Thursday, April 30, 2009

Dallas Muslim Priorities?

What is important to us?

It is different for each one of us, at each different period. Prior to 9/11, we did not have to fight for erosion of our rights, now we don’t have to worry about them with Obama in place.

However, we have to repair a lot of damage done in the last eight years including but not limited to;

i) correcting how Muslims are perceived from the acts of extremists and propaganda of Neocons (Neocons are extremists in every faith; Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, Islam...... etc)

ii) how we may have to cope should extremists from Republicans make a come back, the extremist among the republicans don't believe in peace, they believe in annihilation of any one who differs with them.

iii) how to regain what we had before 9/11. Terrorism is a new phenomenon in the last 40 years slapped on to Muslims as a whole insted of the extremists who did it.

I hope these would be our priorities – to re-establish respect, become known as participating and contributing members of the nation.

We have to retire and our grand kids have to live here, it will be a great thing if we can see the goodness of money working while we are still alive. But we should consider making a difference before nature gets us out.

Here are three events that can satisfy your desire to do good, it is laid out for you, just attend and support it.

Creating a department for Muslim Studies at UNT

Every Muslim ought to be proud of this significant development of Contemporary Arab and Muslim Cultural Studies Institute. Here is an opportunity to correct information about Islam and Muslims to the world.

I hope you feel the responsibility to support this initiative. Parties continue, friendships continue and this must take off the ground as well and you must seriously consider attending this event. We should attend and support this event without being asked.
Details: http://dallasmuslimcenter.blogspot.com/2009/04/05-02-09-texas-muslim-womens-dinner.html

You are different, so what? What are Muslims doing about it?

The Healing Project. Sister Reem Alghonim and Mike Ghouse are participating in this program to create awareness of bias against Muslims, Jews, Hispanic and African Americans. A note from Reem;
Asalaamu alaikum, A moving tribute - as well as an extremely worthwhile project promoting mutual tolerance and respect -is being presented this Sunday and Monday. The Turtle Creek Choir will perform magnificent pieces from different religious and cultural traditions. Representatives of diverse groups will share personal stories of hardships and triumphs. They are performing an Islamic song entitled Zikr - incredibly, these 200+ men will be singing Hasbiya Llahu Laa Ilaaha Illa Llah on stage at the Meyerson Symphony! Details are below. They are honoring us, and it would be gratifying to see strong Muslim attendance to honor them and show all types of people that Islam respects them, no matter their faith or background. I have a small part in it and would also appreciate your support and presence.

Please spread the word. With gratitude,
Details: http://dallasmuslimcenter.blogspot.com/2009/04/05-03-09-healing-project.html
Every one wishes a different Pakistan ; some one is actually doing it.

Every one wishes a different Pakistan ;
some one is actually doing it.

When Neil Armstrong stepped on moon on July 21, 1969 he made that famous statement. “That’s one small step for a man; a giant step for the mankind” Likewise, Shehzad Roy, renowned Pakistani pop singer and philanthropist has taken the initiative to facilitate a change in Pakistan through education for every Pakistani child. “That’s one small step for a child; a giant leap for Pakistan "

Shehzad Roy’s Zindagi Trust has started an innovative program to eliminate child labor in Pakistan . The “I am paid to learn” program takes working children off the streets and pays them to go to school.

Details: http://dallasmuslimcenter.blogspot.com/2009/04/05-09-09-shehzad-roy-for-pakistan.html

The Pakistani Americans have a lot of good things going for them, whilst there in despair, as you wished correctly, if some one had created solid educational institutions in Pakistan twenty years ago, Pakistan would not be facing some of turmoil it is going through.

You do have an opportunity to be Thank God, that you will be the proud Pakistani to bring about a change a generation from now. Your job of wishing is made easy for you. Please attend the Program, buy your table or the ticket, be a sponsor.

