> The paragraph about the Peace Center in that letter to the editor
> contained significant inaccuracies -- statements that were factually
> incorrect.
>
> The author of that letter, to his credit, has since recanted that
> paragraph.
>
> pat leahan
> (505) 425-3840
>
> On May 26, 2008, at 10:27 PM, Patricia A. Leahan wrote:
>
> Dear Forum Members,
>
> A significant inaccuracy has been posted to this forum re: the Las
> Vegas Peace & Justice Center. Unfortunately, at the moment, I am
> working on a big project with a deadline, so I do not have time to
> respond in full right now. This inaccurate letter to the editor has
> been posted in a variety of places, and it is difficult for me to
> keep up and attempt to correct it, especially since I'm in the midst
> of more important work at the moment.
>
> Thank you for your patience.
>
> pat leahan
> Las Vegas Peace & Justice Center
> (505) 425-3840
>
> On May 26, 2008, at 1:30 PM, Robert Jones wrote:
>
> F.Y.I. I have written the following letter to the editor about the
> despicable conduct of Benny Shendo in challenging Ben Ray Lujan on his
> sexuality. I am posting it here for your information and comments.
> ============================
>
> *At a recent public forum for candidates to fill the 3rd District
> Congressional seat of Northern New Mexico that was held in
> Farmington, Benny
> Shendo, Jr. took his turn to ask any one of the other candidates a
> question.
> He choose to ask Ben Ray Lujn a question that implied Lujn is gay. "You
> say that you stand up for the people of New Mexico," Shendo said, "and I
> want to know how you can stand up for the people of New Mexico if you
> can't
> stand up to your mom and dad about your lifestyle." Shendo later
> issued a
> written statement saying that it was "common knowledge around the
> capitol
> that Mr. Lujn is gay" and that he was asking why Ben Ray had not told
> his
> parents that he is gay. Ben Ray Lujn has stated previously that he is
> not
> gay. *
>
> *However, a person's sexual orientation is private and irrelevant to
> public
> life. If someone wishes to keep their sexual orientation a secret, it
> is up
> to them. Period. The issue of homosexuality has nothing to do with
> running
> for public office and the question should never have been asked. To
> ask the
> question at a public forum is simply meant to embarrass one's
> opponent and
> appeal to the hate of the homophobes. *
>
> *And now Benny Shendo has called for a public forum between himself
> and Ben
> Ray Lujn where presumably Ben Ray will be able to present evidence
> that "he
> is not now, nor never has been a member of the homosexual community."
> This
> is just like the McCarthy hearings in the 1950s where public figures
> were
> required to prove that they were not members of the Communist Party. *
>
> *Some folks in Las Vegas are angling to have this forum take place
> here at
> the Las Vegas Peace & Justice (LVP&J) Center on Sixth Street this coming
> Friday at 5PM whether or not Mr. Lujn chooses to attend. Pat Leahan,
> director of the Center, has stated that LVP&J "is a community-based
> grassroots organization that allows groups to meet at the Center as
> long as
> they're not planning or promoting violence or hatred". Well, in my
> opinion
> this forum would promote hatred of the worst kind, and I urge them to
> reconsider their plans to hold this forum here. *
>
> *It is apparently Shendo's position that Ben Ray appearing in public
> with a
> woman is deceit when he has not proved that he is in fact heterosexual.
> Shendo claims that, ""The question that I was really posing is about
> honesty and point out yet another example of the hypocrisy and
> dishonesty of
> the Lujn political machine." Shendo has yet to show corroboration for
> his
> claim that Lujn is living a closeted homosexual "lifestyle". *
>
> *For this to be brought to the public eye is presenting a smoke
> screen for
> folks to focus on instead of the issues that really matter to the public
> like food, health, education. Just like the race card - why is it even
> brought up? Beyond that, a later written explanation and backtracking by
> Shendo to say that the question "was intended to support young GLBT
> people
> who are struggling with this issue" is doubly disgusting. *
>
> *To quote from KNME-TV Channel 5, interviewer David Alire Garcia, "Who
> appointed [Shendo] the sexual-orientation police in this campaign?" *
>
> Robert Jones
> P O Box 3211
> Las Vegas, NM 87701
> 425-8282
>
> Robert Jones
> Las Vegas
> Info about Robert Jones: http://forums.e-democracy.org/p/robertjones2001
>
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>
> Pat Leahan
>
> Info about Pat Leahan: http://forums.e-democracy.org/p/patleahan
>
> This topic's messages may be viewed at:
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