We were able to acknowledge the tough issues and together and face them squarely, we also learned that we can find the way out of the quagmires without compromising the truth. I cannot thank enough for the contribution each speaker and participant made towards success of tonight’s program.
Dallas, Texas
Sunday, January 24, 2010
5:00 to 8:00 PM
CONTENTS
1. Initial report
2. Program Schedule
3. Readers comments at Dallas News
4. Press Releases
Humility was flowing in every one’s veins tonight, there was no acknowledgment of all the great things each speaker and commentator has made, and instead they were simply introduced by their first names. It did not bother them at all, they did not even pay attention to it, because it was not important to them, it was their message that was important to them. They listened to others, without ever lessening others. I am proud to be a part of this group for your humility and being good communicators and listeners. They had long crossed the threshold of "me, me and me alone person", to "we, we and us", and I salute them all for the same.
I hope to gather every one’s speech and include in the upcoming issue of the Journal of Pluralism. I will be compiling a full report and publish on the websites and Blogs.
Of the several accomplishments tonight, a few were;
1. that other peoples suffering is as legitimate as ours,
2. that some one related to us through faith, ethnicity or race has been a butcher too,
3. that it takes courage to see ourselves as perpetrators and accomplices as well,
4. that we can see the light at the end of the tunnel when politics is stripped,
5. that we can value others suffering without lessening our own or theirs,
6. that the overriding desire to highlight my own gets softened, easing our own pain
7. the sense of responsibility for creating a better world was present in us.
We could have done a full hour session with the theme and presentation of each speaker, and God willing we will have a full day conference on the subject.
Again, thank you.
Mike Ghouse is a Dallas based Speaker, Writer, Thinker and a Moderator. He is a frequent guest on talk radio and television networks offering pluralistic perspectives on issues of the day including Pluralism, Interfaith, Islam, Peace, India and Civic issues.
The Journal of Pluralism reaches 25000 individuals across the world. His comments, news analysis, opinions and Blogs are listed on his personal web site www.MikeGhouse.net
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III Annual Reflections on Holocaust & Genocides
An initiative of American Muslims; striving to build civil societies
Sunday, January 24, 2010 – 5:00 PM - 7: 30 PM
4801 Spring Valley Road, Dallas, TX 75244
Sponsored by
The Center for Spiritual Living
Refreshments by
FunAsia, Richardson, Texas
Kulfi Ice Cream and additional snacks by
Dr. Harbans Lal & Sabzi Mandi
Organized by:
The Foundation for Pluralism &
World Muslim Congress
Volunteers:
Casey Ohanja, Rita Clarke, Members of the Ismaili Muslim Community, Staff of the Center for Spiritual Living and several on spot volunteers.
This is an educational program, where 7 speakers will reflect on 7 topics for 7 minutes each. The topics range from the Holocaust to Genocides, massacres and tragedies. We will learn about a few simple things that you and I can do to prevent such tragedies. It is a purposeful event to learn, acknowledge and reflect upon the terrible things that we humans have inflicted upon each other.
PROGRAM
PROGRAM HOST: Mike Ghouse
WELCOME – Rev. Petra Weldes
HAITI - A moment of silence for the people of Haiti
OPENING PRAYER – Sabeeha Kazimi
7/7 PRESENTATION (7 Minutes each)
1. Indigenous people of America - Peggy Larney
2. Holocaust - Rev. Dr. Petra Weldes, Dr. Rick Halperin and Mike Ghouse
3. Maya and Toltec - Ricardo Cervantes
4. Human tragedies - Reem Elghonimi
5. Darfur - Paulette Cooper
6. Gaza - Joshua Smith
7. Mary Ann Thompson-Frenk - Solutions
SILENT RECITATIONS
Through these representative events, our goal is to reflect upon every human tragedy. We plan to have a full day conference to remember every tragedy, and we hope you will attend the full day next year.
