The Muslims Who Saved The Jews

The Muslims Who Saved The Jews

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=112384539

Host Liane Hansen speaks with photographer Norman Gershman about his book Besa: Muslims Who Saved Jews in World War II, which is also the subject of a documentary called God's House. Greshman spent five years collecting stories of Albanian Muslims who harbored Jewish refugees during World War II.

Hear it on media player - http://www.npr.org/player/v2/mediaPlayer.html?action=1&t=1&islist=false&id=112384539&m=112384514

LIANE HANSEN, host:

During the Nazi occupation of Albania and Kosovo during the second World War, Jews facing persecution and death had a small group of seemingly unlikely allies - Muslims. Sixty-five people managed to save some 2,000 Jews, and have been honored by the Jewish Holocaust Memorial as righteous among nations.

Photographer Norman Gershman spent five years taking photos of them and collecting their stories. They've been published in a new book, "Besa: Muslims Who Saved Jews in World War II." Mr. Gershman joins us from Aspen Public Radio in Colorado. Welcome.

Mr. NORMAN GERSHMAN (Photographer, "Besa: Muslims Who Saved Jews in World War II"): Thank you and thank you having me.

HANSEN: First the title, "Besa," what does it mean?

Mr. GERSHMAN: Well, Besa is a tradition of the Albanian people and it goes back thousands of years. It's more than just a welcoming, it's their code of honor. And if one comes into one's besa, they would literally lay their lives down for you - friends or enemies.

HANSEN: You have a wonderful photograph on page four of baba.

Mr. GERSHMAN: The baba, yes.

HANSEN: The baba. Tell us about him.

Mr. GERSHMAN: The baba is the head of the Bektashi. The Bektashi is the most liberal form of Shiites. And I'm quoting from the book, "We Bektashis see God everywhere in everyone. God is in every pore and every cell, therefore, all are God's children. There cannot be infidels. There cannot be discrimination. If one sees the good face, one is seeing the face of God. God is beauty. Beauty is God. There is no God but God."

And under the Nazi occupation, the foreign minister of Albania was a Bektashi. And he sent out a secret message to all Bektashi that the Jewish children will sleep in the same bed as your children. The Jewish children will eat the same food as your children. The Jewish children will be your family.

HANSEN: There are so many acts of courage and creativity in this book. A doctor, for example, bandaged the face of one Jewish man and kept him safe in his infirmary. And sometimes an entire village became a shelter for Jews who were fleeing the persecution. On page 70, tell us about Yakov Kasari(ph).

Mr. GERSHMAN: Well, he is the person that rescued this family. There were Jews living in their village. He took them into hiding in the mountains of Albania because the Germans moving in were threatening to burn the Jews alive.

I mean, he says: I am proud to be recognized by the state of Israel as a righteous person. We have been family of Muslims for 500 years. Besa came from the Quran. The Jews and Muslims of Albania are cousins. We both bury our dead in coffins. I salute all the Jews. May they be honored with their homeland, because the Jews are still at war and need to be remembered. I drain my glass of Raki to honor all my Jewish friends.

And this is very typical. One family said there is no Besa without the Quran. There is no Quran without Besa.

HANSEN: The son of one of the Muslims is photographed with three books in Hebrew. And I think that tells both stories, both about the communist Albania, as well as, you know, the fact that a lot of these families were unable to reunite after the war.

Mr. GERSHMAN: Yes.

HANSEN: His name is Rifat, I believe. And…

Mr. GERSHMAN: Rifat Hoxha.

HANSEN: Yeah. Tell us his story.

Mr. GERSHMAN: It's a wonderful story. His father was given these three books to keep until after the war when they would return to get their books back. And these books are prayer books - he didn't know what they were. And he felt this - his father gave him this obligation to return these books to the rightful owners. He had no way of doing it. He had never been out of Albania. What can he do? Can I help him?

And we ultimately found Aaron(ph), the 10-year-old son now in his '70s. We found him in Israel. And we brought Rifat Hoxga with the three Hebrew books to Israel to return these books to him. And while Rifat was in Israel, he was given a Quran. So, here, Rifat is going back to Albania with the Quran and Aaron has these three Hebrew books.

HANSEN: What effect did this project have on you?

Mr. GERSHMAN: Listen, I photograph with my heart. In this particular case, clearly I'm a Jew. I'm a lay Jew. But I also have studied over the years with the Sufis. And the Sufis, those are the mystical side of Islam. The Islam I know is the Islam of beauty, of music, of dance, of poetry. I don't recognize this Islam that I read about in the papers. So it was a journey that I did with my heart. And it just reinforces that there are more good people in the world, far more good people in the world than terrorist or terrorist sympathizers.

There are well over a billion Muslims. They're good people. Unfortunately, in the media you rarely read or hear about the good people. I found the good people in Albania.

HANSEN: Photographer Norman Gershman. His book "Besa: Muslims Who Saved Jews in World War II" is published by Syracuse University Press. Mr. Gershman joined us from the studios of Aspen Public Radio. Thank you very much.

Mr. GERSHMAN: Thank you, Liane.

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Reflections on Holocaust and Genocides 2012

5th Annual Reflections on

Holocaust and Genocides
5;00 PM, Sunday, January 22, 2012

A 5th Annual reflections on Holocaust and Genocides is planned for Sunday, January 22, 2012 to learn about human tragedy. It is comprehensive event where all human failings, massacres, genocides and Holocaust will be addressed in one fashion or the other.

Education is the purpose; we have to learn, acknowledge and reflect upon the terrible things that we humans have inflicted upon each other, and to we have to understand that our safety hinges on the safety of all others around us.

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 some how it amounts to infidelity to our own cause. Shame on us that we justifying massacres by believing and propagating that the victims deserved it or asked for it.

