tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80501684296696749012024-03-16T17:26:40.429-07:00International ConflictsThis blog is about international conflicts, be it political, cultural, ethnic or religious.Mike Ghousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01647894600183489442noreply@blogger.comBlogger81125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8050168429669674901.post-63548338284201056222020-01-19T09:03:00.000-08:002020-01-19T09:03:15.391-08:00Holocaust and Genocides <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://holocaustandgenocides.blogspot.com/2019/12/15th-annual-holocaust-and-genocides.html" style="color: #0d0d4a; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">15th Annual Holocaust and Genocides</span></span></a></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 20.7px;"><span style="font-size: small;">PRESS RELEASE<span style="font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 20.7px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #1c1e29; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Dr. Mike Ghouse</span></span></span></div>
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<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Center for Pluralism</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Website: </span><a class="_e75a791d-denali-editor-page-rtfLink" href="http://www.centerforpluralism.com/" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #4a6ee0; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">www.CenterforPluralism.com</span></a></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Website: </span><a class="_e75a791d-denali-editor-page-rtfLink" href="http://www.holocaustandgenocides.com/" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #4a6ee0; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">www.HolocaustandGenocides.com</span></a></span></span></span></div>
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<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">email: MikeGhouse@gmail.com </span></span></span></div>
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<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Office: (202) 290-3560</span></span></span></div>
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<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Cell: (214) 325-1916</span></span></span></div>
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<ul style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #1c1e29; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0pt 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em;">
<li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; list-style-type: disc; margin: 0pt 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Press Release - </span><a class="_e75a791d-denali-editor-page-rtfLink" href="http://www.einpresswire.com/shareable-preview/Ph3gI72imCk3afsvJWZbZA" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #4a6ee0; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">http://www.einpresswire.com/shareable-preview/Ph3gI72imCk3afsvJWZbZA</span></a></span></span></span></li>
<li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; list-style-type: disc; margin: 0pt 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">RSVP - </span><a class="_e75a791d-denali-editor-page-rtfLink" href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/reflections-on-holocaust-and-genocides-tickets-86666932127" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #4a6ee0; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">https://www.eventbrite.com/e/reflections-on-holocaust-and-genocides-tickets-86666932127</span></a><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </span></span></span></span></li>
<li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; list-style-type: disc; margin: 0pt 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Facebook: </span><a class="_e75a791d-denali-editor-page-rtfLink" href="https://www.facebook.com/events/2929516827067272/" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #4a6ee0; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">https://www.facebook.com/events/2929516827067272/</span></a><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </span></span></span></span></li>
<li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; list-style-type: disc; margin: 0pt 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">At this time, it is published in 148 News outlets </span></span></span></li>
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<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #1c1e29; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">15th Annual Reflections on the Holocaust and Genocides </span></span></span></div>
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<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">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."</span></span></span></div>
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<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">15th Annual Reflections on Holocaust and Genocides</span></span></span></div>
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<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">5:30 PM - 8:30 PM Sunday, January 26, 2020</span></span></span></div>
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<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Arlington Central Library, 1015 N. Quincy Street</span></span></span></div>
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<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Arlington, VA 22201</span></span></span></div>
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<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Tickets are complimentary, but donations are accepted </span></span></span></div>
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<a class="_e75a791d-denali-editor-page-rtfLink" href="http://centerforpluralism.com/donate/" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #4a6ee0; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">http://centerforpluralism.com/donate/</span></span></span></a></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #1c1e29; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #1c1e29; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">RSVP: </span><a class="_e75a791d-denali-editor-page-rtfLink" href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/reflections-on-holocaust-and-genocides-tickets-86666932127" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #4a6ee0; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">https://www.eventbrite.com/e/reflections-on-holocaust-and-genocides-tickets-86666932127</span></a></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 20.7px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></span><br /></span><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #1c1e29; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">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. </span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiox9yrISLOmzPHgFeMl9_8ilPQELprYkCBe8T67cUsKc1QjeRFeXMePC3XJpwhvxYShq5vzEtJHk1OTaSM90LW6xJ-kqlYX6E7GJAATay-ucGvx8WGs407d9wxTiLvBmHaCGTu118F-U-2/s1600/HG2020+Flier+in+making.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; color: #0d0d4a; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="816" data-original-width="1056" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiox9yrISLOmzPHgFeMl9_8ilPQELprYkCBe8T67cUsKc1QjeRFeXMePC3XJpwhvxYShq5vzEtJHk1OTaSM90LW6xJ-kqlYX6E7GJAATay-ucGvx8WGs407d9wxTiLvBmHaCGTu118F-U-2/s400/HG2020+Flier+in+making.png" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="400" /></span></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-P6KxNdBTdMCpgZQPABwam1zWeHUIKqOM6_fjCpVBX-Mk8tots6AWyVWBO4pJ107oOe0F9cSXF9J30z8smZJdjDyEAi_67eqwePeK3T62nJMTVT_Aik_xhXnH3mWf6q38jIADRghDg5Uz/s1600/HG20+poster+for+email.png" imageanchor="1" style="color: #0d0d4a; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></span></a></div>
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<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">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.</span></span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></h3>
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<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">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. </span></span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></h3>
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<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Speakers: </span></span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></h3>
<h3 style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #1c1e29; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; margin: 0pt 0px; position: relative;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Robert F. Teitel - Holocaust Story</span></span></span></h3>
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<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Dr. Gregory Stanton - Signs of Genocides</span></span></span></h3>
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<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Rushan Abbas & Omer Kanat - Uyghur Updates</span></span></span></h3>
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<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Dr. Wakar Uddin - Rohingya Update</span></span></span></h3>
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<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Muneer Baig - Kashmir Update</span></span></span></h3>
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<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Dr. TO Shanavas - India Update</span></span></span></h3>
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<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Dr. Rani Khan - Peace Pledge</span></span></span></h3>
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<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Dr. Mike Ghouse - Genesis of this event</span></span></span></h3>
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<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Rabia Baig - Mistress of Ceremony</span></span></span></h3>
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<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Volunteers:</span></span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></h3>
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<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Nausheen Baig</span></span></span></h3>
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<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Rabbi Alana Suskin</span></span></span></h3>
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<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Jafer Imam</span></span></span></h3>
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<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Dr. Zafar Iqbal</span></span></span></h3>
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<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Charles Stevenson</span></span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></h3>
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<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sponsors:</span></span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></h3>
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<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Would you like to be a sponsor?</span></span></span></h3>
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<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Our budget is $2000, full or any part </span></span></span></h3>
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<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Co-Chairs:</span></span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></h3>
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<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Dr. Rani Khan</span></span></span></h3>
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<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Dr. Mike Ghouse</span></span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></h3>
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<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Organized by:</span></span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></h3>
<h3 style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #1c1e29; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; margin: 0pt 0px; position: relative;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Center for Pluralism</span></span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></h3>
<h3 style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #1c1e29; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; margin: 0pt 0px; position: relative;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">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. </span></span></span></h3>
<h3 style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #1c1e29; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; margin: 0pt 0px; position: relative;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></h3>
<h3 style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #1c1e29; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; margin: 0pt 0px; position: relative;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> 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.</span></span></span></h3>
<h3 style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #1c1e29; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; margin: 0pt 0px; position: relative;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></h3>
<h3 style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #1c1e29; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; margin: 0pt 0px; position: relative;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">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. </span></span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></h3>
<h3 style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #1c1e29; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; margin: 0pt 0px; position: relative;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">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. </span></span></span></h3>
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<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">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.</span></span></span></h3>
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<h3 style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #1c1e29; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; margin: 0pt 0px; position: relative;">
<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">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. </span></span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="line-height: 18.4px;"><br /></span></b><b><span style="color: #c00000; line-height: 27.6px;">List of Supporting Organizations (links embedded)</span></b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 27.6px;"></span><br /></span></span><ul style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0.5em 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em;">
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 20.7px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><a href="http://ifcmw.org/" style="color: #0d0d4a; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-size: small;">Interfaith Council of Metropolitan Washington</span></a></span></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 20.7px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><a href="https://www.mpac.org/" style="color: #0d0d4a; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-size: small;">Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC)</span></a></span></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 20.7px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><a href="https://www.thej.org/" style="color: #0d0d4a; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-size: small;">Pozez Jewish Community Center of Northern Virginia</span></a></span></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 20.7px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Foundation for Ethnic Understanding</span></span></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 20.7px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">American Sikhi Educational and Empowerment Network </span></span></span></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 20.7px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Jews, Muslims and Allies Acting Together (JAMAAT<span style="color: #222222;">)</span></span></span></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.528px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Response USA for Relief and Development (RUSARD)</span></span></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.528px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://iswamd.org/" style="color: #0d0d4a; text-decoration-line: none;">Islamic Society of Washington Area</a> (ISWA)</span></span></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.528px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Church of Scientology National Affairs Office </span></span></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.528px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Jews for Jewish Muslim Understanding</span></span></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21.528px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></li>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: #1c1e29;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Send email t</span>o</span><span style="color: #1c1e29; font-weight: normal;"> </span><a href="mailto:HolocaustandGenocides20@gmail.com" style="color: #0d0d4a; font-weight: normal; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: blue;">HolocaustandGenocides20@gmail.com</span></a><span style="color: #1c1e29; font-weight: normal;"><br /># # #</span></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Published at 148 News Outlets<br />A few are listed below </span></span></span></span></h2>
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<li class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: black; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #1c1e29;">Fox News, Washington, DC<br /><a href="https://www.fox34.com/story/41548532/holocaust-and-genocides-commemoration-in-washington-dc" style="color: #0d0d4a; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: blue;">https://www.fox34.com/story/41548532/holocaust-and-genocides-commemoration-in-washington-dc</span></a></span><o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: black; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #1c1e29;">Fox News<br /><a href="http://www.wicz.com/story/41548532/holocaust-and-genocides-commemoration-in-washington-dc" style="color: #0d0d4a; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.wicz.com/story/41548532/holocaust-and-genocides-commemoration-in-washington-dc</span></a></span><o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: black; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #1c1e29;">NBC News<br /><a href="http://www.nbc-2.com/story/41548532/holocaust-and-genocides-commemoration-in-washington-dc" style="color: #0d0d4a; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.nbc-2.com/story/41548532/holocaust-and-genocides-commemoration-in-washington-dc</span></a></span><o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: black; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 14pt; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #1c1e29;">Boston Herald<br /><a href="http://markets.financialcontent.com/bostonherald/news/read/39355237" style="color: #0d0d4a; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: blue;">http://markets.financialcontent.com/bostonherald/news/read/39355237</span></a></span><o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
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<li class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: black; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #4a6ee0;">All Event<br /><a href="https://allevents.in/arlington/reflections-on-holocaust-and-genocides/1000086666932127" style="color: #0d0d4a; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #4a6ee0;">https://allevents.in/arlington/reflections-on-holocaust-and-genocides/1000086666932127</span></a></span><o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
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<li class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: black; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #1c1e29; font-weight: normal;">Religion News<a href="https://religion.einnews.com/pr_news/506869723/holocaust-and-genocides-commemoration-in-washington-dc" style="color: #0d0d4a; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: blue;"> https://religion.einnews.com/pr_news/506869723/holocaust-and-genocides-commemoration-in-washington-dc</span></a></span><o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
