Texas Civil Rights Review

Category: Uncategorized

  • Replacing Jefferson with Calvin, Aquinas, and Blackstone?

    Here’s a snip from PhD candidate Matthew Crow’s response to the sacking of Thomas Jefferson by the Texas State Board of Ed–gm

    At the time of this writing, the plan of the board is to replace Jefferson with John Calvin, Thomas Aquinas, and William Blackstone. Especially in light of the prevalence of religious fervor today and the consequent growth of writing religious history, Calvin is actually the most timely and interesting suggestion. He should have been on the list anyway, provided we include outbursts of revolutionary politics before the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, like the Dutch Revolt, the English Civil War, and the Glorious Revolution of 1688.

    Aquinas, a Catholic cosmologist and political philosopher who lived in the thirteenth century, while certainly an important part of the history of natural law ideas, was simply not the source of the arguments about natural rights that emerged out of the American and French Revolutions at the end of the 1700s. Americans of the time, by and large, would hardly have had, nor wanted to have had, recourse to the writings of a medieval Dominican friar.

    Blackstone, the great English jurist, systematized the development of parliamentary sovereignty in the constitution of the British Empire in his massive Commentaries on the Laws of England, published in four volumes between 1765 and 1769. A powerful critic of colonial claims to enjoy the rights of Englishmen, he would no doubt be shocked to find himself remembered in the tender young minds of the Lone Star State for supporting and influencing revolutionary claims against the authority of law and government, concerned as he was to use both natural and common law arguments to curtail claims of customary and natural rights. Greater familiarity with British constitutionalism would be a favorable improvement in historical education. But a fountain of revolutionary fervor Blackstone was not, nor would his Commentaries be my first choice for high school summer reading.

    Finally, to conclude a night’s wayward browsing on topics of Calvinism, Christianity, and Fascism, we clip two paragraphs of a theological commentary by Richard T. Hughes at The Huffington Post

    We want now to offer some possible ways to resolve the riddle, posed in part 1 of this article, of why so many evangelical and fundamentalist Christians — people who clearly honor the Bible — so often disregard the two requirements that are central to the biblical vision of the kingdom of God, namely peacemaking and justice for the poor.

    Most of the answers to this riddle are rooted in the fact that millions of conservative Christians in the United States read the Bible through a variety of American perspectives that are utterly foreign to the biblical text. And they read the Bible in this way because they so often identify the kingdom of God with the United States of America. Based on that conviction, many confuse the principles of the Bible with the principles of the Constitution, biblical morality with capitalism, defense of the Christian religion with militarism, and fidelity to the kingdom of God with patriotism. Indeed, they often view the Bible as a manual on how to live one’s life as a good American. With those convictions, it’s no wonder they read the Bible through distinctly American perspectives.

  • Facing 'Fracking' Questions, White Calls for 'Common Ground' Leadership

    The Democratic candidate for Texas Governor Bill White on Wednesday complained in an email to supporters that incumbent Governor Rick Perry was not asserting leadership for a more “mainstream” approach to school standards.

    “I respect the sincerity of Texans who hold different views of what our students should and should not be taught,” said the email from White’s campaign. “But we should have a governor who finds common ground and moves our state forward, rather than appeasing people intent on pursuing partisan agendas in public offices.”

    White’s objection to the cultural extremism of Anglo Republicans on the Texas State Board of Education–who last week dismissed Thomas Jefferson from the standard curriculum on Enlightenment–echoes a theme that he introduced when lamenting the Anglo bias of Republican voters during the March primary election. Republican voters ousted the sitting Chair of the Texas Railroad Commission because he had a Hispanic name.

    If White, who served as Houston Mayor, can wage a campaign of urban tolerance vs. suburban cultural supremacy, he may be able to motivate a winning moderate-liberal coalition against Perry in the November elections.

    However, the morning headlines out of Houston suggest that White is already on the ropes at the start of an eight-month campaign. While Mayor of Houston he also served on the board of directors for a “fracking” company, BJ Services, that has apparently admitted to federal investigators that it injected diesel into the ground near water supplies after promising not to.

