80 Responses to “Taking Care of Business in Puerto Rico”

1. Robert Says:
   May 20th, 2005 at 11:09 am

   The changing images at the end of this message are perhaps the strongest and perhaps only reason why Puerto Rico should become a state. These Puerto Rican military people died so that all Americans, which most definitely include Puerto Ricans, should have a government that provides for all the needs of the all people. They did not die for any particular status option or political party. And certainly not for one political leader who claims to be the Messiah or the only one who can lead Puerto Rico to statehood. When we make partisan issues and status our primary and overwhelming concern at the expense of not providing decent housing, education, health benefits, economic security, protection of the environment and whatever else is necessary for the common good of the people, we are not honoring these brave Puerto Ricans of the Iraq War and previous wars. We are insulting their sacrifice and memories. They deserve better from Puerto Rico’s so-called political leaders always pushing status power plays rather than good government.

   Self-serving, super partisan politicians please study these images carefully. Look into each face of Puerto Rican youths who are no longer with their families. What are you doing for their families who still grieve the ultimate sacrifice they made? Isn’t it time to do government for, by and of the people regardless of political parties?

   I would like to know how CEFUS honors these brave Puerto Ricans. Action speak louder than words. Does CEFUS believe in convergence with all the political parties working together to provide for the needs of the people rather than the self-serving wants of a political party in power? What is CEFUS doing to promote effective government between now and 2008? Is CEFUS going to develop convergence or turn up the heat for greater conflicts and stalemates within the statehood party and between the statehood party and the party for the status quo and for independence? Is CEFUS for status politics more than effective government for the people? Could CEFUS be for a truce and healing process for better government without stalemates?

   If Puerto Rico remains a political mess and becomes an even greater political mess, don’t expect any positive response from the federal government or support from Americans living in the fifty states. Today, because of the internal fighting in the New Progressive Party and the fighting between the NPP and the Popular Democratic Party, the opportunities for statehood is about nil. It is not Congress that should wake up as CEFUS proclaims on its web site homepage, it is Puerto Rico, especially its political parties, that should wake up.

   Why, man, he doth bestride the narrow world — Like a Colossus, and we petty men — Walk under
   his huge legs, and peep about — To find ourselves dishonorable graves. — Men at some time are

   masters of their fates; — The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, — But in ourselves, that we are

   underlings. — –Shakespeare

2. Cynthia Says:
   May 20th, 2005 at 11:15 am

   #1. Does CEFUS believe in convergence with all the political parties working together to provide for the needs of the people rather than the self-serving wants of a political party in power?

   We strongly believe that partisan politics on both the island and mainland are what have kept Puerto Rico in a political limbo for over a century. We were very hopeful that the tri-partisan bill would pass and extremely disappointed with the Governors veto thereof.

   #2. What is CEFUS doing to promote effective government between now and 2008?

   As we all know there is only so much we can do…on our end we have been and continue to meet with elected officials here on the mainland in order to educate them about the status issue and the urgent need to resolve the status issue(so that pressing island ills may be addressed effectively). As you may be aware, increasing contention on the island between the political parties is precisely what keeps the island in its present colonial state…consensus must be reached. Likewise, Congress has the ultimate authority over what will come of the Puerto Rico status issue (whether we like it or not) which is why we speak to these political leaders.

   #3. Is CEFUS for status politics more than effective government for the people?

   We believe that the status issue is directly related to the island government. It is evident that the needs of the island’s constituents will not be met based on continuing partisan politics. Moreover, the present “shared government” makes this even harder as legislators bicker over legislative proposals presented by their counterparts.

   #4 CEFUS mission is to provide a non-partisan perspective on this issue in order to move it forward (in other words we do believe in consensus…we are tired of the deadlock partisan politics create).

   I hope this clarifies….Take time to read our Weekly Words http://www.cefus.net in order to learn more.

   P.S. The comments that are posted by Jose Aponte, are not by the Aponte of which you refered to. FYI. Thanks

3. E Says:
   August 15th, 2005 at 9:36 pm

   I would like to respond to N’s comments about me being misinformed to international law. What I meant about the only option between statehood and independence is that the only options for Puerto Rico that are viable are statehood and independence. Now there are two forms of independence, the complete version or one of free association. Free association is a form of political independence and that is what I mean when I posted the previous statement. International law recognizes three viable status options for Puerto Rico and two are politically independent. I’m glad that the populares can find refuge within the status of free association. Just because I am for statehood doesn’t mean I am trying to hide the option of free association. However, just because you are against statehood I feel you are unaware of the truth of free association or your hiding the truth. I fortunately know the truth and will be happy to post it. The enhancement of the commonwealth status will with out a doubt never be accepted by the United States Congress. Definitely not by Republicans and I am sure most Democrats would be against it as suggested by comments from senator Joe Biden from Delaware. PPD leaders have tried it and the U.S. has declined it. What average populares don’t understand is that free association is not an enhanced commonwealth. This enhanced commonwealth option was already openly rejected by Congress. Free association is a form of independence in which the U.S. would be in charge of defense. That means the U.S. would stop funding every aspect of the Puerto Rican government that would have to do with education, infrastructure, law enforcement, health care, etc. The U.S. government doesn’t recognize dual citizenship so movement back in forth will not be so easy and free, especially with the post 9/11 environment and the location of Puerto Rico in drug trafficking market. It is highly unlikely that the United States would allow Puerto Rico to maintain the U.S. dollar. If you add Micronesia, Marshall Islands, and Palau population together it doesn’t add up to a significant fraction of Puerto Rico’s population. Free association is idependence with benefits that the United States will give, not the benefits that Puerto Rico will want. Judging from the tone of your comments your thoughts might be the way they are due to the bickering between the PNP and the PPD. Politics in Puerto Rico are extremely partisan and that is a bad sign for the political situation. Both people that want statehood and populares will twist themselves into a partisan pretzel to defend their parties regardless of the truth. The truth is that the only gaurantee of great Puerto Rican livelihood that I am positive of is statehood. I am not scared of the loss of culture or language because there is something called the Bill of Rights that protects that. You stated that populares would never vote for statehood, but that sounds like anger towards the opposing party. I know this is false because I’ve personally already convinced several populares to begin looking into statehood, especially when I showed them Anibal’s history in Congress. I myself made the mistake to say that I would never vote for a Republican in the U.S. Then I realized that you have to look at the candidate for a position and not twist yourself in a partisan pretzel. There are several Republicans that are capable, including Arnold in California. I do not agree with the PPD or the PNP, both parties have shown their selfish interests. I agree with any politian that has the peoples best interests in mind. Whether it be from the PNP or the PPD, I would vote for the best candidate for the position not for a party label. However, I would like to state that the political process is very difficult and that is something most people don’t understand. A magic wand isn’t waved and all of a sudden Puerto Rico is an independent nation with free association to the United States. The proposed free association package must pass through the United States Congress and I will gaurantee you the U.S. will not give Puerto Rico the parting gifts that the international law states it is able to give. In the end of foreign policy each nation will always look for their best interests. It is not in the United States’ interests to give all of these perks to Puerto Rico. The best you could hope for with free association is defense and maybe a few other minor benefits. In conclusion, understand that free association and enhanced commonwealth are two completely different things.

4. N Says:
   August 16th, 2005 at 2:04 pm

   The rhetoric that Free Association and Independence are one in the same is simply another twist that statehooders add to the debate thinking that in that way they will scare voters to turn to this option. They know it is a valid and internationally recognized status option which the populares like us will turn to when the fiction of the current ELA finally comes to the forefront. I agree with you that “enhanced commonwealth”, as presented by the PPD in the past, is unattainable in my opinion under US law and is unlikely to have support in Congress. However, you are wrong when you say that “enhanced commonwealth” is only defined by what the PPD currently has in its platform. Enhanced commonwealth in my view is in fact free association because it is a real “estado libre asociado”. Our free association could still be named “ELA de PR”. But the issue of names is unimportant. What matters is the substance. I believe Free Association is the only option that trully coincides with the aspirations of Puerto Ricans. Most of us consider our nation to be Puerto Rico, not the US. And while we want a close relationship with the US we do not want to assimilate or integrate further. The US is a great country which we respect, and want close relationships with, but it is not our country or nation, and we want to keep it that way. Under statehood assimilation is inevitable, Bill of Rights or not…That bill of rights did not do much for Hawaii (Hawaii is a nation that died and become simply became part of another). That is why I believe most Puerto Ricans, and populares, will never see statehood as an option contrary to what you say. And I mean that with no hostility, it just simply not an option for us.

   In regards to the feasibility of free association I agree that it must be in the interest of both parties. That is precisely why it is feasible, because it IS in the interest of the US. You say that the US would not allow the US dollar to remain? That is ridiculous. Sovereign nations, like El Salvador and Ecuador have adopted the dollar as currency much to the delight of the US. The US benefits with the demand for the dollar. To think they would not want to keep it as the operating currency in the Caribbean is absurd. Second, the US DOES recognize dual citizenship. I dont know where you get this info. In any case what Puerto Ricans want is free movement between both countries, and this can be attained with or without citizenship. Again, it is in the interest of the US to maintain free movement of people and goods with their 5th largest trading partnet! In regards to defense, it is in the benefit of the US to keep their foothold in the Caribbean. Etc etc. It benefits both, and is what is more in tune with bot nations’ realities. On the other hand, statehood a la Quebeq, which is what Puerto Rican statehood would be like, seems very risky for the US and for PR. Contrary to what you believe, most of us who support free assocation suport it because we ARE informed about it. It is not perfect but neither is statehood or independence. It is the most realistic solution to our status dilema. I invite you to read about free association in my blog page and comment on what you think:

   http://WWW.PUERTORICOSTATUS.BLOGSPOT.COM

5. E Says:
   August 16th, 2005 at 6:26 pm

   To N: I made a typing error with the remark on dual citizenship. I meant to say dual citizenship migration but I did not type that in. I apologize for that misunderstanding. You are correct with the implementation of the US dollar, my mistake. I learned something about economics I did not know, thank you. However, I am not lumping independence and free association together. Free association is a form of political independence, that is why I state that the choice is between statehood and independence. When I state that I am acknowledging those two forms of independence. You state that assimilation is inevitable with statehood, but how would this ever happen. Please justify the process in which Puerto Ricans would be stripped of their identities under statehood. What would Puerto Rico assimilate to? Your statements make it seem as if there is one giant American culture, but there are many identities within this country. There are several cultures that stem from regional cultures to ethnic cultures. An Italian family in New York eats different food from a Mexican family in New Mexico. People in Dixie have different political views than people from New England. How have native Hawaiian’s lost there culture or charm. Now if all these people haven’t been assimilated into the same culture please tell me how Puerto Ricans risk losing their culture. Hawaii is a poor example because it is true that the Hawaii today and the pre-U.S. Hawaii are different, but Hawaii today and pre-U.S. Hawaii have different population. Before the U.S. Hawaii consisted of Native Hawaiians only. Today it consists of Whites and Asians as well. However, Puerto Rico consists of Puerto Ricans, so it is an impossibility that there will be a loss of culture and uniqueness. I am not a statehood advocate that is using the lumping of free association to complete independence as a scare tactic. I personally hate the use of scare tactics because they involve selfish interests. If you cannot justify how Puerto Ricans would lose their culture than you and other populares are using that as a scare tactic. Populares know that Puerto Ricans are scared of losing their identities so they will use it as a scare tactic. If Puerto Ricans in the mainland maintain the strongest connection for their culture then how would statehood change things for those on the island. Comparisons of Puerto Rico to Quebec are absurd because Puerto Rico would be a state trying to enter the union not one attempting to establish its’ own nation. You state most Puerto Ricans would never choose statehood. You give the illusion that some extreme number of people oppose statehood. 46% voted for statehood in 1998 and you know that the number would increase based on recent voting trends. Why doesn’t the views of those Puerto Ricans matter to you. Why don’t you acknowledge that a significant number of people want this for Puerto Rico. You state that most people don’t want Puerto Rico to become a state. The truth is most Puerto Ricans don’t want independence (2.5%). No matter how many soundbytes you put into free association, it is a form of political independence without many of the benefits Puerto Rico receives in its present form. The PPD leadership could all switch to free association and it won’t matter. The dissention will be significant from the populares that would rather become a state than politically independent. Right now populares are saying no to both choices. That is why PPD leadership is trying to present free association on a different page than complete independence. They maybe on different paragraphs, but they’re definitely on the same page.

6. N Says:
   August 16th, 2005 at 7:32 pm

   It surprises me when people assert that there are many “cultures” living in the US. If there is one thing that characterizes the US is its assimilation of immigrants into a mainstream anglo-american culture. And YES, there is such a thing as one big and giant american culture which encompasses many things, from abstract concepts like mentalities and ways of thinking, to relationships, like family ties, to small unnoticed details, like city layouts in “downtown” and suburbs. Sure there are variations within this big culture but you may be in Miami, Seattle, Bangor or Honolulu and they all smell, feel and are American. Of coursem as I said, with variations but all clearly belonging to a greater cultural entity. That is not present in Puerto Rico. Our way of thinking is different and our Island is simply different. An example: In a Puerto Rican’s mind the race factor is hardly ever present. In an American mind, (be it italian-american, african-american, asian-american, caucasian-america, cuban-american etc) race and “political corectness” present in almost every aspect of life and permeates every issue. Puerto Rico is Latin American in the way it thinks, they way it acts and one can see it in the island, its institutions, our culture, our cities, our fashion, our way of thinking etc. That is why many americans come to PR and say “it doesnt feel like the US” or, the best example, when Puerto Ricans go and live in the US they become, in a way, foreign to Puerto Ricans in the island who see them as having become “americanized” and having assimilated into the US. An example, J-Lo is of Puerto Rican parents but she is completely “american”, she is not really considered by us to be really Puerto Rican. She has assimilated, which is understandable.

   It seems many statehooders want to hide these facts and make believe, or maybe they truly have convinced themselves, that there are really no differences between PR and the US or that the US is this big composition of different cultures. That is not the case. US history shows assimilation as a pre-req for admission into the Union. Hawaii was not admitted until it was “americanized”, utah was not admitted until its monogamy laws were abolished to reflect “american values, louisiana’s language was changed upon admission to assimilate it to the rest of states, and so on…It is not coincidence that Cuba, the Phillipines, and Puerto Rico (places which passed to US sovereignity in 1898 and withstood US assimilation throughour the yeats) did not become US states with Hawaii and Alaska (places that were assimilated into the general anglo-american culture). Do not pretend or try to diminish the obvious difference in circumstances in a Puerto Rico statehood. They in fact would resemble a Quebeq like situation with one latin speaking and culturally dissimilar political entity within a general anglo-northamerican culture (with the usual sub-groups and regional differences included).

   As far as people wanting statehood I never said nobody wants it in Puerto Rico. However, the mayority of us do not. That is a fact. Over 50% of us have continously rejected it. And many statehooders have an illusory and ficiontal view of statehood to the point that they believe that we would be able to continue to be represented under the Puerto Rican flag at international events and hear our national anthem when our atheltes win a medal. Trust me the nationality issue is the overriding factor in all status considerations. The US does not accept nation-states into the union. History is the best proof of this assertion. And on the Puerto Rican side we are reluctant to let our nation die in order to become a state of another. We have seen that confirmed by the rejection of statehood every time. A vote against statehood, in the minds of most, is a vote to affirm our nationality. That which statehooders reject and try to hide.

   It is a way of thinking,Be it in Seattle, Miami, Honolulu or Bangor there are certain culturally american similarities which permeate society wich are simply not present in Puerto Rico. There is a sense of belonging to a greater

7. E Says:
   August 16th, 2005 at 9:09 pm

   N, I’m sure we could agree that Puerto Rico must maintain a level of economic well being that has become our way of life. I’ve been too the Bahamas and Jamaica, while my family has made trips to the Dominican Republic and Mexico. From what I have seen and from what I have heard from my family is that these places are very impoverished. These places have no resemblance to Puerto Rico or our way of life. Our similarities are Latin culture (exception Jamaica and Bahamas) but are way of life is not so similar. With free association or independence how could you prove to Puerto Ricans that there way of life would be maintained. Education, judicial systems, health care etc. must be funded, so how would these forms of government provide for that? How would these governments provide a good economy? The people know that with statehood their way of life will not stay the same but it will improve. I am sure your aware of the loophole in funding to the territories. Maybe our leaders can negotiate maintaining the flag at international events, maybe not. I’d like to see who would dare touch my flag that I hang on my wall though. However, in the choice between maintaining a boxer that receives a medal in the olympics are improving health care, education, law enforcement, etc. lets so what the people have to choose. It is also an invalid argument to say we will be stripped of our culture and admitted into the U.S. super culture because there is no means by which a process such as that would occur. Running an effective society will be expensive, that is just reality.

8. N Says:
   August 17th, 2005 at 2:56 pm

   E, Your arguments as to the “economic perils” of free association or independence are cold war arguments that date back to last century. The world has so drastically changed that what benefitted us in the past economically and saved us from the poverty and hardship present today in many countries is precisley what is holding us back from progress today. In this world of global economics and interdependence Puerto Rico has its hands tied because it does not have the political powers to enter into economic and trade agreements with other nations. We are shut out from regional and international organizations. We are forced to use US ships in all our trade which are the costliest ships in the world. We are begining to see this reality as countries, similar in dimension to Puerto Rico, that were once below our economic standards of have surpassed us by far. Example: Singapore, Ireland, New Zealand, Barbados etc. Just today in El Nuevo Día an article titled “Economía dominicana avanza mientras Puerto Rico queda rezagada” shows that our current situation is detrimental to our economic growth and development. It is impossible to compare a sovereign Puerto Rico (which already has an infrastructure, foreign investments and a qualified labor force) with counties like Mexico or Jamaica who were not fortunate enough to have these circumstances upon their independence. Your proposition is that we chose statehood for money. That is not only sad but is also the wrong reasons to want to join another country. In your mind Puerto Rico should continue to be dependent on US funds forever without ever striving to be a self sufficient economy. As I mentioned before our current lack of political powers is what impedes our growth and maintains a fictituous economy based on funds provided by the US. With free association we can implement an economic model where the goal will be to REDUCE dependence on US funds as our economy becomes self-sufficient. Instead you chose to be complacent with statehood as way of keeping the island economy dependent on US funds at the expense of our nationality. With the economic powers and our strategic geographic location we are the natural economic and commercial hub of the Caribbean (as Hong Kong or Singapore are to Asia). The “megapuerto” currently in progress is a key element in our development. We are already the banking and financial center of the Caribbean, as well as the tourist hub for the rest of the Caribbean. Our goal should be to achieve the political powers necessary to consolidate our role as the economic and trade hub of the region. Like Singapore, we would be better of than we are now. We have the capacity, talent and location to achieve it. Let us not limit ourselves or sell ourselves short by being complacent with a fictitious economy under statehood based on complete reliance on US funds. You say statehood will imporive people’s lives? How? Do you think transfers of money solve anything? Has our dependence attitude and reliance on funds lead us to a place we want to be at? We are in a situation where our children’s education is severly lacking (not because of public funding but because of the lack of understanding of ourselves and our own contry). A situation where crime is rampant (not because of lack of money but because of illegal immigration we dont have the power to control and drug wars which affect us) etc. I do not see how statehood would solve any of these problems, only prolongue them and destroy us as a nation in the process. As far as economic reasons, the typicall scare tactics of the statehooders screaming “poverty!!” and of pointing towards the DR or Jamaica simply are laughable at this day and age. These arguments are disconnected with international reality and are as ludicrous as claiming that Puerto Rico would fall to comunism under free association or independence. Then again, that is an argument which, believe it or not, is stil present among many statehood supporters!! Bottom line, the economic argument is outdated and even if it was not $ can not be the reason why a people want to join a union. I would like to see the reaction from Americans when confronted with a statehood petition where most Puerto Ricans (like youself) want to negotiate our OWN participation as a nation in international events (that is, we dont want to go under the US flag or anthem), where more than half the population does NOT consider the US its nation, where we refuse to use the Union’s de facto language in our public schools, universities or courts, where (like you state) we will refuse to assimilate to the American way of being…we are simply in it for the $ and funds. Good luck with that one! Statehood has no possibility given Puerto Rico’s national reality. Face it.

9. E Says:
   August 17th, 2005 at 9:25 pm

   N, the benefits of an economy that you just described will only benefit a few (such as yourself). The economic model you presented is probably beneficial for you, but is definitely out of touch with the average person. The recalibration of the Puerto Rican economy under statehood would allow Puerto Rico not only to fix its’ current problems but also focus attention on the private sector, WHICH is the key in order to improve the Puerto Rican economy. My grandfather made something out of nothing creating has own business in Aguadilla. I myself attend on creating a business in Puerto Rico. The private sector must be strong in order for the Puerto Rican economy to do well, that is obvious. Your argument would have a few Puerto Rican companies doin well in the global economy, but what about the average person. Your either selfish or too optimistic. My family which was once largely populares have switched to statehood advocates. They know the current situation is not productive and they will not be fooled by selfish interests. I’m sure the fallout is similar among other Puerto Rican families as well. Be realistic about free association. By the way I never stated that Puerto Rico would become Communist.

10. N Says:
    August 18th, 2005 at 1:56 am

    On what basis do you argue that a developed economy will only benefit a few? That is the same tired rhetoric of the past. A developed economy as the one I’ve described is what promotes private business. Dependency on welfare and public funds actually reduces private business. The private sector would boom in Puerto Rico. It is clear you have no understanding of the global economy. Investment in the island brings with it business opportunities and demand for our goods and services. I invite you to look at Singapore as an example where the average singaporean (not a few, like you mention) earns almost double what an average Puerto Rican earns. In any case it is clear that you are complacent with basing our economy on transfer of funds from the US and welfare checks. What you call a “recalibration” of our economy under statehood is simply more dependency on US funds and less productivity for the Puerto Rican people in the public and private sector. Sorry, that idea is simply not acceptable to me. Before asking me to be realistic about free association you should read about the modern international economy and the success that many newly sovereign countries (like the Asian NIC’s) have had adapting their economy to this world trend. Even the DR’s economy is growing at a faster rate than ours. You keep advocating and being complacent with dependency and selling out our nation. I in turn, will advocate for a moder economy aimed at self sufficiency and defend my nation. That is the difference between statehooders and puertorriqueñistas.

11. E Says:
    August 18th, 2005 at 1:17 pm

    I have an understanding of the global economy, but I have a realistic outlook on Puerto Rico’s ability to compete in it with your model. Your comparing Puerto Rico with nations like Singapore that are in extremely different position economically. You give example of countries with huge advantages over Puerto Rico. Your radical left wing approaches are not in Puerto Rico’s reality. Puerto Rico is different than these nations no matter how much rambling you do. Your optimism is out of touch with reality no matter how many stories of global success you exempflify. It is obvious that you maintain a stubborn and irrational approach to this issue that I gaurantee you most Puerto Ricans will not share. You hold things sacred that other Puerto Ricans will not and unfortunately it is just a difference of opinion.

12. N Says:
    August 18th, 2005 at 1:46 pm

    Left wing? You have no clue whether I am a conservative or a liberal. Unoftunately most people who argue Puerto Rican politics make this same mistake unaware that one can be the most leftist statehooder and the most conservative independentista. But on issue, why is it that you believe Puerto Rico is not able to compete in the global economy? You say Singapore is in an extremely different position economically. You are right! they are not, but they were not before! However, upon achieving soveregnity they created an economic model which turned them into an Asian commercial hub. What possible advangtage could Singapore have over Puerto Rico? It is the size of VIEQUES with a population density HIGHER than ours. It is a city state with NO natural recources whatsoever, NONE. They had what Puerto Rico has, strategic location and a vibrant work force. You seem to insist that we Puerto Ricans are incompetent and that we dont have the capicty to develop a sustainable economy. Tell me, how is Puerto Rico “different” than these nations? Do you think that we are less intelligent and able than singaporeans, or barbadians, or the irish? I dont maintain a stubbor or irrational approach any more than you do. We each have our views on Puerto Rico. You believe us incapable of progress and see us forever condemned to live off US funds for subsistence. You are satisfied with this form of dependent economy based on transfers of funds and are willing to risk our nationality to secure such dependency through statehood. I believe Puerto Rico has a capable work force and an enviable stategic location which allows us, in this day and era, to achieve an economic model based on self sufficiency. I am unsatisfied with our current economic model and the economic model statehood has to offer based on eternal dependence on the US for funds. You state many Puerto Ricans do no share these views? Well I would agree somewhat with that in way. Statehooders, are contempt with believing they are americans and, as you have stated, see no shame in the current economic model. The rest of us, to some degree or another, WANT to insert Puerto Rico into the global economy in an effort to make it more self-reliant. The PPD has fought for our membership in the Org of Caribbean States, CARICOM, the Ibero-American Conference, PARLACEN, the International Tourism Org. and in the past has tried to reach trade agreements with Japan (although the US State Dept did not allow us to in the end). Of course all these things to the ridiculous and histerical critisism of the PNP who see no
    problem with the fact that we cant act in our own economic interest without Washington’s approval. Of course, their solution is more transfer of funds. Unfortunately these people either are complacent with this arrangement or are ignorant to the world that surrounds them into believing such economic model is the only way Puerto Rico could survive.

13. N Says:
    August 19th, 2005 at 2:14 pm

    Coincidentally, read this article which appeared today in El Nuevo Día written by another popular.

    Here are some excerpts:

    Angel Ortiz Guzman, Presidente ProELA 19/08/05

    “”"Cuando hablamos de competitividad, nos referimos a la capacidad para competir. En el caso de Puerto Rico, la pregunta obligada que debemos hacernos es qué necesitamos para ser competitivos. La respuesta es sencilla: es necesario la soberanía y mayores poderes políticos…Necesitamos además, internacionalizar a Puerto Rico; tener la capacidad jurídica para llevar a cabo relaciones exteriores con otras naciones, concertar acuerdos, tratados económicos y comerciales e ingresar en organizaciones internacionales. Además, necesitamos desarrollar una política comercial propia que nos permita entrar en acuerdos para comprar petróleo a Venezuela a un costo mejor así como acuerdos con otros países que viabilicen y ayuden al megapuerto que estará localizado en el sur.

    Necesitamos herramientas para defender y retener nuestro mercado común con Estados Unidos. Recordemos que Puerto Rico gozaba de un mercado libre de nuestros productos hacia Estados Unidos. Hoy en día, México y Canadá gozan del acceso al mercado estadounidense…

    Es necesario que logremos la eliminación de las leyes federales de cabotaje que nos obligan a transportar en barcos con bandera americana, lo cual nos permitiría bajar sustancialmente el costo de transportación de nuestros productos.

    Si queremos ser competitivos en el siglo XXI es necesaria una nueva asociación entre Puerto Rico y Estados Unidos…las relaciones entre ambos países se regirán únicamente en virtud de un tratado bilateral en que Puerto Rico delegará específicamente ciertas funciones determinadas a Estados Unidos que no sean esenciales al ejercicio de nuestra soberanía.

    Debemos descartar aquellas opciones que son una camisa de fuerza para el desarrollo de nuestra nacionalidad en el marco de una comunidad internacional interdependiente. La soberanía es sólo un instrumento que nos facilitaría una digna presencia en el ámbito internacional, ocupando así el lugar que nos toca en el mundo.”"”

    Right on the mark!!

14. E Says:
    August 21st, 2005 at 4:36 pm

    I do not believe Puerto Rico is incompetent, but the reality is that we face different from them. Comparing Puerto Rico to places like the Dominican Republic are more realistic than comparing Puerto Rico to cities that are across the globe. Puerto Rico’s problems stem from the economic loopholes that stem from the commonwealth status. You are fully aware that those loopholes will cease to exist under statehood and we will have our hands from to pursue economic goals free from colonial status. Your goals for Puerto Rico are set so high, but please tell me how you will obtain these goals. Tell me how free association would become like Singapore. Tell me how Puerto Rico would not economically benefit from statehood when a colonial system is lifted. I need explanations and not fabricated aspirations. The article talks about the problems that are present within the colonial system in place within the United States. The statement from buying fuel from Venezuela at a cheaper price is against my views. I believe that the rise in gas prices has pushed my environmental views to the front. I believe high gas prices would lead to people investing in fuel efficient and environmentally friendly vehicles, be it in the states or Puerto Rico. The article states that we need, need, need, but doesn’t say how how how. Again more explanations and less assaults on a viable option.