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Mike Ghousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01647894600183489442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8050168429669674901.post-13172218852457233932019-04-25T18:56:00.001-07:002019-04-25T18:56:13.553-07:00American Muslim Agenda - New Book <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<i><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">If you are a conservative, then grudgingly you'll see the value in what this book offers, and if you are on the left, you want more of it, and if you are moderate, you will dance with joy.</span></i><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">HOSTING A BOOK TALK<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="line-height: 28px;">The book is about building a cohesive America where each one of us feels secure about our faith, race, ethnicity, culture, sexual and political orientation. Who does not want to live a tension free life at home, workplace, and in the public space? </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">The "American Muslim Agenda” serves a two-fold purpose. On the one hand, it separates the chaff from the grain for fellow Americans to see Muslims for who they are and not how the media projects them. On the other hand, it challenges Muslims to restore Islam to its original purpose; that is to create cohesive societies, in our case, a coherent America, where each one of the 323 Million Americans feels proud of his or her uniqueness. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">The book presents many success stories to keep the reader bemused. I am pleased to submit three versions of the blurbs on the book talk. The format can be 10 minutes or 20 minutes presentation with room for Q&A. We want our esteemed guests to go home fully satisfied with all the questions they have had about Islam and Muslims. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Our conservative friends would grudgingly acknowledge the pathway laid out in the book, while the moderates will dance with joy. If your vision of America is in tune with the book, together as Americans, we can contribute towards the greatness of our nation.</span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">Would this book bring a change? </span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Would this bring a change among Muslims towards others and others towards Muslims? Indeed, this book lays out a clear agenda to foster harmony among fellow Americans. It is akin to planting a seed and nurturing to give the beneficence to the next generation.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Some of the reservations we have about Muslims is based on what we have heard from our parents, friends, teachers, pastors, and TV. It is time for us to learn first-hand about them and remove the misunderstandings and live freely. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">It is one of the bold books written about Muslims, and it highlights the sources of extremism and how to cure it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Unfortunately, some of the Muslim scholars from the past have reduced Islam to a religion of rituals and obedience. This book brings clarity to Muslims and fellow humans and separates the chaff from the wheat for you.</span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">What is the overall theme of your book?</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">The overall theme of the book is to open people's hearts and minds towards each other. I believe that the ultimate ‘unexpressed’ purpose of humans is to live freely and be comfortable with one's culture, race, religion, ethnicity, sexuality, and individuality.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">It will appeal to Muslims and Non-Muslims alike, as they have never seen the pristine, pluralistic Islam. Moreover, for the first time in Islamic history, the essence of Islam is explained. Also, for the first time, the book explains twelve values directly from the Quran that contributes towards building cohesive societies with no privileges to one over the other. It is human nature to get along with fellow beings, and this book will resonate with them and pave the path for them to see the light at the end of the tunnel.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">TEN T<b>AKE AWAY POINTS FROM THE BOOK</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">1. The American Muslim Agenda challenges Muslims to think and restore Islam to its original purpose – i.e., to create a cohesive America, where each one of the 323 Million Americans feels secure with his or her faith, race, ethnicity culture, sexual and political orientation. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">2. The American Muslim Agenda paves the way for Muslims to own their mistakes, and remedy them. It corrects how fellow Americans perceive Muslims.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">3. Islam is not about imposing (Sharia) your ideas or governing others. Islam is about living your life and letting others live theirs with freedom. That is the original Islam. Islam is about freedom and firmly stands for free will.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">4. The essence and purpose of Islam from a humanity’s (Aalameen) perspective for the first time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">5. Never before in Islamic history, twelve values of Islam that contribute to creating secure, orderly and cohesive societies have been articulated. Verses from the Quran fully back each value. Thus, the book becomes a reference manual to teach and learn about Islam.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">6. The best way to combat Islamophobia is through education, engagement, and dialogue. There are many success stories narrated including dealing with Fox News, Sean Hannity, Stuart Varney and the supposedly most of the Islamaphobes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">7. This book is the product of twenty years of research and interviews with the right, left, and the moderate fellow humans from many faiths including 150 interviews at Fox News and its many right-leaning guests.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">8. Can a Muslim become President of the United States? What does it take, there is a full chapter on the topic?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">9. In the end, it is learning to respect the otherness of the other and accepting the God given the uniqueness of each one of the 323 million Americans.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">10. There is a whole lot more, and it is all in the book.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">Talk Version 1.0<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">Title of the talk: Muslims making America the Greatest nation on earth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">Americans Muslims are committed to building a cohesive America, an inclusive America where each one of the 323 Million Americans feel secure about his/her faith, race, ethnicity, culture, sexual and political orientation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">When you are free from apprehensions, and connect with fellow workers, the workplace becomes a joy to be. You will give 100% of your heart and mind to your work, and your family benefits from having a whole of you, thus creating a little heaven for yourselves.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">Dr. Mike Ghouse, author, public speaker, pluralist, interfaith wedding officiant, and the president of the Center for Pluralism in Washington, DC., will discuss how Muslim efforts in building a cohesive America are working.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">He points out that we are Americans, we are free and brave people and must jettison our apprehensions about each other to live freely. Mike advises that if you are a conservative, then grudgingly you'll see a value in what this book offers, and if you are on the left, you want more of it, and the moderates will dance with joy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">He points out that we are Americans, we are free, and the brave people, and must jettison our apprehensions about each other to live freely. How do we accomplish that? It is by knowing each other.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">America has always led the world in science, medicine, math, agriculture, automation, information technology, exploration and all the advancements of the human race, and it is time for us to lead the world in building a cohesive nation. The book offers concrete solutions to Americans to make America a great and powerful model nation of inclusion for Americans to enjoy living their lives productively and purposefully, and the world to look up to us to emulate.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">We have to assure each other and every American without exception that we are committed to each other's security, prosperity, and peace. Our goal is to reach out to every American who has not been reached before, particularly those who do not understand us. As American Muslims, we uphold, protect, defend and celebrate the values enshrined in our constitution.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">Mike will share a few incredible success stories of dealing with our friends on the right and answer questions about Muslim efforts.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">The book “American Muslim Agenda” will become a reference manual to knowledge seekers and teachers of Islam, and those who want to see one nation, one people and one America. For Muslims, it is backed up with verses from the Quran. You can order this book from Amazon, Kindle, Barnes & Noble, Google, and other book stores. See the talking points at http://www.AmericanMuslimAgenda.com and Mike’s profile appended at https://www.linkedin.com/inmikeghouse.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">Americans Muslims are committed to building a cohesive America, an inclusive America where each one of the 323 Million Americans feel secure about his/her faith, race, ethnicity, culture, sexual and political orientation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">When you are free from apprehensions, and connect with fellow workers, the workplace becomes a joy to be. You will give 100% of your heart and mind to your work, and your family benefits from having a whole of you with them creating a little heaven for yourselves.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">Dr. Mike Ghouse, author, public speaker, pluralist, interfaith wedding officiant, and the President of the Center for Pluralism in Washington, DC., will discuss how Muslim effort is ongoing in building a cohesive America, where each one of the 323 Million Americans feel secure about his/her faith, race, ethnicity, culture, sexual and political orientations.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">He points out that we are Americans, we are free and brave people and must jettison our apprehensions about each other to live freely. Mike advises that if you are a conservative, then grudgingly you'll see a value in what this book offers, and if you are on the left, you want more of it, and the moderates will dance with joy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">The book paves the way for Muslims to own their mistakes, remedy them, and correct how fellow Americans perceive Muslims. Mike argues that Islam is not about imposing your ideas or governing others. Instead, Islam is about living your life and letting others live theirs with freedom. It is a bold challenge to Muslims. He shows a narration from humanity's (Aalameen) perspective of the essence and purpose of Islam for the first time in history.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">Mike articulates, for the first time in Islamic history, twelve values of Islam that contribute to creating secure, orderly and cohesive societies. He concludes that the best way to combat Islamophobia (and other phobias) is through education, engagement, and dialogue. Mike lays out a clear agenda to foster harmony among fellow Americans. It is akin to planting a seed and nurturing to give the beneficence to the next generation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">Mike believes when Muslims become one with all and defend American values with their souls, they will become part of the American story, and everyone’s language will automatically shift from us vs. them to us, the one nation under God with liberty and justice for all. As American Muslims, we uphold, protect, defend and celebrate the values enshrined in our constitution.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">This book will become a reference manual to teachers of Islam and knowledge seekers about Islam, as it is backed up verses from the Quran. You can order his book from Amazon, Kindle, Barnes & Noble, Google, and other book stores. See the talking points at http://www.AmericanMuslimAgenda.com and Mike’s profile appended at https://www.linkedin.com/inmikeghouse.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">The American Muslim Agenda is a primer, a blueprint, and a road map for Americans in general and Muslims in particular.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">A Muslim is someone who is a conflict mitigater and a goodwill nurturer, following the formula for peaceful societies practiced by Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and guided by the Quran.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">As a community, American Muslims have not developed any concrete plans to extricate themselves out of the chaotic situations, hostility and incessant Islamophobic rhetoric we face. Each time a terrorist acts out, we start praying and wishing that the terrorist not be a Muslim. We are Americans, and we can do better than that.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">There is only one America, and all of us are fully integrated parts of that nation. We need to learn to engage with those who are opposed to us, and reassure them that we are all in this together. Mike will share some success stories.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">When we start defending America and the American values we are in! We become an integral part of American Fabric. That is the clear objective articulated in this book.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">The book is available at Amazon, Kindle, Google, Xlibris, Barnes & Nobles, and other book stores. The softcover is priced at $19.99, and the hardcover is $29.99. It is also available as an eBook.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">The American Muslim Agenda will be in the hands of lawmakers, presidential candidates, media persons, lobbyists, think tanks, educators, interfaith activists, CEO, and fellow Americans. The book is about building a cohesive America where each one of us can live securely with our faith, race, ethnicity, and culture.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">As American Muslims, we uphold, protect, defend and celebrate the values enshrined in our constitution.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">Mike is a public speaker, author, interfaith wedding officiant, a newsmaker and the executive director of the Center for Pluralism in Washington, DC. More about him at <span style="color: windowtext;"><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikeghouse/" style="color: black; text-decoration-line: none;">https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikeghouse/</a></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">Email to: SpeakerMikeGhouse@gmail.com or text (214) 325-1916</span></div>
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Mike Ghousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01647894600183489442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8050168429669674901.post-28350949980181130972019-02-13T18:06:00.001-08:002019-02-13T18:06:19.611-08:00American Muslim Agenda - What is it?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 21.4667px;">What is that Americans Muslims want? How close are they to what you want? What can they do about it? What are your issues with each other? If you are a conservative, grudgingly, you'll see the value in this book, and if you are a moderate, you'll dance and sing along with joy.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 21.4667px;">You and I have a responsibility to create a world where, you, me, and our grandchildren can live without apprehensions. No matter we go, we should feel secure about faith, race, ethnicity, culture and our political and sexual orientation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 21.4667px;">Would the book American Muslim Agenda bring attitudinal change among Muslims? Yes, it will, it’s akin to planting seeds and nurturing it to give the beneficence to the next generation. I know most American Muslims will wholeheartedly subscribe to the refreshed understanding of Islam, we need to expand it to more Americans.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 21.4667px;">Some of the reservations we have about Muslims and Islam are based on what we have heard from our parents, teachers, clergy, favorite media people and others. We need to find the truth on our own and find freedom from misunderstandings. It is a blessing to be free.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 21.4667px;">Muslims have shied away from confronting difficult issues about their faith, and most of them don't even have a clue about the essence of Islam, it was never articulated before in the history of Islam. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 21.4667px;">A few medieval scholars have reduced Islam to rituals, five pillars, dhimmi, jizya, sharia, externalities, and enforcement of your rules on to others. That is not Islam, and most Muslims can recite verses that Islam is about free will. God uploaded free will into Adam’s DNA, and emphasized it in the Quran, the prophet practiced ‘freewill’ and established examples for it. Sadly, Muslims know the truth but were bullied into silence with fatwa bombs. All I have done is articulated what Muslims believe, but dared not say it. The book is the voice of the majority of ‘American’ Muslims.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 21.4667px;">This book is a product of twenty years of research and thousands of discussions in which Muslims, non-Muslims, and “Islamophobes” have participated in it, including debates on Fox News with Sean Hannity, Stuart Varney, Pamela Geller, Brigitte Gabrielle, Robert Spencer, Jamie Glazov, Raymond Ibrahim, Walid Shoebat, Wafa Sultan, and several others. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 21.4667px;">Islam is about living your life and letting others live theirs. Islam is about building cohesive societies where all of God's creation lives with dignity and freedom. In God’s universe, we are merely a speck, and no one is more privileged than the other. If you are a moderate individual of any faith, you will find the book in tune with you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 21.4667px;">It is time to go beyond the five pillars of Islam, and I hope the Imams and Muslim scholars who are free thinkers would appreciate the contents of the book. This book may indeed become a reference manual for teaching Islamic values that contribute to creating a better world for all humanity.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 21.4667px;">The American Muslim Agenda offers guidance to Muslims to be one with all, and it voices what Muslims believe and live with and empowers them to live their lives and let others live with free will. The book opens the door to people of other faiths to shed their biases and join hands in creating a world of safety, security, and harmony for all humanity.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 21.4667px;">Islam is a public religion, and Muslims don't own it exclusively. You are invited to participate in discussions, including your faith. The book is expected to initiate conversations about the nature of Islam and fellow humans. I welcome your criticism (after reading the book).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 21.4667px;">You can get the book by calling 1-888-795-4274 x 4528 or get it from Amazon online or a book store. You can find the talking points at </span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="line-height: 21.4667px;"><a href="http://www.americanmuslimagenda.com/" style="color: #183e7c; text-decoration-line: none;">www.AmericanMuslimAgenda.com</a></span></span><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 21.4667px;">.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.4667px;"></span><br style="font-size: 15.4px;" /><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 15.4px;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 21.4667px;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Dr. Mike Ghouse is committed to building a cohesive America and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day. His new book, the “American Muslim Agenda” is about everything you wanted to know about Muslims. The book is available at Xlibris and Amazon. Mike is a public speaker, author, interfaith wedding officiant, and the executive director of the Center for Pluralism in Washington, DC. More about him at </span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="border: 1pt none; color: #00bcd5; padding: 0in;"><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikeghouse/" style="color: #165288; text-decoration-line: none;">https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikeghouse/</a></span></span><span style="line-height: 16.478px;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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Mike Ghousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01647894600183489442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8050168429669674901.post-36848169866198673012012-09-23T20:51:00.001-07:002012-09-23T20:52:45.191-07:00Muslims don't get it - free speech and legitimacy of voilence<br />
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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.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mike-ghouse/freedom-of-speech-and-the-legitimacy-of-muslim-protests_b_1902427.html"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mike-ghouse/freedom-of-speech-and-the-legitimacy-of-muslim-protests_b_1902427.html</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Mike Ghousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01647894600183489442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8050168429669674901.post-78345470222034660112012-09-23T20:15:00.000-07:002012-09-23T20:48:44.269-07:00The New World - Borderlines<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The New World - Borderlines</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Courtesy- New York Times</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Great piece, but they have completely ignored Israeli Palestinian lines.<br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Go the site to see the map turn itself with the regions. <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2012/09/23/opinion/sunday/the-new-world.html?smid=fb-share">http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2012/09/23/opinion/sunday/the-new-world.html?smid=fb-share</a></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC6vREQE9eGq3g49zznWSeA2ZkPTaFhFGel_LVkAp08VOGfqsvCVPmvLPKsiivjeGWSlZSqpHPwUCnB0NyK5WVYb660d1VglsVoWWuj-AsLEmQwjFk5SUdfv4ZlH_qPqt1g7NFrk8omm2V/s1600/NYTimes-ChangingWorld.InternationalConflicts-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC6vREQE9eGq3g49zznWSeA2ZkPTaFhFGel_LVkAp08VOGfqsvCVPmvLPKsiivjeGWSlZSqpHPwUCnB0NyK5WVYb660d1VglsVoWWuj-AsLEmQwjFk5SUdfv4ZlH_qPqt1g7NFrk8omm2V/s320/NYTimes-ChangingWorld.InternationalConflicts-1.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 22px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">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.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 22px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">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.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Mali Breaks Up</span></span></h2>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 22px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">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.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Belgium (Finally) Splits Up</span></h2>
