The Legitimacy of Muslim protests about the film ‘Innocence of Muslims’ and the
freedom of speech are major issues facing the world today. I am pleased to
offer a summary of issues and pluralistic solutions. If you feel hatred towards
them, you are clearly justifying their hatred towards you. We all have to rise
above it and mitigate conflicts and nurture goodwill. That was the message of
Jesus, Muhammad (pbuh) and every spiritual master. We cannot have peace, unless
we contribute to it, we cannot have peace, if we aggravate it.
Sunday, September 23, 2012
The New World - Borderlines
The New World - Borderlines
Divided along linguistic lines between French and Flemish speakers, the once-unified, French-dominated country has been drifting toward a split for decades. Observers point out that if it weren’t for Brussels, a separate, officially bilingual but mainly Francophone enclave inside the Flemish-speaking north, Belgium would have split up long ago. Strangely, it is “Brussels” — in its role as shorthand for the European Union — that could facilitate a divorce. As Europe integrates, national borders will become less important than cultural and ethnic lines.
With a restoration of national government planned this year, many believe this is Somalia’s best chance to emerge from decades as the world’s poster child for state failure. But Puntland and Somaliland, the eastern and western thirds of the country, want no part in the party as they continue to build their own economies, largely around pirating, and operate their own administration and police forces.
It’s getting harder to predict what Syria will look like once the dust of the civil war has settled. One thing seems certain after months of bloody, sectarian strife: it won’t look like the old Syria. Perhaps it will resemble its erstwhile client state Lebanon: religions exerting squatters’ rights in the empty shell of central government. Or perhaps Syria will revert to the ethnic puzzle laid out by the French: separate states for the Druse and the Alawites, and city-states for Damascus and Aleppo. The Alawite state, home to the dominant sect in Bashar al-Assad’s Syria, would control the fertile, mountainous coastline and is perhaps the most viable contender for separate statehood.
To Iran’s west, Iraq remains on the brink as American forces withdraw and the political center in Baghdad remains fragile. As Syria descends into civil war, the entire post- World War I map of the Middle East may need to be redrawn. Rarely in the Kurds’ 3,000-year history has the possibility of an independent Kurdish homeland been closer than today. The Kurdistan Regional Government of northern Iraq is by far the country’s most stable sector, flying its own flag and cutting energy and infrastructure deals on its own with Exxon and Turkish firms.
To Iran’s east, the American withdrawal leaves the “Af-Pak” region in a state of disarray reminiscent of the early 1990s. With no cohesive figure in sight to lead Afghanistan after President Hamid Karzai, and with Pakistan mired in dysfunctional sectarianism and state weakness, a greater Pashtunistan could coagulate across the Durand Line, which divides the two countries. Meanwhile the gas-rich but politically alienated Baluchis could renew their independence drive, which peaked in the 1970s.
Informative piece
Mike Ghouse
www.MikeGhouse.net
Courtesy- New York Times
Great piece, but they have completely ignored Israeli Palestinian lines.
Great piece, but they have completely ignored Israeli Palestinian lines.
Go the site to see the map turn itself with the regions. http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2012/09/23/opinion/sunday/the-new-world.html?smid=fb-share
IT
has been just over 20 years since the collapse of the Soviet Union and the last
great additions to the world’s list of independent nations. As Russia’s
satellite republics staggered onto the global stage, one could be forgiven for
thinking that this was it: the end of history, the final major release of static
energy in a system now moving very close to equilibrium. A few have joined the
club since — Eritrea, East Timor, the former Yugoslavian states, among others —
but by the beginning of the 21st century, the world map seemed pretty much
complete.
Now,
though, we appear on the brink of yet another nation-state baby boom. This time,
the new countries will not be the product of a single political change or
conflict, as was the post-Soviet proliferation, nor will they be confined to a
specific region. If anything, they are linked by a single, undeniable fact:
history chews up borders with the same purposeless determination that geology
does, as seaside villas slide off eroding coastal cliffs. Here is a map of what
could possibly be the world’s newest international borders.
Mali Breaks Up
At least a half-dozen Tuareg rebellions in the past century predate the recent declaration of Azawad as an independent state in Mali’s vast northern Sahara territory. Even if Berber nationalism now seems to have taken a back seat to radical Islam, the split seems irreparable. The only question is which other Berber movements might gain inspiration from Azawad, like those of Western Sahara, who remain trapped in a stalemate with occupying Morocco, or perhaps a nationalistic Kabyle movement, defiantly marking its distinctness in a mountainous zone near Algeria’s Mediterranean coast.Belgium (Finally) Splits Up
Divided along linguistic lines between French and Flemish speakers, the once-unified, French-dominated country has been drifting toward a split for decades. Observers point out that if it weren’t for Brussels, a separate, officially bilingual but mainly Francophone enclave inside the Flemish-speaking north, Belgium would have split up long ago. Strangely, it is “Brussels” — in its role as shorthand for the European Union — that could facilitate a divorce. As Europe integrates, national borders will become less important than cultural and ethnic lines.
