Shaping Carrollton Politics

Shaping Carrollton Politics tonight in Candidates Forum

Sponsored by: Barbeque Tonite, Carrollton
Video & Photo: Bombay Photography

PROGRAM OUTLINE

 
The program was videotaped and will be on YouTube with a title “Shaping Carrollton Politics”  and other sites including www.CarroltonDiary.com

It is not a run of the mill candidate forum and it is not about the typical budget issue. It is about building a cohesive Carrollton where no resident has to live in apprehension of the other and more importantly, they need to feel welcome.  We hope you will find this meeting meaningful in building our future.

1.      NATIONAL ANTHEM – Played out Audio

         http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJI_rlar68M

2.     PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – Led by former Mayor Ron Branson

3.     PLURALISM GREETINGS – Greetings from A-Z Religions

4.     PURPOSE:  Carrollton is enriched with every race, religion and ethnicity and as residents of this city, we want that to continue. 

It’s my dream to make our city an exemplary city in social cohesion, where we learn to respect and appreciate the uniqueness of each one of us.  Peace is a product of opening our hearts and minds and learning about each other instead of believing in dished out versions of the other. If I need to feel safe, secure and peaceful, I need to work to make sure everyone around me is safe.  If I live in fears, it is likely the others do the same.

The program will be taped and sent as a model event in series of events to take place throughout the United States of America to build cohesive societies

5.     ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

a.     Salim Odhwani, Barbeque Tonite Restaurant

b.     Dignitaries, Former Mayors Becky Miller and Ron Branson

6.     CANDIDATES INTRODUCTION

As a society, it is our 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.  America together, Americans Together is an educational and pragmatic initiative to wean out myths from reality that is hurting the social cohesiveness of America. The myths are vigorously pumped in by a few insecure souls to disrupt delicate balance in the society by pitching one American against the other for their perceived gains.

The purpose of this “America Together” is to remove such myths in an open discussion forum and restore the cohesiveness of our society and work towards building a safe and secure America.

CANDIDATES INTRODUCTION

            Cathy Henesey, place 4
            Bob Garza, place 4|

                        Bonnie Kaplan, place 2

                        Anthony Wilder, Place 2 – declined to attend

http://carrolltondiary.blogspot.com/2011/06/candidates-forum-reshaping-carrollton.html

7.     ONE MINUTE RESPONSE

Since our independence in 1776, we have been tested time and again by various political, economic and religious forces to divide us, however, at the end we have come out strong as one nation. The Civil War, the Great Depression, the World War, Pearl Harbor, Women’s rights, Abortion, the Vietnam War, Civil Rights, Budget Deficits, Unemployment, 9/11, the Iraq and Afghanistan War have all been difficult, but we will make it through and sanity will prevail.

To the naysayers, we say, if we don’t do a thing about it, nothing good can be expected to happen.

Please pass the microphones… after response.

a.     Civil Unions,

b.     Racial profiling,

c.      Islamophobia,

d.     Anti-Semitism

e.      Immigration reforms in Farmers Branch

f.       Anti-Circumcision issues in San Francisco http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mike-ghouse/circumcision-satire_b_872270.html  

8.     What plans do they have to keep the social cohesion in Carrollton? We have come a long way to embrace and accept the otherness of other and we have a whole lot more to go; in the coming months we will be holding meetings to understand the complexity of issues such as Gay & Lesbian acceptance, Anti-Semitism, Stereotyping, Racial profiling and hope to find answers that will lead to accepting the otherness of other to co-exists in harmony despite our differences.

9.     Q & A

Please ask the question without commentary, we need to get a few questions answered and I request you to just ask the question… take a minute. Thank you.

10. PLURALISM PRAYERS 

Carrollton is enriched with every race, religion and ethnicity.    

The following is an inclusive prayer called the prayer of Pluralism. We pray for the well being of every resident of Carrollton. 

Let’s reflect, wish and pray:

Dear Creator of the universe,

Please accept our gratitude in every name we call upon you; Manito,  Yahweh, Elahi, Ishwar, Allah, Mahavira, Buddha, Wahe Guru, Ahura Mazda, mother earth and Jesus Christ.  

