Holocaust and Genocides Reflections - Plight of Rohingya

Please mark your calendars!

Event: 13^th Annual Holocaust and Genocides
Date:  Sunday, January 28, 2018 12:00 to 4:00 PM
Topic: Holocaust and the Plight of Rohingya, what can we do?
Place:  TBA - It will be in DMV area.
Website: http://www.HolocaustandGenocides.com
Website: www.CenterforPluralism.com
email: RohingyaGenocide@aol.com

We invite you to attend, participate and support the event.  If you have difficulty in seeing these painful pictures, imagine the pain and suffering of the people who have gone through this, please have the courage to attend the exhibit of the sufferings of the people, and hope it will encourage you to be a peacemaker.   In the last 12 years, we have listed and mentioned almost all Genocides,   Massacres and ethnic cleansing events and have highlighted 20 such events. This year we have expanded the program to be a 4 hours symposium with policy makers and futurists to find solutions.

We must find solutions. Please send a 300 words abstract identifying the causes of such conflicts and the possible solutions. Once the abstracts are accepted, you will be asked to write a full blown article in the length of 1500 words for publication.


Thank you
Mike Ghouse(214) 325-1916

THE PLIGHT OF ROHINGYA
Holocaust and Genocides Event

Event: 13^th Annual Holocaust and Genocides
Date:  Sunday, January 28, 2018 12:00 to 4:00 PM
Topic: Holocaust and the Plight of Rohingya, what can we do?
Place:  TBA - It will be in DMV area.

The Rohingya people have nowhere to go, the terrorists among Buddhists are gang raping and burning them alive, and when they flee, India and Bangladesh as neighbors are not allowing them either, where do they go?

They are seeing their own killed and raped in front of their eyes, and one day, they will not be able to handle the pain, and will chose violence and the whole of Myanmar will be burning.  The world owes them relief and security and the sane people of Myanmar need to wise up and save their nation from a long term destructive path and endless chaos. Terrorism is like swine flu or other diseases and they spread through thin air and will affect every one every where. It behooves us to correct it now before it is too late.

I am pleased to advance a good idea that originally came from Sean Hannity, he had proposed safe zones in Syria where the refugees can live and breathe safely. This idea of safe zone is the best solutions for the world refugee problems.  No human wants to flee his motherland and no one should beg for his or her  life, and on one should have the right to evict people from their own homeland.

We must accept refugees for the short run, but not as permanent residents.  If we take them for good,  we will be legitimizing the oppressive regimes to continue to throw their native populations out. Indeed, we are giving them  permission to throw their own out.  We cannot let that happen.  Let people who belong to the land live in dignity, if their oppressive government is not doing a thing, we the community of nations needs to take that up.

The United Nations was formed to protect the vulnerable from destruction, it is time now for the United Nations to land their troops in Myanmar and secure the areas for the good of Myanmar.

There is a shameless cruelty in us; either we shy away from facing or simply refuse to acknowledge the sufferings of others.  

If we justify massacres arrogantly believing that the victims deserved it or asked for it, we need to examine our heads, for there is a criminal lurking in us and will eventually mess us up.

We have to learn to acknowledge and reflect upon the terrible things we have inflicted upon each other. We have to commit to ourselves to resist the temptations to stereotype others. We cannot demand peace unless we are peaceful ourselves.

Our safety hinges on the safety of others around us, and it behooves us to work for the safety and security of others on this little planet. We have to be continuously be aware of the Holocaust and Genocides and prepare us to avert such tragedies.

It is never the religion; it is always the bad guys in each religious group that are the problem. Hinduism does not teach to be violent killers, but there is tiny group of bad Hindus in India who are violent killers in the name of Hindu religion, the majority of Hindus need to speak out and stop the radicals from hijacking Hinduism.  Muslims and Jews are not suppose to kill a single life, but there are Jews and Muslims who are killing in the name of their religions, the majority needs to stop them from committing crimes in their names.  Of course the bad Christians have done so much destruction around the world, and now, the peaceful Buddhist have allowed terrorist among them to unleash violence against fellow Burmese who are not Buddhists.  They all are terrorizing innocent people.

Over the last 12 years, we have listed almost all Genocides, have talked about 24 Genocides and we will continue to learn to reflect on what we can do to say and do, "Never Again."

