Mike Ghouse, speaking at Immigration rally in Dallas on May 1, 2010. "If you cannot stand up for the rights of others, why should any one stand up for you?"4 MINUTES VIDEO AT YOU TUBE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OrjU0KULv-Y
Good Afternoon, I am standing here today because a lady by the name Rosa Parks stood up for her rights and her right to be treated with dignity.
I am standing here today as an immigrant because some one gave up his life to bring civil rights to America and it was this singular act that caused all of us immigrants to be here in America to enrich our nation.
If you cannot stand up for the rights of others, why should any one stand up for you? It was an honor to be among 10 civil rights leaders of Dallas to lead the March.
We need – comprehensive Immigration Reforms
We need – strong border controls.
We have a moral responsibility to stand up for Justice and civil rights of others.
We are a nation of justice,
We are born to be just,
We are conditioned to be just,
We have to guard ourselves to be just, and
We cannot not stray away from justice.
We have to bring a balance in our own life by giving our time to defend the rights of others, who need to be defended, and who cannot speak for themselves.
Dr. King lifted us from the burden of guilt that would have eaten and rotted the psyche of our nation. And as Americans, we need to protect future generation from such guilt complexes.
As Americans we have taken bold steps to protect the human rights of people around the world and have sacrificed millions of our men and women, and poured billions of dollars to protect the rights of othersIt is time we do protect the rights of our own fellow residents.
Make no mistake about it, we must have strong border control and border enforcement, but must act and work on the Comprehensive Immigration reform.
Let’s pray
- Dear God, we are gathered here to seek your guidance; help us do the right thing. Say AMEN
- Help us open our hearts and minds to fellow beings; Say AMEN
- Give us the humility to respect your creation Say AMEN,
- Help us embrace each one of the 7 billion of us without any distinction; Say AMEN
- We need stand up for the rights of others, to build an America, to build one nation with liberty and justice for all. Say AMEN
Link: http://mikeghouseforamerica.blogspot.com/2010/05/ghouse-speaks-at-dallas-mega-march-2010.html
Your Comments:
Mike Ghouse is a frequent guest at the media offering pluralistic solutions to issues of the day. He is a thinker, writer, speaker, optimist and an activist of Pluralism, Interfaith, Co-existence, Peace, Islam, India and Civil Societies. His work is reflected at 3 websites & 22 Blogs listed at http://www.mikeghouse.net/
Anon: Lest you forget, your papa Columbus and the likes of him, were illegal migrants who bequeathed the right of legal citizenship to you. Mike Ghouse is as much a citizen of USA as was Rosa Park and has every right to speak for a noble cause as she did.
ReplyDeletePlease listen. He has spoken noble words for a noble cause for which the deprived cannot speak for themselves. May be, there is some good left in you and you may hearken. God Bless and best of luck: Sher Suleman
I was not able to hear any of the speeches at the plaza because of the crowd. But I enjoyed being there and seeing the great show of solidarity with all the participants. I especially loved seeing all the young kids. They participated in an historic event. Maybe someday they will realize how important it was. I marched next to a young girl who was maybe 10 years old, chanting very strongly in her young voice. She is going to have an interesting future. I was pleased to see that the opponents were small in number. I informed a small group of protesters that I taught their children in public schools and hoped that they passed their TAKS tests. Maybe it gave them something to think about. Some day they will have a change of heart.
ReplyDeleteThanks for being there yesterday. Wish I could have heard and seen the speakers, but the crowd was so big it took time for me to work my way to the stage area. It was a great event.
ReplyDeleteAbolish War
Bring our Troops Home Now
IMPEACH BUSH
Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteYAA
mike
ReplyDeleteyou are a total KOOK
Salam Mike,
ReplyDeleteI think you should send a letter to our president Obama to stop the illegal invasion of Arizona, and to stop the traffickers of drugs from killing in Arizona. If the Feds will do that then there will be no need for the new Arizona law.
Yusuf
The 1846 treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo that ended the Mexican-American war explicitly spelled out the rights of Mexicans to move freely - back and forth - between areas of Mexico ceded to the US (California, Arizona, New Mexico, parts of Utah, parts of Colorado and about half of Texas - the other half was taken away in 1835) and what was left of Mexico! That treaty was unilaterally abrogated by the US and that led to the raids of Pancho Villa and subsequent 'pacification' of Mexico by Woodrow Wilson during the second decade of the 20th century. I guess nobody wants to talk about that!