15. N Says:
    August 22nd, 2005 at 2:21 am

    The mistake most statehooders make is in fact believing that our situation is comparable to that of the DR. Puerto Rico would achieve sovereignty at a level of indistrialization and development with many of these counties never had. That is why it is illogical to compare our sovereignity at this point in time with the DR. Our sitation would be in fact more similar to that of Singapore. Stating otherwise is simply perpetuating the histerical fears that the PNP uses to maintain the people ignorant. Current commonwealth and statehood are two sides of the same token. Neither of them give us the political powers we need to integrate to the global economic system. Statehood would simply add a few more federal funds…the economy would remain a dependent appendix of the US. Therefore, I sugges YOU explain what type of eocnomic model you are proposing during statehood? Ive already told you how how how. The Megapuerto is crucial to our development and we cant operate it properly without being free of the US maritime laws. Developing Puerto Rico as a commercial hub is the key to our self-sufficiency. Integrating into international organizations and trade agreements with other countries so they reveive insentives to use us as their caribbean hub (between the EU and Mercosur). This is a viable option. What is not viable is continued living on funds and welfare like statehood proposes. As far as the environment, I would let the US worry about that, they are the biggest polluters, have them sacrifice cars. Puerto Rico should be able to obtain cheaper oil from Venezuela, as it would if it were a member of the Caribbean Community (Venezuela provides OEC countries with programs for cheap oil). Just this amount saved on oil would be sufficient to offset a big portion the US funds which doom is to dependency.

16. E Says:
    August 25th, 2005 at 8:25 pm

    SINGAPORE HAS ALL TYPES OF RAW MATERIAL FLOW. The greatest raw material flow in Puerto Rico is drugs. Unfortunately thats not going to cut it. How will this employ our people. Puerto Rico needs massive foreign investment, WHERE WILL IT COME FROM. As i said explain how you will maintain schools, explain how you will give the best health care to our seniors, explain how you will battle the drug problem, explain how you will employ the Puerto Rican workforce? Going around the globe and stating success stories is not stating how. I could say “wow look at my neigbor’s BMW”, doesn’t mean I am going to get a BMW. Please push your party to stop vetoing status bills so we could see what the people think. This vote will not even be close, I gaurantee it. … For Puerto Rico to be successful as a state it must continue to improvise its’ economy. A great example would be going into research and development, especially with drug companies. Puerto Rico has an advantage over other states in gearing itself towards this type of economy. You could get Puerto Rico on the same page economically and institutionally than a state like Florida or New York. That is another reason why Puerto Rico’s success as a state is gauranteed. 51 is inevitable.

17. N Says:
    August 26th, 2005 at 3:31 pm

    Do you think Singapore always had raw material flow? No, they developed an economic model. Do you think that PR is not capable of developing an economic model? You state PR needs massive foreign investment. It will come when countries are given a REASON and an INCENTIVE to invest! What possible incentive can we give them when we cant control our trade or international agreements?! As a result of Hernadez Colon’s incentives in 1991, Japan was willing and able to enter into a trade agreement with PR that would have benefitted the island. Unfortunately Washington shut it down and did not allow the Japan-PR trade agreement.
    I ask you the same things you ask me. Under statehood, how will we maintain schools? Health care? Employ the workforce? Please detail an economic model under statehood to support your contentions that it will benefit us instead of limiting us to the continued dependence on welfare for subsistence as our economic model. I have given you mine. 1) Eliminate US maritme laws so that we can conduct out trade without being forced to use US ships which are the costliest in the world. This is NECESSARY for a successful use of the Megapuerto and it will save us millions of dollars annually. 2) With sovereign economic powers we can integrate to CARICOM whose countries have preferred status with Venezuela in regards to oil supply. We would buy our oil for consumption at a MUCH cheaper price than under the restrictions US laws impose on us. Again, here we would save millions annually. 3) Provide incentives for foreign investment which we currently may not. For example, the Netherlands and Denmark were extremely interested in the Megapuerto project. However, we cant offer them anything bc we don’t have economic powers. 4) Continue the development of an economic model based on the Megapuerto in Ponce as an international hub linking South America (MercoSur) and the EU and South American and North America.
    This is a real plan and a serious economic model that puts PR in its rightful place in the region and internationally. Why would I want PR to be “on the same page” as FL or NY? These aern’t nations and they don’t share our geographical, cultural, or economic realities. If you are satisfied with reducing PR to a mere appendix economy of the US that is your right. Some of us want more and want a greater and dignified role for PR, in its own right, in the world. As far a statehood goes, all of you claim that it will win…but how come it has never passed the 46% mark? Remember PPD + PIP (the mayority, around 53%) REFUSE to integrate further or assimilate. That 53% wants, to some extent or another, a greater role for PR in the international arena. That is why we DON’T support statehood. Besides knowing that in order to truly develop our economy we need certain sovereign powers to do it we reject statehood because what it represents: the denial and death of our nation. We PPDs appreciate the US, we want to have close relationships, we respect that country, yet we are clear that our nation is PR. We do not want further integration, but association in order to develop our economy and have a rightful please as the nation we are in the international realm. That is why for us statehood is simply not an option.

18. N Says:
    August 26th, 2005 at 3:33 pm

    place not please.

19. E Says:
    August 28th, 2005 at 5:28 pm

    Hernandez Colon is another example of someone in Puerto Rico who sees the finish line of his selfish aspirations but has no explanation of getting there. You guys have this dream but haven’t said how you will obtain this successful. Don’t bother explaining to me because it is all fabricated nonsense that you keep replying back. Ok even if Puerto Rico could became like Singapore (which it wouldn’t) how would you deal with health care, education, law enforcement, and the biggest problem of all drugs. You could blame the U.S. all you want (I believe you would) but Puerto Rico is in the middle of where drugs are produced and their market place in the U.S. 53% did not choose to further assimilate into the U.S. 3% did. 50% clearly chose not to intergrate into the global arena by rejecting independence. That means 50% chose to maintain a government structure that is similar to other states because PR is set up as a U.S. territory. With statehood the territorial problems are solved (what don’t you understand about this, people care about there way of life). PPD’s base will cease to exist due to the termination of the status quo. I’m sure less than half of them will go for this bogus FAS.

20. N Says:
    August 29th, 2005 at 2:19 pm

    1) I just gave you an explanationas detailed as possible in this blog. I will be happy to share with you studies and literature from economists in regares to PR’s economy in the globar arena. The problem with statehooders is the RATHER keep arguing it is not possible even when presented with facts. You DONT WANT PR to ever be able to be eocnomically self reliable because that would mean that people would reject statehood. As you stated “dont bother explaining to me”. You simply dont want to hear it. An economist can sit down with you and explain the benefits and setbacks of FAS in an objective manner and YOU would argue with HIM that is is fabricated and nonsense. The truth is you dont WANT to hear it.

    2) “How would you deal with health care, education, law enforcement, and the biggest problem of all drugs”. Statehooders seem to believe that upon FAS the US will dismantle all of our government, bulldoze our administrative agencies, dissolve the Puerto Rican police and only leave trees, people and animals. Our government will go on…and we will deal with health, and education, and drugs just like we do today. The Departamento de Educación will still be in Avenida Chardón, the NIE will continue to investigate crime, the Supreme Court will continue to interpret laws, legislature will continue to create laws, the police will continue to fight crime etc. And guess what? Even the US DEA can be active in drug enforcement issues under FAS!! (Read about the FAS compacts in the Pacific). The difference is the funds for our departments will come from our economy and not from transfers of of $ from the US. Please, argue some login in arguments asking me to explain how these things will work under FAS is as asbusrd as me asking you to explain how they will work under statehood.

    3)”50% clearly chose not to intergrate into the global arena by rejecting independence. That means 50% chose to maintain a government structure that is similar to other states because PR is set up as a U.S. territory:
    FALSE! Read the PPD platform. You will see we DONT want to be treated like a state and that WE DO want to integrate into the global arena. To that 3% of independence you have to add the 48% of PPD’s who WANT to integrate PR into the global economy (albeit with some form of association with the US).

    4)”With statehood the territorial problems are solved (what don’t you understand about this, people care about there way of life)”
    I know territorial problems are solved with statehood. We would be outside the territorial clause of the constitution…Same thing would happen under FAS. What is the point of this argument? We PPD’s will not support statehood. Such status cant accomodate our national reality and does not give us the necessary tools to insert ourselves into the international economy. Like it or not.

21. E Says:
    August 29th, 2005 at 10:12 pm

    If it smells like a state, looks like a state, and sounds like a state, it is a state with territorial restrictions. Sure there isn’t territorial problems under the FAS but there isn’t any funding. Puerto Rico is funded then it produces. When you rely on funds to produce back to where your funds came from, there is nothing wrong with that. Under FAS Puerto Rico will not be funded therefore so even though the U.S. won’t knock down our structures, they wont fund them. There is nothing wrong with being funded, every state is funded. When I say I don’t want to hear it it is because you are irrational to the point where you have secluded yourself from the facts to pursue sovereignty at all costs, even the cost of peoples well being. To say the statehood option wont receive 3.5 percentage points of the 50% is absurd because I have personally seen four people that voted for that option in 1998, favor the statehood option. Trust me I will work a lot harder uncovering lies to make sure does numbers go up. Dont bother explaining a irrational approach that is out of touch with the reality of Puerto Rico. Just so that there isn’t any misunderstandings.

22. N Says:
    August 31st, 2005 at 2:37 pm

    E,

    Precisely my point. Puerto Rico does not smell like a state, look like a state, or sound like a state. That is what all my American friends say when the come to visit from the US. That is why it is a nation with territorial restrictions. Sure there isn’t any territorial problem under statehood but this would not provide for a truly developed and self-reliant economy nor deal with our nationality issues. Again you are misinformed abour FAS. Read the compacts of FAS between the US and the pacific islands. These islands receive funding from the US. The only difference is they receive “block grant” assistance instead of “agency funding”. That is for example, the US determined that Micronesia would need X amount of $ in total funding and they provide that funding to the island in a block grant. Micronesia then distributes the funding to its agencies in the manner it sees fit. In Puerto Rico we are obligated to use X funds towards X department, and Y funds for Y agency. The idea of FAS, as stated by the US, is to ASSIST these economies UNTIL they obtain a level of self-sufficiency where they no longer NEED US funding! Until that happens the US will keep funding them. And why does this happen? Because we live within the context of a global community and international relations. As RECOGNIZED by the US, they have a RESPONSIBILITY with these pacific islands due to their decades of colonial involvement, just as would be with Puerto Rico. Just like the Denmark has a responsibility with Greenland, the UK with its commonwealth members etc. Of course besides this international reality the US has determined it is in THEIR interest to keep FAS with these islands because the islands provide certain benefits for the US ranging from DEA drug issue, to telecomunications, to airspace etc. Read the Compacts. How can I be irrational when I am simply basing my arguments on Compacts of FAS that ARE LAW TODAY?! Just because you have no way of arguing against operational law you resort to saying it is irrational. FAS is IN PLAY TODAY in the pacific. And the Compacts are THE LAW of the US and the Islands. If you don’t care to inform yourself about FAS that is your problem.

    Finally, I never said statehood could not receive 3.5% points more. However, this would just reach the movement to 50%. Do you honestly think the US would approve statehood when the other 50% s opposed to it? Even further, lets imagine statehood reaches a miraculous 60%. Do you realy believe that the US would allow admission to the union to an island where 40% DON’T WANT to join? Statehood in Hawaii had a margin of 95%. Maybe when you get to at least 75% will a statehood option be even viable. There is no law that requires an X% for admission but no law requires admission after X% either. The idea that Congress would admit a state with 50% of the vote is kind of far fetched. The fact that after 107 years of US control the statehood movement is still below 50% says something about our reality and our refusal to renounce our nation and integrate to another.

23. E Says:
    August 31st, 2005 at 11:07 pm

    N, I am not trying to argue operational law, but it doesn’t matter what the UN states or what the Pacific islands receive. What happens to Puerto Rico will be through Congress not the UN, and what package Puerto Rico receives will be different from the Pacific islands. I do not agree with funding the Pacific islands because it is a waste of my tax dollars. It is unfair for these islands to receive anything. If they don’t want to be American they don’t deserve American defense or other funds. If Puerto Rico was such a state I wouldn’t mind my tax dollars going to PR because I am Puerto Rican, but it would not be fair. You know that the treaty must be worked with the United States, so how is it in the best interest of the U.S. to give Puerto Rico a generous parting gift. Be realistic with what a treaty of free association would contain. The PPD knows this that is why they are reluctant to support free association. Do you think that these are a bunch of dumb leaders that have never heard of free association? The fact is Puerto Ricans enjoy the ability to be Puerto Rican, but they also are happy to be American as well. They know they can have both with statehood and so does the PPD. They will not jeopardize their way of life with free association. I personally believe that if the PPD swithces to support free association then they would be somewhere along the same lines of the PIP. If your FAS ideas are so good WHY HASN’T THE PPD SWITCH THERE STAND TO THAT NONE COLONIAL OPTION?

24. N Says:
    September 1st, 2005 at 2:03 pm

    E, valid question. The answer is because the leaders are afraid of change. I dont know how familiar you are with Puerto Rican politics but in the last 4 years numerous PPD leaders have openly stated they would support FAS. Why? Because they have found that the average party follower is not only open to the idea but would actually support it. The PPD leaders have noticed there are two kinds of populares out there: 1) those who are informed about FAS and are simply waiting for the PPD to adopt this formula as a real “Estado Libre Asociado” formula 2) those who are uninformed about FAS but when explained about it they are open to the idea. What you dont seem to understand is that PPD’s belong to this party (as opposed to the statehood party) for a reason: PPD’s are autonomists. That is, the ideal of the populares is to have a relationship with the US but at the same time maintain our nationality and international presence. Most PPD’s want P.R. to have a greater involvement in international affairs, specially in commerce. That is a goal we strive for. You seem to think that PPD’s think in the same way statehooders do and that we are complacent with the current ELA. Undersand that the 48% of populares in P.R. are autonomists that do NOT believe in statehood because statehood goes against being an autonimists. With statehood P.R. would REDUCE its role in the world and have less international presence. Autonimists seel MORE international presence for the Island while maintaining certain relationships with the US. PPD’s are autonimists and therefore do NOT believe in further integration to the US and do NOT see the US as their nation. Again, statehood is incompatible with the ideals of populares. There is a reason we belong to the PPD and not the PNP.

    You seem to think that because YOU would not support your tax dollars for an FAS arrangement it would not happen. You dont support FAS for the pacific but it is a reality today, period. You may not like it but it is a reality. Of course the Compact of FAS would be negotiated with Congress, that is part of FAS. Once both sides are in agreement the Compact become the law of both lands. The FAS compacts of the pacific are LAW in the US and the Islands. Now, you state there should be no funding for FAS? That seems illogical considering that the US sends billions of dollars to sovereign nations every year! Take Israel for example…that country receives more money from the US than Puerto Rico does! That is just a reality. Then how is it logical that the US funds sovereign nations and yet would not fund nations with which it has a compact of association, with which it shares a common defense, a currency, shares telecomunications, air space etc?
    FAS is not one sided. The islands provide certain things the US WANTS and NEEDS (namely a foothold in the pacific in which the US can operate DEA enforcement, control airspace etc). The same would apply to P.R. (a foothold in the center of the Caribbean which is in essence the US’s third border). In return the US provides certain things that the Islands NEED and WANT (such as FEMA funding in case of disasters, block funding to develop their economy etc). It benefits both sides so your tax money is not at waste.

    You seem to argue without a global perspective of the issues. The US does not operate in an international vaccum. Every action it takes and every decision it makes is scrutinized in the context of international relations (as do all other countries). Why does the US fund the FAS of the Pacific? Besides the benefits FAS brings for both sides, the US has an international responsbility with these islands which were territories for over 40 years. The US BENEFITS internationally if these islands succeed. The US does NOT want these former colonies to descend into poverty and chaos because of the international repercussions that would bring to the US. This happened with the UK as well when most of its territories became independent. It was in the UK’s national interest that these places prosper, and as a result the commonwealth arrangement was reached between the UK and its former territories. You cant argue these matters in a vaccum. It would be in the national interest of the US that P.R. be be succesfull, as is the case with the pacific islands. That is why FAS is in place in the pacific and it is an option for P.R. We need to place the US-PR realtionships in a context. They cant be seen in a vaccum.

25. E Says:
    September 2nd, 2005 at 12:55 pm

    I don’t believe the U.S. has an obligation to any of those Pacific islands. I agree with the fact that if they want to use American defense then THEY are obligated to allow America to use their territory for military bases, air space, etc. Don’t compare Israeli aid to Puerto Rican funding. Don’t twist that to benefit your argument because it is two extremely different cases. A global persective on issues? I believe if the U.S. was so concerned with that it wouldn’t have invaded Iraq. Rightfully so, the Europeans and the UN’s views on the U.S. is irrelevant with me. I thought it was a George W. Bush issue, but those countries wouldn’t support our country if it where any president in the white house. The critics of the international community are worthless. If you want to make that argument then the U.S. would benefit in the international community if Puerto Rico becomes a state as well. Which brings me to my original point, Why would the U.S. continue extensive funding to a island with a greater population than more than half of its’ states? The answer is that they won’t do this. Realize that FAS is extremely different than enhanced commonwealth and you shouldn’t argue anything else. Realize that Puerto Ricans will choose to stay with the United States instead of independent options. How could you expect them to alter their way of life for nationalistic sovereignty?

26. N Says:
    September 2nd, 2005 at 2:01 pm

    Again the fact that you dont believe the US has an obligation to these islands in the Pacific is irrelevant. The fact is the Compacts, approved by Congress and which today are the LAW of the US, recognize US obligations with their former territories. And as a result they fund them with the goal of achieving self sufficiency and economic prosperity. You might not be in agreement to it but it does not change the fact that it is a reality.

    You dont seem to understand that it is not a one sided deal. You claim that beacuse the pacific islands wants US defense then they are obligated to allow the US to use their territories for military purposes. The US WANTS the use of this area’s airspace, not only for protection of the islands, but as a strategic national defense matter. That is why when the compacts were renegotiatiated in 2003 US military personel urged Congress to continue the present relationsip of FAS because of US interests in national defense and military issues. In fact they stated that by controlling the airspace of this area (with exclusivity) they had a footholed in the pacific which would be irreplaceable and which helps to protect the US. It is mutual benefit. The US WANTS it.

    Im not twisting any facts with Israel. You seem to claim that FAS’s dont receive funding when the truth is even sovereign nations receive it…it is merely an example of the illogical construction of your arguments.

    “Rightfully so, the Europeans and the UN’s views on the U.S. is irrelevant with me.” That is a US foreign policy issue from which I can see you are one of the neo-con right wingers who have unfortunately created the current mess in international affairs and have spit on the US’s rightfully earned reputation across the globe. Even in its ups and downs most of us admired the US’s role in the world, from participation in wars of liberation like WWI and WWII, to great international successes like the Marshall Plan, to its commitment to international institutions like President Wilson envisioned, to diplomatic relations, to the creation of NATO etc. In their unknowing ignorance Bush and his right wingers have tarnished that respect the US once had setting dangerous precedent for years to come. Like it or not we all live in a world community and the US is part of it.

    “The U.S. would benefit in the international community if Puerto Rico becomes a state as well”. Im sure it would. The question there is would the US venture into this novel kind of statehood and admit a spanish speaking nation as a state.

    FAS IS enhanced commonwealth but outside the territorial clause. The only way to achieve that is through FAS. You cant have a non-colonial enhanced commonwealth if you remain subject to such territorial clase. Puerto Ricans will choose to stay with the United States based on FAS. Our way of life would not be altered as you claim. What will change is we will have a more prominent role in our region as we rightfuly deserve just as Micronesia has it today in the pacific region. You just dont seem to get that most Puerto Ricans DO NOT see the US as their country…
    strong supporters of the US? yes pro-american? most defenetely
    partners? yes
    our nation? No. That is the Puerto Rican reality and we must find a status solution that deals with this reality to benefit both sides. FAS is just that solution.

27. Ernest Acosta Says:
    September 3rd, 2005 at 11:28 pm

    My comment is short. It appears to me that Puerto Ricans have lost control of PR. For example, I am told the Cubans control the newspapers in PR. Also, there are too many non-Puerto Ricans in PR. I have never been interested in the status PR. However, based on my current visit to PR I have come to believe that Commonwealth is the best status for the present time. Statehood would prevent PRs from ever gaining control of the island again. There is no doubt that PR as a Commonwealth in nothing more than a colony of the U.S. Independence, appears to be out of the question based on past voting history. I fear that if PR becomes a state then we will be a people without a homeland.

28. E Says:
    September 6th, 2005 at 12:23 am

    N, last time I checked enhanced commonwealth status would have provided Puerto Rican the same proportioned funding as the other states with the priviledges of other countries. IF FAS IS ENHANCED COMMONWEALTH, WHY DOESN’T THE PPD SUPPORT IT. I am a conservative DEMOCRAT. That means I am against abortion for my family but I shouldn’t put what I believe into legislation, for example. I am for taxing the well off and I don’t believe in tax breaks for the wealthy. Bush has tarnished our reputation and I agree with it, but I believe the U.S. has an obligation to be on the offensive against terrorist strong holds. I also believe the U.S. should be involved in the Sudan. I vote on compassion, not on big business. It is pure insanity to state that Congress would pass a treaty full of grants to Puerto Rico.

    Ernest, I wouldn’t worry about Puerto Ricans losing control of Puerto Rico. There are Spaniards, Italians, French, Irish, Africans that have all migrated to Puerto Rico over the years on they are now part of Puerto Rican culture. There is a definate problem with immigration and the United States has to have major immigration reform. There are about 300,000 Dominicans and God knows how many are illegal. Immigration must be reformed but immigration is not a major problem in Puerto Rico. If there are Cubans in the media, I would only worry about the gatekeepers, which are the people who control the newworthiness of stories and determine what the public will see. However, it is impossible that Puerto Ricans would lose control of PR if Puerto Rico becomes a state, so don’t even worry about that. That is propoganda from anti-statehood advocates.

29. N Says:
    September 6th, 2005 at 2:40 am

    Why doesnt the PPD support FAS? Read the PPD platform, it is FAS in all but then name. The reason they are timid to support it is because of the statehood fear mongerers who will come out with their ignorant and histerical cries of “independence”,
    “communism”, “hunger”, “starvation”, dictarship” ..you know the usual scare tactics which the feed to a population that unfortunataly is not as educated and will believe such abusrdness. Adoption of FAS as the official party formula takes education and information to counterbalance the histerical cries of the statehood movement. But in the end PPDs will accept it because what you dont seem to understand is that PPDs are in the party for a reason, autonomism. I have been in many party gatherings and have spoken with numerous ordinary PPD members from across the island and the result is usually the same. While they dont realy understand the term “FAS” when explained in detail they would support it. In fact, many who are more informed go up to the leaders and ask why they dont adopt it as the official party platform. It is this acceptance by the ordinary PPDs that have mover important PPDs mayors to openly sat they would support FAS as the party platform. The base of the party is in this case way ahead of the official party line and it is why many party leaders are now stating openly they would support FAS. Remember, PPDs are in that party for a reason and one of them is to stop statehood. That is why in a PPD rally you will only see Puerto Rican flags waved. It is a party reaffirming a nationality and rejecting further integration/assimilation. These people will never fit in a statehood movement where (like in the PNP rallies) all you see for the most part are US flags waved. PPDs and PNPs do NOT think alike. Be carefull in lumping PPDs in a statehood vote, it will not happen.

    I am glad you agree that Bush has tarnished the well deserved reputation that the US has always had internationally. I agree with you, the US might have an obligation to be on the offensive against terrorist strong holds. However, the sham war in Iraq is not being “in the offensive” because it was not even a terrorist stronghold to begin with! (it is now!). You want to go on the offensive in terrorist strongholds? Go against Saudi Arabia. Unfortunately since that goes against Mr. Bush’s economic interests it will never happen.
    You can be strong on offensive with your allies like in Afghanistan. To dismantle long established alliances and spit on the international community in order to enter into a war without basis is not only counter productive but foolish and selfish. The US, which is a great country with honorable people, does not deserve that. Bush has wrecked the US reputation in the world and most importantly has set dangerous precedent in world affairs to the detriment of the entire globe. An unstable international order is never desirable and to think otherwise is foolish.

    “It is pure insanity to state that Congress would pass a treaty full of grants to Puerto Rico” – You still dont understand FAS. Read the compacts of the Pacific. They are funded in an effort for them to achieve self sufficency so they wont need the grants! That is not insanity, it benefits PR and the US!

30. N Says:
    September 6th, 2005 at 2:57 am

    Ernest, I are right in your concerns of Puerto Ricans losing control of Puerto Rico. It is not propaganda, it is the truth that statehooders want to hide.
    Immigration is a big problem in PR. We have the highest population density in the hemshpere and the last thing we need are massive migrations because we simply cant take them in. There is no reason why Puerto Ricans should not be able to have a greater say over immigration into our island. It is ilogical that we are under US immigration laws without any special consideration as if our realities were similar to that of the US. The US has ample space, demand for workers and ability to accomodate migrants. PR does not.

    “It is impossible that Puerto Ricans would lose control of PR if Puerto Rico becomes a state”…I will just say one word: Hawaii. Here is the structure of power and control in Hawaii: 1) white americans 2) japanese 3) philipinos 4) chinese 5) other asian minorities 6) hawaiians. Hawaiians have no control over their islands whatsoever. Of course statehooders will try ot hide this saying “the situation is not comparable” and here is wher their argument fails. There are two options in a PR statehood 1) either it follows US history patterns and receives MASSIVE migration from the US proper to a point where it is more assimilated to the mainstream USA and only THEN will it become a state or (i.e. Hawaii, California, Alaska, Louisiana etc etc) 2) we have a novel situation in US history where the US would accept a state which is a nation that has not been assimilated into the US mainstream, which operates in a different language, and one in which the native inhabitants control the state. This would be a novel concept and would resemple a Quebeq-like statehood. That is the reality statehooders dont like to deal with. History is NOT on their side.

31. E Says:
    September 6th, 2005 at 7:21 pm

    N, please stop with the propoganda. That is all you seem to state in these blogs. You state that Puerto Rico would be funded under FAS. Yet you attack the statehood movement by stating that they want to depend on funds. The funding that Puerto Rico would require would never be granted under FAS. You are a liar. You state that uneducated, uninformed people don’t understand FAS, but isn’t the PPD leadership educated. The reason why there are scared of the statehood advocates labeling FAS with independence, is because they know it is a slightly altered version of independence. Just admit it. Judging from your arguments against the Bush administration you think compassionately political, as do I. However, once again a radical sense of nationalism is leading to propoganda that lacks compassion on your fellow islanders. YOU LUMP the populares with you, but they are not. As I said, they chose neither statehood or independence. FAS is a slightly altered form of independence, so to say that all of the populares will vote for it is insane. My uncle who is an independista is made fun of by my family. Independence IS NOT what the people of Puerto Rico want. HAWAII, is a lot different then Puerto Rico. Hawaii faced massive migration from Asian groups and Anglos. The largest group in Puerto Rico is the Dominicans, which most of them migrate to New York. Another disgusting remark from an educated propoganda spitter.