We sincerely hope the attendees will walk out with the following understanding:


1. Other people’s suffering is as legitimate as mine;
2. It is easy to see ourselves as Victims, but we must also see the perpetrator in us;
3. When we strip the politics out of a conflict, we see hope;
4. We can value others suffering without lessening our own;
5. The overriding desire to highlight our own blinds us from other’s suffering.
6. A sense of responsibility for creating a better world is awakened

7. Ultimately co-existence and every one's safety and peace should be the driving thought.

We invite sponsors, facilitaors, speakers, writers from individuasl and organizations to make this happen. 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 you are not alone. 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.

Every organization that is willing to subscribe to the idea of co-existence is invited to participate, sponsor, and volunteer. We invite you to submit a 500 word abstract on the issue that agonize you, please offer your solutions with co-existence in mind in another 100 words. No one will be excluded.

Please send an email to: HolocaustandGenocides@gmail.com


Mike Ghouse, Chairperson
Conference on Holocaust and Genocides and
V Annual Reflections on Holocaust and Genocides.
http://www.holocaustandgenocides.com/

Chief Rabbi Lau & Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to Meet!

Chief Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau is a tall man who brightens any room with his Torah depth and stature. He is viewed as a someone who has achieved wondrous feats! From surviving the Holocaust and continuing on the Rabbinic dynasty that he hails from, to serving as the Chief Rabbi of Israel and now Tel Avivhe remains a legendary figure to all of Jewry.
On the complete opposite spectrum stands the legendary Lakers Center, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Born Ferdinand Lewis Lew Alcindor, Jr., he had a prolific college and NBA career becoming one of the best basketball players of all time. In 1971 Lew Alcindor converted to Islam and changed his name to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. To the naked eye it would seem that the only thing he shares in common with Rabbi Lau is that they are both luminous figures.

And yet, these two menone a Jew and another a Muslimare eagerly looking forward to meeting one another this July in Israel!

Why?

The former NBA star is making a film about none other than World War II, and will honor the final wish of his father. You see, Ferdinand L. Alcindor Sr., had one dying wish. He requested that his son visit Israel and meet the little boy that he personally rescued from Buchenwald and turned into a prominent Rabbi. This Rabbi is none other than Rabbi Lau!

Indeed, Rabbi Lau, who also serves as chairman of the Council of Yad Vashem remarked that, the fact that such a famous basketball player, and a Muslim, is about to attach himself to the Holocaust issue is very exciting. I will certainly give my blessing to this initiative.

Rabbi Lau said he clearly remembers how an African American solider came up to him during the liberation, picked him up, and told the residents of the German city of Weimer: Look at this sweet kid, he isnt even eight yet. This was your enemy, he threatened the Third Reich. He is the one against whom you waged war, and murdered millions like him.

As someone who grew up in Los Angeles and followed the Lakers, I never thought Id see these two figures mentioned in the same sentencelet alone meeting in The Holy Land! However, after reading about what Mr. Abdul-Jabbar intends to do with his film and his visit, I look forward to seeing these two legends of their respective fields work towards educating the world about the horrors of the Holocaust.

Muslim Speaker Mike Ghouse

NURTURING PLURALISTIC VALUES EMBEDDED IN ISLAM 

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.

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.

In defense of Islam, pursuing a civil dialogue

http://www.dallasnews.com/news/columnists/steve-blow/20100919-In-defense-of-Islam-pursuing-9397.ece  

Over and over you hear it said: If Muslims oppose terrorism, why don't they stand up and say it?

If that has been you, Mike Ghouse ought to be your hero.

It is hard to imagine that anyone has worked harder than the Carrollton resident to demonstrate the peaceful and moderate side of Islam.

And that effort includes personally visiting Dallas' First Baptist Church last Sunday just to put a friendly face on the "evil, evil religion" that the Rev. Robert Jeffress denounced a few weeks before.

"It was wonderful," Ghouse said of the visit. "We were so warmly received."
He hopes a quick chat with Jeffress will be the start of deeper discussion about Islam and the importance of respect between religions.

"I want to have a dialogue with him, not to say he is wrong but to share another point of view," Ghouse said.

The 57-year-old Muslim was born in India and has lived in the United States 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.

"It is my passion," he said in his distinctive raspy voice.

He has been a guest a dozen times on Sean Hannity's 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."

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.

But he said deeper study led him to realize the Quran had been purposely mistranslated down through history.

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.

"It was all for politics," he said.
Ghouse said he hopes to present Jeffress with a modern, faithful translation and challenge him to find evil verses.

"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."

Ghouse acknowledges that deep problems persist within Islam. "Three steps forward, two steps back," he said with a sigh.

And he agrees that mainstream Muslims have not done enough to counter violent images of their faith.

"That is very true," he said. "But part of it is that many Muslims have given up hope that we will ever be heard."

He said repeated denunciations of terrorism seem to fall on deaf ears.

And some efforts have backfired - like the proposed Islamic information center in New York. He said it should be hailed for furthering the moderate Muslim cause.
Instead, it has deepened hostility toward Muslims.

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.

One theme is that people like Mike Ghouse can't be trusted, that Islam encourages deception.

But Ghouse says actions speak louder than words. And he points to elections in Muslim nations.

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.

"The religious parties don't get more than 3 percent of the vote," Ghouse said.
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."
What keeps him going is faith in Americans, he said.

"The majority of Americans, if they know the truth, they will change their minds."
 

# # #

Mike Ghouse is a speaker, writer, thinker, futurist and an activist of Pluralism, Islam, India and Civil Societies passionately offering pluralistic solutions on issues of the day.

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 Melbourne, Middle East Peace initiative in Jerusalem, International Leadership conference in Hawaii, Washington and elsewhere.

