Truth and Justice in a Federal Court

On 11 January 2012 a great senior federal Judge Ronald R. Lagueux of the First Federal District of the United States ruled that "no amount" of "history and tradition" "can cure a constitutional infraction." Judge Lagueux did his duty to the people and our Constitution. This judge did not join the religious bigots that harassed the plaintiffs. He did not join the religious bigots and make a ruling to satisfy their outrageous demands.

Judge Lagueux did not use his Catholic religion to justify a wrongheaded ruling that would have only brought shame to his court. Every court, from low to high, belongs to all the people equally, and there by should be shameless. Any judge who brings shame upon his or her court, should immediately resign.

Every citizen should read Judge Lagueux's Decision and Order. It is written in simple language and can be found, among other places, on the New York Times web site article dated 31 January 2012 under the story line of: "A Brave Stand in Rhode Island." Also, Case 1:11-cv-00138-L-DLM Document 27, Filed 1/11/12.

The cases and reasoning behind his final decision are the same that was presented to the local federal Judges Robert Brack and Lourdes Martinez, which they chose to ignore and rule for the local religious bigots.

Or contact me and I will email you a copy. It is 40-pages long - double spaced.

Another New Mexico Lie Exposed

Shortly after that fool of a governor, Billy Richardson, appointed a coreligionist, Rhonda Faught, Deming/Las Cruces, as the NM State Engineer, she changed the NM Transportation Department's logo to represent the Christian Holy Trinity. This Trinitarian design is now seen on all Transportation Department signage and documents throughout the state. Of course, denials abound when questions arise about its religious intent. Just another in-your-face example of the religious prejudice emanating from Santa Fe.

Federal Crimes in Las Cruces

Federal money comes with the old strings attached. Lawyers make thousands of taxpayers' dollars ensuring cities, counties and states follow the rules. Except in Las Cruces, New Mexico. The main string (rule) is one requiring all federal rules and laws be obeyed which pertains to that project the money is allocated for.

Judge Robert Brack made no law as federal judges do not have that power or authority, and basically insulted all of Christendom, or so one would suppose, when he ruled that the three Latin crosses the City of Las Cruces uses is not religious. Even his trois singes pals at the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals cannot write laws, nor the organization that wrote their ruling for them, which supported the denial of the religiosity of the crosses of Las Cruces.

The latest violations of the federal laws are seen on the new, small, 15-passenger buses the City of Las Cruces purchased with taxpayers' funds, which now exhibit the Gothic-inspired symbol titled "Keep Las Cruces Beautiful." The brochure-promoted sun replaced with the triune crosses of the Trinity surrounded with 15-points for the Gospel of John 15. Or is it the three crosses also representing the number '3' and 15-points also representing the number '15' for the Gospel of John 3:15?

This latest attempt to divide the city by promoting Christianity and excluding the religious and non-religious Others is a perfect example of the Christian hegemony maxim: "We do it because we can and we will continue to do it."

Remember: sectarian, prejudice, Christian, exclusion, Las Cruces, and even beautiful, all have the same number of letters.

My Las Cruces: A Clarion Blast of Bigotry

(NOTE: Mr. Maxwell suddenly resigned on 11 November 2010 after three months on the job.)

Mr. Jim Maxwell, Publisher Mailed: 24 August 2010

Las Cruces Sun-News

256 W. Las Cruces Avenue

Las Cruces, NM 88005-1804

Subject: My Las Cruces

Dear Mr. Maxwell:

There are some, for one reason or another, religion or economics, perhaps a combination of both, bound and determined to make Las Cruces an outpost of Christianity, thereby excluding the recognition and historical contributions of all the non-Christian Others by purposely using a modified Christian symbol to represent the city.

Many people come to this valley for their own particular reasons, while others arrive with a vague purpose as they would in any other city; some answering to the few available jobs, or health, and perhaps, to be in close proximity to relatives. Some are driven to believe the ‘bought and paid-for’ accolades of the wonders of Las Cruces promoted by the City, Chambers of Commerce, and various publications including the Sun-News.

When a city promotes the fictitious stories surrounding its birth, its early years, and uses an ever growing variety of Christian religious symbols, at the expense of citizens who do not subscribe, nor march to those banners promoting a particular religion, the heart and purpose of the city is forever blackened. But that can change with some effort.

Your newspaper, the Las Cruces Sun-News, recently began publishing “Your Neighborhood Weekly Newspaper,” the My Las Cruces, with a not-well-thought-out, exclusionary, and thereby insulting, title that does not represent the cosmopolitan makeup of the city. It’s not ‘Our Las Cruces,’ a welcoming title, which would be more inclusive of all the various peoples of color, religions, non-believers, and worldwide cultures that exist in Las Cruces and makes it a city.

Aiding My Las Cruces is the fictitious belief in the promoted tri-culture of Anglo-Hispanic-Native American makeup of the city, county, and state. This is a pathetic example of views by the ‘ruling class’ as they decide the economically feasibility of their methods. Excluding the various peoples of color, this jaundiced view results in the promotion of the belief that Anglo means ‘white Protestant;’ Hispanic means ‘brown Catholic;’ and Native American means ‘conquered and made Catholic.’

The fourth ignored category of those of the supposed ‘ruling class’ is that of some well-blended ‘natives’ who oftentimes noisily claim sovereignty over the rights of newer citizens because of their own ancestors’ earlier arrival in the valley. And all the Others, non-Christian by choice or culture, exhibiting various hues of color by culture or nature…….basically ghosts-in-residence due to the illogical, traditional exclusion from newsprint.

My address is Las Cruces. Local federal Judge Robert Brack infamously ruled, to placate his ignorant, religious-driven, 'ride-‘em-out-on-a-rail’ supporters, that I had a “right to live here,” but I can’t describe Las Cruces as my ‘home.’ Nor can I ever say that I am a ‘las Crucen’ or ‘las Cruceño.’ Not ever, as long as the City government promotes Christianity as superior over all other religions and beliefs. Then supported by the Sun-News with its ‘My Las Cruces,’ which some will say means ‘My City of Crosses.’

As you know, a newspaper can do well by its citizens by reporting societal truths, and including all the various cultural groups, as it is in the position to lead the progress of the city. After all, this is the 21st Century and bigotry, exacerbated by local courts’ rulings, has no place where a program of outreach may be in order to some groups.