32. N Says:
    September 6th, 2005 at 9:13 pm

    There is no propaganda in my argument. Open a history a book and read US history. You will see these facts. The only propaganda is the scare tactics used by statehooders to equate FAS with independence (which you seem to do as well). I attack the
    statehood movement by stating that they want to depend on funds because they see that as the only way of economically surviving. The funding for FAS is intended so that P.R. becomes self sufficient with a developed economy that WONT NEED those funds. This is not a lie. Again just facts, read the compacts of FAS in the pacific. They specifiucally mention the US commitment to provide funding for these islands until they reach a level of self suffiency where that funding is no longer needed. Fact. Read the compacts. Like many you are ill informed about FAS. And like many you are complacent with dependency on funds forever instead of a sustainable and developed economy.

    I “LUMP” the populares ine one category: AUTONOMISTS. That is the reason of being of such party. You cant be an autonomist (which by nature rejects integration/assimilation) and accept statehood.

    This is the typical statehood propaganda used as a scare tactic: “FAS is a slightly altered form of independence”.
    You can look up my arguments in history books and international compacts of FAS. Yours are irrational and histerical scare tactics typically used by the statehooders.

    Finally if you read my comment I adressed the issue of migration and never mentioned P.R. at the moment suffered from grave migration problems. I stated there were 2 scnarios: 1) either the normal US history pattern where the territory receives MASSIVE migration from the US proper to a point where it is more assimilated to the mainstream USA and only THEN will it become a state (i.e. Hawaii, California, Alaska, Louisiana etc etc) OR 2) we have a novel situation in US history where the US would accept a state which is a nation that has not been assimilated into the US mainstream, which operates in a different language, and one in which the native inhabitants control the state. This would be a novel concept and would resemple a Quebeq-like statehood.
    The first option is unacceptable for Puerto Ricans and the second is unacceptable for the US. History. Facts. Face them and dont try to hide them.

33. Juan R jimenez Says:
    September 7th, 2005 at 12:14 am

    I would like to add something to the Puerto Rico Status debate.
    The question should be weather people in Puerto Rico want to be Puerto Ricans or Americans.
    What the “Populares”and “Independentistas’donot seem to understand is that
    the majority of the people of Puerto Rico do
    not want to to give up being citizens of the United States.
    That is why the political parties in Puerto Rico that want a separate nation never want to see
    a vote that involves independence
    and statehood.
    All the political manuvering that goes on in Puerto Rico over the status issue revolves around this
    fact.
    The populares and independentistas
    never want to see that kind of of a vote which they know they will lose with at least 80% of the vote.
    The facts are that Puerto Ricans do not
    want to stop being citizens of the
    United States.
    The facts are that the only non territorial status that guarantees
    permanent US citizenship is statehood.
    There is a very deceitful game being played in Puerto Rico by the political parties that want to separate the island from the Unites States by default by trying
    to convince the people in the United States and the Congress that
    statehood should never be an option.
    That way the people of Puerto Rico
    feeling that they have being rejected will vote for independence from The United States.
    I would also like to add that the only reason the Commonwealth won
    the majority of the votes in the previous plebicites is because
    it promised permanent association with american citizenship.
    I think is time that the political
    parties in Puerto Rico stop playing
    their little games and bring and end to 500 years of being in a political limbo as far as status is concerned.
    Either we are going to be Puerto Ricans or Americans.It is obvious that we cannot be both.
    Juan R Jimenez 9/6/05

34. J Says:
    September 7th, 2005 at 12:22 am

    Viva PR Libre!

    Down with FAS.

    Statehood is only achievable if people learn English.

    Don’t want to learn English? No problem, we’ll make you your own country and you can fend for yourself.

    PR Libre is the answer!

    J

35. E Says:
    September 7th, 2005 at 11:57 am

    Juan, you are correct! I could have put more crystal clear myself. N, seems to think that the statehood movement has sold Puerto Rico, but I can’t wait until populares see that it was their leaders that have done this. When presented with facts populares that I have talked were outraged with being sold out to remain in the commonwealth status. That is why the POPULARES in my family are now for statehood. Commonwealth status was transition and now those who advocated for it (populares) have the CHOICE of either statehood, complete independence, or independence with a bootleg treaty. As you said Juan statehood offers the best protection of citizenship, but it aslo offers the best protection of the AVERAGE Puerto Ricans way of life. NOT THE FEW who would benefit from the other forms of independence. Juan, you stated that we have to be Puerto Rican or American, but we can be both. That is the benefit of living in a civilized, cosmopolitan society in which different is Ok. I am the best example of that. I live in New York and all of my non-Puerto Rican friends know that I am Puerto Rican. They also know that I am American when I discuss my concerns for our troops around the globe or the unfortunate people that are suffering as we speak in New Orleans. YES Puerto Rico would be a different state. Being different is something that is allowed and would be encouraged. N, will use PROPOGANDA and refer to it as a Quebec like situation. He too would lump a soft summer breeze with a tornado if he could.

    J, Puerto Ricans will learn English not because a prerequisite of statehood but because we will strive for academic excellence, which includes knowledge of more than one language. To say that PR would have to learn English is rediculous and pathetic. Diversity is something that is encouraged by the open minded in this country. THE UNITED STATES MUST LEARN SPANISH, and other languages. LANGUAGE will never be an issue. That is an 19th century argument.

36. N Says:
    September 7th, 2005 at 2:07 pm

    Juan, as does E, simply do not understand, or refuse to understand, why it is that 48% of P.Ricans belong to the PPD. You seem to think the reason we belong to the PPD is because of US citizenship. That is not the case. While, granted, citizenship is an important debate and most PPDs do not want to lose US citizenship we do NOT belong to the PPD for that reason. We belong to the PPD as a way of asserting ourselves as a nation and fighting for an autonomous political entity with greater international representation and a close relationship to the US. This is a valid status option present all across the world: Greenland, Netherland Antiless, Cook Islands, Micronesia etc. We REJECT statehood, we do NOT believe in intergration, we do not see the US as our nation. THAT is why we belong to the PPD because we appreciate our relationship with the US but most importantly we affirm our nationality and want it to have a place in international affairs (not just as a mere state of another country). I am trying to let you understand that PPDs think very differently from statehooders. Do not think that we belong to the PPD because of US citizenship, if that were the case then why wouldnt we belong to the statehood party. While citizenship is an important issue we ar ein the PPD for the other reasons aforementioned and because we do NOT believe in statehood.

    E, refering to a Quebeq like sitation is NOT propaganda. It is a reality that you dont like to face. I advise you to study the Congressional debates on P.R. status and youwill find Quebeq mentioned on repeated occasions. The fact is admitting a hispanic state (whose institutions work in Spanish) into an anglo-north american nation is the equivalent of french quebec inside a greated anglo-canadian country. That is a fact.

    I do agree with Juan in one thing: it is either americas or puerto ricans, but this has nothing to do with citizenship. Nationality is not related to citizenship. Why do statehooders have such a hard time understanding this concept? In the minds of PPDs and PIPs it is clear, we are Puerto Ricans period. We are not americans. We have our national flag, our national anthem etc. The passport issue is something different. We are no more Americans than Arubans are European even though they hold Dutch passports. The difference between us and statehooders is statehooders WANT to be considered Americans and they see the US as their nation. The P.R. flag for them is nothing more than a “state” symbol and our anthem is nothing more than a “state song”. That is the big ideological divide in P.R.: those who consider the US their nation and those who reafirm P.R. as their nation. I ask you J, what is your nation? what is your country’s flag? what is your national anthem? Im sure you our responses will differ and THAT is presicley why poluares belong to the PPD and why we are not statehooders.

37. J Says:
    September 7th, 2005 at 2:49 pm

    AUTONOMY=INDEPENDENCE

    Want autonomy? Have independence.

    those are the simple facts.

    Imagine, PR being compared to Aruba and the other third world islands.

    Have independence, fend for yourselves in the world economy.

    J

38. J Says:
    September 7th, 2005 at 3:04 pm

    Here are the facts for anyone born in PR:

    Nation: United States of America
    National Flag: Old Glory
    National Anthem: Star Spangled Banner

    You may not like it, but that is who you are by birth.

    Obviously, you can spin and try to give yourself fancy names like blacks and Indians do, but it doesn’t change the fact. You bleed red, white, and blue. Others have already bled red, white, and blue and given their lives for the principles for which Old Glory stands.

    Stop spinning the AUTONOMY fallacy. AUTONOMY is INDEPENDENCE.

    J

39. N Says:
    September 7th, 2005 at 5:38 pm

    There is no spin…

    YOUR nation: USA
    YOUR national flag: old glory
    YOUR national anthem: the stars spangled banner

    MY nation: Puerto Rico
    MY national flag: la monoestrellada
    MY national anthem: La Borinqueña

    When I see the US flag I respect it as I would the flag of any other nation, but it is not my own. When I see a US team winning in an event and hear the starts spangeled banner I do not regard it as my team any more than I regard Spain or Australia as my team. We dont identify with US symbols or US patriotism because it is simply not our nation. Partners? yes ; allies? yes ; pro-american? yes ; our nation? certainly not. Not even statehooders dare sell statehood based on US patriotism because they know it doesnt fly in P.R. That is the best example of our national reality. Like it or not.

    There is no spin. Autonomy is one of the three options, period. Greenland is not independent and is not integrated into Denmark. It is an autonomous body, internationaly recognized and non-colonial under the Homeland Rule Act. Autonomy is a reality worldwide. The fact that YOU dont like it does not make it less of an option.

40. J Says:
    September 7th, 2005 at 6:32 pm

    N, thank you.

    Here are the facts. The US is not your partner. I know that because you carry a US passport.

    Need any more proof?

    J

41. N Says:
    September 8th, 2005 at 2:08 pm

    Ok J, one more time, and repeat after me:
    “citizenship is not equivalent to nationality”
    “citizenship is not equivalent to nationality”

    If tomorrow the chinese where to invade P.R. and grant us Chinese passports it would not mean we would become Chinese. We would be Puerto Ricans with Chinese passports.

    But here are words from your very own president George W. Bush in regards to Puerto Rico (June 14, 2001 from Stockholm, Sweeden):
    “They are our FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS”.

42. E Says:
    September 8th, 2005 at 3:13 pm

    N, it wouldn’t surprise me if George W. Bush stated that we have to get those hurricanes where they live before they hit us home.

43. J Says:
    September 8th, 2005 at 3:29 pm

    Like I said before, I’m sold.

    VIVA PR LIBRE!!!

44. E Says:
    September 8th, 2005 at 4:33 pm

    N, in all of this arguing I am sure it has occurred to you that statehood has a chance of winning. If statehood won, why wouldn’t you propose a division of the island? Lets say if statehood won 75% 25% the division would be 75% of the island a state, 25% of the island FAS. It seems the only fair thing to do. It sounds silly dividing Puerto Rico, but doesn’t it sound foolish having 25% who oppose statehood live in a state. I believe people should think of a non territorial compromise in which the people of one portion of the island would be allowed to live on the portion which is administered as a state or vice versa. It sounds silly but it would be a great compromise because neither side would be happy, however, neither side will be alienated as well. The state side would be allowed to partiipate in Congress and presidential elections while gaining their full priviledges as a state. The other side would be allowed to function as an independent nation with a similar weak treaty of free association to the U.S. It wouldn’t be isolating the different sections because both sides would be allowed to travel freely throughout the island. Just some food for thought for everyone out there. Of course I would have to take credit for the idea guys.

45. J Says:
    September 8th, 2005 at 5:01 pm

    I’l laughing so hard I can’t stand it!!

    J

46. N Says:
    September 9th, 2005 at 1:22 pm

    E, That was a good one. However, under international law a national entity can’t be divided in order to solve a colonial status issue. That was precisly one of the problems in East Timor where Indonesia did not want to rspect the territorial integrity of the east timorese national entity. Whatever future holds P.R. it will obviously have to be together. I honestly doubt statehood will ever win 75%. It might win maybe 50% to 55% and that, I hope you agree with me, is insufficient for a grant of statehood. That is why the deadlock we are in will probably not be solved with statehood. Although you claim otherwise statehood has no real massive support in the island as it did in Hawaii, Alaska, Arizona (which were the last states to enter the union). That is why we will keep on fighting over the issue for decades because, although you hope otherwise, PPDs will not likeley switch their autonomist ideals to statehood. They are incompatible.

47. N Says:
    September 9th, 2005 at 1:26 pm

    But now that you mention it lets imagine this hypothetical scenario: the island is split in half (one half state, one half FAS). It is 2016 and the entire island is watching the Olympic Games where the US and PR basketball teams are tied at 72 with 30 seconds remaining, P.R. has the ball…….For which team will the half of the island that is a state be cheering for? Something to think about….

48. J Says:
    September 9th, 2005 at 1:57 pm

    Under your assumption of FAS and your scenario, the Americans will always win.

    J

49. E Says:
    September 9th, 2005 at 4:01 pm

    I honestly believe that statehood has potential to do better than 55%. I made the statement as a joke but it concerns me that a significant portion would not want statehood. If their is no room for compromise than I believe whatever receives 51%, Puerto Rico should become. If statehood wins 51% then why should PR be an FAS if 47% voted FAS (as an example), and complete independence 2%(as an example). The fact however that Puerto Ricans are not excited enough about any of the 3 choices. N, FAS advocates don’t take into account that people like me want statehood and statehood advocates don’t take into account that people like you want a distinct nation. I believe that if statehood wins the majority then a compromise should be made to create a experimental nation-state. Even though I do not agree with strong nationalism and believe it is out dated, I must respect the fact that this matters to a significant amount of Puerto Ricans. However, you must recognize that a significant amount of Puerto Ricans do not want to venture off into the global arena. Even though you do not agree with this you should respect it. THE SOONER Puerto Ricans stop fighting and start compromising each others feelings then the better Puerto Rico will be.

50. J Says:
    September 9th, 2005 at 4:46 pm

    Let’s have a biding vote. Two options: Statehood or Indepedence. If Independence wins, the new soverign government of PR can establish diplomatic relations with the USA and a ask for FAS.

    I bet you the PPD won’t go for that because they are afraid that the majority of the people will vote for statehood.

    that’s what they are afraid of.

    I’m not afraid. If independence wins, I’m fine with it.

    Support Self Determination!!!

51. S Says:
    September 10th, 2005 at 8:19 am

    As an American I hope that it does not seem too out of place for me, who some would perhaps consider an “outsider”, to insert myself into a discussion of the Puerto Rican status issue. Then again, given that the status issue inherently impacts the United States I suppose it is not completely out of line for me as a U.S. citizen to express at least some interest. (Indeed, sometimes we Americans are criticized because our apathy concerning Puerto Rico is unfortunately only equaled by our ignorance). First of all let me say that I do not enter this blog claiming to be an expert or overly familiar with the status issue. Perhaps that will only make a discussion with those of you who are more knowledgeable about the subject all the more valuable. Having said that, please allow me to respectfully pose one question to any blogger participating in this discussion who would like to respond. It is apparent from any discussion of the Puerto Rico status issue that preserving the Puertorican identity in areas such as the Spanish language, international sports, international beauty competitions, the flag, etc. is of utmost importance to many on the island–and understandably so. Puertoricans are proud of who they are and ought to be. If that is the case, then why is the option of independence and separate citizenship so solidly rejected by most of the island population? Are not sovereignty and one’s own citizenship the most clear cut ways to demonstrate and preserve this national pride? As has been mentioned, most Puertoricans want a friendly relationship with the United States. Why not accomplish this as a separate nation via defense treaties (ex: join NATO) and free trade agreements (indeed, free trade is the economic agenda of the U.S. for the western hemisphere)? Furthermore, if Puerto Rico needs financial assistance from the U.S., then why not simply request foreign aid as a separate country? I realize that these points are not original with me (indeed, you have most likely heard them before) but nonetheless I would like to hear your individual responses to them. . .

52. J Says:
    September 10th, 2005 at 9:48 am

    S, thank you.

    I appreciate your participation as a fellow American.

    Your points go right to what most people educated on the matter consider to be key.

    Let the Americans who live in PR decide the future political structure of the Island.

    Self Determination is the answer.

    If independence wins, then we can the legal framwork to work with the new island’s government.

    Thank you for participating and please keep your comments and ideas coming.

    J

53. E Says:
    September 10th, 2005 at 11:19 am

    S, the reason why the people reject independence is very simple, they do not want it. The question of nationality is a 19th Century argument being that radical nationalism has been consistently used by a few to influence the masses. No more is that evident in the Balkans with Croats, Serbs and Muslims (nearly indistinguishable) fighting amongst one another. In Puerto Rico this is also evident in its use to battle the statehood movement. Nationality is used in Puerto Rico to attempt to make statehood rejected by the American people and Congress. This way if Congress denies statehood, Puerto Ricans would feel alienated and vote for independence. It is our job as U.S. citizens in the mainland to insure the American people are educated on PR so when the time comes for the PR petition for statehood, we can make sure those alienation attempts have failed.

    Second, as a U.S. citizen you shouldn’t want your tax dollars going to another foreign country. For Puerto Rico to maintain its’ level of economic prosperity that would take a massive amount of funding that would never be approved by Congress. You are correct it is the average American’s ignorance on certain issues that is a major problem with the Puerto Rican issue. The media in part is to blame for this because I have hardly ever seen Puerto Rico on the news. However, I have seen Micheal Jackson in his pajamas several times. The medias lack of proper coverage has led (in my opinion) to the problem that most of the American public has no clue as to how incompitent George W. Bush is. This is evident because just now (after more than 4 years) are they giving him a hard time for his mishandling of Katrina. Let me give you facts about Puerto Rico. Currently there are men and woman from Puerto Rico serving in the armed forces for a President they cannot vote for. Puerto Rico’s contribution of manpower per capita to the U.S. forces is only behind 5 states. Your tax dollars support a stagnant economy held down by territorial restrictions. If Puerto Rico was a state IT WOULD contribute to the U.S. economy. Puerto Rico has already or prepared to take on people from the Katrina disaster. In Puerto Rico the legislature is dominated by a statehood party. The independence party is insignificant. … If there was a vote on status without commonwealth in Puerto Rico statehood would win. However, there would be a proportion of the population that would reject statehood. That is why I believe that Congress should allow Puerto Rico to be admitted as a special state that would be allowed certain traditional priviledges that are not unfair to other states. I do not agree with such a special state personally but I would like to take into account every Puerto Rican voter not just the majority that wins. A compromise must be made that is fair to the majority and minority of voters and that is also fair to the other states.

54. S Says:
    September 10th, 2005 at 2:36 pm

    E, please do not infer from my question regarding independence that I am rejecting out of hand the concept of statehood for Puerto Rico. I hope you will allow me to explain myself somewhat. I do not mean any disrespect to those who disagree with me, but I must comment that as an American I find it somewhat frustrating the manner in which some Puerto Ricans seem to argue that they are too different from us in culture, language, and national identity to become a state of our union and yet stop short of requesting the independence that would seem to be the logical alternative. As I said, I respect their desire to be their own entity albeit with a close friendship with the United States. However, if that is what those Puerto Ricans want then why don’t they first propose a way to do that as two allied sovereign nations before resorting to the less traditional options of free association or commonwealth? The United States and Puerto Rico would have a mutual interest in such close cooperation as independent nations for the same reasons that have been given in this forum to argue for cooperation under association. I am aware that free association is respected under United States and international law, but let us bear in mind that in the international political arena free association is the exception and not the rule when it comes to status. Most places in the world are either states or provinces of a larger nation or they are independent nations in and of themselves. Correct me if I am wrong, but even concerning the United States’ political relations only small islands such as the Federated States of Micronesia, Palau, and the Marshall islands have compacts of free association with the U.S. The larger island chains that would be more comparable to Puerto Rico such as the Hawaiian and Philippine islands became a state and independent nation, respectively. Would it not be better to fully explore the options of independence (for the sake of those Puerto Ricans who emphasize their national and cultural autonomy) and statehood (for the sake of those Puerto Ricans who emphasize an intimate political relation to the United States) before going to the non-traditional option of free association? If and when the U.S. and Puerto Rican governments have exhaustively researched the viability of statehood and independence and found both to be utterly unacceptable and unviable then perhaps we indeed will have to resign ourselves to less usual alternatives. However, as we all know, neither the U.S. nor Puerto Rican government seems to be getting the ball going anywhere. . .

55. J Says:
    September 10th, 2005 at 7:59 pm

    George W. Bush is the best friend statehood could’ve ever asked for. (please no D or R comments – I’m talking about PR’s political status)

    In the last 50 years, there has never been a President more versed on this issue. The closest one is Bush 41.

    The have a very special and long standing relationship to PR and understand it well.

    Too bad that the Washington special interests and lobbying business are in the way of statehood.

    The PR status issue has made many people in Washington millionaries. People that had nothing when they started, have built lobbying empires on the backs of the people of PR.

    All political leaders (irrespective of party)in PR whould be ashamed of themselves. They sold the people of PR the same way Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton sold blacks in the US.

    J

56. E Says:
    September 10th, 2005 at 9:09 pm

    S, I share your frustration with the situation in Puerto Rico. I would like for you to understand that if Puerto Rico has a vote on non-colonial options the majority will choose statehood. Whether a super majority or a weak majority I have no idea, but a majority nonetheless. The problem is partisan bickering has led to such hostility that the thought of compromise is in the minds of none. Yes I think it is very likely statehood will win the majority. I would love to see Puerto Rico become like any other state. However, if statehood wins there should be a compromise so that those who did not vote for statehood aren’t alienated. This compromise should be to petition to Congress a state that maintains certain historical and cultural national aspect but IS NOT unfair to other states. I would rather have 90% of the PR population agree to a compromise that both sides had to give a little, then admitting as a state which 60%-70% of people voted for. S, you have to keep in mind that these folks have consistently rejected independence. To impose this type of self-determination on people is absurd. Extreme nationalism and sovereignty are totally different then love for your culture, customs, traditions, history, etc.

    J, I do not share your views on George W. Bush because there hasn’t been any action from the federal governments end on the issue of Puerto Rico. If the taskforce on PR initiates status action then I might change my mind.

57. J Says:
    September 10th, 2005 at 10:05 pm

    E, the President has directed for the report to be published.

    The problem is the PPD and AAV.

    The report was slated to identify two options (statehood and independence) and the PPD/AAV/Sila/RHC and all their loobying friends in Washington went crazy. They have been putting stumbling blocks all over the road. To include the removal and replacement of a number of people that were helping shape the process.

    The President and his father have deep personal connections to PR. (no I’m not talking about Cesar Cabrera, Miriam Ramirez, or the other usual political suspects). 41 and 43’s friends are not involved in politics and have known each other for over 40 years.

    Needless to say, the money flow to Washington from the institutional machine in Macondo is making a lot of people rich (there are plenty of housing deals with phantom partners) and keeping the report from coming out.

    The bottom line is they want their cake and eat it too. They are afraid of facing the facts. They want to tell the world they are a nation, but shield themselves with the US flag when its convenient to them.

    given all the cash (look at how bhatia redirected more than $4M to Washington just a few weeks ago) they’ve spent, i’m sure the report will come out with three options.

    and as long as they are feeding the cannibals in Washington, zero progress will be made.

    J

58. S Says:
    September 11th, 2005 at 12:43 am

    (I am posting this comment on the other blog too so if you read both please ignore the repetition)
    E, I realize that independence and its main proponent, the PIP party in Puerto Rico, only have the support of a small percentage of the island population—2-3%, I believe. Nevertheless, the question is still worth asking as to why exactly this is. What are the reasons behind these numbers? Why is it that those who reject statehood, especially on cultural or nationalistic grounds, choose to support not an independent and sovereign nation but rather some form of middle ground in the form of commonwealth or associated republic? For example, with all due respect to his position as a leader it is frustrating for me to read about the enhanced commonwealth option proposed by the Partido Popular Democratico (PPD) of current governor Anibal Acevedo Vila. A say in whether or not one has to obey certain federal laws? More freedom to run one’s own international relations? Keep one’s own representation in international events? Not have to pay American federal income taxes? It points so much in the direction of independence, why don’t these politicians simply request precisely that? It seems that there is this line in the sand between some of these “populares” and independence that they always like to flirt with but never dare to cross. I realize that they want to make sure they keep United States citizenship and federal benefits from the government and all of the advantages that go with it. While I mean no offense to those who hold to the PPD position as I know it is a very popular one in Puerto Rico, I will be honest enough with you to say that the slogan of “lo mejor de los dos mundos” may be music to the ears of some on the island but it is nails on a chalkboard to me as an American. To me, Puerto Rico is either a part of our country or it is not. I do not believe that Puerto Rico should be denied consideration for statehood. I do however feel that those who do no support statehood should support independence rather than tinker with and overhaul middle ground options that should only be used as a last resort. In my mind, the people of Puerto Rico have the RIGHT to request one of two status options from the United States: Independence or Statehood. 1) Independence, because the dominion of the United States over Puerto Rico was begun by force after the Spanish American war and the Puerto Ricans have the right to end this colonial relationship that was never of their choosing. 2) Statehood, because Puerto Ricans have the right to request representation through the Congress and Presidency in the country of which they are now nevertheless citizens. For the United States to refuse to work through these democratic status options would indeed only demonstrate how far America has strayed from the republic our nation ought to be. Lastly, as some are apt to point out, I realize once again that free association is a legal option under American and international law. However and with all due respect, other than personally feeling that it should only be an option of last resort, I do not feel that Puerto Rico is entitled to such a relationship with the U.S. in the same way that it is entitled to statehood or independence based on moral principle. As a special status, free association should not be an obligation but rather something the United States generously grants or withholds at its own will.

59. Albert Says:
    September 17th, 2005 at 4:41 pm

    The Business of American Democracy Remains Incomplete

    http://www.american-democracy.org

    Did you know that:

    1. The tax burden on the average American taxpayers to support Puerto Rico is $400 per year!

    2. Puerto Rican natives are U.S. Citizens.

    3. Per capita, Puerto Ricans contribute the highest numbers to our armed forces.

    4. U.S. citizens from Puerto Rico cannot vote for President of the U.S., their Commander in Chief, and have no vote in Congress.

    5. U.S. citizens that move to Puerto Rico looses many of their rights and privileges, such as voting for the U.S. President, even though they would retain the same right if they moved to foreign countries, including to countries that are enemies of the U.S. such as Cuba, Tehran, Iran or North Korea. In other words U.S. citizens have more rights in a foreign country than in U.S. soil!

    6. All of the above are the result of the current territorial/colonial status of Puerto Rico? The nefarious doctrine called “separate but equal,” which allowed the blatant discriminatory treatment of African-Americans for many decades, was extended to Puerto Rican-Americans and was openly converted into a legalized doctrine of “separate and unequal.”

    These economic and civil rights inequities must be eradicated. We are petitioning the President of the United States and Congress, to pass legislation allowing the U.S. citizens of Puerto Rico to choose among non-territorial, non-colonial options.

    You can sign our petition at:

    http://www.american-democracy.org/petition

    For further information and background on these bullet points, please visit our website at:

    http://www.american-democracy.org

    Thank you for helping us complete the business of American democracy.

    Sincerely,

    American-Democracy.Org

60. j Says:
    September 17th, 2005 at 11:14 pm

    Albert, get your facts right. People who live in PR can’t participate in Federal Elections for President. It has nothing to do with having been born in PR.

    J

61. M Says:
    November 14th, 2005 at 5:41 pm

    Why should Puerto Rico vote for US president? We are not a state of the US. We are a Commonwealth, let’s not forget that

62. N Says:
    December 6th, 2005 at 8:49 pm

    M, agreed. We are not and dont want to be a state. I have no desire to vote for president of the USA anymore than I desire to vote for the president of mexico or the canadian prime minister.

63. Tomas Says:
    December 23rd, 2005 at 2:52 pm

    Puerto Rico 51 baby!!!

