Thursday, December 31, 2015

Results for Americans

Results for America Together Foundation, World Muslim Congress and the Foundation for Pluralism. 

There are many outcomes we desire.  Here is what we have done and continue to do, and if this appeals to you, we ask your support.

Conflicts fade and solutions emerge when we learn about each other, and demystify the myths about others.  

What have we done? It’s a successful three fork strategic action plan; engage with TV, Print and Radio Media, engage with polarized minds and, be a catalyst in social integration.

All our work is about taking the relationships from detached estrangement to positive engagement with successful outcomes, almost all our activities are bridge building in nature. 

1. Positive engagement with Fox News, instead of running away from it. We chose to work with Sean Hannity and Stuart Varney, who finally promised not to use the phrase “Muslim Terrorist” or bash Quran.  I have been on Hannity for six years and have appeared on 110 TV shows and innumerable Syndicated Radio shows and about 5 times on Stuart Varney Show, and nearly 150 times on Fox News. Video-1Video -2

2. Unity Day USA, turning a negative 9/11 day into a positive unifying day for over 12 years in a row now. www.Unitydayusa.com

3. Holocaust and Genocides – for 10 years now, we have been building bridges with people, and almost all communities who have endured these brutalities by coming together and seeing the humanness in each one of us and reflect on never again.  www.HolocaustandGenocides.com


4. Thanksgiving Celebrations and Awards Night – for 18 years, we have been sharing different cultural expressions with fellow Americans. www.thanksgivingcelebrations.org


5. Peacefully easing the Quran burning pastor Terry Jones into oblivion through non-violent positive engagement. If funds become available a documentary will be made for the Muslim world to understand free speech and for non-Muslims to clearly understand that violence is not Islamic but comes from the fringe among us.  http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2014/04/reestablishing-right-muslim-attitudes.html


6.  Successfully handled Quran bashing by Pastor Robert Jeffers into an educational event and creating a positive understanding about Quran among pastors, clergy, rabbis, and others. These ten pastors in Dallas will defend the sanctity of Quran with their church members, as they were a part of the solutions in the conference.  Umpteen TV and Newspaper write ups about it. www.QuraanConference.com


7. In Summary – over 3000 Articles on Islam, Pluralism and other matters are written. 175 TV appearances, over 150 syndicated Radio shows, and over 30 major events to bring people together.

Our mission at America Together Foundation is simply this; “To build a cohesive America where no American has to live in tension, apprehension or fear of the others.”  We need an America where Muslim, Jews, African Americans, Latinos and all others feel safe, and want their children’s life style to continue to be secure despite Trumps and other hiccups.

 www.Americatogetherfoundation.com,www.foundationforpluralism.com and www.WorldMuslimCongress.com ;


We can do a lot more to turn things around for Muslims and fellow Americans, please donate generously athttp://americatogetherfoundation.com/donate/


What did I write about Sean Hannity, Stuart Varney and Fox News today?
Let me know, and I will be happy to email you.



Mike Ghouse
(214) 325-1916
Dr. Mike Ghouse is a community consultant, social scientist, thinker, writer, newsmaker and a professional speaker on PluralismInterfaithIslam politicshuman rights,  Terrorism,
  and foreign policy.  Mike is committed to building cohesive societies and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day. Visit him - 63 links at www.MikeGhouse.net and his writings are at TheGhousediary.com 

Tuesday, December 22, 2015

First time in history – Celebration of birth of Jesus and Prophet Muhammad on the steps of Lincoln Memorial.

PRESS RELEASE

Mike Ghouse (214) 325-1916
Mike@AmericanMuslimInstitution.org
www.AmericanMuslimInstituition.org

First time in history – Celebration of birth of Jesus and Prophet Muhammad on the steps of Lincoln Memorial.

Washington, D.C., December 22, 2015 – For the first time in the history of Christianity and Islam, the Christians and Muslims are jointly celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ and Prophet Muhammad, and it is on the historic steps of Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC.

Mike Ghouse, the Executive Director of American Muslim Institution, a proactive voice for American Muslims said, “It is a God-given opportunity to further strengthen our bonds with each other on the auspicious occasion of the birth of Jesus Christ and Prophet Muhammad which fall on 25th and 24th of December, respectively.  It provides us a great spiritual incentive to know each other for better.  We have an obligation to create a safe and secure America for all of us.”
Dr. Aquilur Rahman, Chairman of the AMI Board said, “We chose this location, as it signifies another great event in our history, Rev. Martin Luther King’s dream speech which became a catalyst in fulfilling the vision of our founding fathers that we are all created equal. We have one more step to take towards a cohesive America.”