COMMENTATORS
Harinder Singh,
Kelly Seals Obazee,
Dr. Shirley Wu,
Fred Jones
John Halsey
Jeff Andonian
PROJECT SOAM – Kamran Cheikh
RECOGNITIONS – Len Ellis
Rev. Diane Baker
Roger Kallenberg
Joshua Smith
Paulette Cooper
REFLECTIONS - Tatiana Androsov
CLOSING PRAYERS – Rev. Bill Matthews
REFRESHMENTS
This is a humanitarian event.
CENTER FOR SPIRITUAL LIVING
New Thought combines the teachings of Jesus, Hindu cosmology, mental healing, platonic philosophy, science and psychology. New Thought includes Centers for Spiritual Living teaching the Science of Mind, Unity Church of Christianity, Divine Science, and many independent communities worldwide. New Thought teaches God as the Source from which creation springs which is inherently good; and recognizes Universal Spiritual Principles govern all life. That which God is, we are. Embracing ancient traditions and modern wisdom, Science of Mind teaches practical spiritual tools for personal and global healing and transformation. What we know is all paths lead to God, and all life is sacred. http://www.csldallas.org
THE FOUNDATION FOR PLURALISM
Pluralism is an attitude. If we can learn to respect the otherness of other, and accept the God given uniqueness of each one of the Seven billion of us, then conflicts fade and solutions emerge.
When applied to religion, it should sound like this, “I love my faith as you love yours, and your devotion to the creator is as sincere as mine. My values will not diminish an ounce by giving full value to your faith, and given that I hereby proclaim that my faith works for me as yours works for you. Furthermore, I do not claim my faith to be superior to yours as it amounts to arrogance. Our faiths teach us humility and not arrogance.”
The change is coming, the paradigm is moving from exclusive to inclusive societies. In our life time collective blame on religions will become a thing of the past and individuals will be held responsible for their acts and not their family, neighborhood, community, nation or their religion. It is a sure way to find justice, as religions are intangibles that cannot be punished or hung and justice never happens and societal balance is seldom achieved.
www.FoundationforPluralism.com
YEAR 2010
• Seminars and Lectures
• Workshops – Wisdom of Religion, all the beautiful religions
• The Journal of Pluralism – Monitoring the trends in Pluralism
• 4th Annual reflections on Holocaust and Genocides - all day
• 14th Annual Thanksgiving Celebrations; a multi-cultural event
• 6th Annual Unity Day USA; Americans coming together
WORLD MUSLIM CONGRESS
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.
Our Mission is to work for a world of co-existence through inclusiveness and participation. As a member of diverse family of faiths, our efforts will be directed towards justice and equity to attain peace for the humankind with a firm grounding in commonly held values. We cannot have advantages at the cost of others. Such benefits are temporary and deleterious to lasting peace. We believe what is good for Muslims has got to be good for the world, and vice versa, to sustain it.
PROJECT SOAM
This is a collaborative societal project effort in the DFW Metroplex to promote social awareness, solidarity, development and co-existence amongst humanity. The word Soam comes from an Arabic word that has been widely used in the Quran meaning "to abstain from actions in order to be dedicated towards a noble duty or cause", thus in Project SOAM individuals, institutions and organizations are all called upon to sacrifice their welfare, effort and time to provide sustenance and development towards the most vital causes of humanity and environment around us.
As a global community whose wounds and entanglements are felt by all nations and people, let us join together in order to dedicate ourselves towards this great cause for the future security and welfare of all mankind. The Project is an initiative the World Muslim Congress.
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READERS COMMENTS AT DALLAS NEWS
http://religionblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2010/01/center-for-spiritual-living-ho.html
Posted by Matthew Cappiello @ 4:32 PM Fri, Jan 22, 2010
Sounds like a fantastic event. Regardless of faith, ethnicity, or political views, injustice is still injustice to all.
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Posted by Rizwan Sheikh @ 4:41 PM Fri, Jan 22, 2010
Excellent initiative. We as a human race need to recognize the sufferings before we can expect them to never happen again. I appluad the organizers..