Concerned by the divisiveness, he saw the need to bring Americans together and founded America Together Foundation committed to building a cohesive America, 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.

The Annual Unity Day USA is in its 7^th year now, it is a purposeful event to bring Americans together, on this Unity Day, we the people of the United States of America of every faith, race, ethnicity, culture and background will gather to express our commitment to co-existence, unity, prosperity and wellbeing of our nation.  

Thanksgiving Celebration is in its 15^th year showcasing cultural diversity.

The 5^th Annual Reflections on Holocaust and Genocides is to 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.

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.

# # #

Fuller Profile is at:  http://www.mikeghouse.net/MuslimSpeaker.MikeGhouse.asp   

Mike is working on two books scheduled to be released this year; The American Muslim Agenda and My Journey to Pluralism.

Mike has written over 1000 Articles on Pluralism, Islam, India, Peace & Justice and civil societies published in a wide spectrum of Newspapers and Magazines around the world.

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.  

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 http://www.MikeGhouse.net/

IV Annual Reflections on Holocaust and Genocides

Stereotyping and cohesivness
Join us at 6:00 PM on Thursday night
at Unity Church, Forest Ln in Dallas, TX 75230
A casual gathering.
You are cordially invited, its free
-------------------------

Holocaust and Genocides

6:00 PM Thursday, January 27, 2011

Unity Church of Dallas

2625 Forest Lane, Dallas, TX 75230

The 4th Annual Reflections on Holocaust and Genocides is set for January 27, 2011.

This particular date was adopted by the sixtieth session of the United Nations on November 21, 2005, “Resolves that the United Nations will designate 27 January as an annual International Day of Commemoration in memory of the victims of the Holocaust.”

In the past, the events were scheduled on Sundays to accommodate Jewish community’s presence, however this year the date falls on Thursday, a non-Sabbath day and hence the event on Thursday evening.

We are deeply committed to education and relentlessly pursuing to build cohesive societies and we hope to create a model for the world to emulate.

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.

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.

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.

SUMMARY
What: Reflections on Holocaust and Genocides
Theme: Stereotyping and its effects on Societies
Where: Unity Church of Dallas
Program: 6:000 - 8:30 PM,
When: Thursday, January 27, 2010
Address: 2625 Forest Lane, Dallas, TX. 75230
RSVP: ConfirmAttendance@gmail.com

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

Supporting Organizations:
Dallas Peace Center,
Universal Peace Federation


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 awarness to get people to become activits and speak up and say Never again.

Mike Ghouse for a cohesive America
Chair, America Together Foundation 
(214) 325-1916
Conference on Holocaust and Genocides and
IV Annual Reflections on Holocaust and Genocides.
http://www.holocaustandgenocides.com/

4th Annual Reflections on Holocaust and Genocides

You are cordially invited to the 4^th Annual Reflections on

Holocaust and Genocides

The 4th Annual Reflections on Holocaust and Genocides is set for Thursday, January 27, 2011.

This particular date was adopted by the sixtieth session of the United Nations on November 21, 2005, “Resolves that the United Nations will designate 27 January as an annual International Day of Commemoration in memory of the victims of the Holocaust.”

In the past, the events were scheduled on Sundays to accommodate Jewish community’s presence, however this year the date falls on Thursday, a non-Sabbath day and hence the event on Thursday evening.

We are deeply committed to education and relentlessly pursuing to build cohesive societies and we hope to create a model for the world to emulate.

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.

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.

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.

SUMMARY
What: Reflections on Holocaust and Genocides
Where: Unity Church of Dallas
Meet & Greet: 6:00 - 6:30 - Refreshement
Program: 6:30 - 8:30 PM,
When: Thursday, January 27, 2010
Address: 2625 Forest Lane, Dallas, TX. 75230
RSVP email: ConfirmAttendance@gmail.com
Detail of Past events at: www.HolocaustandGenocides.com


We sincerely hope the attendees will walk out with the following understanding:

1. When we strip the politics out of a conflict, we see hope;

2. We can value others’ suffering without lessening our own;

3. We can respect other people’s suffering as legitimate as our own;

4. The desire to highlight our suffering blinds us from other’s suffering;

5. We can see ourselves as Victims without seeing the perpetrator in us;

6. A sense of responsibility for creating a better world is awakened;

7. Ultimately co-existence and every one's safety and peace should be the driving thought, peace and safety are always a two way street.

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 you are not alone.

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.

Every organization that is willing to subscribe to the idea of co-existence is invited to participate, sponsor, and volunteer. We invite you to submit a 250 word note on the issue that agonize you and offer your solutions with co-existence in mind.

Please send an email to: HolocaustandGenocides@gmail.com

OUR PROGRAMS

1. Unityday USA - 7th Annual Event

2. Thanksgiving Celebrations - 14th Annual Event

3. Reflections on Holocaust and Genocides - 4th Annual Event

4. Qur'aan Conference - 1st Year

5. Conference on Homosexuality issues in 2011

6. Conference on Anti-Semitism -- 2011

7. Conference on Stereotyping -- 2011

8. Conference on Peace and Justice - -- 2011

9. Similar programs in Louisville, Atlanta & Houston are being lined up.

Mike Ghouse for a cohesive America
Chair, America Together
(214) 325-1916
Conference on Holocaust and Genocides and
IV Annual Reflections on Holocaust and Genocides.
http://www.holocaustandgenocides.com/

Conference on Holocaust and Genocides

A comprehensive conference on

Holocaust and GenocidesWednesday, January 24, 2010

A full day conference is planned for Wednesday, January 26, 2011 to include and discuss every human tragedy. Perhaps, this would be a 2nd public comprehensive event where all human failings, massacres, genocides and Holocaust will be addressed in one fashion or the other, the first such event was the III Annual Reflections on Holocaust and Genocides.


