PROSELYTIZING LAS CRUCES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

     Since the social and political climate in America has changed dramatically over the past few decades, the traditionally staid United States Chamber of Commerce had boldly shown its move from representing the business health of communities, to that of an evangelical, hell-fire religious force to be reckoned with.  In the past, the common belief was that the Chamber had a connection to civic responsibility.  Since the Chamber is a private organization, it voices no claims to any responsibility outside its closed doors.

     The traditional Chamber membership sticker in business windows was believed to portray the image that the business was approved by the Chamber for its honesty and good service to the community.  That is no longer the case.  While many members are still legitimate, the image now is suspect.  Shopping at those businesses may provide money beyond the dues to the new development in the proselytizing business of the Chamber. Some leaders and members are steadfast in their belief that our United States is a Christians-only country, which means get out if you ain't.

     Here in Las Cruces, New Mexico, a Third World entity with ties closer to Juarez, Mexico, and El Paso, Texas, than with the economic and post-Spanish cultural centers of Albuquerque and Santa Fe, the Chamber has developed its own 'army' of Christian evangelical emissaries.  These members of the Chamber labor under the local Chamber's trinitarian logo which suddenly evolved after lawsuits challenged the City and school district's use of similar symbols that enjoy world-wide acceptance as totally Christian.

     Part of the local fake lore in Las Cruces is that Latin crosses displayed by the City are not religious.  Is the City the organ-grinder and the Chamber dances, or is the Chamber the organ-grinder?

     Marching hand-in-hand with Governor Martinez, the Chamber has taken a not-unexpected bold step to show its true intent of extending its realm of evangelical proselytizing the residents of Las Cruces, and their children, the real aim.  The Chamber has joined with Osteen Publishing Company (OPC, LLC, new owners of weekly Las Cruces Bulletin.) to promote a Christians-Only "Junior Leadership Program."

     Shown here for informational purposes only, this is the logo for the "Greater Las Cruces Chamber of Commerce's Jr. Leadership program, modeled on our highly successful [adult] Leadership Las Cruces."  "a unique program .....for Las Cruces area high school junior."

     One can see that this logo has a double meaning.  One meaning represents the Christians-only evangelical intent of the training sponsored by the Las Cruces Chamber; the other meaning of the crosses is a warning to non-Christians to stay away.  The above referenced "Leadership Las Cruces" has only used the Chamber logo to deliver the message of the intent, at least in the public advertisements.

     "Applications.....will be available.....at all area high schools." shows a cooperation between the Las Cruces Public Schools Board of Education and the Chamber to introduce the Christians-only program.

     Any connection between the well-known televangelist Joel Osteen and the family-owned Osteen Publishing Company, in Sumter, South Carolina, is unknown.

   

A CROSS IS A CROSS IS A CROSS

     Goaded by local and national Christian evangelical dominionist court rulings, and the surge by the evangelicals to claim the 'public square' a sacred place of their own, all the while dismissing The Others, this evangelical effort is steadfastly eroding the civil liberties of public school students in New Mexico public schools, especially in Las Cruces.

     Teachers passing religious-intent words for 'testifying' is one thing, but deeds and pictures are another.  Here you see the latest effort in the Onate High School, Las Cruces, New Mexico.  Juan Onate was the conquistador who, although he never had anything to do with Las Cruces, led the first permanent group of Catholic priests and colonists from Mexico to the Santa Fe, New Mexico, area.  For that, the reverence bestowed upon him by the New Mexico Catholic Church and its followers is nothing short of sainthood.  Even by the standards of the 16th Century (late 1500's), Onate was a butcher.

      One has to believe this building modification with its proselytizing intent was coordinated with the Las Cruces Board of Education, the Superintendent, and of course, the Principal.  This painting, with its permanent symbolic intent of proselytizing and claiming the school as Christian, is a clear violation of Las Cruces School District Policy 424.  The pictured artist is an employee at the school.

Photo courtesy of the Las Cruces Sun-News newspaper 8-3-2013.

     This new painting is on center-court of the Onate High School basketball court for testifying, claiming the school, and proselytizing non-Christian students.

A Useful Proselytizing Venue

For years the City of Las Cruces has been using various venues to proselytize the children regardless of their religious affiliation. Many non-Christian and non-religious parents of children ignore, or make excuses of knowing what the intent of the city is, so that their children can participate in activities sponsored by the city.

With the blessings of the evangelicals, the main facility run by the Las Cruces Parks and Recreation Department is the well-decorated with Christian crosses Meerscheidt Recreation Center.  One proselytizing activity is the handing out of t-shirts decorated with the Christian crosses to unwary participating children.

Another method of evangelism is the 'outsourcing' of the proselytizing to various Christian groups so the City can deny any involvement (We didn't do anything., or We didn't know., or We don't understand your problem.) and the providing of public funds to Christian organizations.

The recent June 24, 2013 article in the local Sun-News is the story titled:  Youth Running Club open to Las Cruces kids.  "The private Las Cruces Running Club is sponsoring a youth summer running club. [Hey! Isn't it hell-hot in Las Cruces?]  Funded by a grant from the City of Las Cruces Parks and Recreation Department."

Why should your children have to endure Christian evangelism in order to participate in city-sponsored activities?  This club's logo testifies that they are running for Jesus.