<img class="nytg-insetImage" height="150" src="http://graphics8.nytimes.com/packages/images/newsgraphics/2012/0920-borderlines/inset_belgium.png" style="float: right; line-height: 15px; padding: 5px 0px 0px 5px;" width="120" /><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">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.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Congo Splinters</span></h2>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">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.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Somalia's Breakup Confirmed</span></h2>
<img class="nytg-insetImage" height="150" src="http://graphics8.nytimes.com/packages/images/newsgraphics/2012/0920-borderlines/inset_somalia.png" style="float: right; line-height: 15px; padding: 5px 0px 0px 5px;" width="100" /><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">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.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Alawites Go Solo</span></h2>
<img class="nytg-insetImage" height="150" src="http://graphics8.nytimes.com/packages/images/newsgraphics/2012/0920-borderlines/inset_syria.png" style="float: right; line-height: 15px; padding: 5px 0px 0px 5px;" width="190" /><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">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.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The Arabian Gulf Union</span></h2>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">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.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">An Independent Kurdistan</span></h2>
<img class="nytg-insetImage" height="150" src="http://graphics8.nytimes.com/packages/images/newsgraphics/2012/0920-borderlines/inset_kurdistan.png" style="float: right; line-height: 15px; padding: 5px 0px 0px 5px;" width="165" /><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">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.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4k93Q__SGV85P6LFF7vCeKDj_PVn1YF360HEWTkWM_IQf6fB0vPQHposw34PUB2H3dxwG0wBYYM2lGV1ALbngbojbqc40Jzb1K-_dW_Q1NHRfEawgNPr4XMUjimAk_zbs_sOwSSMIGJGI/s1600/NYTimes-ChangingWorld.InternationalConflicts-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4k93Q__SGV85P6LFF7vCeKDj_PVn1YF360HEWTkWM_IQf6fB0vPQHposw34PUB2H3dxwG0wBYYM2lGV1ALbngbojbqc40Jzb1K-_dW_Q1NHRfEawgNPr4XMUjimAk_zbs_sOwSSMIGJGI/s320/NYTimes-ChangingWorld.InternationalConflicts-2.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Greater Azerbaijan</span></h2>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">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.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<h2 class="nytg-locationHed" style="color: #222222; font-weight: 200; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px 0px 8px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Pashtunistan and Baluchistan Take a Stand</span></h2>
<img class="nytg-insetImage" height="150" src="http://graphics8.nytimes.com/packages/images/newsgraphics/2012/0920-borderlines/inset_pashtunistan.png" style="float: right; line-height: 15px; padding: 5px 0px 0px 5px;" width="175" /><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">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.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<h2 class="nytg-locationHed" style="color: #222222; font-weight: 200; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px 0px 8px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">China Gobbles Up Siberia</span></h2>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">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?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<h2 class="nytg-locationHed" style="color: #222222; font-weight: 200; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px 0px 8px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Korea Reunited</span></h2>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">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.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Informative piece<br />Mike Ghouse</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">www.MikeGhouse.net</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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Mike Ghousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01647894600183489442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8050168429669674901.post-59929992564658276792012-09-10T12:32:00.003-07:002012-09-10T12:32:35.969-07:009/11 Memorial in Dallas - Unity Day USA<br />
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<b><span style="background-color: white; color: #010101; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">YOUR INVITATION TO</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;"> <span style="color: red; font-weight: bold; line-height: 15.75pt;">VIII ANNUAL UNITY DAY EVENT</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">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.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />to be together as Americans</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">to express our gratitude to our Firemen, Police and Armed Forces<br />to honor seven individuals who have contributed to the well being of the DFW</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">to honor two communities for their work towards building a cohesive America<br />to emphasize and appreciate diversity represented by America.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">to cherish the other American as American and nothing but American</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">to rededicate our pledge to the peace, prosperity and security of America</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />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.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />Event: 8th Annual Unity Day USA</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Date: Tuesday, September 11, 2012</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Time: 11:30 AM -1:30 PM</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Where: Unity of Dallas,<br />Address: 6525 Forest Lane, Dallas, TX 75230</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />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.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Awards: Seven Individuals for building bridges in Dallas/Fort Worth communities</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Communities: Two outstanding communities this year for their service</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Organizations: Participating organizations are you in?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Details: <a href="http://www.unitydayusa.com/" style="color: #454b6a; text-decoration: none;">http://www.UnitydayUSA.com</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Donate: <a href="http://americatogetherfoundation.com/donate/" style="color: #454b6a; text-decoration: none;">http://americatogetherfoundation.com/donate/</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">RSVP to: <a href="mailto:ConfirmAttendance@gmail.com" style="color: #454b6a; text-decoration: none;">ConfirmAttendance@gmail.com</a> (there is no charge for the event)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />We will gather as Americans and rededicate our pledge to the peace, prosperity and security of our nation.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />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”.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">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.</span></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: white; color: #010101; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbOe0_WBzPTZuVlNIX7o-pf7wnrf_lPoZ0tVsvvp3C0JE-7jOsm8MDSE0dgYSYzXXR9Az8OBNvuurS8o9I0PqebIYEc1jfhNzsWi7BDQQ7AbOWuSYAomdPe1f0PXL7KNfOk5CVXvTM0jza/s1600/UnitydayUSA.Banner.072412.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #454b6a; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="70" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbOe0_WBzPTZuVlNIX7o-pf7wnrf_lPoZ0tVsvvp3C0JE-7jOsm8MDSE0dgYSYzXXR9Az8OBNvuurS8o9I0PqebIYEc1jfhNzsWi7BDQQ7AbOWuSYAomdPe1f0PXL7KNfOk5CVXvTM0jza/s400/UnitydayUSA.Banner.072412.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(228, 228, 228); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></span></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #010101;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">How unity day as conceived <a href="http://911unitydayusa.blogspot.com/2011_12_01_archive.html" style="color: #454b6a; text-decoration: none;" title="http://911unitydayusa.blogspot.com/2011_12_01_archive.html">http://911unitydayusa.blogspot.com/2011_12_01_archive.html</a></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #010101;">Thank you.</span><span style="color: #010101;"><br /></span><span style="color: #010101;">Mike Ghouse<br /><span class="skypepnhtextspan"><span skype_menu_props="{'numberToCall':'+12143251916' , 'isFreecall':false, 'isMobile':true, 'isRtl':false}" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat !important; bottom: auto !important; clip: auto; cursor: pointer !important; float: none; list-style-position: outside; overflow: hidden; right: auto; word-spacing: normal; z-index: 0;" tabindex="-1"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;"><span skypeaction="skype_dropdown" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat !important; bottom: auto !important; clip: auto; cursor: pointer !important; float: none; list-style-position: outside; overflow: hidden; right: auto; word-spacing: normal; z-index: 0;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat !important; bottom: auto !important; clip: auto; cursor: pointer !important; list-style-position: outside; overflow: hidden; right: auto; word-spacing: normal; z-index: 0;">(214) 325-1916</span></span></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span>text/talk<br />www.AmericaTogetherFoundation.com<br />www.FoundationforPluralism.com<br />www.UnitydayUSA.com </span></span></div>
Mike Ghousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01647894600183489442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8050168429669674901.post-92006738889953470812012-02-11T14:38:00.001-08:002012-02-11T14:38:41.723-08:00Israel and Palestine: looking for peace on the horizon<h3 class="post-title entry-title"><br />
</h3><div class="post-header"> <div class="post-header-line-1"></div></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-5103555034143673029"> <div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Dc-cUz7oNdvyl_58NzeaDu0wZuM4PLdSAiFxL_qJk_S3Q-noH6LEJtx1LAHeUxPn2v_71fU_3qnylJf7B6iVurEuPhB5cMrDyPtUYuGHGF3drUMswbqc94UieBtUZPwydY2R_PBEe3-t/s1600/www.IsraelPalestineDialogue.com.blog-MikeGhouse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" closure_uid_rwosr6="2" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Dc-cUz7oNdvyl_58NzeaDu0wZuM4PLdSAiFxL_qJk_S3Q-noH6LEJtx1LAHeUxPn2v_71fU_3qnylJf7B6iVurEuPhB5cMrDyPtUYuGHGF3drUMswbqc94UieBtUZPwydY2R_PBEe3-t/s1600/www.IsraelPalestineDialogue.com.blog-MikeGhouse.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Who am I to worry about Israelis and Palestinians? What inspires me to be involved in the Israel Palestine conflict? The following is the story of my struggle to see a cohesive world, the story will take you through different emotions but at the end, I hope you feel a sense of completeness of the story. Please let me know. Thank you.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">HUFFINGTON: <span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mike-ghouse/israel-and-palestine-moving-forward_b_1258261.html">Continue</a> </span></span></div><div style="clear: both;"></div></div><div class="post-footer"> <div class="post-footer-line post-footer-line-1"> </div></div>Mike Ghousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01647894600183489442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8050168429669674901.post-25861233606836181722012-02-06T10:45:00.000-08:002012-02-06T10:45:32.134-08:00Standing up with Jews<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #191919; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><b><br />
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o:title="Judaism_MikeGhouse1"/> <w:wrap type="square" anchorx="margin" anchory="margin"/> </v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><span style="background: white; color: #191919; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">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</span><span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="background: white; color: #191919; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
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. <br />
<br />
Here is the little work I have done for Christians:</span><span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2012/01/standing-with-christians.html">http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2012/01/standing-with-christians.html</a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
<span style="background: white;"><a href="http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2012/02/standing-up-with-jews.html">Continued</a><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="background: white; color: #191919; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Mike Ghouse is an activist and a speaker committed to cohesive societies, all his work is linked and indexed at <a href="http://www.mikeghouse.net/">www.MikeGhouse.net</a></span></div>Mike Ghousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01647894600183489442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8050168429669674901.post-27239694554130270332012-02-06T10:44:00.000-08:002012-02-06T10:44:30.246-08:00Standing up with Christians<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><br />
</o:p></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP0iuqejPck1dDimgXLC0tSl3Vq4Y-Fb_QuEiXR-yS_hGpI04NYFrCIDPWlItRadBId113L3yyu7dSD1K6pAf1hWtT4qi1qZx751QpHeQy4An3MUobANTj3kM3DwvRiiNGhtzbYL-O5LYo/s1600/christianity.MikeGhouse.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP0iuqejPck1dDimgXLC0tSl3Vq4Y-Fb_QuEiXR-yS_hGpI04NYFrCIDPWlItRadBId113L3yyu7dSD1K6pAf1hWtT4qi1qZx751QpHeQy4An3MUobANTj3kM3DwvRiiNGhtzbYL-O5LYo/s1600/christianity.MikeGhouse.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">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.</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.75pt;"><span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">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."<br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.75pt;"><span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I am grateful to God for the blessing and encouragement to stand for others. As an example I am <a href="http://standingupforothers.blogspot.com/">setting a site</a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>to list some of my work from an Atheist to Zoroastrian and every one in between.<br />
<br />
The following lists a few items of standing up with Christians <a href="http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2012/01/standing-with-christians.html">continued</a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="background: white; color: #191919; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Mike Ghouse is an activist and a speaker committed to cohesive societies, all his work is linked and indexed at <a href="http://www.mikeghouse.net/">www.MikeGhouse.net</a></span></div>Mike Ghousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01647894600183489442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8050168429669674901.post-12101541437284759972012-02-06T07:27:00.001-08:002012-02-11T14:38:05.967-08:00A commitment to Israel and Palestine dialouge<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-3358724128418916711"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-2710035982637951565"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQqkHFVjDMIhKjZM8gczEDmi1jRBANhqXSYoRGtb4mx_RzWjODuLNCCgk37Jf54xltONhScfWWsNTpeNeCeQS2aj_dlkMzxP-z7ET27mRoEwweww2fIZCdDJxaA9Tzr_XvFalPjuGiZPg/s1600/www.IsraelPalestineDialogue.com.blog-MikeGhouse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" closure_uid_9xxfe2="2" closure_uid_rgjfz2="2" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQqkHFVjDMIhKjZM8gczEDmi1jRBANhqXSYoRGtb4mx_RzWjODuLNCCgk37Jf54xltONhScfWWsNTpeNeCeQS2aj_dlkMzxP-z7ET27mRoEwweww2fIZCdDJxaA9Tzr_XvFalPjuGiZPg/s1600/www.IsraelPalestineDialogue.com.blog-MikeGhouse.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Who am I to worry about Israelis and Palestinians? What inspires me to be involved in the Israel Palestine conflict? The following is the story of my struggle to see a cohesive world, the story will take you through different emotions but at the end, I hope you feel a sense of completeness of the story. Please let me know. Thank you.</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
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. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">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.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mike-ghouse/israel-and-palestine-moving-forward_b_1258261.html">Continue</a> </span></div></div></div></div><div class="post-footer"><div class="post-footer-line post-footer-line-3"><span class="post-location"></span></div></div>Mike Ghousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01647894600183489442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8050168429669674901.post-32423977051932279302011-10-11T18:39:00.000-07:002011-10-11T18:39:48.780-07:00Is the world too big to fail? Grand Plan for the World<div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://english.aljazeera.net/indepth/opinion/2011/09/201192514364490977.html"><span style="color: blue;">http://english.aljazeera.net/indepth/opinion/2011/09/201192514364490977.html</span></a> <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPXZA6diXMc21o_sHMW43r8VzouTb0iHKbj1u9EXhaPtFnmHQaFu_vB6poMQPZSDicSkEKAJt65sfdWqr6iNydAYwfv8p9slwlLDMm4XYX1lycaRcN4O2Sb8-zjyVchiuP1kjHm1P_PixD/s1600/Chomsky.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPXZA6diXMc21o_sHMW43r8VzouTb0iHKbj1u9EXhaPtFnmHQaFu_vB6poMQPZSDicSkEKAJt65sfdWqr6iNydAYwfv8p9slwlLDMm4XYX1lycaRcN4O2Sb8-zjyVchiuP1kjHm1P_PixD/s320/Chomsky.bmp" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The democracy uprising in the Arab world has been a spectacular display of courage, dedication, and commitment by popular forces - coinciding, fortuitously, with a remarkable uprising of tens of thousands in support of working people and democracy in Madison, Wisconsin, and other US cities. If the trajectories of revolt in Cairo and Madison intersected, however, they were headed in opposite directions: in Cairo toward gaining elementary rights denied by the dictatorship, in Madison towards defending rights that had been won in long and hard struggles and are now under severe attack.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Each is a microcosm of tendencies in global society, following varied courses. There are sure to be far-reaching consequences of what is taking place both in the decaying industrial heartland of the richest and most powerful country in human history, and in what President Dwight Eisenhower called "the most strategically important area in the world" - "a stupendous source of strategic power" and "probably the richest economic prize in the world in the field of foreign investment," in the words of the State Department in the 1940s, a prize that the US intended to keep for itself and its allies in the unfolding New World Order of that day.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Despite all the changes since, there is every reason to suppose that today's policy-makers basically adhere to the judgment of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt's influential advisor A.A. Berle that control of the incomparable energy reserves of the Middle East would yield "substantial control of the world." And correspondingly, that loss of control would threaten the project of global dominance that was clearly articulated during World War II, and that has been sustained in the face of major changes in world order since that day.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">'Grand Area'</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">From the outset of the war in 1939, Washington anticipated that it would end with the US in a position of overwhelming power. High-level State Department officials and foreign policy specialists met through the wartime years to lay out plans for the postwar world. They delineated a "Grand Area" that the US was to dominate, including the Western hemisphere, the Far East, and the former British empire, with its Middle East energy resources. As Russia began to grind down Nazi armies after Stalingrad, Grand Area goals extended to as much of Eurasia as possible, at least its economic core in Western Europe. Within the Grand Area, the US would maintain "unquestioned power," with "military and economic supremacy," while ensuring the "limitation of any exercise of sovereignty" by states that might interfere with its global designs. The careful wartime plans were soon implemented.