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Posted by Tatiana Androsov @ 4:45 PM Fri, Jan 22, 2010
It is very important that we consider how cruel we have been, are and can be to each other. We should not forget that we are all prone to reacting badly when outside our 'comfort zones' and forgetting about the Golden Rule that we all refer to. Come and stretch your comfort zones.
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Posted by Khawaja N. Anwar @ 5:29 PM Fri, Jan 22, 2010
It never ceases to amaze me how we humans are able to snuff out another human life without feeling any pangs of conscience.We all need to continue to reflect upon this question unceasingly till we,God willing, can find a lasting answer to this persistent, recurring phenomenon.
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Posted by Hind Jarrah @ 5:57 PM Fri, Jan 22, 2010
I am so hopeful to see that ALL atrocities are being remembered and acknowledged "The Holocaust was a major human tragedy and a failure of humanity. Among Genocides, Massacres and other tragedies we will reflect upon the Indigenous American people, the Mayans, the Toltecs, Darfur, Polpot, Congo, Armenia, Rwanda, Falun Dafa, Burma, Tibet, Bosnia, India, Gaza and the transatlantic slave trade". ; It is great that people from all faiths and background are starting to acknowledge and admit that these tragedies were and are still being inflicted by human beings on each other. I do pray -though- that admitting and acknowledging will be only the first step towards a sincere and persistent effort to stop these tragedies and prevent any new ones and to compensate those who had to endure the suffering; I pray that our creator bless this effort with success.
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Posted by Rev. Dennis Hamilton @ 6:19 PM Fri, Jan 22, 2010
I just finished reading Greg Mortenson's Three Cups of Tea, which tells the story of an American building schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan. What a wonderful alternative scenario to military solutions. We know that humanity is capable of genocide. But we have seen that we are also capable of great generosity, love, forgiveness and peace. I want to say never again to war, to genocide. I want humanity to see the enormity of the Holocaust, and all the holocausts of history. I want us to see that the victims are our own brother and sisters, though they speak another language and have different customs. Maybe then we will all say, together, Never again.
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Posted by Rev. Angie Buchanan @ 7:35 PM Fri, Jan 22, 2010
We cannot dwell in the house of suffering and resentment for it will poison our souls but, we can express our sorrow and our grief with one another, and determine that we will be ever vigilant in our efforts to not repeat the offending behavior.
We cannot change what has happened in the past but, we can certainly use it to shape how we go forward.
Simply saying "I'm sorry" as the Australian government has done with the Aboriginals is an honest beginning. To acknowledge that harm has been wrought and that harmful practices will be stopped goes a long way to promote healing of wounds that have gone unattended to for so long.
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Posted by dr.b.m.sharma @ 7:55 PM Fri, Jan 22, 2010
O Lord.!! This Existential System is yours. And we are also yours. Total aggregated wish of the Existence flowers. And genocides and holocausts event...as part of this system and as part of this system Science is attempting to know the reasons and what could be preventive measures to avoid and save life too. And in these systems, human lives have lost and people have suffered.. and people do get filled in with fear. So as part of the Existential system, another sub system is there to assemble and calibrate the self: heart, soul, mind, thoughts and their flows.. to pay homage and regards.. and prayers for the peace of the Departed Souls.. and at the same time prayers are the applications to prevent such further holocausts with almost zero losses..I in front of You kneel down and bow down and pray that Grant Your Heart to Those Departed Souls and give energies and courage to those people so they rise again and live their life joyfully. And fill of us with your Love... and bless that we forget the fear of such genocides and holocausts and get associated with construction, reconstruction and cultivation of love in All Human Hearts and Souls.. In your prayers.. In Your Love.. drbmsharma.
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Posted by Amina Rab @ 8:18 PM Fri, Jan 22, 2010
Why have we not learned anything from history? Why do we still continue to inflict pain and suffering on each other? Programs like these serve to remind us of our folly and give us a wakeup call. I sincerely hope we do not continue to add to the list of Genocides, Massacres and other tragedies in the world.