References:

Videos - https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1882266758453593&id=100000108622570

Buiddhist Monk who ordered killing 5000 Rohingya – http://lifeinsaudiarabia.net/blog/2017/09/21/ashin-wirathu-a-buddhist-monk-who-ordered-to-kill-5000-rohingya-muslims/

Indian Government tells the Supreme Court of India not to interfere about the legality of the deportation. https://barandbench.com/fali-nariman-rohingyas-supreme-court/

http://www.arabnews.com/saudi-arabia/news/718891#.WazwsUuuxkM.facebook

Tahmena Bokhari https://www.facebook.com/TahmenaBokhari/

UN takes action - http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/rohingya-crisis-latest-news-un-burma-ethnic-cleansing-military-muslim-minority-villages-bangladesh-a7954626.html

https://ahtribune.com/human-rights/1868-rakhine-genocide.html

Let's see how Modi the prejudiced man deals with this - http://www.ironyofindia.com/2017/09/rohingya-crisis-hindu-rohingya-refugees-hoping-india-will-grant-them-shelter/

What the hell is happening in Myanmar? http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2017/09/what-the-hell-is-happening-in-myanmar.html

---

Mike Ghouse, President
Center for Pluralism, Washington, DC

(214) 325-1916 -Text | Mike@CenterforPluralism.com  

Dr. Mike Ghouse has dedicated his life to the mission of building a cohesive America. He is a pluralist, thinker, writer, activist, speaker (Pluralism, Interfaith, Islam, politics and foreign policy), interfaith wedding officiant and a news maker. He offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day. More about him in 65 links at www.MikeGhouse.net

Pluralism Studies in Religion,Politics,Culture and Society

The Center for Pluralism is committed to building a cohesive America, where no American has to live in apprehension, tension or fear of the other. Our research, educational programs and actions are designed to bring Americans together in social, political, cultural and religious settings, the more we come together and learn about each other, the more we get immunized to divisiveness resulting in fewer misunderstandings and mis-perceptions between us. We believe knowledge leads to understanding and understanding to appreciation of the otherness of others. As we move forward, conflicts fade and solutions emerge. 

Holocaust and Genocides - 12th Annual reflections in Washington DC

You are cordially invited to join us for this purposeful gathering.
 Join us at 1:45 PM on Sunday evening in Washington, DC 

XII Annual Reflections on Holocaust and Genocides 

January 29, 2017 | 2:00 PM - 4:30 PM Sunday

Ashburn Mosque, 21740 Beaumeade Circle, Unit 100, Ashburn, Virginia 20147

RSVP- https://www.eventbrite.com/e/holocaust-and-genocides-12th-annual-reflections-tickets-30942394535

We are deeply committed to education and relentlessly pursuing to build cohesive societies and offer pluralistic solutions on issues of the day.

We have to learn to acknowledge and reflect upon the terrible things we have inflicted upon each other and have to commit to ourselves to resist the temptations to be prejudiced and stereotype others. We cannot demand peace unless we are peaceful ourselves.

Here is a video from one of our previous events:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uneRYgYfgWI

Many a organizations have joined in commemorating this event and are listed alphabetically.  This is the 12^th year for the Center for Pluralism and other organizations have been doing for many years as well. 

-----------

A CRITICAL MESSAGE

There are over 100 Genocides and Massacres in just the last one hundred years.  I have tried to recite them all,  and it took me three hours just to recite the name, place, number of deaths, source of conflicts, perpetrators and victims of each occurrence.  

Shame on us if we exclude any one of the Genocides and or ethnic cleansing  or massacres. God bless us,  we have not excluded any.  An effort was made to hold an "All Day" Holocaust and Genocides event and failed , as no one registered for it.  We are still open to it.

Part of the learning at this event is to think of other people's pain and suffering as opposed to being hung up with "Me, me, and my suffering alone."

So we chose to keep it to two hours and reflect upon Holocaust, as the anchor event and give a brief talk about a genocide, a genocide in making and a massacre.  Over the years we have been able to cover at least 20 such human failings.

We will observe a minutes silence and ask each person attending the event to pay tribute to each one of such atrocity  he or she is familiar with. However, we have videos listing most of the Genocides and here is one compiled a few years ago, and it is not complete either.

We want you to take the responsibility to go through the list and send us the corrected information, what is missing including the one's that have affected you deeply.  We hope in the next few years, we would have list of every tragedy.  Please remember we are a volunteer organization and all the work is done by the volunteers. 

Kindly visit www.HolocaustandGenocides.com and see the many things we have done including pictures and reports over the last 11 years.

