National Pride!

"SPANISH LYRICS
La tierra de Borinquén
donde he nacido yo,
es un jardín florido
de mágico fulgor.
Un cielo siempre nítido
le sirve de dosel
y dan arrullos plácidos
las olas a sus pies.
Cuando a sus playas llegó Colón;
Exclamó lleno de admiración;
"Oh!, oh!, oh!, esta es la linda
tierra que busco yo".
Es Borinquén la hija,
la hija del mar y el sol,
del mar y el sol,
del mar y el sol,
del mar y el sol,
del mar y el sol.
---
ENGLISH TRANSLATION
The land of Borinquen,
where I was born,
is a flower-garden
of magical brilliance.
An ever-clear sky
is its canopy,
and the waves sing lullabies
at its feet.
When Columbus reached these beaches,
full of awe he exclaimed,
"This is the lovely land
that I seek."
Borinquén is the daughter
of the sea and the sun.
the sea and the sun.
the sea and the sun.
the sea and the sun.
the sea and the sun."

This posting is purely to instill some national pride. The Quoted comes from http://david.national-anthems.net/pr.txt. The video comes from http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6021329986797475937.

Independence of Puerto Rico

The Independence would mean Puerto Rico has the right to govern its own fait. This would give Puerto Rico the choice to decide. who to interact with in the world. Puerto Rico would govern its own internal, and external affairs. The government would be in the hands of the people, and officials in Puerto Rico. It could be an anarchist government ,with the people in control. Puerto Rico would in control of itself. It could be a direct, or representative democracy. Some people argue that it will not survive for long. The island can protect itself. I highly disagree, with that idea. U.S. will help Puerto Rico trough a transition period.

This period would allow Puerto Rico to fend for itself for the world market. This would bring a more steady follow of currency. Puerto Rico would be allowed to create government aid, and pay for a Puerto Rican army. When a person would enlist into the Puerto Rican army. They wouldn’t be joining the U.S. army. Puerto Rico would fight wars that they believe is necessary. Puerto Rico’s smaller islands would no longer be in danger. The U.S. wouldn’t be able to force its policies. The people have been fighting an uphill battle. Puerto Rico had to fight to be released from Spain. It took over Lares in one of those fights. The people have been massacred Rio Piedras, and Ponce. These were significant events. The people revolted in Jayuya. They followed that up by protesting to free Culebra, and Vieques from U.S. naval bombing. The island disserves its peace. It derives its own liberty “Liberta”.
References:
http://www.independencia.net/ingles/ai_whatitmeans.html
http://www.mltranslations.org/US/MLO/PRIndep.htm
http://www.malloy151.blogspot.com/

Sterilization of Puerto Rican women

From the 1930’s through the 1970’s Puerto Rico had the highest rate of abortions. About one-third of the women of childbearing age had been sterilized. Sterilization was so common that it was known as “la operation” . The U.S. department of Health, Education, and Welfare had a big role in funding the Puerto Rico’s sterilization program. The program was brought to Puerto Rico by the International Federation of Planned Parenthood (IPPF). The planned was implemented by the U.S. using political its ties. The IPPF is a private organization, the majority of its founding comes threw the U.S.. Some studies say the program was designed to meet the needs of the women. Other studies say that the program, was used for social control and cultural imperialism.
The Program took place during a time of depression. It lead to a mass migration from the island to the U.S.. The people moved to New York to find jobs. The women were being treated like 3 rd world citizens. The population had doubled in about 40 years. The program not only focused on abortions. It focused on applying the use of contraceptives, to curve the population growth. Women were encouraged to for take in the sterilization process. Although the procedure was “voluntary”. Women were not properly educated properly. The other forms of birth control were also costly. The program was aimed at poor women. The operation was cheap inexpensive, so that low poor women could afford it. “In 1950, 17.8 percent of all hospital births were followed by a sterilization procedure.” This was because the time needed to recover from the operation. Overlapped the time it took to recover from giving birth.
References:
http://userwww.sfsu.edu/~epf/1999/gormley.html
http://womenst.library.wisc.edu/bibliogs/puerwom.htm

State Hood of Puerto Rico

Statehood Of Puerto Rico
The United States still debates over Puerto Rico’s statehood. First problem being the fact the Puerto Ricans have a culture of their own. Puerto Rico’s native tongue is Spanish. English would have to be forced on the residents. This would cause a cultural divide. Puerto Rico would not be represented in the miss universe pageant. That would be sad seeing how they won 3 consecutive times. They would also not be represented in the world baseball classic or the Olympic games. The independent movement would also be a factor. There is a lot of corruption ,and illegitimacy on the island. Puerto Rico is a poor Caribbean island. The majority of the people are highly dependent on government aid programs. Another thing would be the Puerto Rican flag would only be a state flag. The Puerto Rican national anthem La Borinqueña. Just as they are no longer Boriquenos, or Boricuas. Puerto Ricans would just become Americans. No longer a country, but a mire state.