Education is the purpose; we have to learn, acknowledge and reflect upon the terrible things that we humans have inflicted upon each other, and to we have to understand that our safety hinges on the safety of all others around us.


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 some how it amounts to infidelity to our own cause. Shame on us that we justifying massacres by believing and propagating that the victims deserved it or asked for it.


We sincerely hope the attendees will walk out with the following understanding:


1. Other people’s suffering is as legitimate as mine;
2. It is easy to see ourselves as Victims, but we must also see the perpetrator in us;
3. When we strip the politics out of a conflict, we see hope;
4. We can value others suffering without lessening our own;
5. The overriding desire to highlight our own blinds us from other’s suffering.
6. A sense of responsibility for creating a better world is awakened

7. Ultimately co-existence and every one's safety and peace should be the driving thought.


We invite sponsors, facilitaors, speakers, writers from individuasl and organizations to make this happen. 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 you are not alone. 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.


Every organization that is willing to subscribe to the idea of co-existence is invited to participate, sponsor, and volunteer. We invite you to submit a 500 word abstract on the issue that agonize you, please offer your solutions with co-existence in mind in another 100 words. No one will be excluded.


Please send an email to: HolocaustandGenocides@gmail.com


Mike Ghouse, Chairperson
Conference on Holocaust and Genocides and
IV Annual Reflections on Holocaust and Genocides.
http://www.holocaustandgenocides.com/

~ ~~

SMU Program to explore Texas Holocaust and Genocide Commission

SMU Program to explore Texas Holocaust and Genocide Commission

Dallas Morning News 4:05 PM Thu, Feb 18, 2010
http://religionblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2010/02/program-at-smu-to-explore-texa.html
Details below the update

UPDATE ON THE EVENT AT SMU
Mike Ghouse

The panel at the program last night included Hon. Senator Shapiro, Hon. Peter Berkowitz, Dr. Amy Fisher-Smith, Dr. Elliott Dlin and a few other good hearted people.

I want to laud the effort of Senators Rodney Ellis and Florence Shapiro for getting the legislation to pass the Texas Holocaust and Genocides commission and thank every one involved to make this happen.

The panel at the program last night included Hon. Senator Shapiro, Hon. Peter Berkowitz, Dr. Amy Fisher-Smith, Dr. Elliott Dlin and a few other leaders of the community.

Senator Florence Shapiro is a rare politician who took the question of Mary Ann Thompson-Frenk head on; when asked about the investors and corporations who have a vested interest in the continuance of the conflicts; she responded by the divestment measures taken and that can be taken on the investment of public funds.

Peter Berkowitz addressed my question of Stereotyping squarely, and I admire him for that. When I mentioned to him that preventing Genocides and Holocaust is the responsibility of whole humanity and Muslims have not only taken part in human rights issues but are seriously involved in educating Dallas Public, across the board in general and Muslims in particular for years by reflecting on Holocaust and Genocides. They are in the forefront in criticizing Holocaust deniers and including every human tragedy in their presentations. As a commissioner, Mr. Berkowitz fulfilled his responsibility when he said, the Houston Holocaust Board is all inclusive and has members from many communities, and mentioned about the area in the Museum that displays how Muslims have gone out of their way in protecting Jews during the Holocaust. He said, removal of stereotyping is the way to go. Sir, I commend you for that and all the other good things you shared tonight. To me, a Pluralist who is committed to contributing his share towards inclusive societies, that one single statement of yours was powerful and I am thankful to the people who appointed you to be the commissioner. You have done justice to the job.

A school curriculum is in the making to be more inclusive and those who are concerned must be involved in the states education curriculum development. We are all humans and at times over look a different point of view. To have sustainable peace in societies, we must have inclusive education and you must be part of it. No stone should be left unturned.

I came out of the event with three things; as a human I can be a perpetrator, Victim, a bystander or a solution finder.

Since I have written about this month, a season of peace and non-violence, and have attended all the three events;

1) the III Annual Reflections on Holocaust and Genocides, Sunday, Jan 24, 2010
2) the Gay and Lesbian Holocaust March on Wednesday, Jan 27, 2010
3) the SMU/Holocaust Museum/ Memnosyne Foundation on Tuesday, Feb 23, 2010

I would just like to point out the wisdom in the inclusion; every one’s safety. As a Muslim my role is to mitigate conflicts and nurture goodwill and I will do my 1/7th billionth (World Population) of my share towards a safer world.

As an individual or as a nation, we need to be aware that we cannot be safe unless the people around us are not safe, we cannot have peace unless people around us don’t have it.

A full day conference is planned for Wednesday, January 26, 2011 to include and discuss every human tragedy, please submit a thoroughly researched 500 word abstract about the event you'd like to discuss to - HolocaustandGenocides@gmail.com.

Mike Ghouse, Chair
IV Annual Reflections on Holocaust and Genocides
http://www.holocaustandgenocides.com/

______________________________________________

On Tuesday evening (Feb. 23) at 7 p.m. at SMU's Hughes-Trigg Theater in the Hughes-Trigg Student Center, the Dallas Holocaust Museum Center for Education and Tolerance is hosting a special program exploring the role of the newly-established Texas Holocaust and Genocide Commission. The program is free and open to the public, and complimentary valet parking is provided.

Thank Goodness the awareness of Holocaust and Genocides is increasing; from one event in 2007 to three events this year;

1) the III Annual Reflections on Holocaust and Genocides, Sunday, Jan 24, 2010
2) the Gay and Lesbian Holocaust March on Wednesday, Jan 27, 2010
3) the SMU/Holocaust Museum/ Memnosyne Foundation on Tuesday, Feb 23, 2010

Please note that Yom Ha-Shoah, also known as Holocaust Remembrance Day, occurs on the 27th of Nissan of Jewish Calendar and has been commemorated by the Jewish community for nearly fifty years the world over.