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It was always recognised that Europe might choose to follow an independent course. NATO was partially intended to counter this threat. As soon as the official pretext for NATO dissolved in 1989, NATO was expanded to the East in violation of verbal pledges to Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev. It has since become a US-run intervention force, with far-ranging scope, spelled out by NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, who informed a NATO conference that "NATO troops have to guard pipelines that transport oil and gas that is directed for the West," and more generally to protect sea routes used by tankers and other "crucial infrastructure" of the energy system.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Grand Area doctrines clearly license military intervention at will. That conclusion was articulated clearly by the Clinton administration, which declared that the US has the right to use military force to ensure "uninhibited access to key markets, energy supplies, and strategic resources," and must maintain huge military forces "forward deployed" in Europe and Asia "in order to shape people's opinions about us" and "to shape events that will affect our livelihood and our security."<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The same principles governed the invasion of Iraq. As the US failure to impose its will in Iraq was becoming unmistakable, the actual goals of the invasion could no longer be concealed behind pretty rhetoric. In November 2007, the White House issued a Declaration of Principles demanding that US forces must remain indefinitely in Iraq and committing Iraq to privilege American investors. Two months later, President Bush informed Congress that he would reject legislation that might limit the permanent stationing of US Armed Forces in Iraq or "United States control of the oil resources of Iraq" - demands that the US had to abandon shortly after in the face of Iraqi resistance.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In Tunisia and Egypt, the recent popular uprisings have won impressive victories, but as the Carnegie Endowment reported, while names have changed, the regimes remain: "A change in ruling elites and system of governance is still a distant goal." The report discusses internal barriers to democracy, but ignores the external ones, which as always are significant.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The US and its Western allies are sure to do whatever they can to prevent authentic democracy in the Arab world. To understand why, it is only necessary to look at the studies of Arab opinion conducted by US polling agencies. Though barely reported, they are certainly known to planners. They reveal that by overwhelming majorities, Arabs regard the US and Israel as the major threats they face: the US is so regarded by 90 per cent of Egyptians, in the region generally by over 75 per cent. Some Arabs regard Iran as a threat: 10 per cent. Opposition to US policy is so strong that a majority believes that security would be improved if Iran had nuclear weapons - in Egypt, 80 per cent. Other figures are similar. If public opinion were to influence policy, the US not only would not control the region, but would be expelled from it, along with its allies, undermining fundamental principles of global dominance.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The invisible hand of power</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Support for democracy is the province of ideologists and propagandists. In the real world, elite dislike of democracy is the norm. The evidence is overwhelming that democracy is supported insofar as it contributes to social and economic objectives, a conclusion reluctantly conceded by the more serious scholarship.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Elite contempt for democracy was revealed dramatically in the reaction to the WikiLeaks exposures. Those that received most attention, with euphoric commentary, were cables reporting that Arabs support the US stand on Iran. The reference was to the ruling dictators. The attitudes of the public were unmentioned. The guiding principle was articulated clearly by Carnegie Endowment Middle East specialist Marwan Muasher, formerly a high official of the Jordanian government: "There is nothing wrong, everything is under control." In short, if the dictators support us, what else could matter?<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Muasher doctrine is rational and venerable. To mention just one case that is highly relevant today, in internal discussion in 1958, president Eisenhower expressed concern about "the campaign of hatred" against us in the Arab world, not by governments, but by the people. The National Security Council (NSC) explained that there is a perception in the Arab world that the US supports dictatorships and blocks democracy and development so as to ensure control over the resources of the region. Furthermore, the perception is basically accurate, the NSC concluded, and that is what we should be doing, relying on the Muasher doctrine. Pentagon studies conducted after 9/11 confirmed that the same holds today.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It is normal for the victors to consign history to the trash can, and for victims to take it seriously. Perhaps a few brief observations on this important matter may be useful. Today is not the first occasion when Egypt and the US are facing similar problems, and moving in opposite directions. That was also true in the early nineteenth century.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Economic historians have argued that Egypt was well-placed to undertake rapid economic development at the same time that the US was. Both had rich agriculture, including cotton, the fuel of the early industrial revolution - though unlike Egypt, the US had to develop cotton production and a work force by conquest, extermination, and slavery, with consequences that are evident right now in the reservations for the survivors and the prisons that have rapidly expanded since the Reagan years to house the superfluous population left by deindustrialisation.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">One fundamental difference was that the US had gained independence and was therefore free to ignore the prescriptions of economic theory, delivered at the time by Adam Smith in terms rather like those preached to developing societies today. Smith urged the liberated colonies to produce primary products for export and to import superior British manufactures, and certainly not to attempt to monopolise crucial goods, particularly cotton. Any other path, Smith warned, "would retard instead of accelerating the further increase in the value of their annual produce, and would obstruct instead of promoting the progress of their country towards real wealth and greatness."<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Having gained their independence, the colonies were free to ignore his advice and to follow England's course of independent state-guided development, with high tariffs to protect industry from British exports, first textiles, later steel and others, and to adopt numerous other devices to accelerate industrial development. The independent Republic also sought to gain a monopoly of cotton so as to "place all other nations at our feet," particularly the British enemy, as the Jacksonian presidents announced when conquering Texas and half of Mexico.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">For Egypt, a comparable course was barred by British power. Lord Palmerston declared that "no ideas of fairness [toward Egypt] ought to stand in the way of such great and paramount interests" of Britain as preserving its economic and political hegemony, expressing his "hate" for the "ignorant barbarian" Muhammed Ali who dared to seek an independent course, and deploying Britain's fleet and financial power to terminate Egypt's quest for independence and economic development.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">After World War II, when the US displaced Britain as global hegemon, Washington adopted the same stand, making it clear that the US would provide no aid to Egypt unless it adhered to the standard rules for the weak - which the US continued to violate, imposing high tariffs to bar Egyptian cotton and causing a debilitating dollar shortage. The usual interpretation of market principles.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It is small wonder that the "campaign of hatred" against the US that concerned Eisenhower was based on the recognition that the US supports dictators and blocks democracy and development, as do its allies.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In Adam Smith's defence, it should be added that he recognised what would happen if Britain followed the rules of sound economics, now called "neoliberalism." He warned that if British manufacturers, merchants, and investors turned abroad, they might profit but England would suffer. But he felt that they would be guided by a home bias, so as if by an invisible hand England would be spared the ravages of economic rationality.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The passage is hard to miss. It is the one occurrence of the famous phrase "invisible hand" in The Wealth of Nations. The other leading founder of classical economics, David Ricardo, drew similar conclusions, hoping that home bias would lead men of property to "be satisfied with the low rate of profits in their own country, rather than seek a more advantageous employment for their wealth in foreign nations," feelings that, he added, "I should be sorry to see weakened." Their predictions aside, the instincts of the classical economists were sound.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Iranian and Chinese 'threats'</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The democracy uprising in the Arab world is sometimes compared to Eastern Europe in 1989, but on dubious grounds. In 1989, the democracy uprising was tolerated by the Russians, and supported by western power in accord with standard doctrine: it plainly conformed to economic and strategic objectives, and was therefore a noble achievement, greatly honoured, unlike the struggles at the same time "to defend the people's fundamental human rights" in Central America, in the words of the assassinated Archbishop of El Salvador, one of the hundreds of thousands of victims of the military forces armed and trained by Washington. There was no Gorbachev in the West throughout these horrendous years, and there is none today. And Western power remains hostile to democracy in the Arab world for good reasons.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Grand Area doctrines continue to apply to contemporary crises and confrontations. In Western policy-making circles and political commentary the Iranian threat is considered to pose the greatest danger to world order and hence must be the primary focus of US foreign policy, with Europe trailing along politely.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="background: rgb(251, 157, 4); border-collapse: collapse; border: currentColor; mso-border-alt: solid white 6.0pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184; width: 250px;"><tbody>
<tr style="mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;"> <td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 0.75pt;"> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"Had the Iranians not tried to build nuclear weapons, they would be crazy"</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 7.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">- Martin van Creveld, Israeli military historian</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> </tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What exactly is the Iranian threat? An authoritative answer is provided by the Pentagon and US intelligence. Reporting on global security last year, they make it clear that the threat is not military. Iran's military spending is "relatively low compared to the rest of the region," they conclude. Its military doctrine is strictly "defensive, designed to slow an invasion and force a diplomatic solution to hostilities." Iran has only "a limited capability to project force beyond its borders." With regard to the nuclear option, "Iran's nuclear programme and its willingness to keep open the possibility of developing nuclear weapons is a central part of its deterrent strategy." All quotes.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The brutal clerical regime is doubtless a threat to its own people, though it hardly outranks US allies in that regard. But the threat lies elsewhere, and is ominous indeed. One element is Iran's potential deterrent capacity, an illegitimate exercise of sovereignty that might interfere with US freedom of action in the region. It is glaringly obvious why Iran would seek a deterrent capacity; a look at the military bases and nuclear forces in the region suffices to explain.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Seven years ago, Israeli military historian Martin van Creveld wrote that "The world has witnessed how the United States attacked Iraq for, as it turned out, no reason at all. Had the Iranians not tried to build nuclear weapons, they would be crazy," particularly when they are under constant threat of attack in violation of the UN Charter. Whether they are doing so remains an open question, but perhaps so.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">But Iran's threat goes beyond deterrence. It is also seeking to expand its influence in neighbouring countries, the Pentagon and US intelligence emphasise, and in this way to "destabilise" the region (in the technical terms of foreign policy discourse). The US invasion and military occupation of Iran's neighbours is "stabilisation." Iran's efforts to extend its influence to them are "destabilisation," hence plainly illegitimate.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Such usage is routine. Thus the prominent foreign policy analyst James Chace was properly using the term "stability" in its technical sense when he explained that in order to achieve "stability" in Chile it was necessary to "destabilise" the country (by overthrowing the elected government of Salvador Allende and installing the dictatorship of General Augusto Pinochet). Other concerns about Iran are equally interesting to explore, but perhaps this is enough to reveal the guiding principles and their status in imperial culture. As Franklin Delano Roosevelt's planners emphasised at the dawn of the contemporary world system, the US cannot tolerate "any exercise of sovereignty" that interferes with its global designs.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The US and Europe are united in punishing Iran for its threat to stability, but it is useful to recall how isolated they are. The nonaligned countries have vigorously supported Iran's right to enrich uranium. In the region, Arab public opinion even strongly favours Iranian nuclear weapons. The major regional power, Turkey, voted against the latest US-initiated sanctions motion in the Security Council, along with Brazil, the most admired country of the South. Their disobedience led to sharp censure, not for the first time: Turkey had been bitterly condemned in 2003 when the government followed the will of 95 per cent of the population and refused to participate in the invasion of Iraq, thus demonstrating its weak grasp of democracy, western-style.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">After its Security Council misdeed last year, Turkey was warned by Obama's top diplomat on European affairs, Philip Gordon, that it must "demonstrate its commitment to partnership with the West." A scholar with the Council on Foreign Relations asked, "How do we keep the Turks in their lane?" - following orders like good democrats. Brazil's Lula was admonished in a New York Times headline that his effort with Turkey to provide a solution to the uranium enrichment issue outside of the framework of US power was a "Spot on Brazilian Leader's Legacy." In brief, do what we say, or else.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">An interesting sidelight, effectively suppressed, is that the Iran-Turkey-Brazil deal was approved in advance by Obama, presumably on the assumption that it would fail, providing an ideological weapon against Iran. When it succeeded, the approval turned to censure, and Washington rammed through a Security Council resolution so weak that China readily signed - and is now chastised for living up to the letter of the resolution but not Washington's unilateral directives - in the current issue of Foreign Affairs, for example.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">While the US can tolerate Turkish disobedience, though with dismay, China is harder to ignore. The press warns that "China's investors and traders are now filling a vacuum in Iran as businesses from many other nations, especially in Europe, pull out," and in particular, is expanding its dominant role in Iran's energy industries. Washington is reacting with a touch of desperation. The State Department warned China that if it wants to be accepted in the international community - a technical term referring to the US and whoever happens to agree with it - then it must not "skirt and evade international responsibilities, [which] are clear": namely, follow US orders. China is unlikely to be impressed.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">There is also much concern about the growing Chinese military threat. A recent Pentagon study warned that China's military budget is approaching "one-fifth of what the Pentagon spent to operate and carry out the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan," a fraction of the US military budget, of course. China's expansion of military forces might "deny the ability of American warships to operate in international waters off its coast," the New York Times added.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<table align="left" border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="background: rgb(251, 157, 4); border-collapse: collapse; border: currentColor; mso-border-alt: solid white 6.0pt; mso-table-anchor-horizontal: column; mso-table-anchor-vertical: paragraph; mso-table-left: left; mso-table-lspace: 2.25pt; mso-table-rspace: 2.25pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184; width: 250px;"><tbody>
<tr style="mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;"> <td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 0.75pt;"> <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column; mso-element-anchor-vertical: paragraph; mso-element-frame-hspace: 2.25pt; mso-element-wrap: around; mso-element: frame; mso-height-rule: exactly; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span style="color: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"Washington has converted the island into a major military base in defiance of vehement protests by the people of Okinawa."</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> </tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Off the coast of China, that is; it has yet to be proposed that the US should eliminate military forces that deny the Caribbean to Chinese warships. China's lack of understanding of rules of international civility is illustrated further by its objections to plans for the advanced nuclear-powered aircraft carrier George Washington to join naval exercises a few miles off China's coast, with alleged capacity to strike Beijing.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In contrast, the West understands that such US operations are all undertaken to defend stability and its own security. The liberal New Republic expresses its concern that "China sent ten warships through international waters just off the Japanese island of Okinawa." That is indeed a provocation - unlike the fact, unmentioned, that Washington has converted the island into a major military base in defiance of vehement protests by the people of Okinawa. That is not a provocation, on the standard principle that we own the world.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Deep-seated imperial doctrine aside, there is good reason for China's neighbours to be concerned about its growing military and commercial power. And though Arab opinion supports an Iranian nuclear weapons programme, we certainly should not do so. The foreign policy literature is full of proposals as to how to counter the threat. One obvious way is rarely discussed: work to establish a nuclear-weapons-free zone (NWFZ) in the region. The issue arose (again) at the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) conference at United Nations headquarters last May. Egypt, as chair of the 118 nations of the Non-Aligned Movement, called for negotiations on a Middle East NWFZ, as had been agreed by the West, including the US, at the 1995 review conference on the NPT.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">International support is so overwhelming that Obama formally agreed. It is a fine idea, Washington informed the conference, but not now. Furthermore, the US made clear that Israel must be exempted: no proposal can call for Israel's nuclear programme to be placed under the auspices of the International Atomic Energy Agency or for the release of information about "Israeli nuclear facilities and activities." So much for this method of dealing with the Iranian nuclear threat.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Privatising the planet</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">While Grand Area doctrine still prevails, the capacity to implement it has declined. The peak of US power was after World War II, when it had literally half the world's wealth. But that naturally declined, as other industrial economies recovered from the devastation of the war and decolonisation took its agonising course. By the early 1970s, the US share of global wealth had declined to about 25 per cent, and the industrial world had become tripolar: North America, Europe, and East Asia (then Japan-based).<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">There was also a sharp change in the US economy in the 1970s, towards financialisation and export of production. A variety of factors converged to create a vicious cycle of radical concentration of wealth, primarily in the top fraction of 1 per cent of the population - mostly CEOs, hedge-fund managers, and the like. That leads to the concentration of political power, hence state policies to increase economic concentration: fiscal policies, rules of corporate governance, deregulation, and much more. Meanwhile the costs of electoral campaigns skyrocketed, driving the parties into the pockets of concentrated capital, increasingly financial: the Republicans reflexively, the Democrats - by now what used to be moderate Republicans - not far behind.