The benefits would be they would get treated like regular citizens. Not second class citizens as they do now. They would also gain the rights from the constitution. That is the ones they don’t already have. Puerto Rico would gain the same allies as the United States. Puerto Rico would also gain representation in congress. The Citizens would be able to vote for the president of the united states. They would be removed from the territorial claws in the constitution. It would gain the same benefits as the other 50 states.















References:
http://www.englishfirst.org/puerto/puertonypost.htm
http://www.essortment.com/all/puertoricansta_rdla.htm
http://www.prstatehood.com/issues/index.asp
http://www.heritage.org/Research/LatinAmerica/EM495.cfm

Commonwealth Status?

Commonwealth Status ?
I always wondered what does; Puerto Rico’s commonwealth status mean? Puerto Rico has been a commonwealth since 1952. This was when Puerto Rico adopted a constitution similar to the U.S.’s. Puerto Rico is still lacking representation on a federal level. The nearly 4 million people on the island are U.S. citizens. This means even though they are poorly represented. They still have to follow federal laws. They have a representative in the house, but the rep is not allowed to vote on legislation. That’s why Puerto Rico is considered to be a colony. The current status is highly disliked .“Less than 0.06 % of the population support the common status. The island would need to go threw a process of decolonization. In order to gain some respect.

The good thing about being a commonwealth would be U.S. citizenship. However what good is citizenship without representation. Isn’t that what started the U.S. revolution? Something along the lines of, “Taxation Without Representation”. In Puerto Rico’s case it is a little different. They don’t pay federal income tax, but they do pay all other federal taxes. They also pay local taxes with high rates of almost 40%. You could consider it the same thing. Another advantage of the commonwealth status, would be protection in times of war. Puerto Rico itself suffers the burden, by having its small islands virtual destroyed. The small islands being Viequez and Culebra. When residents enlist they join the U.S. Army. Not the Army of Puerto Rico.
References:
http://www.letpuertoricodecide.com/details.php?cid=4
http://www.essortment.com/all/puertoricansta_rdla.htm

Fight For The Release OF Vieques

Fight for the release of Vieques

Vieques is an island about 8 miles of the southeast coast of Puerto Rico’s main island. The island also known as la isla nena, is named after a taino word meaning little girl island. The tainos pronounced it bieques. It became politically tied to Puerto Rico in 1854. In 1941 the U.S. Navy came to Vieques taking 4/5Th's of the island. The island was used for artillery, war games, and target practice with live ammo. This is why this island is known for having high toxic pollution. In 1999 the U.S. Navy admitted to having used radioactive uranium shells. The people on the island blame the high cancer rate on the Navy. The cancer rate on Vieques is 26 percent high then the rest of Puerto Rico.
Vieques had a large group, and verity of protesters. The Protests themselves have their own amount of activism. Reverend Al Sharpton was arrested for civil disobedient act in Vieques. Reverend Sharpton was giving a 90 day sentence. The Judge gave the sentence, because Reverend Sharpton had a record. On May 5, 2000 during a Yankees vs. Orioles game at Yankee Stadium. During the fifth inning seven Vieques protesters ran onto the field. The ran onto the field with Puerto Rican flags, and signs that read. “U.S. Navy out of Vieques”.
May, 2003 the Naval base closes down. The people of the island pay the price. The Roosevelt base was closed. The base had given 1,200 locals jobs. The base had also put $300 million a year Vieques’s economy.

The pictures are from http://www.viequeslibre.addr.com/demo/yankees.htm
References:
http://welcome.topuertorico.org/city/vieques.shtml
http://socialistworker.org/2001/370/370_02_Vieques.shtml
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/911359/posts
http://www.viequeslibre.addr.com/demo/yankees.htm