Mike Ghouse
Initiator of the program Holocaust and Genocides in 2006
Mike@CenterforPluralism.com  | (214) 325-1916 Washington, DC

XII Annual Reflections on
HOLOCAUST & GENOCIDES

 www.HolocaustandGenocides.com

This  annual event is to reflect on human failings, acts of violence, massacres, ethnic cleansing, genocides and Holocaust with the intention of learning to prevent such happenings as an individual, and affirm, ”Never again”.  

We hope each one of us would walk out with a commitment to do our share of the work in building a cohesive America, where no American has to feel apprehension, discomfort or fear the other. Indeed, safety of each one of us hinges on the safety of all others around us.

We have to learn to acknowledge and reflect upon the terrible things we have inflicted upon each other. We have to commit to ourselves to resist the temptations to stereotype others. We cannot demand peace unless we are peaceful ourselves. 

There is a shameless cruelty in us, either we shy away from facing or refuse to acknowledge the sufferings of others, worrying that it will devalue our own or somehow it amounts to infidelity to our own cause. We cannot justify massacres arrogantly believing that the victims deserved it or asked for it.

Our safety hinges on the safety of others around us, and it behooves us to work for the safety and security of others on this little planet. We have to be continuously aware of the Holocaust and Genocides and prepare us to avert such tragedies.

It is an initiative of American Muslims, striving to build responsible civic societies, where justice and co-existence are our values.

HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE &
GENOCIDE AWARENESS*

 
2:00 PM -4:00 PM Sunday, January 29, 2017
ADAMS Ashburn Center, Ashburn, VA.

Website: www.HolocaustandGenocides.com 

PROGRAM 

Pledge of Allegiance & National Anthem 

Purpose of Gathering 

Moment of Silence to Commemorate Genocides

Holocaust Survivor Johannah Neuman

Summary of Genocides *

Signs of Demonization Leading to Violence

Audience feed back and their personal experiences

Interfaith prayers representing many faiths

Prayer break for Muslims

Fellowship  

 

  SPONSORS 

All Dulles Area Muslim Society—ADAMS

Center for Pluralism 

Foundation for Ethnic Understanding  

Greater Washington Muslim-Jewish Forum 

I Am Your Protector 

CO-SPONSORS 

Jewish Islamic Dialogue Society—JIDS

  World Muslim Congress—WMC

Interfaith Action for Humans Rights—IAHR

Jewish Community Center—JCC

  Jewish Community Relations Council—JCRC

Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom—SOSS

 * Also known as Reflections on Holocaust and Genocides

** It is the XII Annual Reflections on Holocaust and Genocides by the Center for Pluralism—www.Centerforpluralism.com

----------------------------------------

This is an initiative of the Center for Pluralism which is deeply committed to education and relentlessly pursuing to build cohesive societies and offer pluralistic solutions on issues of the day.

We have to learn to acknowledge and reflect upon the terrible things we have inflicted upon each other. We have to commit to ourselves to resist the temptations to stereotype others. We cannot demand peace unless we are peaceful ourselves.    

There are over 100 Genocides and thousands of Massacres in just the last century.  I have tried to recite all of them once, and it takes three hours just to recite them all with the year, place and number of deaths, source of conflicts, perpetrators, victims and the destruction.

Shame on us if we exclude any one of the Genocides,  we made efforts to hold an "All Day" Holocaust and Genocides event, no one registered for it.  

Part of the learning at this event is to think of other people's pain and suffering as opposed to being hung up with "Me, me, and my suffering alone matters."

So we chose to keep it to two hours and reflect upon Holocaust, as the anchor event and give a brief talk about a genocide, a genocide in making and a massacre.  We will observe a minutes silence and ask the audience to remember and pay tribute to each one of such atrocity they are familiar with. However, we have videos listing most of the Genocides and here is one compiled a few years ago, and it is not complete either.

We want you to take the reponsiblity to go through the list, an send us the information as to what is missing, including the one's that has affected you deeply.

Here is the partial list: http://holocaustandgenocides.blogspot.com/2009/10/genocides.html


There is a shameless cruelty in us, either we shy away from facing or refuse to acknowledge the sufferings of others, worrying that it will devalue our own or somehow it amounts to infidelity to our own cause. We cannot justify massacres arrogantly believing that the victims deserved it or asked for it.

Our safety hinges on the safety of others around us, and it behooves us to work for the safety and security of others on this little planet. We have to be continuously aware of the Holocaust and Genocides and prepare us to avert such tragedies.

