Qur’aan Conference, an American event

Qur’aan Conference, an American event

From times immemorial Religion has been “abused” and “misused” to someone gain, usually for controlling others. Are we going to let that happen? As Americans, we can pull ourselves together and not fall for the temptations to divide ourselves. No American has to live in fear of the other, nor live in anxieties or discomfort.

All our faiths reinforce the creed of "One Nation under God, with liberty and justice for all.” Details at http://www.quraanconference.com/

Mike Ghouse is a speaker on Pluralism and Islam offering pluralistic solutions to the media and public on issues of the day. His blogs and sites are listed at www.MikeGhouse.net

Ramadan Mubarak - Happy Ramadan

Muslims around the world will begin fasting from Wednesday, August 11, 2010 and for a whole month thereafter.

Thanks to Washington post, they will publish three articles on Ramadan; The Politics of Ramadan, The Rituals of Ramadan and the Spirit of Ramadan towards the third of Ramadan.True fasting is self-purification; and from this, a rich inner life brings about values such as justice, generosity, patience, kindness, forgiveness, mercy and empathy - values that are indispensable for the success of the community.

Consciousness of behavior and vigilance over action are the most profound dimensions of fasting: the fasting of the heart focuses on the attachment to the divine. That is when Ramadan really becomes a source of peace and solace, just as Christmas goes beyond the rituals to bring forth kindness, charity and caring.

For fasting to be truly universal, its benefits must extend beyond the fraternal ties of Muslims and must extend to forging a common humanity with others. Fasting is meant to impart a sense of what it means to be truly human, and its universality is reflected by its observance in Bahai, Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Jain, Jewish, Sikh, Wiccan, Zoroastrian, other faiths and importantly the native traditions.

Mike Ghouse is a Speaker, Thinker and a Writer on Islam and Pluralism and is a frequent guest at Media offering pluralistic solutions to the issues of the day. His work is listed on 22 of his blogs and two websites listed at http://www.mikeghouse.net/

Ground Zero Mosque Articles

We have to respect and honor the sentiments of every one who was a victim of terrorism and their friends and relatives who have suffered through this….

The Ground Zero Mosque is engaging the American Public and bringing out emotions and intellectualism to the forefront to tackle the issue of co-existence. The questions abound…..'

In behalf of the men and women who have lost their loved ones, a few are genuinely opposing the building of the communtiy Center, a few are Altruistic and want the center to stand out as a beaocon of hope and peace and yet a few are falling prey to the political opportunists. At the end, if we envision an America that is good for all, we have to consider dropping the “me, me, and me” and yeild to what is good for America, the land of the free.

If Saudi is a bad country, why do we want to emulate them?

Continued: http://mikeghouseforamerica.blogspot.com/2010/08/ground-zero-mosque-articles.html

Mike Ghouse is a speaker, thinker and a writer of Pluralism and offers pluralistic solutions for the issues of the day. He is a frequent guest in the media and his work is encapsulated in 22 Blogs and 3 websites listed at www.MikeGhouse.net

Unity Day USA - a 911 Memorial event

We are pleased to invite you to Unity Day USA; a purposeful event to bring Americans together. The idea for Unity Day USA was first conceived on Tuesday, September 11, 2001 and took its current form on Sunday, September 11, 2005. We cannot let things happen and drift into the abyss of incoherence. It is an initiative to come together to stand up for the safety, security and cohesiveness of America.

Continued: http://911unitydayusa.blogspot.com/

Press Release, Holocaust and Genocides in Dallas

PRESS RELEASE
Contact: Mike Ghouse (214) 325-1916,
email: MikeGhouse@aol.com
event email: HolocaustandGenocides@gmail.com
Website: http://www.holocaustandgenocides.com/

III ANNUAL REFELCTIONS ON THE HOLOCAUST AND GENOCIDES

DALLAS – (January 14, 2010) –The Foundation for Pluralism announces the 7/7 speakers Panel to reflect upon the Holocaust and Genocides event at 5:00 PM on Sunday, January 24, 2010 at the Center for Spiritual Center, 4801 Spring Valley Road, Dallas, TX. 75244.

Each individual in the seven member panel would acknowledge the inhumanity in each one of us and reflect upon the solutions for co-existence. It is a purposeful event to learn, acknowledge and reflect upon the terrible things, that we humans have inflicted upon each other.

What can you do as individual?

Continue: http://holocaustandgenocides.blogspot.com/2010/01/press-release-on-holocaust-and.html
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A tribute to Jesus

A tribute to Jesus on this Christmas;

What does it mean to be religious?

Mike Ghouse

This column is dedicated to Rev. Petra Weldes of the Center for Spiritual Living in Dallas. Some of my conversation with her inspired me to write this tribute to Jesus and what it means to be religious.