Dear Causer of the universes,

In your name we want to create a cohesive and peaceful Carrollton with care kindness and dignity to every one of the 130,000 residents of this beautiful City. 

Dear God,

Help us appreciate the prosperity and progress brought to us by our former Mayors, Gravely, Stokes, Miller, Branson and guide our current Mayor Matthew to build a cohesive Carrolton.

Guide us in selecting two candidates from the four, who can serve our city and work on strengthening our unity. 

Guide our council members to treat,

Respect and honor every resident with their heart and soul.

Let goodwill prevail towards fellow Americans.

Guide our Mayor and the council to serve us with integrity and honesty;
Guide us to serve our communities with the spirit of volunteerism;
Guide us to do the right thing every moment of our life;
Guide us to open our hearts and minds toward our fellow beings;
Guide us to shed the arrogance in us, and enrich us with humility
Guide us to become conflict mitigaters and goodwill nurturers.

Dear God, Protect our men and women in uniforms committed to our safety and well being.

Help us learn to respect the uniqueness you have blessed to each one of the 130,000 of us in Carrollton,

And help us learn to respect everywhich way one adores you and worships you.

May God drench and soak us with peaceful thoughts and goodwill.

In your name, we bow to you.

Amen.

More about the Candidates at www.CarrolltonDiary.com

http://carrolltondiary.blogspot.com/2011/06/candidates-forum-reshaping-carrollton.html

Video will be posted at the following sites: www.AmericaTogetherFoundation.com, http://www.mikeghouse.net/, www.FoundationforPluralims.com and  www.WorldMuslimCongress.com

REFRESHEMENT COURTESY OF SALIM ODHWANI

Carrollton quilt project stitches community together

There are so many ways of forging the communities to come together for the well being of itself, and the Carrollton quilt project stitches community together and will go down in the history as a record of doing it.

The idea is brilliant and the focus is right. This is one simple way to bring the communities together.

I pray every community and every city starts working on it... it is in our interest to understand each other, live as a cohesive community and contribute towards the wellbeing of community life.

Thanks Bonnie for this initiative

Mike Ghouse
Carrollton


Carrollton quilt project aims to stitch together migration to city over century
http://www.facebook.com/ext/share.php?sid=211756900651&h=uP4wa&u=2ILVc&ref=mf

Bonnie Kaplan says she wants to put the unity back in community.

The former Carrollton city councilmember leads a move to stitch the city's various narratives together in a community quilt--a signature quilt--that will be displayed in the city's historical museum. The quilt started as a fundraising project to celebrate the 100-year anniversary of the A.W. Perry Homestead. A museum bears that homestead's name.

But constructing the narrative of the city became something deeper as Kaplan reached out to different niches in this city of 124,000. Others have had a similar experience with quilts that chronicle life--and death. Think of the AIDs memorial quilt and how it grew, or the history recorded in the fabric and appliqués in African-American quilts from slave days. Or maybe think of your mother's block quilt, stitched together from scraps of fabric used for the dresses and blouses of your youth.

For Kaplan, the fund-raiser's morphed into an exercise in demography. She realized how much change had swept through Carrollton.

And she'd like signatures from those with long-time roots and those among the many immigrant communities. About a fourth of the city is foreign-born.

Kaplan's reaching out to Muslims, to the Vietnamese, Korean, and Mexican and Salvadoran immigrant communities, as well as long established black and Latino residents.

Tuesday, she was collecting autographs at the City Council meeting, including the signature of new politicos like Jeff Andonian. Josh Potter, an Eagle Scout, led the Pledge of Allegiance, and then he got courted by Kaplan, who soon had him signing a fabric ribbon for the quilt.

Anyone who wants to be stitched up should contact Kaplan at be.kaplan@verizon.net. She'd like to get signatures together and delivered by mid-June to a veteran quilter.

