Muslim Americans are determined to turn perceptions around on September 11 this year. The Big Red Bus will be at the Mulberry Civic Center for blood donations.

Mulberry, Florida- September 5, 2013.  The World Muslim Congress, a Muslim think tank committed to building cohesive America announced that they have worked out details with the One Blood organization of Florida to facilitate blood donation.

Thanks to One Blood, Inc. for sending the Big Red Bus to the Mulberry Civic Center Venue on September 11, 2013 between 8 AM and 11 AM – please come and donate blood. I realized the importance of blood donation when my late wife was on her death bed and needed blood, when my uncle was in a motor cycle accident and needed blood. Donate blood. www.OneBlood.org

Saving a life is like saving the whole humanity says the Quran, a book of guidance like all other holy books in building harmony in a given society. It is about building societies that care for other for the ultimate benefit of each member of the society.

Qur’an,  Chapter Al-Ma’idah (The Table Spread) 5:32 (Asad) “Because of this did We ordain unto the children of Israel that if anyone slays a human being-unless it be [in punishment] for murder or for spreading corruption on earth-it shall be as though he had slain all mankind; whereas, if anyone saves a life, it shall be as though he had saved the lives of all mankind. ^[40] And, indeed, there came unto them ^[41] Our apostles with all evidence of the truth: yet, behold, notwithstanding all this, many of them go on committing all manner of excesses on earth.”

Indeed every religious, political, ethnic and social group has a fraction among them that commits excesses. Individuals are responsible for the bad acts, and it is their heinie that needs to be hauled off, and not their parents, kids, siblings, pastor, religion or mayor of the town. We have to guard ourselves from stereotyping any group for the acts of a few.

About 10:00 AM CST on Tuesday, September 11, 2001, this Muslim was called in by AM Radio 1150 to address the chaos that followed after the first plane hit the twin towers.  The great tragedy had left every one speechless and had frozen everyone from doing anything. I was shaking but was committed to make sense out of the chaos and bring coherence to the day, and pave the way for relevant action.

I was on the air for 7 hours, virtually getting every possible community, religious, and civil leader on the air to bring some coherence. Among the many things we accomplished that day was the blood drive. My late wife Najma had called in and announced about the blood drive and within no time, hundreds of people lined up at Wadley Blood center in Dallas. She drove to the facility and the folks told her that the lines were too long and asked us to hold off the announcements till the next day.   

The Muslim Community has taken up the responsibility in past several years to donate blood, and last year, the target was to collect 11,000 pints on the 11^thanniversary and collected 11,170 Pints.  The Muslims for Life blood drive campaign emphasizes the sanctity of life, a teaching inherent in all religious traditions.  The Muslim Community USA has set a goal to collect 12,000 pints of blood, which will help save up to 36,000 lives. Please visit us at the event and be a donor.

We hope this is a life changing event, you may fall in love with the idea that all of us Americans will come together as Americans and nothing but Americans. While we have our sub-identity, we look to each other as Americans and rededicate ourselves to our pledge; one nation with liberty and justice for all.

You will be a part of history in creating a model behavior in dealing with conflicts and building a cohesive America, where no American has to live in apprehension or fear of the other. 

EVENT: UNITY DAY USA

Time: 8:46 AM – 10:46 AM
Date: September 11, 2013
Place: Mulberry Civic Center,
Address: 901 NE 5th St
City: Mulberry, FL 33860
Site: www.UnityDayUSA.com
RSVP: ConfirmAttendance@gmail.com

 Mike Ghouse is committed to building a cohesive America and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day. More about him at www.MikeGhouse.net