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Elections have become a charade, run by the public relations industry. After his 2008 victory, Obama won an award from the industry for the best marketing campaign of the year. Executives were euphoric. In the business press they explained that they had been marketing candidates like other commodities since Ronald Reagan, but 2008 was their greatest achievement and would change the style in corporate boardrooms. The 2012 election is expected to cost $2bn, mostly in corporate funding. Small wonder that Obama is selecting business leaders for top positions. The public is angry and frustrated, but as long as the Muasher principle prevails, that doesn't matter.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">While wealth and power have narrowly concentrated, for most of the population real incomes have stagnated and people have been getting by with increased work hours, debt, and asset inflation, regularly destroyed by the financial crises that began as the regulatory apparatus was dismantled starting in the 1980s.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">None of this is problematic for the very wealthy, who benefit from a government insurance policy called "too big to fail." The banks and investment firms can make risky transactions, with rich rewards, and when the system inevitably crashes, they can run to the nanny state for a taxpayer bailout, clutching their copies of Friedrich Hayek and Milton Friedman.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">That has been the regular process since the Reagan years, each crisis more extreme than the last - for the public population, that is. Right now, real unemployment is at Depression levels for much of the population, while Goldman Sachs, one of the main architects of the current crisis, is richer than ever. It has just quietly announced $17.5bn in compensation for last year, with CEO Lloyd Blankfein receiving a $12.6m bonus while his base salary more than triples.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It wouldn't do to focus attention on such facts as these. Accordingly, propaganda must seek to blame others, in the past few months, public sector workers, their fat salaries, exorbitant pensions, and so on: all fantasy, on the model of Reaganite imagery of black mothers being driven in their limousines to pick up welfare checks - and other models that need not be mentioned. We all must tighten our belts; almost all, that is.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Teachers are a particularly good target, as part of the deliberate effort to destroy the public education system from kindergarten through the universities by privatisation - again, good for the wealthy, but a disaster for the population, as well as the long-term health of the economy, but that is one of the externalities that is put to the side insofar as market principles prevail.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Another fine target, always, is immigrants. That has been true throughout US history, even more so at times of economic crisis, exacerbated now by a sense that our country is being taken away from us: the white population will soon become a minority. One can understand the anger of aggrieved individuals, but the cruelty of the policy is shocking.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Targeting immigrants</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Who are the immigrants targeted? In Eastern Massachusetts, where I live, many are Mayans fleeing genocide in the Guatemalan highlands carried out by Reagan's favourite killers. Others are Mexican victims of Clinton's NAFTA, one of those rare government agreements that managed to harm working people in all three of the participating countries. As NAFTA was rammed through Congress over popular objection in 1994, Clinton also initiated the militarisation of the US-Mexican border, previously fairly open. It was understood that Mexican campesinos cannot compete with highly subsidised US agribusiness, and that Mexican businesses would not survive competition with US multinationals, which must be granted "national treatment" under the mislabeled free trade agreements, a privilege granted only to corporate persons, not those of flesh and blood. Not surprisingly, these measures led to a flood of desperate refugees, and to rising anti-immigrant hysteria by the victims of state-corporate policies at home.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Much the same appears to be happening in Europe, where racism is probably more rampant than in the US One can only watch with wonder as Italy complains about the flow of refugees from Libya, the scene of the first post-World War I genocide, in the now-liberated East, at the hands of Italy's Fascist government. Or when France, still today the main protector of the brutal dictatorships in its former colonies, manages to overlook its hideous atrocities in Africa, while French President Nicolas Sarkozy warns grimly of the "flood of immigrants" and Marine Le Pen objects that he is doing nothing to prevent it. I need not mention Belgium, which may win the prize for what Adam Smith called "the savage injustice of the Europeans."<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The rise of neo-fascist parties in much of Europe would be a frightening phenomenon even if we were not to recall what happened on the continent in the recent past. Just imagine the reaction if Jews were being expelled from France to misery and oppression, and then witness the non-reaction when that is happening to Roma, also victims of the Holocaust and Europe's most brutalised population.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In Hungary, the neo-fascist party Jobbik gained 17 per cent of the vote in national elections, perhaps unsurprising when three-quarters of the population feels that they are worse off than under Communist rule. We might be relieved that in Austria the ultra-right Jörg Haider won only 10 per cent of the vote in 2008 - were it not for the fact that the new Freedom Party, outflanking him from the far right, won more than 17 per cent. It is chilling to recall that, in 1928, the Nazis won less than 3 per cent of the vote in Germany.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In England the British National Party and the English Defence League, on the ultra-racist right, are major forces. (What is happening in Holland you know all too well.) In Germany, Thilo Sarrazin's lament that immigrants are destroying the country was a runaway best-seller, while Chancellor Angela Merkel, though condemning the book, declared that multiculturalism had "utterly failed": the Turks imported to do the dirty work in Germany are failing to become blond and blue-eyed, true Aryans.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Those with a sense of irony may recall that Benjamin Franklin, one of the leading figures of the Enlightenment, warned that the newly liberated colonies should be wary of allowing Germans to immigrate, because they were too swarthy; Swedes as well. Into the twentieth century, ludicrous myths of Anglo-Saxon purity were common in the US, including among presidents and other leading figures. Racism in the literary culture has been a rank obscenity; far worse in practice, needless to say. It is much easier to eradicate polio than this horrifying plague, which regularly becomes more virulent in times of economic distress.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I do not want to end without mentioning another externality that is dismissed in market systems: the fate of the species. Systemic risk in the financial system can be remedied by the taxpayer, but no one will come to the rescue if the environment is destroyed. That it must be destroyed is close to an institutional imperative. Business leaders who are conducting propaganda campaigns to convince the population that anthropogenic global warming is a liberal hoax understand full well how grave is the threat, but they must maximize short-term profit and market share. If they don't, someone else will.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This vicious cycle could well turn out to be lethal. To see how grave the danger is, simply have a look at the new Congress in the US, propelled into power by business funding and propaganda. Almost all are climate deniers. They have already begun to cut funding for measures that might mitigate environmental catastrophe. Worse, some are true believers; for example, the new head of a subcommittee on the environment who explained that global warming cannot be a problem because God promised Noah that there will not be another flood.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If such things were happening in some small and remote country, we might laugh. Not when they are happening in the richest and most powerful country in the world. And before we laugh, we might also bear in mind that the current economic crisis is traceable in no small measure to the fanatic faith in such dogmas as the efficient market hypothesis, and in general to what Nobel laureate Joseph Stiglitz, 15 years ago, called the "religion" that markets know best - which prevented the central bank and the economics profession from taking notice of an $8tn housing bubble that had no basis at all in economic fundamentals, and that devastated the economy when it burst.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">All of this, and much more, can proceed as long as the Muashar doctrine prevails. As long as the general population is passive, apathetic, diverted to consumerism or hatred of the vulnerable, then the powerful can do as they please, and those who survive will be left to contemplate the outcome.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Noam Chomsky is Institute Professor emeritus in the MIT Department of Linguistics and Philosophy. He is the author of numerous bestselling political works, including </span></i></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.sevenstories.com/book/?GCOI=58322100992740" target="_blank"><b><i><span style="color: #fb9d04; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">9-11: Was There an Alternative? (Seven Stories Press)</span></i></b></a></span><b><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">, an updated version of his classic account, just being published this week with a major new essay - from which this post was adapted - considering the 10 years since the 9/11 attacks.</span></i></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A version of this piece was originally published on </span></i></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.tomdispatch.com/archive/175382/" target="_blank"><b><i><span style="color: #fb9d04; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">TomDispatch.com</span></i></b></a></span><b><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">.</span></i></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeera's editorial policy.</span></i></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>Mike Ghousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01647894600183489442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8050168429669674901.post-84717752466312077392011-09-18T07:33:00.000-07:002011-09-19T03:45:15.577-07:00Palestinian Statehood must be approved by United Nations<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Since President Truman, none of the American presidents have had the balls to take a stand and do the right thing; facilitate a lasting solution for the conflict between Israel and Palestine. The talk of two states remains a hoax without recognition of Palestine as a nation. It is a necessity for the security of Israel to recognize Palestine; it will tie the loose ends. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicfiVAmkysiD7e1eAFsPUa57q2T5Zlkz1M8af-boqcbXqcr4UeGeRRAwyDR70G1k5OmpFvO5JqQFCq4K1w19ccMQmCmmciz1DBRRF4jFFRBp_GmAr_1gpifit7toQuW3kHaz_JRVpEc-Q/s1600/Vote+YES.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" closure_uid_ibhu3p="3" closure_uid_t1osn0="3" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicfiVAmkysiD7e1eAFsPUa57q2T5Zlkz1M8af-boqcbXqcr4UeGeRRAwyDR70G1k5OmpFvO5JqQFCq4K1w19ccMQmCmmciz1DBRRF4jFFRBp_GmAr_1gpifit7toQuW3kHaz_JRVpEc-Q/s320/Vote+YES.bmp" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Two videos:..<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><strong><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">MR. PRESIDENT, YOU MUST VOTE FOR PALESTINE</span></strong><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Hb0Y-4lRkM" target="_blank" title="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Hb0Y-4lRkM"><span style="background: white;"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v<wbr></wbr>=6Hb0Y-4lRkM</span></span></a></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><strong><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">YES TO PALESTINE </span></strong><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WA2NlDU-LM" title="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WA2NlDU-LM"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WA2NlDU-LM</span></a></span><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Sixty three years have been squandered with no signs of genuine security for the Jews; they have been living with an unsettling fear and have been on-the-run for their whole history. Not a week goes by where Anti-Semitism is not countered in Europe, it is there in Latin America and it is there in Asia. <br />
</span><span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The Jews have not been able to breathe freely. There is a genuine phobia that someday a segment of radical Christians will uproot them as Germany did in the recent past and Spain some five hundred years ago, those were the only nations where the Jews felt home twice in their history but were betrayed both the times.<br />
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Shamelessly, anti-Semitism continues to operate under the radar in the United States. Not a month passes here in the United States without the markings of Anti-Semitism. Some one’s house is painted with Swastika, someone yells at them “you people” or opens the fire in the Holocaust Museum or demonstrates hateful placards like “Christ Killers”, there are still a few Christians out there who cannot shake this off from their chests. <br />
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Shame on our civilization that one group of people has to live in apprehensions of the other. It is just not the Jews but many a minorities in the world live in fears of the other. Shouldn’t we feel bad about it? Are we evil that someone has to be afraid of us? It has got to change.<br />
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Recognition of Palestine will put an end to the phobias and fears. The Jewish anxieties will subside when they realize for the second time in their history (first one was creation of Israel) that they are able to live a life of justice, which is a central tenet of Judaism that they had abandoned for security. It will free their psyche. It will have a domino effect, one by one, the Arab nations will recognize Israel’s right to exist over a few years. It simply means acceptance of Israel and a welcome call to the neighborhood.</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The real enemies of Israel are those who are milking monies in the name of Israel. It is business to them, they are the Madoffs whose sincerity to Israel is doubtful but loyalty to cashing in the name of Israel is certain. They are manipulators and constantly coerce our congress and senate and get their way. Heck, they have made it worse for Israel by aggravating the conflicts.</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The Judeo-Christian phrase was thrown around 40's to make up for the guilt. A whole industry of opportunists was born from that. The two faced support for Jews by Billy Graham, Richard Nixon, Pat Robertson, John Hagee, Glenn Beck and other chest thumpers had ulterior motives. They wanted to cash in on the name of Israel and perhaps convert them or pre-empt God for the Armageddon.</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Jews need sincerity and not duplicity to feel secure. A genuine security is like a child in mother’s lap; safe and free from fears. Jews need to feel there is a home for them, where they can chat with friends in a café and carry on conversations without any fear, have zero fears for their school going children or ride the bus without fear. More than that, Jews can live their life again as they wanted to; to be a just people. <br />
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All of that is possible once the Palestinians feel justice is finally served to them. Shame on our cvilization, we have not cared for the lives of Palestinians, they are deprived of the very basics of life; a home and a nationality. We have stripped them from their hopes, it will change with this recognition.</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">President Obama has an opportunity to finalizing the transaction for Israel which was opened by President Truman. Prior to President Truman’s decision to recognize Israel, he was vehemently opposed by many in his administration including the Secretary of State George Marshall, Truman was threatened that his administration will be wrecked, indeed “the wise men” firmly opposed recognition of Israel. Did Truman budge?<o:p></o:p></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
President Obama will be equally hounded by Fox News and the right wingers. He has a choice to stand up and act with courage and become a one term president with balls and leave a lasting legacy of bringing genuine security to Israel and hope for the Palestinians.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">If President Obama vetoes for Palestinian Statehood, he will do more damage to America’s stature in the community of nations besides keeping Israel in the state of anxiety until another Truman is born. <o:p></o:p></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Let’s recognize Palestine and continue the peace process. It will abate the strife between Jews and Muslims and restore the cordiality that existed prior to the World War I. It is good for Israel, good for Palestine, good for America and good for the Middle East and the World. </span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Mike Ghouse is committed to building cohesive Societies and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day to the media and the public. He is a speaker thinker and a writer on the topics of pluralism, cohesive societies, Politics, Islam, interfaith, India and Peace. Over a thousand articles have been published on the topics and two of his books are poised to be released on Pluralism and Islam. Mike's work is reflected in 4 website's and 27 Blogs indexed at </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://www.mikeghouse.net/"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.mikeghouse.net/</span></span></a></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> and you can find all of his current articles at </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://www.theghousediary.com/"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: blue;">www.TheGhousediary.com </span></span></a></span></div>Mike Ghousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01647894600183489442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8050168429669674901.post-48078213095531196452011-09-07T13:41:00.001-07:002011-09-07T13:41:20.772-07:00Do Jews, Christians and Muslims better understand each other since 9/11?<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-4664885385192404719"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPV-Mft5WI2q9ZrdZu87mYCIiilPEr6OfFV0-tyPIyjlYyMB4_YS1kLc4-mm1gd9HhtaSvLaD8Wq0Mfwy8z_8JtEOlv4n2HhVtKqn3Jm89r1jLlIbGjN2DkvNTZiqdVJBVKaJmfxJs4VrV/s1600/Jews%252C+Christians+and+Muslims.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPV-Mft5WI2q9ZrdZu87mYCIiilPEr6OfFV0-tyPIyjlYyMB4_YS1kLc4-mm1gd9HhtaSvLaD8Wq0Mfwy8z_8JtEOlv4n2HhVtKqn3Jm89r1jLlIbGjN2DkvNTZiqdVJBVKaJmfxJs4VrV/s200/Jews%252C+Christians+and+Muslims.png" width="190" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">TEXAS FAITH: Do Jews, Christians and Muslims better understand each other since 9/11? <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<div style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Abstract: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jews need sincerity and not duplicity. Native Americans need an apology and there is a good amount of phobia embedded in Hindus about conversions. We believe in Jesus as a Prophet and not as a son of God. Unless we deal with tough issues about our differences, we will continue to fake being nice to each other and brood with ill-will within. There is indeed improved understanding among faiths since 9/11. But there also is deepening suspicion among them. One is spiritually motivated and the other is political. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Please note, most of my writings are inclusive of all theist and atheists traditions, we all inhabit the earth and we need to figure how best to co-exist cohesively.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