Fight to stop U.S. usage of Culebra

Fight to stop U.S. usage of Culebra
Culebra was originally named Isla Pasaje translation would likely be Island Passage.
Culebra is a small island seventeen miles east of Puerto Rico’s Main Island. “On June 26, 1903, President Theodore Roosevelt established the Culebra Naval Reservation..” Culebra became U.S.’s main artillery and bombing range for practice firings. The Practice use of weapons air to ground, and naval, firing increased. The increase in weapons usage on the island led to widespread protests in Puerto Rico. The protestors wanted to U.S. to stop its usage of the island ( I.e. Bombing). In1970, a law was pasted which called for the U.S. secretary of defense, to prepare a report based on the weapons training in and around Culebra. The report had a statement in it which stated that the island would be re-inspected in 1972. The second inspection never happened.
In 1971, the president of the Puerto Rican independence party (PIP) was Rubén Berríos. He lead the protests on the island against, the U.S. Navy’s occupancy and weapons test on the island. Rubén Berríos stayed on Culebra for three days ,and was arrested. He was arrested and ended up spending time in jail. The protests was a push to the U.S. giving up its occupancy of the island. Mortar Fire hit the island landing on beach where two children were playing. All the political parties in Puerto Rico wanted the U.S. to stop its training on Culebra. On June 1974, President Ford decided to discontinue the Navy’s Presence on Culebra. By July 1,1975 the U.S.’s miss usage of Culebra was over.
References:
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/facility/culebra.htm
http://welcome.topuertorico.org/city/culebra.shtml
http://www.puertorico-herald.org/issues/vol4n40/ProfileBerrios-en.html

U.S. Capitol shooting incident (1954)

U.S. Capitol shooting incident (1954)
On March 1, 1954four Puerto Rican nationalists entered the capitol, and shot 30 rounds into the hall. The shots wounded five lawmakers ,one seriously wounded. None of the 240 members of congress that was on house floor, was killed. The government body hadn’t been attacked in 150yrs before the incident. The attack was a shocking act of violence on the house. One of the wounded used a tie as tourniquet. In order to stop the bleeding of a leg wound. James Van Zandt, whom was a navy veteran, ran up the stairs and helped capture an assailant.

Lolita Lebron one of the nationalist shooters ,was taken away after the attack. She was quoted as shouting out. “Free Puerto Rico”. Today she still feels no guilt over the incident. She is one of the two nationalists that survived that day. After the two had served 25 years ,in 1979 president Carter freed the nationalists. While the Carter administration denied any connection between the event ,and Fidel Castro. Pertaining to the release of several Americans being held in Cuba. The Americans were being held on espionage charges. After the house considered putting up bulletproof glass. Which have been around the over looking visitors gallery chamber.
References: http://www.hollandsentinel.com/stories/022904/fea_022904040.shtml

The Jayuya Uprising

The Jayuya Uprising

After the events of the Ponce massacre(March 1937) Albizu Camping returned to Puerto Rico. Albizu Camping had served ten years in prison. On June 11, 1948 Jesus T. Pinero, the governor at the time passed a law which made the public avocation of independence unlawful. Albizu Camping gave a speech in Manati in which nationalists for all over Puerto Rico came. They were there to make sure that Manati wouldn’t get arrested. The nationalist party planned an armed revolt from 1949 and 1950. On October 26, 1950 Albizu Camping was holding a meeting when he was informed his house was surrounded. He was also told the police had arrested some of the other nationalist leaders. Albizu call or the revolt to began. October 30, the revolt was staged in Ponce, Mayaguez, Naranjito, Arecibo, Utuado, San Juan, and Jayuya. Armed nationalist were lead into Jayuya, by Canales and the Torresola.

They attacked the police station one officer was killed ,and three got wounded. After word the other office laid down their weapons and surrendered. The nationalist party burned down the towns post office ,and cut the towns telephone lines. Canales raised the light blue version of the Puerto Rican flag ,and gave a speech declaring Puerto Rico a free republic. The nationalist held the town for three days. The U.S. declared marshal law on the island. The Puerto Rican National guard attacked the town by land the U.S. bombed it by plan. Part of the town was destroyed but that wouldn’t be leaked out. It was considered “an incident between Puerto Ricans”. The nationalist leaders were arrested including Albizu Campos and Blanca Canales.

Reference: http://dalowa.com/boricuation/jayuya.html

Ponce Massacre

Ponce massacre

The events preceding march 21, 1937 (Rio Priedras Massacre) lead to the events on that day. There was a large amount of police officers in Ponce. The officers were armed with: rifles, carbines, Thompson sub-machine guns, tear gas bombs, plus the usual police clubs, etc.. The marchers lined up in rows of three, followed by nurses, behind the nurses were a four member band. The band was playing the national anthem La Borinqueña. The peaceful demonstration quickly hostile when governor-general Blanton Winship took the marchers permit. The permit was taken away shortly before the march was suppose to start. When the protesters insisted on using their right march even though their permit had been taken away. When the protestors started to march police surrounded them on all sides ,and were fired on for 15 minutes.

