Religious institutions and assimilating immigrants

TEXAS FAITH: Religious institutions and assimilating immigrants Question posed by William McKenzie/ Editorial Columnist

Do religious organizations have a moral responsibility to help assimilate so many Latino families into American society, particularly those who are recent immigrants? If not, why not? If so, in what ways should churches help families assimilate? I am one of the ten individuals to have responded the question. It is a weekly colum that AI have been writing for a while now: http://religionblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2011/02/texas-faith-religious-institut.html

Here is my response:

MIKE GHOUSE, President, Foundation for Pluralism, Dallas

It's ironic that the key phrase of the topic "assimilation of Latinos" is derived from Latin word assimilatio; to make it similar, whereas the word integration implies accommodation of various strands in a larger society.

Each community, nation or a faith is like a beautiful bus; when you plan on going places, you check the air in tires to ensure a smooth, safe and a certain journey. Together as Americans, we need to ensure that every one is on par to ride the road of progress, if the pressure is inadequate; we need to fill the tire 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 on a level playing field and let them compete from that point forward; ignoring one tire or a community is an irresponsible thing for the bus journey.

Religion is an equilibriumizer of the society, it guides one from an utterly selfish "me, me and me" to "we, we and us" mode. It's an insurance coverage for one's susceptible moments of life against the invincible times.

One of the phobias gripping the American society with the increasing Latino population is the possible change in our life styles, the way we keep our neighborhoods, and our inability to communicate with "them". The stereotyping is the first thing to be rid of in a change for the better.

Integration of Latinos is one of the critical issues facing our nation and the churches have the power to inculcate the values of cohesive societies through a variety of programs including Language courses, course in understanding each other's cultures and family values.

# # #

Mike Ghouse is a thinker, writer, speaker, futurist and an activist of Pluralism, Interfaith, Co-existence, Peace, Islam and India. He is a frequent guest at the TV, radio and print media offering pluralistic solutions on issues of the day. His work is reflected at three websites and 21 Blogs listed at http://www.mikeghouse.net/

Valentine’s Day Special message of univesality

Valentine's day morphing into universal affection.

 

Throughout the history of language, words have taken on new and expanded meanings; Valentine's Day is no exception.

From an exclusive meaningful rendezvous between two lovers, the Valentine's Day will morph into an all inclusive romantic day. It will become a universal affection day within a decade.

Valentines Day is a universal expression of affection between two individuals.  Love has no bounds; it is between two people in love, husband and wife, mother and son, father daughter, brother sister, brothers, sisters, friends, uncles, aunties, Grand Pa and Grand Ma and any one you care about.

Please feel free to say happy valentine to your sister, mother, brother, daughter, dad, uncle or a friend. It is a much bigger word now than it started out to be. Take them out for dinner and send them flowers to let them know that you care if you are the only one for them at this point in life.

While we Americans express it by presenting Red Roses to our loved ones, the Filipinos will break another record; the number of people kissing at the same time, Brazil will have another major festival on her beaches celebrating love. You are welcome to share other such expressions.

On the other side of the world, a few frustrated ones with life go to the other end. The right wingers among orthodox Muslims, Hindus and perhaps Jews will start giving religious tones to it instead of going to their place of worship and seeking God's love. 

Sadly, some of you are going to feel lonely, if you miss the love in your life; you have an opportunity to fulfill it. There is plenty in you that you can give by feeding the homeless, visiting lonely patients in the hospitals or nursing homes, disadvantage women and children, our veterans… share whatever little you have with them… when a homeless person asks, give whatever you can,  that is the most affectionate thing to do, you will enrich yourselves far greater by sharing.

Whenever the word affection comes to mind, I picture my Dad and recall the way he called out my Mother’s name Khairun, it was romantic and filled with affection and I have always enjoyed the sound of it.

I’ve become conscious of my own voice when I am talking with my wife Yasmeen, it gets enriched with that affection. Indeed, the affection is like a rainbow and takes different colors, but it is the same when I address my daughter Jasmina, my niece Tamanna and my sister Dilshad, and now my voice is uploading itself with that affection for my new daughter Maheen; Yasmeen’s daughter. The same goes with my son Jeff and daughter-in-law Fern and my father like figures Everett Blauvelt and DD Maini. I feel the same special bond with my brothers and their families and friends Shariff and Adil. I have deep respect and affection for Mary Ann Thompson-Frenk, Rev. Bill Matthews, Dr. Harbans Lal, Len Ellis and Imam Zia Sheikh, though I don’t see them frequently, I feel their caring and their affection.

