Who wants Puerto Rico to be the 51st State?

[guayama]

Hello Rafael,

To understand our Political Status we should visit this web site:welcome.topuertorico.org/history.html

The History of Puerto Rico is very complex and difficult to understand because our Puerto Rican leaders were not united on a common goal and even today we continue dividing our people, It's a Powerful and Political Strategy to maintain our people hunting for answers with no solution.


Jose
Massachusetts

[Lja]

PR_Shogun,
You are indeed right on target and yes you have done your homework. As to the question as to why the U.S didn't make a state out of PR back in 1898. That's a tough one, but the US in 1898 was just getting over Reconstruction. That's the period when they allowed a few "Negroes" (we were Negroes then) to run for and then be run from office. This is also the period when the Ku Klux Klan emerged. Excuse my language, but there was no way in hell that the white ruling majority of the United States was going to create a state populated by a majority of people of color. They were lynching Negroes (Afro-Americans) by the thousands, so there was no way they were going to suddenly have an entire island filled to the brim with "colored" folks who had full political representation in the House and the Senate. That would have potentially created a political alliance between US Negroes and Puerto Ricans that could have seriously threatened the white majority's attempts to "keep colored folks in their place". Keep in mind, it has already been documented that the reason why the U.S. decided to grant citizenship to Puerto Ricans was so that they could draft PR men into military service. Don't forget that Puerto Rican revolutionary Pedro Albizu Campos served in a segregated "Negro" Military Unit in the United States during World War I and when he started raising all kinds of hell about conditions in PR, the U.S. put him in jail in Atlanta, Georgia (my hometown, by the way) in 1936. Please, look it up! As far as statehood goes, I'm for it if the majority of Puerto Rico is for it. At this point in time, there is probably more to gain than to lose. You won't lose your culture, but you will have to fight for it. Peace and Power.
lja

[guayama]

Hello Lja,

Back on 1898, Puerto Rico started a new transition and I was pure military, like you explained (it has already been documented that the reason why the U.S. decided to grant citizenship to Puerto Ricans was so that they could draft PR men into military service) and that is the truth more 200,000 Puertorriqueños have participated for this country and even today after 100 years we continue a military base for this country. 100 years is enough time to resolve the issues of the Island, It is not to the best interest of United States for Puerto Rico to become State, why the Puerto Rican people are not united in a common goal.
It's a Powerful and Political Strategy to maintain our people looking for answers with no solution.

The Statehood will be decided by the Congress of United State not by the People of Puerto Rico, even if 100% of the Puerto Rican want Statehood, the Congress of United States will make the final decision.


Jose
Massachusetts

[This message has been edited by guayama (edited 01 October 1999).]

[Lja]

Yeah Jose,
You brought up a good point. Technically the U.S. at any time could decide to just cut PR loose. At least the U.S. has the right to do that according to the U.S. constitution. You are absolutely right about Congress having the final say so about this. This is some scary mess. That's why I've been writing to my Senators and Congressmen to make sure they don't think that no one here in the states is paying attention to these issues. More importantly, I've made them aware of the fact that I don't think it is right to force Puerto Ricans to have to use English as a primary language should PR become a state. I mean good Lord, the Tainos lost their native tongue (and their lives); the various African ethnic groups lost their native languages and everybody had to speak Spanish. Now it seems as if the U.S. wants to force another language down everybody's throats. While I don't speak Spanish, I do have a couple of relatives who do. There has to be a point where if necessary the two languages can co-exist. I'll be starting back to my classes pretty soon, so I'll be sure to keep this issue burning in classroom discussions. It might not be much, but every little bit helps. Keep on keepin' on. Peace. lja

[guayama]

Lja,

we might find ourself losing the battle right now in Puerto Rico but that doesn't mean that we will lose the War. I personally encourage you to continue your discussion in class, write to the Congress.

En Puerto Rico el (Partido Nuevo Progresista)
which is supporting Statehood for Puerto Rico is also protecting our Identity as a Country, our culture, our language and our heritage, we need to protect who we are and our Identity is not for sale.

Thank you for your point of view and keep up the good work.

Jose
Massachusetts.

[Lja]

Thanks Jose for the vote of confidence. I'll keep you up to date on the discussions. Also, thanks Rafael for bringing up an important subject. You don't know what a pleasure it is to talk to folks who think enough to care about something improtant. Keep it up. lja

[PR_Shogun]

Thanks to Lja and Jose, who have put a great
effort in this forum.
But... times have changed, and so have the people, my friends. And the US have changed their ways too. True, there are still some folks that are ignorant, but we have achieved
victory after victory, over them. And like
Ruth Fernandez says:"ARRIBA CORAZONES"!

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With love to y'all...
PR Shogun
Certfied owner of the Papichulo 2000