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NOTE: A few links are not working as we failed to transfer the information from our old site foundation for pluralism to the new Center for Pluralism. We are working on it and hope to restore the links to pictures and videos soon.


Tuesday, December 2, 2014

Holocaust and Genocides commemoration – VIII Annual event in Dallas and Washington DC.

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

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


The Holocaust event has been commemorated by the Jewish community since 1953 for the loss of  6 million Jews during the Holocaust, known as
Yom HaShoah in Synagogues around the world. The general public learns it by visiting the Holocaust Museums and educational institutions.

We at America Together Foundation are committed to spread the knowledge of Holocaust and Genocides through interfaith and public events.


On September 11, 2005, the Unity Day USA was established to bring people of different faiths, races and ethnicities to rededicate their pledge for the safety and security of fellow Americans,  as their positive contribution towards building a cohesive America.  FBI Chief, State Senators, Mayors, Police and Fire Chiefs and 650 people attended the event.  One unfortunate thing happened during the event that led us to Holocaust and Genocides commemoration; – the fire alarm went off causing panic, and the Mayor of Frisco called his Fire Department, and it was a false Alarm, the Mayor, FBI and the Police Chiefs assured the public that we are safe… almost everyone joined us back.

However the “apprehension” I saw on the faces of my Jewish friends was difficult to bear, they came to this Muslim's event as his guests and were in tension.  I wanted to do something about it and it is here at Huffington Post -  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mike-ghouse/holocaust-and-the-muslim-_b_4629509.html

Thank God for paving the way.  In less than two months, on November 1, 2005, the
United Nations passed a resolution designating January 27th of the year as the Holocaust commemorative day - http://www.un.org/en/holocaustremembrance/docs/res607.shtml

We took it upon ourselves to commemorate, we experienced the good, bad and ugliness of organizing this event - nothing deterred us from doing it and thank God for helping us out. On January 26, 2006, we commemorated the first interfaith Holocaust commemoration – extending the education of Holocaust to people of different faiths.  Hon. Roslie and William Schiff, the Holocaust survivors delivered the key note, while people from many faiths participated in sharing scriptures from their holy books. http://www.foundationforpluralism.com/Images_HolocaustDay/HMD2006_ProgramReport.asp

Our format has been simple and consists of four parts: interfaith prayers, the Holocaust, Genocide (one or two each time), a Massacre, action items for individuals and the pledge of peace. Silently we acknowledge all suffering, but physically we are limited to a Genocide and a Massacre at one time.  

I believe, when we acknowledge each other’s grief and participate in each other’s commemoration, we connect with the humanness within ourselves and seed the relationship of understanding and caring for each other.
There is a shameless cruelty in us, either we shy away or refuse to acknowledge the sufferings of others, worrying that it will devalue our own or somehow it amounts to infidelity to our own suffering, and every community and nation has suffered through this.
 
The purpose of this event is education; we hope to learn and acknowledge our failings and make a personal commitment to do our individual share of saying “Never Again”. 


Our mission is to create awareness of the inhumanity within each one of us and hope to find the solutions.

TWO LOCATIONS | DALLAS, TX | WASHINGTON, DC

Dallas Event:  Holocaust and Genocides
Theme: Sparks of Hatred and how to extinguish them 

Date: Sunday, January 25, 2015 
Time: 3:00 – 6:00 PM
Venue: TBA
Email: HolocaustandGenocides@gmail.com  

Washington Event: Tuesday, January 27, 2015
Time : 2-5 PM
Venue: TBA

The goal ought to be respecting the otherness of others and accepting the God given uniqueness of each one of us, anything short of that will leave unattended-sparks ready to flare up at short notice with the whiff of oxygen.

We sincerely hope the attendees will walk out with the following understanding:
  • Other people’s suffering is as legitimate as mine;
  • It is easy to see ourselves as Victims, but we must also see the perpetrator in us;
  • When we strip the politics out of a conflict, we see hope;
  • We can value others suffering without lessening our own;
  • The overriding desire to highlight our own blinds us from other’s suffering.
  • A sense of responsibility for creating a better world is awakened.

A initiative of American Muslims, organized by the Foundation for Pluralism, World Muslim Congress and America Together Foundation.

We are looking for participating organizations, sponsors and volunteers. Please text or call me at the number below.

Dallas Contact: OS Modgil ( 214) 934-3438
Washington DC Contact: Marryam Chaudhry 

Mike Ghouse, Event Chair
(214) 325-1916