Continued: http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2009/12/tribute-to-jesus.html

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Mike Ghouse to Speak at Parliament of Worlds Religions

DALLAS – (November 28, 2009) – Mike Ghouse, board member of The Memnosyne Foundation, has been invited to speak at the Council for a Parliament of the World Religions in Melbourne, Australia. Co-Founder and President of The Memnosyne Foundation, Mary Ann Thompson-Frenk, made the announcement recently.

Continued - http://wisdomofreligion.blogspot.com/2009/11/mike-ghouse-to-speak-at-parliament-of.html

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Unity Day USA (9/11) on September 6

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Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas - The Foundation for Pluralism and several faith based organizations have announced the 5th annual Unity Day USA, a 9/11 Memorial event to be held on Sunday, September 6, 2009 in Dallas, Texas.

On this Unity Day USA, we, the people of the United States of America of every faith, race, ethnicity, culture and background will gather to express our desire to co-exist in peace, and pray for the unity, safety and well being of our nation.

[ CLICK ON THE IMAGE TO GET LARGER PICTURE - DETAILS ABOUT PICTURE ARE APPENDED BELOW ]

Over the years, Americans of North Texas have demonstrated remarkable unity, coming together as denominations, as well as with other theists and atheists. Every faith (or no faith) and denomination is expected to be represented in the event.

Event : 5th Annual Unity Day USA
Date : 5:00 PM, Sunday, September 6, 2009
Place : Unity Church of Dallas,
Add : 6525 Forest Lane, Dallas, Texas 75230
Map : Click here for map
Call : Mike Ghouse (214) 325-1916
email : UnitydayUSA@gmail.com
web : http://www.unitydayusa.com/
rsvp : confirmattendance@gmail.com

Our 2009 theme continues to be "One Nation under God". Our religious leaders will seek guidance and wisdom from their respective faiths and our Civil servants and community leaders will echo the same sentiment and suggest ways in which we as individuals can work toward creating and sustaining cohesive and thriving local communities.

Mike Ghouse, President of the organizations announced. “This is an annual event for all Americans to come together and look to each other as American and nothing but American. We will rededicate our pledge to the safety and security of our nation”.

The American Muslims have taken this initiative to remember one of the greatest tragedies in the history of our nation by bringing about a positive change to the 9/11 event. We are committed to make this day, the Sunday before 9/11, a day of Unity of Americans to pledge to the peace, unity and prosperity of our nation and the humanity.

As Americans we uphold, protect, defend and celebrate the values enshrined in our constitution. All our faiths reinforce the creed of "One Nation under God, with liberty and justice for all."

A. 90 Organizations participated

B. News Media

C. Religious Leaders Participated

D. Mayors & Civic Leaders

E. Public Comments

F. Power Point Presentation

G. 2005 Album

H. 2006 Album

I. 2008 Album

God Bless America

Mike Ghouse Chair,
Unity Day USA,

09-09-09 : Holocaust Legacies

Holocaust Legacies: Shoah as Turning Point
Southern Methodist University

Fall 2009

**August 24

Title: Opening, Loli Kantor Photography Exhibit, There Was a Forest: Jews in Eastern Europe Today

The photographs in this series, created throughout Poland and Ukraine , document the disappearing population of Holocaust survivors and their lives within the vanishing shtetls (small towns) of Eastern Europe . The work also offers a glimpse into the reemergence of Jewish life and culture in Central and Eastern Europe that is beginning to transform some of the larger communities.

Location: SMU Hamon Arts Library Gallery

**September 9

Title: Holocaust Legacies: Shoah as Turning Point, Opening Event and Reception
Photo Exhibit: “Places of Memory”

This event will raise the issues and preview the fall events. Professor Halperin will give a historical overview, and will moderate a panel on Shoah as Turning Point. Panelists: Mr. Elliott Dlin, Executive Director of the Dallas Holocaust Museum , Professors Chris Anderson (Theology), Janis Bergman-Carton (Art History), and Tom Mayo (Law).
Location: SMU Hughes-Trigg Student Center Forum, 7:30–10 p.m. (Reception 7 –7:30 p.m.)

**September 10 (two events)

Speaker: Professor Jan Gross, Princeton University (History), author of Neighbors and Fear
*Title: Seminar on the Polish reception of Neighbors and Fear.
Location: University of Dallas (room and time in the afternoon, to be announced).
*Title: The Killing and Plunder of the Jews by Their Neighbors in Nazi-Occupied Poland
Location: SMU Hughes-Trigg Student Center Forum, 7–10 p.m.

