HOME :: Our Mission is to educate, entertain and invoke critical thinking in creating a cohesive environment to work, socialize and function effectively through the medium of Poetry. Our purpose is to establish a new stream of Pluralism poetry in Urdu and Hindi languages - indeed, it is the 2nd most spoken language in the world. Mike Ghouse, Foundation for Pluralism, Studies in Pluralistic societies

Showing posts with label Interfaith Speaker. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Interfaith Speaker. Show all posts

Sunday, January 19, 2020

Holocaust and Genocides 2020

15th Annual Holocaust and Genocides

PRESS RELEASE

Dr. Mike Ghouse
Center for Pluralism
email: MikeGhouse@gmail.com 
Office: (202) 290-3560
Cell: (214) 325-1916


15th Annual Reflections on the Holocaust and Genocides  

The purpose of this event is education, information, and activism. We hope to learn and acknowledge our failings and make a personal commitment to our share of saying, "Never Again."

15th Annual Reflections on Holocaust and Genocides
5:30 PM - 8:30 PM Sunday, January 26, 2020
Arlington Central Library, 1015 N. Quincy Street
Arlington, VA 22201

Tickets are complimentary, but donations are accepted 




We hope you will walk out of the event with a genuine feeling of being a contributor towards building a cohesive world where no human has to live in apprehension or fear of the other. 

The Jewish community has been commemorating the Holocaust event since 1953, known as Yom HaShoah in Synagogues around the world. The general public learns it by visiting the Holocaust Museums and educational institutions.


At the Center for Pluralism, we are committed to spreading knowledge of the Holocaust and Genocide through interfaith and public events, including the Annual reflections. 



Speakers: 


Robert F. Teitel - Holocaust Story

Dr. Gregory Stanton - Signs of Genocides

Rushan Abbas & Omer Kanat - Uyghur Updates

Dr. Wakar Uddin - Rohingya Update

Muneer Baig - Kashmir Update

Dr. TO Shanavas - India Update

Dr. Rani Khan - Peace Pledge

Dr. Mike Ghouse - Genesis of this event

Rabia Baig - Mistress of Ceremony


Volunteers:


Nausheen Baig

Rabbi Alana Suskin

Jafer Imam

Dr. Zafar Iqbal

Charles Stevenson


Sponsors:


Would you like to be a sponsor?

Our budget is $2000, full or any part 


Co-Chairs:


Dr. Rani Khan

Dr. Mike Ghouse


Organized by:


Center for Pluralism


Our format consists of four parts; Interfaith prayers, Holocaust, Genocides, Massacred and the Pledge of Peace. Silently, we will acknowledge all suffering, but physically we are limited to a few Genocides each year. 


 This year, a Holocaust survivor will share his story, followed by updated Uyghur, Rohingya, and the signs of making of Genocide in India. I urge everyone to watch the Schindler's list and Civil War movies to grasp the signs.


I believe, when we acknowledge each other's grief and participate in each other's commemoration, we connect with the humanness within ourselves and seed the relationship of understanding and caring for each other. 


There is a shameless cruelty in us, either we shy away or refuse to acknowledge the sufferings of others, worrying that it will devalue our own, or amounts to infidelity to our pain, and every community and nation has suffered through this. To all those who have endured the Holocaust, Genocides, Massacres, Ethnic Cleansing, Land Mines, Hunger, Rape, Torture, Occupation, Expulsion, and inhuman brutality, we must say, you are not alone. The least we can do in the process of healing is to acknowledge every one's pain in one voice. 

 

I cannot be safe if the people around me are not, and I will not have peace if people around me don't. It is in my interest to seek a peaceful world for one and all.


This is a Muslim initiative to assure fellow humans who have endured the Holocaust, Genocide, ethnic cleansing, massacres, rapes, injustice and other atrocities that we are all in this together to create a better world. Tikkun Olam is our sacred duty. 