    Foul water or cultural extremism? We’re betting that the ghost of Thomas Jefferson is happy to be relieved of responsibility for this sort of history, whatever you want to call it or whichever way it goes.–gm

  • Ramsey Muniz Returned to Texas

    Recent news and writings from Irma and Ramsey Muniz

    Jesus Christ – Born to bring Love, Spirituality, Faith, Courage, and Freedom to all Humanity

    Dec. 25, 2009

    Dear Friends:

    Ramsey, our families and I celebrate Christmas with you and share the profoundness of this glorious, spiritual day in our lives. Historically, on this special day, Jesus Christ was born to bring love, spirituality, faith, courage, and freedom to all humanity. Jesus’ suffering, confinement, and crucifixion was and is the reason that humanity shall forever struggle for freedom and love.

    We thank you with our hearts for making it possible for my husband, Ramsey, to return to Texas after fifteen long years in exile away from those who love him. This is only the beginning. It was destined that with your assistance, his freedom would become a part of our freedom and that of all humanity on this earth.

    Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

    With love,
    Ramsey and Irma Alvarez Muñiz

    “Learning how to survive can end up being the greatest lesson in learning how to live.”

    The Late Dr. Salvador Alvarez
    My Beloved Father

    www.freeramsey.com

    Loving Spirits are With Ramsey

    Dec. 6, 2009

    “As a family we must reunite our hearts once again, and there is no right way or wrong way to experience spiritual healing. There is ultimately only a deepening into one’s soul’s journey and one’s ability to live compassionately with all that surrounds us.”

    Tezcatlipoca

    ************

    Dear Friends:

    On December 13, 2009, Ramsey Muñiz will turn 67 years old, and I send this message for those would like to mail him a card. His address is shown below.

    You cannot imagine the transformation that Ramsey is still experiencing. The spirits continue to be with him. When his heart is very heavy and tears of sadness prevail, they all appear to him. The loving spirits of our deceased loved ones make their presence known, provide consolation and wisdom.

    Ramsey wakes up after the dreams with the realization of what has happened, and he writes everything that he recalls. His writings are the most beautiful words you can imagine and I am convinced that he is having communications with the spirit world.

    Remember that we almost lost Ramsey in 2005, and he went through a most profound near death experience. It is said that some people that go through this type of experience are able to communicate with the spirit world.

    Among those that he communicates with regularly are his beloved mother, Hilda Longoria Muñiz, and my beloved father, Dr. Salvador Alvarez. Recently he asked my father how we should pray to him, and the words that he wrote were:

    “Beloved father
    Fill me with your spiritual love
    That I might serve you
    That I might serve my beloved mother
    That I might be a true messenger of your love.”

    Several weeks later, Ramsey recalled the exact conversation that he was having with my father as he was receiving the prayer above. The prayer was actually more specific to our family.

    I share the prayer below so that others can pray the same for their families and deceased loved ones. The revised prayer is:

    “Beloved father, Salvador
    Fill our family with your spiritual love
    That we might serve you
    That we might serve our beloved mother, Irma Ramos Alvarez
    That I may be a true messenger of your family spiritual love.”

    I am in awe every time that Ramsey receives this beautiful and divine insight. I invite you to take this information to heart so that we can all experience a spiritual Christmas season with our families.

    Shortly you will receive correspondence on the current plans to free Ramsey. We need to free him now! See his mailing address below.

    Ramiro R. Muñiz – 40288-115
    FCC Beaumont – Medium
    P.O. Box 26040
    Beaumont, TX 77720

    Set up your altars, as the spirits are with us. It is US who are dead.

    Oct. 31, 2009

    Dear Friends:

    Below is a letter about El Dia de los Muertos written by my loving husband, Ramsey Muniz, in 2003. it was written during intense pain and suffering. Out of this suffering came profound thoughts about our culture, spirituality, life, and death. When I ask Ramsey where our deceased loved ones are, he states, “They are here. They are alive and it is us who are dead.” I treasure his insight, because one of the spirits that provides comfort and guidance to my husband is my father, the late Dr. Salvador Alvarez. I thank my beloved father for consoling and guiding us now, just as he did during his time on earth.

    ************

    “I write what I live, and I live what I write.”
    Ramsey Muniz – Tezcatlipoca

    Listen closely, for my destiny is to speak the true history. There is a day that pertains to our religious culture, which connects the earth, heaven, and nature. It is a day when we realize the true essence of cosmic visions, which prove that we are truly a part of Mother Earth, heaven, and the spiritual realm. On this day, the veil that separates the living from the dead is removed, and we are reunited with the loving spirits of our ancestors, forefathers and deceased family members. It is a day of rejoicing, communing, sharing, praying, fasting, and meditating with our ancestors and family members that now reside in “Ilhuicatlitic,” the heavens, because once again we share our ancestral spirituality on earth. It is a day that truly brings us together with our past in worship to our gods and rejoicing as one world, one people, and one nation in our minds and hearts for the past, present and future. It is a day so religiously and spiritually powerful, that even five hundred years ago, priests like Sahagun, Torquemada, Molina, Duran, and others realized the power of Teotleco — the arrival of the gods. They repeatedly witnessed the spiritual ancestral power granted from the past to the present and future raza on El Día De Los Muertos.