Also in Carrollton Leader:
http://www.planostar.com/articles/2009/06/04/carrollton_leader/news/53.txt

Carrollton Daily

Big screen dreamsFilmmaking is becoming a popular pursuit among Carrollton natives and residents. - Wednesday, February 25, 2009 12:44 PM CST

City to offer incentives for new signs near downtownThe city of Carrollton plans to actively go out to businesses on Belt Line Road, between Josey Lane and Myers Street, to let them know of a new program that will provide incentives for new signs. - Wednesday, February 25, 2009 12:44 PM CST

(SLIDESHOW) Nature Tales at Elm Fork Nature PreserveMatt Nachtrieb/Staff Photo - Wednesday, February 25, 2009 11:58 AM CST

State: Lawmakers weighing impact of stimulus participationEditor’s note: This weekly report on the state legislature is compiled from daily informational reports supplied by Richard Lee and other sources. - Saturday, February 21, 2009 1:09 AM CST

Carrollton creates stimulus planThe city of Carrollton is taking steps to help residents ease the stress of unemployment with a new stimulus program. - Wednesday, February 18, 2009 11:46 AM CST

Raises for C-FB ISD teachers may depend on votersSalary increases for teachers in Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD may be in the hands of voters. - Wednesday, February 18, 2009 11:46 AM CST

Students explain “Why we celebrate”A group of Creekview High School students spent Friday explaining the significance of black history in an original play “Why We Celebrate.” - Wednesday, February 18, 2009 11:46 AM CST

State Legislature: Economy linked to state’s strong banking industryEditor’s note: This weekly report on the state legislature is compiled from daily informational reports supplied by Richard Lee and other sources. - Saturday, February 14, 2009 9:55 AM CST

Carrollton: Police to enforce new traffic ordinance beginning MondayThe Carrollton Police Department will begin enforcing a new city ordinance enacted by the Carrollton City Council beginning Feb. 16. The ordinance authorizes officers to impound vehicles that have been stopped for violations of city or state traffic laws or other laws applicable to the operation of a vehicle on the roadway and the vehicle’s owner or operator fails to show proof of financial responsibility as required by the Texas Transportation Code. - Thursday, February 12, 2009 12:20 PM CST

(SLIDESHOW) Lego Construction class at Rosemeade Recreation CenterMatt Nachtrieb/Staff Photo - Thursday, February 12, 2009 12:02 PM CST

Election filing under wayThe Carrollton City Council is set for an overhaul this spring with four seats up for election and three current council members unable to run for re-election because of term limits. - Wednesday, February 11, 2009 3:21 PM CST

Carrollton man slain during robberyThe Carrollton Police Department is looking for two males suspected of robbing and murdering a Carrollton man in January. - Wednesday, February 11, 2009 3:21 PM CST

State: Early senate focus on health, education, online safetyHealth, education and online safety have been the issues at the forefront of Texas Senate discussions during the first two weeks of the 81st Legislative Session in Austin. - Sunday, February 8, 2009 11:30 PM CST

May 14, Carrollton interfaith Luncheon

Interfaith Luncheon.
Public is invited - Must RSVP

Carrollton Interfaith Group Luncheon
Monthly Meeting on Wednesday, May 14, 2008

We are a group of about 25 Members from different faith backgrounds and meet once a month for about 9 times a year. Each month a place of worship sponsors the event and those interested are invited for fellowship on lunch.

Metrocrest Ministers Fellowship Meeting

Day: Wednesday, May 14, 11:30 – 1:00 p.m.