You may want to share your own experiences of romance and affection in the comments section below. It is a good feeling to express it.

Happy Valentine's Day

I dedicate these two songs for Yasmeen, my dear wife. It was our love for Urdu poetry that opened the doors for each other.

What a difference you made in my life: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Ni1WPGEZtg&feature=fvst

and, You decorated my life: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJkPFSt326c

and,  Ishk per zor nahin
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzyTc8qqDlQ

My expressions would be incomplete without honoring the poet of love, Mirza Ghalib, one of the greatest romantic poets of all time.

Ishk per zor nahin, hai a o aatish ghalib
Ke lagaye na lege, bujhaye no bujhe.

Affection is that flame O Ghalib,
you cannot initiate it or extinguish it at will, it just happens.

Kenny Rogers in his song above says there is no rhyme or reason that is what love is all about.  Mirza Ghalib is (was?) a Urdu/Hindi Poet of India, who has written poems on everywhich way one feels affection towards the other.
# # #

Mike Ghouse is a thinker, writer, speaker, futurist and an activist of Pluralism, Interfaith, Co-existence, Peace, Islam and India. He is a frequent guest at the TV, radio and print media offering pluralistic solutions on issues of the day. His work is reflected at three websites and 21 Blogs listed at http://www.mikeghouse.net/

Egypt: Freedom at last

The beautiful journey of the Egyptian People and their Celebrations - Pictures:

It's one of the most beautiful days of my life; seeing a people get their freedom though non-violence and peaceful means. Prophet Muhammad, Jesus Christ, Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King and folks like them must be smiling with approval.

TV CLIPS
CBS 11 - http://dfw.cbslocal.com/2011/02/11/egyptian-celebrations-planned-in-downtown-dallas-frisco/

Some of the joy-teary moments that I can recall are - release of Mandela, fall of the Berlin wall, Obama's election night, Aung San Su Kyii’s release and Freedom at last for the Egyptian people. I have written extensively on the last two events.

As an American I am proud of my President for telling the people that they have a friend in America, and that was the right thing to say; to support the people, and that is what democracy is all about.

I wanted to be with the Egyptian people in their joy. This is also a historic moment in the Muslim Arab World – breaking the cycle of violence and achieving the goals through peaceful means.  I have written a lot about it and will share the links below including my advice to President Obama.

I sincerely wish the Jewish people join the Egyptians, and they will earn tremendous good will, I wish the few hawks understand emotions and feeling of people rather than itch for chaos and scheme to jeopardize things. I like to see an uprising of the Jewish people to have their government represent the Jewish Values. It will happen and the Jewish people are tired of the right wingers among them, just as Muslims, Christians and Hindus are tired of their right wingers, who spend time dismantling rather than building. I invite them to join the peace movements and their support will take the battles out of the world.

I was on three Radio Stations today; the KBOO 90.7 FM in Portland and Sean Hannity Fox Radio and have no idea who they were, they called and I talked.

A friend called and said the Egyptians are celebrating at Fadi's Mediterranean Restaurant in Frisco; I drove right to it, talked with Abdulla the organizer a young fellow in his mid twenties. 

I was the only visible non- Egyptian look like in the Restaurant, all the TV cameras honed on me – Local Affiliates of ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, Telemundo… first interview was 4 microphones shoved in my face, then three more individual in each corner of the restaurant. There were more important things for them to report than my take, as they talked with a few Egptian women and I hope they show them, they had great things to say. Richard from Fox had done a few interviews of me in the past including the coverage of the Holocaust and Genocides event a few years back.

Invariably the asked why I was out there? Was I an Egyptian? The answer is simple I share their sentiments of jubilation and freedom, and the whole world is one family and certainly I feel that. I walked with nearly 5000 Mexicans and spoke to them at the rally down town, was in the rally in support of Gazans and stood up with Jews and GLBT against the hateful demonstration by Fred Phelps across the Holocaust Museum and the Synagogues. That is my sentiment, feeling part of the universal energy that we are all part of.

Any way, I have written way too much in the last week  and thank God, people won, Mubarak left, no blood shed took place and those whose life’s was a sacrifice in the process will be happy to know that their sacrifice was for the right purpose; freedom of the people.

I am glad to be a part of it.