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Posted by Razi Raziuddin @ 9:27 PM Fri, Jan 22, 2010
The best form of learing will come only through interaction and engagements with those who are unlike you and think and act differently.
The miseries of this world is mostly due to two prime reasons; temptation to dominate others, and resistence not to acknowledge others.
Arranging this kind of ggatherings, seminars and cultural events will certainly help heal the wounds and pains, as well as create space for others to exist.
Good luck.
Razi Raziuddin
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Posted by Razi Raziuddin @ 9:29 PM Fri, Jan 22, 2010
The best form of learing will come only through interaction and engagements with those who are unlike you and think and act differently.
The miseries of this world is mostly due to two prime reasons; temptation to dominate others, and resistence not to acknowledge others.
Arranging this kind of ggatherings, seminars and cultural events will certainly help heal the wounds and pains, as well as create space for others to exist.
Good luck.
Razi Raziuddin
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Posted by Mirza A. Beg @ 10:57 PM Fri, Jan 22, 2010
The only indisputable lesson of human history from very long ago is all of our ancestors were nomadic and immigrated from place to place. At the beginning of this millennium it is very important that we appreciate this truth and learn that we are part of an extended human family and Earth is our common home.
Depriving others of what we want for ourselves by claiming exclusive rights should be passé. Let us join and outlaw by consensus, ethnic cleansing, genocide and wars for land. That is the only way to reach universal peace. Best wishes,
Mirza A. Beg
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Posted by Anand Krishna/Anand Ashram Foundation, Indonesia (www.anandkrishna.org) @ 11:22 PM Fri, Jan 22, 2010
Wonderful, more awareness, more of such initiatives, and we shall have a better world. On behalf of my foundation, and the peace loving people of Indonesia, i congratulate all of you involved in this program.
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Posted by KC Ohanaja @ 11:26 PM Fri, Jan 22, 2010
I am very delighted that an event such as this one is occuring on an annual basis. genocides,massacres and tragedies such as the ones that will be discussed during the event have been constantly occuring throughout human existence, and although history is not repeating itself, todays event are displaying that it is rhyming. For the sake and welfare of mankind, we as human beings really need to address these issues and find constructive ways to mitigate injustices against all people and learn to accept the sanctity and dignity of each and every human being. I know that there will be some people who have their own personal biases or apprehensiveness against the event or some of the issues that will be discussed which in itself shows a critical point of the problem and is very disappointing as they do not see the value and potential that this type of work can have to affect the relations amongst different communities. Once we learn to uphold the justice and speak up against the wrongs of ALL people, we will begin to see peace and repsect amongst each other, there will be no need for a sense of fear or insecurity amongst different groups and people if we are all uphold the rights and treat each other justly. It is only when societies stray from these values or remain silent to the inhumainity around them, that there occurs injustice,fear and breeding of prejudice.
I am very proud of the novel and unprecendented work that Mike Ghouse has done in and outside the Muslim Community to build bridges between different communities and defend their rights of belief and practice. I hope that these types of events receive the much need attention and exposure that they deserve and in return will encourage other communities and religious leaders to do similar work to promote peace and co-existence.
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Posted by Edip Yuksel @ 12:46 AM Sat, Jan 23, 2010
I command Mike Ghouse and his friends for organizing such an event.
Remembering past tragedies should not remain as mere remembrance of evils of the past, but should be remembered to guide us not to repeat those tragedies. The Nazis, Hitler, Mussolini may not be alive but their ditto-heads were/are in action among us, in Bosnia, Rwanda, Sudan, Palestine...
As the children of Adam, we should promote peace and justice without discriminating because of religious affiliation or ethnic background.
Peacemakers of the World, Unite!
Peace,
Edip Yuksel
islamicreform.org
19.org
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Posted by Mary Ann Thompson-Frenk @ 5:19 AM Sat, Jan 23, 2010
Looking forward to speaking and to hearing all the other speakers and meeting with the various community people in attendence! Way to go, Mike Ghouse! Dallas is so grateful for all the work you do!
