Puerto Ricans debate over statehood

Well here's the problem Puerto Ricans have. They can want statehood all they want, it's up to Congress whether to accept them as a state.

Gabe and El Sabio,

Yes it is time to let Puerto Rico decide, but with a real Congressional backed vote. Congress has shown time after time that it is not willing to back a vote because they know and fear that Puerto Rico will vote for Statehood if shown that the current status is not worth it. I fear that Puerto Rico will continue to be a colony of the U.S. for a very long time to come and the status of American Citizens of the island will be in the hands of uncaring politicos in the beltway.

Puerto Rico is unable to decide their future due to a lot of lies sold in island!

Let the people decide. I think both options would be great. If I was the director of homeland security, I would relocate quantanamo prisoners and bottleneck some international flights from South America through your island. why not built a missile defence radar incase Castro or the Mr tough guy in venezuela throws a coconut.

Little history lesson. Spain had already granted Puerto Rico autonomy before giving it up in the Spanish American War. Technically it wasn't Spain's to give. In that deal the key island we wanted was Cuba. Then we exploited Puerto Rico for a long time and now it's virtually useless to us besides keeping an eye on Cuba. I really don't think Congress would want it as a state because of the fact it's 3rd world and because it's sad to say that the population is not "white" and predominantly Spanish speaking.

Gabe wrote:

Little history lesson. Spain had already granted Puerto Rico autonomy before giving it up in the Spanish American War. Technically it wasn't Spain's to give. In that deal the key island we wanted was Cuba. Then we exploited Puerto Rico for a long time and now it's virtually useless to us besides keeping an eye on Cuba. I really don't think Congress would want it as a state because of the fact it's 3rd world and because it's sad to say that the population is not "white" and predominantly Spanish speaking.

California is Hispanic country, Hawaii is Asian Pacific. Should we ask congress to remove them

I have been to Puerto Rico several times. I think Puerto Rico is so beautiful. The people there are generally nice, and all are proud to be Puerto Ricans first , above anything else.

If Puerto Ricans would vote to become a separate nation. It would be a major tourist hub! I think they could support themselves on Tourism as well as any other Carribbean nation!

There would have to be a gradual change from colony to separate nation. perhaps 10 years.
Because the mindset of the people there now, is one of hopelessness, the economy has dwindled there since the US Navy has pulled out. The US Navy was a big employer on the Island. Many people there are on public assistance and there are few jobs.
If the Island were to change from a colony to a separate nation with Tourism as the major employer. Jobs could be created. The mindset would gradually be one of out of the public assistance frame into a one of working to make the Islands tourism the best in the carribbean....because finally....they would be working for their own national identity.
Then after they are their own nation,...the people born there, would be Puerto Ricans...
and the ones born here, or born before the change over would have a one time choice to be American citizens or become Puerto Rican citizens.
This would be the best case senario for this lovely island.

Vinnie wrote:

Set the third world island free.....once they stopped us from using them as a bombing range they became useless......and ship all the ricans her back as well

You're a bigot.

By the way I'm not being bigotted. Just saying what I feel. I don't think Americans identify Puerto Ricans as "white". I know of Spanish ancestry, mixing with slaves, all that other stuff. California and Hawaii have different aspects to their statehoods. California had the gold which rushed it to statehood. Hawaii because of Pearl Harbor and it's strategic location.

Also let me add that if I'm correct didn't the PR go bankrupt recently? I think Puerto Rico has to get it's act together financially for the U.S. to allow statehood. I could care less either way because, but in Puerto Rico you have 3 types of people: People who want independece, love the status quo, or want to be part of the U.S.

Gabe wrote:

Little history lesson. Spain had already granted Puerto Rico autonomy before giving it up in the Spanish American War. Technically it wasn't Spain's to give. In that deal the key island we wanted was Cuba. Then we exploited Puerto Rico for a long time and now it's virtually useless to us besides keeping an eye on Cuba. I really don't think Congress would want it as a state because of the fact it's 3rd world and because it's sad to say that the population is not "white" and predominantly Spanish speaking.