However the first program on Holocaust and Genocides for the general public took place in 2007, an initiative of American Muslims, striving to build responsible civic societies. The event was prompted by the UN Declaration to commemorate the day.

We hope, more of us would attend these events and learn to reflect upon the terrible things we humans have inflicted upon each other, to bring about a positive change. No community should bear the suffering alone; we all have to stand up, and be there for each other.

A full day conference is planned for Wednesday, January 26, 2011 to include and discuss every human tragedy, please submit a thoroughly researched 500 word abstract about the event you'd like to discuss to - HolocaustandGenocides@gmail.com.

Mike Ghouse
www.HolocaustandGenocides.com

PRESS RELEASE AT DALLAS MORNING NEWS
http://religionblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2010/02/program-at-smu-to-explore-texa.html

Program at SMU to explore Texas Holocaust and Genocide Commission
4:05 PM Thu, Feb 18, 2010 Permalink Yahoo! Buzz
Sam Hodges/Reporter Bio E-mail News tips

The release below gives details on a fast-approaching program at Southern Methodist University:

On Tuesday evening (Feb. 23) at 7 p.m. at SMU's Hughes-Trigg Theater in the Hughes-Trigg Student Center (http://smu.edu/maps/flash/) , the Dallas Holocaust Museum/Center for Education and Tolerance (www.dallasholocaustmuseum.org) is hosting a special program exploring the role of the newly-established Texas Holocaust and Genocide Commission.

The program is free and open to the public, and complimentary valet parking is provided.

The Commission was established during the last session of the Legislature and signed into law last summer. State Sen. Florence Shapiro (R-Plano) and State Sen. Rodney Ellis (D-Houston) co-sponsored the bill creating the commission, which was passed unanimously.

Texas is the nation's 13th state to establish a commission or council devoted to Holocaust and genocide education. By law, the commission--considered the most important development in Holocaust education in Texas in years--is to help preserve information and experiences of the Holocaust and other genocide events. The commission will also work with organizations, agencies, museums, survivors and liberators to provide information and experiences and to coordinate memorial events in the state.

The SMU program will explore the commission's purpose in a Q&A format moderated by Texas Tribune Editor Evan Smith, formerly president and editor-in-chief of Texas Monthly. The panelists include Senator Shapiro; Peter Berkowitz, a Houston business executive who chairs the commission; Amy Fisher-Smith, an associate professor of psychology at University of Dallas, and a Holocaust educator; and Elliott Dlin, Museum Director of the Dallas Holocaust Museum/Center for Education and Tolerance.

Texas is home to several hundred Holocaust survivors, and a few are expected to attend the event, co-sponsored by the Memnosyne Foundation (http://memnosynefoundation.org/) and the SMU Human Rights Program (http://smu.edu/humanrights/)

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COMMENTS, COURTESY OF DALLAS NEWS

Posted by Mike Ghouse @ 2:57 PM Sun, Feb 21, 2010
I am glad to see our state passed the bill to recognize Holocaust and Genocides. I hope Dallasites will take the time to attend the program and learn and reflect upon the terrible things that we humans have inflicted upon each other.

The Jewish community has 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.

Thank God the awareness is increasing; from one event in 2006 by the American Muslims, it has grown to three events this year; the III Annual Reflections on Holocaust and Genocides on 24th, the Gay and Lesbian commeration on 27th and now this event by the Holocaust Museusm in collobration with the Memnosyne Foundation.
Holocaust was a major human tragedy and a failure of humanity.

And perhaps the first time in our history that we acknowledged the genocides of the indigenous Americans and Native peoples of Americas in a public forum along with other tragedies.

I want to applaud the people of Dallas for attending the event. They were Atheists, Bahai, Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Jain, Jewish, Muslim, Sikh, Wicca, Zoroastrians and from sevral ethnicities and nationalities.

It was an educational program, where 7 speakers reflected on 7 topics for 7 minutes each. Then 7 commentators made comments about 7 different situations. The topics ranged from the Holocaust to Genocides, massacres and tragedies.

Among Genocides, Massacres and other tragedies we reflected upon the Indigenous American people such as the Mayans, the Toltecs and the massacres of the Native people right here in Dallas, we touched upon Darfur, Polpot, Congo, Armenia, Rwanda, Falun Dafa, Burma, Tibet, Bosnia, India, Gaza and the transatlantic slave trade. Through these representative events, our goal was to reflect upon every human tragedy. The words do not describe the sufferings of people in full, we have to work with the limited choice of words, but have a big heart to feel the pain and suffering of every human being, not just my people or my tribe, but every one. Let there be one negative energy of suffering that we are part of, together we can work on getting out of it.

There is a shameless cruelty in us, either we shy away or some times refuse to acknowledge the sufferings of others, worrying that it will devalue our own or some how it amounts to infidelity to our own cause, and shame on us for justifying massacres that the victims deserved it or they asked for it.

We learned a few simple things that we can do to prevent such tragedies. It was a purposeful event to learn, acknowledge and reflect upon the terrible things that we humans have inflicted upon each other. We also learned that our safety hinges on the safety of all others around us.

We learned to see each other with dignity, and honor the otherness of other. Gatherings such as this offer hope and opportunity for a secure and a safer world.

Of the several acknowledgements, a few notable ones are;

1. other peoples suffering is as legitimate as ours;
2. some one related to us through faith, ethnicity, land mass or race has been a butcher too,
3. it takes courage to see ourselves as perpetrators, while it is easy to ourselves as victims;
4. we can see the light at the end of the tunnel when politics is stripped;
5. we can value others suffering without lessening our own;
6. the overriding desire to highlight my own gets softened, when we value others pain;
7. the sense of responsibility for creating a better world was present in us.