    “On this day of remembrance, do not judge me by the shackles and chains that confine me in bondage, but by who I am.”

    “On this day of remembrance, in this mode of darkness confined and isolated from humanity, I am not afraid nor do I fear the coming of tomorrow, for I have seen yesterday and I love today.”

    Ramsey Muniz – Tezcatlipoca
    http://www.freeramsey.com

    Survival Through Love

    Oct. 23, 2009

    Dear Friends:

    The letter of love and gratitude received by my husband, Ramsey Muniz,
    represents a profound spiritual transformation that he is experiencing.
    We thank God for this change. I will be with Ramsey this weekend.

    ************

    Citlalmina:

    As I sit in this 6×9 cell my mind and heart travels back into the past, wondering how it was possible for me to survive three years spent in solitary confinement (dungeons) in the Leavenworth United States Penitentiary. Only the Creator and all of our Mexicano gods and goddesses are able to provide the answer. Be that as it may, I will forever share with the world that it was your love!

    “Our harmony and power have not lessened. They have increased, and no external force can overcome the beauty and intensity of our “ome.”

    Yes, I’m back! Never in my life have I felt so much love. I truly believe in my heart that as my wife God gave you a power of love because of your suffering, pain, grief, sorrow, and sadness with my imprisonment.

    Give my tender and profound love to mom always.

    ************

    “No one will do for us what we fail to do for ourselves.”

    “One functions spiritually for our ancestors, for ourselves, and for those who come after us.”

    “While I swam in a sea of knowledge and intelligence, I lived in a world of oppression and despair for
    the last sixteen years of my lif
    e.”

    “My spiritual face was seen in the colors of the wind
    And in the dampness of the earth.
    My face is illumination in life and death. I was
    The first cry of a new born and the last breath of dying.
    My face is the spirituality of Aztlan and the soul,
    Mexikayotl, of the universe.”

    All my world is caged and confined, yet
    My spiritual birth soul runs free.”

    “It is not true, it is not true that we have
    Come to live here. We came only to sleep – only to dream.

    “The clouds have been dispelled and the darkness
    In which I have loved for the last 16 years have fled.
    The Sixth Sun has appeared and the light of the day
    Shines upon my heart after such darkness that shall never appear again.”

    www.freeramsey.com

    Visit in Beaumont, Texas

    Sept. 29, 2009

    Dear Friends:

    My mother and I have just returned from the Beaumont FCI. We have been visiting my husband, Ramsey Muniz, for the last three days. After sixteen years of confinement in prisons away from his family and those close to our hearts, it is now our spiritual obligation, within the political/humanitarian realm, to prove his innocence and free him.

    They have kept my husband unjustly incarcerated for many years in order to hide the truth, and the time has come for us to speak about his innocence.

    We extend our love and gratitude to all who have made it possible for my husband to be close to his family.

    Sincerely,
    Ramsey & Irma Muniz
    www.freeramsey.com

  • Archive: Murano Resignation and Reply

    Essential documents for the Sunday resignation of the first Woman and the first Hispanic President of Texas A&M University at College Station.–gm

    OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

    Statement from Texas A&M President Elsa A. Murano

    “The events of recent weeks have been very taxing for the entire Aggie family. The faculty, students and staff have demonstrated incredible loyalty to this institution, upholding our Aggie values during these exceedingly trying times. I am truly grateful for the countless expressions of support that I have received from our faculty, staff, current and former students, and friends of Texas A&M. I cannot adequately express how much I have appreciated your many letters, phone calls, emails, and especially your prayers. They have been truly uplifting and I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

    “My husband Peter and I fell in love with Texas A&M the moment we set foot in Aggieland back in 1995. This deep and abiding passion for what the university represents, and for the people of the Aggie family, reinforces my duty to do what is best for Texas A&M. For this reason, I will be resigning as President of our beloved university, effective tomorrow, June 15, 2009, to return to the faculty, subject to approval by the Board of Regents.