It is an initiative of American Muslims, striving to build responsible civic societies, where justice and co-existence are our values.

To all those, who have endured Holocaust, Genocides, Massacres, Bombs, Annihilation, Land mines, Ethnic Cleansing, Hunger, rape, torture, occupation and inhuman brutality, we say we share your fears and apprehensions.

The least we can do in the process of healing is to acknowledge every one's pain in one voice. We have begun the process of coming together as one people, to stand with you, we are indeed one world and a single humanity, and caring for each other brings safety and peace to all of us. 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.

We are working on initiating a course on tolerance education, so one day; we all can learn to have a heart that opens to the pain of every human, yes, we can do that.

Bringing people to understand the suffering of people has been my personal drive, I must say that through this program, many a non-Jewish people have come to understand about Holocaust for the first time. You can see pictures people from Atheist to Zoroastrians and every one in between has been a part of this event. And every one has shared a prayer in the events. We have to create the awareness to get people to become activist and speak up and say Never Again.

Mike Ghouse
Center for Pluralism
(214) 325-1916

XII Annual Reflections on Holocaust and Genocides

Join us at 3:00 PM on Sunday evening in Washington, DC 
A casual gathering. 
You are cordially invited, its free
-------------------------

Holocaust and Genocides

3:00 PM - 5:00 PM SUNDAY

JANUARY 29, 2017

We are deeply committed to education and relentlessly pursuing to build cohesive societies and offer pluralistic solutions on issues of the day.

We have to learn and to acknowledge and reflect upon the terrible things we have inflicted upon each other and have to commit to ourselves to resist the temptations to be prejudiced and stereotype others. We cannot demand peace unless we are peaceful ourselves.
There is a shameless cruelty in us, either we shy away from facing or refuse to acknowledge the sufferings of others, worrying that it will devalue our own or somehow it amounts to infidelity to our own cause. We cannot justify massacres arrogantly believing that the victims deserved it or asked for it.

Our safety hinges on the safety of others around us, and it behooves us to work for the safety and security of others on this little planet. We have to be continuously aware of the Holocaust and Genocides and prepare us to avert such tragedies.

RSVP: ConfirmAttendance@gmail.com

Detail of Past events at: http://www.holocaustandgenocides.com/ 

 
It is an initiative of American Muslims,  striving to build responsible civic societies, where justice and co-existence are our values.

To all those, who have endured holocaust, genocides, massacres, bombs, annihilation, land mines, hunger, rape, torture, occupation and inhuman brutality, we say we share your fears and apprehensions.

The least we can do in the process of healing is to acknowledge every one's pain in one voice. We have begun the process of coming together as one people, to stand with you, we are indeed one world and a single humanity, and caring for each other brings safety and peace to all of us. 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.

We are working on initiating a course on tolerance education, so one day; we all can learn to have a heart that opens to the pain of every human, yes, we can do that.

Bringing people to understand the suffering of people has been my personal drive, I must say that through this program, many a non-Jewish people have come to understand about Holocaust for the first time. You can see pictures people from Atheist to Zoroastrians and every one in between has been a part of this event. And every one has shared a prayer in the events. We have to create the awareness to get people to become activits and speak up and say Never again.

Mike Ghouse
(214) 325-1916
 

10th Annual Holocaust and Genocides commemoration

X  ANNUAL HOLOCAUST AND GENOCIDES COMMEMORATION | www.HolocaustandGenocides.com

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”. 

• Event: 10th Annual Holocaust and Genocides
• Date: Sunday, January 22, 2017
• Time: 11:00- 2:00 PM
• Place: TBD
• Address: Washington, D.C.
• Rsvp: holocaustandgenocides@gmail.com
• Site: www.HolocaustandGenocides.com 
• Donations- http://americatogetherfoundation.com/donate/
  
  
  
  

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.

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.

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.

It is a bridge building event and 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, 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.

References:

Our first event: 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 

Holocaust and the Muslim guy: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mike-ghouse/holocaust-and-the-muslim-_b_4629509.html 


United Nations proclamations:  http://www.un.org/en/holocaustremembrance/docs/res607.shtml

Dr. Ghouse is a community consultant, social scientist, thinker, writer, news maker, and a speaker on Pluralism, Interfaith, Islam, (Muslim). politics, terrorism, human rights, India, Israel-Palestine and foreign policy.