It is an initiative of American Muslims striving to build responsible civic societies. The event was organized by the Foundation for Pluralism, where co-existence is our value. We appreciate the sponsorship by the Center for Spiritual Living, all the three are Dallas based Organizations.

And to every community that has endured holocaust, genocides, massacres, bombs, annihilation, land mines, hunger, rape, torture, occupation and inhuman brutality, the least we can do in the process of healing is to acknowledge every one's pain in one room, as one people. We have to teach tolerance and acceptance.

We have begun the process of coming together as one people, to stand with you, we are indeed one world and one 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.

A full day conference is planned for Wednesday, January 26, 2011 to discuss every human tragedy, please submit a thoroughly researched 500 word abstract about the event you'd like to discuss to -HolocaustandGenocides@gmail.com

Mike Ghouse, Chair
Holocaust and Genocides
www.holocaustandGenocides.com

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Posted by Matthew Cappiello @ 5:01 PM Sun, Feb 21, 2010
Good to hear about this fantastic initiative!

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Posted by Len Ellis @ 7:57 PM Sun, Feb 21, 2010
Indeed, more education and information about these tragedies is of utmost importance. Without such, the possibility that these horrific events can occur again is real. I hope that along with the history, a great deal of attention is placed on what allowed these events to occur, mainly, that people watched and did nothing. When we see people being persecuted, when we see people denied basic human rights, we must raise our voices and say "no!" The mantra associated with The Holocaust is "Never Again", yet to be true to the to the call, requires first that we even know about what happened, and second, that each of us take responsibility for our role.
I applaud these educational and participatory events, I encourage all to attend, and to speak out and speak up, for these atrocities still occur in our world today.
Len Ellis
Dallas Peace Center

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Posted by Harbans Lal @ 12:22 AM Mon, Feb 22, 2010
Yes, we will attend. Sikhs are those who suffered because of religious and ethnic hatred. They like to join all to make it sure that the hatred is transformed into understanding of the human suffering all over the world. The idea of sharing the suffering of the world is a powerful one to move the world where such atrocities are never inflicted on any human being, and if and when it ever happens again, it may be shared by all.
Harbans Lal,
DFW Sikhs for Interfaith Understanding
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Posted by Surinder Kaul @ 8:47 AM Mon, Feb 22, 2010
As a Kashmiri Hindu, I applaud the mention of our plight at the reflection program on January 24, no one cares about our issue, it was a relief to see them mention it.
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Posted by Mike Ghouse @ 9:58 AM Tue, Feb 23, 2010
It is our duty, a moral obligation to acknolwedge the pain and suffering of all people. There is a shameless cruelty in us, either we shy away or some times refuse to acknowledge the sufferings of others, worrying that it will devalue our own or some how it amounts to infidelity to our own cause.

We all have to learn to see eye to eye, face to face, some one related to us via land mass, faith or race was a butcher, it does not mean, you and I are. We have to bring about a change by simply being human - feeling the pain of other no matter who it is, that is what makes us human.

We are looking forward to All day conference in January 2011 to acknowlege every human suffering, whether they are technically genocide or not. LIfe is precious and must be valued.

Mike Ghouse, Chair
Holocaust and Genocides
Dallas, Texas
www.HolocaustandGenocides.com

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Posted by CA Pramod Gupta @ 10:21 AM Tue, Feb 23, 2010

My heartiest wishes for the successful event ,of which I m assured when the mention of Mike Ghouse I see, as the chair,, and He is most update on the issues, and a crusader , and is persuasive in deliverance as I see him as a virtual friend,an epitome of unparalleled wisdom and heave in the betterment of humanity at large spiritedly .. GOd bless the event and the Mission , I m sure Hindus the world's most oppressed , would be able to raise their head with pride as they r the keeper of trait invaluable to the humanity ... "Tolerance" and the ancient believer and propounded "UNIVERSAL BROTHERHOOD" ,, with no riders.. but paying for it sadly .. the Order has to be reversed if humanity have to survive and espouse goodness.
report as abusive

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Posted by Barbara Thyab Ali @ 11:30 AM Tue, Feb 23, 2010
Dont forget how the Muslims were treated when the first fight for freedom was conducted... by Bahadur Shah!!! and his followers.... ever after that all Muslims where shun and doomed,,, not even given basic education or any signs of equality till date.... what a horrible fate they had ... even till today,.. many are being treated very badly.... all because some Muslims are "Terrorists" in todays world... yet all are looked upon and termed !!!!!!!! Yes !!! X or Y or Z.... for no crime or reason at all..... why should all the Muslims be branded as Terrorist today!!! Is there no one to stand up and question why??? Its high time we all jointly stop such form of persecution to the Indian Muslim of today...
report as abusive

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Posted by CA pramod Gupra @ 12:17 PM Tue, Feb 23, 2010
Barbara , U shirked to answer the empiric ,, evaporation of hindus almost total in other than India , and muslim exponential growth in India ,, is speaking loudly and the recent incidents of imposing jijiya and butchering beheading for refusing emabracing islam has caused the havoc .. and exposed why the evaporation occurred and thanx to Tasleema Nasreen for the expose in Banglaesh, sadly was dubbed criminally, coercively ..by progressibves, muslims, and pseudo secularist ( why there is no call whe tasleema exposed the mass raping and killing going on of hindus in Bangladesh ,a nd when M F husssin painted hindu goddesss, Mother India , in nude ,, and was dubbbed as objects of art , while cartoons make U cry and kill ppl indiscriminatey, the double standards , are exhorting Hindus to notice and rise, befittingly) .. and the leadership of ,Muslim had kept them alienated , and perpetuated their heinous designs, divisiveness on that foundation , while those who joined main stream has been able to decorate the highest offices at nation and apex courts beside others, a sign that only a predominantly hindu nation cud display with pride the mark f tolerance while the Muslim states , they purported to b secular played heinous in making hindus extinct, with terrorists attacking indian s , infiltrating and given local cover , by whom , U kbnow ! including the nationals of all muslim states wud put any muslim to shame, what to talk of seeing them elevated to the higher offices,a sham and shame exposed,, by all means .. a dark writing on the wall , the hindus r seeing as the recent paki- china - uS combine is also pushing the rot with vigor , against this tolerant clan ..
report as abusive

