The event (Six Puerto Ricans demand freedom for Puerto Rico) that occurred last week (May 6, 2009) at the U.S. Congress has left me thinking about the independence movement. It was on June 10, 1948, nearly 61 years ago,that the Puerto Rican Legislature approved Law 53, La Ley de la Mordaza (Gag Law). La Ley de la Mordaza, modeled after the Smith Act, made it illegal to display a flag, sing a patriotic song and talk or fight for the Independence of Puerto Rico. COINTELPRO operations, which occurred mostly during the late 50's to early 70's (and that can be questionable), have no doubt left scars on the independence movement as well. Many who lived during those times are still living today. I'm sure that hidden somewhere in there we have that large majority of Puerto Ricans who do not express their opinions publicly..... the silent majority.
Read a letter to Pres. Barack H. Obama here...
María L. (Chabela) Rodríguez
Eugenia V. Pérez-Montijo
Luis Enrique Romero
José (Tony Mapeyé) Rivera
Ramón Díaz
Luis Suárez
Carlos Esteban Fonseca (accompanied but did not participate)
Grito boricua de Libertad
More on COINTELPRO: cointel.org, thirdworldtraveler.
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Hey Efrain: Thanks for posting/Twittering about this issue which comes to close to heart. And wow, I had not read Claridad since my childhood years back when my father used to buy every other issue.
ReplyDeleteAs much as I feel deeply for the sentiments of my people, I have to really wonder if the answer is really to pressure President Obama into doing something. I've seen both political groups (statehood and independence) campaign for presidential action on the matter. But in the end, I think the disparity of both groups approaching the matter is going to end up with the same need for a referendum, which to me is not neccessarily a bad thing. I lived at least four elections and about the same amounts of referendums in Puerto Rico and the majority of the votes back then stood still on the PPD and the need for "El ELA", so the decision to upkeep this specific status has not been entirely in the hands of the U.S., Obama during his campaign promised to follow any decision voted with real action. A promise I hope he keeps. But what do our people want? How will they accomplish anything in their agenda? Are they ready for all the drastic changes that either independence or statehood would bring? In either case I'm not entirely on the readiness of the status quo political parties. I think a new approach to our status question needs to happen with the new school coming in. I think Gen X, Gen Y and Gen Etc. need to stop the nonsense and venture into bi-partisan discussions on the matters so that real educated decisions can be made, either way.
I believe the answer lies within the Puerto Rican people. I have from time to time, in some of my posts, made reference to the ongoing Puerto Ricans vs. Nuyoricans issue, this coupled with the fact that all parties need to put their differences aside and come to the table ready to discuss real solutions, keeps a divisiveness among us. Are they ready for change? I also believe one should always be ready for change. In order for change to happen here, the people have to overcome the fear of the unknown. I agree, the pettiness has to come to an end.
ReplyDeleteIt is not the choice of Puerto Rico if they want statehood or not, it’s actually congress.
ReplyDeleteThat’s the way it’s always been, per the U.S. constitution, Article IV, Section 3 regarding “New States”:
Utah was made to wait almost 50 years for statehood by the U.S. congress because concerns they had about “polygamous marriage” and other issues (http://www.utah.com/visitor/state_facts/statehood.htm). If you want to call that “colonialism”, that’s your prerogative and you can blame the founding fathers for that.
The reason why United States did not/ AND STILL does not want Puerto Rico as a state well few reasons, one example been.
In the 1950's and thru out the 80's American doctors use Puerto Rican women as guinea pigs and inject with sterile injections, also the birth control pill was used on this women to "experiment", so in order not too violate the US constitution, United States never desired Puerto Rico as a state hence human experiments thru out the island. PBS has a documentary on that check the link...
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/pill/peopleevents/e_puertorico.html
Also In 1931, Dr.Cornelious Rhoades sponsored by the Rockefeller Institute, Rhoads deliberately infected several Puerto Rican citizens with cancer cells. Thirteen of the patients died
Another thing that is not mentioned that I believe is critical, it cost the average hard working american a little over ten dollars per week to suppose the "commonwealth" of Puerto Rica, in fact the last stimulus that was passed few months ago, 3 billion dollars will be given to Puerto Rico. In fact last year check this article.
http://www.reuters.com/article/bondsNews/idUSN1634112020080416
It is not the choice of Puerto Rico if they want statehood or not, it’s actually congress.
ReplyDeleteThat’s the way it’s always been, per the U.S. constitution, Article IV, Section 3 regarding “New States”:
Utah was made to wait almost 50 years for statehood by the U.S. congress because concerns they had about “polygamous marriage” and other issues (http://www.utah.com/visitor/state_facts/statehood.htm). If you want to call that “colonialism”, that’s your prerogative and you can blame the founding fathers for that.
The reason why United States did not/ AND STILL does not want Puerto Rico as a state well few reasons, one example been.
In the 1950's and thru out the 80's American doctors use Puerto Rican women as guinea pigs and inject with sterile injections, also the birth control pill was used on this women to "experiment", so in order not too violate the US constitution, United States never desired Puerto Rico as a state hence human experiments thru out the island. PBS has a documentary on that check the link...
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/pill/peopleevents/e_puertorico.html
Also In 1931, Dr.Cornelious Rhoades sponsored by the Rockefeller Institute, Rhoads deliberately infected several Puerto Rican citizens with cancer cells. Thirteen of the patients died
Another thing that is not mentioned that I believe is critical, it cost the average hard working american a little over ten dollars per week to suppose the "commonwealth" of Puerto Rica, in fact the last stimulus that was passed few months ago, 3 billion dollars will be given to Puerto Rico. In fact last year check this article.
http://www.reuters.com/article/bondsNews/idUSN1634112020080416
True, it is not the choice of the people but that of congress on the statehood matter but there is still the voice of the people to consider. The point in this post is that of those who remain silent due historical points mentioned (cointelpro, Gag law; I am aware of those you mentioned, Thank you). On Utah statehood issue: I was not aware of it but visited the link and don't see the comparison between that and that of Puerto Rico. I believe that Puerto Rico's situation is much different...I thank you very much for providing comment. As always, it is through communication mediums such as this that we can learn from each other.
ReplyDelete