He is committed to building cohesive societies and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day. Visit him in 63 links at www.MikeGhouse.net and for his writings at www.TheGhousediary.com
Mike Ghouse
(214) 325-1916 | text or talk
SpeakerMikeGhouse@gmail.com

Thank you; 6th Annual Holocaust and Genocide event

Dr. Harbans Lal and I want to thank each one of you for participating in the 6th Annual Holocaust and Genocides event on Sunday, January 27, 2013 at Unity Church in Dallas.

Dr. Amarjit Singh delivered a powerful key note address that caused us to seriously consider taking a few actions.   Mr. Hasan Mahmud shared about the Bangladesh Genocide of 1971, Dr. Petra Weldes talked about Stereotyping and its effects on the societies, Shah Alam Siddiqi brought up the genocides of the Urdu speaking Muslims in Bangladesh, and Kelly Obazee reflected on current massacres around the world.  Mike Ghouse talked about standing up for others and starts thinking about others suffering and move away from being me, me and me, and he shared the personal story of bringing a closure on Holocaust. Dr. Harbans Lal’s message about Sikhs, forgiveness and justice was powerful. 

I urge people of all faiths, excluding none to start being a part of others for a better tomorrow, and each one of us, reading this, and those involved in this need to work on it.

Mike Ghouse

Frequently asked questions about Holocaust and Genocides

url- http://holocaustandgenocides.blogspot.com/2013/01/frequently-asked-questions-about.html


 I am writing this essay as a built-in-response to address the belligerent questions that come, and they are coming from all directions, not just the ones mentioned as examples.

We are volunteers and are 100% inclusive, however, we request you to help us out. Kindly list all the genocides of the 20th Century, please remember, if you miss one, someone or the other will accuse you of ignoring “their” genocide.


By nature many of us are disgustingly selfish, nothing but our own interest matters to us. Do you recall standing in a food buffet line at a friend’s wedding reception? Someone said that the food may be short, but yet, the guy in front of you piled up his plate, or maybe you did it too, knowing well that there a lot of people behind you in the line and some will not get the food.


Standing in line to wait for your turn is one of the most human things to do. You accept equal rights of others, and others needs as much as yours. We have a list of about 50 genocides, and each year we will focus on a few, as no one will sit through the day to understand each one of them, most likely you will find yourselves guilty of not listening or paying attention to other’s tragedy but your own.Slap yourselves, if you do not think others's plight is not as important as your own.

No matter how thorough you are, you are going to miss some. Unless we have a fully funded organization where employees work full time, then we can expect a complete list and do a three day conference to address every issue. Please do not assume that we are excluding any human atrocities.

For example someone accused that “you are writing about the holocaust of Jews, you forgot what Stalin did?”  My instant response would be, “did you forget the genocides of Gays?”  In your note, you also forgot about the genocides of Native Americans, African Americans over the Atlantic… the list is a long one.  Can I accuse you, that did you did not care about the others?

Please read on to understand the selfishness embedded in us, if we can stand up for others, for strangers, and then there is a greater self nurtured within us, making us a better human with peace inside us. We have to stand up for women's right and the rights of minorities as a part of fixing the future. Each one of us has to do our share of good to the world around us, for our own good at the end.

I have made an attempt to answer as many questions as I can for this site. No human suffering should ever be denied, as it amounts to denying our own humanity. Fellow humans must develop a culture of pondering about human atrocities everywhere, as Martin Luther King said, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”


 If I am guilty of anything, it would be not focusing on the Gujarat Genocide, however, I also would have felt a sense of guilt, if I had focused on what affects me and my community first. I believe in standing up for others, at the end we all should stand up for justice and the rights of others.  A few of my Hindu friends have come forward to take up the Gujarat Genocide and I am glad they did. That is the spirit of standing up for others

Please consider the following situations;

A MINUTE: 


If you have one single minute available, you can probably recite 30 Genocide names - and if you want to add the place to the name, you can do about 20, and if you want to name the parties involved in it, you can do utmost 10/minute, with normal intelligible delivery. Does that mean you did not care about the others?

ONE HOUR


If you have one hour, you cannot do justice to more than three or four Genocides. Should the other 46 think you don’t care about them?

YEAR

We observed silent prayers and asked every one present to reflect upon the genocides and massacres that they were aware of, at least run them through their mind during the silence and honor each one of the Genocides and Holocaust. I hope collectively we do not miss any.