It is a symbolic interfaith event with Christmas Carols and Milaad Nasheeds and a short message from faith leaders, an inclusive event to build a safe, secure and cohesive America. The more we know each other, the fewer misconceptions we will have. “

Rizwan Jaka, Chair, Board of Trustees & Interfaith Co-Chair, All Dulles Area Muslim Society (ADAMS) adds,“ God wants all of us to come together and create a safe and secure America for each one of us, we are all in this together, and let’s appreciate this to uphold religious freedom and  beckon a peaceful and prosperous 2016 and more.”


Syed Moktadir, President of ADAMS and the Vice Chairman of the U.S. Muslim & Christian Coalition (MCC) for the Protection of Christian and Religious Minorities in Arab World said, "the birth of Jesus and Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Them) brought so much blessing and light to our world that the hearts of the faithful continue to be full of love and passion for both of them and for all the prophets of God who came to guide humanity to worship God alone and unite the humanity through His worship. This event is yet another manifestation of that interfaith unity."

This is an initiative of American Muslim Institution and 
the All Dulles Area Muslim Society (ADAMS), one of the largest Muslim communities/mosques in the DC Metro Area and in the United States. 
PARKING - Road side parking subject to availability.

BUS & RAIL - The nearest metro stations are Foggy Bottom (23rd St. & I St. NW) and Smithsonian (12th St. &Independence Ave. SW). The Circulator Bus also runs to the Lincoln Memorial from the Union Station
 along Independence. 
 
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CONTACT
  • Mike Ghouse (214) 325-1916
  • Bob Marro (703) 309-6726
  • Islam Siddiqui (202) 725-7409
  • Aquilur Rahman (847) 822-9659
  • Rizwan Jaka (703) 624-6352
  • Syed Moktadir (703) 899-1132

SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS
  • Universal Peace Federation
  • World Association of NGO's (at the UN)
  • The International Cultural Center
  • Aligarh Alumni Association Washington DC
  • Islamic Society of Washington Area
  • Your Organizationplease email us the name of your org to add tp this list to - MikeGhouse@aol.com

Thursday, December 3, 2015

San Bernardino Terrorism is condemned unequivocally and its repercussions to be limited

PRESS RELEASE

America Together Foundation
Contact: Mike Ghouse (214) 325-1916
MikeGhouse@aol.com
www.AmericansTogether.org

San Bernardino Terrorism is condemned unequivocally and its repercussions to be limited  

Washington, DC, December 3, 2015 – First of all, our hearts go out to the families of the victims and their loved ones, 14 people have lost their lives to terrorism and another 17 are seriously injured. We pray with our hearts, souls and minds, asking God to guide us all to restore sanity.

It is time for the responsible agencies to study the backgrounds of the suspected terrorists Syed Farook and Tafsheen Malik to understand the sources and causes for their behavior, it is a serious breach of security and we have to take corrective actions. 

It is our duty and collective responsibility to keep law and order and faithfully guard the safety of every citizen. Hate is one of the many sources of disrupting the peace in a society and it is our duty to track down the source of such hate and work on mitigating it. We have an obligation to maintain a balance in the society.


As Americans we have deliberated on this, and we have to find solutions to the Gun violence. 

As Americans, our attitude should be, “You murdered innocent people, and you are going to pay for it, whatever the course of law allows us to impose on you, we will.”

We should not be bamboozled into believing that the criminal’s religion inspired him to do that, and spend time finding faults with his religion. He not only murdered, but is also making a fool out of us.  Why bark at the religion, it is an intangible which you cannot shoot, beat, kick, slit, hang or bury, what is that futile exercise then for? Our legitimate goal is to restore trust in the society by punishing the criminal.

No one should look to Muslims for the acts of terrorists, just as no one should slap the blame of a murderer on his family, friends, community, and mayor of the town or pastor of his church.

No one is responsible for a criminal’s acts but him. Blaming religion has not done any good to anyone, but crated greater chaos, distrust and apprehension.  
Restoring peace and sanity should be our goal.

At America Together Foundation, we are committed to building cohesive societies, where no humans to live in apprehension or fear of the other.
 
  


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