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Posted by Barbara Thyab Ali @ 3:12 AM Wed, Feb 24, 2010
Hello Dear,

I proudly declare that my entire family of Indian Muslims, are true followers of Islam, will never dare harm a single living creature of our creator.Many thousands of miles away from our Mother Land and yet getting rewards/ awards and certificates... decorated by the firms and companies they work at... best employee of the year, outstanding employee of the company, as asset to the firm, valuable employee of the company, best management head who has helped to keep the company afloat in this 100% recession, making heavy profits for the company...etc.,.. etc... all this in Australia today... Yes , I am a very proud mother of these four Indian Muslim Sons of mine, yet, they could not stay in India as there was nothing for them in India, being brought up in the Middle East , educated and earned their work experience outside India, 6 grand children -Indian Muslims too, and my three daughters in law are also doing so well in Australia in different fields of work, yet they too never wanted to remain in Inda all because of the differences shown to each one of them... all are highly educated too, like my family I wonder how many Indian Muslims have left our Mother land just because they too were being brushed with the same brush!!! that is still happening in India to all most 90% of decent, God Fearing Muslims....I am also getting ready to leave my mother land, with a heavy heart and much unwillingness, only because from Australia will I be able to meet each and every one who wishes to run down a Muslim in this world today... Australia has started to offer dual passports!!!!

Praying that all the Hindus will also re-unite and form one big united family soon... united we stand, divided we fall...

Bye

Barbara.
report as abusive

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Posted by Mike Ghouse @ 11:47 AM Wed, Feb 24, 2010
POST EVENT UPDATE

The panel at the program last night included Hon. Senator Shapiro, Hon. Peter Berkowitz, Dr. Amy Fisher-Smith, Dr. Elliott Dlin and a few other good hearted people.

I want to laud the effort of Senators Rodney Ellis and Florence Shapiro for getting the legislation to pass the Texas Holocaust and Genocides commission and thank every one involved to make this happen.

The panel at the program last night included Hon. Senator Shapiro, Hon. Peter Berkowitz, Dr. Amy Fisher-Smith, Dr. Elliott Dlin and a few other leaders of the community.

Senator Florence Shapiro is a rare politician who took the question of Mary Ann Thompson-Frenk head on; when asked about the investors and corporations who have a vested interest in the continuance of the conflicts; she responded by the divestment measures taken and that can be taken on the investment of public funds.

Peter Berkowitz addressed my question of Stereotyping squarely, and I admire him for that. When I mentioned to him that preventing Genocides and Holocaust is the responsibility of whole humanity and Muslims have not only taken part in human rights issues but are seriously involved in educating Dallas Public, across the board in general and Muslims in particular for years by reflecting on Holocaust and Genocides. They are in the forefront in criticizing Holocaust deniers and including every human tragedy in their presentations. As a commissioner, Mr. Berkowitz fulfilled his responsibility when he said, the Houston Holocaust Board is all inclusive and has members from many communities, and mentioned about the area in the Museum that displays how Muslims have gone out of their way in protecting Jews during the Holocaust. He said, removal of stereotyping is the way to go. Sir, I commend you for that and all the other good things you shared tonight. To me, a Pluralist who is committed to contributing his share towards inclusive societies, that one single statement of yours was powerful and I am thankful to the people who appointed you to be the commissioner. You have done justice to the job.

A school curriculum is in the making to be more inclusive and those who are concerned must be involved in the states education curriculum development. We are all humans and at times over look a different point of view. To have sustainable peace in societies, we must have inclusive education and you must be part of it. No stone should be left unturned.

I came out of the event with three things; as a human I can be a perpetrator, Victim, a bystander or a solution finder.

Since I have written about this month, a season of peace and non-violence, and have attended all the three events;

1) the III Annual Reflections on Holocaust and Genocides, Sunday, Jan 24, 2010
2) the Gay and Lesbian Holocaust March on Wednesday, Jan 27, 2010
3) the SMU/Holocaust Museum/ Memnosyne Foundation on Tuesday, Feb 23, 2010

I would just like to point out the wisdom in the inclusion; every one’s safety. As a Muslim my role is to mitigate conflicts and nurture goodwill and I will do my 1/7th billionth (World Population) of my share towards a safer world.

As an individual or as a nation, we need to be aware that we cannot be safe unless the people around us are not safe, we cannot have peace unless people around us don’t have it.

A full day conference is planned for Wednesday, January 26, 2011 to include and discuss every human tragedy, please submit a thoroughly researched 500 word abstract about the event you'd like to discuss to - HolocaustandGenocides@gmail.com.

Mike Ghouse, Chair
IV Annual Reflections on Holocaust and Genocides
www.HolocaustandGenocides.com

Pictorial Report - Holocaust and Genocides

A report on the III Annual Reflections on

Holocaust and Genocides
Sunday, January 24, 2010

We applaud the people of North Texas for attending the event. They came from every religious, ethnic and race backgrounds; they were Indigenous Americans, Atheists, Bahai, Buddhists, Cherokee, Christians, Hindus, Hopi, Jains, Jews, Muslims, Sikhs, Toltec, Wicca, Zoroastrians and from several ethnicities and nationalities.