ReplyDeleteInayat Lalani
The 1846 treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo that ended the Mexican-American war explicitly spelled out the rights of Mexicans to move freely - back and forth - between areas of Mexico ceded to the US (California, Arizona, New Mexico, parts of Utah, parts of Colorado and about half of Texas - the other half was taken away in 1835) and what was left of Mexico! That treaty was unilaterally abrogated by the US and that led to the raids of Pancho Villa and subsequent 'pacification' of Mexico by Woodrow Wilson during the second decade of the 20th century. I guess nobody wants to talk about that!
ReplyDeleteInayat Lalani
Inayat, I guess that is not the issue now, although it needs to be talked about. Thanks for sharing this rare piece of information.
ReplyDeleteSalam Al. to you all,
ReplyDeleteYusuf brings up a good point….we as Muslims need to think carefully on this issue.
Like a lot of things in America today, I wonder how thoroughly informed all parties are before they start reacting. Have all the protesters read the bill, or have they heard what Linda Ronstadt had to say? (She wasn't even that good a singer folks, come on!) From what I've seen and heard so far, the bill is simply enforcing laws that already exist. It is not unlike our bloated, inefficient and incompetant Federal Government to pass laws that make voters feel good, make politicians look good, just to keep and grasp more and more power…and they do very little about enforcing those laws. Arizona had had enough and was just trying to do what the Federal government could not, or would not do.
Immigration needs to be made more simple and less burdensome. Kudos should be given to those like my wife who went through the process legally. Relying on the Federal Government to do this, once again, could be a major headache. They really don't want to simplify anything, let alone immigration procedures, because being bloated and inefficient justifies their sticking around and keeping their ridiculous jobs.
Instead of bad mouthing  conservatives and immediately playing the race-and-bigot cards, this administration and party in power would better serve us all if they immediately fire back (with as many sound bites as possible) any Latin American president, prime minister, premier, generalissmo or in Hugo Chavez's case, despot who criticizes the USA particularly on this issue. If their countries weren't so screwed up to begin with, we would not have this problem. Their citizens want to come here because they don't have a chance in their own countries.
My family has been in this country since 1630.  To those citizens of Mexico and points south who want to come here, I would like to mention something no one on the right or left seems to bring up but it is important.  I am sure they can state many reasons why they want to risk their lives by coming to the USA to work, live, fulfill their dreams. They may be so desperate they are willing to break our laws.  The reasons they may give:  Freedom, the ability to work and earn enough to support their family, the dream of starting their own business, owning their own home and land, to be their best….. etc……..ALL  of those reasons are rooted in:  The Rule of Law.
They are making a choice to come to a society rooted in Magna Carta, Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution. They are choosing to leave societies rooted in the Spanish Inquisition,  and Rule of Hugo/Fidel or whomever it happens to be this week. I would ask those immigrants, legal or not, from south of our border or wherever in the world, to realize the crucial importants of Rule of Law,  and not to automatically brand anyone who respects the Rule of Law as being a  bigot. If we are to become a society that changes the rules willy-nilly to suit whatever cause happens to feel good at the moment, we're doomed. Arizona's law, again, is being touted as  enforcement of existing law.
Legit immigrants are important because they perpetuate the American spirit. If we cut off all immigration we'd become a nation of mealy mouthed crybabies living by whatever the Government deems fit.  No real conservative is advocating and end to immigration because real conservatives also advocate a curtailing of the welfare state. Check your history: Rome, The Islamic Empire, Pax Brittania….A civilization that sticks to it's laws will continue to prosper…when it starts ignoring them or changing them with abandon, it's doomed.
Wassalam,
W B Cornell
Br. Mike Ghouse
ReplyDeleteIt was very good event. You did a good job. Congratulations. I am proud of your participation.
Suleman
Brother Suleman,
ReplyDeleteI am sure you are aware of this, the Latinos do not use the word "Moslem", they use the word "Musalmaan". That is how I was introduced. Even when I was in Mexico with the Maya people, they were addressing me as "Musalmaan".
The audience responded exceedingly well knowing that there were Muslims with them along with every one, I was overwhelmed with the applause.
Then several clergy men, as I get my hand on their speeches I will add - they all talked about inclusiveness, and every one of them mentioned including Muslims. The other pastors came and appreciated as well for being there with them. The Latinos were appreciative.
