Comments for Franky Benítez

Comment on Unemployment Rate Continues to Drop in Puerto Rico by Tony Alvira

Tony Alvira — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 00:41:20 +0000

Check this news from from a newspaper from Ponce P.R. Maybe Uncle Sam would like to know how fortuno really is.

http://periodicolaperla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3680:en-otro-aprieto-el-gobernador&catid=135:actualidad-del-sur&Itemid=423

Comment on Why Puerto Rico Will Never Become the 51st State by Bruce R. Harris

Bruce R. Harris — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 19:46:22 +0000

I guess you are also referring to Spain as “white people” invaded Puerto Rico over 500 years ago. You do know Spain is considered a white european country right? Are they “gringos” too? If so, then Puerto Ricans are also part gringo you ignoramus. And as long as I pay PR taxes and own property here I will always have a say concerning Puerto Rico’s future.

Comment on Why Puerto Rico Will Never Become the 51st State by Bruce R. Harris

Bruce R. Harris — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 18:23:13 +0000

http://www.ihr.org/jhr/v13/v13n4p4_Ries.html

The link above contains an excellent article on the history of the Spanish-American War in 1898 and why President McKinley chose to go to war. It also talks about why Puerto Rico was selected to be invaded which, in my opinion, was a serious flawed reason for doing so. 1898 was a defining moment for the US from a Republic to Imperialism. This decision to take the US war machine to other countries was a terrible one which today we are still reaping negative repercussions.

But it is what it is, and Puerto Rico was in the wrong place at the wrong time in history. The question is, how does Puerto Rico move forward in the direction that would please the majority of the people since PR is a democratic country? Referendums have been conducted with pretty much the same results. Half the people want to keep PR a commonwealth and the other half wants to become a state. Should congress simply ignore one side of the equation and make PR a state? Or remain a commonwealth? Or would it be more fair and just to wait and let PR decide by a clear majority which direction they want to go? It’s easy to say everyone is united because of their culture and language, that is until the results of a referendum clearly show no one here is united when it comes to one specific status. Until Puerto Ricans take a solid majority stand on one status, Congress is never going to act.

Comment on Why Puerto Rico Will Never Become the 51st State by Lucas Rodríguez

Lucas Rodríguez — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 02:14:34 +0000

I can admit that a lot of people don’t agree on Independence, but I think we can say that Puerto Ricans thought themselves Puerto Ricans all through the 1800′s. We were defined as to who we were and are. We had fought for our freedom over those 400 years and we had gotten autonomy little by little. The US had no right to come and claim. In 1897 we weren’t being given our independence. The Spanish didn’t just “claim” anything, they did as they said. We had been granted great political autonomy through our efforts by then and in 1897 we were given economic freedom too (something the US has yet to give us).

The US fought England after it had found its own identity as a nation. We had been fighting and slowly winning autonomy. We had our fights we the Spanish as well (Grito de Lares, 1868). When the US invaded in 1898 we were achieving our goals diplomatically. The US invasion was unjust and reset our efforts over 400 years.

Comment on Why Puerto Rico Will Never Become the 51st State by Bruce R. Harris

Bruce R. Harris — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 00:59:17 +0000

You got a mouse in your pocket Lucas? Because the last time I checked the polls it was pretty much divided between commonwealth and statehood with independence as an “also ran” . So this “we” Puerto Ricans are all agreeing on independence is some serious denial.

And as far as being well defined after 400 years, defined as what? It was only in 1897 when the Spaniards “claimed” they were going to give Puerto Rico a chance to chose to become independent. So PR was still a colony of Spain when the U.S. invaded. So it just makes one wonder exactly which identity Puerto Ricans are claiming!?

And the U.S. did not just call themselves a nation in 1776. They fought and took America away from England. Maybe if the San Juan colonials had done the same back some 400 years ago, we wouldn’t be having this discussion would we?

Comment on Why Puerto Rico Will Never Become the 51st State by Lucas Rodríguez

Lucas Rodríguez — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 00:35:31 +0000

Oh, it’s definite not denied. We puertorriqueños consider ourselves to be a mix of races and their traditions. That is what we are today. After 400 years we were well defined as a unique nation. I think the US can identify with us considering the natives in the land and the fact that they called themselves a nation in 1776. So as a nation, we puertorriqueños can claim independence just as the US did.

Comment on Why Puerto Rico Will Never Become the 51st State by Bruce R. Harris

Bruce R. Harris — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 23:28:44 +0000

Puerto Rico did not become a colony when the U.S. invaded in 1898 Al. 500 years prior to the U.S. invasion the Spanish Conquistadors invaded the island and enslaved the Taino indians and eventually over time completely assimilated the Spanish colonials with the native population. I find it odd that no one really talks about this as though “San Juan” has always been inhabited by Puerto Ricans. Definitely a bit of denial going on here.

Comment on Why Puerto Rico Will Never Become the 51st State by Lucas Rodríguez

Lucas Rodríguez — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 05:38:31 +0000

I appreciate your insight and your interest in what is happening with the status issue. I think I can understand why you think a free association or something like that would be best. You like the US for some reason. I am currently in college in Texas and spending my Christmas and Summer vacations back home. I don’t like the US. I have my reasons. But if we strip the whole issue than to mere inalienable rights, Puerto Rico should become independent for the sole reason that it is its own nation. I mean, isn’t that what the Americans claimed when they sought independence?

Comment on Why Puerto Rico Will Never Become the 51st State by Julito Varela

Julito Varela — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 05:37:54 +0000

Ahora entiendo, hermano!

Comment on Why Puerto Rico Will Never Become the 51st State by Julito Varela

Julito Varela — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 05:36:16 +0000

We can want to be citizens and a state, but the point is the current political climate in the US won’t allow it. You can wish all you want, Congress won’t allow and neither will Tea Party America. Thanks for the comment!