I am tired.
I am tired of how the US mainland media continues to portray the island-territory of Puerto Rico with one broad brushstroke—that it is a new hotbed of violence and chaos. Recently, Fortune’s Cyrus Sanati told U.S. billionaires to “beware” of Puerto Rico, saying that the island “has a bevy of social and economic problems that appear to be getting worse by the day, making it an inhospitable place for a wealthy individual seeking safety and stability.” Sanati’s piece was criticized by many of the island, not because part of it was true, but because his conclusion was way too simplistic. Does Puerto Rico have problems? Yes? Is it a modern-day crime and murder war zone? Not even close. But if that is what the U.S. media wants you to believe, why not?
Sanati even admitted via Twitter that his knowledge of Puerto Rico is only cursory when he tweeted the following response to the Latino Rebels Twitter account:
@latinorebels Just your normal tourist jaunt to San Juan. But lived in East Village for years 🙂
— Cyrus Sanati (@csanati) March 12, 2013
Now a new story from HoustonPress called “Bloody Tide: How Puerto Rico Affects the U.S.” is painting too much of a similar picture that quite frankly does more harm to Puerto Rico’s perception. Written by Michael E. Miller and Casey Michel, the in-depth piece (it spans over seven digital pages) depicts Puerto Rico in such a negative light, you wonder why anyone would want to live there. As the piece states: “The “Isle of Enchantment” has become bewitched by violence. A crackdown on drugs coming across the Mexican border has only pushed contraband through the Caribbean, transforming the American commonwealth into the newest nexus for narcotraffickers.” (NOTE: Miami New Times also ran the piece.)
Later on, the story continues:
Economic hardship begets drug-running, which begets violence, which begets a murder rate normally reserved for postcolonial power struggles.
Yet Americans who ignore the island do so at their own peril. As Puerto Rican politicians make an unprecedented push to become the 51st state, the commonwealth has become more central than ever to the United States’s drug and crime problems. [Police chief Hector Pesquera] estimates that 80 percent of the narcotics entering Puerto Rico end up in East Coast cities, particularly Miami and New York. Guns and money move in the opposite direction, and fugitives flow freely back and forth, frustrating officials. Meanwhile, Puerto Ricans are pouring into Florida, New York and Texas to escape the gunfire gripping their homeland.
The writers also want you to make sure that the violence in Puerto Rico was always Puerto Rico’s fault and never anyone else’s:
This isn’t the first time waves of violence have broken over Puerto Rico. Perched at the strategic entrance to the Caribbean, the Connecticut-size island has a long and bloody history. Spanish conquistador Juan Ponce de León slaughtered Taíno natives beginning in 1508. Over the centuries, slave uprisings and independence movements were put down with deadly force. By 1898, the colony had won a degree of autonomy, only for the Spanish-American War to transfer control to the United States.
When Puerto Rican politicians voted for independence in 1914, the United States responded by granting boricuas (anyone living on the island) U.S. citizenship — just in time to be drafted for World War I. Another 30 years passed before Puerto Ricans were allowed to elect their own governor.
Under U.S. rule, the island became a popular vacation spot. But by the 1980s, with Colombian cocaine flowing through Puerto Rico to south Florida, violence became endemic. Murders decreased in the 1990s as drug routes shifted to Central America and Mexico, but in 2006, newly elected Mexican President Felipe Calderón declared an assault on cartels. Two years later, the United States launched its own $1.6 billion Merida Initiative to combat gangs.
“That is why in the past three years, Puerto Rico has become increasingly visible in regard to drug scandals,” Bagley says. “This is an unintended consequence of the pressure being brought in Mexico and Central America.”
Today drugs from Haiti, Colombia, Venezuela and the Dominican Republic stream in on Jet Skis and go-fast boats. “Because Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory, illegal contraband that makes it to the island is unlikely to be subjected to further U.S. Customs inspections,” U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul of Texas, head of the House Committee on Homeland Security, said during a hearing last year.
Let’s step back for a minute: Are the writers actually connecting Puerto Rico’s current crime problems to Ponce de León, as if violence has always been embedded in Puerto Ricans? In addition, I am still trying to figure out what the connection is between 1508 to 1898 to 1914 to 2013.
The real and only reason why Puerto Rico has a problem with murders and drugs is simple. The territory is part of the largest drug market in the world: the United States of America. Without demand for drugs from the mainland, the current activity on the island would be non-existent. Yet the Houston writers say nothing about that very simple fact. The colonizers need their pot and cocaine, and the colony is more than happy to deliver it to them, while shooting up people in the process.
The piece’s paternalistic tone continues, especially when it made reference to the recent boycott of La Comay, suggesting that the events surrounding the boycott “seemed to expose a newfound heartlessness, as if boricuas had become numb to the violence.” Instead of focusing on the positive that such an event produced, the Houston piece almost treated the boycott as an exception, while making sure to keep including words such as “bloody tide” and “carnage” central to its narrative. When you want to manufacture the perception of “chaos,” you need to give the readers what they want, right?
