Angel Quiles is going to vote in the third Plebiscite vote. He is going to vote for statehood, and he discusses his reasons for doing so.
Today I am going to vote in Puerto Rico’s third Plebiscite vote. I am going to vote that Puerto Rico should become the fifty-first state of the United States of America. To me, this only makes sense. We should be equal to citizens of the United States, yet we are not. Independence for us is just not rational, and the “Enhanced Commonwealth” status that some propose is unreasonable, and it still does not allow us the full benefits of being part of the United States. “The United States is a republic, not an empire”. We should be treated as first class citizens, and we can achieve this by becoming a state. Of course we would receive representation in congress and an ability to vote for the president, but there are more benefits, too. Statehood would lead to a prosperous Puerto Rico.
Our commonwealth status limits our economic growth. “I take a look at the economy that they have in the United States, and I want that, too”. Currently, we are not subject to federal income taxes, but in the long run, these taxes would not compare to the economic growth we would experience should we become a state. Our incomes would be higher, enough to make up for the difference in taxes, and we would receive full federal benefit. The Puerto Rican economy is not doing very well at the moment, but if we became a state, our economy would grow.
The language barrier is not as big of an issue as some may argue. What many Americans do not realize is that English is an official language of Puerto Rico, along with Spanish. It is required to take English classes through high school. And, I might add that language has never been a requirement to become a state. When Louisiana, New Mexico, Arizona, and Oklahoma were admitted into the United States, there was no language requirement for them, either. Why should this be an issue for us? We are willing to adopt and embrace the English language, along with keeping our own heritage intact.
I do not believe that becoming a state will destroy our Puerto Rican identity. Puerto Rican identity is strong and continues to be so. Becoming part of a nation does not necessarily mean loss of individuality. “Puerto Rico has been exposed to U.S. mainland cultures for a long time, 100 years---and Puerto Rican culture and heritage has thrived and grown”. Many states still keep their own individuality and culture alive, yet they are all proud to call themselves part of the United States. We, as proud Puerto Ricans, can achieve this as well, especially in a place like the United States, where culture is embraced.
I personally believe that becoming a part of Puerto Rico could only increase our freedoms. For much too long, we have been under the rule of foreign nations. If we become a state, we will be, for the first time, part of a free and glorious nation. We will no longer be oppressed and restricted by a greater power. As Puerto Ricans, we will be able to enjoy freedom as a part of the United States of America. Who would not want this? I want this for myself, for my family, for my friends, and for future generations of my children. America is a free nation, full of opportunity. Why shouldn’t we seize it?
We Puerto Ricans have earned our statehood “through [our] steadfast support of [their] country, [their] flag, and by sending [our] sons and daughters to fight in US wars, [their] wars, ever since the Spanish American War in 1898”. Statehood provides much more benefits than drawbacks, and I believe that with this vote, the United States should act on admitting us into the union. That is why I am going to vote for statehood today, so that Puerto Rico can have a brighter future as a complete part of the United States of America.
Why does Puerto Rico have a higher voter turnout than USA?
ReplyDeletePuerto Ricans have a voter turnout of about 80%. The United States (US) citizens have a voter turnout of about 50%. What accounts for this 30 % disparity? Could it be that Puerto Rican believe in democracy more than US mainland citizens?
Puerto Rico is a colony of the United States since 1898. Since that time, Puerto Ricans who have wanted to decolonize their country have been either assassinated or imprisoned. Many Puerto Ricans are terrified of independence for Puerto Rico as a result of 116 years of repression.
Since colonialism is always for exploitation, there are no opportunities in Puerto Rico for Puerto Ricans. That is why there are now more Puerto Ricans out, than in Puerto Rico. Therefore, Puerto Ricans are desperate to find a political solution to our eternal colonialism!
Most Puerto Ricans believe that decolonization can be achieved through the electoral process. But the electoral process is ultimately under the control of the government of the United States. Since the US government has ignored 33 United Nations resolutions asking it to immediately decolonize Puerto Rico, and it has maintained incarcerated Puerto Rico political prisoner Oscar López Rivera for 33 years despite worldwide support to free him, there should be no doubt that the US government will never allow decolonization via the electoral process. If it were possible to do it that way, we would not have it!
The better way to decolonize is for that 80% of the Puerto Rico voter turnout to instead protest in the streets to demand our inalienable right to self-determination and independence, and insist that the UN do the decolonization in conformity to international law. After all, colonialism is within the jurisdiction of international law and never under national law. That is why it is a crime against humanity to have a colony under international law, but not so under US law.
José M López Sierra
www.TodosUnidosDescolonizarPR.blogspot.com
Should criminals be in charge of correcting the wrong they inflicted?
ReplyDeletePuerto Ricans vote in elections every 4 years at an 80% level of participation. Puerto Rico has been a colony of the United States (US) government for the past 116 years. If the US government has the final say in what happens in Puerto Rico, what is the purpose of these elections? The purpose is to fool the world that Puerto Rico is a democracy.
The United Nations (UN) declared colonialism a crime against humanity in 1960. The UN has asked the US government 33 times to decolonize Puerto Rico immediately. The US government has refused. It says that Puerto Rico’s political relationship with the United States is none of the UN’s business. The US says that it is a domestic affair.
To appear that the US government wants to decolonize Puerto Rico, it promotes the use of plebiscites to determine what Puerto Ricans want. Doesn’t that sounds innocent and democratic? So what’s the problem?
To begin with, the international community already rendered its verdict and determined that colonialism is illegal. So to have a political status option in a plebiscite that favors maintaining Puerto Rico a colony of the United States is not permitted. To have a political status option of Puerto Rico becoming a state of the United States is also not permitted under international law. The problem goes back to the beginning of this article. In order to have free elections, the country must be free. So before these elections and plebiscite could be valid, Puerto Rico would have to first be an independent nation.
What people must realize is that Puerto Rico is a colony of the US because the US government wants it that way. That is why it has used terrorism to keep it that way. That is why it refuses to release the Puerto Rican political prisoner of 33 years Oscar López Rivera. That is also why it is ridiculous to believe that decolonization is a US internal matter in which the UN has no jurisdiction over. If we allow the US government to decolonize Puerto Rico, she will remain a colony of the United States forever!
José M López Sierra
www.TodosUnidosDescolonizarPR.blogspot.com