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?

Father Moon emphasizes the idea, "Living for the sake of others" indeed there is a lot of wisdom in it as Martin Niemoller also reflects it in his eternal poem, "first they came for the Jews, I wasn't a Jew, so I did not say a thing, then they came for Communists, I didn't care, I wasn't a communist, then he concludes, then they came for me and it shattered me to know that there was no one left to speak up for me."

The idea of alms, charity, taking care of the elderly, weak, sick and the children is a common theme in every religious tradition. It is indeed an insurance for every one's well being. I cannot be at peace when others around me aren't, and hence it behooves me to take care of the ones who need assistance.

I am blessed to have taken a stand for Jews, Catholics, Ahmadiyyas, Immigrants, Hindus, Falun Dafa, Zoroastrians, Muslims, Native Americans, Christians, Baha'i, Wicca, Sikh and other identities of humanity including GLBT community. It is the right thing to do.

Please note that I am no more of a volunteer than you are, if I have not spoken out against one of your dear causes, it is simply because not being aware and having only 24 hours in a day. If you would like to share it with me, please do so in the comments section.

Mahatma Gandhi has been a major inspiration in my life. Twice in my life I have seen Mahatma Gandhi in my dreams, the first time was when I was in College around 1971, when Mahatma Gandhi, the vice-chancellor of Bangalore University Sri V. Narsimaiah and I were having a dinner together and Mahatma puts his hands on my shoulders and says, "tujhe bahut kaam karna hai beta", you have a lot of work to do son, and again around 2003, he appears in my dreams and with the same affectionate hand (as my Dad's), he pats on my back, "you have to do it"... the only thing I consistently get from this message was the work of Pluralism, help me God, I am committed to do.

Thanks to my Father and Mother for breaking away from the traditional practices of apartheid, growing up as kids, we did something that was un-heard of, the Dalits and us would eat off our plates, and drink tea off our glasses, they would come in to our home... and many had called my Dad for stopping it. I shall write that some time.

Links are linked where the compilation is done, others will be completed by 12/31/12 - God willling if I am alive. 

1. Standing up for Atheists
   http://standingupforothers.blogspot.com/2012/04/speaking-up-for-atheists.html 
   
2. Standing up for Apostates Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan and Malaysia work
3. Standing up for Baha'i - Iran petitions 
   
4. Standing up for Christians http://standingupforothers.blogspot.com/2012/01/standing-with-christians.html
   
5. Standing up for Hindus
   http://standingupforothers.blogspot.com/2012/04/standing-with-hindus.html
   
6. Standing up for Jains - Adding the Jain logo at DOJ
   
7. Standing up for Jews http://standingupforothers.blogspot.com/2012/02/standing-up-with-jews.html
   
8. Standing up for Muslims  - Standing up for Ahamdiyya, Bohra, Ismailia, Shia, Sufi, Sunni and other Muslims
   
9. Standing up for Pagans - Petition to save a woman in Saudi Arabia
   
10. Standing up for Sikhs - Afghanistan, France, UK, USA, Pakistan
    
11. Standing up for Wicca - Arlington Cemetery Head stones
    
12. Standing up for Native Americans http://wisdomofreligion.blogspot.com/2010/02/petition-for-native-american-heritage.html
    
13. Standing up for Gays and Lesbians http://standingupforothers.blogspot.com/2012/05/standing-up-for-gays-and-lesbians.html
    
14. Standing up for Falun Dafa http://www.clearwisdom.net/emh/articles/2006/3/19/70952.html
    
15. Standing up for Women's rights - Burqa, Sharia, divorce,
    
16. Standing up for Darfur - Joined the Darful Coalition and petitions
    
17. Standing up for Bosnia - Faxes, phone calls etc.
    
18. Standing up for Burmese Buddhists - http://wisdomofreligion.blogspot.com/2007/10/stand-with-burmese-people.html
    
19. Standing up for Palestinians and Jews together
    www.IsraelPalestinedialogue.com
    
20. Standing up for Immigrants
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OrjU0KULv-Y

To be updated, God has blessed me to be a part of many a societies and I am thankful for the same. I urge you to knock off one hour's TV or gossip and spend that time standing up for others, the least you can do is to let them know that you are with them and that they are not alone.