Nonetheless, the real issue about Puerto Rico is hidden deep in the piece, when the writers say the following:
Truth is, there’s little willpower in DC to spend heavily on an island of 3.6 million people whose ballots don’t count. Perhaps that’s why Puerto Ricans are debating louder than ever their identity as a U.S. commonwealth. Whenboricuas went to the polls last November, 54 percent rejected the status quo. But the vote was split among those who favored independence, statehood or remaining a commonwealth. [Luis] Fortuño — the governor who appointed Pesquera — was dumped out of office.
Yes, there is very “little willpower in DC” right now, and that is why many Puerto Ricans —both on the island and on the mainland— are working together to change that. There is no mention of that movement at all the Houston piece, because why try to present a full picture when your goal is to just promote fearful perceptions of Puerto Rico? Why would you want to include more information about the Comay boycott movement and what it did to connect boricuas even more? Why would you mention Parranda PR or new other organizations that are working hard to change the perception that the Houston story perpetuates? Because that would mean sharing more of the truth about what is positive about Puerto Rico and the truth sells less stories that the sensational ones.
I just visited the island last week, my third visit this year. Does Puerto Rico have serious problems? Yes. Is it a war zone riddled by “carnage” and a “bloody tide?” That is a bit too much, and it is unfortunate, since all the Houston story does is scare people away from the island and helps to promote a negative cycle of criticism that offers very little solution to the problem. If the writers of the Houston piece were truly sincere in helping to change the dialogue about Puerto Rico, they should be ready to follow up with stories that reflect that change. They had a great story to cover last week with what the Puerto Rican baseball team did during the World Baseball Classic, for example.
But I doubt that will happen because in the end, the colonizer needs to keep the colony in check, and it will use all possible means to accomplish that.
Franky Benítez 
Not to mention that border and customs control is in the hands of US Authorities. It’s not like Puertorrican authorities are not doing a good job. They are doing as good a job there as in the rest of the nation. Great piece. Keep up the good work!
Great point! I still can’t believe that these two writers are associating PR’s current problems with Ponce de León coming in 1508, claiming we are a “violent” people. That is sad.
Ponce de Leon? They are Idiots….Lets see, Ponce de Leon also walked on Florida……….The USA has long had a bloody history of violence, since Ponce de Leon’s stomps in Florida to Wounded Knee, the mass killings and ETHNIC cleansing of Native americans to WEST of the Mississippi river…………Two can play this game……..throwing stones from glass houses…..
You are the best, Luis. You totally got the point of this piece and this means a lot.
That is one point that does not float around the discussion of the status of PR. It is an important point to make that clear PR DOES NOT have control of policing their shores that falls under US coast guard. If US Coast Guard cannot protect is own shore imagine foreign shores. Sometimes I believe that there is one US coast guard boat guarding coast.
Thats how stupid they are!! I wish I were a congressman! Id join Ted Cruz,Marco Rubio,Rand Paul, and just filibuster & just talk about Puerti Rico, The crappy job the US coast guard does guarding the waters,All the neglect that congress dishes out to PR & their hypocritical reaction to the island’s paralyzed state of being. I’ll talk about PR till their ears bleed. They’ll hate me, but will be educated and versed on PR.!! Connected by DROID on Verizon Wireless
Julito, thank you so much for writing this fantastic article – digesting the faults and innuendos of the stories. I was flabbergasted when I read the two headlines – one from the Houston paper and the other from the Miami New Times paper – both insinuating that the PR crime problem would be a wave that would soon affect – with the new immigration of Puerto Ricans – both cities.
Crazy story. We need to amplify this and let these papers know that ignorance like this will not be tolerated.
You would think that Houston and Miami are both drug and violence free !!!! I would bet that this problem is not any worse in PR than it is in any big city of the US.
The Fortune piece and this latest one represents what I see (my view alone) as an orchestrated effort to put down Puerto Rico ever since Statehood “won” 61% of the. Votes for a non colonial status.
* They compare “Puerto Ricans” with ” Americans” as MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE, yet later on ADMIT PR is a. US territorry. REVEALING they already KNEW were Americans as well. Yet time and time again refer to PR as …in my words… “That foreighn country/Ese pais foraneo”……
* Forbes refers to PR as a Carribean “Nation”, ” a “Tropical Hellish paradise”,” Nothining to do & you will be bored there if you must live 180 days there!!!!
First of All, Forbes, a money magazine KNOWS BETTER ABOUT PUERTO RICO!
They know financial US laws, therefore they know….
1. PR is an unincorporated territory of the USA.
2. US Constitution territorial clause and all applicable US laws Apply to PR.
3. PR has a REPUBLICAN US system of “state” Government. A GOVERNOR, HOUSE,SENATE,local Mayors. HOW THE HELL IS PUERTO RICO’s Government COMPARED TO THIRD WORD REGIMES?