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Posted by Nayyara Bukhari @ 9:41 AM Sat, Jan 23, 2010
Join Respect all religions no Fanaticism-No Extremism No terrorism
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Posted by Larry Larney @ 9:54 AM Sat, Jan 23, 2010
On September 13th, 2007 the UN General Assembly adopted The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples with over whelming majority. (Canada, Australia, New Zealand, United States) 4 Negative votes. The combine views and Interests sets the framework of the future. It is a tool for Peace and Justice, based upon mutual recognition and mutual respect. Quoted; Article, IWGIA
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Posted by Matthew @ 10:42 AM Sat, Jan 23, 2010
Peace for all of the individuals in the world created by God. Fight injustice in all forms!
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Posted by Peter Plantec @ 10:51 AM Sat, Jan 23, 2010
In my experience most people around the world are descent and warm individuals. As an American I also find that people in countries where America is hated, I'm am often welcomed by families. The problem seems to be religion and governments. As we have seen it is not the basic tennents of religion that are at fault, but the people practicing religion and running governments that cause the problem. So it is my opinion that humans are basically good until greed or hatred sets in. Both religion and Government are vehicles for expressing greed and hatred. So my conclusion is that humans in general would be better off with core ethincs but without religion and with governments that have little power. It would have to be universal or the governments with power would dominate and kill the whole plan.
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Posted by Aliza Hava @ 11:28 AM Sat, Jan 23, 2010
Thank you for organizing such an important and timely event. The world desperately needs to unite around such issues to ensure that these atrocities never occur again. Kol Hakavod (Hebrew for 'Great Respect') to Mike Ghouse and all involved.
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Posted by iftekhar Hai @ 12:14 PM Sat, Jan 23, 2010
I have been consistently watching Mike Ghouse for his work on bringing communities together in acknowledging their pain and suffering. This event is one such that will help plant seeds of peaceful living for years to come.
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Posted by Mike Ghouse @ 12:32 PM Sat, Jan 23, 2010
Ya'lls comments indicate the human desire to see each other face to face, eye to eye and resolve the conflicts for each others good.
Our goodness has to transform from "good for nothing" to good for everyone. Peace, safety and security comes to each one of us, when we ensure it is there for every one. I cannot be safe, when people around me are not, I or my nation cannot have peace, when others around aren't. It is in my selfish interest to ensure every one is treated fairly and justly. To do that, we have to speak and stand up for those in need.
On that note, I want to share several more events taking place in Dallas on Holocaust including this one:
The first annual Holocaust candlelight march will happen on Wednesday, January 27th at 7:00 PM, the march will start at the Fountain at Oak Lawn/ Armstrong to the Oak Lawn/Cedar Spring's Memorial and move up to Melrose Hotel in Dallas, Texas. It is to make one aware of the targeting and massacring of the Gay community.
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Posted by ben boothe Sr @ 6:19 PM Sat, Jan 23, 2010
It is important for all enlightened people, the "connected" generation, to stand, walk, and talk for love, tolerance and find our spiritual areas in "common" so that we can build a world of peace. Ben B. Boothe Sr. Global Businessman. www.benboothe.com
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Posted by Veronica Valles, RScP @ 8:52 PM Sat, Jan 23, 2010
In the fundamental belief of the ONENESS of LIFE expressing as and through the many,the underlying value of all is LOVE. Without this essential, soul nutrient, one is blinded in radical beliefs of separation which is the seed of war, ignorance and violence. There can never be such atrocities when living from a place of LOVE--when we look directly into someone's eyes...meeting heart to heart, soul to soul.
To reflect upon the tragedies of the Holocaust and Genocides is to unroot the belief of "other" as we begin to see clearly our brothers, sister, mothers, fathers throughout this world. Interconnected, we begin to creatively come together to provide food, water, jobs, education, safety, opportunities so all may experience a full and glorious life.