Host: Carrollton Masjid,
Islamic Association of Carrollton
1901 Kelly Blvd, Carrollton, TX, USA 75007
Intersection of Kelly Blvd and Country Club
Mike Ghouse (214) 325-1916

RSVP : mss@metrocrestsocialservices.org
Bunny Summerlin,
Executive Director
(972) 446-2100 ext. 16 / (972) 446-2102 FAX

Town hall meeting on 4-22-08

Town Hall Meeting with Senator Shapiro & Representative Anchia

State SENATOR FLORENCE SHAPIRO & State Representative Rafael Anchia

WILL HOST A TOWN HALL MEETING

Tuesday, April 22, 2008
7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Carrollton City Hall
1945 E. Jackson Road
Carrollton, Texas 75006

Among Topics to be Discussed:
· Education Issues
· Transportation Issues
· Safe Neighborhoods Package 81st Session
· Legislative Agenda for 81st Session
· Constituent Concerns

For additional information, please call the office of Texas State Senator Florence Shapiro at (972) 403-3404 or Texas State Representative Rafael Anchia at 214-943-6081.

National Day of Prayer

Greetings!

On Thursday, May 1st, the National Day of Prayer will be celebrated by a wonderful gathering of leaders in the areas of government, education, churches and businesses from the cities of Carrollton, Addison and Farmers Branch. The METROCREST MAYORS’ PRAYER BREAKFAST, hosted by the mayors of all three cities and facilitated by the pastors and staffs of key area churches, will be a time to honor God and pray for our nation and our community. The keynote speaker for this year’s event is radio host and powerful ministry speaker, June Hunt.

We want to be sure that key business and church leaders are aware of this event and given the opportunity to participate. I have attached the .pdf version of the event flyer and encourage you to prayerfully consider being a part of this. You may purchase individual general seating or secure an entire table as either a Patron or Sponsor. You may want to get an entire table and bring your staff, your customers or your prospects. Business Leaders, why not host a table as a gift to your pastor and other church leaders? Patron and Sponsor levels will be featured in the event program and will have preferred seating. If you live or do business in this community, this is a wonderful way to be part of the united prayer for this area and to secure great visibility for your organization.

As you will see in the flyer, checks should be made payable to the METROCREST MAYORS’ PRAYER BREAKFAST and mailed to COVENANT CHURCH. For more information you may email prayerbreakfast@covenantchurch.org or call 469-568-4011.

Many of you receiving this email are part of organizations and civic groups through which you may have contacts with many more local business leaders. Please feel free to forward this information on to these groups. We are hopeful many other churches and leader groups will join us in making this event a great success.

Thank you!

Bobby G Fletcher Director - Covenant Community Outreach Communications Director - Churches in Covenant
972-512-4449 Fax: 972-512-4746 bobbyf@covenantchurch.org www.covenantchurch.org

I pray that you would be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing you have in Christ. Philemon 1:6, NIV

Carrollton Early Elections

Early Election info has been a point of discussion lately, so here is a link to the city's web site with all of that information

http://www.cityofcarrollton.com/government/City%20Secretary/election/election.asp

Meet Mayor this Sunday.

http://carrolltondiary.blogspot.com/2008/04/meet-mayor-miller-this-sunday.html

We are pleased to invite you to meet and greet Mayor Becky Miller of the City of Carrollton, this Sunday at an informal gathering.

Day: Sunday, April 6th, 2008
Time: 4:00 to 5:00 PM
Place: Barbeque Tonite Restaurant’s next door Banquet Hall.
Address: 2540 Old Denton road, suite 173 – Carrollton, Tx 75006
Intersection: S. E. Corner of Trinity Mills (Bush Frwy)/Old Denton. (Across Wendy’s Restaurant: Behind Chevron Gas station.)
Courtesy: Barbeque Tonite Restaurant (972) 877-9133

In the last few years I have grown to understand and respect her leadership in taking Carrollton forward. She has what it takes to pull different resource and people together to make our City the place to live and do business.

At this juncture of City’s growth, DART Rail will be open on commute as scheduled, thanks to her leadership. H-Mart has just opened and a lot of retail and restaurant development is in the offing, her resources will come handy to put a nice touch to the growth of Carrollton.

Please register to vote before April 10th, and as soon as the early voting dates are announced, I urge you to support her. May 10th is the day for final voting.