Our purpose was education to diverse population. It was a purposeful event to learn, acknowledge and reflect upon the terrible things that we humans have inflicted upon each other, and to understand that our safety hinges on the safety of all others around us.
The program featured 7 speakers who reflected on 7 topics for 7 minutes each followed by 7 commentators on 7 different types of atrocities. The range of topics included; the Holocaust, Genocides, Massacres, Atrocities and Tragedies.This is perhaps the for first time in our history, that we have acknowledged the genocides of the indigenous Americans and Native peoples of Americas in a public forum along with other tragedies.

The Jewish community has 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. It is a Muslim initiative to build responsible civic societies. There is a shameless cruelty in us, either we shy away or some times refuse to acknowledge the sufferings of others, worrying that it will devalue our own or some how it amounts to infidelity to our own cause. Shame on us that we justifying massacres by believing and propagating that the victims deserved it or asked for it.

The Holocaust was a major human tragedy and a failure of humanity. The World stood by mercilessly when people were sent to Gas Chambers for their belief in the creator. The looks on the faces of the people, the resignation on their faces that the world silently stood by is horrifying and will haunt us for centuries to come.

Among Genocides, Massacres and other tragedies we reflected upon the Indigenous American people such as the Choctaw, Mayans, Toltecs and the massacres of the Native people right here in Dallas.

We touched upon Darfur and rolled the slides on Polpot, Congo, Armenia, Rwanda, Nanking, Falungong, Bosnia, India and other events to represent the Genocides and Massacres.

Among the ongoing tragedies, the tragedy of Gaza was highlighted with mentions of Burma, Tibet and other tragedies. The massive drowning and tragedy of the transatlantic slave trade was shared.

Through these representative events, our goal was to reflect upon every human failing. The technical definitions of the words do not describe the sufferings of the people in full, we have to work with the limited choice of words, but must have a big heart to feel the pain and suffering of every human being, not just my people or my tribe, but every one. Let us be a part of all human suffering, and together work on getting out of it.Gatherings such as this offer hope and opportunity for a secure and a safer world. At this event, we learned to see each other with dignity, and honor the otherness of other.Of the several acknowledgements, a few notable ones are;

1. Other people’s suffering is as legitimate as ours;
2. Through faith, ethnicity or land mass we are related with butchers of the past;
3. It takes courage to see ourselves as perpetrators;
4. It is easy to see ourselves as Victims
5. When we strip the politics out of these events, we see hope.
6. We can value others suffering without lessening our own;
7. The overriding desire to highlight our own blinds us from other’s suffering.

A sense of responsibility for creating a better world was present in us as witnessed by the people hanging out for an hour and a half after the program.

It is an initiative of American Muslims striving to build responsible civic societies. The event was organized by the Foundation for Pluralism, where co-existence is our value. We appreciate the sponsorship by the Center for Spiritual Living, all the three are Dallas based Organizations.

To the;

Jews, we say you are not alone;
Native people, we say you are not alone;

Homosexual community, we say you are not alone;

Darfurians, we say you are not alone;

Kashmiris Pundits, we say you are not alone;

Gujarati Muslims, we say you are not alone;

Gazans, we say you are not alone;

Ugandans, we say you are no alone;

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

A full day conference is planned for Wednesday, January 26, 2011 to discuss every human tragedy, please submit a thoroughly researched 500 word abstract about the event you'd like to discuss to HolocaustandGenocides@gmail.com.

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. Initial report - http://holocaustandgenocides.blogspot.com/2010/01/initial-report-on-holocaust-and.html

A full report with Speakers information and their talks will be available on the websites soon. Pictures for all the three events are available at the website, for 2010: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikeghouse/sets/72157623333495277

Mike Ghouse, Chairperson

Annual reflections on Holocaust and Genocides

http://www.holocaustandgenocides.com/
http://www.foundationforpluralism.com/
http://www.worldmuslimcongress.com/
~~~
# # #

Holocaust and Genocides - Crescent

My Crescent News magazine
January 25, 2010

http://www.mycrescent.com/profiles/blogs/holocaust-amp-genocides

I am not sure to what to say about the "2nd Annual Reflections on Holocaust & Genocides" program organized by Mike Ghouse Learning about the darkest episodes of "humanity" was not a great experience. Hearing stories about how far people would go to destroy another human being or an entire community was extremely distressful. I came to the program to see the good that humanity has to offer, but it seemed like evil and injustice always prevail -- years after years and decades after decades. We keep jumping from one atrocity to another.

The program started just before Maghrib, so few minutes into the speeches I headed out for prayers. I kept thinking about what would motivate people to commit such horrific crimes? What kind of ignorance inspires a person to kill innocent victims? So many un-Godly acts in the name of God?

Maghrib prayers helped me get some perspective on all this chaos. I re-remembered our purpose on this earth and duty to mankind. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) once said that when you see injustice and evil, try and stop it with your hands, if you are unable to do so then speak out against it and if you are unable to speak out then in your heart condemn it, but that's weakest sign of faith. I began thinking about the panel of speakers and the attendees. They are trying to stop evil from spreading, aren't they? Some have even dedicated their entire lives to bring an end to these atrocities. They organize protests, work with aid groups, they are going out raising funds for various causes and not only speaking out against genocides but empowering the victims to take action as well.

Suddenly, I was not feeling as hopeless. Actually, I felt pretty dandy, if I may say so. I thanked God for allowing me to spend some time in the company of those who care and and are stepping up to the challenge. I had the opportunity to socialize with real role models. They came together regardless of their ethnicity, faith or nationality to acknowledge crimes against humanity. They came together to do every thing in their power to help the victims stand up in the face of injustice against fellow humans. And I think that's pretty cool.