MikeGhouse is committed to building a Cohesive America and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day. He is a professional speaker, thinker and a writer on pluralism, politics, civic affairs, Islam, India, Israel, peace and justice. Mike is a frequent guest on Sean Hannity show on Fox TV, and a commentator on national radio networks, he contributes weekly to the Texas Faith Column at Dallas Morning News and regularly at Huffington post, and several other periodicals across the world. The blog www.TheGhousediary.comis updated daily. 

  

Standing up with Jews

If we can learn to stand up for others,  and stand with every human being who is at a disadvantage or being taken advantage of, then we can hope for a world of justice where no one has to live in apprehension, discomfort or fear of the other. In the end, every one of us benefits. Otherwise, all of us will live in fear of the other. We are all in this together, we are one world and we have to work for it.   

It is the same idea repeated and revived by several great reformers of the world including but not limited to Zarathustra, Moses, Krishna, Buddha, Confucius, Muhammad, Nanak, Bahaullah, Gandhi, MLK and others.

Chief Seattle, a Native American said this perfectly, “All things are connected. Whatever befalls the earth befalls the sons of the earth. Man did not weave the web of life; he is merely a strand in it. Whatever he does to the webs, he does it to himself."

I hope to complete the list of work that I have done, however small it might be for people other than my own niche. I was asked by several friends to do this to inspire others to open up and do it.

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



Commemorating Holocaust for the first time
http://holocaustandgenocides.blogspot.com/2014/01/william-and-rosa-lee-schiff-holocaust.html


Dealing with Holocaust 
http://religionblog.dallasnews.com/2014/01/dealing-with-genocide-and-holocaust-across-religious-lines.html/ 

Speaker on Israel issues
http://israel-palestine-dialogue.blogspot.com/2014/12/speaker-on-israel-mike-ghouse.html

About Israel and Palestine 
What inspires me to be involved in the Israel Palestine conflict? The following is the story of my struggle to see a cohesive world, the story will take you through different emotions but at the end, I hope you feel a sense of completeness of the story. Due to its length, it is a three part article. http://israel-palestine-dialogue.blogspot.com/2012/02/about-israel-palestine.html

Israel Palestine Dialogue
If you do not have an open mind and unwilling to see another point of view, this site is not for you. On this site, we welcome every point of view, you can express it in the comment section.I believe the Israel Palestine conflict is the mother of most of the conflicts in the world, if we can find solutions, world will see pace, Jews will live in security and the Justice to the Palestinians. www.IsraelPalestineDialouge.com 

Muslim Holocaust commemoration
Perhaps it was for the first time in our history, that Muslims took the initiative to commemorate Holocaust. It was a fulfillment of my childhood dream, completing an incomplete story. http://www.foundationforpluralism.com/Images_HolocaustDay/HMD2006_ProgramReport.asp

Annual Reflections on Holocaust and Genocides
Education was the purpose; we have to learn, acknowledge and reflect upon the terrible things we have inflicted upon each other, and we have to understand that our safety and security 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 somehow it amounts to infidelity to our own cause. 
www.HolocaustandGenocides.com

Radio Show on Judaism
As a part of knowing each other and learning about each other, for the sake of creating cohesive societies, I did over 500 hours of Talk show radio on religion, wisdom of religion all the beautiful religions. Rabbi Haas of Temple Shalom and I did a 25 hours talk on Judaism from 2004-2006. http://www.foundationforpluralism.com/Articles/Religious-tolerance-in-action-DallasNews-December2004.asp

Workshop on Judaism
As a part of knowing Everything you wanted to know about the Judaism, you can learn about it in this workshop. As with all faiths, non-Clarity, myths and mis-information are part of Judaism as well. Please come prepared with questions, we would like you to walk out of the workshop with a greater understanding of Judaism. Dr. Howard Cohen is a student of his own tradition and history, a student of the early. http://wisdomofreligion.blogspot.com/2007/07/understandign-judaism.html

