Setting the record straight on Puerto Rico
Puerto Ricans are people too
I have no other choice but to write this as intended, to set the record straight. Just some obvious basics...
There are beggars everywhere. There is poor people everywhere. There is rich people, businessmen, religious people... Each country has its own set of corrupt politicians... Its own set of martyrs, good causes, movements.
Every nation has its own history, its own set of beliefs, religions... Religions... Culture... Music...
There is a great movie industry in India, for example. What I want to state right up front is that there are indeed many things that we ignore. And most of us, by default, do not have the slightest clue that there are indeed many worlds beyond their ocean shores.
Like Puerto Rico. The United States territory/Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
Like the African slaves, we did not ask to be part of the U.S.
In 1898, the United States militia occupied the island of Puerto Rico. Puerto Ricans did not write a letter to Congress asking for the United States to please occupy our land. The United States just did. Actually, there is argument about Spain conceding the land to the United States, but in any event, it was not an initiative of the islanders.
It is true that the Island was immersed in deep poverty. It is true that there was great need not only for housing and healthcare, but jobs.
We expressed our desire to work.
I think it is very unfair to portray Puerto Ricans as lazy or freeloaders when every nation, the United States Congress included, has its own share of freeloaders. And it is not my intention to justify. What I say is that Puerto Ricans do not earn first place in this area.
Puerto Ricans are indeed very hard working people. Why of course we have our good set of lazy bums. But riddle me this, if I visit your hometown, would I or wouldn't I be able to find some skeletons in your closet? That other face most countries keep trying to hide from the rest of the world? How about if we take as an example of the United States of America how the people in Mississippi live (pre and post Katrina) and I am not talking New Orleans... How about we take as an example how the people in SoCal or South California are segregated... those good Crips and Bloods?
How come the United States effectively ignores those areas in order to portray itself to the world like everything is fine and dandy at home when truly is not?
Then, since its people are plugged to whatever its media serves them, they remain convinced they are so informed about other cultures.
Just because is not YOUR kind of Christianity, is less sacred
The United States failed miserably at trying to impose English as an official language in the Island. Their government seemed to have never ponder the reason for this.
The reason is our strong culture.
Our culture embodies not only music, food and festivities. It also goes back to the origins of our archetypal religion.
Opposed to most African Americans in the South of the United States, a great sector of Puerto Ricans managed to keep their original religions (Santería) inasmuch that the Catholic Church recognizes many of our deities in their churches.
Next time, please do your homework
So, in essence, I do appreciate hubs about my beautiful Puerto Rico, whether is good or bad news. I just wish to reiterate I find it pretty unfair to portray one's land in a demeaning manner, especially when there is so much to be done in the writer's hometown.
There is an old adage you point with one finger, and three fingers remain pointing at you.
A bit about this Puerto Rican
This Puerto Rican grew up in the projects after living in the Bronx for some couple of years.
This Puerto Rican attended public school and went to the University of Puerto Rico. She had to take public transportation to cross close to five counties (we called them municipalities) in order to pursue her degree in Public Communication.
She later worked as a journalist and also a reservist for the Air National Guard.
There are many more from where this Puerto Rican came from. A lot of hard working folks like her. And like her, had to endure wet back comments, but is all good. We know what we are, we are boricuas just so you know...
For my homies out there, here are some of my Hispanic blogs. You are most welcome to check them out and holler!
Loiza PR! Welcome to the English Section!
- Setting the record straight on Puerto Rico II
The following is a response to a writer from another website. She wrote in reference to Puerto Rico in, well, not a fair manner. So here it goes... - Insanity in the making
- I spent my birthday climbing through a window
But it's funny in a Murphy's Law kind of way. I was pretty sure that I was going to be able to open the door (it's a wooden door, that I've open before with a plastic card), but that was not possible. The reason? The stormy weather of September have - Documentary on 9-11 exposes U.S. government
The documentary "Loose Change" explores the question on the Twin Towers implosion as an inside job orchestrated by the United States government Bush Jr. administration. - A single mom approach to the stock market
The financial saga of a single mom getting in the stock market while doing the dishes and caring for her children. If she did it, you can do it too!