The links my articles are at:

 http://mikeghouseforamerica.blogspot.com/2011/02/congratulations-to-egyptian-people.html

Mike Ghouse doing my share of building cohesive societies

http://www.mikeghouse.net/

Hannity, Ghouse and Schoen on Egypt

I will be Hannity with Doug Schoen, the democratic pollster. You can check the the listing for your radio at: http://www.hannity.com/stations 

Just finished the talk with Hannity and Doug Sheoen.
Doug is a right winger to the core and does not believe in dialogue to find solutions.
The right wing approach has never worked

You cannot push people to the choicelessness,

you can get away with your might,

but deep inside you are jeopadising the long term security.

 you have got to give them choices.

You cannot be mirror the terrorists.

Unless you dialouge, you are as bad as the terrorist

 

# # #

My appearance on Fox, talk on two Radio stations and write up in Dallas Morning News and several places:

Congratulations to the Eyptian People
http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2011/02/congratulations-to-egyptian-people.html

Advise to Obama, Dallas Morning News

http://mikeghouseforamerica.blogspot.com/2011/02/advise-to-obama-on-egypt.html

Israeli blunders
http://mikeghouseforamerica.blogspot.com/2011/02/israeli-blunders.html

Egypt: A positive change in the making
http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2011/02/egypt-positive-change-in-making.html

 Mubarak Hangs on
http://mikeghouseforamerica.blogspot.com/2011/02/mubarak-hangs-on.html

Radio with Hannity and Shoebet

http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2011/01/egypt-making-lemonade-out-of-lemon.html

Ghouse on Hannity show
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYHm2fafBu0

Horowitz frightens the Jews
http://mikeghouseforamerica.blogspot.com/2011/02/horowitz-frightens-jews.html

Mike Ghouse on KBOO Radio in Portland
http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2011/02/mike-ghouse-on-kboo-907-fm-portland.html

Mike Ghouse is a speaker, thinker and a writer. He runs the Foundation for Pluralism championing the idea of co-existence through respecting and accepting the otherness of other and is committed to nurturing the pluralistic ideals embedded in Islam through the World Muslim Congress.

Mike is available to speak on Pluralism, Islam, Civil Societies, and Peace & Justice at your place of worship, school, work place, seminars or conferences.  He is a media commentator offering pluralistic solutions on issues of the day. 

Mike's work is reflected at three websites & twenty two Blogs listed at http://www.MikeGhouse.net/

Congratulations to Egyptian People

May the aspirations of Egyptians for self governance come true, Amen! Thank God, Mubarak listened to the people and hopefully retains some dignity. It is good for him and good for Egyptians and it will be good for Israel and the region.

Israel need not worry, it is a people to people relationship and not between Netanyahu and Mubarak to die off. The right wingers in Israel need to re-think their overtures and focus on building bridges, their fears are legitimate but they need to shape the future through participation and not wishing and scheming.

United States should always side with the people, if not we will lose them all. We talk democracy and time to act democracy.  I know Obama will do the right thing and I have a five step advice for him.

Americans together was formed on 2010 Christmas day, honoring Jesus the Pluralist to build cohesive societies.

My appearance on Fox, talk on two Radio stations and write up in Dallas Morning News and several places:

Advise to Obama, Dallas Morning News

http://mikeghouseforamerica.blogspot.com/2011/02/advise-to-obama-on-egypt.html

Israeli blunders
http://mikeghouseforamerica.blogspot.com/2011/02/israeli-blunders.html

Egypt: A positive change in the making
http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2011/02/egypt-positive-change-in-making.html

Mubarak Hangs on
http://mikeghouseforamerica.blogspot.com/2011/02/mubarak-hangs-on.html

Radio with Hannity and Shoebet

http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2011/01/egypt-making-lemonade-out-of-lemon.html

Ghouse on Hannity show
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYHm2fafBu0

Horowitz frightens the Jews
http://mikeghouseforamerica.blogspot.com/2011/02/horowitz-frightens-jews.html

Mike Ghouse on KBOO Radio in Portland
http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2011/02/mike-ghouse-on-kboo-907-fm-portland.html'

Mike Ghouse is a speaker, thinker and a writer. He runs the Foundation for Pluralism championing the idea of co-existence through respecting and accepting the otherness of other and is committed to nurturing the pluralistic ideals embedded in Islam through the World Muslim Congress.

Mike is available to speak on Pluralism, Islam, Civil Societies, and Peace & Justice at your place of worship, school, work place, seminars or conferences.  He is a media commentator offering pluralistic solutions on issues of the day. 