 


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List of Supporting Organizations (links embedded)

Published at 148 News Outlets
A few are listed below 

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Sunday, January 4, 2015

A mera dharam kahan tha? ये मेरा धर्म कहाँ था ?

I wrote this poem to make a point - i.e., we the individuals make the mistakes but  we always blame it on religions, particularly other's religion. The is the story of a man who is a Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Sikh and other ... He is the one who makes the mistakes but we tend to blame his religion.

We have to blame the individual who makes the mistake, and not his spouse, parents, siblings, kids, pundit, imam, rabbi, pastor or shaman. We should not even blame his even his Mayor, nation or religion.

The individual is the criminal, blame him and haul him off.  
If a rapist is running around in the neighborhood, every one becomes apprehensive and frightened, once the guy is caught, there is a relief. Like wise, we need to focus on terrorists and get the guy, like Obama got Bin Laden instead of blaming his religion.

 You can punish the guy and restore justice. You cannot punish the religion, it is not a thing which you can kill, kick, hang, beat up, shoot or bury it, then why bark at it? 

 This poem expresses those thoughts, this individual cheats on his wife, not because of his religion, it is because of who he is, cheats his friends in business, not because he is Hindu, Musalmaan or Sikh, but because he is who he is. All the evil is packed in this Nazm.

By the way, it is a Nasri-Nazam, a new format of story telling, so, a few lines are longer to make the point. 

Unwaan/Vishay hai


A mera dharam kahan tha?
 ये मेरा धर्म कहाँ था ?


My nay chori ki wave-haar may
Dhoka diya doston ko;
A mera apna charitar tha,
a mera dharam kahan tha?

मैंने चोरी की व्यवहार में
धोखा दिया दोस्तों को
यह मेरा अपना चरित्र था
ये मेरा धर्म कहाँ था ?

My nay patni say bewafayee ki
aur girl friends say bhi;
A mera apna hi paap tha,
a mera dharam kahan tha?

मैंने पत्नी से बेवफ़ाई की
और गर्ल-फ्रेंड से भी
यह मेरा अपना पाप था
ये मेरा धर्म कहाँ था ?

Ganga jal say paap  dhoye,
Hajj say Gunah bhi saaf kiye;
Ji, my waisay ka waisa hi raha
a mera dharam kahan tha?

गंगा जल से पाप धोये
हज से गुनाह भी साफ़ किये
जी, मैं वैसे का वैसा ही रहा
ये मेरा धर्म कहाँ था ?

My aatank wadi bhi bana,
Allahu Akbar bhi kaha
A mazhab nay kab sikhaya tha,
a mera dharam kahan tha?

मैं आतंकवादी भी बना
अल्लाह हू अकबर भी कहा
ये मज़हब ने कब सिखाया था
ये मेरा धर्म कहाँ था ?

My nay babri masjid ko toda
Raam ka naam bhi liya;
A kisi ka dharam kahan tha,
a mera dharam kahan tha?

मैं ने बाबरी मस्जिद को तोड़ा
राम का नाम भी लिया
ये किस्सी का धर्म कहाँ था
ये मेरा धर्म कहाँ था

My nay shiaoon ko, Hinduoon ko/ Ahmadiyon ko,
aur Maseehhon ko takleefien di; ( to make the point)
Mardood my, kalank Sunni pay laga tha,
a mera dharam kahan tha?

मैं ने शियाओं को , हिन्दुओं को , अहमदियों को
और मसींहों को तकलीफें दीं
मरदूद मैं , कलंक सुन्नियों पर था
ये मेरा धर्म कहाँ था

Gar ilzaam lagana to lagao mujh per
saza do mujh ko,
a ayeb mera zaati tha,
a mera dharam kahan tha?

गर इलज़ाम लगाना है तो लगाओ मुझ पर
सजा दो मुझ को
ये ऐब मेरा जाती था
ये मेरा धर्म कहाँ था ?


Samaj my nyaye ho
to Shanti bhi, pragati bhi;
Chora Chor ko, budnaam dharam tha
a mera dharam kahan tha?