If you wish to volunteer, and want to learn more about her,
please look up her website http://www.votebecky.com/

Please RSVP to her campaign Team Members:

Mike Ghouse (214) 325-1916
Akbar Poonja (214) 674-2065
Or send an email to: Confirmattendance@gmail.com

Interfaith Luncheon

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Carrollton Interfaith Group Luncheon
Monthly Meeting on Wednesday, April 9

We are a group of about 25 Members from different faith backgrounds and meet once a month for about 9 times a year. Each month a place of worship sponsors the event and those interested are invited for fellowship on lunch.

Metrocrest Ministers Fellowship Meeting

Day: Wednesday, April 9, 11:30 – 1:00 p.m.

Host: Tim Clowers at Grace Church USA
4020 Nazarene Drive
Carrollton, TX 75010
(972) 245-0446

RSVP : mss@metrocrestsocialservices.org
Bunny Summerlin,
Executive Director
(972) 446-2100 ext. 16 / (972) 446-2102 FAX

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MAY MEETING

Date: Wednesday, May 14th
Time: 11:30 to 1:00 PM
Host: Carrollton Masjid,
Islamic Association of Carrollton
1901 Kelly Blvd, Carrollton, TX, USA 75007
Intersection of Kelly Blvd and Country Club
Mike Ghouse (214) 325-1916

Keep Carrollton Beautiful

Immediate Release:
March 31, 2008

Contact:
Sharon Goddard, Founder and Executive Director
972.466.2121, sharonsdivinenature@yahoo.com

Media Photography Opportunity: Sat, April 19th, 12:00 – 1:00, City Hall parking lot

Photos – 1. Last year, Boy Scout Troop 114 did a great job.
2. Girl Scout Troop 1348 has helped every year.

Texas Trash-Off Countdown in Carrollton

Dallas/Carrollton –

Dallas County welcomed many special visitors to the Commissioners’ Court this month, and they all had one common purpose: to Keep Dallas County Clean & Beautiful. Welcoming the delegation, Commissioner Ken Mayfield noted, “By focusing on beautification, litter prevention, and waste minimization, we will continue to encourage the public, Keep Texas Beautiful affiliates, and other grassroots organizations to continue their important work.”

Ruthe Jackson, Grand Prairie Mayor Pro Tem, has led the “beautiful” delegation for 33 years of continuous recognition. March 1st through May 31st is a time to think about beautification. Keep America Beautiful sponsors the “Great American Clean-Up” and Keep Texas Beautiful has the “Don’t Mess With Texas Trash Off”, Earth Day and Arbor Day tree plantings.

Last year during the Great American Cleanup, 1069 Keep Carrollton Beautiful volunteers spent 4,840 hours collecting 16,850 pounds of litter and debris from green belts, streets, parks, rivers and shorelines in Carrollton. They are planning their fifth annual participation now.
“We all have a civic responsibility to participate in the education of our children, neighbors and the general public to nip climate change in the bud. Each act of community service shows each individual can make a difference in their own community,” said Sharon Goddard, Keep Carrollton Beautiful.

Keep America Beautiful's Great American Cleanup is the nation's largest community improvement program. In 2007, the hardworking volunteers donated more than 7.7 million hours to clean, beautify and improve more than 17,000 communities during more than 30,000 events in all 50 states and beyond. Last year’s program netted 200 million pounds of litter and debris; planted 4.6 million trees, flowers and bulbs; cleaned 178,000 miles or roads, streets and highways; and diverted more than 70.6 million plastic (PET) bottles and more than 2.2 million scrap tires from the waste stream.

Trash-Off is a partnership between the Texas Department of Transportation and Keep Texas Beautiful. It was created to encourage Texans to refrain from littering and clean up roadsides. The 22nd annual Don’t Mess with Texas Trash-Off is the state’s largest one-day cleanup event. City-by-city across the state, the Texas Department of Transportation hopes Texans hear the call to action to volunteer for the annual Don’t Mess With Texas Trash-Off.