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<div style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Since September 11, 2001, many conversations have taken place among Muslims, Jews and Christians. There are official interfaith conversations occurring all over the globe, where participants dig into each other's texts. And numerous personal dialogues have been established over the last decade. Many of us have learned more about the three Abrahamic faiths since September 11, 2001 than perhaps we knew before that day.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">But here's this week's question, which is simple in its wording but not necessarily simple to answer: <em><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Do followers of the three Abrahamic faiths really understand each other better since 9/11? </span></em><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Eight Texas Faith Panelists including Mike Ghouse weighs in at: <a href="http://religionblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2011/09/texas-faith-do-jews-christians.html"><span style="color: blue;">http://religionblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2011/09/texas-faith-do-jews-christians.html</span></a> <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div style="background: white;"><strong><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">MIKE GHOUSE, President, Foundation for Pluralism, Dallas</span></strong><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">There is indeed improved understanding among faiths since 9/11. But there also is deepening suspicion among them. One is spiritually motivated and the other is political. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">We were better off when we knew very little about each other. But as we faced the hostage crisis in 1979, the evangelical foray into politics, the Baptist convention on harvesting poor souls and finally 9/11, religion moved on to center stage. It will get better when we know more about each other. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">On September 11, 2001, I was on the radio in Dallas attempting to make sense out of the chaos of the day and pave the way for relevant actions. Interfaith-faith prayers, blood donation and fundraising for the men and women in uniform were all in place by evening. The fog was clearing up. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_nB_c5qHlj0"><span style="color: blue;">Osama bin Laden</span></a> was the bad guy and Muslim-Americans had nothing to do with his actions, nor did they authorize him to terrorize any one. Indeed, he placed a wedge between Americans that still needs to be undone.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Atheists, Baha'i, Buddhists, Christians, Hindus, Muslims, Jains, Jews, Native Americans, Pagans, Sikhs, Wicca and Zoroastrians along with area city mayors, FBI, police and fire chiefs and community leaders graced the first interfaith event in Frisco. Out of which a new tradition evolved called Unity Day. It continues year after year.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">But while we are trying to know more about each other, more needs to be done. Here are a few examples; <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">* Mosques in Dallas/ Fort Worth area opened their doors right after the 9/11 incident. As Christians walked in, they were naively welcomed by yet-to-be trained volunteers who said, "We believe in Jesus as a Prophet and not as a son of God." However, the volunteers were trained to welcome without conflict the very next week.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Of course, back in the 8th Century, a Syrian bishop had declared that Islam was a false religion. That declaration has remained in the psyche of a few Christians forever. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Pastor Robert Jeffress of the First Baptist Church of Dallas reiterated the statement and added, "Quran is a false book written by a false prophet." He was asked to prove it but failed. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">There are several verses in Quraan that are mistranslated for political gains. Steve Blow in <a href="http://www.dallasnews.com/news/columnists/steve-blow/20100919-In-defense-of-Islam-pursuing-9397.ece"><span style="color: blue;">Dallas Morning News</span></a> quoted me, "In the Middle Ages, European leaders commissioned a hostile Quran translation to foster warfare against Muslim invaders. Later, Muslim leaders produced another translation to inflame Muslims against Christians and Jews." <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">One such difficult passage is "Kill the infidels wherever you find them." <a href="http://quraan-today.blogspot.com/2010/12/difficult-passages-in-quraan.html"><span style="color: blue;">Ten such propaganda verses</span></a> were read to separate the myths from reality. They were not read by Muslim clergy, but by Baptist, Mormon, Protestant, Catholic, Unitarian, Methodist, New Age, Unificationists, Sikhs, Hindu and others at the Quraan Conference<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">*Shamelessly, anti-Semitism continues to operate under the radar. The anti-circumcision bills in San Francisco and Santa Monica were irksome to some, but frightening to others. Indeed, there are still a few Christians out there who cannot shake off what Fred Phelps was demonstrating with reckless posters such as "Christ Killers." <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The Judeo-Christian phrase was thrown around in the 40's to build relationships between Jews and Christians. A whole industry of opportunists was born from it. The support for Jews by Billy Graham, Richard Nixon, Pat Robertson, John Hagee, Glenn Beck and other chest thumpers have ulterior motives. They want to cash in on the name of Israel and perhaps convert them. Jews need sincerity and not duplicity to feel genuinely secure.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">*Native Americans need an apology for the destruction of their religion and there is a good amount of phobia embedded in Hindus about conversions. Some of them feel that Governors Nikki Haley and Bobby Jindal made it in politics because they converted to Christianity. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">*The spiritual balance in the community needs to be restored through observing and following the Golden Rule, which is treat others as you would like others to treat you. Although we have failed in the past, such as when the city of Plano rejected a permit to build a Hindu temple in the early 80's and Richardson did not permit a Muslim school to open there in the mid-1990s, we still have come a long way. Thank God, those are now history and the public in the metroplex welcomes diversity. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">* Interfaith meetings are still social gatherings. Leaders from smaller groups are invited as tokens rather than to genuinely get to know each other. Unless we deal with tough issues about differences, we will continue to fake being nice to each other and brood with ill-will within. There is plenty of room for honesty to grow and mature.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">If we can learn to respect the otherness of other people and accept the God-given uniqueness of each one of us, then conflicts fade and solutions emerge. One of these days we will get there. Meanwhile, I am pleased to invite you to the 7th Annual 9/11 Memorial, the Unity Day USA on Sunday September 11 at 5:00 PM at the Unity Church of Dallas on Forest Lane. Details are at www.UnitydayUSA.com <o:p></o:p></span></div>----<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">References:<br />
Steve Blow – Dallas Morning News: <a href="http://www.dallasnews.com/news/columnists/steve-blow/20100919-In-defense-of-Islam-pursuing-9397.ece" title="http://www.dallasnews.com/news/columnists/steve-blow/20100919-In-defense-of-Islam-pursuing-9397.ece"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.dallasnews.com/news/columnists/steve-blow/20100919-In-defense-of-Islam-pursuing-9397.ece</span></a> <o:p></o:p></span></div>----<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">List of difficult passages: <a href="http://quraan-today.blogspot.com/2010/12/difficult-passages-in-quraan.html" title="http://quraan-today.blogspot.com/2010/12/difficult-passages-in-quraan.html"><span style="color: blue;">http://quraan-today.blogspot.com/2010/12/difficult-passages-in-quraan.html</span></a> <o:p></o:p></span></div>----<br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Quraan Conference program sequence: <a href="http://quraanconference.blogspot.com/2010/12/quraan-conference-program-sequence.html" title="http://quraanconference.blogspot.com/2010/12/quraan-conference-program-sequence.html"><span style="color: blue;">http://quraanconference.blogspot.com/2010/12/quraan-conference-program-sequence.html</span></a><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">-----</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Mike Ghouse is committed to building a cohesive America and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day to the media and the public. He is a speaker thinker and a writer on the topics of pluralism, cohesive societies, Politics, Islam, interfaith, India and Peace. Over a thousand articles have been published on the topics and two of his books are poised to be released on Pluralism and Islam. Mike's work is reflected in 4 website's and 27 Blogs indexed at <a href="http://www.mikeghouse.net/"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.mikeghouse.net/</span></a> and you can find all of his current articles at <a href="http://www.theghousediary.com/"><span style="color: blue;">www.TheGhousediary.com </span></a></span></div><div style="clear: both;"><span class="post-location"></span> </div></div>Mike Ghousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01647894600183489442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8050168429669674901.post-2499713472054565052011-04-14T19:39:00.001-07:002011-04-14T19:39:38.961-07:00Muslim Speaker Mike Ghouse<span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">NURTURING PLURALISTIC VALUES EMBEDDED IN ISLAM </span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13pt;">A Muslim Speaker, thinker, organizer and an activist committed to building cohesive societies with a belief that what is good for Muslims has got to be good for the world and vice versa to sustain peace, harmony and prosperity. <br />
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To be a Muslim is to be a peace maker, one who constantly seeks to mitigate conflicts and nurtures goodwill for peaceful co-existence of humanity. God wants us to live in peace and harmony with his creation; Life and Matter. Over 1000 articles have been published on a range of topics in Islam and Pluralism. Insha Allah, a book outlining the Muslim vision is on the horizon.</span><shape adj="0,,0" coordsize="" fillcolor="#fefdfa" id="_x0000_s1026" o:spt="100" path="m200,250r,59910at200,60160,300,60260,-300,60160,200,60660l5970,60260at5970,60160,6070,60260,5970,60660,6470,60160l6070,250at5970,200,6070,300,6470,200,5970,-300l250,200at200,200,300,300,200,-300,-299,225e" stroked="f" style="height: 4533pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; mso-position-horizontal-relative: text; mso-position-vertical-relative: text; position: absolute; width: 468pt; z-index: 1;"><stroke joinstyle="round"></stroke><formulas></formulas><path o:connecttype="segments"></path></shape><shape adj="0,,0" coordsize="" fillcolor="black" filled="f" id="_x0000_s1027" o:spt="100" path="m200,245r,59970at200,60160,300,60260,-300,60160,324,60644e" strokecolor="#aab123" style="height: 4533pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; mso-position-horizontal-relative: text; mso-position-vertical-relative: text; position: absolute; width: 468pt; z-index: 2;"><stroke joinstyle="miter" miterlimit="10"></stroke><formulas></formulas><path o:connecttype="segments"></path></shape><shape adj="0,,0" coordsize="" fillcolor="black" filled="f" id="_x0000_s1028" o:spt="100" path="m250,60260r5775,at5970,60160,6070,60260,5970,60660,6470,60160e" strokecolor="#aab123" style="height: 4533pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; mso-position-horizontal-relative: text; mso-position-vertical-relative: text; position: absolute; width: 468pt; z-index: 3;"><stroke joinstyle="miter" miterlimit="10"></stroke><formulas></formulas><path o:connecttype="segments"></path></shape><shape adj="0,,0" coordsize="" fillcolor="black" filled="f" id="_x0000_s1029" o:spt="100" path="m6070,60210r,-59965at5970,200,6070,300,6470,200,5970,-300e" strokecolor="#aab123" style="height: 4533pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; mso-position-horizontal-relative: text; mso-position-vertical-relative: text; position: absolute; width: 468pt; z-index: 4;"><stroke joinstyle="miter" miterlimit="10"></stroke><formulas></formulas><path o:connecttype="segments"></path></shape><shape adj="0,,0" coordsize="" fillcolor="black" filled="f" id="_x0000_s1030" o:spt="100" path="m6020,200r-5770,at200,200,300,300,324,-284,-284,324e" strokecolor="#aab123" style="height: 4533pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; mso-position-horizontal-relative: text; mso-position-vertical-relative: text; position: absolute; width: 468pt; z-index: 5;"><stroke joinstyle="miter" miterlimit="10"></stroke><formulas></formulas><path o:connecttype="segments"></path></shape><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<h3 style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="" name="2995520960605150884"></a> </h3><h3 style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://muslimspeakermikeghouse.blogspot.com/2011/04/in-defense-of-islam-pursuing-civil.html"><span style="color: black;">In defense of Islam, pursuing a civil dialogue</span></a> </span></h3><h1 style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13pt;"><a href="http://www.dallasnews.com/news/columnists/steve-blow/20100919-In-defense-of-Islam-pursuing-9397.ece"><span style="color: black; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">http://www.dallasnews.com/news/columnists/steve-blow/20100919-In-defense-of-Islam-pursuing-9397.ece</span></a> <br />
</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13pt; font-weight: normal;">Over and over you hear it said: If Muslims oppose terrorism, why don't they stand up and say it?</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"></span></h1><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">If that has been you, Mike Ghouse ought to be your hero.<br />
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It is hard to imagine that anyone has worked harder than the <city w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Carrollton</place></city> resident to demonstrate the peaceful and moderate side of Islam.<br />
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And that effort includes personally visiting <city w:st="on">Dallas</city>' <place w:st="on"><placename w:st="on">First</placename> <placename w:st="on">Baptist</placename> <placetype w:st="on">Church</placetype></place> last Sunday just to put a friendly face on the "evil, evil religion" that the Rev. Robert Jeffress denounced a few weeks before.<br />
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"It was wonderful," Ghouse said of the visit. "We were so warmly received."<br />
He hopes a quick chat with Jeffress will be the start of deeper discussion about Islam and the importance of respect between religions.<br />
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"I want to have a dialogue with him, not to say he is wrong but to share another point of view," Ghouse said.<br />
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The 57-year-old Muslim was born in <a href="http://topics.dallasnews.com/topic/India"><span style="color: black;">India</span></a> and has lived in the <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">United States</place></country-region> for 30 years. He owns a small property management firm. But most of his day is devoted to building bridges between people of different faiths.<br />
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"It is my passion," he said in his distinctive raspy voice.<br />
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He has been a guest a dozen times on <a href="http://topics.dallasnews.com/topic/Sean_Hannity"><span style="color: black;">Sean Hannity's</span></a> TV and radio talk shows. "I don't like the way Sean cuts me off, but I have to honor him for giving the American public a semblance of another point of view."<br />
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Ghouse said he can understand fear and criticism of Islam because he went through a time of similar feelings. As a teen, he was troubled by passages of the Quran. He called himself an atheist for a while.<br />
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But he said deeper study led him to realize the Quran had been purposely mistranslated down through history.<br />
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In the Middle Ages, European leaders commissioned a hostile Quran translation to foster warfare against Muslim invaders.<br />
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Later, Muslim leaders produced another translation to inflame Muslims against Christians and Jews.<br />
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"It was all for politics," he said.<br />
Ghouse said he hopes to present Jeffress with a modern, faithful translation and challenge him to find evil verses.<br />
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"If he can, I will convert. I will join his church," Ghouse said. "If he can't, I will call on him to retract his statements and become a peacemaker."<br />
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Ghouse acknowledges that deep problems persist within Islam. "Three steps forward, two steps back," he said with a sigh.<br />
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And he agrees that mainstream Muslims have not done enough to counter violent images of their faith.<br />
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"That is very true," he said. "But part of it is that many Muslims have given up hope that we will ever be heard."<br />
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He said repeated denunciations of terrorism seem to fall on deaf ears.<br />
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And some efforts have backfired - like the proposed Islamic information center in <state w:st="on"><place w:st="on">New York</place></state>. He said it should be hailed for furthering the moderate Muslim cause.<br />
Instead, it has deepened hostility toward Muslims.<br />
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I have been astounded by the amount of anti-Islam propaganda that circulates via e-mail. Tons of it has come my way in the last few weeks.<br />
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One theme is that people like Mike Ghouse can't be trusted, that Islam encourages deception.<br />
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But Ghouse says actions speak louder than words. And he points to elections in Muslim nations.<br />
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More than half of Muslims live in countries with some degree of democracy. And time and time again, Islamist parties are overwhelmingly rejected in favor of secular, mainstream parties.<br />
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"The religious parties don't get more than 3 percent of the vote," Ghouse said.<br />
Polls show deep mistrust of Muslims. "But the most important question in those surveys is: 'Do you know anything about Islam?' " Ghouse said. "Most people say no."<br />
What keeps him going is faith in Americans, he said.<br />
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"The majority of Americans, if they know the truth, they will change their minds."<br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.4pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"># # #</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.4pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.4pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">M</span></b><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">ike Ghouse is a speaker, writer, thinker, futurist and an activist of Pluralism, <place w:st="on"><city w:st="on">Islam</city>, <country-region w:st="on">India</country-region></place> and Civil Societies passionately offering pluralistic solutions on issues of the day. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.4pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">He is a commentator at Fox News on the Hannity show, nationally syndicated Radio shows along with Dallas TV, Print and Radio networks and occasional interviews on NPR. He has spoken at international forums including the Parliament of Worlds Religions in <city w:st="on">Melbourne</city>, Middle East Peace initiative in <city w:st="on">Jerusalem</city>, International Leadership conference in <state w:st="on">Hawaii</state>, <state w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Washington</place></state> and elsewhere. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Concerned by the divisiveness, he saw the need to bring Americans together and founded America Together Foundation committed to building a cohesive <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">America</place></country-region>, indeed it is in response to ACT America which is bent on pitching one American against the other. We will be holding series of educational programs, conferences and workshops to address the issues that divide us such as Civil Right, GLBT, Quraan, Abortion, anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, Racial Profiling and Stereotyping. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">The Annual Unity Day USA is in its 7<sup>th</sup> year now, it is a purposeful event to bring Americans together, </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">on this Unity Day, we the people of the <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">United States of America</place></country-region> of every faith, race, ethnicity, culture and background will gather to express our commitment to co-existence, unity, prosperity and wellbeing of our nation. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Thanksgiving Celebration is in its 15<sup>th</sup> year showcasing cultural diversity. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">The 5<sup>th</sup> Annual Reflections on Holocaust and Genocides is to </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">learn and to acknowledge and reflect upon the terrible things we have inflicted upon each other and commit to avert such tragedies. Through this event non-Jewish people have consciously learned about Holocaust for the first time, it was also for the first time that people of 14 faiths came together to join in to commemorate the Holocaust that commemorated within the Jewish Community for years. They are not alone anymore in their anguish, we are all in it together with them, and it is a Muslim initiative to effect a positive change.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">The programs, seminars and workshops conducted by the Foundation for Pluralism have become a part of the America Together Foundation. While the Foundation for Pluralism continues championing the idea of co-existence through respecting and accepting the otherness of other, the commitment to nurturing the pluralistic ideals embedded in Islam through the World Muslim Congress continues.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"># # #</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Fuller Profile is at:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://www.mikeghouse.net/MuslimSpeaker.MikeGhouse.asp"><span style="color: black;">http://www.mikeghouse.net/MuslimSpeaker.MikeGhouse.asp</span></a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Mike is working on two </span><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">books scheduled to be released this year; The American Muslim Agenda and My Journey to Pluralism.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Mike has written over 1000 Articles on Pluralism, <place w:st="on"><city w:st="on">Islam</city>, <country-region w:st="on">India</country-region></place>, Peace & Justice and civil societies published in a wide spectrum of Newspapers and Magazines around the world. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Locally, he is a panelist at Dallas Morning News's and writes weekly on a range of issues facing the nation. Washington Post, Huffington Post and other news papers and sites regularly publish his work. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Mike is available to speak on Pluralism, Islam, Civil Societies, and Peace & Justice at your place of worship, school, work place, seminars, workshops or conferences. His work is reflected at three websites & twenty two Blogs listed at <a href="http://www.mikeghouse.net/"><b><u><span style="color: black;">http://www.MikeGhouse.net/</span></u></b></a></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div>Mike Ghousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01647894600183489442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8050168429669674901.post-3240049498052688172010-12-02T21:58:00.001-08:002010-12-02T21:58:58.961-08:00Dallas Conference on building an inclusive America<h3 style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="" name="OLE_LINK1"></a><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">No American has to live in anxieties, discomfort or fear of the other. The purpose of this conference is to understand the issues and find ways to remove such fears in an open forum and restore the cohesiveness of our society and work towards building a safe and secure <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">America</place></country-region>. </span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Palatino Linotype"; font-size: 12pt;"><br />