The Good news: On Another note, the Pakistani Americans can take pride in establishing a Pakistan Chair at the University of Texas at Austin . “The preliminary fund goal of $536,000 needed to create the chair at the UTAustin has been achieved. We were able to generate the funds to meet the Foundation Challenge. Thanks To All - Jalil Khan”

Mike Ghouse is a Dallas based Writer, Blogger, Speaker, Thinker and a Moderator. He is a frequent guest on talk radio and local television networks offering pluralistic perspectives on issues of the day. His comments, news analysis and columns can be found on 3 Web sites and 15 Blogs listed at his personal website. The Ghouse Journal in e-format reaches over 24,000 friends and 30,000 in different groups.

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quraan burning

Planned Muslim Response to Qur'an Burning by Pastor Jones on September 11 in Mulberry, Florida

PRESS RELEASE
August 19, 2013| Dallas, Texas

Mike Ghouse
Text/Talk: (214) 325-1916
MikeGhouse@aol.com

Mirza A Beg
(205) 454-8797
mirza.a.beg@gmail.com

www.WorldMuslimCongress.com


PLANNED MUSLIMS RESPONSE TO QUR'AN BURNING BY PASTOR JONES ON 9/11/13 IN MULBERRY, FLORIDA

We as Muslims plan to respond to pastor Terry Jones' planned burning of 3000 copies of Quran on September 11, 2013 in positive terms.

Our response - we will reclaim the standard of behavior practiced by the Prophet concerning “scurrilous and hostile criticism of the Qur’an” (Muhammad Asad Translation Note 31, verse 41:34). It was "To overcome evil with good is good, and to resist evil by evil is evil." It is also strongly enjoined in the Qur’an in the same verse 41:34, “Good and evil deeds are not equal. Repel evil with what is better; then you will see that one who was once your enemy has become your dearest friend.”

God willing Muslims will follow the divine guidance and pray for the restoration of Goodwill, and on that day many Muslim organizations will go on a “blood drive” to save lives and serve humanity with kindness.

We invite fellow Americans of all faiths, races, and ethnicities to join us to rededicate the pledge, “One nation under God”, and to build a cohesive America where no American has to live in apprehension, discomfort or fear of fellow Americans. This event is a substitute for our 10th Annual Unity Day Celebration (www.UnitydayUSA.com) held in Dallas, but now it will be at Mulberry, Florida.

Unwittingly Pastor Jones has done us a favor by invigorating us by his decision to burn nearly 3000 copies Quran on September 11, 2013. Obviously he is not satisfied by the notoriety he garnered by burning one Qur'an last year.

As Muslims and citizens we honor the free speech guaranteed in our constitution. We have no intentions to criticize, condemn or oppose Pastor Terry Jones' freedom of expression. Instead, we will be donating blood and praying for goodness to permeate in our society.

We plan to follow Jesus Christ (pbuh), a revered prophet in Islam as well as Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) – that of mitigating the conflicts and nurturing good will for the common good of the society.

We hope, this event and the message will remind Muslims elsewhere in the world as well, that violence is not the way. Muslims, who react violently to senseless provocation, should realize that, violence causes more violence, and besmirches the name of the religion that we hold so dear. We believe that Prophet Muhammad was a mercy to the mankind, and we ought to practice what we believe and preach. We must not insult Islam by the negative reactions of a few.

We can only hope it will bring about a change in the attitude of the followers of Pastor Jones, and in the behavior of those Muslims who reacted violently the last time Pastor sought notoriety – We hope this small step towards a bridge to peaceful coexistence would propel us towards building a cohesive society.

Like most Americans a majority of Muslims quietly go about their own business, but it is time to speak up and take positive action instead of negative reaction. May this message of peace and goodwill reverberate and reach many shores.

Lastly, we appreciate the Citizens of Mulberry, Florida, Honorable Mayor George Hatch, City Commissioners, police and Fire Chiefs for handing this situation very well. This will add a ‘feather of peace’ in the City’s reputation. We hope Mulberry will be a catalyst in showing the way in handling conflict with dignity and peace.

We thank the Media for giving value to the work towards peace rather than conflict.






URL- http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2013/08/planned-muslim-response-to-quran_18.html



Thank you.

CIVIL DIALOGUE

The people in Dallas are making an effort to understand and clean their own hearts first, when we are free from bias, it would be easy to share that with others. Islam teaches us in so many ways to "respect the otherness of others" and it is time we find simple practical ways of doing it.