Locally, Keep Carrollton Beautiful is holding it’s Great American Cleanup/Don’t Mess With Texas Trash-Off on Saturday, April 19th. Go to www.KeepCarrolltonBeautiful.org to register your family, your group, your troop or your business. All Adopt-A-Spots will be cleaning; most of the schools; neighborhood groups, too. Get your group together and cleanup Carrollton with them!
***END***

Thanks for all you do for Carrollton,
Sharon Goddard
Founder and Executive Director
Keep Carrollton Beautiful,
a Gold Star Keep Texas Beautiful Affiliate
972.466.2121 phone and fax
1014 Noble Avenue, Carrollton, Texas 75006
www.keepcarrolltonbeautiful.org
Thanks for being part of Carrollton's Community Connection.

Great American Clean up

Great American Cleanup 2008
Keep Carrollton Beautiful

GREAT AMERICAN CLEANUP 2008 Saturday, April 19th from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm, City Hall parking lot, 1945 E. Jackson Road, Carrollton, Texas 75006

Keep America Beautiful's Great American Cleanup, the nation's largest community improvement program, takes place annually from March 1 through May 31, involving an estimated 2.8 million volunteers and attendees. The hardworking volunteers donated more than 7.7 million hours in 2007 to clean, beautify and improve more than 17,000 communities during more than 30,000 events in all 50 states and beyond.

Nationally, last year’s Great American Cleanup netted 200 million pounds of litter and debris; planted 4.6 million trees, flowers and bulbs; cleaned 178,000 miles or roads, streets and highways; and diverted more than 70.6 million plastic (PET) bottles and more than 2.2 million scrap tires from the waste stream. Last year, 1069 Keep Carrollton Beautiful volunteers spent 4,840 hours collecting 16,850 pounds of litter and debris from green belts, streets, parks, rivers and shorelines in Carrollton. We are planning to add a great deal to that total this year.
Keep Carrollton Beautiful educates citizens about their responsibility in litter prevention; ways to reduce, reuse, recycle and rebuy; and properly manage waste materials. Keep Carrollton Beautiful also forms strategic partnerships with businesses, organizations and individuals to beautify and improve our community.
Join us!

Plan for a morning of community service on Saturday, April 19th
Register your group HEREand get registration and volunteer release forms
Fax or email registration before April 4th

Fill out volunteer release form for each participant and bring the day of the event

Come to the back parking lot of City Hall - 1945 E. Jackson, 75006 - at 9:00 am

Get your trash bags, gloves, t-shirts and assigned area map or tell us where you want to clean
Clean your assigned area and bring your trash back to City Hall to be counted –
unless it is too large to move (get specific location for City to pick up)
Give us your trash, get freebies from our sponsors, play an environmental game, have lunch and celebrate ! If you want to order a Great American Cleanup patch, bring $2.00 per patch Look for final wrap up in Dallas Morning News’ Carrollton Neighbor, Carrollton Leader and on our website
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Great American Cleanup 2007 Wrap-up

Keep Carrollton Beautiful’s Great American Cleanup was a smashing success – counting only the reported events, Adopt-A-Spot, HOA and school cleanups – they collected almost 16,000 pounds of trash and debris and recycled 4,100 pounds of newspaper and drink containers! During the Great American Cleanup, 1013 volunteers spent 4669 hours cleaning Carrollton – volunteers really make a difference!

More than 500 participants at Kent Elementary’s Earth Day celebration stated the roll. Their PTA and Keep Carrollton Beautiful won State Farm Good Neighbor Service-Learning Award grant to fund planting 600 flowers and a tree. Keep Carrollton Beautiful gave their contest winners t-shirts and prizes for their efforts.


The Great American Cleanup event netted 4000 pounds of litter and debris collected by 250 volunteers. The volunteers all received praise, t-shirts and lunch. A good morning spent working in the community for a great cause!

Adopt-A-Spot, Home Owners’ Associations and other schools held cleanups as well. Kent Elementary even had a Multi-Cultural Night to learn about different cultures, geography and environmental issues affecting other countries.