Twenty-one people were killed that day including a seven yr old girl. 200 other were left wounded. People were chased and beaten by the police, as well as taken from hiding and killed. Many of the wounded testified that they were shoot in the back while running away. None of the marchers died or alive were found with any weapons. News of the events spread all over the island. The colonial forces (the U.S.) meant to send a message to every Puerto Rican. “If they dared to stand against the colonial masters to fight for independence, violent repression would await them.” Later on members of the nationalist party was arrested. They were convicted of attempting to shoot the Governor Winship during a military parade.

References:
http://socialismandliberation.org/mag/index.php?aid=773

Rio Piedras

Rio Piedras Massacre
Albizu Campos was the leader of the Puerto Rican nationalist party. The goal of the party was to achieve independence for Puerto Rico. Albizu Campos insulted the students at the University of Puerto Rico over a radio broadcast in early October. The students arranged a meeting at the university. Police made a claim that they found a conspiracy. They believed the members of the nationalist party was going to use fire arms to break up the party. On October 24, 1935 the Rio Piedras massacre happened. It was a shootout between the local police officers ,and member of the nationalist party. Four members of the party and one police officer was killed. A testimony at the time was said that the police officers fired on the party ,and screamed not to let them leave alive.

In 1936 two members of the nationalist party Hiram Rosado and Elias Beauchamp. Assassinated Colonel Elisha Francis Riggs , who was the superior police officer in the island. Colonel Riggs was viewed as being responsible for the massacre. Hiram Rosado and Elias Beauchamp were executed at the police head quarters without a trial. Albizu Campos was arrested for being a leader fighting for freedom. Under the charges of “seditious conspiracy to overthrow the U.S. government in Puerto Rico.”

Reference: http://www.pr-secretfiles.net/timeline_all.html

El Grito de Lares - The first struggle for independence

The First struggle for independence

El Grito de Lares (The Cry of Lares) also known as the Lares revolt. Took place on September 23, 1868 in the town of Lares. It is known as the first and only Puerto Rican revolt. However it wasn’t the first revolt the Tainos revolted in1511,and the African slaves revolted in 1515.On September 13, 1868 between 600-1,000 men revolted for independence. The revolt touched all classes, having all classes rich of poor fighting for independence. The revolt was planed for the 29th but it happened earlier do to a turn coat. The most courageous men met up at Manuel Rojas’s farm. Manuel Rojas was the leader of the revolt.
The group took Lares without resistance, because the Spanish was unaware of the revolt.
The next day the men marched to San Sebastián to meet the Spanish military. Within 24 hours the revolt was squashed. The revolt that took 12yrs of planning was over. Only eight men died in battle. Eighty men would later die in jail from yellow fever. Out of the 551 charged a high majority was from western Puerto Rico. They revolted for reasons concerning poverty, slavery, taxation, and military rule. The revolt did gain something in the end. Spain gave the island the status of a province. Some gain Spanish citizenship, however it was only granted to the criollos. Criollos is a term use in the Spanish colonial casta. A Spanish caste system. A term that referred to a person born in the Spanish colonies, but have pure Spanish blood lines. A year later the abolishment of slavery began. Today the event is remembered as a respected holiday.

References:
http://www.elboricua.com/lares.html
http://www.peacehost.net/PacifistNation/lares.htm

The History Of Puerto Rico

Independence of Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico is a common wealth of the United States today. The island is one whose been long awaiting its independence. The Island hasn’t been under its own rule in over 500yrs. On November 19, 1493 the island was discovered by Christopher Columbus. At the time the island was inhabited by some 50,000 Taino/ Arawak Indians. The inhabitants called the island Borikén name by the Taino Indians. From the time Columbus landed on the island its people would no longer be free. Not long after the Spanish landed on Puerto Rico. slaves were imported. The language was changed to Spanish. The people in this island like a lot of the Americas would suffer a lot of hardships.

Puerto Rico is an island who has been long desiring freedom. Initially the Spanish took the islands independence. On July 15, 1898 during the Spanish American war the island was surrounded by American troops. At the end of the war the Spanish ceded Puerto Rico to the United States. Under the rule of the U.S. the people of the island would gain some freedoms. They would gain the rights from the constitution freedom of speech, religion, press, and assembly. Eventually Puerto Ricans would be allowed citizenship. This was under the Jones Act although citizenship was not guaranteed. However they wouldn’t gain independence. The people still suffered a lot of hardships under the rule of the U.S.. Some of the hardships including , sterilization/ “extermination”, the island of Vieques would get bombed during arms testing.
References:
http://welcome.topuertorico.org/history.shtml