When: 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM on Sunday, December 5, 2010<br />
Where: <place w:st="on"><placename w:st="on">Unity</placename> <placetype w:st="on">Church</placetype></place>, <address w:st="on"><street w:st="on">6525 Forest Lane</street>, <city w:st="on">Dallas</city>, <state w:st="on">TX</state></address>. 75230</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"></span></span></h3><div style="background: white;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype"; font-size: 13pt;"><br />
</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><strong><span style="color: black; font-family: "Palatino Linotype"; font-size: 16pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">PRESS RELEASE | INVITATION</span></strong></span><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype"; font-size: 13pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 14.4pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Palatino Linotype"; font-size: 13pt;">Contact: </span></span><a href="mailto:MikeGhouse@aol.com"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="color: #19004c; font-family: "Palatino Linotype"; font-size: 13pt;">MikeGhouse@aol.com</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Palatino Linotype"; font-size: 13pt;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><em><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Palatino Linotype"; font-size: 13pt;">You are invited, details below</span></b></em></span><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Palatino Linotype"; font-size: 13pt;"></span></span></div><div style="background: white;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype"; font-size: 13pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">No American has to live in anxieties, discomfort or fear of the other. The purpose of this conference is to remove such myths in an open forum and restore the cohesiveness of our society and work towards building a safe and secure <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">America</place></country-region>. </span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype"; font-size: 13pt;"><br />
Since our independence in 1776, we have been tested time and again by various political, economic and religious forces to divide us, however, at the end we have come out strong as one nation. The Civil War, the Great Depression, the World War, Pearl Harbor, Women’s rights, Abortion, the Vietnam War, Civil Rights, Budget Deficits, Unemployment, 9/11, the <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Iraq</place></country-region> and Afghanistan War have all been difficult, but we will make it through and sanity will prevail.</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype"; font-size: 13pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Palatino Linotype"; font-size: 13pt;"><br />
The controversy over the <placename w:st="on">Muslim</placename> <placetype w:st="on">Community Center</placetype> in <state w:st="on"><place w:st="on">New York</place></state> has unraveled the difficulties Catholics, Jews, Mormons, Wicca and others have endured. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Palatino Linotype"; font-size: 13pt;">We have come a long way to embrace and accept the otherness of other. However, this year has given rise to yet another temptation; to blame Islam, calling it an evil, evil religion and calling its prophet a false prophet. No American has to live in fear of the other, nor live in anxieties or discomfort.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Palatino Linotype"; font-size: 13pt;">Religion has been “abused” and “misused” to someone’s advantage, as Americans, are we going to let that happen? No, we can pull ourselves together and not fall for the temptations to divide ourselves. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Palatino Linotype"; font-size: 13pt;"><br />
If we make an effort, goodness will come to our rescue. Mike Ghouse adds, “As members of diverse family of faiths, we seek to demystify the myths, malice and falsification of our respective faiths. It is time for all of us to gather and understand the Qur’aan, the holy book of Muslims, which has been the subject of attack by a few among us. Indeed, a conference is a positive response to negative sermons delivered from a few pulpits of <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">America</place></country-region> this year.” </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Palatino Linotype"; font-size: 13pt;"><br />
The Conference puts the Quraan in the hands of panelists made up of Pastors, Rabbis, Pundits, Shamans, Clergy, lay persons, elected officers and the public. The uniqueness of the event is highlighted by facing the “terrifying passages” of Quraan. For the first time in history, the actual verses from Quraan will be read directly and explained by panelists made up of Pastors, Rabbis, Pundits, Shamans, Clergy, lay persons and elected officials who have a deep interest in bringing Americans together on common grounds. The Muslim scholars either affirm their reading or share the additional information right from the very Quraan for further understanding.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Palatino Linotype"; font-size: 13pt;"><br />
It is time now to replace the ill-will with goodwill; no American has to live in anxieties, discomfort or fear of the other. The purpose of this conference is to remove such myths in an open forum in the public and restore the cohesiveness of our society and work towards building a safe and secure <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">America</place></country-region>. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Palatino Linotype"; font-size: 13pt;">When: 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM on Sunday, December 5, 2010<br />
Where: <place w:st="on"><placename w:st="on">Unity</placename> <placetype w:st="on">Church</placetype></place>, <address w:st="on"><street w:st="on">6525 Forest Lane</street>, <city w:st="on">Dallas</city>, <state w:st="on">TX</state></address>. 75230</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Palatino Linotype"; font-size: 13pt;">Event: Qur’aan Conference in <city w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Dallas</place></city><br />
Purpose: To demystify the myths about Quraan and Islam<br />
Website: </span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"></span><a href="http://www.quraanconference.com/"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="color: #19004c; font-family: "Palatino Linotype"; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">http://www.quraanconference.com/</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Palatino Linotype"; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br />
Inquiries: </span></span><a href="mailto:quraanconference@gmail.com"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="color: #19004c; font-family: "Palatino Linotype"; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">quraanconference@gmail.com</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Palatino Linotype"; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br />
RSVP: </span></span><a href="mailto:Confirmattendance@gmail.com"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="color: #19004c; font-family: "Palatino Linotype"; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Confirmattendance@gmail.com</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Palatino Linotype"; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br />
Call: Mike Ghouse (214) 325-1916</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Palatino Linotype"; font-size: 13pt;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><strong><span style="color: red; font-family: "Palatino Linotype"; font-size: 13pt;">THE EVENT IS FREE</span></strong></span><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Palatino Linotype"; font-size: 13pt;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Palatino Linotype"; font-size: 13pt;">Thank you.<br />
Mike Ghouse for<br />
A COHESIVE AMERICA, <br />
AMERICANS TOGETHER</span></span><a href="http://www.quraanconference.com/"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Palatino Linotype"; font-size: 13pt;">http://www.quraanconference.com/</span></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Palatino Linotype"; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Palatino Linotype"; font-size: 13pt;">Documentary – listed at </span></span><a href="http://www.quraanconference.com/"><span style="color: #664e12;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype"; font-size: 13pt;">www.QuraanConference.com</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"></span></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Palatino Linotype"; font-size: 13pt;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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</div>Mike Ghousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01647894600183489442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8050168429669674901.post-21071561325372042612010-10-14T03:49:00.001-07:002010-10-14T03:49:04.689-07:00Quran (Koran) Conference in Dallas, an American effort to build cohesive societiesThe Conference puts a Quraan in the hands of panelists made up of Pastors, Rabbis, Pundits, Shamans, lay persons, elected officers and the public. It is to demystify the myths about Quraan and Islam. An American effort to build cohesive societies.<br />
<br />
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<br />
<br />
Oct 10, 2010 - <city w:st="on">DALLAS</city>, <state w:st="on">TEXAS</state> - The Foundation for Pluralism and the World Muslim Congress have announced a conference on Quraan in <city w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Dallas</place></city> to be held between 3:00 PM and 6 PM on Sunday, December 5, 2010 at the Unity Church of Dallas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<br />
Representing the organizations, Mike Ghouse adds, "As members of diverse family of faiths, we seek to demystify the myths and falsification of our respective faiths. It is time for all of us to gather and understand the Qur'aan, the holy book of Muslims, which has been the subject of attack by a few among us. Indeed, the conference is a positive response to negative sermons delivered from a few pulpits of <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">America</place></country-region> this year." <br />
<br />
The uniqueness of the event is highlighted by facing the "terrifying passages" of Quraan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For the first time in history, the actual verses from Quraan will be read directly and explained by non-Muslim panelists made up of Pastors, Rabbis, Pundits, Shamans, Clergy, lay persons and elected officials who have a deep interest in bringing Americans together on common grounds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Muslim scholars either affirm their reading or refer to the Quraan for further understanding. It would be indeed a first hand educational experience. <br />
<br />
It is time now to replace the ill-will with goodwill; no American has to live in anxieties, discomfort or fear of the other. The purpose of this conference is to remove such myths in an open forum in the public and restore the cohesiveness of our society and work towards building a safe and secure <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">America</place></country-region>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
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Bring your children to experience the multi-cultural costumes in a designated room for them. <br />
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Refreshments will be served after the event. <br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
<b>THE EVENT IS FREE</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
Please R.S.V.P. to <a href="mailto:confirmattendance@gmail.com"><span style="color: blue;">confirmattendance@gmail.com</span></a> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
Direct your inquiries to <a href="mailto:QuraanConference@gmail.com"><span style="color: blue;">QuraanConference@gmail.com</span></a> . <br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black;">For details visit website <a href="http://www.quraanconference.com/">http://www.quraanconference.com/</a> </span></div><br />
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<span style="color: black;">Mike Ghouse is a speaker, thinker, writer, optimist, educator and an activist of Pluralism, Interfaith, Islam and Civil Societies. He heads the Foundation for Pluralism and World Muslim Congress and offers Pluralistic solutions to the media and the public on issues of the day. Mike's work is reflected at three websites & twenty two Blogs listed at <a href="http://www.mikeghouse.net/" target="_blank" title="http://www.mikeghouse.net/"><span style="color: #003366;">http://www.mikeghouse.net/</span></a></span>Mike Ghousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01647894600183489442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8050168429669674901.post-89914101474191193432010-09-30T20:30:00.001-07:002010-09-30T20:30:04.102-07:00Qur’aan Conference, an American event<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Qur’aan Conference, an American event </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">From times immemorial Religion has been “abused” and “misused” to someone gain, usually for controlling others. Are we going to let that happen? As Americans, we can pull ourselves together and not fall for the temptations to divide ourselves. No American has to live in fear of the other, nor live in anxieties or discomfort. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">All our faiths reinforce the creed of "One Nation under God, with liberty and justice for all.” Details at <a href="http://www.quraanconference.com/">http://www.quraanconference.com/</a> </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Mike Ghouse is a speaker on Pluralism and Islam offering pluralistic solutions to the media and public on issues of the day. His blogs and sites are listed at <span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.mikeghouse.net/"><b><span style="color: #003366;">www.MikeGhouse.net</span></b></a></span></span>Mike Ghousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01647894600183489442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8050168429669674901.post-18028956972946272632010-09-06T22:40:00.000-07:002010-09-06T22:45:15.412-07:00Rethinking American Options on IranSeptember 6, 2010<br /><br />If we are smart, we would spend our energy on diplomatic solutions.<br /><br />The US or Israel cannot be threatening Iran and expect them to lay down and get walked over, they will certainly hurt us as they get hurt. Both of us lose.<br /><br />Our war in Iraq has hurt us the ordinary Americans, the SOB's who talk about war and destruction don't give rat's tail about the Americans or the Israelis, they are not affected. Talk to the people whose homes are being foreclosed, cannot afford to drive or find a Job or feed their children properly - and these guys want to kill otehrs and get killed.<br /><br />Only the war mongers will benefit, not the Americans. We need to hose their minds to clean them out to start thinking peace. Peace brings stability and prosperity. We need to speak up, if not the evil men will bring more destruciton to the oridinary people.<br /><br />Mike Ghouse<br /><a href="http://www.mikeghouse.net/">www.mikeghouse.net</a><br /><br /># # #<br /><strong>Rethinking American Options on Iran</strong><br />Ahmedinejad is a foul mouth and we are out matching him, we have to be and act civilized. <a onclick="'CSS.addClass($("> </a><br />By George Friedman<br />Courtsey: www.stratfor.com<br /><br />Public discussion of potential attacks on Iran’s nuclear development sites is surging again. This has happened before. On several occasions, leaks about potential airstrikes have created an atmosphere of impending war. These leaks normally coincided with diplomatic initiatives and were designed to intimidate the Iranians and facilitate a settlement favorable to the United States and Israel. These initiatives have failed in the past. It is therefore reasonable to associate the current avalanche of reports with the imposition of sanctions and view it as an attempt to increase the pressure on Iran and either force a policy shift or take advantage of divisions within the regime.<br /><br />My first instinct is to dismiss the war talk as simply another round of psychological warfare against Iran, this time originating with Israel. Most of the reports indicate that Israel is on the verge of attacking Iran. From a psychological-warfare standpoint, this sets up the good-cop/bad-cop routine. The Israelis play the mad dog barely restrained by the more sober Americans, who urge the Iranians through intermediaries to make concessions and head off a war. As I said, we have been here before several times, and this hasn’t worked.<br /><br />The worst sin of intelligence is complacency, the belief that simply because something has happened (or has not happened) several times before it is not going to happen this time. But each episode must be considered carefully in its own light and preconceptions from previous episodes must be banished. Indeed, the previous episodes might well have been intended to lull the Iranians into complacency themselves. Paradoxically, the very existence of another round of war talk could be intended to convince the Iranians that war is distant while covert war preparations take place. An attack may be in the offing, but the public displays neither confirm nor deny that possibility.<br /><br />The Evolving Iranian Assessment<br /><br />STRATFOR has gone through three phases in its evaluation of the possibility of war. The first, which was in place until July 2009, held that while Iran was working toward a nuclear weapon, its progress could not be judged by its accumulation of enriched uranium. While that would give you an underground explosion, the creation of a weapon required sophisticated technologies for ruggedizing and miniaturizing the device, along with a very reliable delivery system. In our view, Iran might be nearing a testable device but it was far from a deliverable weapon. Therefore, we dismissed war talk and argued that there was no meaningful pressure for an attack on Iran.<br /><br />We modified this view somewhat in July 2009, after the Iranian elections and the demonstrations. While we dismissed the significance of the demonstrations, we noted close collaboration developing between Russia and Iran. That meant there could be no effective sanctions against Iran, so stalling for time in order for sanctions to work had no value. Therefore, the possibility of a strike increased.<br /><br />But then Russian support stalled as well, and we turned back to our analysis, adding to it an evaluation of potential Iranian responses to any air attack. We noted three potential counters: activating Shiite militant groups (most notably Hezbollah), creating chaos in Iraq and blocking the Strait of Hormuz, through which 45 percent of global oil exports travel. Of the three Iranian counters, the last was the real “nuclear option.” Interfering with the supply of oil from the Persian Gulf would raise oil prices stunningly and would certainly abort the tepid global economic recovery. Iran would have the option of plunging the world into a global recession or worse.<br /><br />There has been debate over whether Iran would choose to do the latter or whether the U.S. Navy could rapidly clear mines. It is hard to imagine how an Iranian government could survive air attacks without countering them in some way. It is also a painful lesson of history that the confidence of any military force cannot be a guide to its performance. At the very least, there is a possibility that the Iranians could block the Strait of Hormuz, and that means the possibility of devastating global economic consequences. That is a massive risk for the United States to take, against an unknown probability of successful Iranian action. In our mind, it was not a risk that the United States could take, especially when added to the other Iranian counters. Therefore, we did not think the United States would strike.