MUSLIMS


Way back in 2006, I was in a public meeting; one of the Muslims shouts at me in the public, “Why are you commemorating Holocaust of Jews, why don’t you commemorate the Holocaust of Palestinians?” I countered, all of this should be done, why don’t you do it? He was belligerent; he was one of the loose mouths and not a doer. I have reminded those guys a few times, not only they did not mean it, but they really do not care about it, as I had invited them to join in when we were addressing about Gaza.

Another Muslim knocked God out of his throne, and chose to declare, “If you don’t talk about Palestinians, you are not a Muslim.”

There is a lot more ignorance out there.  Perhaps, other than Dallas Palestinians, no one else has done as much work for the Palestinian cause, as I have. Check out years of work in different forums, but certainly at this site www.IsraelPalestineDialouge.com

JEWS


I have known the community closely through strong interactions, through conflicts, rather than superficial salaams and Shaloms. 25 hours of Radio programming in understanding Judaism (done on all religions too) was done during 2003-2004 here in Dallas, two workshops were conducted as well (2 for each faith over 2 years), and I write about the essence of major Jewish (and others too) festivals - so that we all can understand each other. I am not sure if any other Muslim has done this much work. We have to stand up for each other and every one. Check it out www.StandingupforOthers.com

A few years ago a Jewish speaker canceled his speech at the event in the last minute, because we were addressing the Gaza Massacre as one of the seven items; he considered it anti-Israel and did not participate. However, my Jewish friends attended the event, and called him back to let him know that it was not about Israel, but the human suffering and the brutal inhumanity in all of us.   He did not want to face the truth, that someone from his tradition is capable of murdering and annihilating people.

No one should be ashamed of what fellow humans from your group do, what you should be ashamed of is your own attitude towards another human being regardless of who it is.

I was severely criticized and asked to remove the phrase “A Muslim initiative” by a few Jewish friends, instead of cheering the effort; they were bent on not giving credit to Muslims for extending the hand of understanding. Please remember, it was not the Jews, it is few individuals who wore the label Jews. Indeed, I have a whole book to write about Jewish Muslim relationship.

INDIAN MUSLIMS

They are no different than any one, like most people; they love to shoot criticism without verifying anything. A friend writes another friend’s quote, “The question was why Mike forgot 2002 Gujarat Holocaust & Genocide that was lot bigger and wider than 1984 Sikh Holocaust & Genocide.”  Mike did not forget, nor will he ever forget any Genocide.  In April 2002, rallies were held for Gujarat in down town Dallas, when Shabnam Hashmi came to Dallas, she was hosted to show the documentaries of that genocide.  I urge fellow Muslims to do something rather than talk.  I stood up in a major meeting to include observing silence for Gujarat, and there is a lot more work done. If the event is dear to the people, they should express their love and commemorate it. We will do our share; each event is taking its turn. I have severely criticized Narendra Modi, and have become a hated person for a handful of Dallas Indians.


HINDUS

Several of my friends have jumped on me for not including the plight of Kashmiri Pundits, they, like all others are so obsessed with their own, that others don’t matter to them. We have mentioned this at least 3 out of five years, those who criticize don’t come to the event, unless it is “about them”, but loosely run their mouths. We need to stand up for everyone, and certainly stand up for others before you do for your own.

DISGUSTING SELFISHNESS

I have dealt with most communities in Dallas from Atheists to Zoroastrian and every one in between. I must confess that in every community, through our silence we are disgustingly selfish. We are so obsessed with our own that we don’t see others pain, it is me, me and me. My event is more important than others… my pain is deeper than others…

There is a shameless cruelty in our societies, either we shy away or refuse to acknowledge the sufferings of others, worrying that it will devalue our own, and or it amounts to infidelity to our own cause. Shame on us that we justifying massacres by pretending and propagating that the victims deserved it or asked for it, they had it coming, or we simply turn the face the other way.

STANDING UP FOR OTHERS:

Standing up for others is the right thing to do, every human goes through a period of invincibility to vulnerability, if we don't stand up for those who are vulnerable, then who will stand up for us when we are vulnerable? www.Standingupforothers.com The world becomes a better place when we all stand up for each one.