64. Ruben Says:
    January 29th, 2006 at 3:46 am

    A politicians main concern today is not “public service”, nor is it based on justice nor truth. It is based solely on being re-elected and what will get them another term in office. Their actions are based on and they are so out of touch and centered in on their own personal agendas, they do not have a clue as to what their constituency wants them to do, and in fact they could care less. They will deceive, manipulate, lie, and yes, walk over the rights of the average citizen if it suits their purpose. Since a rational man’s ambition is unlimited, since his pursuit and achievement of values is a lifelong process–the higher the values, the harder the struggle–he needs a moment, an hour or some period of time in which he can experience the sense of his completed task, the sense of living in a universe where his values have been successfully achieved. it is like a moment of rest, a moment to gain fuel to move farther. Art gives him that fuel; the pleasure of contemplating the objectified reality of one’s own sense of life is the pleasure of feeling what it would be like to live in oneíís ideal world. –Everyday we are confronted with experiences which are, in the larger world view, insignificant, yet these items challenge us with indecision because they make us face philosophical paradoxes. F. Scott Fitzgerald once said that the highest form of thought was to be able to hold two conflicting ideas at the same time. I do not agree. Conflicting ideas produce inadequate understanding, indecision, inaction, thus inadequate achievements. But apparently conflicting ideas which are resolved within the thinker–now that==s something else. Ultimately, in this example, the paradox unresolved comes down to a permissive versus a restrictive society. By what guidelines does one choose the balance? What did Jimmy to God, God does to Jimmy. “Actions can boomerang”, “Never cast dirt into that fountain of which you have sometime drunk” Politicians have to follow what has considered important in society, or they will simply not be elected. The basic ingredient of Puerto Rico’s political dilemma, is that in a complex, original situation, where no source of help is apparent. Irresponsibility and the tendency to shift responsibilities come from a natural rebellion against unnatural responsibility. Our people as that (NPP) Party’s blueprint must find the correct solution for developing the statehood model for next-plebiscite. “There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.” In some dynamic treatment, the process of evaluating a position consists in isolating and weighing up all the positional factors that play a part in it. Capture of the 51st Start is the ultimate goal but not the first object of the plebiscite. The art of evaluation lies in understanding the essence of a position – identifying the crucial problem (either positional or tactical) that needs solving – sensing the right direction for our investigations and detecting the desirability or otherwise of a particular operation. Then evaluate and act. Tastes are not debate: “Tastes differ”. Take a hard look at the handling of statehood if the position is hopeless; resign if not, then play like the fate of the Borinquen depends on its outcome. Do not resign until your position is absolutely, definitely hopeless. The devil is not as scary as they paint him. Keep on fighting; never mind whether analysis can show that the situation is dismal. When you reach the top, keep climbing.” I keep on fighting as long as my opponent can make a mistake. Every so often, you are opponent just self-destructs. Believe firmly that in becomes of paramount requested substantive action there are no rules without exceptions. “The medicine that cures the tailor can kill the shoemaker.” If you do not resign but hang around and watch, this can be fun. “There is nothing as eloquent as a rattlesnake’s tail.” A defeatist spirit must inevitably lead to disaster. “Use the correct tool for the job.” All persons understanding of statehood who starts with a slight disadvantage is thereby stimulated to work harder and often achieve a good result. Necessity knows no laws. Whereas an elector with a slight advantage may overestimate it, become careless, and get a bad game. Good positions do not win next-plebiscite, good moves do. Who keeps company with the wolf will learn to howl. It is not enough to be a good American citenzen; you must also play well. One does not have to play well; it is enough to play better than your opponent is. If you think that the move is good, play it! A starving man will eat with the wolf.” Who needs the approval of a city official for the water from a stream?) Excessive subjectiveness disturbs the logical development of model for next-plebiscite. Strange, is not it, but that’s the conclusion I have come to after many years of top-level coaching. Time management is an important skill in statehood. “The one who tells the stories rules the world.” Learn from the past USA’s colonies maybe, but do not necessarily copy them! In the end, imitation leads only to stagnation and there is no satisfaction in that. This is a rudimentary opposition to taxation and control of things taken for granted in a village life. An individual has to feel that he or she gives something of them to that purpose. To the mediocre, mediocrity appears great. Light a candle for God and another one for the devil. “Who keeps company with wolves, will learn to howl.” The next-plebiscite might be divide into three parts, the opening, the middle-game, and the end game. There is one thing; you must strive for to be equally efficient in the three parts. What the people believe is true. Originality and creativity are paramount for most persons, NOT results. The real goal on our ultimate civic destiny is to create an imbalance and try to build a situation in which it is favorable for you. Unwanted excuse implies/means manifest accusation” I believe most amateurs are far too conventional in their approach. To make an informed decision on our ultimate civic destiny, the individuality of expression is the key to rapid improvement. “Unshared joy is an unlighted candle.” Certainly, concerning, action We The Taino people of Puerto Rico must eliminate those routine and mechanical approaches to the solution for complex political intolerance in our society. In the end, true statehood connoisseurs realize that the secret of success does not depend only on intensive preparation. If you reprove one error, you will correct a hundred.”"Our lives teach us who we are.” We are a Naion.. If you can honestly conclude that the reason for a loss in some many plebiscites are that your opponent played the better public politics (on that day at least) the learning process speeds up considerably. May the Great Spirit’s blessings always be with you.” To delete an existing political dilemma, the problem is simultaneously to establish the psychological cause of those past historian mistakes. “Life is the sum of your choices.” By showing greater perseverance with your opening preferences you will get a feel for the positions that arise. Nevertheless, on the way this preparation is transform within the person, in the way it lets him develop his plebiscite horizons. What you don’t see with your eyes, don’t invent with your tongue.” ” Don’t kill the messenger” From being to knowing” from the existence of things one can make sure of their possibilities. Eventually you will develop a repertoire, which fosters self-confidence, saves some time on the status quote clock, and hopeful brings about positions that suit you. “The experience is more important than the theory.” From a thing’s possibility one cannot be certain of its reality” “Never tickle a sleeping Chupacabra”, Many seemingly unimportant transpositions actually obscure the points. The will of the heart is to hug the 51st Start, but the arm is not long enough. This proverb is often use to illustrate a person who does not have enough resources to do/accomplish his goal/wish.The Lord is my light”, motto of el federalista. The ability indirectly, as if suddenly, without resulting to detailed, logical deductions, to find or discover the truth, as if sudently, without resulting to detailed, logical deductions. To find or discover the truth, an inner illumination the shining starts of the American flag. “Let the welfare of the people be the supreme law” (motto of the U.S. 51 state of Borinquen.

65. Ruben Says:
    January 29th, 2006 at 4:39 am

    I would first like to say that we the Tainos are the very first American Indian Nation to greet and meet Christopher Columbus on October 12, 1492. “Boo!” I am a ghost of the past and I say that we the Tainos are still here. In the Puerto Rico census made at the end of the 18th century by order of Carlos III of Spain, proof was given that the Taino natives were not exterminated in the first half of the 15th century, since in 1799 there was a documented contingent of some 2,302 pure natives of Taino Indian blood living in the country and who had settled in the Central Cordillera (Puerto Rico’s Central Mountain Range). Recent Research Contributions of Genetics to the Studies of Population
    History and Anthropology in Puerto Rico
    Profiles Vol. 1 No. 2 August 15, 2000
    Are any other traditional beliefs affected?
    Yes. Our findings also indicate that the conventional wisdom that
    Amerindians would be concentrated in the mountains while African blacks
    would be concentrated in the coasts, is not accurate. A strong Amerindian
    presence has been found in the southern coastal city of Ponce, for example,
    while African black mtDNA is present in the central mountains of Puerto
    Rico. Undoubtedly, African slaves must have fled from the coasts to the
    mountains even though history does not record such a flight. Loiza Aldea, an
    area east of San Juan populated mostly by blacks, presents an interesting
    example. By a crown decree from Spain, the colonial government of Puerto
    Rico was instructed to place runaway slaves from the British colonies in
    what is today Loiza Aldea. This area was chosen by the Crown because it was
    the weakest flank of defense of the island, and they hoped that the freed
    blacks would help defend the island against British invaders. This is a
    historical fact, but what history cannot explain is the great quantity of
    fishermen among the blacks of Loiza Aldea. Fishing by blacks is considered
    an aberration because black slaves were traditionally taught a fear of the
    sea as a way to keep them enslaved. Some historians have argued that the
    blacks of Loiza developed their fishing skills through direct contact with the Tainos of Puerto Rico. The presence of Amerindian mtDNA in Loiza, supports this hypothesis. In general, the project underlines the fact that biology can help reveal ethnic origins as well as population growth and migration in the development of a people. These places today are known by our people as the Indieras (Indian Lands). CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION BY UNITED STATES FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CENSUS BUREAU Smiling??. “Nobody must keep a commitment to do impossible things”. Tactics early in the plebiscite will tend to favor the burocratics, because he has the initiative. “From the stars, Knowledge” Aim for small advantages, accumulate them, and only after having attained these ends search for the combination. As well for being a strategy aimed at winning games always the well it gives you experience with a wide range of positions.You can write down everything, but it does not have to be true. Since this kind of offensive is one of the most complex and many-sided operations in statehood, demanding the maximum collaboration of all people’s concerns and control overall possible consequence right to the end-process of ‘descolonialism’. I have always believed that you can think positive just as well as you can think negative. Paper is patient. It is often easier to write things down, than to tell them other people. This demands immense energy consumption both before and during the OUR STRUGGLE. An optimist may see a light where there is none, but why must the pessimist always run to blow it out? Some men have thousands of reasons why they cannot do what they want to, when all they need is one reason why they can.I have never, in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me. I have learned from experience that the greater part of our happiness or misery depends on our dispositions and not on our circumstances. Do not cry with them when they are on that undiluted celebration hill they cannot climb, and do not feel sorry when they start slipping backward. Whom the initiative is our sort of birthright, OUR AMERICAN SYSTEM Note: I said ADD-NOT GIVE UP your basic system. “What do I owe to my times, to my country, to my neighbors, to my friends? Such are the questions which a virtuous man ought often to ask himself.” Now is the time the boys will be separate from the men. Catchall categories supported in good part by pro-commonwealth voters who were indulging a best-of-both-words fantasy definition of the commonwealth many privileges, few obligations that Congress would never approve. There is no substitute. Here we see how skillfully transpositions actually obscure the points. “Public virtue is a kind of ghost town into which anyone can move and declare himself sheriff.” Accuracy is to a newspaper what virtue is to a lady, but a newspaper can always print a retraction. For after all, the best thing one can do when it is raining is to let it rain. The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you put up with the rain. A good eye for smites is far more important than a knowledge of strategical principles. Seeing the idea precedes the logical argument. “If men were angels, no government would be necessary.” We the people must visualize the correct order of positions, reviewing the responces of the political opponent its development proceeded by the acquisition of experience in combination vision of which we have already spoken. Process. “It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his salary depends upon his not understanding it.” If you cannot beat >em with accuracy, kill >em with fear and confusion! “You can preach a better sermon with your life than with your lips.” To be nobody-but-yourself – in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody else – means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight; and never stop fighting. “The moral is that statehood one judge not by contaminated political ideology forms, or colors, but by functions and American values. Every U.S. Senator & Democrats statehood person is morally obliged to attempt to solve as well as possible the complex politician’ dilemma, without any fear of simplification. Now the only way that your opponent can possibly break your control is by giving up something else. Taught that launching plebiscites with our congress approval out of thin air was unsound in most instances. Because a properly congresional approval of next-plebiscite ought to end in a draw, one cannot expect to defeat an opponent by force majeure.The Taino Tribal Council of Jatibonicu’ Taino Tribe of Borikén
    “Great People of The Sacred High Waters”

    The MounTAINOus Region of Borikén Puerto Rico “Self-image sets the boundaries of individual accomplishment addressing and surmounting the challenges posed by what has accurately and succinctly been described as “American democracy’s unfinished business. ” “What the people want is very simple. ” It is strangely absurd to suppose that a 4 million of human beings, collected together, are not under the same moral laws which bind each of them separately.” They want an America as good as its promise.” Because it only appears to be forced, but in reality a combination contains many possibilities, which are almost impossible to see while deciding tense status results. If you choose to look at it spiritually, this view of entity clearing aligns well with the world view of native indians, hawaian religions, or many other religious traditions: that everything has a spirit. Humanity needs a lesson in humility. Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster.”.” One is free to choose, but what follows is the result of one’s choice. From the consequences of one’s action, there is never any escape. The Holy Bible is this world’s only door to reality….” Please….” Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” The biggest triumph of the Creator is to see his creatures re-create themselves. It strives for creativity, invention combines both soundness, and the opportunity for dynamic counter play when such advantages gained, victory for union harmony will be obtains. Perhaps our brains are something like a train track and consciousness is like the train that travels on it. Our Ancestor Taino Indians explain the movement of time and the age, the higher influences, which control the world, and the ties, which link Borinquen with the human soul. *”Nobody is equal to nobody. Every human being is a strange single.” It is like speaking a foreign language or liking cauliflower, it puts you into a special group of people that understand something that those out of the group cant. Without freedom of expression, liberty we cannot be natural; there is simply no peace. The question is not how to be without problems, or how too never be hurt. The question that matters, is whether your heart is free! My heart is free of multiple identities within the universe of the supreme creator. Does fear of making mistakes prevent you trying something creative? It is a sharp edged reality, lacking the dulling aspects of Deus ex machine luck, and unwrapped by insider connections. Life is a kind of status quo, with struggle, competition, good, and ill events. “We’re originated in the infinite Universe”. Puertorican’s life very much resembles a continuos political dilemma. For, as in the latter, while a state man is too attentive to secure him very strongly on one side of this democratic deficit. He is apt to leave an unguarded opening on the other, so do it often happen in life. O life, what art thou? Life seldom answers this question. I am surely that many original and deep ideas conceive a new route of instructively at a moment of great intensity. When connections are made, structure appears allowing energy to flow where before there was only an inert potential. It makes no difference whether you win or lose, until you lose. “Do not follow where the path may lead. ” We make ourselves either happy or miserable. The amount of work is the same.” We are here to awaken from the illusion of our separateness.” Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” However, play you are hardest anyway; just be positioned higher than the win. “When making a decision … in vital matters … such as the choice of a mate or a profession, the decision should come from the unconscious, from somewhere within ourselves.”. “By a divine paradox, wherever there is one slave there are two. I do not like people who are in politics for themselves and not for others. You want that, you can go into show business.” There are two classes of American men; those who are content to yield to circumstances, and who play colonial whist; and those who aim to control circumstances, and who play safe with the 51st state of the union. That there seem to be distinct as well as higher and lower forms, including automatic skills of mind and body appearing to be autonomous and unrelated to creative vision, is distraction’s way of throwing sand in our eyes. More things change the more; they are the same. The forces of distraction inherent in matter-dominated society prevent all but the rarest of intuitive inspirations from becoming breakthroughs and from disrupting the mind-debilitating, ego-soothing reality-consensus that shields society from the change, that novelty always imposes.

    A wave of the ATLANTIC ocean OR mAR cARIBE certainly looks separate from other waves of the ocean: there’s an apparent separation. Civilizations should be measured by “the degree of diversity attained and the degree of unity retained.” Separation is the ultimate myth. Winning is a habit. Unfortunately, so is losing. IF you chase two rabbits, both will escape. All polarities indicate a higher truth. Duality does not mean separation, it means life: day would lose its meaning without night. Life is the movement between polarities, and one polarity gives the other its meaning. IF a man looks sharply and attentively, he will see fortune. THE solution of every problem is another problem. THE pen is the tongue of the mind. And just as he has learned to be guided by objective criteria in making his physical tools, so he must be guided by objective criteria in forming his tools of cognition: his concepts. Traditionally in our oral tribal history our people have always honored our tribal Elders and all of our Taino tribal Chieftains as this is our way of remembering our Taino community leaders and their handed down legacy. “We demand entire freedom of action and then expect the government in some miraculous way to save us from the consequences of our own acts…. KNOWLEDGE can be enormously costly, and is often scattered in widely uneven fragments, too small to be individually usable in decision making. Self-government means self-reliance.” Own independent judgment is the means by which one must choose one’s actions, but it is not a moral criterion or a moral validation; only reference to a demonstrable principle can validate one’s choices. Humility, that low, sweet root, from which all heavenly virtues shoot.” NO concept man form is valid unless he integrates it without contradiction into the sum of his knowledge. This is the Great Seal of the Jatibonicu Taino Tribal Nation of Borikén. The Great Sacred Seal was etched into rock around 900 BC. We the Jatibonicu people and its Tribal Chiefs and Elders historically have recognized this Great Seal as the official Guanin (Sacred Badge of Authority of the Chieftains) of the tribal blood lineage of Cacique Orocobix. Chief Orocobix was the last hereditary full blood Paramount Chief of the island kingdom of Jatibonicu. The extremely tiny fractions that think regularly, accurately, creatively, and without self-delusion – in the end, these are the only people who count. “When your mental eyes are finally opened, it’ll be like going from back seat passenger of your life, to driver behind the wheel.”Sometimes the subconscious mind manifests wisdom several steps or even years ahead of the conscious mind, and has its own way of leading us toward our destiny. You can distort them later. They both together make up the indivisible phenomena. WE hear and apprehend only what we already half know. Do not try to fathom the unfathomable. WE are anxious when there is a dissonance between our knowledge and the perceivable facts. Originality consists of the achievement of new combinations, and not of the creation of something out of nothing. Since our knowledge is not to be doubt or questioned, the facts have to be alter. GET the facts first. WE think in generalities, but we live in details. We do not know a truth without knowing its cause. TO know truly is to know by causes. WE usually see only the things we are looking for – so much so that we sometimes see them where they are not. It is to find the boundlessness that millions are looking for. Everything is simpler than you think and at the same time more complexes than you imagine. THE thinker makes a great mistake when he asks after cause and effect. To find truth is like a flower releasing its fragrance to the winds, somehow fulfilling its ultimate destiny. THE real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes. In our society people do what they want anyway, whether something is legal or not. Why not give the individual his freedom? Give the individual freedom, and he will realize his responsibility. Taking away the individual’s responsibility induces irresponsible, criminal, and violent behavior. ” Give me a place to stand, and I will move the Earth. Naturally, the individual rebels. The Lord once owns the happy lines, how the wit brightens!

    We the taino people must pay attention of the statehood development; to prevent liquidation or interchanges occurs in any situation. The success of a strategic plan depends of every detail being correct. Objectivity consists in understanding that the only one who never makes a mistake is the one who never does anything. Reason, which governs the world, governs also the chessboard. Let us depart from science. “Judge not the dog by its hair.” He who does not love the national language is worse than a smelly fish. To protect those who are not able to protect themselves is a duty, which every one owes to society.” Some dabble in it a while, but not long enough to discover its mysterious charms, which are carefully hidden from the casual observer. The process of perception links people to their environment and is critical to accurate understanding of the world about us.”It’s the thought that counts.” The subject or psychological exploitation of the treat to puerto rico USA, position can also involve various other ulterior motives. Behind every argument is someone’s ignorance. Only congress can define terms for statehood, separate nationhood or continuation of the current status so that informed self-determination is possible.” By comparing these to the structure and processes of Taino DNA, we can assemble a complex of photo-linguistic meanings that allow us to fulfil the ultimate goal of man’s spiritual yearnings, that of reading the divine. “When your mental eyes are finally opened, it’s like looking into a microscope for the first time, and discovering that another world exists.” “No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.” Eventually congress will have to do same for puertorican, and the sooner the better for puertorico and the nation as a whole doing this should cultivate needed skills and prepare you for higher levels of demands. “The weak can never forgive. ” It heals the mind in sickness and exercises it in health. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.” It affords a keen delight to youth, a sober pleasure to manhood, and a perpetual solace to old age. It induces the poor to forget their poverty, and the rich to be careless of their wealth. The best place to find a helping hand is at the end of your own arm.” What torment, to have your thinking and your fantasy tied down by another person! Nothing less will satisfy the obligation to convert an imperial property into a place of dignity for American citizens whom are equal in rights to all others.

    “Character, in the long run, is the decisive factor in the life of an individual and of nations alike.” It may not sound very glamorous, but a human being’s greatest freedom is being natural. It is continuous and demands a heated passion for united stares of America. The road to hell is paved with good intentions. The end game is the North Star by which a course may be set in both the opening and middle game. A pure thought creates the lightning of a harmony life, history must be rewriting as a tool using the lightning rail road track of prosperity. If it flags for an instant, an oversight is committed, resulting in injury or defeat. The best American in Puerto Rico may be little more, than best American in the USA. However, proficiency in whist implies capacity for success in all these more important undertakings where mind struggles with mind. “I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood can never become a reality. I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word.” ” Nobody is bored when he is trying to make something that is beautiful, or to discover something that is true.” I will be blunt – I do not give a damn what color someone skin is, what religion they are, what country they are from, what gender they are, what their sexual preferences are. “To perceive is to suffer.” The handwriting is on the wall; should be use as we use glasses – to assist the sight; although some players make use of them as if they thought they conferred sight. Knowledge is necessary but not sufficient, if one cannot apply it efficiently under real-time competitive conditions. Let us remember that America became the greatest nation in the history of the world by empowering people with the tools for inform self-determination. “Politeness is the art of choosing among one’s real thoughts.” Moreover, Congress and the local government would then ratify the chosen status by all becoming an intellectual giant in the techniques of Know-how and need to know basic with various degrees of difficulties. We the people of Puerto Rico, USA must know the United States congressional representative agenda their views terminology all the rules of as relative values of the overall objective mission. We the people of Puerto Rico see this aim as the desire to achieve statehood with those scientific and religious values that, a par and artistic u.s. flag masterpiece. “A nation, as a society, forms a moral person, and every member of it is personally responsible for his society.”“Like the body that is made up of different limbs and organs, all moral creatures must depend on each other to exist.” Can never approximate the human emotions, which accompany an excellent move or a great idea? Oh, those exclamation points! “Americanism is a question of principles, of idealism, of character: it is not a matter of birthplace or creed or line of descent.”“This country will not be a good place for any of us to live in unless we make it a good place for all of us to live in.”

    Do not give advice to someone more experienced than you do. Do not trouble; trouble until trouble troubles you. My point is this: Unless one considers that there should be two or more classes of citizens, doesn’t everyone have the right to be rich? “To be a catalyst is the ambition most appropriate for those who see the world as being in constant change, and who, without thinking that they can control it, wish to influence its direction.” If you say yes to this, the next question is: Do you want to live in a society that makes this an actual possibility for everyone, or do you want to live in a society that just promises this to everyone but can’t actually deliver on that promise? If the conditions of plebiscite change the plan also changes, anger, fear, and overconfidence is common emotion that may help you in the odd task but that ultimately leap to defeat because they cloud the intellectual and creative process. Formations are only valid as part of a sequence or plan, not as goals. Since it is a natural process it needs to be allowed to take its course and not hurried. The process of living can be severely hampered by the fear of death. It was once said that ““everyone wants to go to heaven, but no one wants to die””. If we truly believed we were going to a better place, would we be afraid. The most constant thing in life is change. Everything that has been mummified belongs to the past. Mummification is a blockage in the body, there is no spirit. We are all alive and need to progress and go beyond.

    I finally concluded: A single plan is the sum total of strategic operations which follow each other in turn and which each carry out an independent idea that arises logically from the demands of a given position. If you do not do what the position needs, bad things will happen to you. A fool may sometimes give a wise man counsel. Some sweat to conquer a difficulty, only to rest content in their labors; not knowing how to bring the victory home. THE status moves we play reveal our essence, and we place in those political dilemma reality s the expectation that something larger, more mysterious, more transforming might arise in our ordinary lives. Once the realization is accepted that even between the closest human beings infinite distances continue to exist, a wonderful living side by side can grow up, if they succeed in loving the distance between them.” What right does anyone have to assume that another person should be like them? I personally think that if everyone were like me, this world would be a better, safer place, but that’s MY opinion. It does not give me the right to try to make everyone like me. Hell. if being like “them” is so great, how come the worlds is so screwed up? Think about it. I like who I am. I have principles which I do not compromise, even when it is painful.
    “In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing. The worst thing you can do is nothing. ” Great events have small beginning god blesses America and Puerto Rico USA.

    P.S. Philosophy La estadidad is the childhood of the intellect, (puertorriqueño) and a culture that tries to skip it will never grow up.”

    (I’m not a native speaker – please forgive my errors).