    “Our university is strong and I know that we will weather this storm. I sincerely hope and pray that we will intensify our efforts to protect and enhance Texas A&M’s reputation. I trust that the important issues raised in recent weeks will be addressed in the Aggie way – with integrity, selfless service and indomitable spirit. God bless you all, and gig ’em!”

    Screenshot of President's page on day of Murano's Resignation

    Statement regarding resignation of Dr. Elsa A. Murano

    June 14, 2009

    COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Dr. Elsa A. Murano today announced her resignation as president of Texas A&M University. Dr. Murano’s resignation and the plans for her transition back into the faculty will be addressed by the board at its meeting scheduled for tomorrow, June 15.

    “Dr. Murano has served the university with distinction over the course of her career” said Morris E. Foster, chairman of The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents. “I want to thank her for her service and commitment to the betterment of the university, its faculty and its students.”

    Dr. Murano has served as president of Texas A&M University since January 2008. Plans for her succession will be taken up by the board in the near future.

    “We look forward to having Dr. Murano rejoin our faculty and continue her nationally recognized work in food science,” said Michael D. McKinney, M.D., chancellor of the A&M System.

    About the A&M System

    The A&M System is one of the largest systems of higher education in the nation, with a budget of $3.04 billion. Through a statewide network of 11 universities, seven state agencies and a comprehensive health science center, the A&M System educates more than 109,000 students and makes more than 15 million additional educational contacts through service and outreach programs each year. Externally funded research brings in almost $676 million every year and helps drive the state’s economy.

    Evaluation documents posted at KBTX-TV website [pdf format]

    Profile of Darryl Kent Carter, Attorney for Murano

    The Board of Regents of The Texas A&M University System: Morris E. Foster, Chairman; James P. Wilson, Vice Chairman;
    Phil Adams, Richard A. Box, Lupe Fraga, Bill Jones, Jim Schwertner, Gene Stallings, Ida Clement Steen; Hunter Bollman, Student Regent.

    Discussions Regarding Concept of Merging Certain Functions of the Flagship Institution into the A&M System Offices

    Dr. Elsa A. Murano
    President, Texas A&M University

    May 27, 2009

    To Texas A&M Faculty, Staff and Students:

    I have been contacted by numerous faculty, staff and administrators, former students and friends of Texas A&M University throughout the day regarding the concept of merging certain functions of the flagship institution into the A&M System Offices as one approach in realizing cost efficiencies. While we are all concerned about the pressures of the current economic situation, I know that we are simultaneously mindful not to sacrifice academic quality, or our national reputation.

    Since yesterday, I have continued to receive a diversity of perspectives from the campus community on this concept. I plan to provide these to the Regents and the Chancellor very soon. On issues of this magnitude, we all agree that an open dialogue is critical. Please know that I value your input greatly, and I appreciate all that you do to make Texas A&M one of the premier public universities in the country.

    Sincerely,

    Dr. Elsa A. Murano

    President

    President Murano’s Biography

    Dr. Elsa A. Murano is the 23rd President of Texas A&M University. Taking
    office on Jan. 3, 2008, at age 49, she is the first woman and first
    Hispanic-American to lead the oldest public institution of higher
    learning in Texas—now one of the largest teaching and research
    universities in the nation.

    Dr. Murano worked her way up the academic ranks-teaching and
    research-and into administration from an unconventional beginning. At
    the age of 2, her family departed from Havana, Cuba, when Fidel Castro
    came into power. After living in several Latin American countries, she
    and her family settled in Miami when she was 14 years old. At that time,
    she only knew Spanish, a language in which she is still fluent, but
    quickly mastered English and launched an educational career that carried
    her through the doctoral ranks.


    In 2002, Hispanic Business Magazine recognized Dr. Murano as one of the
    nation’s “100 Most Influential Hispanics.”

    “Someday in the future, if I write a book, it will be called Only in
    America    , because this great country has provided me so many
    opportunities, including the great honor of serving as President of
    Texas A&M University,” she is often quoted as saying.

    Her association with the university dates back to 1995, when she joined
    the Texas A&M faculty as an Associate Professor in the Department of
    Animal Science and Associate Director of the Center for Food Safety
    within the Institute for Food Science and Engineering. Dr. Murano was
    named Director of the Center in 1997 and served in that position until
    2001. Also, she rose to the rank of Professor and was named holder of
    the Sadie Hatfield Professorship in Agriculture.