<br /><br />Certainly, we did not believe that the Israelis would strike Iran alone. First, the Israelis are much less likely to succeed than the Americans would be, given the size of their force and their distance from Iran (not to mention the fact that they would have to traverse either Turkish, Iraqi or Saudi airspace). More important, Israel lacks the ability to mitigate any consequences. Any Israeli attack would have to be coordinated with the United States so that the United States could alert and deploy its counter-mine, anti-submarine and missile-suppression assets. For Israel to act without giving the United States time to mitigate the Hormuz option would put Israel in the position of triggering a global economic crisis. The political consequences of that would not be manageable by Israel. Therefore, we found an Israeli strike against Iran without U.S. involvement difficult to imagine.<br /><br />The Current Evaluation<br /><br />Our current view is that the accumulation of enough enriched uranium to build a weapon does not mean that the Iranians are anywhere close to having a weapon. Moreover, the risks inherent in an airstrike on its nuclear facilities outstrip the benefits (and even that assumes that the entire nuclear industry is destroyed in one fell swoop — an unsure outcome at best). It also assumes the absence of other necessary technologies. Assumptions of U.S. prowess against mines might be faulty, and so, too, could my assumption about weapon development. The calculus becomes murky, and one would expect all governments involved to be waffling.<br /><br />There is, of course, a massive additional issue. Apart from the direct actions that Iran might make, there is the fact that the destruction of its nuclear capability would not solve the underlying strategic challenge that Iran poses. It has the largest military force in the Persian Gulf, absent the United States. The United States is in the process of withdrawing from Iraq, which would further diminish the ability of the United States to contain Iran. Therefore, a surgical strike on Iran’s nuclear capability combined with the continuing withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq would create a profound strategic crisis in the Persian Gulf. The country most concerned about Iran is not Israel, but Saudi Arabia. The Saudis recall the result of the last strategic imbalance in the region, when Iraq, following its armistice with Iran, proceeded to invade Kuwait, opening the possibility that its next intention was to seize the northeastern oil fields of Saudi Arabia. In that case, the United States intervened. Given that the United States is now withdrawing from Iraq, intervention following withdrawal would be politically difficult unless the threat to the United States was clear. More important, the Iranians might not give the Saudis the present Saddam Hussein gave them by seizing Kuwait and then halting. They might continue. They certainly have the military capacity to try.<br /><br />In a real sense, the Iranians would not have to execute such a military operation in order to gain the benefits. The simple imbalance of forces would compel the Saudis and others in the Persian Gulf to seek a political accommodation with the Iranians. Strategic domination of the Persian Gulf does not necessarily require military occupation — as the Americans have abundantly demonstrated over the past 40 years. It merely requires the ability to carry out those operations.<br /><br />The Saudis, therefore, have been far quieter — and far more urgent — than the Israelis in asking the United States to do something about the Iranians. The Saudis certainly do not want the United States to leave Iraq. They want the Americans there as a blocking force protecting Saudi Arabia but not positioned on Saudi soil. They obviously are not happy about Iran’s nuclear efforts, but the Saudis see the conventional and nuclear threat as a single entity. The collapse of the Iran-Iraq balance of power has left the Arabian Peninsula in a precarious position.King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia did an interesting thing a few weeks ago. He visited Lebanon personally and in the company of the president of Syria. The Syrian and Saudi regimes are not normally friendly, given different ideologies, Syria’s close relationship with Iran and their divergent interests in Lebanon. But there they were together, meeting with the Lebanese government and giving not very subtle warnings to Hezbollah. Saudi influence and money and the threat of Iran jeopardizing the Saudi regime by excessive adventurism seems to have created an anti-Hezbollah dynamic in Lebanon. Hezbollah is suddenly finding many of its supposed allies cooperating with some of its certain enemies. The threat of a Hezbollah response to an airstrike on Iran seems to be mitigated somewhat.<br /><br />Eliminating Iranian Leverage In Hormuz<br /><br />I said that there were three counters. One was Hezbollah, which is the least potent of the three from the American perspective. The other two are Iraq and Hormuz. If the Iraqis were able to form a government that boxed in pro-Iranian factions in a manner similar to how Hezbollah is being tentatively contained, then the second Iranian counter would be weakened. That would “just” leave the major issue — Hormuz.<br /><br />The problem with Hormuz is that the United States cannot tolerate any risk there. The only way to control that risk is to destroy Iranian naval capability before airstrikes on nuclear targets take place. Since many of the Iranian mine layers would be small boats, this would mean an extensive air campaign and special operations forces raids against Iranian ports designed to destroy anything that could lay mines, along with any and all potential mine-storage facilities, anti-ship missile emplacements, submarines and aircraft. Put simply, any piece of infrastructure within a few miles of any port would need to be eliminated. The risk to Hormuz cannot be eliminated after the attack on nuclear sites. It must be eliminated before an attack on the nuclear sites. And the damage must be overwhelming.<br /><br />There are two benefits to this strategy. First, the nuclear facilities aren’t going anywhere. It is the facilities that are producing the enriched uranium and other parts of the weapon that must be destroyed more than any uranium that has already been enriched. And the vast bulk of those facilities will remain where they are even if there is an attack on Iran’s maritime capabilities. Key personnel would undoubtedly escape, but considering that within minutes of the first American strike anywhere in Iran a mass evacuation of key scientists would be under way anyway, there is little appreciable difference between a first strike against nuclear sites and a first strike against maritime targets. (U.S. air assets are good, but even the United States cannot strike 100-plus targets simultaneously.)<br /><br />Second, the counter-nuclear strategy wouldn’t deal with the more fundamental problem of Iran’s conventional military power. This opening gambit would necessarily attack Iran’s command-and-control, air-defense and offensive air capabilities as well as maritime capabilities. This would sequence with an attack on the nuclear capabilities and could be extended into a prolonged air campaign targeting Iran’s ground forces.The United States is very good at gaining command of the air and attacking conventional military capabilities (see Yugoslavia in 1999). Its strategic air capability is massive and, unlike most of the U.S. military, underutilized. The United States also has substantial air forces deployed around Iran, along with special operations forces teams trained in penetration, evasion and targeting, and satellite surveillance. Far from the less-than-rewarding task of counterinsurgency in Afghanistan, going after Iran would be the kind of war the United States excels at fighting. No conventional land invasion, no boots-on-the-ground occupation, just a very thorough bombing campaign. If regime change happens as a consequence, great, but that is not the primary goal. Defanging the Iranian state is.It is also the only type of operation that could destroy the nuclear capabilities (and then some) while preventing an Iranian response. It would devastate Iran’s conventional military forces, eliminating the near-term threat to the Arabian Peninsula. Such an attack, properly executed, would be the worst-case scenario for Iran and, in my view, the only way an extended air campaign against nuclear facilities could be safely executed.<br /><br />Just as Iran’s domination of the Persian Gulf rests on its ability to conduct military operations, not on its actually conducting the operations, the reverse is also true. It is the capacity and apparent will to conduct broadened military operations against Iran that can shape Iranian calculations and decision-making. So long as the only threat is to Iran’s nuclear facilities, its conventional forces remain intact and its counter options remain viable, Iran will not shift its strategy. Once its counter options are shut down and its conventional forces are put at risk, Iran must draw up another calculus.<br /><br />In this scenario, Israel is a marginal player. The United States is the only significant actor, and it might not strike Iran simply over the nuclear issue. That’s not a major U.S. problem. But the continuing withdrawal from Iraq and Iran’s conventional forces are very much an American problem. Destroying Iran’s nuclear capability is merely an added benefit.<br /><br />Given the Saudi intervention in Lebanese politics, this scenario now requires a radical change in Iraq, one in which a government would be quickly formed and Iranian influence quickly curtailed. Interestingly, we have heard recent comments by administration officials asserting that Iranian influence has, in fact, been dramatically reduced. At present, such a reduction is not obvious to us, but the first step of shifting perceptions tends to be propaganda. If such a reduction became real, then the two lesser Iranian counter moves would be blocked and the U.S. offensive option would become more viable.<br /><br />Internal Tension in Tehran<br /><br />At this point, we would expect to see the Iranians recalculating their position, with some of the clerical leadership using the shifting sands of Lebanon against Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Indeed, there have been many indications of internal stress, not between the mythical democratic masses and the elite, but within the elite itself. This past weekend the Iranian speaker of the house attacked Ahmadinejad’s handling of special emissaries. For what purpose we don’t yet know, but the internal tension is growing.<br /><br />The Iranians are not concerned about the sanctions. The destruction of their nuclear capacity would, from their point of view, be a pity. But the destruction of large amounts of their conventional forces would threaten not only their goals in the wider Islamic world but also their stability at home. That would be unacceptable and would require a shift in their general strategy.<br /><br />From the Iranian point of view — and from ours — Washington’s intentions are opaque. But when we consider the Obama administration’s stated need to withdraw from Iraq, Saudi pressure on the United States not to withdraw while Iran remains a threat, Saudi moves against Hezbollah to split Syria from Iran and Israeli pressure on the United States to deal with nuclear weapons, the pieces for a new American strategy are emerging from the mist. Certainly the Iranians appear to be nervous. And the threat of a new strategy might just be enough to move the Iranians off dead center. If they don’t, logic would dictate the consideration of a broader treatment of the military problem posed by Iran.Mike Ghousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01647894600183489442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8050168429669674901.post-21772985527533148072010-08-08T13:02:00.000-07:002010-08-08T13:03:27.127-07:00Ground Zero Mosque ArticlesWe have to respect and honor the sentiments of every one who was a victim of terrorism and their friends and relatives who have suffered through this….The Ground Zero Mosque is engaging the American Public and bringing out emotions and intellectualism to the forefront to tackle the issue of co-existence. The questions abound…..<br /><br />In behalf of the men and women who have lost their loved ones, a few are genuinely opposing the building of the communtiy Center, a few are Altruistic and want the center to stand out as a beaocon of hope and peace and yet a few are falling prey to the political opportunists. At the end, if we envision an America that is good for all, we have to consider dropping the “me, me, and me” and yeild to what is good for America, the land of the free.<br /><br />If Saudi is a bad country, why do we want to emulate them?<br /><br />Continued: <a href="http://mikeghouseforamerica.blogspot.com/2010/08/ground-zero-mosque-articles.html">http://mikeghouseforamerica.blogspot.com/2010/08/ground-zero-mosque-articles.html</a><br /><br />Mike Ghouse is a speaker, thinker and a writer of Pluralism and offers pluralistic solutions for the issues of the day. He is a frequent guest in the media and his work is encapsulated in 22 Blogs and 3 websites listed at <a href="http://www.mikeghouse.net/">www.MikeGhouse.net</a>Mike Ghousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01647894600183489442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8050168429669674901.post-60762534197587998742010-07-22T21:40:00.000-07:002010-07-22T21:41:46.383-07:00Themes for the Parliament of Worlds Religions in 2014<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8WWLGUwki_63VL4xcOG6Rp5qoJUty2ffjHRrI2ZvQH8To6CTR6a3d8oVOcIH8kEMRN-IAbD01_f-JJbtNA_zaMMQwqNWgr4SMdJwRqiD9z5fuKHaHpd1GLxpaRZaA_pte36E6kVdt-Jj5/s1600/2014+Theme+for+Parliament.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496957247454751138" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 161px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8WWLGUwki_63VL4xcOG6Rp5qoJUty2ffjHRrI2ZvQH8To6CTR6a3d8oVOcIH8kEMRN-IAbD01_f-JJbtNA_zaMMQwqNWgr4SMdJwRqiD9z5fuKHaHpd1GLxpaRZaA_pte36E6kVdt-Jj5/s200/2014+Theme+for+Parliament.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>The theme that might capture our imagination and encapsulate our issues in 2014 would be, “A legacy for the next generation” or “A legacy for seven generations.” It is not a new idea; it is a tradition of the native peoples of America.The issues that affect our lives in the coming decade will continue to be environment, water, hunger, religious and ethnic intolerance. If we shy away from consciously shaping our future, we may drift into the abyss of incoherence. We may be fighting against deeply entrenched positions rather than finding solutions to the common issues.<br /><br />Continued: <a href="http://wisdomofreligion.blogspot.com/2010/07/parliament-of-worlds-religions-summit.html">http://wisdomofreligion.blogspot.com/2010/07/parliament-of-worlds-religions-summit.html</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.mikeghouse.net/">http://www.mikeghouse.net/</a><br /><br /></div>Mike Ghousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01647894600183489442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8050168429669674901.post-86680574602667616242010-07-16T17:32:00.000-07:002010-07-16T17:33:21.378-07:00Mosque at Ground Zero religious freedom too far?Thanks to Dallas Morning News for presenting different points of view. Our own Rabbis and Pastors have spoken respectfully. <br /><br />Indeed, it is another opportunity to the world to see what we are made of; the world will see the spirit of our freedom and who we are, we are open to others, our freedom does not scare us, we are secure with ourselves and secure with the God given diversity; and we live with confidence of who we are.<br /><br />We set the tone for the world, so other nations can emulate us and not the other way around.<br />Continued: <a href="http://wisdomofreligion.blogspot.com/2010/07/is-mosque-at-ground-zero-religious.html">http://wisdomofreligion.blogspot.com/2010/07/is-mosque-at-ground-zero-religious.html</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.mikeghouse.net/">www.MikeGhouse.net</a>Mike Ghousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01647894600183489442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8050168429669674901.post-40742917315108433162010-02-05T17:04:00.000-08:002010-02-05T17:05:26.649-08:00Perception of AmericaPERCEPTION OF AMERICA<br /><br />America is not what is depicted here in this anti-American, ironically funny video that I don't like. I hope to find a good piece to offset this one. The world loves us, they don't like our government, just as we don't like other governments around the world, but we have no problems with their people as they don't have with us. We failed in our duties and let people like Saddam and Bush reign in, our Brute removed the other but missed the real evil man; Osama, and instead killed close to a Million people. Are we responsible, was our government, government of the people? What was the difference between Iraqi people and us?<br /><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CnlMnf7t4t4">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CnlMnf7t4t4</a>Mike Ghousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01647894600183489442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8050168429669674901.post-7183241003297093752010-01-16T16:37:00.000-08:002010-01-16T16:38:29.658-08:00Press Release, Holocaust and Genocides in Dallas<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7b5Rbb1eHqN4JBiOE6YUylGBoHJPBXUPjTuvLySwAaGi1B4r_FkxqOYaXccYGyJG_2lOka8yEhpDw17gZd4thqMAG4FsEjaTGQ_pqfQbS66kdj6inj8Vqw0koou8TZJtvGxLPY2UTpA-K/s1600-h/Holocuast-Genocides-010710.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 171px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427501615395757762" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7b5Rbb1eHqN4JBiOE6YUylGBoHJPBXUPjTuvLySwAaGi1B4r_FkxqOYaXccYGyJG_2lOka8yEhpDw17gZd4thqMAG4FsEjaTGQ_pqfQbS66kdj6inj8Vqw0koou8TZJtvGxLPY2UTpA-K/s200/Holocuast-Genocides-010710.jpg" /></a><br /><div><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000099;"><strong>PRESS RELEASE</strong></span><br />Contact: Mike Ghouse (214) 325-1916,<br />email: <a href="mailto:MikeGhouse@aol.com">MikeGhouse@aol.com</a><br />event email: <a href="mailto:HolocaustandGenocides@gmail.com">HolocaustandGenocides@gmail.com</a><br />Website: <a href="http://www.holocaustandgenocides.com/">http://www.holocaustandgenocides.com/</a><br /><br /><span style="color:#cc0000;">III ANNUAL REFELCTIONS ON THE HOLOCAUST AND GENOCIDES<br /></span><br />DALLAS – (January 14, 2010) –The Foundation for Pluralism announces the 7/7 speakers Panel to reflect upon the Holocaust and Genocides event at 5:00 PM on Sunday, January 24, 2010 at the Center for Spiritual Center, 4801 Spring Valley Road, Dallas, TX. 75244.<br /><br />Each individual in the seven member panel would acknowledge the inhumanity in each one of us and reflect upon the solutions for co-existence. It is a purposeful event to learn, acknowledge and reflect upon the terrible things, that we humans have inflicted upon each other.<br /><br />What can you do as individual?<br /><br />Continue: <a href="http://holocaustandgenocides.blogspot.com/2010/01/press-release-on-holocaust-and.html">http://holocaustandgenocides.blogspot.com/2010/01/press-release-on-holocaust-and.html</a><br />~ ~ ~ </div>Mike Ghousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01647894600183489442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8050168429669674901.post-86469043883489560692009-12-23T23:31:00.001-08:002009-12-23T23:32:09.135-08:00A tribute to Jesus<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_vspl-zaSR3mLxN0jxRRexD-1qzOpz0qF0jOwfiIwtXckRPJ46VCHfd_ZVQSRO75nGxNSJ0u9VWdzQZY9MRKN_nRyeis13y0v2f-_IwImQ35E_sJsLI9Tw0kwONtrr8QB4SKfqo3sECPG/s1600-h/Baby+Jesus.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 288px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418702157487718226" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_vspl-zaSR3mLxN0jxRRexD-1qzOpz0qF0jOwfiIwtXckRPJ46VCHfd_ZVQSRO75nGxNSJ0u9VWdzQZY9MRKN_nRyeis13y0v2f-_IwImQ35E_sJsLI9Tw0kwONtrr8QB4SKfqo3sECPG/s320/Baby+Jesus.jpg" /></a>A tribute to Jesus on this Christmas;<br /><div>What does it mean to be religious?</div><br /><div>Mike Ghouse</div><br /><div>This column is dedicated to Rev. Petra Weldes of the Center for Spiritual Living in Dallas. Some of my conversation with her inspired me to write this tribute to Jesus and what it means to be religious.<br /><br />Continued: <a href="http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2009/12/tribute-to-jesus.html">http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2009/12/tribute-to-jesus.html</a></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>~~~</div>Mike Ghousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01647894600183489442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8050168429669674901.post-58325533268488384712009-12-14T00:09:00.000-08:002009-12-14T00:10:39.068-08:00Copenhagen is about Climate JusticeClimate Justice assures every one in the long haul that one can continue living and breathing regardless of being rich or poor. Protecting the environment is the right thing to do; indeed it is a sacred duty of every <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ8nY32PzBtuQCWen4w39DVaUjNeeO2Iy3byjua9D3Tb3fuCYFXKFAqjHmWMCaChTzE0XoTlGHTO90z8qrmLj4C_FZ4UXkJJVdb5BaLbpNctf9rUVZ8X5PLCzkDXpup4F7KRfUE1llihw/s1600-h/copenhagen3lt1.jpg"></a>human. As an individual or a nation we cannot shut ourselves in a bubble; either we suffer the damage together or save the environment for all. None of us can live in silos.<br /><br />Continued: <a href="http://wisdomofreligion.blogspot.com/2009/12/copenhagen-is-about-climate-justice.html">http://wisdomofreligion.blogspot.com/2009/12/copenhagen-is-about-climate-justice.html</a><br />~~~Mike Ghousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01647894600183489442noreply@blogger.com0