Mike's work is reflected at three websites & twenty two Blogs listed at http://www.MikeGhouse.net/

My appearance on Fox, talk on two Radio stations and write up in Dallas Morning News and several places:

Mubarak Hangs on

http://mikeghouseforamerica.blogspot.com/2011/02/mubarak-hangs-on.html

Egypt: A positive change in the making
http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2011/02/egypt-positive-change-in-making.html

Advise to Obama, Dallas Morning News

http://mikeghouseforamerica.blogspot.com/2011/02/advise-to-obama-on-egypt.html

Radio with Hannity and Shoebet

http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2011/01/egypt-making-lemonade-out-of-lemon.html

Ghouse on Hannity show
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYHm2fafBu0

Horowitz frightens the Jews

http://mikeghouseforamerica.blogspot.com/2011/02/horowitz-frightens-jews.html

Israeli blunders

http://mikeghouseforamerica.blogspot.com/2011/02/israeli-blunders.html

Mike Ghouse on Radio KBOO 90.7 FM Portland

Friday February 11, 2011
9-10 AM on KBOO 90.7 FM

...Current events in the Middle East and North Africa have captured world attentions. Ben Ali and Husni Mubarak, the US's allies of 20-30 years in Tunisia and Egypt are under pressure to leave or have already submitted to the will of the people. What happens there has impact on other countries of the region. Please join me in talking with 3 scholars of the field:Dr. Sherifa Zuhur, Mike Ghouse and Dr. Peter Bechtold in discussing these issues live on KBOO.

Webcast at www.kboo.fm <http://www.kboo.fm/>
Previous shows on www.voicesofthemiddleeast.com <http://www.voicesofthemiddleeast.com/>

My appearance on Fox, talk on two Radio stations and write up in Dallas Morning News and several places:

Mubarak Hangs on

http://mikeghouseforamerica.blogspot.com/2011/02/mubarak-hangs-on.html

Egypt: A positive change in the making
http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2011/02/egypt-positive-change-in-making.html

Advise to Obama, Dallas Morning News

http://mikeghouseforamerica.blogspot.com/2011/02/advise-to-obama-on-egypt.html

Radio with Hannity and Shoebet

http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2011/01/egypt-making-lemonade-out-of-lemon.html

Ghouse on Hannity show
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYHm2fafBu0

Horowitz frightens the Jews

http://mikeghouseforamerica.blogspot.com/2011/02/horowitz-frightens-jews.html

Israeli blunders

http://mikeghouseforamerica.blogspot.com/2011/02/israeli-blunders.html

Mubarak Hangs on

MUBARAK HANGS ON:
Random notes written during twitting.

Mr. Mubarak, it makes sense for you to resign and earn the support and good will of the people, if you don’t, you will be running for your life and looking for asylum as Shah of Iran, Zeinal Abidin, Idi Amin and a host of fascist men have done.  

No doubt you have done a lot of good in the mix of good bad and ugly things of running the government, but if you want your legacy to continue, damn it, resign.

The Egyptian people will love you for that, if not, you will go down in the history as a tyrant. You will not take all your power and opulence into that hole, but if you do the right thing, you will have a state funeral and thousands of them will attend including the state heads from around the world.

This is the first time in the Middle East History that Muslims have chosen Non-violence as their weapon to bring self governance. It must be encouraged as it will bring about a world of changes in the future.

I am proud of the Egyptian people to have taken this approach and hope this will infect the Arab world, and I pray that the Palestinians go the non-violent protest and Israeli people join them.

Who was he referring to about Foreign Powers?
He said he will follow the will of the people, which people?

Has our intelligence been ever right?
Has any information by CIA been reliable

Israel needs to remember that the deal is between the people of Egypt and the people of Israel and not between Mubarak and Netanyahu, the will come and go but the good will is sustainable.

The right wingers among Jewish people have been pouncing on the Israelis who speak sense. They gang up and reduce their wisdom and label them as self-hating Jew. The right winger among Muslims mirrors the other right wingers. 

 
I do support Judaism, Jews and Israel, but not their brutal inhuman practices. I holy hope that the right wingers on all sides come together and start talking peace, looking at each others’ children and ask themselves, am I a rotten pig to destroy the hope of that child?

Unless there is justice for the Palestinians, the Israeli society will live with a messed up conscience, and it works in funny and aggressive way and compromises the long term security.