Anti-Circumcision Bill and a Muslim's takeCalling it Male Genital Mutilation is going too far, it shows utter disregard for enduring religious traditions of Jews, Muslims and others comprising nearly a fourth of humanity. Mind you, it is not a practice of a vanishing cult that is here today and gone tomorrow.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mike-ghouse/circumcision-satire_b_872270.html

Standing up for Jews, Gays and Lesbians 
Pastor Fred Phelps of the Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka is staging a protest against Jews, gays, lesbians and Mexicans. We need to be unselfish to serve our selfish interests. Here is an opportunity for you to stand up for the rights of others and perhaps find a purpose in life to stand up for the rights of others.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mike-ghouse/standing-up-for-jews-gays_b_650167.html

Israel and Palestine moving forward - 1My father is my hero and had opened the doors of wisdom to me. He taught one of the biggest lessons of my life in social cohesiveness and dealing with extremism that I continue to reflect in my speeches, acts and write ups.  I wish every father in India, America and elsewhere teaches this lesson to his kids. He told us the "individuals" were responsible for the bloodshed and not the religions; he would emphasize that you cannot blame an intangible like religion and expect justice, we must blame the individuals who caused it and punish them accordingly for disturbing the peace and thus bring a resolution to the conflict by serving justice. He was crystal clear: You cannot annihilate, kill, hang or beat the religion, so why bark at it?
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mike-ghouse/israel-and-palestine-moving-forward_b_1258261.html

Commitment to Israel - 2Israel's security, and justice to the Palestinians are directly proportional to each other. Hundred percent security for Israel comes with 100 percent justice to the Palestinians. A majority of people in the conflict understand this, but the leadership runs aground with short sighted false perceptions.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mike-ghouse/commitment-to-israelpales_b_1263793.html  

Commitment  to Israel -3He is a genuine hero to both the people, as he stopped the blood feud and had them look to each other as collaborators of peace. That is one less conflict between Egypt and Israel. When I put the review of his book on my website, one of my Jewish friends, who had collaborated with me on several issues boycotted me. He would not return my calls or emails. One day, I ran into him in a Synagogue, and begged him to 
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mike-ghouse/commitment-to-israelpalestine_b_1263803.html

Pictures from Fred Phelps Demonstration
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikeghouse/sets/7215762433635750

Religious Hostilities across the world
http://dallasmorningviewsblog.dallasnews.com/2014/01/texas-faith-why-are-religious-hostilities-on-the-rise-across-the-world.html/#more-33370


Israel's fake supporters  

With the exception of Ron Paul, the Republican candidates compete in licking the boots of Netanyahu instead of the people of Israel, the Israelis care less about their duplicity. They would support someone who delivers durable peace, the likes of Egypt and Jordan. Israelis are willing to swallow the bitter pill for the sake of peace, Netanyahu and our war monger candidates need to listen to them. 

http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2012/04/israels-fake-republican-supporters.html

Middle East Peace Initiative
It was my trip to Israel and Palestine and giving a talk on Pluralism at the Dan Jerusalem Hotel. Visited holy places of Bahai, Christian, Druze, Jews and Muslims. 
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikeghouse/sets/72157624709053713/  ....

President Obama blows the opportunity for Israel and Palestine
It is a video appealing to the President to vote for the Palestinian statehood, as a good step forward to bring security to Jews and justice to the Palestinians
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Hb0Y-4lRkM

Israel Iran conflict is Ahmedinejad Netanyahu conflict 
A survey was conducted where a majority of the Israelis are opposed to the war mongering, it sounds more like a war of words between these two men, who have no hesitation in getting the Israeli and the Iranians killed to please their predictions and egos. 
http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2012/04/israel-iran-crisis-is-netanyahu.html

Pluralism prayers
Through out my last twenty years, I have included every religious tradition in my prayers. 
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikeghouse/sets/72157624709140887/

