Extinguishing HoaxesDallas, Friday, April 20, 2007
This morning I scrambled for information about the deceitful propaganda listed below
Mahatma Gandhi, Einstein, Dr. Martin Luther King, Desmond Tutu and several great leaders have expressed their wisdom on creating a just society. Their concern was not what bad people did, rather it was, what the good people did not do. I believe much of the evil in the world exists because of our silence.
When we watch the television, and if some one is portrayed wrongly on it, our integrity ought to come alive, and at least make us state that it is wrong, and share it with the loved ones and others . Doing the right thing gives relief on one's mind. What if the wrong portrayal suits our own biases? Should we let that ride? Are we honest with our own self? How can we expect others to be?
It is a shame that there are people out there who manufacture lies with evil intentions of doing harm to others. It is a greater shame that some people let that hoax ride out and do nothing about it.
Thanks to my Christian and Jewish friends, who made an effort to verify a wrong propaganda, and hope it stops with us. At least the readers of the Blog have the links to check it out.
It is our responsibility to tell the truth, at the end, every one is better off with it.
Here is one such this morning. I have removed their names and add back if they permit.
This morning, one of my Television anchor friends sent the following note with the piece she had received “
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In a message dated 4/20/2007 10:20:54 A.M. Central Standard Time, xxxx@xxx.com writes:
-- although I am now acting only in an anchor capacity and not handling the religion beat anymore for the station it's still my passion. I checked and it appears that "The Times, Online" does confirm this to be happening in the UK, following France and the EU -- I'm surprised there hasn't been more dialogue about this among interfaith scholars and clergy and why there isn't more of a movement to hold countries accountable to educating children about history; this isn't a debate, it's historical fact.”
In Memoriam
Recently this week, UK removed The Holocaust from its school curriculum because it "offended" the Moslem population which claims it never occurred.
This is a frightening portent of the fear that is gripping the world and how easily each country is giving into it.
It is now more than 60 years after the Second World War in Europe ended.
This e-mail is being sent as a memorial chain, in memory of the six million Jews, 20 million Russians, 10 million Christians and 1,900 Catholic priests who were murdered, massacred, raped, burned, starved and humiliated with the German and Russia peoples looking the other way!
Now, more than ever, with Iran, among others, claiming the Holocaust to be "a myth," it is imperative to make sure the world never forgets. This e-mail is intended to reach 40 million people worldwide!
Join us and be a link in the memorial chain and help us distribute it around the world.
Please send this e-mail to 10 people you know and ask them to continue the memorial chain.
Please don't just delete it. It will only take you a minute to pass this along - Thanks!
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My immediate response to her was as follows;
and as in crises, sought the help of three of my Jewish Friends
xxxxx,
I have always admired your commitment to bring the truth, and another point of view. Thanks for sharing this important news. It saddens me to see this happen, if it indeed has happened. Muslims not only commemorated Holocaust, but also have a perspective on it - check these links - Next year the Director of Holocaust Museum, the Jewish and Muslim Communities will be commemorating the Holocaust together, we will bring in other communities as well. Jay Gromley from KTVT did a full coverage of the event on Jan 26, 2006.
1. http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2007/04/yom-hashoah-yom-milaad.html
2. http://mikeghouseforamerica.blogspot.com/2007/04/yom-hashoah-remembrance.html
3. http://www.foundationforpluralism.com/Images_HolocaustDay/HMD2006_ProgramReport.asp
I still have to believe in this because there is mischief in it. France bans the scarf for Muslims, and they would not listen to Muslims to remove the holocaust from the curriculum. Let me know if it is the truth, this teaching is necessary for the world to continue to remember, never again.
Mike Ghouse
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Then my Jewish friend sends this response quickly, he is as committed to the truth and building bridges, as I am;
Fortunately this story is largely FALSE! (That did not keep Fox News from broadcasting a story about it or from failing to check it out, although I don't know if it was broadcast here.)
I received two version of the note which started this thread sometime last week. When I couldn't verify the first one I forwarded it to the major internet hoax sites for investigation, and to the Anti-Defamation League. The second version of the note included a link to a news article that may have been the source of the exaggeration, a UK internet "newspaper" that promotes inflammatory headlines. The hoax sites have all responded almost immediately and investigated, as has the ADL. Here are the links. The ADL response is the most succinct.
http://urbanlegends.about.com/od/historical/a/holocaust_chain.htm
http://www.snopes.com/politics/religion/holocaust.asp
http://www.truthorfiction.com/rumors/h/holocaust-uk.htm
http://www.adl.org/Internet_Rumors/UK_Holocaust_Education.htm
Thanks for being vigilant.
xxxxxx
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The other friend sends this email:
“You are correct in that some hoaxes get wide circulation. I just forwarded links to you that tell a different story. You are wise to be cautious.”
Xxxxx
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-----Original Message-----
From: MikeGhouse@aol.com [mailto:MikeGhouse@aol.com]
Sent: Friday, April 20, 2007 11:50 AM
To: xxxxxxxxxxxxxx, xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, xxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: FW: In Memoriam/
xxxxx,
Thanks for including me on the list... thanks God it was a hoax, and thanks xxxxxx for finding the information. You and I have a lot to work to repair the world. xxxxx, you too. Thank you again from my heart.
The Muslim community was scared and was in prayers when the VT happened... at least I was begging for that imaginary elusive God that let that be not a Muslim. I can't imagine the feast the Beck's, O’Reiley's and all those hate spreaders would have had, and the misery ordinary Muslims would have endured. We need neutralizers on the TV, and we need those who can check aggravations and bring sense. We the Americans just need the truth, we can handle the rest.
With love for every one God has created,
Mike Ghouse
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Oh, my God -- yes, thank God for that -- the world might not have recovered so easily from that although it will have difficulty enough understanding this poor young soul who didn't seem to know another way...
Xxxxxx
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On May 17, 2006, a resolution was passed in support of the Baha’i community in Iran, and released by 17 interfaith leaders in Dallas,
Resolution from Interfaith Leaders:
Whereas, Do unto others as you would have them do unto you is an ages-old principle of human relationships, held in common among many faith traditions. To exclude anyone from full acceptance as persons denies them the right you would require. - http://mikeghouse.sulekha.com/blog/post/2006/06/resolution-on-support-of-bahai-s-in-iran.htm
A week later on May 24th, another hoax emerged that the Iranian Government was coming with a plan to identify Zoroastrians and Jews by having them wear a bade in public as an identification of who they were. That turned out to be false. However the Foundation for Pluralism and the World Muslim Congress issued statement condemning the act of the Iranian Government and apologizing to the Bahai, Jews, Sufis and Zoroastrians- http://mikeghouse.sulekha.com/blog/post/2006/05/apolgoy-to-zoroastrians-bahai-sufis-and-jews.htm
Iran may force badges on Jews, Christians
TEHRAN, May 19 (UPI) -- Iran's parliament passed a new law this week that would force the country's Jews, Christians and other religious minorities to wear color-coded ID badges.
Xxx This turned out to be a hoax as well.
Messages at Foundationforpluralism@yahoogroups.com May 2006.
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