66. Ruben Says:
    January 29th, 2006 at 4:54 pm

    Some politicians main concern today are not “public service,” nor is it based on justice nor truth. It is based solely on being re-elected and what will get them another term in office. Their actions are based on and they are so out of touch and centered in on their own personal agendas, they do not have a clue as to what their constituency wants them to do, and in fact they could care less. They will deceive, manipulate, lie, and yes, walk over the rights of the average citizen if it suits their purpose. Since a rational man’s ambition is unlimited, since his pursuit and achievement of values are some lifelong processes–the higher the values, the harder the struggle–he needs a moment, an hour or some period of time in which he can experience the sense of his completed task, the sense of living in a universe where his values have been successfully achieved. It is like a moment of rest, a moment to gain fuel to move farther. Art gives him that fuel; the pleasure of contemplating the objectified reality of one’s own sense of life is the pleasure of feeling what it would be like to live in oneíííís an ideal world. –Every day we are confronted with experiences which are, in the larger world view, insignificant, yet these items challenge us with indecision because they make us face philosophical paradoxes. F. Scott Fitzgerald once said that the highest form of thought was to be able to hold two conflicting ideas at the same time. I do not agree. Conflicting ideas produce inadequate understanding, indecision, inaction, thus inadequate achievements. But apparently conflicting ideas which are resolved within the thinker–now that’s something else. Ultimately, in this example, the paradox unresolved comes down to a permissive versus a restrictive society. By what guidelines does one choose the balance? What did Jimmy to God, God does to Jimmy. “Actions can boomerang,” “Never cast dirt into that fountain of which you have sometime drunk” Politicians have to follow what has considered importantly in society, or they will simply not be elected. The basic ingredient of Puerto Rico’s political dilemma, is that in a complex, original situation, where no source of help is apparent. Irresponsibility and the tendency to shift responsibilities come from a natural rebellion against unnatural responsibility. Our people as that (NPP) Party’s blueprint must find the correct solution for developing the statehood model for next-plebiscite. “There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.” In some dynamic treatment, the process of evaluating a position consists in isolating and weighing up all the positional factors that play a part in it. Capture of the 51st Start is the ultimate goal but not the first object of the plebiscite. The art of evaluation lies in understanding the essence of a position – identifying the crucial problem (either positional or tactical) that needs solving – sensing the right direction for our investigations and detecting the desirability or otherwise of a particular operation. Then evaluate and act. Tastes are not debate: “Tastes differ.” Take a hard look at the handling of statehood if the position is hopeless; Resign if not, then play like the fate of the Borinquen depends on its outcome. Do not resign until your position is absolutely, definitely hopeless. The devil is not as scary as they paint him. Keep on fighting; never mind whether analysis can show that the situation is dismal. When you reach the top, keep climbing.” I keep on fighting as long as my opponent can make a mistake. Every so often, you are opponent just self-destructs. Believe firmly that in becomes of paramount requested substantive action there are no rules without exceptions. “The medicine that cures the tailor can kill the shoemaker.” If you do not resign but hang around and watch, this can be fun. “There is nothing as eloquent as a rattlesnake’s tail.” A defeatist spirit must inevitably lead to disaster. “Use the correct tool for the job.” All persons understanding of statehood who starts with a slight disadvantage are thereby stimulated to work harder and often achieve a good result. Necessity knows no laws. Whereas an elector with a slight advantage may overestimate it, become careless, and get a bad game. Good positions do not win next-plebiscite, and good moves do. Who keeps company with the wolf will learn to howl. It is not enough to be a good American citenzen; you must also play well. One does not have to play well; it is enough to play better than your opponent is. If you think that the move is good, play it! A starving man will eat with the wolf.” Who needs the approval of a city official for the water from a stream?) Excessive subjectiveness disturbs the logical development of model for next-plebiscite. Strange, is not it, but that’s the conclusion I have come to after many years of top-level coaching. Time management is an important skill in statehood. “The one who tells the stories rules the world.” Learn from the past USA’s colonies maybe, but do not necessarily copy them! In the end, imitation leads only to stagnation and there is no satisfaction in that. This is a rudimentary opposition to taxation and control of things taken for granted in a village life. An individual has to feel that he or she gives something of them to that purpose. To the mediocre, mediocrity appears great. Light a candle for God and another one for the devil. “Who keeps company with wolves, will learn to howl.” The next-plebiscite might be divides into three parts, the opening, the middle-game, and the end game. There is one thing; you must strive for to be equally efficient in the three parts. What the people believes is true. Originality and creativity are paramount for most persons, NOT results. The real goal on our ultimate civic destiny is to create an imbalance and try to build a situation in which it is favorable for you. Unwanted excuse implies/means manifest accusation” I believe most amateurs are far too conventional in their approach. To make an informed decision on our ultimate civic destiny, the individuality of expression is the key to rapid improvement. ““Unshared joy is an unlighted candle.” Certainly, concerning, action We The Taino people of Puerto Rico must eliminate those routine and mechanical approaches to the solution for complex political intolerance in our society. In the end, true statehood connoisseurs realize that the secret of success does not depend only on intensive preparation. If you reprove one error, you will correct a hundred.”"Our lives teach us who we are.” We are a Nation. If you can honestly conclude that the reasons for a loss in some many plebiscites are that your opponent played the better public politics (on that day at least) the learning process speeds up considerably. May the Great Spirit’s blessings always be with you.” To delete an existing political dilemma, the problem is simultaneously to establish the psychological cause of those past historian mistakes. ““Life is the sum of your choices.”” By showing greater perseverance with your opening preferences you will get a feel for the positions that arise. Nevertheless, on the way this preparation is transformed within the person, in the way it lets him develop his plebiscite horizons. What you don’t see with your eyes, don’t invent with your tongue.” ” Don’t kill the messenger” From being to knowing” from the existence of things one can make sure of their possibilities. Eventually you will develop a repertoire, which fosters self-confidence, saves some time on the status quote clock, and hopeful brings about positions that suit you. “The experience is more important than the theory.” From a thing’s possibility one cannot be certain of its reality” “Never tickle a sleeping Chupacabra”, Many seemingly unimportant transpositions actually obscure the points. The will of the heart is to hug the 51st Start, but the arm is not long enough. This proverb is often use to illustrate a person who does not have enough resources to do/accomplish his goal/wish. The Lord is my light”, the motto of el federalists. The ability indirectly, as if suddenly, without resulting to detailed, logical deductions, to find or discover the truth, as if suddenly, without resulting to detailed, logical deductions. To find or discover the truth, an inner illumination the shining starts of the American flag. “Let the welfare of the people be the supreme law” (motto of the U.S. 51 states of Borinquen.
    I would first like to say that we the Tainos are the very first American Indian Nation to greet and meet Christopher Columbus on October 12, 1492. “Boo!” I am a ghost of the past and I say that we the Tainos are still here. In the Puerto Rico census made at the end of the 18th century by order of Carlos III of Spain, proof was given that the Taino natives were not exterminated in the first half of the 15th century, since in 1799 there was a documented contingent of some 2,302 pure natives of Taino Indian blood living in the country and who had settled in the Central Cordillera (Puerto Rico’s Central Mountain Range). Recent Research Contributions of Genetics to the Studies of Population History and Anthropology in Puerto Rico
    Profiles Vol. 1 No. 2 August 15, 2000. Are any other traditional beliefs affected?
    Yes. Our findings also indicate that the conventional wisdom that
    Amerindians would be concentrated in the mountains while African blacks
    would be concentrated in the coasts, is not accurate. A strong Amerindian
    presence has been found in the southern coastal city of Ponce, for example,
    while African black mtDNA is present in the central mountains of Puerto
    Rico. Undoubtedly, African slaves must have fled from the coasts to the
    mountains even though history does not record such a flight. Loiza Aldea, an
    area east of San Juan populated mostly by blacks, presents an interesting
    example. By a crown decree from Spain, the colonial government of Puerto
    Rico was instructed to place runaway slaves from the British colonies in
    what is today Loiza Aldea. This area was chosen by the Crown because it was
    the weakest flank of defense of the island, and they hoped that the freed
    blacks would help defend the island against British invaders. This is a
    historical fact, but what history cannot explain is the great quantity of
    fishermen among the blacks of Loiza Aldea. Fishing by blacks is considered
    an aberration because black slaves were traditionally taught a fear of the
    sea as a way to keep them enslaved. Some historians have argued that the
    blacks of Loiza developed their fishing skills through direct contact with the Tainos of Puerto Rico. The presence of Amerindian mtDNA in Loiza, supports this hypothesis. In general, the project underlines the fact that biology can help reveal ethnic origins as well as population growth and migration in the development of the people. These places today are known by our people as the Indieras (Indian Lands). CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION BY UNITED STATES FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CENSUS BUREAU Smiling??. “Nobody must keep a commitment to do impossible things”. Tactics early in the plebiscite will tend to favor the burocratics, because he has the initiative. “From the stars, Knowledge” Aim for small advantages, accumulates them, and only after having attained these ends search for the combination. As well for being a strategy aimed at winning games always the well it gives you experience with a wide range of positions. You can write down everything, but it does not have to be true. Since this kind of offensive is one of the most complex and many-sided operations in statehood, demanding the maximum collaboration of all people’s concerns and control overall possible consequence right to the end-process of ‘des colonialism myth’. I have always believed that you can think positively just as well as you can think negative. Paper is patient. It is often easier to write things down, than to tell them other people. This demands immense energy consumption both before and during OUR STRUGGLE. An optimist may see a light where there is none, but why must the pessimist always run to blow it out? Some men have thousands of reasons why they cannot do what they want to, when all they need is one reason why they can. I have never, in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me. I have learned from experience that the greater part of our happiness or misery depends on our dispositions and not on our circumstances. Do not cry with them when they are on that undiluted celebration hill they cannot climb, and do not feel sorry when they start slipping backward. Whom the initiative is our sort of birthright, OUR AMERICAN SYSTEM Note: I said ADD-NOT GIVE UP your basic system. ““What does I owe to my times, to my country, to my neighbors, to my friends? Such are the questions which a virtuous man ought often to ask himself.” Now is the time the boys will be separate from the men. Catchall categories supported in good part by pro-commonwealth voters who were indulging a best-of-both-words fantasy definition of the commonwealth many privileges, few obligations that Congress would never approve. There is no substitute. Here we see how skillfully transpositions actually obscure the points. ““Public virtue is a kind of ghost town into which anyone can move and declare himself sheriff.” Accuracy is to a newspaper what virtue is to a lady, but a newspaper can always print a retraction. For after all, the best thing one can do when it is raining is to let it rain. The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you put up with the rain. A good eye for smites is far more important than a knowledge of strategical principles. Seeing the idea precedes the logical argument. “If men were angels, no government would be necessary.” We the people must visualize the correct order of positions, reviewing the responses of the political opponent its development proceeded by the acquisition of experience in combination vision of which we have already spoken. Process. ““It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his salary depends upon his not understanding it.” If you cannot beat a >em with accuracy, kill a >em with fear and confusion! “You can preach a better sermon with your life than with your lips.” To be nobody-but-yourself – in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody else – means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight. Never stop fighting. “The moral is that statehood one judge not by contaminated political ideology forms, or colors, but by functions and American values. Every U.S. Senator & Democrats statehood person is morally obliged to attempt to solve as well as possible the complex politician’ dilemma, without any fear of simplification. Now the only way that your opponent can possibly break your control is by giving up something else. Taught that launching plebiscites with our congress approval out of thin air was unsound in most instances. Because a properly congressional approval of next-plebiscite ought to end in a draw, one cannot expect to defeat an opponent by force majeure. The Taino Tribal Council of Jatibonicu’ Taino Tribe of Borikén “Great People of The Sacred High Waters”
    The mountainous Region of Borikén Puerto Rico “Self-image sets the boundaries of individual accomplishment addressing and surmounting the challenges posed by what has accurately and succinctly been described as “American democracy’s unfinished business. ” “What the people want is very simple. ” It is strangely absurd to suppose that a four million of human beings, collected together, are not under the same moral laws which bind each of them separately.” They want an America as good as its promise.” Because it only appears to be forced, but in reality a combination contains many possibilities, which are almost impossible to see while deciding tense status results. If you choose to look at it spiritually, this view of entity clearing aligns well with the world view of native Indians, Hawaiian religions, or many other religious traditions: that everything has a spirit. Humanity needs a lesson in humility. Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster.”.” One is free to choose, but what follows is the result of one’s choice. From the consequences of one’s action, there is never any escape. The Holy Bible is this world’s only doors to reality . . . ” Please . . . ” Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” The biggest triumph of the Creator is to see his creatures re-create themselves. It strives for creativity, invention combines both soundness, and the opportunity for dynamic counter play when such advantages gained, victory for union harmony will be obtained. Perhaps our brains are something like a train track and consciousness is like the train that travels on it. Our Ancestor Taino Indians explain the movement of time and the age, the higher influences, which control the world, and the ties, which link Borinquen with the human soul. *”Anybody is equal to nobody. Every human being is a strange single.” It is like speaking a foreign language or liking cauliflower, it puts you into a special group of people that understand something that those out of the group can’t. Without freedom of expression, liberty we cannot be natural; there is simply no peace. The question is not how to be without problems, or how too never be hurt. The question that matters, is whether your heart is free! My heart is free of multiple identities within the universe of the supreme creator. Does fear of making mistakes prevent you trying something creative? It is a sharp edged reality, lacking the dulling aspects of Deus ex machine luck, and unwrapped by insider connections. Life is a kind of status quo, with struggle, competition, good, and ill events. “We’re originated in the infinite Universe”. Puertorican’s life very much resembles a continuo’s political dilemma. For, as in the latter, while a state man is too attentive to secure him very strongly on one side of this democratic deficit. He is apt to leave an unguarded opening on the other, so does it often happen in life. O life, what art thou? Life seldom answers this question. I am surely that many original and deep ideas conceive a new route of instructively at a moment of great intensity. When connections are made, structure appears allowing energy to flow where before there was only an inert potential. It makes no difference whether you win or lose, until you lose. “Do not follow where the path may lead. ” We make ourselves either happy or miserable. The amount of work is the same.” We are here to awaken from the illusion of our separateness.” Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” However, play you are hardest anyway; just be positioned higher than the win. “When making a decision . . . in vital matters . . . such as the choice of a mate or a profession, the decision should come from the unconscious, from somewhere within us.”. ““By a divine paradox, wherever there is one slave there are two. I do not like people who are in politics for themselves and not for others. You want that, you can go into showing business.” There are two classes of American men; those who are content to yield to circumstances, and who play colonial whist; and those who aim to control circumstances, and who play safely with the 51st state of the union. That there seems to be distinct as well as higher and lower forms, including automatic skills of mind and body appearing to be autonomous and unrelated to creative vision, is distraction’s way of throwing sand in our eyes. More things change the more; they are the same. The forces of distraction inherent in matter-dominated society prevent all but the rarest of intuitive inspirations from becoming breakthroughs and from disrupting the mind-debilitating, ego-soothing reality-consensus that shields society from the change, that novelty always imposes. A wave of the ATLANTIC ocean OR mar caribe certainly looks separate from other waves of the ocean: there’s an apparent separation. Civilizations should be measured by “the degree of diversity attained and the degree of unity retained.” Separation is the ultimate myth. Winning is a habit. Unfortunately, so is losing. IF you chase two rabbits, both will escape. All polarities indicate a higher truth. Duality does not mean separation, but it means life: Day would lose its meaning without night. Life is the movement between polarities, and one polarity gives the other its meaning. IF a man looks sharply and attentively, he will see fortune. THE solution of every problem is another problem. THE pen is the tongue of the mind. And just as he has learned to be guided by objective criteria in making his physical tools, so he must be guided by objective criteria in forming his tools of cognition: his concepts. Traditionally in our oral tribal history our people have always honored our tribal Elders and all of our Taino tribal Chieftains as this is our way of remembering our Taino community leaders and they’re handed down a legacy. “We demand entire freedom of action and then expect the government in some miraculous way to save us from the consequences of our own acts . . . KNOWLEDGE can be enormously costly, and is often scattered in widely uneven fragments, too small to be individually usable in decision making. A self-government means self-reliance.” Own independent judgment is the means by which one must choose one’s actions, but it is not a moral criterion or a moral validation; only reference to a demonstrable principle can validate one’s choices. Humilities, that low, sweet root, from which all heavenly virtues shoot.” NO concept man form is valid unless he integrates it without contradiction into the sum of his knowledge. This is the Great Seal of the Jatibonicu Taino Tribal Nation of Borikén. The Great Sacred Seal was etched into rock around 900 BC. We the Jatibonicu people and its Tribal Chiefs and Elders historically have recognized this Great Seal as the official Guanin (Sacred Badge of Authority of the Chieftains) of the tribal blood lineage of Cacique Orocobix. Chief Orocobix was the last hereditary full blood Paramount Chief of the island kingdom of Jatibonicu. The extremely tiny fractions that think regularly, accurately, creatively, and without self-delusion – in the end, these are the only people who count. “When your mental eyes are finally opened, it’ll be like going from a back seat passenger of your life, to a driver behind the wheel.”Sometimes the subconscious mind manifests wisdom several steps or even years ahead of the conscious mind, and has its own way of leading us toward our destiny. You can distort them later. They both together make up the indivisible phenomena. WE hear and apprehend only what we already half know. Do not try to fathom the unfathomable. WE are anxious when there is a dissonance between our knowledge and the perceivable facts. Originality consists of the achievement of new combinations, and not of the creation of something out of nothing. Since our knowledge is not to be doubt or questioned, the facts have to be alter. GET the facts first. WE think in generalities, but we live in details. We do not know a truth without knowing its cause. TO know truly is to know by causes. WE usually see only the things we are looking for – so much so that we sometimes see them where they are not. It is to find the boundlessness that millions are looking for. Everything is simpler than you think and at the same time more complexes than you imagine. THE thinker makes a great mistake when he asks after cause and effect. To find truth is like a flower releasing its fragrance to the winds, somehow fulfilling its ultimate destiny. THE real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes. In our society people do what they want anyway, whether something is legal or not. Why not give the individual his freedom? Give the individual freedom, and he will realize his responsibility. Taking away the individual’s responsibility induces irresponsible, criminal, and violent behavior. ” Give me a place to stand, and I will move the Earth. Naturally, the individual rebels. The Lord once owns the happy lines, how the wit brightens! We the Taino people must pay attention of the statehood development; to prevent liquidation or interchanges occurs in any situation. The success of a strategic plan depends of every detail being correct. Objectivity consists in understanding that the only one who never makes a mistake is the one who never does anything. Reason, which governs the world, governs also the chessboard. Let us depart from science. “Judge not the dog by its hair.” He who does not love the national language is worse than a smelly fish. To protect those who are not able to protect themselves is a duty, which everyone owes to society.” Some dabble in it a while, but not long enough to discover its mysterious charms, which are carefully hidden from the casual observer. The process of perception links people to their environment and is critical to accurate understanding of the world about us.”It’s the thought that counts.” The subject or psychological exploitation of the treat to puerto Rico USA, position can also involve various other ulterior motives. Behind every argument is someone’s ignorance. Only congress can define terms for statehood, separate nationhood or continuation of the current status so that informed self-determination is possible.” By comparing these to the structure and processes of Taino DNA, we can assemble a complex of photo-linguistic meanings that allow us to fulfil the ultimate goal of man’s spiritual yearnings, that of reading the divine. “When your mental eyes are finally opened, it’s like looking into a microscope for the first time, and discovering that another world exists.” “No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.” Eventually congress will have to do same for PUERTO RICAN, and the sooner the better for Puerto Rico and the nation as a whole doing this should cultivate needed skills and prepare you for higher levels of demands. ““The weak can never forgive. ” It heals the mind in sickness and exercises it in health. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.”” It affords a keen delight to youth, a sober pleasure to manhood, and a perpetual solace to old age. It induces the poor to forget their poverty, and the rich to be careless of their wealth. The best place to find a helping hand is at the end of your own arm.”” What torment, to have your thinking and your fantasy tied down by another person! Nothing less will satisfy the obligation to convert an imperial property into a place of dignity for American citizens whom are equal in rights to all others. “Character, in the long run, is the decisive factor in the life of an individual and of nations alike.” It may not sound very glamorous, but a human being’s greatest freedom is being natural. It is continuous and demands a heated passion for united stares of America. The road to hell is paved with good intentions. The end game is the North Star by which a course may be set in both the opening and middle game. A pure thought creates the lightning of a harmony life. History must be rewriting as a tool using the lightning rail road track of prosperity. If it flags for an instant, an oversight is committed, resulting in injury or defeat. The best American in Puerto Rico may be little more, than best American in the USA. However, proficiency in whist implies capacity for success in all these more important undertakings where mind struggles with mind. “I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood can never become a reality. I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word.” ” Nobody is bored when he is trying to make something that is beautiful, or to discover something that is true.” I will be blunt – I do not give a damn what color someone skins is, what religion they are, what country they are from, what gender they are, what their sexual preferences is. “To perceive is to suffer.” The handwriting is on the wall; should be use as we use glasses – to assist the sight; although some players make use of them as if they thought they conferred sight. Knowledge is necessary but not sufficient, if one cannot apply it efficiently under real-time competitive conditions. Let us remember that America became the greatest nation in the history of the world by empowering people with the tools for informing self-determination. ““Politeness is the art of choosing among one’’s real thought.” Moreover, Congress and the local government would then ratify the chosen status by all becoming an intellectual giant in the techniques of Know-how and need to know basic with various degrees of difficulties. We the people of Puerto Rico, USA must know the United States congressional representative agenda their view’s terminology all the rules of as relative values of the overall objective mission. We the people of Puerto Rico see this aim as the desire to achieve statehood with those scientific and religious values that, a par and artistic U.S. flag masterpiece. “A nation, as a society, forms a moral person, and every member of it is personally responsible for his society.”““Like the body that is made up of different limbs and organs, all moral creatures must depend on each other to exist.” Can never approximate the human emotions, which accompany an excellent move or a great idea? Oh, those exclamation points! “An Americanism is a question of principles, of idealism, of character: it is not a matter of birthplace or creed or line of descent.”““This country will not be a good place for any of us to live in unless we make it a good place for all of us to live in.” Do not give advice to someone more experienced than you do. Do not trouble; trouble until trouble troubles you. My point is this: Unless one considers that there should be two or more classes of citizens, doesn’t everyone have the right to be rich? “To be a catalyst is the ambition most appropriate for those who see the world as in constant change, and who, without thinking that they can control it, wish to influence its direction.” If you say yes to this, the next question is: Do you want to live in a society that makes this an actual possibility for everyone, or do you want to live in a society that just promises this to everyone but can’t actually deliver on that promise? If the conditions of plebiscite change the plan also changes, anger, fear, and overconfidence is common emotion that may help you in the odd task but that ultimately leap to defeat because they cloud the intellectual and creative process. Formations are only valid as part of a sequence or plan, not as goals. Since it is a natural process it needs to be allowed to take its course and not hurried. The process of living can be severely hampered by the fear of death. It was once said that ““““everyone wants to go to heaven, but no one wants to die””””. If we truly believed we were going to a better place, would we be afraid. The most constant thing in life is change. Everything that has been mummified belongs to the past. Mummification is a blockage in the body. There is no spirit. We are all alive and need to progress and go beyond. I finally concluded: A single plan is the sum total of strategic operations which follow each other in turn and which each carry out an independent idea that arises logically from the demands of a given position. If you do not do what the position needs, bad things will happen to you. A fool may sometimes give a wise man counsel. Some sweat to conquer a difficulty, only to rest content in their labors; not knowing how to bring the victory home. THE status moves we play reveal our essence, and we place in those political dilemma reality s the expectation that something larger, more mysterious, more transforming might arise in our ordinary lives. Once the realization is accepted that even between the closest human beings infinite distances continue to exist, a wonderful living side by side can grow up, if they succeed in loving the distance between them.” What right does anyone have to assume that another person should be like them? I personally think that if everyone were like me, this world would be a better, safer place, but that’s MY opinion. It does not give me the right to try to make everyone like me. Hell. If being like “them” is so great, how come the world is so screwed up? Think about it. I like who I am. I have principles which I do not compromise, even when it is painful.

    “In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing. The worst thing you can do is nothing. ” Great events have small beginning the god blesses America and Puerto Rico USA.
    P.S. Philosophy La estadidad is the childhood of the intellect, (puertorriqueño) and a culture that tries to skip our Taino heritages it will never grow up.”
    (I’m not a native speaker – please forgive my errors).

67. Tom Says:
    March 7th, 2006 at 12:52 am

    I really enjoy reading your articles. Keep up the great work.
    TBoardenson

68. Vicktor Says:
    April 26th, 2006 at 3:37 pm

    It is time for all of us, Indian and non-Indian, Black, white, yellow or red. Christian, Muslim, Jew, Hindu, or Buddhist to band together and stand together against the injustices and crimes (Yes, CRIMES) being committed by the elected officials and corporate heads of this country. “Even if you are in a minority of one,the truth is still the truth.” — Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of [others].” –Proverbs 31:8-9 (NIV). “Help your brother’s [or sister's] boat across, and your own will reach the shore!” –Hindu Proverb

    Vol. 9, No. 3 March, 1998 The Threat of Puerto Rican Statehood A bill in Congress could make it happen soon. by James P. Lubinskas Citizens by Law Although Puerto Ricans are U.S. citizens by law, the island is not a state but a commonwealth. It is closely associated with the United States but is not a permanent part of the Union, and it does not have the same rights and responsibilities as a state. In 1898, during the Spanish-American War, American forces occupied Puerto Rico after an invasion that met only token Spanish resistance and was generally welcomed by Puerto Ricans. After the war, Spain ceded the island to the United States, which ruled it as a territory with an appointed governor. In 1952, Congress made it a self-governing commonwealth on terms that were overwhelmingly approved by Puerto Ricans in a referendum. As citizens of a commonwealth, Puerto Ricans pay no U.S. income taxes and do not vote in U.S. elections (though they do send a “resident cornmissioner” to Congress, who votes only in committee). They are eligible for som handout programs like food stamps – over half the island’s resididents get them – but the amount of welfare can be capped by Congress. Until 1996 Puerto Rico’s economic development was enormously stimulated by a handout program: U.S. companies were exempted from federal income tax on profits earned in the commonwealth, and many moved operations there. Resentment Despite the obvious economic benefits of association with the United States, many Puerto Ricans deeply resent “colonization.” As Ricardo Alegria, the founder of the Center for the Advanced Study of Puerto Rico and the Caribbean says, “We weren’t Alaska, Hawaii, Arizona or New Mexico. We weren’t some sparsely settled frontier. We were a nation when the United States arrived. . . . There will alwavs be ethnic tcnsion here if they try to make us a state.” In 1993, Renan Soto, the president of the Puerto Rican Federation of Teachers claimed, “Since that Sunday, July 25 of 1898, when we were invaded by the North Americans, Puerto Rico has been the victim of constant cultural aggression and intense publicity directed toward eliminating our language, Spanish.” Our 51st state could be four million Spanish-speaking non-whites who don’t even consider themselves Americans. The most prominent expression of Puerto Rican resentment is the independentista movement. In 1950, some of its members nearly succeeded in assassinating President Harry Truman. Four years later, Puerto Rican terrorists started shooting from the visitors’ gallery in the House of Representatives, and wounded five members of Congress. Making Puerto Rico a state not only is a monumentally bad idea, but undermines everything the Republican Congress has sought to do,” writes Amselle (AKA: Reginald Van Cleese III?) in National Review. Chavez charges that statehood “could cost billions in increased federal aid and permanently alter the culture of the United States.” Apparently, Anglo-Saxon, Protestants aren’t the only ones who care about cultural continuity. Carlos HAyes told The New York Times: “Statehood will mean war. If the United States wants its very own Northern Ireland, let them continue this farce.” To this day, the Puerto Rican independence movement is the leading source of domestic terrorism in the U.S. As Scott McConnell pointed out in an editorial that got him fired from the New York Post (see sidebar), “Puerto Ricans continue to revere as nationalist heroes several martyr-figures whom most Americans would view simply as terrorists.” Mr. McConnell found that Puerto Rican nationalism quickly takes the form of accusations of “racism.” Much like black groups, Puerto Ricans treat criticism as an attack on “la raza” to be dealt with by stern means. Puerto Ricans have a deep attachment to culture, race and language. They see themselves, correctly, as members of a distinct Latino-Caribbean culture that cannot mesh with traditional Anglo-America. As Ruben Berrios Martinez, the leader of the Puerto Rican Independence Party, writes, “Puerto Rico’s heart is not American. It is Puerto Rican. The national sentiment of Puerto Ricans is entirely devoted to our patria, as we call our homeland in Spanish, our language. We are Puerto Ricans in the same way that Mexicans are Mexicans and Japanese are Japanese. For us, ‘we the people’ means we Puerto Ricans.” If Puerto Ricans are so nationalistic why should there be any interest in statehood at all? The answer is money. If Puerto Rico becomes a state, Uncle Sam’s entire welfare bonanza will be available – including the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program that has seen such spectacular abuse. Puerto Ricans would have to start paying federal income taxes, but this would be made up many times over in increased government handouts. Puerto Rican nationalism is perhaps on most obvious display during the Olympic Games; the island fields its own “national” team, and Puerto Ricans cheer the loudest when their teams face the United States. Puerto Rico also participates independently in international beauty pageants. Puerto Ricans take fierce pride in their language. The whole island speaks Spanish, with only about 20 percent of the population fluent in English. This number has stayed the same for many years, since most Puerto Ricans do not want to learn English. Until 1990, Puerto Rico had two official languages, Spanish and English. In that year, in a fit of linguistic chauvinism, the commonwealth demoted English and established Spanish as the sole official language. In 1993, pro-statehood forces captured the governorship and decided that an officially bilingual Puerto Rico would have a better chance at statehood. English was reinstated, but met huge resistance, including one anti-English rally that drew 100,000 people. Puerto Rico is officially bilingual again but in practice it remains Spanish-speaking. Not even pro-statehood Puerto Ricans have any intention of abandoning Spanish, which they consider integral to their identity. The current governor, Pedro Rossello, who campaigns for statehood, has nevertheless written: “Spanish belongs to all Puerto Ricans, it is not negotiable under any circumstance or political status.” With Puerto Rico as a “state,” English-speaking Americans could conceivably find themselves in a part of their own country where not even the court System operates in English. They would need an interpreter to answer a summons for a traffic ticket. If Puerto Ricans are so nationalistic, why should there be any interest in statehood at all? The answer is money. Welfare Culture………An August, 1996, report from the General Accounting Office (GAO) indicates that Puerto Ricans would pay an estimated $49 million in income taxes but would get an additional three to four billion from from tax-payers in the rest of the country. Loyalty to the U.S. is hardly the main argument for statehood. In his aptly-titled book Statehood is For the Poor, former governor and current congressional delegate Carlos Romero-Barcelo writes: “Puerto Rico’s per capita contribution to the federal treasury, were we a state, would come to less than that of any state in the Union. At the same time, the per capita benefits we’d reap from federal aid programs would be greater than those of any state in the Union. On top of all this, we’d also have seven or eight Puerto Ricans serving as full voting members of Congress, working up in Washington at all times to help draft and pass new and improved social welfare legislation.” Mr. Romero-Barcelo means what he says. In 1974, when he was governor, he sued the U.S. government to extend food stamp availability to every town in Puerto Rico. He won in federal court and his victory cost the U.S. taxpayers $500 million in that year alone. Puerto Rican author Robert Fernandez notes that some aid centers in the capitol city of San Juan alone handle more “clients” than the entire state of Texas. Puerto Ricans also have very high rates of AIDS, drug abuse, crime, illegitimacy, poverty, and unemployment. If Puerto Rico were a state, its AIDS rate (58 per 100,000 inhabitants) would make it third in the nation after New York (69 per 100,000) and Washington D.C. (220 per 100,000). In 1991 the island had a drug addiction rate of 1,972 per 100,000, compared to the U.S. rate of 1,176 per 100,000. In 1993, the Puerto Rican murder rate was more than two and-a-half times that of the U.S: 24 per 100,000 compared to nine. In 1995 Puerto Rico’s per capita income was $7,670, which was less than half that of Mississippi, our poorest state. While unemployment in the U.S. is running around five percent, unemployment on the island approaches 20 percent. Puerto Ricans who move to the United States fare worse in some respects than those who stay behind. While the illegitimacy rate on the island is already high at 30 percent, the figure doubles to 60 percent for Puerto Ricans on the mainland. In New York City, where all U.S. welfare programs are available to them, Puerto Ricans are more likely than blacks to be on welfare. If statehood is anything like moving to the mainland, Puerto Ricans may be courting more trouble than they realize. Prospects for Americans..The vote on the Puerto Rican statehood bill (HR-856) was originally scheduled for after Labor Day, 1997, but was delayed because of grassroots political action by, among others, English First and the Council of Conservative Citizens. But a delay does not kill a bill; Congress could well vote on it this spring, on very little notice. The bill’s chief sponsor is Don Young (R-AK) and it is co-sponsored by such Republican leaders as Newt Gingrich and Tom DeLay. The Speaker of the House rarely cosponsors legislation, so this is a sure sign that it is a priority for the GOP. Supposedly conservative Republicans are probably supporting statehood for “the welfare capital of the Caribbean,” as part of the party’s ever-growing commitment to “diversity.” Indeed, GOP pollster Frank Luntz recently urged the party to push for Puerto Rican statehood in order to win Hispanic votes. With both political parties apparently in favor of statehood, and columnists who write honestly about its implications losing their jobs, prospects for the bill are good. Statehood would probably prove Mr. Romero-Barcelo correct: Eight liberal Democrats (two Senators and six Congressmen) would go to Washington to help pass “improved social welfare legislation.” Because current law limits the number of seats in the House of Representatives to 435, real Americans would lose a congressman for every one Puerto Rico got. The Congressional Research Service projects that the losses would come from six states: Mississippi, Florida, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Washington and Wisconsin. The new Democratic non-white members of Congress would be an important step towards the Republican party’s long march toward permanent minority status, and the Puerto Rico delegation could be counted on to vote for every program the left espouses, from affirmative action and mass immigration to gun control and support for the U.N. A strengthened and increased Hispanic lobby would probably press hard for more U.S. foreign aid to its racial brothers in Latin America. Multiculturalism and official bilingualism would become, in effect, the law of the land. Appeals to tradition would be meaningless if one of our states had a Latino-Caribbean culture and spoke Spanish. At the same time, statehood could very well invite precisely the kind of intractable ethnic conflict that now causes so much bloodshed all around the world. Although the independentistas do not get much popular support, they are desperate and determined men. As a spokesman, Carlos M. Ayes, warns, “Statehood will mean war. Violence is hard to stomach, but George Washington killed thousands of British to gain recognition for 13 colonies that claimed the right to be independent. If the United States wants its very own Northern Ireland let them continue this farce.” Puerto Rico is an alien island with a people, language, culture, and traditions incompatible with the United States. We should be preparing it for independence, not statehood. This plan to absorb four million Third-Worlders is one of the most obviously misguided and potentially destructive pieces of legislation likely to come before Congress this year. It is entirely possible that the bill could come to a vote with only minimal discussion or debate-just like the 1965 immigration act. The media will not discuss its implications honestly, so it will be up to every patriotic organization in the country to see to it that this legislation is shown to be the awful idea that it is and to halt it in its tracks. How the Bill Would Work…… If Congress passes HR-856, Puerto Rico will hold a plebiscite once every ten years until a majority chooses either statehood or independence. Commonwealth status will also be on the ballot, so Puerto Ricans can vote to maintain the status quo if they want – but will have to do so every ten years if they want to stay a commonwealth. In 1993, in the last referendum of this kind, 49 percent of the electorate voted to keep the island a commonwealth, 46 percent voted for statehood, and only five percent voted for independence. Despite deep resentment of the U.S., an active terrorist movement against statehood, and past referendums rejecting statehood, chances are that economic arguments will win over at least five percent of those who chose commonwealth status in 1993. If a majority votes for statehood, the President must submit a ten-year transition plan to Congress. If Congress approves the plan, ten years later we will add a 51st star to the flag. In effect, the United States is saying to Puerto Rico: “You can ‘oin us or you can become independent; we’ll be happy either way. If you can’t make up your minds now, that’s alright, too. We’ll be here whenever you want us – 10, 20, even 50 years from now. And we will be happy to have you even if only 51 percent of you vote to become Americans.” It is hard to imagine a proposal more degrading to the current 50 states. Puerto Rican ambivalence about joining the Union is in sharp contrast to the enthusiasm with which other territories have joined. In 1959, Alaska became a state with the support of 83 percent of its population. When Hawaii joined in the same year 94 percent voted for union. Another Political Sacrifice……Though self-styled conservatives like to attack liberals for being “politically correct,” they can be equally P.C. on issues of race. Scott McConnell, who was editor of the New York Post’s editorial page, has joined Sam Francis and Joe Sobran as a political sacrifice made by conservatives to liberals. His offense? Opposing Puerto Rican statehood. In a July 14, 1997, editorial called “The Puerto Rico question,” Mr. McConnell noted the obvious: Puerto Ricans are poor, dependent on American food stamps, and are often hostile to the English language. The editorial chided Congress – especially Republicans – for supporting an important bill without much debate or caution. Mr. McConnell even dared to suggest that whatever benefits statehood might have for Puerto Rico it might not be good for the United States. ]End..Basta ya!!]]]]]]]] Tell the true.

