The phrase “out of sight, out of mind” seems to ring true in the case of Puerto Rico. In its current status, it is, at best, an afterthought to U.S. politicians. Reporting on current President Barrack Obama's 2011 visit to the commonwealth, Jacki Linden wrote for NPR, "On Tuesday, President Obama will visit the island of Puerto Rico. He first went there as a candidate for the Democratic nomination in 2008....Now the island is buzzing at the prospect of this first official presidential visit to Puerto Rico since John F. Kennedy went there in 1961" (Lyden). As the article notes, it had been more than fifty-years since the last visit from the United States Commander in Chief at the article’s time of publication. If Puerto Rico were in better shape, …show more content…
Puerto Rico has the unique ability to serve as the bridge between the United States and Latinos all over the world. As Romero-Barceló states on what the island has to offer, “Puerto Rico’s role as America’s gateway to better relations in Latin America and the Caribbean is by no means limited…we can offer much in the areas of commercial, educational, and technical interchange” (Romero-Barceló). As he sees, Puerto Rico has much to offer the United States. The U.S. has often found difficulty in strengthening relationships with Latin countries. With Puerto Rico by its side, a unique bond between the United States and the global Latino community could develop. Why would Puerto Ricans not want to help their fellow Spanish speaking brothers and sisters? Such a relationship could only benefit all parties …show more content…
Few Puerto Ricans have any desire to cease being Puerto Rican, and fewer Americans have any desire to transform Puerto Ricans into something they are not.
Indeed, Puerto Ricans seem to recognize something the congressional leadership doesn't see: Commonwealth status is a pretty good deal, and statehood could be a headache. Why spoil the picnic? (Terzian) The flaw with this is how much has changed since the writing of Terzian's article. His outdated argument has no precedents, when in a more recent poll, more Puerto Ricans have shown interest in statehood. The numbers only continue to rise as U.S. politicians find renewed interest in all that Puerto Rico has to offer as the fifty-first state. In addition, he mentions how the commonwealth status is "a pretty good deal", and questions, "Why spoil the picnic?" Whatever picnic that was taking place then is long gone now, as the debt piles and the crime rises in the struggling island where statehood is clearly the best route
Many politicians have different views on what Puerto Rico should do. Some think that we should become independent, some thing the island should stay the same, but some think Puerto Rico should just become independent. Either way it would benefit Puerto Rico.
Puerto Rico is the neighbor to the south of Florida. There is a growing population of Puerto Ricans in the United States. There is also a large United States interest in Puerto Rico. It is important to understand the culture of our neighbor should the United States wish to continue a positive relationship as well as globalization. Understanding the superstitions and the proper business etiquette in Puerto Rico can serve as a glimpse into the culture of the island.
Why he would be to him advantageous to the U.S.A. to admit to Puerto Rico like state? A political reason - the American generation founding, who underwent in own meat the colonial humiliation, never contemplated that his newborn Republic it became a colonial power. The one is implicit in the American Constitution that all territory acquired by the U.S.A. is directed to a possible statehood.
When the United States first took Puerto Rico from Spain, its plans concerning what to do with the island appeared to be noble. According to Fernandez, "The United States would resurrect Puerto Rico, like Lazurus, creating, in Senator Foraker?s words, ?a new era?a new life?and prosperity far exceeding any hopes that have been excited or any anticipations that have been entertained.?(Fernandez 2)" In other words, the United States viewed Puerto Rico as something that had to be saved, and claimed that their plan was to rescue it from its inferior status and improve the standard of living. Puerto Rico was to remain under the control of the U.S. until it was capable of taking care of itself. In the words of Trías-Monge:
For us to clearly understand the Young Lords, it must be understood how the Puerto Rican Community came to be in New York City and other American cities such as Newark and Chicago. With the Spanish American War of 1898 came added difficulty for the population of Puerto Rico. Recently acquired by the United States, citizens of Puerto Rico were actually citizens of nowhere until granted statutory citizenship to the United States in 1917. Yet three years earlier, on 12 March 1914 the citizens of Puerto Rico opposing this imposition of American citizenship sent a "Memorandum to the President and Congress of the United States" stating, " We firmly and loyally oppose our being declared, against our express will or without our express content, citizens of any other than our own beloved country which God granted to us as an inalienable gift and incoercible right."[5]
Puerto Ricans will have more opportunities as a state and it would bring more federal help for PR. As a state, Puerto Rico will rise from the poverty since they are below the poverty line and American statehood could be the answer to many of the problems the Island is facing. Zach Patton, author of ¨Does Puerto Rico really want to be the next state?¨ writes, ¨Puerto Rico 's economy is in crisis. The territory of 3.7 million residents is now in the seventh year of a persistent downturn, a recession that 's much deeper--and broader--than the one on the mainland...Roughly 45 percent of Puerto Ricans live in poverty, three times the national rate. More than a third of the territory 's residents are on food stamps. Unemployment last year topped 15 percent¨. Proving that Puerto Rico could be beneficial not only financially but in many other aspects in which both Puerto Ricans and Americans can