Gabe,

I hate to say this, but you know nothing of the history of Puerto Rico. Spain wanted to grant Puerto Rico and Cuba autonomy as Spanish Provinces to keep both from going the way of its former colonies in the Americas. The Autonomic charter allowed Puerto Rico to have a two chamber parliament. It allowed the local parliament powers to legislate on all local matters not reserved to the Spanish parliament (the Cortes) or the Spanish Government. The Governor General of Puerto Rico would be appointed by the Spanish government and would command the armed forces in the island with other powers granted to the position from the Spanish government. The Spanish government would take care of foreign affairs, but allowed the local parliament to negotiate commercial treaties (subject to Spanish approval) defense, and general matters of local concern as administration of judiciary, the civil code and commerce code. The Spanish constitution gave full Spanish citizenship to all in the Province of Puerto Rico. In other words, Puerto Rico continued to be Spanish. Spain did not want to give up the island, but it was forced to so an end to hostilities could be established between both countries because of the Spanish-American war. The expansionist in Congress wanted an empire and control of the seas, Puerto Rico would be a great place to have a coaling station and military base for the future, all this done without the consent of the Puerto Ricans. The imperialistic virus that hit all the major powers in the past (Germany, Spain, Portugal, England, France) finally took a hold of the American psyche under the guise of liberating and bringing forth the shining light of liberty and declaring to be the beacon of democracy who fought for its independence from a tyrannical mother country! How oxymoronically was the U.S. in this matter!

In reference to your claim that the U.S. does not need Puerto Rico anymore is wrong and I must differ with you. There is still a large interest in commercial based companies, trans-shipment points for commercial shipping, minor defense roles, in fact 1992, Puerto Rico's total trade reached $36.2 billion, a greater value of external trade than all other Caribbean Basin nations combined. It was also higher than any Western Hemisphere country south of the US except Brazil and Mexico. Again in 1992, manufacturing generated $13.2 billion, or 39% of GDP. How about those numbers in what the U.S. gets out of Puerto Rico since section 936 were eliminated and funds being generated from taxes on mainland companies operating in Puerto Rico?

In the end, the U.S. government could not just let us go because it would still have to pay social security, medicare and other benefits (which Puerto Rico pays into) to its American citizens living in a “foreign” country. This relationship is a two-way street. I invite you to please research on the history of the Metropolis over its possession before expressing such statements.

El Sabio wrote:

<quoted text>For your information bigoted vinnie boy......We've Been US citizens for over 100 years now...We are by no means newcomers to this land called the USA..We've fought in all major world wars. The only thing that some Americans do not like about us,is, that we are fiercely devoted as well to our homeland, Puerto Rico too, even though we defend this country with our blood..As I said, you can take A Puerto Rican out of Puerto Rico, but you cannot and will not be able to take the Puerto Rican Pride out of most Puerto Ricans in general, no matter how much we assimilate to the US culture and English speaking language. We are a very happy, festive proud people and have fought very hard indeed to be respected and accepted as we are now more than ever before, and we are not going to change that fact about us, not even 100 years from now. Our Island is not only the closest to the USA, than even Italy, or France or Spain, or Germany, etc, but as Puerto Rican Americans, it is still very closest to our heart as well. We are also truly a make up of all Nations, Tongues and the Peoples of the entire world...Study our complete history and you will begin to see that not only are we of mainly Spanish and Taino (Indian) blood and some black in us as well, but we have many who migrated from Italy, Corsica, Ireland, France. even from Germany too, and even Jewish Puerto Ricans as well as Chinese Puerto Ricans too. We have our share of our pure black races too in Puerto Rico. The main difference I see between the USA and Puerto Ricans in Puerto Rico, is that, Puerto Ricans in general, no matter what color they are, black or white or brown or a mixture of it all, they are proud to say, I' m 100% PUERTO RICAN, wether they are born here or there,..nothing about black, white or Indian or Chinese, but 100%Puerto Rican American, unlike here in the USA, where the racism and divisions between black or white or others, is so sad to see.motherland, but The USA is our true to life Uncle Sam. We consider Puerto Rico and the USA as just one big giant family to all of us. n love with both cultures and their respective foods. But I must fairly warn you, you can easily take us out of Puerto........Now this is the problem, I believe, and why is it that the USA is undecided if wether or not to go forward with this very hot potato issue, even if you disagree with me.

Yes, I am aware of all that

Justinpr wrote:

<quoted text>
You're a bigot.

What I am is better than you!

soia wrote:

Let the people decide. I think both options would be great. If I was the director of homeland security, I would relocate quantanamo prisoners and bottleneck some international flights from South America through your island. why not built a missile defence radar incase Castro or the Mr tough guy in venezuela throws a coconut.

soia: Good to see representation from the Pacific Islanders. Food for thought on your recommendation.
I'll vote for YOU for Director of Homeland Security...HG

Gabe wrote:

Little history lesson. Spain had already granted Puerto Rico autonomy before giving it up in the Spanish American War. Technically it wasn't Spain's to give. In that deal the key island we wanted was Cuba. Then we exploited Puerto Rico for a long time and now it's virtually useless to us besides keeping an eye on Cuba. I really don't think Congress would want it as a state because of the fact it's 3rd world and because it's sad to say that the population is not "white" and predominantly Spanish speaking.

Hey, Gabe, how's it goin'? A question for you, rather than an accusation...what exactly does "3rd world" mean to you? How do you define that?