We have to stand up for every one, that's the Kind of Muslim I want to be recognized as, rather than by costumes.
I have always appreciated your support and appreciation.
Thanks
Mike
Congratulations Mike Ghouse Saheb
ReplyDeleteDr. M.K.Sherwani
Let all world citizen be in peace,everywhere and anywhere on Earth and let not the arrogant rethink about his/her arrogance as Pharaoh is an example for us of man, eternally condemned.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations, Mike! A very powerful speech!
ReplyDeleteMike, I'll see you there! as we stand together for humanity in a kaleidoscope
ReplyDeletethis makes us better creatures, yes sir. other wise all of us are in a food-web.
ReplyDeleteBrij Mohan Sharma from here.. I do join you for the noble cause. my heart and my soul walks for this movement.. for this solidarity.. for love and justice and equality and liberty and respect for faith of all. USA is a great country and it should be always a reference standard to other nations.. we human beings.. we friends here also must be a reference standard for others for respecting human dignity and ensuring equal human rights for all. My love and regards to all of you. from here.. me.
ReplyDeleteThank you Mike we appreciate your kind words and your support
ReplyDeleteGood job, Mike,
ReplyDeleteI watched the video and it is the first time I got a good look at you and heard you. I think it is still an uphill battle trying to overcome notions of class ... not to say prejudices in America. I personally believe that Barack Obama is getting so much opposition and dissatisfaction not because of his presidential behavior or effectiveness, but because of the undertow of racism that still exists in the USA.
Asians and Indians in particular face the same tensions. More power to you!
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteDear Mr. Mike Ghouse:
ReplyDelete"We need strong border controls" sentence, perhaps inserted to be politically correct, mars your otherwise perfect speech.
In a globalised world to talk of oppressive border controls is an aberration. This amounts to saying, now that me and mine are safe, others should be controlled. Not done. I would talk of free borders at the Rosa rally.
Like I have repeatedly said that between SAARC countries there should be free movement, like between India, Nepal and Bhutan. Kashmir problem will be solved automatically, terrorism will be a thing of the past, there will be better development of the region and American arms mafia will have less business. One decision, so many benefits.
Next time do not be politically correct. Speak fearlessly. Don't ask for limited freedom, ask for full freedom. Like Gandhi, Nehru and
Congress Party were asking for dominion status for India in 1940s. The young revolutionaries like Bhagat Singh and others on the other
hand demanded full freedom. Rest is history.
Regards, Dr. Leo Rebello
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Secular Alliance for Harmony among Youths of Grassroot :S.A.H.A.Y.O.G. !
An effort to Bridge Gap among Socio-Economic-Cultural Divides;
For Sust ainable Energy ,we need Alternate Politics to strengthen Marketing Forces of Alternate Technology to change the Modes of Development.
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Countering Regional Imbalances by Sustainable Management of Native Resources of Global Economy !
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Dear All,
It's a fact, humanbeing's evolution is a long journey ,evolving senses out of beasts that had ruled for a long time on earth,with all killing instincts competently as survival of the fittest......But humanbeings also evolved using senses as raising concerns over philanthropic values based on respective civilizations....creating their own market,political needs of expressions-wisdom of religion is a healthy effort to bridge gap among potential individuals of civilizations lesser aware of each other ...........to form faith and respect to build peace and hormony among pluralist world order.....
But raising concerns are on regional imbalances considering distribution of wealth and raising economic divides .......turning to be violent expressions of discriminations caste /region /Nation/Religion.Be in Touch !
Wish to Proceed with Consensus...........
Regards,
Ashok Sahyog#09968195027
(S.A.H.Y.O.G : Secular Alliance for Harmony among Youths of Grassroot,India
E-Mail:ashok_so@rediffmail.com)
The question of race rises when people forget that most if of the population of Western countries are desendents of immigrants who did conquer and invade countries with just the indegenious people. It seems people are now suggesting that some historically established immigrants have more rights over new immigrants just because the former are caucasian and the latter are black, Arab, Asian and Latino.
ReplyDeleteStop invading other countries with your military then you won't have to deal with the consequences when people whose homes you bombed want to come to your country for economic/asylum!
When Muslims start respecting Jews and Christians, I will start respecting Muslims. Until then, they should shut up about the rights of others.
ReplyDeleteRead The Obama Timeline to learn how we got into this predicament.