Intuit Inc. and Exponent HR brought Keep Carrollton Beautiful’s Great American Cleanup to a dramatic close by collecting 1600 gushy pounds of trash out of the Elm Fork of the Trinity River and surrounding McInnish Park. Intuit’s “We Care and Give Back” team have been partnering with Keep Carrollton Beautiful to clean the river for four years now. “These guys are so enthusiastic, we love helping them. And they spent 238 hours helping Carrollton. We really appreciate them,” said Sharon Goddard, founder of Keep Carrollton Beautiful.

Honoring Cesar Chavez

Honoring Cesar Chavez
Dinner ProgramMonday,

March 315:30 to 7:00 PM

Cuquita's Restaurant

Farmers Branch

I am pleased to invite you to a dinner event, If you can make it, please let me know. It is $35/person. Funds will go to Dallas Peace Center.

The Dallas Peace Center will be honoring Cesar Chavez, this Monday, March 31 at Cuquita's Restaurant in Farmers Branch.

Dinner will be from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. followed by a short program. State Representatives Rafael Anchia and Roberto Alonzo are scheduled to attend. Rebeca Aguilar, former Fox News reporter is scheduled to speak as well.

Mariachi Los Reyes de Dallas will be performing from 6:00 to 7:00 during the dinner hour.Please contact the Dallas Peace Center directly to purchase your tickets. You may call them at 214-823-7793 or link onto their website.Don't miss out on this wonderful evening that will surely be fun for all.The message is ready to be sent with the following file or link attachments:

Shortcut to: http://dallaspeacecenter.org/Chavez

Mike Ghouse, DirectorDallas Peace Center.

Carrollton Interfaith group

Carrollton Interfaith group

Monthly Meeting on Wednesday, March 12

We are a group of about 25 Members from different faith backgrounds and meet once a month for about 9 times a year. Each month a place of worship sponsors the event and those interested are invited for fellowship on lunch.

Metrocrest Ministers Fellowship Meeting

Wednesday, March 12, 11:45 – 1:00 p.m.
Location: Farmers Branch Church of Christ, 3035 Valley View Lane (at Webb Chapel) in Farmers Branch
Host: Eddy Ketchersid, Farmers Branch Church of Christ, 3035 Valley View Lane.
Lunch will be provided

PLEASE RSVP BY RETURN EMAIL to: mss@metrocrestsocialservices.org

REMAINDING MEETINGS FOR THIS YEAR:
Wednesday, April 9, 2008, hosted by Tim Clowers, Grace Church, USA, 4020 Nazarene Drive between Hebron and Hwy 121 Bypass

Wednesday, May, 2008, to be confirmed,

Bunny Summerlin,
Executive Director
(972) 446-2100 ext. 16 / (972) 446-2102 FAX

Obama, the Shepherd

OBAMA, THE SHEPHERD
Mike Ghouse, February 27, 2008
Obama Party in Carrollton, Sunday, March 2 - details below
.

This is the first time in our nation's history that some one is speaking the needs, wants and voices of a majority of the people. He is neither a right winger extremist, nor a leftist but a moderate right down the middle embracing and bringing every American together to participate and contribute towards the success, safety and security of America.

An overwhelming majority of us are moderates, people who want to get along with everyone and focus on living the American dream; education, employment, family, children, car, home and a secure retirement. Thank God for Obama, he mirrors the aspirations of millions of Americans and is our new shepherd on the political spectrum. He will lead us to a safe, secure, strong, and respectable and a healthy America.

Obama is for a strong America, where our economic and military strength is leveraged to persuade nations to follow the policy of live and let live and imbibe the democratic principles of honoring the voices and acknowledging the validity of every member of the society. It is in our interest to have peace around us, it is in our interest to create a just world, when others are at peace, and we reap the dividends as well. It is economical to pursue peace than bully around and frighten others. When others are frightened, our peace and safety is on the line as well.

Barak believes in talking with enemy, rather than frustrating the enemy to a point where we have to guard our selves every moment of the day and watch out for the destruction of our own peace, safety and security. Mother Teresa had once said "If you want to make peace, you don't talk to your friends. You talk to your enemies."

