Hi Nicole... thoughtful comments! In fact, I was just about to use the same example, my brother, Dr. Thomas Otway, never officialy changed his name from Howard, my father's name, but when he was in his early teens he began to use his middle name, and now his diplomas etc. say Thomas, rather than Howard. But, as to following which laws, the reality is that there is a missuse of law when it is applied to one group conditionally. Travellers have used their traditional methods of naming for ... well as long as there have been Europeans in this country, the first Romanichal deportations to the US began in the mid seventh century. So, the when in Roma arguement falls short, as it is as much their world here as anyone else's. Also, they have not gotten into tight straights for using their names, in the same way my wife, brother and you have not... prejudice is found in taking what is normal practice for most, and using it against the suspect class for discrimination as part of a package of looking for what we can charge them with... as is happening here. Madalynne and her family were shocked that this charge of false ID came up, as to them it was as innocent as your use of your middle name.
Garg! Social scientists often put faith in the testimony of their subjects when they get to know them over time. In the seven or eight years that I have known Madalynne's sister, she has not lied to me yet, that I am aware of, and it would do them no good to set up folks working for them with lies, when these things are pending in court. As far as the truth being in me, we all try to listen to that still small voice of truth. Sometimes it is covered over by the noise of our daily life so some of us wait quietly as I do. So, I try to stay close to the truth.
In truth, I have an immage of Quasi Motto, (me) sitting on the high towers of Notra Dame, conversing about truth and Esmirelda's family with one of the Gargoyls, watching the Seine barges drift by....
Time to ring the bells...
Cheers
Larry