    Dr. Murano interrupted her Texas A&M service in 2001 when President
    George W. Bush asked her to serve as Under Secretary for Food Safety for
    the U.S. Department of Agriculture, making her the highest-ranking food
    safety official in the U.S. government. In leading the USDA Food Safety
    and Inspection Service, she was responsible for an agency with a budget
    of approximately $1 billion and about 10,000 employees, with the mission
    of working to improve public health through the application of science
    in policy decisions.


    As undersecretary for food safety at the Department of Agriculture, Dr. Murano presided over the
    first case of mad cow disease in the United States.

    She returned to Aggieland in January 2005 as Vice Chancellor and Dean of
    Agriculture and Life Sciences, joint positions in which she served until
    being appointed President of Texas A&M. As Vice C
    hancellor and former
    Director of Texas AgriLife Research (formerly the Texas Agricultural
    Experiment Station), she led a transformation of agricultural programs
    and four state agencies within The Texas A&M University System to the
    benefit of students, peers and the agricultural community represented in
    254 counties across Texas.

    While serving as Dean, the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
    experienced significant growth in enrollment and enhancement of its
    teaching, research and service endeavors. In conjunction with her
    deanship, Dr. Murano chaired a blue-ribbon task force to study ways for
    enhancing the undergraduate experience at the University, which has
    ultimately become known as “The Murano Report.”

    A noted expert on food safety, Dr. Murano was principal investigator or
    co-principal investigator in research projects totaling more than $8.7
    million during her professorial career, initially at Iowa State
    University and continuing at Texas A&M. She has been widely published,
    as author or co-author of seven books, book chapters or monographs, and
    scores of scholarly papers, abstracts and related materials.


    Her car is a 2004 Ford Thunderbird—maroon, of course!

    Dr. Murano began her professorial career in 1990 as an Assistant
    Professor in the Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Preventative
    Medicine at Iowa State, the position she held prior to joining the Texas
    A&M faculty. She received a bachelor’s degree in biological sciences
    from Florida International University, and earned both a master’s degree
    in anaerobic microbiology and a doctorate in food science and technology
    from Virginia Tech.

    She is married to Dr. Peter S. Murano, Associate Professor of Nutrition
    and Food Science and Director of Texas A&M’s Institute for Obesity
    Research and Program Development.

    Office of the President

    Vice Presidents & Executive Staff

    Dr. Jeffrey S. Vitter

    Provost and Executive Vice President for Academics

    Dr. H. Russell Cross

    Executive Vice President for Operations

    Ambassador Eric Bost (Ret.)

    Vice President for Global Initiatives

    Mr. Bill Byrne

    Director of Athletics

    Dr. Pierce E. Cantrell, Jr.

    Vice President and Associate Provost for Information Technology

    Mr. Jason D. Cook

    Vice President for Marketing & Communications

    Dr. R. Bowen Loftin

    Vice President and CEO, Texas A&M at Galveston (TAMUG)

    Dr. Theresa Maldonado

    Interim Vice President for Research

    Mr. Michael G. O’Quinn

    Vice President for Institutional and Federal Affairs

    Mr. Terry A. Pankratz

    Vice President for Finance and Chief Financial Officer

    Mr. Chuck Sippial

    Vice President for Facilities

    Mr. R. C. Slocum

    Special Advisor to the President

    Ms. Courtney K. Trolinger

    Vice President for Governmental Affairs

    Dr. Robert Walker

    Senior Executive for Development

    Dr. Karan Watson

    Interim Vice President and Associate Provost for Diversity

    LtGen Joseph F. Weber, (USMC) Ret.

    Vice President for Student Affairs

    Mr. Chad E. Wootton

    Vice President for University Advancement

    Ms. Mary Pletzer

    Executive Personal Assistant to the President

  • Aug. 22 Freedom Walk to Close Hutto Immigrant Prison

    Join Free the Children Coalition on Aug.22, 2009, in Taylor, Texas, to close the T. Don Hutto Residential Center down and free the immigrant children being detained by the Department of Homeland Security and Corrections Corporation of America.

    The Freedom Walk starts at 1pm from Heritage Park towards the detention center where a Protest/Vigil will take place from 2pm-5pm. For more info, contact:

    texasindigenouscouncil@yahoo.com

    Peace be with you,
    Pedro Ruiz

    www.youtube.com/pedroruiz21

    Note: According to a report by Juan Castillo in the Aug. 8 Austin-American Statesman, the last family will not be removed until the end of 2009. The children are not gone from Hutto yet.–gm