Responding to Ahmedinejad
When we heard that he had denied the Holocaust, we jumped, about 30 some Muslims in Dallas wrote to Dallas Morning News protesting his claim. It him the looney, but not the Muslims. http://www.foundationforpluralism.com/Images_Press/holocaust_dallasmorningnews_lettertopoints.htm

UN Resolution 
The resolution that was the beginning of our Annual event on Holocaust commemoration.
http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2007/ga10569.doc.htm

The necessity for a Dialogue between Jews and Muslims.
This is a painful story about Muslims and Jews stereotyping each other, and also the deliberate spread of false information against Muslims. It has caused a lot of heartaches, but only to those who were not truthful. 
http://www.foundationforpluralism.com/Articles/Jewish-Muslim-dialogue-a-necessity.asp

A tribute to my Mother 
In this write up, how my mother had inspired me to learn and to study, and also the cause for me to commemorate the Holocaust event.
http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2011/05/mother-my-story-happy-mothers-day.html

Additional items not referenced above:

A tribute to the Jewish Community
As a Muslim, I wanted to appreciate their relentless pursuit of pluralism by the Jewish community to have kept the state and church untied. It is one of the main reason for our nation to have a strong democracy and pluralism and vanishing persecution of people who are not Christians.  Jewish community was recognized in this annual event. 
http://www.foundationforpluralism.com/Honored_JewishCommunity_TG2005.asp

A tribute to Elliott Dlin, Executive Director of Dallas Holocaust Musuem
http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2010/04/tribute-to-eliott-dlin.htm

Yom Hashoah at the Temple Emanu-El
http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2011/05/yom-hashoah-at-temple-emanu-el.html

Muslims Condemn display of hate at Holocaust Museum
http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2009/06/muslims-condemn-display-of-hate-at.htm

Yom HaShoah and Yom Milaad
http://wisdomofreligion.blogspot.com/2007/04/yom-hashoah-yom-milaad.htm

Stereotyping Muslims and Jews
http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2009/09/stereotyping-muslims-and-jews.html

Extinguishing Hoaxes 
http://wisdomofreligion.blogspot.com/2007/04/extinguishig-hoaxes.html

Anti-Semitism and Anti-Israelism 
http://wisdomofreligion.blogspot.com/2007/08/anti-semitism-anti-israelism.html

An Apology to Jews, Christians and others
http://www.foundationforpluralism.com/Quraan/Not-like-Jews-and-Christians.asp

Americans condemn the attacks on Rabbi Lerner
http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2011/03/americans-condemn-attacks-on-rabbi.html

Understanding Judaism 
http://wisdomofreligion.blogspot.com/2007/07/understandign-judaism.html

Committed to building a cohesive America
www.AmericaTogetherFoundation.com 

The Star of David
If you look at the logo of the Foundation for Pluralism below, you will see the star of David on the top. Texas Jewish post was delighted and wrote about it. However, they have taken it off from their site. The story is some one in Sweden responded my call to create a logo and I gave him a sketch of what I want.  He drew the logo and I shared the draft with a few friends - My Hindu friends said, the Hindu symbol should be on the top, as it is the oldest religion and my Zoroastrians friends claimed the same, then my Muslim friends were not happy that Islamic symbol is not on the top... I told them all, that it was a random placement and I will not change it, if I do that, then I would be giving a deliberate priority to one over the other and it amounted to sheer bias and I will not do that. A few still gripe about it, but it is history now. 

It has not been easy
Maria Atria of Fox News had talked to me about the difficulty in bringing different communities  together and the harassment and difficulties I had encountered... it will be all in the book coming up in June this year.

Mike Ghouse
Mike Ghouse is committed to building a Cohesive America and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day. He is a professional speaker, thinker and a writer on pluralism, politics, civic affairs, foreign affairs,  Islam, India, Israel, peace and justice. Mike is a frequent guest on Sean Hannity show on Fox TV, and a commentator on national radio networks, he writes weekly at Dallas Morning News and regularly at Huffington post,and several other periodicals. www.TheGhousediary.com is Mike's daily blog.