    Linda Chavez

    “Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds.” –Albert Einstein

    P.S. Mi Gente.. Be humble, for you are made of Borinquen. Be noble, for you are made of stars.” –Vicktor-

69. Vicktor Says:
    April 26th, 2006 at 3:49 pm

    50 States are Enough!
    REPUBLICAN LEADERS are about to do something so stupid and venal that maybe they don’t deserve to retain control of Congress in this year’s election. They want to make Puerto Rico the 51st state in the union, and next week, the House will vote on a measure to start the process. Why? Expect to hear plenty of platitudes about self-determination and full democracy for Puerto Rico’s 3.7 million people. But what the Republicans are really interested in is the potential votes of some 25 million Hispanics on the U.S. mainland. Only a fool or a desperate Republican could ever imagine that the average Mexican American in East Los Angeles or Cuban American in Miami gives a hoot about statehood for Puerto Rico. But the hope that Puerto Rican statehood would entice more Hispanics into voting Republican is what’s driving this monumentally bad idea that could cost billions in increased federal aid and permanently alter the culture of the United States. Puerto Rico became an American territory in 1898 after the United States won the Spanish American War. Everyone born on the island is a U.S. citizen by birth, and all males are subject to the draft. The island is currently considered a “commonwealth,” with its own elected government and laws, subject to the U.S. Constitution and federal court jurisdiction. On the other hand, Puerto Ricans living on the island do not pay federal taxes, cannot vote in presidential elections and elect only a non-voting member to the U.S. House of Representatives. All that would change under the bill to be voted on next week. The proposed legislation will allow Puerto Ricans to vote on whether they wish to become a state. If a bare majority voting in the plebiscite support statehood, Congress will be locked into a transition plan, making the island a state in 10 years. So, what makes this such a bad idea? For starters, Puerto Rico is a linguistically and culturally autonomous island with a rich modern history that dates back nearly 100 years prior to Jamestown and Plymouth Rock. Puerto Ricans don’t consider themselves Americans even though they are U.S. citizens — only 16 percent defined themselves as Americans in one recent poll. Fewer than 20 percent of Puerto Ricans speak English, and the bill does nothing to ensure that Puerto Ricans — especially schoolchildren — learn English if Puerto Rico becomes a state. In fact, there is nothing Congress can do to force Puerto Ricans to learn English, even if Congress makes the acceptance of English a condition of statehood. As the current congressional delegate from Puerto Rico, Rep. Carlos Romero-Barcelo, told me personally a few months ago, once Puerto Rico becomes a state, the legislature would simply revoke English as its official language and put in place Spanish or both Spanish and English. The likely outcome for the rest of the nation would be increased pressure to make the United States bilingual — or at least those states with large Spanish-speaking populations, such as California, Texas, Florida, New York and Illinois. Hispanic activists have been promoting this agenda for years and already have succeeded in mandating Spanish-language instruction for some 2 million Hispanic youngsters in public schools and bilingual ballots in federal elections. As worrisome as the cultural implications for Puerto Rican statehood are, however, the dismal economy on the island should be cause for even greater alarm. In 1990, half of all Puerto Rican families earned less than $10,000 a year, 20 percent of Puerto Ricans were unemployed, and an additional 52 percent were out of the labor force altogether. Over half the island’s population already receives some form of public assistance, and 59 percent would qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit once Puerto Rico becomes a state — at an estimated cost to American taxpayers of $18 billion in additional federal outlays. As Romero-Barcelo, an avid statehood supporter, succinctly put it in his 1978 book Statehood Is for the Poor: “Puerto Rico’s per capita contribution to the federal treasury, were we a state, would come to less than that of any other state in the union. At the same time, the per capita benefits we’d reap from federal aid programs would be greater than those of any other state in the union.” It is simply not in anyone’s interest to grant statehood under these circumstances. When Puerto Ricans become economically self-sufficient and decide they want to learn English — as my Spanish-speaking ancestors did in New Mexico before it became a state in 1912 — Republicans and everyone else should welcome them with open arms. But not until then.

    ]End..Basta ya!!]]]]]]]] Tell the true.

    It is time for all of us, Indian and non-Indian, Black, white, yellow or red. Christian, Muslim, Jew, Hindu, or Buddhist to band together and stand together against the injustices and crimes (Yes, CRIMES) being committed by the elected officials and corporate heads of this country. “Even if you are in a minority of one,the truth is still the truth.” — Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of [others].” –Proverbs 31:8-9 (NIV). “Help your brother’s [or sister's] boat across, and your own will reach the shore!” –Hindu Proverb

70. Vicktor Says:
    April 26th, 2006 at 3:53 pm

    “Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds.” –Albert Einstein

    Mi Gente.. Be humble, for you are made of Borinquen. Be noble, for you are made of stars.” –Vicktor-

    Don Feder I am a Protestant, white, Anglo-Saxon nativist — according to Carlos Romero-Barceló, Puerto Rico’s non-voting delegate in Congress. This will come as news to my rabbi. Would Romero-Barceló allow me to be a Jewish, white, Anglo-Saxon nativist — if I promise not to burn a bagel on his lawn? In an April 28 speech on the House floor, Romero-Barceló indicted opposition to the Puerto Rican statehood referendum bill, which passed the House by a single vote in March. If enacted, the measure would allow a bare majority of the island’s voters to set it on the road to statehood. The closeness of the vote, Romero-Barceló confided, was due to prejudice and paranoia: “In the nativist mindset, the 3.8 million American citizens of Puerto Rico do not belong in this union because they do not walk, talk and look like the nativist of the hour.” And who are these know-nothings? “In the mid-1800s, a nativist was a Protestant, white, Anglo-Saxon male. … Perhaps the profile of a nativist today is the same,” Romero-Barcelo speculates. He then names me as a nattering nabob of nativism. “Just listen to what nativists say will happen if Puerto Rico becomes a state,” the congressman urges. He quotes my April 5 column, “‘Granting statehood to a land that is alien to us in most ways,’ declares Don Feder of the Boston Herald, ‘will be a milestone on the road to national dissolution.”‘ Those are my words — and I’m grateful to have them read into the Congressional Record. Regrettably, Romero-Barceló overlooked a few other notorious Anglo-Saxons opposed to Puerto Rican statehood: Jorge Amselle (of the Center for Equal Opportunity), Mauro E. Mujica (chairman of U.S. English) and Linda Chavez, (former staff director of the U.S. Civil Rights Commission). Mujica’s organization has produced a well-documented, 20-page white paper — “Avoiding an American Quebec: The Future of Puerto Rico and the United States.” In his 1978 book, Statehood Is for the Poor, Romero-Barceló gave away the game when he argued that the change would entitle the island to an additional $3 billion annually in public assistance, due to its poverty (half of all families earn less than $10,000 a year) and unemployment. Give us your teeming masses, yearning to suck up welfare. But economics is the least of our nativist concerns. Over 80 percent of Puerto Ricans don’t speak English. Spanish would be the new state’s official language, de facto or de jure. This would put America on the slippery slope to becoming a bilingual nation (eliminating the one factor that’s united our diverse people). Hispanic activists have pushed bilingualism for years, especially in states with large Latino populations. Puerto Ricans have a distinct language, culture and national identity, all of which makes them unlikely candidates for assimilation and Americanization — two things us country-club types prize greatly. In a 1997 poll conducted by American Viewpoint Inc., residents of the island were asked, “Do you consider yourself to be Puerto Rican or American?” “American,” said 16 percent. “Both,” answered 18 percent. An overwhelming 65 percent said they thought of themselves exclusively as Puerto Rican. Quebec isn’t the only model for the new state. The island has a small, but passionate independence movement. Some of the groups pushing nationhood tap into a terrorist tradition dating back to the 1950s, when independence-seekers ventilated five congressmen in the very chamber where Romero-Barceló spoke. In 1990, would-be revolutionary ” Poverty, language barriers, cultural separatism and nationalism are volatile matters that can’t be avoided by name-calling. I challenge Romero-Barceló to a debate on Puerto Rican statehood, at a neutral forum of his choice. This presupposes that he’s capable of discussing the subject without using words like “white,” “Protestant,” “Anglo-Saxon” or “nativist” — at best, a dubious assumption.

    ]End..Basta ya!!]]]]]]]] Tell the true.

    It is time for all of us, Indian and non-Indian, Black, white, yellow or red. Christian, Muslim, Jew, Hindu, or Buddhist to band together and stand together against the injustices and crimes (Yes, CRIMES) being committed by the elected officials and corporate heads of this country. “Even if you are in a minority of one,the truth is still the truth.” — Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of [others].” –Proverbs 31:8-9 (NIV). “Help your brother’s [or sister's] boat across, and your own will reach the shore!” –Hindu Proverb

71. Vicktor Says:
    April 26th, 2006 at 3:55 pm

    “Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds.” –Albert Einstein

    Mi Gente.. Be humble, for you are made of Borinquen. Be noble, for you are made of stars.” –Vicktor-

    Don Feder I am a Protestant, white, Anglo-Saxon nativist — according to Carlos Romero-Barceló, Puerto Rico’s non-voting delegate in Congress. This will come as news to my rabbi. Would Romero-Barceló allow me to be a Jewish, white, Anglo-Saxon nativist — if I promise not to burn a bagel on his lawn? In an April 28 speech on the House floor, Romero-Barceló indicted opposition to the Puerto Rican statehood referendum bill, which passed the House by a single vote in March. If enacted, the measure would allow a bare majority of the island’s voters to set it on the road to statehood. The closeness of the vote, Romero-Barceló confided, was due to prejudice and paranoia: “In the nativist mindset, the 3.8 million American citizens of Puerto Rico do not belong in this union because they do not walk, talk and look like the nativist of the hour.” And who are these know-nothings? “In the mid-1800s, a nativist was a Protestant, white, Anglo-Saxon male. … Perhaps the profile of a nativist today is the same,” Romero-Barcelo speculates. He then names me as a nattering nabob of nativism. “Just listen to what nativists say will happen if Puerto Rico becomes a state,” the congressman urges. He quotes my April 5 column, “‘Granting statehood to a land that is alien to us in most ways,’ declares Don Feder of the Boston Herald, ‘will be a milestone on the road to national dissolution.”‘ Those are my words — and I’m grateful to have them read into the Congressional Record. Regrettably, Romero-Barceló overlooked a few other notorious Anglo-Saxons opposed to Puerto Rican statehood: Jorge Amselle (of the Center for Equal Opportunity), Mauro E. Mujica (chairman of U.S. English) and Linda Chavez, (former staff director of the U.S. Civil Rights Commission). Mujica’s organization has produced a well-documented, 20-page white paper — “Avoiding an American Quebec: The Future of Puerto Rico and the United States.” In his 1978 book, Statehood Is for the Poor, Romero-Barceló gave away the game when he argued that the change would entitle the island to an additional $3 billion annually in public assistance, due to its poverty (half of all families earn less than $10,000 a year) and unemployment. Give us your teeming masses, yearning to suck up welfare. But economics is the least of our nativist concerns. Over 80 percent of Puerto Ricans don’t speak English. Spanish would be the new state’s official language, de facto or de jure. This would put America on the slippery slope to becoming a bilingual nation (eliminating the one factor that’s united our diverse people). Hispanic activists have pushed bilingualism for years, especially in states with large Latino populations. Puerto Ricans have a distinct language, culture and national identity, all of which makes them unlikely candidates for assimilation and Americanization — two things us country-club types prize greatly. In a 1997 poll conducted by American Viewpoint Inc., residents of the island were asked, “Do you consider yourself to be Puerto Rican or American?” “American,” said 16 percent. “Both,” answered 18 percent. An overwhelming 65 percent said they thought of themselves exclusively as Puerto Rican. Quebec isn’t the only model for the new state. The island has a small, but passionate independence movement. Some of the groups pushing nationhood tap into a terrorist tradition dating back to the 1950s, when independence-seekers ventilated five congressmen in the very chamber where Romero-Barceló spoke. In 1990, would-be revolutionary ” Poverty, language barriers, cultural separatism and nationalism are volatile matters that can’t be avoided by name-calling. I challenge Romero-Barceló to a debate on Puerto Rican statehood, at a neutral forum of his choice. This presupposes that he’s capable of discussing the subject without using words like “white,” “Protestant,” “Anglo-Saxon” or “nativist” — at best, a dubious assumption.

    ]End..Basta ya!!]]]]]]]] Tell the true.

    It is time for all of us, Indian and non-Indian, Black, white, yellow or red. Christian, Muslim, Jew, Hindu, or Buddhist to band together and stand together against the injustices and crimes (Yes, CRIMES) being committed by the elected officials and corporate heads of this country. “Even if you are in a minority of one,the truth is still the truth.” — Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of [others].” –Proverbs 31:8-9 (NIV). “Help your brother’s [or sister's] boat across, and your own will reach the shore!” –Hindu Proverb

72. Vicktor Says:
    May 1st, 2006 at 3:13 pm

    “We are not free, separate, and independent entities, but like links in a chain, and we could not by any means be what we are without those who went before us and showed us the way.”
    Thomas Mann

    §§ Borinquen is a device to calculate the astronomy of the Taino spirit. They have a guiding American property: like the evening 51st star that sailors could rely on to show them the way to United States. Nothing less will satisfies the obligation to convert an imperial property into a place of dignity for American citizens who are equal in rights to all others. The will of the heart is to hug the 51st Start, but the arm is not long enough. The best place to find a helping hand is at the end of your own arm.”In the end, true statehood connoisseurs realize that the secret of success does not depend only on intensive preparation. If you reprove one error, you will correct a (51) fifty-one.”To find or discover the truth, an inner illumination the shining starts of the American flag. “There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.” In some dynamic treatment, the process of evaluating a position consists in isolating and weighing up all the positional factors that play a part in it. “Let the welfare of the people be the supreme law” (motto of the U.S. 51 states of Borinquen. The Lord is my light,” the motto of el federalists. Statistics is The Calculus of sociology; I think that this could also be included in ‘The String Theory’; time, space, energy, and matter being related in some fundamental way. “Our lives teach us who we the people are.” This is the Great Seal of the Jatibonicu Taino Tribal Nation of Borikén. The Great Sacred Seal was etched into rock around 900 BC. We the Jatibonicu people and its Tribal Chiefs and Elders historically have recognized this Great Seal as the official Guanin (Sacred Badge of Authority of the Chieftains) of the tribal blood lineage of Cacique Orocobix. Chief Orocobix was the last hereditary full blood Paramount Chief of the island kingdom of Jatibonicu. We are a Nation; A nation, as a society, forms a moral person, and every member of it is personally responsible for his society.”““We the American people of Borinquen USA(Estados 51) will give you a big mirror, so you will know well that you haven’t changed one bit -. ”With peripheral orientation one would always know the big picture, {Task Force Map} how things or puzzles relate to each other and so forth. By using that statehood-vision more one can develop it again. Also, mentally, by working one’s ability to move swiftly between generalities and specifics, between global and local, between big chunks a stars and small map puzzle pieces. Why statehood-vision? They say “A picture is worth a thousand words.” Have you ever thought about WHY they say that? Vision is the densest and most parallel sensory input modality available to us primates. As such, it conveys meaning about the world with the most force. This doesn’t mean that the world is strictly visual or should ONLY be understood in those terms, but it does mean that any visual theory has a HUGE advantage over those that can’t be visualized, e.g., “extra-dimensions” “hyper-space” etc. Capture of the 51st Start is the ultimate goal but not the first object of the plebiscite. At this TIME, They can be said to be different levels of reality in the political arena of Borinquen. Appearance is what something appears to be on the Task Force MAP Surface, the agreed-upon mass that can be perceived with some consistency. Structure is what is below the map surface, how it is actually put there, the internal construction. You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and stars.”When your mental eyes are finally opened, it’ll be like going from a back seat passenger of your life, to the driver behind the wheel. We the People want an America as good as its promise.” The Meaning is the primary consideration that puts it there, the significance of the cause. Together they form a hierarchy that can be found in anything that exists, including the physical 51 stars of Borinquen deep inside USA and any kind of case. In order for a plant to grow, it needs water and sunlight. Without water and sunlight it won’t grow, no matter how big the flowerpot. The 51st Star is that plant, but she needs attention and cultivation in this big USA flower map. How many start are in our US? Flag? I have the curious thought that we’re being with each other because we the people want to be. “I have advised my people this way: When you find something good in the White man’s road, pick it up; but when you find something bad, or it turns out bad, drop it and leave it alone.” …Sitting Bull – Sioux The finger pointing at the moon is not the moon.”.” [La realidad es que la Estrella 51st, *{Puerto Rico, United States of America -- Estados 51}*. It looks as if the 50 stars in our American flag are aligning themselves with the 51st Star. We are Americans, Americans a par and artistic US AMERICAN flag a genuine masterpiece. I believe in my heart, in my Soul, in my Taino Mind that the best for my Borinquen people is to become the Shining 51st Star, and been part in making American history together with the rest constellations of the American Flag of United States. I do not deny the life of the ATLANTIC Ocean and Mar Caribe waves. Their play, their dynamics, their relationships and all, are meaningful. The ATLANTIC ocean though is what allows waves complete expression, and the ocean is where all waves finally come to rest. The ocean is always there for the wave to crash into. T his is a profound suggestion. In his general theory of relativity 51st Star, you can visualize our mono star dancing simultaneously with the rest of 50 starts together in our U.S. Flag Tapestry pattern, A Statehood multiple real parameter . . . an ocean universe of stars, we the people.Your self image is your pattern! . Every thought has an activity visualized. Every activity belongs to a pattern. You identify with your pattern or thought. Your patterns lead your life. Borinquen and USA are not separate entities, but are smoothly linked and part of a larger whole he called the americana space-time continuum . . . everything in the evolution of the America history when the sky is the limit as part of a continuum. 51st Statehood is the principle of nonresistance. 51st star is invincible because it contends with nothing. “What people call the spirit of the times is mostly their own spirit in which the times mirror themselves." We are the shadows of smoke. Intangible, immaterial, transient, Immortality is inconceivable when life is but illusion. "We are the shadows of smoke Cast by the light of some distant star, Waiting for the wind. " It’s not enough the sun rising in the sky, is still needed to transform the dawn in a new day.” Morning hides the stars from our sight and brings on the wind." Despite the apparent separateness of things in this status quo on Borinquen, at the explicate level, everything is a seamless extension of everything else, and ultimately evens the implicate and explicate order’s blend into each other. "You'll never know what you're capable of doing until you get up and do it." The Lord once owns the happy lines, how the wit brightens! "You can count how many seeds are in the apple, but not how many apples are in the seed." We the people may try again and again. We the American people of Borinquen are part of the task force solution or/and missing puzzle in becoming the next ESTADO 51. We are part or solution. Thunder is good, thunder is impressive, but it is lightning that does the work. "The first thing you have to be able to do is pull the plug on it" We're not talking about 51 star’s particle’s physics, or phase transitions."“Statehood-happiness, is not a state to be arriving at but, rather, a manner of traveling in the road task force map. The seeds of great discoveries are constantly floating around, but they only take roots in minds well prepared to receive them. The main fuel to speed the Puerto Rico's 51st Star’s progress is our stock of knowledge, and the brake is our lack of imagination.” The purpose of this article is to restore confidence and inspiration to anyone who is faced, or may be faced, with such a challenge, that there is an answer, and that he can find it; to remind him of the intelligence, the brilliance, that dwells within him, part of our human heritage, that is stronger than any other voice that says he can’’t finds it, that he can’’t do it. "Whatever you believe with feeling becomes your reality." "If you wish upon a Star, everything your heart desires will come to you" I want to say, now, that you are capable. Sadly, in our culture, both on a personal level and on a social level, there have been many efforts by those who want all the power for themselves, to convince others that they are not smart, not beautiful, not capable. The ability to [Think Out of [The Box. (PR=USA)=USA + PR)= Think Out the Equation]……[1 + 1 = 1.] There is a saying, “A mind is a terrible thing to waste.” Don’’t waste it, by allowing it to sleep, or by mistaking its sleep for its absence. Awaken it! When there is no understanding, how can we feel compassion, how can we begin to relieve the great suffering that is there? So understanding is the very real foundation upon which we build our compassion. As a nation we need to look into this: how to create the situations for deep listening to occur so that our response to the situation may arise out of our calm and clear mind. Clarity is a great offering that we can make at this time. The “right action” is the action that results in the fires of hatred and violence being extinguished.
    We the American people of Borinquen see this aim as the desire to achieve statehood with those religious and scientific values that, a par and artistic US American flag a genuine masterpiece. There is no enlightenment outside of daily living . . . Great events have small beginning. We the American people must begin to view the 51 Starts of the US. American Flag as ultimately constituted not of matter and energy, but of pure mathematical information! A successful intuitive search normally accompanies by fervent positive faith. It would not appear that granting statehood final determination would violate the interest of the United States, it seems to be in the best interest of all concerned, Where intuitive illumination represents the shining bright 51st start, the final concluding act of democracy creativity. All of which goes to show that to solve a problem, you must not only believe that there is an answer, you must also believe that you, yourself, through your own efforts or the grace of God, can find it.
    There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven. [Ecclesiastes 3:1] Finally in my own optimistic statehood dream world I see this Strong 51st Star in our American Flag being created and out of appreciation for its creator advancing us to a level that we may be companions in this journey called “AMERICAN WAY OF LIFE”

    God Bless America and PUERTO Rico, USA.
    “As water reflects on a face, so [your] heart reflects [you].” –Proverbs 27:19 (NIV).