Indians and Pakistanis, Hindus and Muslims are worked up


A few Pakistanis think that talking about 1971 Bangladesh Genocide is a conspiracy to defame Pakistan, whereas a few Indians do the same; they think talking about Sikh Genocides amounts to defaming India. This was the essence of a few emails about the event we are holding; the 6th Annual reflection on Holocaust and Genocides, on Sunday, January 27, 2013. Details of the event are at: www.HolocaustandGenocides.com

it is always a few who have the passion to propagate conspiracies, while a few buy their gossip without questioning, most of them reject it. However, I thank those who made the inquiry to clarify, rather than manufacture conspiracy theories and live in misery.

It’s a human thing, a fraction of a percent of each group of people, tend to think in those terms, be it Christian, Hindu, Muslim, Jewish, Sikh, Buddhist or other. It is the same story with Americans, Italians, Chinese, Arabs or Mexicans as it is with Indians and Pakistanis.

Those few may be followers of Rush Limbaugh, to whom a good Republican is one who says bad things about Democrats, and a bad Republican is one who praises Obama - said around John Huntsman exit from candidacy when he refused to balk at Obama, and when Chris Christie praised Obama at the Sandy disaster.


The same mindset believes that questioning George Bush for all the disaster his wars caused overseas and the consequent messing up of America is unpatriotic. Indeed, questioning the government is the most patriotic thing to do.


Let me assure you, this event is not about condemning a nation or a group of people, it is about understanding the human suffering and the beastly attitudes among us.


A few years ago a Jewish speaker canceled his speech, because we were addressing the Gaza Massacre as one of the seven items; he considered it anti-Israel and did not participate and some did not. However, my Jewish friends attended the event, and called him back to let him know that it is not about Israel, but the human suffering and the brutal inhumanity in all of us. The speaker became friendly after he learned about it. However, he did not want to face the truth, that someone from his tradition is capable of murdering and annihilating people.


A few Muslims had the audacity to call me names in public, one said, if you don’t talk about Palestine, you are not a Muslim. A few Hindus said "shame on you for not talking about the plight of Hindus in Kashmir "…  and these men did not even attend, but kept talking, without verification.  Given the time, two hours per event, we can address only about 5, and not all the genocides.

The Reflections on Holocaust and Genocides is a comprehensive event about humanity, with no exclusions, also remember in one breath you can say only so many words, and in one hour you can say only so many words.


“There is a shameless cruelty in our societies,  we either shy away or refuse to acknowledge the sufferings of others, worrying that it will devalue our own, and or it amounts to infidelity to our own cause.” Some of us are so selfish and stuck in our own pain that we do not see others pain, we want others just to think and talk about us.

Consider this:

        Condemning drone attacks does not amount to shaming America,
        Condemning Sikh genocides does not amount to shaming India,
        Condemning Bangladeshi genocide does not amount to shaming Pakistan.
        Condemning the ugliness at Abu-Graib prison does not amount to shaming America
        Condemning Shia and Ahmadiyya killings does not amount to shaming Pakistan
        Condemning the Massacre of Muslims in Gujarat does not amount to shaming Gujarat
        Condemning Aurangzeb or Ghazni does not amount to shaming Indian Muslims


Condemning is an expression against a disgusting act, of which we are all a part of, some by doing the wrong, and some by remaining silent and some by turning a blind eye.

As an Indian, I am embarrassed about what fellow Indians have heaped on each other, and as an American I am embarassed about the destruction we have caused in Vietnam, Afghanistan and Iraq overseas, and in our recent past  of the slavery and treatment of Native Americans.

My father gave a sane advise during the Jabalpur (India) communal clashes, don’t blame the acts of the idiots on a community, religion or a nation. Get the bad guys, do the justice, faith in the society gets restored…blaming intangibles is as effective as the dogs barking at the wrong tree in a desert.

We have to learn to differentiate between abuse of human rights and patriotism. Patriotism is not justifying the wrongs, but speaking about it, and preventing the wrongs from happening again.

Here is the part of the press release

Every year we have reflected on our failings, massacres, Genocides and Holocaust, this year, we will focus on the Sikh Genocide of 1984, a Sikh speaker will deliver the key note address on the topic. Mr. Hasan Mahmud will share about the Bangladesh Genocide of 1971, Dr. Petra Weldes will talk about the effects of Stereotyping on the societies, and Kelly Obazee will reflect on current massacres around the world. Mike Ghouse will speak about the need to take stand against oppression of others, and Holocaust continues to be our anchor event.

Unless one attends the event, they will live in eternal conspiracies.

Full Press Release: http://holocaustandgenocides.blogspot.com/2013/01/6th-annual-holocaust-and-genocides-sikh_18.html