Just watched live Al-Jazeerah http://english.aljazeera.net/watch_now/

My appearance on Fox, talk on two Radio stations and write up in Dallas Morning News and several places:

Mubarak Hangs on

http://mikeghouseforamerica.blogspot.com/2011/02/mubarak-hangs-on.html

Egypt: A positive change in the making http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2011/02/egypt-positive-change-in-making.html

Advise to Obama, Dallas Morning News

http://mikeghouseforamerica.blogspot.com/2011/02/advise-to-obama-on-egypt.html

Radio with Hannity and Shoebet

http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2011/01/egypt-making-lemonade-out-of-lemon.html

Ghouse on Hannity show
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYHm2fafBu0

Horowitz frightens the Jews

http://mikeghouseforamerica.blogspot.com/2011/02/horowitz-frightens-jews.html

Israeli blunders

http://mikeghouseforamerica.blogspot.com/2011/02/israeli-blunders.html

My twitters :

@monaeltahawy - I just spoke with Aishah in

Tahrir Square

http://english.aljazeera.net/watch_now/
5 minutes ago Favorite Reply Delete »

@AriFleischer - Ari, has CIA every produced right information from Iran in 1979 to Egypt inow?

@ @maddow -Rachel, just spoke to Aishah at Tahrir , people dont trust him - http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2011/02/israeli-blunders.html

JUST TALKE TO EGYPT IN TAHRIR SQUARE, THEY DONT TRUST HIM http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2011/02/israeli-blunders.html

MUBARAK TO SULEMAN WAS LIKE BUSH TO CHENEY

ISRAEL NEEDS TO BE CAREFUL AND NOT RECKLESS http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2011/02/israeli-blunders.html

@NickKristof - That's exactly he meant by foriegn pressurues

MUBARAK - People don't trust him, he needs to go with dignity, if he has any sense at all.

MUBARAK - GO GRACEFULLY MAN, YOU WILL BE MADE TO RUN

 @mtawfeeqCNN it finished 16 seconds after your call

MUBARAK - We will sustain the will of the people - buddy, who is the people? and Whose will?

WATCHING MUBARAK - What does he mean by we will not yeild to foriegn pressures? Who does he mean?

@seanhannity Israel should avoid blunders http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2011/02/israeli-blunders.html

 @ElishaKrauss Israel should avoid blunders http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2011/02/israeli-blunders.html

AL JAZEERAH LIVE http://english.aljazeera.net/watch_now/

@seanhannity - sean I am keeping with two people in Egypt as well.

ISRAELI BLUNDERS http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2011/02/israeli-blunders.html

@thejakartapost - this piece for publication please. http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2011/02/muslims-condemn-murdering-ahmadiyya.html

Quraan conference in Louisville by Non-Mulism Panelists http://www.quraanconference.com/

OBAMA WILL COPY MY WORDS http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2011/02/obama-throws-me-off-compeletely.html

Horowitz frightens the Jews

There are men and women, who know how to make money in the name of Israel, Palestine and God among other things. The best product to sell is hate, there is money in it, I guarantee it.

There are frightened souls out there who happen to be rich and it is very easy to tap their wealth, poor suckers will fall to the fear mongering tactics and write big checks. All you have to do is frighten them and “act” as the defenders for them and see how quickly your bank account swells.

The test is simple – write an article or speak about the imminent and impending danger and then say, you are going to stand against them like a Rock. You can test it and see how many suckers will fall for it.

There are several websites and appeals out there, invariably asking for the money. If the cause is real, one should give the money.

But,

Do you want to give the money to those who create a bigger mess? Or those whose work to mitigate conflicts and nurture goodwill?

In case of Israel and Palestine, if you give the money, give it to those who find solutions and not aggravations. There is a Chinese saying, “if you want the enemy gone for good, make friend, if you kill, his son will wait to kill you when you are dozing off”. Mother Teresa said, if you want peace, go talk with your enemies, you don’t make peace with your friends.

The Brotherhood Organization has an ugly history and some of the members harbor hate towards the western powers and certainly towards some of the policies of Israel. Then there are the settlers who are going against the laws and taking over the land illegally to build their own. Both are shamelessly quoting Quraan and Torah to justify their actions, and we  are letting them do it.

The question is, do you want the Brotherhood to continue doing what is not right? Do you want the settlers continue doing what is not right?  Do you want to fund these groups to dig in their heels? Do you really believe peace will come by pushing them to the corner? Neither of them are law abiding and we should not fund those ideas that aggravate the situation.