Congo Splinters
There already are two Congos — one a former French colony, the other Belgian, their capitals facing each other across the eponymous river. Given how the countries were cobbled together for imperial convenience but with ethnic incoherence, there could be many more. The larger of the two, with its capital at Kinshasa, is the Democratic Republic of Congo. Though on the map it is the second-largest country in Africa (the largest being Algeria, after the breakup of Sudan), the state is so weak that some experts question whether it can be said to substantively exist at all. The provinces of North and South Kivu, in the country’s east, have drifted into the orbit of Rwanda, which maintains a troop presence there. And the copper-rich Katanga Province in the south could attempt to spin off as well, perhaps fusing with its neighbor, the more stable and prosperous Zambia. The Congolese patchwork might be better redefined by resource corridors than mixed ethnicities.Somalia's Breakup Confirmed
With a restoration of national government planned this year, many believe this is Somalia’s best chance to emerge from decades as the world’s poster child for state failure. But Puntland and Somaliland, the eastern and western thirds of the country, want no part in the party as they continue to build their own economies, largely around pirating, and operate their own administration and police forces.
Alawites Go Solo
It’s getting harder to predict what Syria will look like once the dust of the civil war has settled. One thing seems certain after months of bloody, sectarian strife: it won’t look like the old Syria. Perhaps it will resemble its erstwhile client state Lebanon: religions exerting squatters’ rights in the empty shell of central government. Or perhaps Syria will revert to the ethnic puzzle laid out by the French: separate states for the Druse and the Alawites, and city-states for Damascus and Aleppo. The Alawite state, home to the dominant sect in Bashar al-Assad’s Syria, would control the fertile, mountainous coastline and is perhaps the most viable contender for separate statehood.
The Arabian Gulf Union
Saudi Arabia’s military intrusion last year into the micro-sheikdom of Bahrain has effectively made the tiny island the 14th Saudi province. At the same time, a northward exodus from overpopulated and dysfunctional Yemen into Saudi Arabia could create something of a hostile merger, erasing the artificial lines between them, similar to the reunification of North and South Yemen in 1990. More broadly, earlier this year the Sunni Arab monarchies began considering a proposal to rename their Gulf Cooperation Council the “Arabian Gulf Union,” emphasizing the need for tighter regional integration to counter the rising Iranian threat.An Independent Kurdistan
To Iran’s west, Iraq remains on the brink as American forces withdraw and the political center in Baghdad remains fragile. As Syria descends into civil war, the entire post- World War I map of the Middle East may need to be redrawn. Rarely in the Kurds’ 3,000-year history has the possibility of an independent Kurdish homeland been closer than today. The Kurdistan Regional Government of northern Iraq is by far the country’s most stable sector, flying its own flag and cutting energy and infrastructure deals on its own with Exxon and Turkish firms.
Greater Azerbaijan
Iran has the potential to dominate the region, but it is also at risk of internal implosion. If the current regime collapses violently, the 20 million ethnic Azeris of northern Iran, centered around Tabriz, could merge with already independent Azerbaijan, creating a new regional power with an even more powerful ally, Turkey (Azeris are ethnic Turks speaking a Turkic language), which would further render Armenia’s grip on the disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh untenable.Pashtunistan and Baluchistan Take a Stand
To Iran’s east, the American withdrawal leaves the “Af-Pak” region in a state of disarray reminiscent of the early 1990s. With no cohesive figure in sight to lead Afghanistan after President Hamid Karzai, and with Pakistan mired in dysfunctional sectarianism and state weakness, a greater Pashtunistan could coagulate across the Durand Line, which divides the two countries. Meanwhile the gas-rich but politically alienated Baluchis could renew their independence drive, which peaked in the 1970s.
China Gobbles Up Siberia
Russia’s greatest geopolitical fear is fed by a very plausible scenario — China, populous and resource-hungry, taking over large chunks of Siberia, part of Russia’s failing and emptying East. Hundreds of thousands of Chinese have already crossed the border at the Amur River and set up trading settlements, intermarrying with Russians and Siberia’s native nomadic minorities. Russia has a nuclear arsenal with which to fend off formal threats to its sovereignty, but the demographic imbalance is to Russia’s disadvantage and could accelerate the economic shift in China’s favor. Russia’s far eastern outpost of Vladivostok is ever more distant from Moscow. Will it become a Russian enclave in a re-Sinofied “Outer Manchuria,” like Kaliningrad, 5,000 miles away on the Baltic Sea, a Soviet fragment stranded inside the European Union?Korea Reunited
Another border that might disappear is arguably today’s most heavily defended one: between North and South Korea. In an echo of German unification, a collapse of the North Korean regime would pave the way for the militarized border to open up and disappear. In fact, South Korean strategists are already quietly building a regional coalition to manage the economic and social costs of absorbing the hermit kingdom.Informative piece
Mike Ghouse
www.MikeGhouse.net
Monday, September 10, 2012
9/11 Memorial in Dallas - Unity Day USA
YOUR INVITATION TO
VIII ANNUAL UNITY DAY EVENT
It is a purposeful event to bring people of different faiths, races, ethnicities and other uniquenesses together to feel the oneness of our nation and to feel indivisible.