**September 11

Title: Loli Kantor Photography Exhibit, There Was a Forest: Jews in Eastern Europe Today
Location: Lecture, SMU O’Donnell Lecture Hall, 6 p.m.
Reception: SMU Taubman Atrium, Meadows School of the Arts, 7 p.m.
Photography exhibit location: SMU Hamon Arts Library Gallery

**September 17

Title: From the Nuremberg Code to the Belmont Report and the Final Rule: The Protection of Human Research Subjects in the 21st Century

Lecture and Panel Discussion
Speaker: Professor Thomas Beauchamp, Georgetown University (Philosophy and Kennedy Institute of Ethics), primary author of the Belmont Report.
Location: SMU McCord Auditorium, 7–10 p.m.

**October 8

Title: Beyond the Victim Monument
Speaker: Professor Kirk Savage, University of Pittsburgh (Art History), author of Standing Soldiers, Kneeling Slaves: Race, War, and Monuments in Nineteenth-Century America .
Location: The Sixth Floor Museum ( 411 Elm St. Dallas 75202 ), 5:30–6:30 p.m.

**October 22

Title: The Holocaust in Contemporary Consciousness, Culture and Curriculum
Speaker: Mr. Elliott Dlin, Executive Director of the Dallas Holocaust Museum/Center for Education and Tolerance
Location: Dallas Holocaust Museum/Center for Education and Tolerance ( 211 N. Record Street , Dallas 75202 ), 7–9:30 p.m. (Reception following presentation)

**November 5 (two events)

Title: __________________________________________________

Speaker: Professor Jenia Turner ( SMU Dedman School of Law)
Location: SMU Umphrey Lee Center , luncheon event

Title: God on Trial: The Meaning of the Shoah for Jewish and Christian Theology Today (film screening and discussion)

Discussants: Rabbi Ari Perl, President of the Rabbinic Association of Greater Dallas, Rabbi of Congregation Shaare Tefilla, Dallas; Professor John Holbert, Lois Craddock Perkins Professor of Homiletics, SMU Perkins School of Theology.

This event will include screening and discussion of the film, God on Trial (which depicts a fictional “trial” of God by prisoners at Auschwitz ).
Location: SMU Perkins School of Theology Prothro Great Hall, 5–10 p.m.

**November 12

Symposium: Holocaust Survivors: Stories of Resilience
Presenters: Roberta R. Greene, PhD, MSW, PI, John Templeton Foundation (JTF) grant, University of Texas, School of Social Work, and Harriet L. Cohen, PhD, MSW, co-investigator JTF, Texas Christian University, Harris College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Department of Social Work

A panel comprised of Holocaust historians, educators, and survivors, gerontologists, social workers and pastoral care clergy will discuss findings from a study on resilience,

forgiveness, and survivorship among older Holocaust survivors, as described by the participants of a recent mixed methods national study of 133 Holocaust survivors aged 68 to 9.
Location: SMU Perkins School of Theology Prothro Great Hall, 8:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

**November 15

Title: Closing: Loli Kantor Photography Exhibit, There Was a Forest: Jews in Eastern Europe Today
Location: SMU Hamon Arts Library Gallery

**November 19

Title: Music Out of the Ashes
Performers: Professors Virginia Dupuy ( SMU Meadows School of the Arts), Chris Anderson ( SMU Perkins School of Theology) and John Holbert ( SMU Perkins School of Theology)

This lecture/performance will focus on Victor Ullmann’s “Der Kaiser von Atlantis,” an opera written in Theresienstadt but not performed until the 1970s. The evening will include scenes from the opera interspersed with commentary about the camp, the music, and the composer.
Location: SMU Perkins School of Theology Prothro Great Hall, 5 – 10 p.m.

**November 23

Title: Is Art Worth a Life?: Hitler, War and the Monuments Men (interactive presentation with slides and video clips)

Presenter: Robert Edsel, the author of Rescuing DaVinci and The Monuments Men: Allied Heroes, Nazi Thieves and the Greatest Treasure Hunt in History, co-producer of the documentary film Rape of Europa, and founding President of the Monuments Men Foundation, an organization dedicated to the recovery and preservation of Nazi-looted art.
Location: SMU Perkins School of Theology Prothro Great Hall, 5 – 10 p.m.

Elliott Dlin
Executive Director
Dallas Holocaust Museum/Center for Education & Tolerance
211 North Record Street, Suite 100
Dallas, TX 75202-3361
Tel: 214-741-7500 x101
Fax: 214-741-7510

www.dallasholocaustmuseum.org

The Dallas Holocaust Museum/Center for Education & Tolerance is dedicated to preserving the memory of the Holocaust, and to teaching the moral and ethical response to prejudice, hatred and indifference, for the benefit of all humanity.