समाज में न्याय हो
तो शांति भी, प्रगति भी
छोड़ा चोर को, बदनाम धर्म को किया था
ये मेरा धर्म कहाँ था ?

Thakna mere kaam nahin hai
My unhee samjhata his rahoonga sahir
My nay jo bhi kiya, o mera kiya tha
a mera dharam kahan tha?
थकना मेरा काम नहीं है
मैं उन्हें समझाता ही रहूँगा साहिर
मैं ने जो भी किया था , वो मेरा किया था
ये मेरा धर्म कहाँ था

Site: www.UrduHindi.net
Link: http://urduhindinet.blogspot.com/2015/01/a-mera-dharam-kahan-tha.html

 Thank you
mike

Mike Ghouse
(214) 325-1916 text/talk
...............................................................................................................................
Mike Ghouse is a public speaker, thinker, writer and a commentator on Pluralism at work place, politics, religion, society, gender, race, culture, ethnicity, food and foreign policy. He is a staunch defender of human rights and his book standing up for others will be out soon, and a movie "Americans together" is in the making.  He is a frequent guest commentator on Fox News and syndicated Talk Radio shows and a writer at major news papers including Dallas Morning News and Huffington Post. All about him is listed in 63 links atwww.MikeGhouse.net and his writings are at www.TheGhousediary.com and 10 other blogs. He is committed to building cohesive societies and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day. 
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Sunday, February 9, 2014

Prophet Muhammad’s (pbuh) Intrafaith-Interfaith Naatia Mushaera – Poetry Session in Richardson on Friday, February 21, 2014.

URL- http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2014/02/prophet-muhammads-pbuh-intrafaith.html

February 8, 2014 - Dallas, Texas: The World Muslim Congress, a think tank of Muslims in Dallas announces a poetry session honoring Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), known as Naatia Mushaera.

"This is a purposeful event with three clear goals; to share Prophet’s work with fellow Americans, to focus on how Muslims can adopt his teachings to benefit the society at large, and to bring Muslims of different denominations together for the common purpose– celebrate Prophet Muhammad’s birthday”- said Mike Ghouse, president of the organization.
 
The program is set to start at 8:00 PM and end at mid night on Friday, February 21, 2014 at Richardson Civic Center in Richardson, Texas. (Link).

The evening is divided into two sessions. The first segment will highlight the Intrafaith and interfaith aspects of the program. Muslims of different denominations including Ahmadiyya, Bohra, Ismaili, Shia, Sunni, WD Muhammad others will share a Naat (poetry singing) each from their community. Then our friends from other faiths will also share their Poetry about the Prophet.

Women and Men will be reciting the Naats together for the first time.

The second segment after the tea break is assigned to our poets and they will recite the purposeful poetry to reflect on Prophet’s work and how we can make that meaningful in our day to day life.  

“Throughout the program, we will be highlighting the inclusive teachings of the Prophet’s wisdom.  The values embedded in the Madinah constitution will be shared, where the prophet signed a declaration with Jews, Christians, Pagans and others. Each member of community was guaranteed the freedom to practice his or her faith freely. Furthermore, In his last sermon, the Prophet declared that all men are created equal, and respecting each human is the right thing to do. Like the people of all faiths, Muslims need to go back to the inclusive values taught by the prophet.” added Mike Ghouse.

Refreshments, tea, and snacks will be served in addition to the special treat – the king of desserts; Laddu.

Shazia Khan will be the master of the ceremonies, and the event will be chaired by a mystery guest of honor, and special guest OS Modgil with host Mike Ghouse. You are invited to, the event, it is free but an RSVP is required at the facebook events “Naatia Mushaera” on February 21, 2014 or email to: rsvpforsure@gmail.com
 
Coming up next

World Muslim Congress To be a Muslim is to be a peacemaker committed to mitigating conflicts and nurturing goodwill, and to build cohesive societies where all of God's creation can live in harmony with each other.
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