom. In the long term, freedom is good, and all of us would be better off if we stand up for the rights of others.

Mike Ghouse is a speaker, thinker and an author of the upcoming book. Standing up for others, if you don't stand up for others, why should any one stand up for you.

http://www.MikeGhouse.net

Mike Ghouse is committed to building a cohesive America and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day. He is a speaker, thinker, writer and a frequent guest on Hannity show and nationally syndicated Radio shows and Dallas TV, Radio and Print (more...)

                   

The views expressed in this article are the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of this website or its editors.

Arvind Kejriwal; redefining Government of the people for the people by the people.

URL- http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2013/12/arvind-kejriwal-redefining-government.html

 

He has a bold message for Indian National Congress; inclusiveness without pragati will not cut it, and the message to the other extremity Narendra Modi, unnati without inclusiveness is not sustainable either.  

 

When there is a lack of leadership, or leaders have no idea how to proceed, Arvind Kejriwal, the leader of the new Aam Aadmi Party has found the way, and he is just doing the right thing, asking the very people who elected him!  Indeed, Mr. Kejriwal is redefining what Government of the people means.

 

The only worry, I have about the Aam Aadmi Party is – how will they ensure the corrupt people from creeping in to their system?  As long as they are a Delhi based manageable party, they would be fine, but if they go national, do they have the time to place safeguards and checks and balances in place?

 

It does worry me, in a press conference in December 2001, General Pervaz Musharraf gave me 6-7 minutes in the midst of huge media crowd in Washington DC. My major question to him besides Cricket Diplomacy was – have you got a “what if plan”, should you not be there, do you have institutions built up to carry the democracy forward? His answer was typical Desi – Oh, yes, don’t worry, we have figured it out everything.

 

I wish our damned politicians, particularly my fellow Republicans learn the lesson - to reflect the needs to the public rather than what they want. Arivind Kejriwal has redefined and clarified what it means to be Government of the People by the people for the people.

 

I will ask the same question to Arvind Kejriwal, what if you fell sick or become dear to God in an accident, is your system established to move forward on its own? Do you have enough people deeply oriented with your ideals to carry the mantle? A sustainable government should be based on a system and not individuals.

 

My recommendation for Kejriwal is to establish the party in Delhi, be a part of the opposition or form the governance if the Delhi voters say yes, but don't expand to other parts of the country yet, as you are likely to fall like all others.

 

IBN network has bestwoed the Indian of the year award to Arvind Kejriwal, a well-deserved award. Congratulations Mr. Kejriwal! The following  6 minutes video on YouTube is worth watching to understand a genuine democracy – of the people by the people for the people

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQTZCG48cwo

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Mike Ghouse is a speaker, thinker and a writer on pluralism, politics, peace, Islam, Israel, India, interfaith, and cohesion at work place. He is committed to building a Cohesive America and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day at www.TheGhousediary.com. He believes in Standing up for others and a book with the same title is coming up. Mike has a strong presence on national and local TV, Radio and Print Media. He is a frequent guest onSean Hannity show on Fox TV, and a commentator on national radio networks, he contributes weekly to the Texas Faith Column at Dallas Morning News; fortnightly at Huffington post; and several other periodicals across the world. His personal site www.MikeGhouse.net indexes all his work through many links.
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