to be together as Americans
to express our gratitude to our Firemen, Police and Armed Forces
to honor seven individuals who have contributed to the well being of the DFW
to honor seven individuals who have contributed to the well being of the DFW
to honor two communities for their work towards building a cohesive America
to emphasize and appreciate diversity represented by America.
to emphasize and appreciate diversity represented by America.
to cherish the other American as American and nothing but American
to rededicate our pledge to the peace, prosperity and security of America
Please join us with your family and friends to be together as Americans. Your presence is a valuable expression of unity. Along with our elected officials, civic, religious and business leaders, you help fulfill our common values and aspirations. Your presence fortifies our commitment to a pluralistic America.
Event: 8th Annual Unity Day USA
Date: Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Time: 11:30 AM -1:30 PM
Where: Unity of Dallas,
Address: 6525 Forest Lane, Dallas, TX 75230
Address: 6525 Forest Lane, Dallas, TX 75230
The Marine Guards will start off the ceremony followed by the Sikh Community Members singing our national Anthem followed by recognizing seven individuals who are making a difference in building a cohesive America. Two communities have been playing an exemplary role in sharing their work and action that brings Americans together. The civic leaders including state Representatives, Mayors, council persons, Fire and Police Chiefs will join us followed by 13 leaders representing Atheism to Zoroastrianism to share the wisdom or scriptures from their traditions. There will be light lunch in the Sikh Tradition.
Awards: Seven Individuals for building bridges in Dallas/Fort Worth communities
Communities: Two outstanding communities this year for their service
Organizations: Participating organizations are you in?
Details: http://www.UnitydayUSA.com
RSVP to: ConfirmAttendance@gmail.com (there is no charge for the event)
We will gather as Americans and rededicate our pledge to the peace, prosperity and security of our nation.
As Americans, and as American Muslims, we uphold, protect, defend and celebrate the values enshrined in our constitution. All our faiths reinforce the creed of "One Nation under God, with liberty and justice for all”.
On this Unity Day USA, we, the people of the United States of America of every faith, race and ethnicity, will gather to express our commitment to co-existence, safety, prosperity and the well being of our nation.
How unity day as conceived http://911unitydayusa.blogspot.com/2011_12_01_archive.html
Thank you.
Mike Ghouse
text/talk
www.AmericaTogetherFoundation.com
www.FoundationforPluralism.com
www.UnitydayUSA.com
Mike Ghouse
text/talk
www.AmericaTogetherFoundation.com
www.FoundationforPluralism.com
www.UnitydayUSA.com
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Israel and Palestine: looking for peace on the horizon
HUFFINGTON: Continue
Monday, February 6, 2012
Standing up with Jews
If we can learn to stand up for, and stand with every human being who is at a disadvantage or being taken advantage of, then we can hope for a world of justice where no one has to live in apprehension, discomfort or fear of the other. It is the same idea repeated and revived by several great reformers of the world including but not limited to Zarathustra, Moses, Krishna, Buddha, Confucius, Muhammad, Nanak, Bahaullah, Gandhi, MLK and others.
I hope to complete the list of work that I have done, however small it might be for people other than my own niche. I was asked by several friends to do this to inspire others to open up and do it.
Here is the little work I have done for Christians:
Mike Ghouse is an activist and a speaker committed to cohesive societies, all his work is linked and indexed at www.MikeGhouse.net
Standing up with Christians
Jesus Christ’ ultimate dream was to create a kingdom of heaven on the earth; it is the idea where no human has to live in apprehension, discomfort or fear of the other under one God. It is the same idea repeated and revived by several great reformers of the world including but not limited to Zarathustra, Moses, Krishna, Buddha, Confucius, Muhammad, Nanak, Bahaullah, Gandhi, MLK and others.
Then the best among us would be someone who works towards this goal and believes in the Golden rule, "treat others as you would want to be treated."
I am grateful to God for the blessing and encouragement to stand for others. As an example I am setting a site to list some of my work from an Atheist to Zoroastrian and every one in between.
The following lists a few items of standing up with Christians continued
The following lists a few items of standing up with Christians continued
Mike Ghouse is an activist and a speaker committed to cohesive societies, all his work is linked and indexed at www.MikeGhouse.net
A commitment to Israel and Palestine dialouge
I believe at the heart of the world peace is the Israel Palestine conflict, it is the mother of all conflicts, and if we can find a solution to this, peace is on the horizon ready to shine on us.
Until we can see our own faults, peace for both people becomes a forlorn hope. The burden to find solutions falls on all of us, but particularly Jews, Muslims and Christians.
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