In this story, the reader can see exactly how, many Puerto Ricans feel when living on other grounds. Throughout this time, the boy that Rodriguez presents us realizes he has his culture and that he wants to preserve it as much as he can. “Because I’m Puerto Rican”. I ain’t no American. And I’m not a Yankee flag-waver”
Puerto Rico is a Commonwealth of the United States which makes it easy for natives to travel back and forth. Puerto Ricans first began to arrive in the United States to fill the work void left but those who went on to fight in World War I. Operation Bootstrap was a series of projects that attempted to turn Puerto Rico; a known agricultural economy to one that would concentrate on industrialization and tourism. Puerto Rico enticed many U.S companies with tax exemptions and differential rental rates on industrialized properties and so the shift in the economy had commenced. The shift however did not help the high unemployment rate on the island. Rather than having to deal with the droves of people seeking work they noticed the active recruitment of Puerto Rican workers by U.S. employers. The government began to encourage the departure of Puerto Ricans to the U.S. by requesting the Federal Aviation Administration to lower the airfares between Puerto Rico and the United States. This was an attempt to ch...
It is in the solving of social problems in which Hispanics can be of tremendous service to the country. One of the greatest attributes of hispanics is the willingness to mix, and by doing so, have created cultural forms, new human relationships, and life styles. Because this, Hispanics can help look for solutions to barriers, prejudices, and stereotypes that have divided us as a
After the Spanish-American war, Spain granted the United States with full ownership of the island of Puerto Rico, which largely benefited the United States with profitable agricultural land, in the same way, Puerto Rican citizens were all benefited when they received U.S. citizenship, this granted them with greater opportunities that awaited them in the United States. However, despite their citizenship, Puerto Ricans are yet to have a vote in national U.S. elections. The ownership of the island has mostly benefited the United States as it is able to control the land, and impose tax and restrictions. Due to this, Puerto Rico transformed from a local economy, to one that is dominated by external U.S. companies. Because of many programs that have been implemented in order to stimulate economic development, the economy has progressed. However, one of the negative side effects left the population dealing with high income tax, as well as leading the economy further away from the local farmers and into the capitalist economy of the United States. It seems as if the relationship between the United States and Puerto Rico benefit the capitalist country and its economy but fails to befit much of the islands population as they are later faced with high income tax and high unemployment rates. Because of the high unemployment, the Puerto
...rican community has a really hard time, not just due to not being able to find a job but also because of race relations and prejudice from other against them whom is often not from within their community. This can also include ageism, and homosexuality. “Racism, which involves stereotyping people based on their race, occurs on different levels.”(Rogers 160)
With newly acquired land the United States has become to within 90 miles of Cuba. Secretary of State John Quincy Adam sends a letter to Minister to Spain Hugh Nelson speculating the likelihood of U.S. “annexation of Cuba” within half a century in spite of deterrents:
The Puerto Rican population has been continually experienced death by disease and tribal warfare; this has raised issues dealing with their language use, political affiliation and social construction of race. Due to Puerto Rico being under the control of different countries and nations in the past, they have had issues with continuing their heritage language. When the commonwealth period began in 1948, Spanish was reintroduced as the language of classroom instruction, while English was also required. Many Puerto Ricans feared that if Spanish-speaking traditions weren’t continued, their language would be lost. Thankfully, in the 1980s the popularity of music groups, such as Menudo, showed that Puerto Rican young people still wanted to maintain
Throughout the experiences I have been through, such as meeting proud Latin kids in school and reading about the experiences of other Latinos, I am proud to say that I am Puerto Rican. I will teach the future generation about our culture, including traditions and customs. My children may not have the opportunity to read about well-known Latinos in school, but I will make sure they learn about prominent scholars, such as Jose Marti and Rigoberta Menchu. Also, speaking Spanish is very important because our culture is based on the language. After all, one day the official language of Puerto Rico might change to English. However, we can't forget our roots, or where we came from. Even though I was born in America, I am Puerto Rican.
I love Puerto Rico. It has beautiful cliffs, beaches and, forests. However it can be crazy sometimes. My trip to Puerto Rico took a turn I didn’t expect.