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

 


# # #


List of Supporting Organizations (links embedded)

Published at 148 News Outlets
A few are listed below 

Thursday, May 7, 2015

Mother's day song and its translation in English by Rajiv Chakravarti

Mother is the ultimate definition of selflessness! No matter what happens to the world or even her, she is there for you in your need; she recognizes your need much before you know it.  Of course every day is Mother’s day, and each one of us honors her in a variety of ways. From simple caring to doing things for her that makes her most happy. Mothers don't need a whole lot; they just need to know that you care.  Remember you were showered by her attention when you needed it? 

Every religious tradition has elevated mother to nearly the status of God, because she possess many a qualities of God; kind, merciful, beneficent and caring among thousand other qualities.  Mother is the reason for our existence; sustenance, nurturence and shaping who we are. I dedicate this write-up to my Mother, and all the Mothers out there. 
 There is a beautiful song in Urdu/Hindi language

Us ko nahin dekha hum ne kabhi, per us ki zaroorat kya hogi
Ai maa teri soorat say alag bhagwan ki soorat kya hogi.

I have not seen him (God) ever, but what is the need for it?
Dear Mother, your face cannot be different than God’s own face

Here is the song -
http://youtu.be/3HbmbO0b-Sc
 



My friend Rajiv Chakravarti, a Urdu Poet of Dallas has translated it beautifully:

We have never seen HIM...,
but what is the need for this?
O Mother, O Mother, how different
can HIS face be from your own?

Why talk of mere humans, even Gods
have grown up in your bosom
Heaven is nowhere but on Earth,
right under the shadow of your feet!
The affection that emanates from your eyes,
Which Idol can take its place?
O Mother ...

Why would the heat of suffering burn me?
Why would storms of sorrow affect me?
These hands which raise to prayer of yours
Come and rest permanently on my head
When you are my guide in the dark roads of life,
What would I even need the Sun for?
O Mother ...

It is said that no words suffice
to describe your greatness
Even God does not have enough wealth
that constitutes your price
All I know is that, in this World
There is no fortune that exceeds YOU!
O Mother ...

---
MOTHER IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES



I called my mother, " Amma" and at times "Ammi" while addressing her it was Ma.

Languages Spoken in South Asia

Arabic - umm
Assamese - Aayi, mA, mAtri  Aayi, mA,
Baluchi - Ma
Bengali -
Mata or jononi,
Bhojpuri – Mayee
English- Mother, Mama, Mom
French- Mère, Maman
German - Mutter
Gujurati - Ma
Hindi - Ma, Maji, Mata
Kannada -Amma
Konkani - Amma
Kashmiri - Muoj
Latin - Mater
Marathi - Aayi
Malyalam – Amma
Nepali -
Aamaa
Oriya – Bou
Pashtu- Mor
Persian- Madr, Maman
Portugese- Mae
Punjabi - Mai, Mataji, Pabo
Sanskrit - Mata
Sindhi –
Mau
Sinhalese- Amma

Tamil - Amma
Telegu- Amma
Urdu -Ammee, Maa, Amma

There are more languages out there… and listed in the Huffington post aricle at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mike-ghouse/mothers-day-interfaith-ce_b_7233900.html 


 ...............................................................................................................................
Mike Ghouse is a public speaker, thinker, writer and a commentator on Pluralism, Islam, India, Israel-Palestine, Politics and other issues of the day. He is a human rights activist, and his book standing up for others will be out soon | He is producing a full feature film " Sacred" to be released on 9/11 and a documentary "Americans together" for a July 4 release.  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 at www.MikeGhouse.net and his writings are at www.TheGhousediary.com - Mike is committed to building cohesive societies and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day. 


Sunday, November 16, 2014

Kavya Goshti in Dallas - Hindi Poetry Session

Sunday, November 16, 2014 - The Hindi Committee organized a Kavya Goshti in Dallas at the DFW Hindu Temple on the occasion of Diwali Celebrations at the Temple.

About 15 of us recited our poetry. Between the Urdu poets and Hindi Poets in Dallas, life could not be better. The title of my poem was " A mera dharam kahan tha" the poetry is written in a way to make it more Hindi-ized or Urdu-ized, and I have done it both ways. It was a joy to hear good poetry, and two of the poets recited humor poetry and that was incredible.


Kavi Jain Chaudhry wrote poetry about his office environment that he relished after four years - when he took his kids there. I have asked him to join us at thanksgiving Dinner on 11/22/14 and recited that poetry. Details at www.ThanksgivingCelebrations.org
Title of my poem: A Mera Dharam Kahan tha

Dosto, es kavita may aap ek pursh ke anek paap ke roop dekheingey, parantu, kuch log, blame us ke dharm pay lagate hain. Her ek ka dharam us ke maa ke samaan hota hai. Paap Manush karta hai, dharm kabhi bhi a shikhsha nahin deta.

Dharam koi cheez nahin hai jis ko goli maar di jaye, pitayee ki jaye, a phansi ke phande pay lagaye jaye. Ilzaam usi pay lagao jis nay Jurm kiya hai, es say samaj may wapas shanti aajati hai…

Misaal ke tor pay,agar koi rapist aap ke mohallay may ghus aaya to sub ke sab parehshan hotay hain, jab tak us ko pakda na jaye, ashanti barkarar rahegi, agar hum kutton ki tarah us ke Parivar, dharam ya jati ki taraf bhokein gay, kuch honay wala nahin hai. Isi tarah, aatank wadi ko pakdo, salay ki pitayee karo, ya dafa 420 ki tehet us ko saza do to baat banti hai.

My nay chori ki wave-haar may
Dhoka diya doston ko;
A mera apna charitar tha,
a mera dharam kahan tha?
My nay patni say bewafayee ki
aur girl friends say bhi;
A mera apna hi paap tha,
a mera dharam kahan tha?
Ganga jal say paap dhoye,
Hajj say Gunah bhi saaf kiye;
Ji, my waisay ka waisa hi raha
a mera dharam kahan tha?
My aatank wadi bhi bana,
Allahu Akbar bhi kaha
A mazhab nay kab sikhaya tha,
a mera dharam kahan tha?
My nay babri masjid ko toda
Raam ka naam bhi liya;
A kisi ka dharam kahan tha,
a mera dharam kahan tha?
My nay shiaoon ko, Hinduoon ko/ Ahmadiyon ko,
aur Maseehhon ko takleefien di;
Mardood my, kalank Sunni pay tha,
a mera dharam kahan tha?
Gar ilzaam lagana to lagao mujh per
saza do mujh ko,
a ayeb mera zaati tha,
a mera dharam kahan tha?
Samaj my nyaye ho
to Shanti bhi, pragati bhi;
Chora Chor ko, budnaam dharam ko kiya tha
a mera dharam kahan tha?
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?
Dhanyawaad

Mike Ghouse Sahir
www.MikeGhouse.net




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.