The Ooze of Goodness

         
                                                    

One would think that the Mayor of Las Cruces would be able to recognize, at least be familiar with, the historically ingrained bigotry in and about Las Cruces, plus that supporting baggage dragged in by all the favored newcomers.  From his comments recently reported in the weekly folksy/newsy My Las Cruces for Black History Month, Mayor Miyagishima appears to only recognize color as the only category subject to local, state, and national bigotry.
          When Mayor Miyagishima stated, "....Las Cruces is probably one of the most tolerant cities in New Mexico.", he apparently forgot his personal mayoral plaques he hands out.  The ones with the white rays of light emanating from the center cross of the three undeniably Christian Trinitarian crosses.  Also forgotten in that statement is the recent well-known history of Las Cruces, when the local faith-biased mob leaders guided the federal court, to deprive the plaintiffs especially, and many other citizens, of their civil liberties.  That cloud still hangs over the city, not to be removed by additional Latin crosses.
           His silence can still be heard when the Latin crosses were put on the three sides of the purposefully-built tower of the new City Hall.   Mayor Miyagishima was there when the building was strangely inscribed "City of Las Cruces City Hall,"  which intones the English translation of the  Spanish "Ciudad de Las Cruces (City of the Crosses)," and that keeps at least half of the bigots happy. 
            It's obvious Mayor Miyagishima just doesn't get it. 

ROTC Proselytizing at New Mexico State University

      Can you and your children expect anything less, after the bought evangelical blessing of the local federal court in Las Cruces, that Christian symbols are perfectly OK on government and other public properties?  You may think Latin crosses in any configuration (especially three) are Christian-religious.  Not in Las Cruces, New Mexico, where the cry from citizens echoed across the chile and cotton fields, "They're not religious, they only represent our culture and our community."  Duh.  Translated in Las Cruces-speak means, "If you are not an abiding Christian, Catholic or Protestant, we will only tolerate your presence."  As long as you keep your head down.
      New Mexico State University has several departments that have been engaged in proselytizing the students and general public for years.  Several professors are known to lie about their involvement with the evangelicals employed by the university and the promotion of Christianity.  And all the while the unsuspecting students from a variety of cultures and religions, even no religions, are being subjected to Christian proselytizing.  The current triangular logo of the university reeks of sectarian Christian fundamentalism and the university leaders bask in that knowledge, that lends tacit approval of promoting the Christian religion.
      Recently I attended the US Army SROTC (Senior ROTC) commissioning/graduating ceremony on campus.  Since I served in two branches, Navy and Army, enlisted and officer, I totally expected an uplifting "Duty, Honor, and Country" ceremony for the newly commissioned officers. 
      I had read that there was a rabid influx of Christian evangelists doing all they can to turn our military forces into obedient, slavish soldiers of Christ.  This is exactly what this ceremony reflected.  The guest speaker was a retired Army officer active with the ROTC.  His speech was nothing but a Catholic sermon using the fictional character in the fictional book, The Vicar of Christ, an American Marine who became the Catholic Pope.  The book title was referenced several times in the Elmer Gantry-like energetic presentation seen in revival tents, and of course, on evangelical TV shows.  Excerpts from the book had been copied for the new officers with an admonishment to read and reflect on the ideas on the pages; blatantly assuming in the fashion of evangelists that all were good Christians, and if not, they should be.
       Next up was the Commanding Officer of the SROTC unit at the university.   His equally evangelical proselytizing sermon was not so animated, but he did not fail to get his fundamentalist Christian message out to the new officers. Surely they had heard this many times from their commander and fearfully feigned obedience. The unsuspecting audience of parents and friends sat stoically as he repeated "So help me God," from the oath of allegiance, over and over.  Even though I was present, I failed to grasp the sermon's point, it being illegal anyway.
       The 'chaplain' nervously gave the opening and closing prayer. Even though it was Christian, it was almost benign as compared to the two sermons the new officers and attendees were forced to bear.
        
      

Our New Centennial High School

It's almost time for our new Centennial High School to open.  A long-awaited inclusive project that would make any city and school district proud.  But....with the grand opening this Fall, a seemingly overlooked problem needs to be corrected.  Now is the time for the city, county, and school district to divest itself from the  current street name of  'Sonoma Ranch Boulevard' (SRB) to something more appropriate for the setting.  Even 'Centennial Boulevard' would be pleasing and not give the impression that it is connected to the Sonoma Ranch Empire.

The new school is about two miles from the large, ever-growing, jammed-up housing development.  The Dona Ana County Commissioners were probably strong-armed to allow the road from Highway 70 to Las Alturas to be named 'SRB.'  At the time, it probably appeared to be OK, it just being a line on a map in the sand dunes..  But the land from the school to the City Dump, near east Lohman, has most likely been spoken for by the 'Empire.'  (A map in the Sun-News showing the disposition of the land would be good.)  Any new housing or commercial development along the currently unpaved portion of the SRB, and attaching the name of Centennial High School to it, will add millions to the Sonoma Ranch Empire.  

In-Your-Face Religious Prejudice by City of Las Cruces

If you haven't already, run out to your mailbox.  The federal post office has been duped into delivering the City of Las Cruces' IN YOUR FACE CHRISTIAN PROSELYTIZING by way of the 2012 City's Reference Guide.  The bright, glaring Trinity crosses should make federal Judge Robert Brack doubly proud of his insulting, illegal, prejudicial Christian-based decision, accented by the City of Las Cruces Mission Statement.

Neither the Christian front page symbols nor the statement convey any respect for the various cultures, the variety of religions and non-believers in deities, that make-up this city and its surrounding environs.

That industrialize Mission Statement dismisses the heartfelt desires and personal needs of the citizens. Cost-effective services!  What a joke.