I wish David Horowitz collected the monies to build bridges, I will send him the money, but if he is selling books, and collecting the money in the name of protecting Israel, he will to continue to drain you as the situation gets worse with requests for more monies.  Is that what you want?

Those who are endangering Israel are no friends of Israel, they care about money for themselves, and they are many out there milked or milking monies like Madoff. Let’s find a way without opening your check book or if you open, let it be productive and not messy. There are organization who are doing the right thing to bring security to Israel following the Chinese saying and Mother Teresa quoted earlier, give it to them, make it conditional that the money should mitigate conflicts and not aggravate.

I urge Mr. Horowitz to make the enemy gone for good, make friends with them, at least go talk with them and don't do the opposite; dig in their heels. It is not good for Israel.

Mike Ghouse for building cohesive societies

http://www.mikeghouse.net/

===================================
HERE IS PROFESSOR HOROWITZ'S APPEAL

Get ready for the Brotherhood!

The situation in Egypt remains chaotic, but the Obama White House -- while trying to cover its tracks with doublespeak -- has finally settled on a position: Hosni Mubarak, lynchpin of Mideast stability for the last 30 years, must be thrown under the bus on the Arab streets.

And if he is replaced by the Muslim Brotherhood--anti semitic, anti American godfather organization to Hamas and al Qaeda? So be it! The Brotherhood is just another leopard whose spots will be transformed by the President Obama's message of "change." In fact, all the President's men are telling the press, off the record of course, that Obama's 2009 Cairo speech -- chock full of apologies for U.S. misbehavior -- actually caused the potentially catastrophic changes now occuring in Egypt.

Do business with the Muslim Brotherhood? Boast about creating the situation in which this organization can come to power?

This is not foreign policy, it is madness! That's why I'm writing to ask for you help today. Will you follow this link right away to make an emergency contribution of $25, $50, $100, $250 or even $500 to the Freedom Center's campaign to tell the Truth About the Muslim Brotherhood? If you are able to give $50 or more today, I'll rush you a copy of Jamie Glazov's best-seller, United in Hate: The Left's Romance with Tyranny and Terror, which unveils the "Unholy Alliance" between the Radical Left and Radical Islam, and Robert Spencer's latest pamphlet "Obama and Islam," which illustrates the dangers present on President Obama's "outreach" to the Muslim world.

The Muslim Brotherhood is the source of jihad in the Middle East (and, for that matter, in the U.S. where the FBI has proven that it operates through the Muslim Student Association and other fronts). Its Palestinian branch, Hamas, is a terror organization whose charter calls for the annihilation of Israel. In fact, Osama bin Laden was a graduate of the Brotherhood and so was the mastermind of 9/11, Sheik Khalid Mohammed! So in suggesting that the Muslim Brotherhood can be a democratic partner in Egypt, the Obama White House -- so quiet when real democrats were being killed on the streets of Teheran in 2009 -- has outdone even the Carter administration's destabilization of the Shah of Iran in 1979 and its welcoming of the theocratic fascist Ayatollah Khomeini as a "saint."

In the current chaos of Egypt, the radical left and its radical Islamist allies see possibilities. This unholy alliance wants a takeover by the Muslim Brotherhood because this would be the most dangerous possible outcome for the U.S. and Israel. They want to persuade the American people that the Brotherhood is actually committed to "democracy," not hatred and violence. And even now, while pulling its punches with an eye toward attaining power with a hands-off assist from the Obama White House, this sinister organization admits that it will tear up the Egyptian-Israeli agreement of 1979, which means that Israel will be once again under the gun as it was in the first few years of its existence... and that a war engulfing the whole of the Middle East is once again on the table.

We can't allow this to happen! That's why I'm urgently asking you to make a contribution of $50 or more to support the Freedom Center's efforts to alert every American to the gravity of the situation in Egypt.

The Freedom Center cannot determine how the present chaos in Egypt will end. But exposing the big lies of the left is the core of our mission and we can educate America about what is at stake. That's why we need to get my book, Unholy Alliance, United in Hate, "Obama and Islam," and the other pamphlets we have produced on the radical Islamic jihad into as many hands as possible.

Will you help us today by following this link to make a donation of $50 or more to the Freedom Center's campaign to tell the Truth About the Muslim Brotherhood? Don't forget that we'll send you copies of both United in Hate and "Obama and Islam", as well.