The shift is from pain and suffering to positive possibilities, infinite potentialites when we align in the highest common denominator which is LOVE. Serving side by side, guided from an inner compass of the UNITY and CREATIVITY of life, we can transform the world.
I bow in deep gratitude for Mike Ghouse...he is a gentle, powerful presence of TRUTH in the community. He is grounded in his beliefs while honoring the variety of expressions and finds common ground to expand and experience life in peace.
How beautiful when we can see clearly from this place of ONENESS while honoring the individualized expressions of life. When we reach this level of awakening we will no longer have to gather to remember the tragedies but gather to celebrate our inherent GOOD. We will then be able to say, as in "Avatar" -- I SEE YOU. This then becomes poetry in action.
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Posted by Rodwaan Saleh @ 10:32 AM Sun, Jan 24, 2010
What is it that makes a man speak ill of another, for no reason except their own formulated preconceived ill notions; and what is it that makes a man look at another with gazing eyes of disgust and belittlement for no reason except, bigotry, hate, and ignorance.
7 Minutes, 7 Topics and 7 Reflections
When: Sunday, January 24th at 5:00 PM
Where: Center for Spiritual Living,
Address: 4801 Spring Valley Road, Dallas, TX 75244
Website - http://www.holocaustandgenocides.com/
Email – HolocuastandGenocides@gmail.com
(214) 325-1916
This is an educational program, where 7 speakers will reflect on 7 topics for 7 minutes each along with contributing a few simple things that you and I can do to prevent such tragedies. The topics range from the Holocaust to Genocides, massacres and tragedies. It is a purposeful event to learn, acknowledge and reflect upon the terrible things that we humans have inflicted upon each other.
The Holocaust was a major human tragedy and a failure of humanity. Among Genocides, Massacres and other tragedies we will reflect upon the Indigenous American people, the Mayans, the Toltecs, Darfur, Polpot, Congo, Armenia, Rwanda, Falun Dafa, Burma, Tibet, Bosnia, India, Gaza and the transatlantic slave trade. Through these representative events, our goal is to reflect upon every human tragedy. We plan to have a full day conference to remember every tragedy and we hope you will attend the full day next year.
Sponsored by the Center for Spiritual living and organized by the Foundation for Pluralism, where co-existence is our value. An initiative of American Muslims; striving to contribute towards building civil societies.
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Press Release on Holocaust and Genocides
PRESS RELEASE
Contact: Mike Ghouse (214) 325-1916,
email: MikeGhouse@aol.com
event email: HolocaustandGenocides@gmail.com
Website: http://www.holocaustandgenocides.com/
III ANNUAL REFELCTIONS ON THE HOLOCAUST AND GENOCIDES
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.
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.
What can you do as individual?
Join us with individuals and leaders from different faiths, races, ethnicities and cultural backgrounds to express your solidarity and commitment to co-existence. It is a tribute to those who stood up, raised their voices and risked their lives to save the life of others.
The seven-minute topics would range from the Holocaust to Genocides and massacres, such as Genocides and massacres of Indigenous American people, the Maya, Toltec, Darfur, Polpot, Congo, Nanking, Armenia, Rwanda, Falun Dafa, Burma, Tibet, Bosnia and others. They will also speak about the tragedy in Gaza and other places, and the effects of cultural massacres through the transatlantic slave trade.
Mike Ghouse, Chairperson of the event adds, “We mean to include all genocides, but due to time limitations and funding, we will limit to the few as representations of all other, if you would like to include a specific event, we will include the event name at this time.”
The Jewish and other communities have borne the suffering of the Holocaust for over sixty years; it is time for us to share it. No community should bear the suffering alone; we all have to stand up, and be there for each other.
We have to learn to see each other with dignity and honor the otherness of other. Gatherings such as this offer hope and opportunity for a more secure and safer world. I would appreciate your attendance. Please bring your friends.
The event is sponsored by the Center for Spiritual Living and World Muslim Congress.
It is a Muslim initiative, an effort towards creating peaceful civil societies.