Do Puerto Ricans dance to a different tune?

[L_F_Miranda]

During the first anniversary of 9-11 all the United States was in mourning. Flags were everywhere, there was 24 hour TV coverage, it was a day of unity for ALL AMERICANS, that is, except those from the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico.

Like I have said a million times before, for a people that pee everytime there is mention of taking away their American citizenship, why weren't Puerto Ricans feeling the pain as the rest of the 300 million Americans in the States? Is this a way of showing loyalty? Where were the proud 97% that El jibaro says will vote for Statehood? Are we just voting for the "BENEFITS" and for being taken care of, and don't give a damn about anything else?

To make my case I am re-publishing a letter from today's San Juan Star ( Tuesday September 17th page 51). Like they say in my home town , "Mas Claro no canta un gallo".

YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE AMERICAN TO FEEL THE PAIN OF SEPT.11

I FEEL VERY UPSET THAT SOME PEOPLE OUT HERE IN PUERTO RICO, DIDN'T EVEN HAVE ANY PATRIOTISM TOWARDS THE SEP.11 TRAGEDY.

I wore a "God Bless America" shirt with an American flag as the background, and people were just looking at me with staring eyes! As if wearing an American shirt was shocking for those looking at me.

Today wasn't an ordinary day. It was, and always will be a day of mourning for those who lost their lives by terrorism.

And to think that the whole nation is mourning this tragic lost. Countries all over were mourning since it happened and until now. I feel that even if Puerto Rico is not connected to the United States by land, it should be connected in mourning the lost of thousands of innocent people. You shouldn't only have to be an American to feel the pain.

Also to mention that there were donations from Puerto Rico being made "ONLY FOR THOSE THAT WERE PUERTO RICAN", that passed away from the terrorist attack. Whatever happened to the people that weren't Puerto Rican? They too lost family memebers and left children behind without one parent or maybe even both.

There are many situations me and my family have experienced since we've been stationed here at Fort Buchanan. All I can say is that Puerto Rico is not what people expect it to be.

Jaqueline Oquendo
Fort Buchanan


Do we dance to another tune? Is the desire to want Statehood sincere or do we only want to raid the U.S. treasury and "vivir del cuento sin trabajar, y pal carajo con la pecosa" LOL