73. Vicktor Says:
    May 1st, 2006 at 3:20 pm

    “The mathematician has reached the highest rung on the ladder of human thought.” -Havelock Ellis

    What we the people pro-statehood was referring to was that right now we the people need to demand from Congress an official referendum to decide what status we want, ‘YES/or’ NO, statehood with middle ground. Commonwealths like Kentucky State, and this middle ground that represents our American union nothing else, no negotiation with Virus Decolonization Ruben Berrios/Rosello styles. We the Taino people of Borinquen do not see the mathematical logic debates that exist in some people minds, Basing their opinion of whether IS BETWEEN Statehood versus Independence on whether you know the voted percentages or don’t is precisely what has led 95% of the Puerto Rico Statehoder population astray and 5% percent controlling and dominating with the congress equation formula unrevived our 95% American citizens in this island, that really will vote for STATEHOOD; CAN SOMEBODY EXPLAIN THAT NARROW thinking? . If Puerto Rico wants equal rights to all other states, IS ALREADY OVERDUE. Let them become the 51st state AT THIS MOMENT WHAT’S THE PROB.LEM? ! Statehood is viable when it finds elements in the surrounding environment. Our ancestors drew their subject matter from the religious attitudes which weighed on their souls. We must now learn to draw inspiration from the tangible miracles around us. Since we cannot completely eliminate existential risks (at any moment we could be sent into the dustbin of cosmic history by the advancing front of a vacuum phase transition triggered in a remote galaxy a billion years ago) using total capacity in the present context has the consequence that we should choose the act that has the greatest benefits under the assumption of impending extinction. In other words, political mature capacity implies that we should all start partying as if there were no tomorrow. A Statehooder should never be a prisoner of himself, a prisoner of manners, a prisoner of reputation, or a prisoner of success.” Look at it this way: The Status Quo is a test. The test is complicated and there are parts of the test that do not come to us naturally. But we are all capable of teaching ourselves to be a quick study of what¡¡|s needed. The breakthrough is that it¡¡|s the ability to enlarge US that leads to higher self-realization and success. The human mind is a vast vessel–and just because we wacky ones figure out how to keep our bank-balance–does not mean we are diminished in the butterfly department. In life, in becoming the 51st Start, a major problem is failing to see the big picture. Individual parts may be just fine but the overall doesn’t get off the ground. Together with your individual sensitivity and your own vision, what you’re looking for being strength, pattern and character. Look out for psychological depths as well–see beyond the surface. Spend time. Gently deceive this human’s head into a state of control. The powers of observation, and its fast partner, understanding, are the stuff of portrait work that separates out the frosh. If you would be professional, you need to teach yourself to read the x-rays. I’m dealing with the limits of an island, the appeal of a contained landscape, the value of a microcosm. This question and observation are worth taking a look at. “Home” is one of the basic elements of sentimentality. For those of us whom enjoy statehood, life is really good and opportunities abound. We, the, People are more than convince, that a sound majority of U.S. Puerto Ricans Americans in Borinquen would vote for Washington, D.C. Statehood real American sponsors’ definition once the decolonization route(virus) option is terminated or deleted from the Task Force Agenda. Our status option leads NOT to self individual determination, but leads to American Statehood determination as well as yours are back in the rest 50 states, and is also honorable, as well as yours is now. Recently, It is just obvious to me that our Borinquen’s politics is a “related subject” to “trends in emerging statehood-technology” as policy decisions determine funding and to an extent the lives of people who are shaping technology. It is not a question of whether the future 51st Star will know and do what’s “right” or “wrong.” The point is that “right” and “wrong” keeps changing because unlike the moral code that refers to something outside itself as its ultimate justification, technology (the new speech on the throne) doesn’t have one and denies, there is one. It is self-referring. Of course, technology is justified by the increase in power it delivers, but this increase in power is technology itself. The generally bad nature of the experimental designs mitigates the reliability of any “good” data. This is why it is important that the data be verified across multiple American interest of the rest 50 states’ groups with different biases. Yes it is. The only way the New 51st States of the Union is likely to have morals is if some are programmed into it by all we the American people concern. On the other hand, I don’t know what a ‘Status Quo’ would do with them. The future 51st States would be protecting individual rights by putting restriction on how technology can be used, putting restrictions on something, or placing limits on action, requires an authority. I don’t see anything wrong with this. I recognize that everyone has their own morals. I believe that people should do as they please, so long as they don’t harm the future generation of others (that’s easily said, but it’s a good starting point). But you have to draw a line somewhere, anything and everything are not permissible. No Plan survives the first contact intactly. There is no clear line to be drawn. Evolution of the next 51st State itself is technology and this springs directly from the structure of our US American Flag. That’s real American moral issues for the new Puerto Rico future 51st State, USA(ESTADO 51). On the other hand, Please!! Remember: *Prohibit Olvidar* to consider both sides of the fiscal equation when making Borinquen economic arguments for that status position. Anything you leave in-between is likely to turn into a Perpetuals LOOP condition that pops up and bites you but, sometime. If we truly believed we were going to a better place, would we be afraid . . . “who are you trying to impress? The process of living can be severely hampered by the fear of death. It was once said that “everyone wants to go to heaven, but no one wants to die” Since it is a natural process it needs to be allowed to take its course and not hurried.” At least to the extent of not hiding behind the skirts of political status. Only the American music counts. I agree it is unpredictable, and I understand the insolubility of the 3+ body problems, ^ [NPP/PIP/PPD.]^and the fact that it creates a chaotic democratic system. The facts are simple, the math is simple, and buying into Taino’s myopic rant is foolishness . . . So don’t let your ignorance of me or the excuses *WHY* Puerto Rico for more than 54 years is *NOT* “ {to be o not to be}” a 51 states in the 21 Century yet; keep you from knowing I am right! My credentials make no difference either. 12 year Olds can (and have) published scientific papers in respected journals; their credentials have been a seventh grade education. Because journals understand REAL science, which is to say that if you present your argument in an accepted form and the proof is valid, they don’t care what your credentials is, where you come from, or what your other ‘DECOLONIZATION’ beliefs is. Politicians certainly don’t base their decisions on pure mathematics. You might argue that they should. Still, not doing so do not indicate a lack of “belief” in the scientific method, which is about drawing conclusions in the sense of _learning, not in the sense of deciding how money is best spent in a futile debate with the horror question if we the people of Puerto Rico want to stay the same. If you ask us that question, with all the respect you deserve, I will tell you to look yourself in that mirror. I don’t mind if representatives make those decisions, but I hate it when they make them based on religious beliefs, bad science, knee-jerk fear reactions, or while ignoring science they fully understand because it might damage their Democrats Party polling numbers. The growth of statehood should be base on practical foundation. This together creates the preconditions for acquiring the technique of thinking. You must work this concept with the sole purpose of acquiring knowledge with respect of different theories. Where there is a will there is a way. Freedom has its roots in blood. With every step nearer, the end of next-plebiscite the power of the 51st state increases. Play as if the future of humanity depends on your efforts. “I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood can never become a reality. I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word.” ” “A promise made is a debt unpaid.” This country will not be a good place for any of us to live in unless we make it a good place for all of us to live in.” Actions can be evaluated in terms of whether they were based on great or poor decisions, involved the preponderance of means over ends, or were solutions/non solutions. The 51st Start inside the American Flag, It takes a masterpiece to make a masterpiece; which is back of every true work of art, is the attainment of a state of being, a state of high functioning, a more than ordinary moment of existence. This requires the marshaling of all of your resources, including rethinking your direction, reviewing methodologies and subject matter, and retreating to exercises and sketches, as well as new drawing, color or design strategies. By the way, it’s all part of an artist’s lot and comes with the territory(Borinquen). “With the understanding of both Nationalities you’ll express your personality and vision more richly and more powerfully.” This sort of statehood-game-plan plays itself out in countless variations and in all media. To become the 51st State of the Union is a game we play against ourselves. I like to compare the method to a gambit of chess where you move up a pawn in order to prepare the way for your castle or other capital piece to strike. Strategic invention is a powerful tool. Complexity and simplicity go hand in hand. Hard-won knowledge is the key. Perspiration is commonplace. Taste, and inspiration and simple surprise are in the equation. Frustration, bad moves and missed opportunities are part of the US territory and trying to develop the “right stuff” can be more fun than fun. Task Force Shops are mind-bending experiences. They are certainly not everyone’s cups of tea. Nothing remains of Nature. Our desire for become the 51st state of the union has to inspire a feeling of permanence while still showing the elements of all its changes. It has to make us sense the eternal.” For example, the sky may represent infinity, eternity, immortality, transcendence or inspiration. As the traditional residence of gods, the sky may suggest omnipotence. The sky may also be symbolic of order in the universe. Mountains are thought to contain divine inspiration, and are the focus of pilgrimages of transcendence and spiritual elevation. Mountains surpass ordinary humanity and extend toward the heavens. They symbolize constancy and permanence and at their peak signify the state of absolute consciousness. How many stars are in our US? Flag? I have the curious thought that we’re being with each other because we want to be. The problem is that the people at the top have forgotten that their wealth is not solely based upon their work alone, no matter how valuable they feel they are. We must build a Borinquen society that meets its challenges and problems head-on, instead of forever reacting to the symptoms of them, working to mask them, or ignoring them together. “People Lets makes THE new 51st State of United States now.” It is the U.S. Flag people wave when they feel patriotic. It is our anthem that is sung when our people triumph. I love both Flags, yes *BOTH*. You might not like it, but it’s our American reality. Deal with it or you will be run by the train of American prosperity. I do not live in the 51st State, but the Estados 51 lives in me. American People in Puerto Rico, USA(Estados 51) DO understand the concepts of our United States & Territories Nationhood and Sovereignty. In Puerto Rico we the people are Puerto Ricans, period. Not because we the Taino peoples of Borinquen. , Don’t understand, but because it our American democracy reality. Our *both* nations? More certainly YES! . Our U.S. American Flag, Our P.R. Flag? One, a la monoestrellada con las demas 50 estrellas. Our *both a *anthem? One, La Borinqueñña the other, Jose Can You SEE! . I always point to this example to illustrate this point to people who just don’t seem to grasp this American concept, or don’t want to. The Americans who live in Puerto Rico must stand tall, and make some decisions for ourselves. How can such things be done? Challenge the status quo, elected people who are committed to a bright future, and let the rest of the world know what we the people you want. If * WE THE AMERICA PEOPLE* decides to be a NEW 51ST State, then lets, starts the journey. If you decide to be independent, *NO*. Please! Por Favor DON’T’s start that NIGHTMARE BAD Cartoon lonely tunes journey here. I am proud of whom I am . . . a Puerto Rican’s U.S.A. period. Central America. Two wrongs do not make a right. The lesser of two evils are still evil. Nationality is a historical and cultural concept not restrained by political aspects of sovereignty and citizenship. That is an honest statehooder, with his feet on the ground, in touch with Puerto Rico’s national reality, proud of his Rockiness, and unwilling to deny it for any status. Puerto Rican, USA(Estados 51)- fifty-one States first, then mad cow status. I agree that this post has political implications, but the Puerto Rico national debt has risen when members of both sides of the aisle NPP/PPD held power. We choose to choose ourselves. To find or discover the truth, an inner illumination the shining starts of the American flag. The art of life is a constant readjustment to our surroundings. “Let the welfare of the people be the supreme law” (motto of the U.S. 51 states of Borinquen. Individuals experience the words of others. They collect those words through time in the course of interacting with others. They collect those words and compress them, forming a new sedimentary object, their individuality. Just as a new piece of slate is formed by the depositing and compressing of many older materials over time, the unique individual is formed out of experiences of talk collected and compressed through time. To have trust, we must be able to judge technical facts accurately, an ability that will in turn depends partly on the quality of our institutions for judgment. More fundamentally, though, it will depend on whether trustworthy hardware is physically possible. Today, we are seldom willing to pay for the safest possible systems; we tolerate failures’’ more-or-less willingly and seldom consider the real limits of reliability. This bias’’ judgment of what can be achieved. A psychological factor also distorts our sense of how reliable things can be made: failures stick in our minds, but everyday successes draw little attention. The media amplify this tendency by reporting the most dramatic failures from around the world, while ignoring the endless and boring successes. A new genuine, flexible 51st State must evolve ideas. To do this, it must find or form hypotheses, generate variations, test them, and then modify or discard those found inadequate. To avoid becoming trapped by initial misconceptions, it will have to consider those conflicting views, seeing how well each explains the data, and seeing whether one view can explain another. Having a world full of diverse and redundant proposers, supporters, and critics are what makes the advance of science and technology reliable. Having more proposers makes good proposals more common; having more critics makes bad proposals more vulnerable. Better, more numerous ideas are the result. By applying the sane principles, we may be able to develop reliable, technically oriented institutions having strong checks and balances, then use these to guide the development of the systems we will need to handle the coming breakthroughs. The skeleton statehood’’ helps us fill in the flesh on the statehood skeleton. The task force is not to build a mighty oak tree, but a humble seed.” “A seed for statehood is a statehood capable of self-understanding, self-modification, and recursive self-enhancement. Already in the last few decades, economic powers have reached the point of imperiling the stability of the state through new forms of the circulation of capital that go by the generic name of multinational corporations. These new forms of circulation imply that investment decisions have, at least in part, passed beyond the control of the nation-states. Rather than painting a picture that would inevitably remain incomplete, I will take as my point of departure a single feature, one that immediately defines our object of task forces studies. Knowledge ceases to be an end in itself, and it loses its “use-value. The skeleton statehood’’’’ helps us fill in the flesh on the statehood skeleton. In life, in becoming the 51st Start, a major problem is failing to see the Big MAP skin Picture. Puerto Rico, USA(Estados 51st) has an advantage over other states in gearing itself toward this type of global economy. You could get Borinquen on the same page economically and institutionally than a state like California or New Mexico. That is another important reason why Puerto Rico’s success as a 51 State is guaranteed. 51START is inevitable. ”We the people can more easily accept the differences we the people see in other people when we the people know we have something fundamentally in common that will always unite us–thus alleviating any concerns of becoming a country of divided loyalties that threaten to split our country into mirrors’ fall small fragments. Thanks for your comments. I welcome a good clean and ethical a american debate.

74. Vicktor Says:
    May 1st, 2006 at 3:25 pm

    “He who never ventures beyond actuality will never win the prize of truth.” -Friedrich von Schiller

    My people I like to dream big dreams and for me that’s what I see in the future for Puerto Rico, A bran new modern technological STATE 51st that will be SAMPLE TO THE REST 50 STATES AND THE ENTIRE GLOBE. This information is not meant to be absolute or the final word – it is meant as an alternative perspective for you to consider. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God! Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. What the NEW 51ST Star will contribute is the knowledge of what is breaking down and an ability to predict what is coming and what we the people need to do to address it. It will ensure that the solution is the best one countrivable by man and computer and not just the pork barrel scheme of some local politician seeking reelection in Puerto Rico. I guess what it boils down to is that we the American people of Borinquen will act with greater efficience based on superior knowledge instead of being manipulated by people seeking to organize the work of others for their own profit and aggrandizement. He sought it as the soldier seeks victory in a siege or battle; or as a man that runs a race for a great prize. But in reality, who can predict the future? Right now, my dream is just that — a dream. But, this dream is possible!! It takes only that Task Force Objectives be aligning with the 10 Command, love your American neighbors. The statehood for Puerto Rico Political issue is not simply having the “right facts,” but interpreting them, and believing the implications that “must” follow. It is not enough to tell people “pollution is harmful,” they need to believe it, often to even “experience the harm” to take action. But we the people can try to answer this more **modestly**: how could we the people make, here with the possibilities of this Task Force Blog? , All good willing knowledge resources to interact & build a collective answer to this map puzzle economy problem? I am really not sure of that, but I am interested to understand why. And to see if there are simple things to implement to make it possible, in a way. A very accurate mapping of collective preferences could be maintained. Patterns could be extracted. As Borinquen societies become more complex, it becomes more difficult to manage their base economic activities. And, in agriculturally based societies, like ours, there are food surpluses. And, one of the central facts of wildlife biology is that a species’ population grows to meet the available food supply . . . so, here we are, with close to four million human beings. The most basic civic values of Both American nations’ demand that neither this Task Forces Committee never forget that its relation, measure the value of Borinquen’ statehood to the other fifty states of the union. Ultimately it is not only about morality, T., but rather a prognostication and collectively decision-making or our American Civic Values & Rights. There are many vastly different camps and interpretations out there, for sure, but that does not mean that a rational discussion cannot illuminate these differences. There is no reason why these things, which bear a HUGE impact on the future of science and technology and the future of our Puerto Rican children in this beautiful Caribbean island future in general, cannot be discussed openly and rationally. Finally the differences have narrowed because for many American U.S. Citizens the biggest Status and Commonwealth issue is now the biggest issue. English Education/Spanish Education G. for our future kids generation. Unfair and harmful to Borinquen, the United States and for Congress also the Republican’s Task Force committee to relegate the issue to business as usual. The reason why this Task Force forum has been consumed with politics is because politics has become critically important to the future course of our children. There are many vastly different camps and interpretations out there, for sure, but that does not mean that a rational discussion cannot illuminate these differences. That is why we must do what we can to break the cycle of disinformation. If we can get behind the spin and see what is happening (regardless of what it is) then we can more correctly participate in this so-called democracy before it can no longer be called such. Some of us think this is almost too late. The philosophy is a means to an end, and so long as we have the wool pulled over our eyes as to who is the real enemy here, we can’t break up their game. And it’s more about Tactics of Disinformation and Propaganda, and malicious deception than a philosophy per se. The collision of beliefs about such important matters, such as what the hell is really happening in the Puerto Rico Arena, should be seen as a reason and an opening for rational discussion and collective sharing and learning rather than a reason to close off discussion with rhetorical BS. We have reached and perhaps passed a crucial bifurcation vacuum point. There has been a critical shift in the way the PR is operating, lately, and we can all sense it to one degree or another. The decisions that we make now can impact greatly the future course of things to come. The goal is to understand where we are so that we can see where we are heading and (if need be) do something about it. Eighty 80% of the Puerto Rican the populace doesn’t have a clue what the Reichstag fire is. Nor are they how Fider Castro & Julio Chavez used it to gain support for their agenda. It’s called problems, reaction, solution, this tactic has been used for decades against USA. Ask yourself if a statehood man loves his children and family and his country, if he should be willing to put his life on the line to protect them. That is the decision and reality he lived and died for here in Puerto Rico. Power is not the ability to wage war, to kill and destroy. Power is the ability to maintain a position and make things go right by using intelligence and reason; by solving those he task force problems relating to survival equitably. When the Puerto RICANS’ government power is not used WISELY and GENTLY, it CAUSES more high crimes in the inland which it “must” then fight. Power is a GENTLE thing, NOT a belligerent thing. POLITICIANS in the CAPITOLIO IN SAN JUAN PR that do not know and practice the gentle uses of power are the least qualified people to manage the resources of Borinquen society through government. A government that resorts to squandering its power in the insanity of high crimes murders (terrorist) is a for of bi-cameralidad government that has demonstrated that it does not have the intelligence or will to solve problems peacefully.

75. Vicktor Says:
    May 2nd, 2006 at 5:01 am

    “The cruelty of most people is lack of imagination, their brutality is ignorance.”
    –Kurt Tucholsky

    We believe in principles. We believe in democracy. Well, to start with, We the people of Puerto Rico don’t have that power that can stop the things that harm Puerto Rico and that can give Puerto Rico the help that we need to solve our democratic deficit problems. It is a question of statesmanship. However, we the Taino people of borinquen think that ‘Statehood’ can be accomplished here and over in the US Senate & Congress because it is to the best of National Security of both parties. If it were only convenient to Puerto Rico, what I propose, I venture to say we wouldn’t get too far becuae or the present corrupt ant-american politicians. But since it is convenient for both parties to have a prosperous, exemplary a 51st States Republican Commonwealth in Puerto Rico, then we the people pro-statehood can be sure that we can work out a favorable outcome call the American way. We the people need to act fast. So within the context of these limitations, we would see it as a fair statehood bill if many of our commonwealth conditions or amendments are introduced similar to the Kentucky Blue Grass State. This, therefore, has been, to my mind, the most significant change that our Puerto Rico, USA Estado 51st has undergone under our American flag. The successful achievement of our economic well being, therefore, a challenge to the American citizens of Puerto Rico and to our fellow citizens of the mainland, a challenge to show the world that the American way is the way to both republican economic success, social improvement and political freedom, which can usefully serve as a pattern to solve the vaster problems of other underprivileged countries of the world. A challenge of great political and human potentialities, which may be of great world significance. ”As Americans identified with the political and social philosophy of America and its institutions of law, we the people would be able to better interpret our foreign policy to them and help the United States to succeed in bringing better technological understanding and cooperation in the common problems of our hemisphere.” To unilaterally change these assumptions now would confront Puerto Ricans with a conscience dilemma of no precedent in American history. The Puerto Ricans’ STATEHOODERS” Republican Party is looking with enthusiasm at the future. It is in the process of reorganizing its leadership and currently involved in a healthy generational transition that will guarantee a strong and rejuvenated States for years to come. The statehood-commonwealth definition we the Taino American people have presented today fully complies with the Constitutional and Bill’s Rights Treaty principles contained in al historical documents adopted by our American nation last century. Statehood for the people of Puerto Rico as an autonomic American ideas for the future is the only real American commonwealth 51 st. state alternative in Puerto Rico just similar to Kentucky States, which will harmonizes those aspirations and goals of the modern world by protecting our identity and simultaneously guaranteeing our relationship with the United States, with a common market, common citizenship, common defense and common currency. That’s being the final piece puzzle resolution to the political dilemma map route of American prosperity. Now can they be U.S. citizens without statehood? That is the issue. That is the issue. And all this playing around isn’t going to solve the task force puzzle problem, because United States is determined and understand that constitutionally. And therefore, that is the only solution that we the people can find. No plan survives the first contact intactly. Needless to say, an imperfect plebiscite is a better option than no plebiscite at all, but this committee is by now advised that a revision of the bill’s franchise provisions is both necessary and possible and that not to do so will weaken the reliability and legitimacy of the plebiscite results. We fully understand why the sponsors of the bill start from the premise that statehood would be a legitimate form of self government for Puerto Rico.We the Taino people of borinquen believe that the modern tendencies show that the ideas that will prevail in this 21st century will be those similar to the basic principles of the commonwealth of national reaffirmation and political integration among the American people of United States & Territories. Democratic principles require that the expressed aspirations of the American people in Puerto Rico USA be central to the development of the options (which must also be viable from the Federal perspective). The President George W. Bush regards this as an integral part of a task force sound process. I think that what we get out of this task force is that the next time we get another plebiscite the people should do it the right way by eliminating the decolonization VIRUS of the Ruben Berios and his Independence party with the aid or Rosello Gutierrez on his bed side and draft a real American definition for the new statehood 51st Star for Borinquen. Stop faking a task force horgamost. This Congress will decide if the American people of Borinquen have the right to vote for the president and vice-president of USA in their future. And whatever relationship we will have in the future with the United States has to be based on the real statehood for the American people of Borinquen, which means that the ultimate source of power is the American people. So we that people pro-statehood don’t see why you want to give some different computation [95%. Versus 5%] to my expression when the majority is for statehood, this Congress has to decide that we have the power to decide with taking an arithmetic language text. And to have the power to decide means to have—to be a real America state in terms of the decision we’re already made long time ago. It is two ways. Common defense is also in the interests of the United States, and we agree with that. Puerto Rico is one of the best markets for U.S. produce, and that is good for the American economy. So it is a relationship healthier for both sides? Of Course! . And what we the people want to do now is to get new tools for economic development for the next 51st States of the union within this special arrangement that has been working since 1952, but that now if we are going to address this issue seriously we should clarify any doubts about a treatment equal relationship with the rest of the 50 states and give the opportunity for it to develop into further, more self-american government, full self-american government. Is it a basic position that—let all Puerto Rico decides, that this Task Force goes forward smoothly, that as proponents of a commonwealth status, whatever the will of the people of American people of Puerto Rico will decide, in fairness, if we the person wants statehood yesterday, last century the US Representatives proponents will accept statehood? Is that basically everybody position? We the Taino people don’t have any problem with the laws regarding to defense and all that will take care of anybody concern but any other laws we should will have the mechanism to decide whether it should apply to Puerto Rico, USA or not. The present day demand upon inventive statesmanship is to help evolve new kinds of relationships so as to combine the advantages of a local self-government with those of a confederated union. Luckily, our Constitution has left this field of ‘AMERICAN DREAM permanent statehood puzzles open.” I have said that further Congress would have to comply with that MAP, which finally opens the road for Puerto Rico to make a decision on its ultimate political status in the dignified manner that becomes the United States Congress and the people of the United States, including statehood as an alternative, which was the implicit understanding under which the people of Puerto Rico welcomed the American forces of General Nelson Miles in 1898.So I really—I believe in principles. I believe in democracy, and I think that if a plebiscite is finally approved by Congress, we will be allowed to vote. Yes, I do believe we are not a colony. I believe that in 1950 and ‘52 the people of Puerto Rico entered into this special arrangement with the United States. I don’t say it is perfect, and we have always said that commonwealth needed further development. We cannot wait any longer. The ones who live up here can wait, but we cannot wait. And that is why it is very important to have the Task Force statehood definition finally approved. A decision must be made, and we the people cannot permit that these task force results are delayed or push to brake unnecessarily. We the American people of borinquen feel, therefore, that Puerto Rico is ripe to become a New Born 51st Star in our American Flag. I think that the time has come for The United States President and the both the Senators & Congress to live up to the commitment of American equality under which we the people were brought into its fold. It is time to do American justice to more than 3.6 million disenfranchised U.S. citizens of Borinquen, to comply with your moral duty, as it becomes the United States Congress and our fellow citizens of the United States. Under a plebiscite conducted pursuant to this task force bill, we the people are convinced that the American people of Puerto Rico would choose statehood. Instead, we the people should work together to settle our differences and respect the wishes of the people of Puerto Rico. Justice and objectivity should be maintained regarding the statehood-commonwealth definitions as they refer to the potential economic effects of the different real American alternatives. My only concern, and what I see as my duty, as we move forward, is to insure that the people of Puerto Rico have a process in which they will be able to choose freely and fairly the status which most realizes their hopes and aspirations. Borinquen, USA is part of the United States. As we know, TASK FORCE would require a plebiscite SPONSOR BT CONGRESS in Puerto Rico where the people of Puerto Rico would have the ability to decide the NEW 51st State future of our beautiful island. I also believe that there is no question about the effect our status has on those Puerto Ricans who reside on the fifty states, in terms of their own well being, as well as in terms of their future prospects for a return to the island. Moreover, the influence Puerto Ricans in the fifty states can wield, no doubt, will be an important factor in moving the plebiscite process forward in Congress. As a Puerto Rican, I say, ”Let we decide this issue once and for all, ‘’ for years the rich Puerto Rican culture has been part of what is uniquely American. Under statehood, Puerto Ricans would be guaranteed all the rights, privileges and responsibilities of all U.S. citizens in equality. No doubt, Yet without statehood, something constitutional will continue to be missing, Otherwise, the basic tenets of our Nation have lost all real task force meaning. The American people of Puerto Rico are citizens of this Nation by birth, and have fought and died in all the American wars of this 21st century, from World War I to Operation Iraq. In looking forward, the United Nations is very clear as to what options can be offered territorial jurisdictions. One is integration, full integration, which is statehood. If these brave young men and women are important enough to serve our national security interest, they surely are important enough to demand and receive the respect of this Senators & Congress in their pursuit of becoming now the next 51st state. As we in the United States strive to encourage and foster these developments around the world, it is essential that we hold true to our principles at home and provide the people of Puerto Rico the opportunity to exercise full self determination and decide, a final political status of our island. I think we agree because we are looking at the facts. And if history shows us the different steps that were taken and if at the end of that route we apply a litmus test as to whether a jurisdiction is represented democratically, whether it is enfranchised or not, then you have to reach the conclusion no matter why us American pro-sttehood borinquen USA again urges this task force’s Committee and Congress to put aside the historical contradictions. We the Taino people only want one choice, and that is Statehood, Las demas son las demas! They should know this valid option. If we the people spend so much time arguing about what somebody said in the United Nations, I gather us the people will reach conflicting opinions, because in the United Nations everybody said whatever they wanted. But if you are telling me that people will be voting and then not really living the consequences of that decision that is very hard for me to accept. It is very difficult for me to think of people that will not suffer or benefit from the consequences of a decision to be involved in that decision. Let Puerto Rico not look backwards. Let Puerto Rico. USA looks forward together as good Americans. In this respect, since the real American statehood alternatives require, by they’re very nature different procedures and conditions for their implementation, the temptation of false VIRUS’ {Decolonization symmetry} should be avoided. The 51st Star Estado 51st, for example, being an alienable right of the US Main-Land people, should and could come into effect in a very reduced period of time. Once statehood has been proclaimed, a transition period involving economic and other National Securities matters would be implemented over an extended period of time. The Puerto Rican people are anxious for this opportunity to freely, fairly and collectively determine the political status of their island. We will choose statehood, we will add another star to our flag and welcome them officially as an equal partner into the greatest union known in the history of mankind. Acknowledge, keep in mind that with that benefit comes a great responsibility. If the Puerto Rican American people choose to maintain a 51st State commonwealth like Kentucky State, turning away from the self-rule, Congress will maintain the supreme administrative control of the island. And another area that I think that both United States and Puerto Rico would benefit from would be the economic area. I believe there will be an increase in investment and economic growth if Puerto Rico becomes the 51st State of the Union.

