Divide and Conquer

Football, a national pastime in America. The status/colonial dilemma, a national pastime in Puerto Rico. When speaking about Puerto Rico, my mother would sometimes ask, " Ay Dios, ¿qué le va a pasar a mi Puerto Rico? And that is the pastime.

World events, most specifically all the unrests in the Middle East and Africa, may have had some asking if such a thing could happen in Puerto Rico. The truth is that there may be more division, even within political parties, than cohesiveness to arrive at such a point. To even begin to approach the status dilemma in an honestly fair and resolute manner, great strides must be made. Understanding, from mainland U.S. to the island, among Puerto Ricans in every community, must be greatly fortified.

I question myself, how can we even begin to make strides when we have bickering such as was recently witnessed when Chicago Congressman, Luis Guitterez, made an honest speech about the UPR crisis before Congress. His speech was met with remarks that displayed the very divisive nature (nothing new) which requires understanding. The backlash that followed from the Puerto Rico politicos was a clear and concise message, that we are not equals. Oddly the same argument that comes from their very mouths when speaking about the second-class U.S. citizenship they so dearly cherish [sarcasm]. Or is it? I must admit...I am not a fan of Congressman Luis Guitterez but his speech before Congress was absolutely phenomenal.  So, when they question Guitterez's right to speak about them and the events on the island they need to look deeply into the many Puerto Rican enclaves, not only in the U.S. but every where there is a Puerto Rican. There they will find many who share a love for Puerto Rico, care about it and cherish the culture and their connection to the island proudly. They need to clearly understand the simple words by Juan Antonio Corretjer, "yo sería borincano, aunque naciera en la luna".

While the current Puerto Rico Administration cronies focus their sights on Washington and their political gains, the crime rate and unemployment rate continue to climb ever so high. A few musicians denounced the crime wave recently (I question their motives), a crime wave which seems more and more like a brewing civil war. It seems more imporatant, to the government administration, to brand protesting UPR students as criminals and to send full cavalries of police to the UPR campuses than finding solutions to the dire problems facing the island. 
Go get a job to pay for that extra tuition. What job? The latest numbers have the unemployment rate at  15.7%. Can it get any worse? Well, let the scams begin. I see a greater need for social service programs and aid from Uncle Sam. How then can you expect a society that is increasingly at a greater point of dependency to make a decision on its future? Come on. Are we really that naive that we can't read between the lines? For the most part, I think not!

It can't be said enough..... ¡Despierta, borinqueño!