We stand at a critical crossroads which has potentially catastrophic implications for the future of Israel and America itself. We need to act quickly to tell the Truth About the Muslim Brotherhood! I hope the Freedom Center can count on your support.

Sincerely,

Israeli blunders

What’s wrong with the Israeli politicians? Do they get it?

The Israeli leaders are jeopardizing the peace prospects, they are either dumb or they want to find an excuse to go to war again, like our right wingers in America, they are itching for wars and chaos. If they bring peace, they are not needed any more.

Pressuring the US to let Mubarak stay is down right stupid, it will antagonize the Egyptian Public that has not been anti-Israel so far. They should either shut up or welcome the people movement. The peace pact is between the people of Egypt and the people of Israel and not between Netanyahu and Mubarak, these dudes will be gone, but public policy sustains.

It is time for Israeli public to speak up, it is their future and their safety that is being put in harms way.

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/02/20112101545960427.html

The right thing for Israel in the long haul is to nurture goodwill and support the people's movement rather than alienating them. http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2011/02/obama-throws-me-off-compeletely.html

Why is Israel so blind? http://english.aljazeera.net/indepth/opinion/2011/02/201128131221271956.html

Mike Ghouse committed to building cohesive societies and offering pluralistic solutions on issues of the day.  http://www.mikeghouse.net/

Advise to Obama on Egypt

What throws me off completely is that every time I write about Obama, within a week he uses similar words in his speech. It's happened time and again. I feel certain that he will speak similar words within a day or two, I just want to register with you before it happens. The article is pasted below.

Ever since I read Obama's speech to the Illinois senate, I have followed him and have written over a dozen articles about him, despite being a Republican, I have voted for him and held two rallies in Carrollton in support of him. He is the right man to bring cohesiveness to America and influence the world with the ideas of inclusivism.

Oddly, unasked, I was considered for two positions with his admin, the last one was special envoy to the OIC. I was told that the state department and particularly Hilary Clinton reads my write ups, whether she does or not, I am thrilled to share the same with you.

This will appear in Dallas Morning News today;

The President must remain focused on aspirations of the people and facilitate a sustainable change with grace and dignity, rather than leaning on individuals. 

We must not forget that the basis of our relationship is between “the People of the United States,” and “the people of Egypt,” and not between Mubarak and Obama.

I would advise the President to have a five fold agenda to develop a sustainable outcome.

President Obama must boldly support the aspirations of the Egyptian people and laud them for breaking the cycle of violence.  We must admire them for giving life to one of the most civilized forms of a political change; non-violence. It is a new experience for the Arab world and due encouragement will pave the way for others with similar aspirations. 

To Mubarak, he could say, “Mr. President you have dutifully served the interests of your people by relinquishing them from wars, anxiety and disruption of their lives through the peace accord with Israel, and now I urge you to honor the wishes of people and earn their respect and live a dignified life as a proud civilian, it is good for you and your people in every imaginable way.”

The legitimate fears of Israel are to be addressed. While assuring our support, we need to ask them to trust the Egyptians and support their aspirations for self determination.

The less we alienate the people the better off we would be, and it would be wise to give room to the Brotherhood to re-align themselves with new realities of the region instead of pushing them to dig in their heels, a Hamas mistake we must not repeat.

The security of region hinges on partnerships rather than aggravations, whether it is the Israelis or the Egyptians, people in distress remember and stick with those who will stand by them.

President Obama is blessed with this Golden opportunity to become a catalyst in shaping the world of democracy particularly in the Arab world. He should not miss a beat in nurturing our relationship with the people; it gives permanency to our policy.

He must reward them for becoming the pioneers of change and offer them a forum to map out their future.

11 Other members of the Texas Faith Panel have shared their opinions as well  at Dallas Morning news - http://religionblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2011/02/texas-faith-how-would-you-advi.html

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Mike Ghouse is a speaker, thinker and a writer. He runs the Foundation for Pluralism championing the idea of co-existence through respecting and accepting the otherness of other and is committed to nurturing the pluralistic ideals embedded in Islam through the World Muslim Congress.

Mike is available to speak on Pluralism, Islam, Civil Societies, and Peace & Justice at your place of worship, school, work place, seminars or conferences.  He is a media commentator offering pluralistic solutions on issues of the day. 

Mike's work is reflected at three websites & twenty two Blogs listed at http://www.MikeGhouse.net/