A healthy America is not a social medicine, as my fellow Republicans are brainwashed to believe. Our investment in the health of our people ensures that we have a reliable and productive work force, the healthier we are, the lesser the loss of time on job, more income produces more revenue. Where as an unhealthy America makes us lose on productivity and the costs that go with it. A healthy America is a productive America and it is in our national interest to preserve and strengthen it, this is the other side of coin of a strong America. It is not a charity; it is the best investment a nation can make in her people. The money we blew in Iraq could have done so much better for us at home.

Not all, but the core of the Republican Party is focused on manufacturing fear, building empires and relentlessly making enemies. We don’t need their nightmares. Neither of one of us in the world would live in peace with those attitudes. Their approach to Iraq has given birth to Al-Qaeda that was not there before and our presence in Iraq will produce more of them. It is time to respectfully give them their land and come back home with dignity and respect for the Iraqi’s to manage their own affairs. We are worse off today than we were in 2002. The few extremists in Republican Party frighten the public and then create false security, it is time for the majority of Republicans to speak up or lose in the elections. Barak has the inclination to remove the causes for such fears and his administration will restore our respect in the community of nations. That would be the best thing that can happen. It will make us morally strong again.

The Chinese philosopher Fo-Sho-Hing-Tsan-King meant to pass the following wisdom to our War mongers, “Conquer your foe by force, you increase his enmity; conquer by love, and you will reap no after-sorrow.” Until the hard core Republicans come down from their high horses and believe in humility, compassion, peace and respect for humanity, the Americans will keep them frustrated. The frighteners cannot be saviors.

A strong, safe, prosperous and healthy America should be our goal and Barak is the one who will deliver it.

Please register your attendance at: http://pol.moveon.org/event/events/event.html?event_id=43583

Two part event: 1) Learn and share about Obama and 2) Make phone calls from your cell.


Sunday, March 2, 2008 - 4:00 PM to 6:30 PM
Banquet hall next door to Barbeque Tonite Restaurant
2540 Old Denton road, suite 173 - Old Denton at Trinity Mills (Bush Frwy)/ (972) 877-9133

Mike Ghouse
A Republican for Obama
(214) 325-1916

Write your comments to: CommentstoMike@Gmail.com
In the subject line please write :: Obama the Shepherd.

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Mike Ghouse is a Speaker, Thinker, Writer and a Moderator. He is a frequent guest on talk radio and local television network discussing Pluralism, politics, Islam, Religion, Terrorism, India and civic issues. His comments, news analysis, opinions and columns can be found on the Websites and Blogs listed at his personal website www.MikeGhouse.net. He can be reached at MikeGhouse@gmail.com or (214) 325-1916

Obama Rally

Obama - Rally in Carrollton

Register to attend "Yes we can Obama Rally" on Sunday, March 2
between 4 PM and 6:30 PM

http://pol.moveon.org/event/events/event.html?event_id=43583

Sunday, March 2, 2008
4:00 PM to 6:30 PM
Barbeque tonite Restaurant
2540 Old Denton road, suite 173
Old Denton at Trinity Mills (Bush Frwy)
http://www.mikeghouse.net/

For the first time in our history, we have a candidate who is representing you, me and every American; he is an all inclusive candidate.

“as the son of an immigrant, his experience can affirm that the American dream is still intact for everyone, regardless of where one's parents were born. His dedication to his family, strong work ethic, opposition to the war in Iraq and deep faith are all qualities that are important to Latino voters." Indeed, he represents the hopes of every American; born, naturalized, white, Black, brown or yellow, Atheist, Bahai, Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Jain, Jewish, Muslim, Native Indian, Sikh, Shinto, Wicca, Zoroastrian and every American. Obama has become a powerful symbol of pluralism and inclusiveness.

Join us between 4 and 6 PM on Sunday, March 2 at Barbeque tonite, in Carrollton at the SE Corner of Old Denton and Trinity Mills (Bush Frwy or I-90). Be a part of the change to put American on the path of peace, progress and co-existence.

Mike Ghouse (214) 325-1916
http://www.mikeghouse.net/