    Do we the people really have the ability to continue to preach political changes and changes in government and in systems (Do you want to become a commonwealth 51st Statehood, or do you want to stay the way you are) and in approaches in the world if we will not allow the people of Puerto Rico the opportunity to talk about their future? The statehooders are very courageous, too, because they will take all the heat, all the accusations about what statehood will mean to the culture and the language on the island. Even Puerto Rican statehooders postulate our right as American people to our distinct identity, ”Commonwealth-statehood they call it. Puerto Ricans of all persuasions proudly and forcefully proclaim that our English and Spanish language and cultures are always negotiable under the New 51st State of the greater Nation in the world US of A…English, in my judgment, should be the official language of the United States, but no State, be that New York or California or Florida or Puerto Rico, should be singled out and told it must adopt English as its official language. We the American people have been feeling very much for what other people believe or think or feel, and it is about time we the Taino people of borinquen push for what we think should be just and new equitable statehood and let other people worry about their own Fas or Independence feelings. When and if Puerto Rico becomes a State, if and when English becomes the official language of the United States, it will apply to all 51 States, to Puerto Rico just as well as everybody else. And let me also make clear on the language issue, I think that English ought to be taught and in Puerto Rican schools whether or not Puerto Rico is a State, whether Puerto Rico is a State, a commonwealth. I think that the people, the government of Puerto Rico is doing a disservice to the American children of Puerto Rico in not making it bilingual and the Federal Government has a responsibility to provide the funding that they need to achieve such a goal. And in light of the deficits that we are facing in this country, I would like to see that there is a commitment from this Congress or any Congress to provide such funding. In many ways, the United States government in many parts of this country is doing a disservice to many citizens by not encouraging second languages. For the honor and respect of both our nations, let us bring the 51st Star together in our America US Flag.

76. RIQUEN Says:
    October 11th, 2006 at 8:33 am

    1. YOU PEOPLE NEVER WONDER WHY? PUERTO RICO IS THE ONLY ISLAND THAT SHALL BE A REPUBLIC AND IS PART OF THE USA?
    2.DON’T SOME OF YOU EVER HERE RUMORS IN PR THAT SOME PEOPLE SAY THAT PR HAS A ‘MILITARY VAZE ‘ UNDER IT ?
    3.PUERTO RICO ALWAYS WANTED TO BE A REPUBLIC OR INDEPENDENCE BUT SINCE SOME OF THE PUERTO RICANS DONT WANTED THAT WAY WELL PR IS PART OF THE USA…
    4.IN RIO GRANDE RUMOR HAS IT THAT “ELYUNQUE” HAVE A SECRECT SO BIG THAT NOONE SHALL EVER KNOW CUZ IT CAN PROVOQUE A CHAOS IN PR.
    5. THE CHAOS SOMEPOEPLE SAY THAT IT’S ABOUT ,THE BERMUDAS,EL YUNQUE, PONCE,AND ,ELMORRO.
    6.HAPPEND WHAT HAPPEND TO PR PR WILL ALWAYS BE PR NO MATTER WHAT AND WE HAVE SOMETHING VERY BEUTIFUL AND IS THAT WE ARE BLESSED EVEN IF WE ARE THE WAY WE ARE NO MATTER WHAT SO WE DONT NEED VICTORY TO HAVE GLORY CUZ WE HAVE PRECIOUS THINGS IN ALL OF US THANK YOU ALL”:)

77. Viktor Says:
    April 1st, 2007 at 1:17 am

    This task Force Blog was originally a call for us to help shape Borinquen society. We’re a group which cares about thought. I think, perhaps, our greatest service will be our ability to think carefully, clearly, and critically, and then rouse others to support our society’s deepest values. There is a difference between merely matching or displaying a set of English sentences in response to a specific initial English sentence and understanding the meaning of such a sentence. But what is the Task Force Geographical dividing line? Language is how we communicate, and hidden in language are all sorts of implications. It’s easy to be roused to the call of “Liberty demands duty!” or “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country!” or all sorts of seemingly patriotic thought, but it’s a minefield. It’s a distortion of what we really value (in this case “freedom”) into something we don’t value (in this case “non-freedom”).“Statehood”(^_*) In this case the claim, if true, would need to be resolved. These questions may be used to direct the line of reasoning to likely diagnostic paths. In most real problems it is too expensive or takes too long to explore all possibilities, and some way must be provided to guide the search for the correct status quo resolution. Rather than being just a “status quo map” that produces a miraculous answer, the system should have an explanation capability in the same way that american experts can explain their reasoning. This feature is very important for several reasons. One reason is that Puerto Rico, USA life and property may depend on the answers of the expert system. Because of the great potential for harm, an expert system must be able to justify its conclusions in the same way a real american expert can explain why a certain conclusion was reached. Thus, an explanation facility provides an understandable check of the reasoning for We the People of United States. A second reason for having an explanation facility occurs in the development phase of an expert system to confirm that the knowledge has been correctly acquired and is being correctly used by the system. This is important in debugging the task force format because the knowledge may be incorrectly entered by typos or be incorrect due to misunderstandings between the knowledge engineer and the expert. A good explanation facility allows the expert and the knowledge engineer to verify the correctness of the knowledge.”We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. –That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, –That whenever any Form of Government in our Borinquen becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Borinquen Commonwealth states’ form of Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them will seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Developing human psychologies to be nondestructive will be a major help toward making our living environments free of destructive forms caused by us. I was taught high crimes times murder always is wrong. I was taught lying always is wrong. I was taught that lusting after money and power is wrong. I was taught that good men prevailed and evil men sooner or later paid for their acts. Another aspect in approaching a problem situation is that what we perceive as an obstacle and why we perceive it as such are questions not necessarily consciously addressed together, but both are components of the context. However, when I consider myself to be task-force oriented, I may think it is counterproductive to examine or question the significance of the task force itself. There is a polarity between what is perceived as practical, what and how, and what is perceived as theoretical or philosophical, why. The drive to be “efficient” generally invokes a rigid frame in which to conceptualize the status quo problem/solution. Often such rigidity works against the learning in the doing of the task forces as well as the learning about oneself in relation to the context of the task force. Improvisation is a modality that allows a more free-floating consciousness between the poles of the practical and the theoretical. I feel that the better solution in a “problem,” or better choice in a “situation,” is the one which resolves the apparent conflict of possibilities while at the same time illuminating patterns and revealing greater levels of organization or complexity which can be responded to in similar ways. We live under a government “of the people, by the people, for the people.” By it’s very structure, our government is obligated to serve the people. But are the people obligated to serve the government? Is it our duty? Maybe. Very compelling to consider I think. In any event, the times are good now for the scientists to run for office, made possibly by technological pace and consequential public interest, giving a natural occurrence of scientists’ participation in political voice and reason. It would in effect, exclude them from politics as usual and be a unanimous fit for the language that is science and that of nature. Scientist for Governor of Puerto Rico? We’re starving for it, obviously, it’d be’a landslide of genuine interest among voters. I think the social issues will dominate the scientific issues in the upcoming decades, and I believe that society at large will have a rather skeptical view of putting a scientist in charge. Why believe that nature is so simple at the fundamental level that it can be described by a single mathematical wave form? ……and that once two whatever-we-may-believe-ins are described by the mathematics of that ““singlet”” wave function then suddenly they are now forever linked no matter where they happen to wander, like star-crossed lovers in an intergalactic relationship? “Liberty, Equality, Fraternity” are separate and unequal social ideas. How unequal? Well, I value Liberty most highly with Equality a close second. Fraternity (i.e., duty of man to his brothers) is somewhat contradictory to Liberty, so priorities need to be evaluated and choices made. I like society and enjoy serving society. “We live a double life whether we know it or not, we live our own life and we live the life of our own time.”"To be nobody-but-yourself – in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you somebody else – means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight; and never stop fighting.” “If you deliberately plan on being less than you are capable of being, then I warn you that you’ll be unhappy for the rest of your life.” In many ways, my actions support my values for Fraternity. It’s just that I don’t lose sight that my service is NOT a duty, but a choice. (I.e., Liberty is the superior value to Fraternity). I can’t see that happening – the pace will be too quick, privately funding will be too prevalent, and again, just good ol’fashioned self preservation in keeping a pace will have all the players jumping on the wagon. The posturing of labored contempt and enthusiasm found on both sides of the isle will be useful and I’d say not the least bit capable of containing the wonderous capacity we’ll be seeing. Science is knowledge, to add to your summary G, and knowledge are understanding, and understanding is God made commonplacely. Taking responsibility for ourselves in being completely authentically is finding good cause in scientific approach e, and I couldn’t agree more. Whether this poses questions of what’s described as bad or good in the moment as society finds it will inevitably come to lend deliberate aid of doing as little as possible as often as possible. Incidentally, I’m confused there’s not more interaction and debate on the subject here. Are there a majority of those in the sciences present here on this site E.? Are you aware? Are other scientists you’ve spoken to about this active here? What’s been their sense of things if you’d care to speak for them if not present.

    I like the idea of scientists in Puerto Rico Government office, and it stands to good reason.

    “When you are inspired by some great purpose, some extraordinary project, all your thoughts break their bounds. Dormant forces, faculties and talents become alive, and you discover yourself to be a greater person by far than you ever dreamed yourself to be.” “You can stand tall without standing on someone. You can be a victor without having victims.”

78. Viktor Says:
    April 9th, 2007 at 1:45 am

    “If you find yourself being treated in a way you resent or that turns you into a victim, ask yourself this question: ‘What have I done to teach this person that this behavior is something I’m willing to tolerate?’”
    –Wayne Dyer

    America is not great because of the good things that we the people have, but because of the good things we the people believe: Let’s makes the Task Force a tree with real fruits. Often Democrats Political Leaders in the US Congress in the mainland have the erroneous notion that they are helping the people of Puerto Rico when they make comments like this one using the same RHETORIC *%* statistical EXCUSES AS FOLLOW: {“This should be left in the hands of the people of Puerto Rico. I am even more upset at the fact that every four years we hear the same political rhetoric from US politicians regarding the future of Puerto Rico. What this group is promoting, however, is so dangerously out-of-touch with the USA territory’s legal reality, that it has the potential of having the effect of completely derailing this movement together with the continuing wrong approach virus malignant of decolonization. It’s beyond ‘if it looks like a duck’- it’s literally got every cell and atom of a duck and behaves like a duck in every way- there is a point where it IS a duck because it satisfies ALL definitions of one- know what I’m saying? About what? DUCK That is the great fear, and that once two whatever-we-may-believe-ins are described by the mathematics of that ““singlet” wave function then suddenly they are now forever linked no matter where they happen to wander, like star-crossed lovers in an intergalactic relationship? I know we don’t “get along” as far as our ideology is concerned, but I understand what you mean, and believe it or not, I agree. The problem that I think Task Force has with the origin logic is that they are mixing several different types of *DUCK* logic within the same logical task force problem. Would you propose a theory that one-legged pink-toed ducks’’s are entangled? There is no need for contaminating our understandings of the complex REAL world with any the singlet interpretation of it. So you can see that the whole idea of DUCK malevolence is absurd/impossible on every level. Why believe that nature is so simple at the fundamental level that it can be described by a single mathematical wave form? …… Should one really care? If I describe you by a point do you suddenly collapse into a black hole? It sounds like a linguistic confusion to me. The theory confuses its description with the thing described. (^_*)Yes, the power of aperspectival “vision-logic.” “But there are all kinds of cells aren’t there?” … from bone tissue cells to ganglia. “Cells do different things even in large cellular organizations and yet even as a so called “individual” or a specialist cell, and we would still be operating under the mass of the greater bulk thought (pattern?).” Yes there is always a larger level of organismic context. “Too what degree does one “see” this and gradually begin to see not more answers or securities, but more of an awakening but still gripped by the throws of a rebellious and sleep wrought body. The whole juggernaut cell thing brought it back into perspective for me.” So you can see that the whole idea of DUCK malevolence is absurd/impossible on every level. Sure, your opinion should supersede unquestionably even a person who has spent a good portion of her life on these matters explaining the other side of the issue (the ““dark side”” of ““hidden variables”” or whatever) and whose papers you have clearly not digested. So I don’t see what should be “duckgry” about all this. You may have given that wikipage a good once-over dogma-licking, but the ink quickly drooled out of your mouth. I worry about people collapsing into solipsistic pleasure singularities and new forms of madness which transcend any notion of hell ever conceived because people have rights it may be very hard to cure them or convince them to cure themselves there is no limit to what a person could do to them anything can be justified with a few simple connections to reinforce the rightness of it in their mind if they tried to harm others they can immediately be stopped but you can’t stop what someone may do to themselves you may not even be able to knew they could erect a DUCK puppet social personality while their inner self does unspeakable abominations to their structure the nightmarish psychological possibilities are limitless. Of course, entanglement has already been proven, but this is just to say it will become so obvious that they will teach it in kindergarten. All metaphorically speaking of course. If I were MCO, I would be careful about being too specific, as this matter will be settled in a few short years. “Evolution” will take care of this. Should one really care? Fear not of death but of loss of memory. You throw them around and hope they stick. Do you not see the politics here? Where is the scientific discussion or rational debate? You have produced an argument based on pure emotion. About what? DUCK That is the great fear, I suppose. A forgotten dream remembered again and then forgotten. Cool, huh? ” very . . . an anamnesis, which is what the word “education” derives from (Greek), isn’t it? That doesn’t address the fundamental question, and it’s interesting to note your focus here. When the People are not allowed to make decisions, the ‘democracy’ part falls flat. PLEASE Don’t put any more adjectives on it, because then it would look an insult unbalanced. POR FAVOR!! Don’t put any more adjectives on it, because then it would look unbalanced. And if it looks unbalanced, it won’t be approved. And obviously they will push for a balanced bill to be presented, because if not they will interpret it as a FAS/INDEPENDENCE{ Bad smell duck Bill}l. Or by the way for the record’s Duck means in Puerto Rico Spanish language > a Homosexual on Heat. [As for America being a 'democracy' based on freedom of speech, the Internet and the blogs have vastly increased the information available to the public to make informed decisions.] We the people will continue to be whom the people want to be. “To change, with status quo change, is the changeless state or status quo.” Definitely, This time, for real, we the people may actually be witnessing the change. I am confident most American in Borinquen, USA. Estados 51st, think like we the people do. It will be approved in the House but not in the Senate, because many Senators and Congressmen have legitimate questions regarding statehood.” If you spend time observing a river, you will see high and low tides and sometimes you may even see a change in the direction of the current, but during all this time and through all these changes, you are essentially seeing the same thing, namely the behavior of water. What you think can be important to Puerto Rico USA. (ESTADO 51). If there really is anything resembling the physical statehood-universe for Borinquen there beyond our perceptions is open to discussion. I think, that Decolonization only final objectives will damage the next 51st State of the Union. We the People have seen this kind of “evil” before, in Vieques and that’s what frightens me. Logically the correct approach to the task forces is to delete immediately ‘decolonization viruses from the options or this present task force. Take the ‘DECOLONIZATION VIRUS’ away from OUR task force’s choices, because the problem cannot be the solution. There are extremists of all types. The people in the Capitolio of San Juan, for instance, are leftist extremists, and they scare me a lot more, and pose a more credible threat, than any group of Arabs in a cave. History is so full of these ’success’ stories humans feel compelled by our very genes to reach back to them and find out what it was that they had achieved, why and how are usually lost. Our desire for becoming the new 51st state of the union has to inspire a feeling of permanence while still showing the elements of all its changes. It has to make us sense the eternal. The actual reality might be nothing like it, and the illusion of a physical statehood-universe is only created by the common agreement to perceive it a certain way. Statehood or is the only American part of the solution! “Puerto Rico is not a colony. YES as long as WE THE TAINO PEOPLE have SOMETHING TO DO WITH IT.” The only Colonia that exists is the VIRTUAL-colony created by Ruben Berrios y Rosello. Young Bill in 1998 WAS THE CULTIVATION SOIL OF THAT VIRUS. I believe we should have clearly defined statehood that is no liste as a VIRUS DECOLONIZATION,” as stated BY Us the American People that live in this US. Territory, everybody knows that Puerto Rico is not a Colony is a territory of The United States of America. ” How can the Democratic national party not takes a strong stance against the discrimination of 4 million’s Puerto Rican ESTADO 51st United States Citizens? Rosselló’s Democratic Party membership is a hoax. “I do support the continuation of a commonweal like the state of Kentucky than it stands today our union and territory USA. Often that resistance comes from outside, but at times, it also comes from within. Perception and measurement (by definition) seem to mean breaking things into little divisions. Somehow the process of making divisions might have gotten confused with the actual reality of absolute divisions, which there are not any of (are there?).

    The design of the Commonwealth flag reflects the close ties that bound the USA TERRITORIES with the greatest America Nation in the world. The term “United States” when used in a geographical sense on official documents, acts and/or law includes the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. “Unless the Statehood-Universe IS infinite, this MAY get down to a matter of goals and purposes. Let’s makes the Task Force a tree with real fruits. Which will take priority . . . Task Forum goals or Status Quo’ goals? When the government of this Borinquen Nation ceases to provide for the interests and safety of its citizens, it is no longer the legitimate government of the land. Since then, there have been a few people who feel compelled to post and post and post. This frustrates me, because I didn’t come here to be a fly in the ointment, merely to expose some “alternative” (researched) viewpoints, in the hopes that the “great minds” and possibly influential people would get concerned/involved. When I first came here, there was some talk of politics, but the threads were usually few and far between (and long). I felt this to be vitally important because it seemed to me that we were being led astray by people who talked a good game, but failed to deliver the 51st * star. Again, I’d like to see some task force documentation, and I am more interested in America’s present conduct. “I find these kinds of extremely hypothetical aren’t really useful in deciding policy because of their highly unrealistic nature”"Interesting view, but it might just be that Puerto Ricans’ politicians write laws so that they have loopholes to exploit. Or maybe I’m just cynical. Or maybe loopholes are some natural by-products of rampant over-legislation. Maybe we just need to get corrupt politicians out of Borinquen politics. Often, colleagues will defer to their judgment on those issues in which they are known to have expertise. If the legislator relies heavily on staff, however, it may well be the staff person who becomes the expert on, or even picks, the issues the legislator will tackle. So it’s not only legislators, but their staff people as well, who need to be approached by advocates. Again we need to align the task force to real American statehood definition, not virus decolonization bad defective definition from the Congress of United States, without discriminating the Commonwealth, ELA is not the same of a commonwealth both are completely different political and economy constitutional National Security terms. In the Capitolio of S.J. Puerto Rico, both parties you must wander. Just how much influence staffers have depends upon the individual legislators. They are signals of moral bankruptcy. Some trust their staff people entirely, follow their suggestions, and ask them to draft legislation which the legislators will then sign. Others use their staffs only as sources of information, and makes all their own decisions about policy or legislation without staff advice. I suppose I am frustrated here in our Borinquen that our public, somehow, sees politics as a fame-game, more about personalities than issues. It is about fame and personality because politics has become purely reactive for better or for worse I think. Well, anyone can do that really. So it becomes more about celebrity and fame and nice speeches written by other people than anything else. The politicians do whatever the polls tell them. I am disgusted by political society in general. ELA should not promote dynasties. Overall, I am a defender of capitalism and free markets. But should law be up for sale? Who owns the law, so to sell it? See . . . I just don’t get when people want to force these kinds of ideas on others. I understand that these (greed and corruption) are part of human nature. It’s called “finding the short cut to the goal.”What most Puerto Rican people don’t know is that the sudden swell of support for campaign finance reform among both parties is due primarily to the sudden, though moderate, success of third parties. If the government of Puerto Rico mostly responds to corporations and not the citizens, do we still have democracy? Not a functional democracy – I absolutely agree. It also makes plain the obvious apathy of the American voter. I should say that I fear that voters’’ apathy and human greed will be hard to overcome. We are making this into not just a Puerto Rican issue, but an INDIAN one. Both political parties know that they can no longer win elections while ignoring the American-Indian Tribes vote. Wouldn’t you agree? Until there is a clear post-plebiscite Presidential Congressional request for *statehood*. George Washington, Farewell Address, September 19, 1796 Borinquen soldiers’ BLOOD IS NOT FOR SALE or EXCHANGE FOR POLITICAL GAINS MONETARY FAVORS. I guess that soldier talk, Navajo, Sioux, Taino, etc. I will be tied my Dogs with a strong chain and promised I will put my arrow away. Can you take a joke? [If Your Not Part of The Solution, Your Part of The Problem]. Task Force Problem of languages or Demagogical. I got in my home the American flag standing tall, on his post. We embrace the game, or the system, in other words, through an entirely voluntary gesture. All we need do are clicks our heels and say “yes, indeed, I do accept these rules and starting points,” and before we know it we are swept into the world of that ‘decolonization’ system. Oh, yes indeed. They are also orchestrated by them for these reasons. This is not acceptable behavior.

    “Political interests [can] never are separated in the long run from moral right.”““The moral is that statehood for Puerto Rico, is the correct path’’ one judge not by contaminated political plague ideology forms, color or religious; but by functions and American values.” We the Taino people of Borinquen don’t see how you can get the rest of the USA Country’s attention in the USA Traditionally. Us veterans have been very supportive of Statehood-determination for Puerto Rico US Of A. If the question is whether or not I believe people in the mainland would support their fellow citizens in Puerto Rico when it comes to this issue of decolonization. The problem as I see it is that the status question is not really on the Congressional radar screen. I believe that the answer is NO. People in the mainland and this territory knows that decolonization is the malignant VIRUS Vieques Navy Exodus. The right question is whether or not I believe in the mainland would support the American citizens on Borinquen, USA when it comes to the final with a REAL AMERICAN CONSTRUCTIONAL DEFINITION call 51st State for Puerto Rico from the President of The United States & US Territories and US Senators/Congressman sponsor a plebiscite and line up the task force properly by removing the decolonization ‘Virus’. I believe in God we the people trust that the correct answers if hell yep!! There is one thing that binds all Native American Indian people and that is our common indigenous blood that binds us all into a common struggle for the survival of our people. We are of many tribal nations yet we are but ONE American Indian Nation. I think it’s much more important to the public interest that property rights are secure than to start having ELA and the three Political party NPP/PPD. but it’s the AGENDAS and the philosophies that seperate the two by a vast abyss or PIP for that effect start telling people how much they can give to their own children. Let Puerto Rico Decide no the politicians on all sides.

    ‘No need to tear down a fence when just a little work is required to add a gate.”
    -Turtle George

79. Donna Says:
    April 19th, 2007 at 2:00 am

    Deceitful Tactics Used In Effort to Make Puerto Rico a State
    by Phyllis Schlafly (More by this author)
    Posted: 03/26/2007

    Even though Puerto Rico has three times voted against becoming a U.S. state, yet another effort is being made to persuade Puerto Ricans to change their mind.
    Of course, the Democratic Party thinks making Puerto Rico our 51st state is a cool idea because that would give the Democrats two additional U.S. Senators and 6 to 8 additional Members of the House, more congressional representation than 25 of our 50 states.
    Despite millions of dollars being spent to promote statehood, on Dec. 13, 1998, Puerto Ricans voted 46.5 percent for statehood, 2.5 percent for independence, and 50.5 percent for “none of the above,” which must be seen as an endorsement of its present commonwealth status.
    The Puerto Rican independence faction is small, but that doesn’t mean its members would acquiesce to being outvoted in a democratic election. They are among the most militant groups in the world and are responsible for domestic terrorist incidents in the United States.
    The 1998 percentage of Puerto Ricans favoring statehood was approximately the same as in the 1993 referendum. It is asking for big trouble to admit a state in which nearly half the people oppose the idea.
    The most important issue about Puerto Rico statehood is that it would transform the United States overnight into a bilingual nation. Puerto Ricans speak Spanish and are antagonistic to the idea of learning English.
    English is the language of the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution. It would be divisive and troublesome to admit a state whose people don’t speak the language of our founding documents.
    Puerto Rican statehood would cost the U.S. plenty in taxes. The average income of Puerto Ricans is less than half that of our poorest state, and infrastructure and the environment are far below U.S. standards, so statehood would bring immediate demands for massive federal funding.
    The smoking gun proving that Puerto Rico statehood is designed to make us a bilingual nation is House Concurrent Resolution 11, or English Plus Resolution, introduced by Rep. Jose Serrano, D-N.Y.. Serrano is also the sponsor of HR 900, the Puerto Rico Democracy Act of 2007.
    A concurrent resolution is a legislative proposal that must be passed by the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate but does not require the signature of the president and does not have the force of law. Concurrent resolutions are generally used to express the sentiment of Congress or to amend the internal rules of the House and Senate.
    Serrano’s resolution, introduced Jan. 4, levels a stinging attack on English as our national language and demands that the federal government “oppose” the many state laws and bills that designate English their official language.
    The resolution demands that U.S. government provide services in languages other than English and even encourage all U.S. residents to learn languages other than English. The bill falsely asserts that our nation has “drawn strength from a diversity of languages.” The truth is having English as our common language is a principal factor in “e pluribus unum,” which is Latin for “out of many one,” a U.S. motto.
    Serrano’s resolution is dishonestly entitled “English Plus Resolution” and is dressed up in flowery rhetoric to make it appear that its purpose is to protect American Indian languages. That ruse fools no one; it’s obvious that the bill is just cover for the impudent demand that we accept Puerto Rico as a Spanish-language state.
    Serrano’s Puerto Rico Democracy Act of 2007, would set up two plebiscites that rig the process to deceive Puerto Ricans into voting for statehood. In the first plebiscite, scheduled for this year, Puerto Ricans would be given a choice of:
    1. remaining as a U.S. territory;
    2. or pursuing an (undefined) “constitutionally viable permanent non-territorial status.”
    If the majority chooses No. 1, Puerto Rico would be required to vote again at least every eight years (presumably until they are bamboozled into voting for statehood). If the majority chooses No. 2, a second plebiscite would be held at which Puerto Ricans could choose between “only” two “nonterritorial” options: statehood or independence.
    Not only is the double-plebiscite procedure rigged to prevent a vote to continue the present commonwealth status, but the ballot propositions are written so that only a lawyer can figure out what they really mean.
    A vote on Puerto Rico would have momentous effects on whether the United States of America remains “one nation, indivisible” or whether it starts down the road of countries that have fought bloody wars when minority populations tried to maintain a separate language and cultural identity within another nation, such as Quebec, Ireland, Bosnia and Iraq.
    With a 92 percent turnout in the Oct. 30, 1995, referendum in Quebec, secession lost by only a razor-thin margin: 50.6 percent of Quebeckers voted to keep Canada one nation, while 49.4 voted for Quebec to secede from Canada. The close vote adversely affected Quebec’s financial markets and caused a flight of capital and people.
    Puerto Rico is a vestige of 19th century colonialism; we got it as booty in the Spanish American War of 1898. In the 21st century, colonialism is so retro; we should give Puerto Rico its independence.
    Tell your Representative to vote no on both Puerto Rico bills.
    Mrs. Schlafly is the author of the new book The Supremacists: The Tyranny of Judges and How to Stop It (Spence Publishing Co).

    Mrs. Schlafly is the author of the new book The Supremacists: The Tyranny of Judges and How to Stop It (Spence Publishing Co).

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    July 29th, 2009 at 6:17 pm

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