On that tragic Tuesday morning of September 11, 2001, I was called on to address the emergency after the second tower in New York was hit by the terrorist plane. On the way to the Radio station, I set my goal for the day, and it was to bring coherence to the chaotic situation of the day.
I went on air from about 10 AM and stayed thru 4:30/5 PM on Radio Station AM 1150, and later AM 950 Radio simulcasted. I was on the radio for straight 7 hours carrying on a live conversation from Dallas area mayors, religious, civil, business, cultural, and other public leaders.
A sense of coherence, confidence, and hope emerged through discussions and the following three new initiations took place on the day and were accomplished: Interfaith prayers, Blood Donations, Fund Raising
Since 2005, we have been organizing the UNITY DAY USA event every year, and this year, I was supposed to do a full program on Fox News with my friend Jack Pagano from the town of Marquette in Michigan. My surgery spoiled my plans.
As a Muslim, I have always been deeply committed to America. Together as Americans and American Muslims, we uphold, protect, defend, and celebrate the values enshrined in our Constitution, a guarantor and a sustainer of our political and social structures that each one of us wants.
The great tragedy had left everyone speechless and had frozen everyone from doing anything. I was shaking but was committed to making sense out of the chaos and bring coherence to the day and to pave the way for relevant action.
I was on air for 7 hours straight, standing on my feet and getting just about every area mayor, community, religious, civic, and business leader and the general public on to talk about the situation. Many of them read prepared statements, and one by one they condemned the attack. I did not even get to eat or take a break. The calls were pouring in, and I was wholly absorbed in the situation.
National Park Service/ Public Domain Wikimedia
Among many, who jumped on the idea to hold interfaith prayers, were Mr. Joel Brooks of American Jewish Congress, Ms. Vinoda Kumar of the DFW Hindu Temple, Mr. Mohammad Suleman of the Islamic Center of Dallas, Mr. Poras Balsara of the Zoroastrian community, and Kevin Rafraf from the Baha’i Temple, the list was endless.
All the announcements and pronouncements were going on the radio live from every community leader. Mr. Taiyab Kundawala of India Association agreed to hold and announce the prayer vigil at the association, and the fundraising was set up the very next evening. Mr. Mansoor Shah of Pakistan Society was there to do anything that needed to be done. Mr. Ashok Mago of the Indian Chamber of Commerce also joined in on the Radio. I apologize to many friends, whose names have gone blank on me. I would appreciate it if you could share them.
The fog was clearing up; Osama bin Laden was the bad guy and we had to go get him to serve justice. President Bush announced that he woul chase Bin Laden to the far end of the world and get him.
Spiritual leaders from different faiths and traditions were called in to pray and share their wisdom for this moment. They were from Baha’i, Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Islam, Jain, Jewish, Sikh, and Zoroastrian traditions. Area city mayors, community, and business leaders joined in an effort to bring a sense of direction.
The sense of unity that emerged on the Radio, the multi-faith prayers that were arranged instantly was a relief in that chaotic disharmony.
I made a commitment to dedicate this day and unite people on the day every year. For the first four years, I did the radio show talking about the effect of 9/11 on society, economy, and refreshing and galvanizing the interfaith movement.
The participants assembled under one flag, Image: Mike Ghouse
While this was going on, my late wife Najma had called in to announce about the blood drive, and sure enough, hundreds of people were lining up at Wadley Blood center. 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. I wish I could get hold of the CNN tapes from the next day where they interviewed me for over 10 minutes at the Radio Station we were hanging out. Our friends and my late wife said that every word I said on the TV was just the right word, what a relief! I was tense but determined to clear the muddy waters.
Three new initiations took place on the day and were accomplished:
- Blood Donations
- Interfaith prayers
- Fund Raising
9/11 remains one of the most significant days of my life, and I have made a lifetime commitment to dedicate this day, every year to serve my nation by bringing Americans together for the safety and security, and peace and prosperity of America.
As the community was fully involved on the air with me, the interfaith-faith prayers, blood donations, and fundraising for the men and women in uniform were all in place by evening. The fog was clearing up, Osama bin Laden was the bad guy, and Muslim-Americans had nothing to do with his actions, nor did they authorize him to terrorize anyone. Indeed, he placed a wedge between Americans that still needs to be undone. I had literally declared a war against this man.
Atheists, Baha’i, Buddhists, Christians, Hindus, Muslims, Jains, Jews, Native Americans, Pagans, Sikhs, Wicca and Zoroastrians along with area city mayors, FBI, police and fire chiefs and community leaders graced the first interfaith event in Frisco. Out of which a new tradition evolved called Unity Day. It continues year after year.
The Unity Day events brought diverse people on one platform
Image: Mike Ghouse
A few of us formed a team from different religions and went from one place of worship to the other place of worship and shared the prayers or gave a small talk about the respective religion. That’s where we built the relationship of trust between us for me to read the Jewish prayers when Joel Brooks was not available, recite the Zoroastrian prayer for Poras Balsara, Jain prayers for Pradeep Shah or Hindu Prayers for the Hindu community and of course, I represented Ben Moghaddas of Baha’i faith and was always a substitute for the Muslim community. There never was a shortage of Christians, Muslims, and Sikhs in interfaith activity at that time.
I worked on the following peace pledge and recited at the conclusion of every interfaith gathering after that.
I will speak up when there is injustice.
I will speak up when the truth is not spoken.
I will do my best to make my words and my actions to mitigate conflicts.
I will do my best in nurturing goodwill for the benefit of all.
I will do my share of peace work, without looking for others to do theirs.
I will do my best to respect the God-given uniqueness of each and every individual.
I will do my best to live and let others live their way.
One of the biggest walls between the Hindus and the Muslims was dissolved that week. President of The Dallas Islamic Center, Muhammad Suleman asked me to pull the religious groups for the interfaith prayers, and I was pleased to include Hindu prayers. Vijayshree Venkatraman came and chanted the Om Shanti Mantra amidst all other prayers. Perhaps it was the first time Hindu prayers were recited in a Mosque. I am sure it is done elsewhere, but it was a new experience for Muslims in Dallas.
If there were one gratifying moment in my interfaith life, that would be one. The other ones are chanting the Jainism’s Navakar Mantra at the Maya Temple in Mexico, Hindu prayers in the Snotes at the Mayan Temples, getting Baptized in the name of God at the place in Jordan River where Jesus was Baptized, and dancing with the Pagans in Melbourne and spending time with the Native Australians.