Gabe wrote:

By the way I'm not being bigotted. Just saying what I feel. I don't think Americans identify Puerto Ricans as "white". I know of Spanish ancestry, mixing with slaves, all that other stuff. California and Hawaii have different aspects to their statehoods. California had the gold which rushed it to statehood. Hawaii because of Pearl Harbor and it's strategic location.
Also let me add that if I'm correct didn't the PR go bankrupt recently? I think Puerto Rico has to get it's act together financially for the U.S. to allow statehood. I could care less either way because, but in Puerto Rico you have 3 types of people: People who want independece, love the status quo, or want to be part of the U.S.

I have about $35 dollars in my pocket and my gold wedding ring.I am not bankrupt do I qualify for stathood? Please shut up your peanut brain and your racist remarks makes other good americans looks bad. you do not represent america.

soia wrote:

<quoted text>I have about $35 dollars in my pocket and my gold wedding ring.I am not bankrupt do I qualify for stathood? Please shut up your peanut brain and your racist remarks makes other good americans looks bad. you do not represent america.

I could be wrong, but I don't think Gabe intended for his remarks to convey racism. He was stating what he believes to be the perceptions of many mainland, non-PR Americans. He did not say that those were his beliefs.

El Sabio wrote:

<quoted text>Hello Hairy Guy...hope your doing well..You don't have to answer me if you don't feel like it...just wanted to say "HI".
Wether we agree or disagree, I know you to be a true Boricua at heart and you defend truth and justixce for all people even though you may understand everything at the moment...But who does?

Praises be to the Most High:

Thanks for the links to the Musica:

"Que viva la Musica".

Fania All-Stars Forever..........HG.

PS: Good to see you more Focused; Time heals all...

El Sabio wrote:

<quoted text>Here is just another anti Puerto Rican, acting like a Puerto Rican, like usua; sticking his nose into everything just because he hates Puerto Rico and it's present Government...Get lost you also disingenious liar Jester the Molester. This Jester the Molester is a nerd...Every where he goes he speaks against Puerto Rico though he calls himself a PR....I know him only as Jester the Molester. He fools me none...No real PR woudl be so anti PR as he is!! Here is a person who hates racism, but yet he supports gabe who is nothing but a racist with his disingenous and dishonest remarks...Yeah Jester the Molester I said it...You want to take me on and again and lose each time you do?...Get lost you bigot!!!

Dave, Dave, Dave. You never tire of embarrassing yourself, do you? Ask Marilyn to read my two posts from this forum, and explain them to you. She seems to have better comprehension skills than you do. She'll see that I wasn't "defending" Gabe. Most of his posts were just pointing out what he thinks they typical mainland-based American feels towards PRs. The only thing he expressed as his OWN opinion, which I questioned him on (that was my 1st post, Dave), was his "3rd world" comment.

HG & Katie, Raul, Mataconhacha and all of the other regular posters here have read all my posts, Dave. They know that I defend Puerto Ricans against bigotry, just as I defend ANYONE against bigotry. I despise bigotry, as I've told you 100 times.

You've never read anything posted by me that criticized Puerto Ricans. Puerto Rico is another story. There are many things here that MOST people who actually live here criticize daily. Law enforcement, public schools, healthcare, our wonderful politicians. We don't do it because we're bigots, Dave. We do it because it needs to be done.

You need to grow up, Dave, or at least learn to pick your fights more intelligently.

First off I'm not anti-Puerto Rican. There are perceptions of what America thinks and what I think. I don't know many Puerto Ricans so I couldn't tell you either way whether I like them or not. I took several history classes that dealt with Puerto Rico. I was told that I know nothing of Puerto Rican history when I was slightly off about the point I was making. I recalled that Puerto Rico was independent for about 3 days before the treaty. Granted I don't know much of the situation now besides the tidbits on the news I hear, so I'll give you that.

Also don't try to pin stuff on me because you guys can't understand the points I'm trying to make. I'm not a Puerto Rican. Hispanics are not considered to be "white" in this country. In Carribean countries there is a lot of mixed races like in the Dominican Republic where being "white" is an issue. That's not being biggoted, it is an observation I've made. I'm not calling the P.R. 3rd world or trying to make others believe that fact. The truth is that's how most Americans see it. I hope this clears up my "double talk"

Wow, Dave, get a grip, man. You keep inventing things about me, and you're the only one who believes it.

Oh, and I guess you didn't take my advice regarding Anger Management classes, eh?

I don't hate you Dave, I just don't particularly like you. We've been over the reasons ("wetbacks", etc.). Every time I disagree with you, you go off on one of your "Anti-Christ" rants, and try to get others here to say they hate me too.

But, I have no problem with most others here, Dave, nor do they have problems with me. Sorry.