4. Puerto Ricans are Americans, yet Puerto Ricans leaving “their Homeland”( implying ” WHERE THEY BELONG!!”) To other states is a horrible thing. YET THE SAME IS NOT SAID OF THE MILLIONS THAT HAVE ABANDONED CALIFORNIA FOR NEVADA,OREGON,WASHINGTON!! No one calls NJ a failure despite the historic political corruption that makes PR curruption an “altar boy exercise”!!
**Then theres the bashing of the Island Itself***
Forbes warns billionaires of Puerto Rico’s geography!! AY BENDITO! ES PEQUEÑA!!!
SO WHAT!!!! Most Hawaiians live in Honolulu, located on one of the smallest of the Hawaiian islands. Most Hawaiians incliding its BILLIONAIRES/MILLIONAIRES live in and around Honolulu. THAT ISLAND IS 1/2 THE SIZE OF PUERTO RICO!!! SINGAPORE is even smaller! YET THEY ARENT REFERRED TO AS…”Tropical Prisons in PARADISE!!!” PR is larger than Delaware,Rhode Island,Hawaii’s most populated Island! Its the same length as Connecticut. Is CT too small for Billionaires? Hawaii?,Delaware?
Congress & White Spelled out a referendum blueprint.
2 Plebiscites
* question 1…status quo colony..YES/NO?
* Question 2..Which new permanent status? ON SEPERATE DATE!
Governor Fortuño ruined the referendum by including both questions on the same ballot, allowing the PPD party to “cross” both results and “average them to deny the 61% statehood win. By mixing both results for question 1 & 2 ..(of course 400,000 didnt answer question 2, THEY ALREADY PICKED STATUS QUO BY VOTING “YES”on question one.YET the “NO”s defeated them) statehood gets watered down to 45%. Yet the assumption that ALL blancs were for PPD is ridiculous, since we know thousands of PNP/statehood supporters who might have family laid off by Fortuño, stayed home to ” castigate/castigar/punish Fortuño. It worked, Fortuño(Governor Fortuño-incumbent) Lost to Alejandro Garcia Padilla.
Yet Padilla in hypocritical fashion, immediately claimed victory with a plurality of 46%. Yet after averaging statehood down to 46%(45.5) in the same general eleccions, DENIED STATEHOOD’s plurality victory. ” OH thats different!” Said Padilla, then Gov Elect, when asked why 46% was a win for him,but not for statehood. His answer was in an arrogant falsetto tune.
Had Fortuño left the second status vote for January, the political shock from the PPD’s victory would have motivated MORE pro statehood voters to come out.
second. The populares, having seen the ELA lose on Nov 6th, would face voting for either Statehood, Independence,asociated Independence misnamed ELA soberano) Statehood would have won by at least 51%, there would be no way for the PPD to “minimize statehood results”. 51% is less than 60% ,but it would be a SOLID 51% versus the questionable “60%” of last november, but the PNP just HAD to inflate statehood.
I seem to digress, but heres the summary.
The (self titled Popular)Democrat Party is paying $500 an hour to a lobbying firm led by Charlie Black, a Republican consultant thats connected to the most extreme righ wing Republicand and a few democrats.
That firms job is to lobby in congress AGAINST Puerto Rico! Specifically to portray Puerto Rico as a third world hell hole, Where women are lazy, worthless moneydiggers, Puerto Ricans love welfare, and will SUCK THE FINANCIAL BLOOD OUT OF AMERICA.
They were instrumental in killing the Federal status act of 1998, when they filmed in la Perla, Loiza, Port Au Prince Haiti, and the Dominican Republic. They even went to Rio Piedras, Filmed Afro Dominican immigrants, THEN WENT TO CONGRESS TO WARN THAT STATEHOOD WOULD MEAN ” THIS THE PUERTO RICO YOURE GETTING!!”
I would not be surprised in the least if the PPD/PDP & Charlie Black is responsible for “paying off” Fortune & these other magazines to denigrate Puerto Rico………………….TO SAVE THE UNINCORPORATED TERRITORIAL COMMONWEALTH,THE pride and joy of the PPD…….the ends will justify the means.
Its just “interesting” none of these articles existed BEFORE statehood’s supposed win.
I forgot to mention, Forbes and these financial. Institutions represent the very corporate interests that that love the commonwealth,for its low or absence of US federal imcome/corporate taxes. But if The American super rich move to Puerto Rico, words gets out fast enough. More move in, then come the so so wealthy who open small busineses, Puerto Ricos economy & per capita income rises, making it more attractive as the next ” Hawaii” or the next Singapore. A LOSE LOSE EITHER WAY FOR THE PPD.
Mr. Sunati’s article was like writing a book report on a 1/2 read book…
It seems like Sunati isn’t alone with the negativity drive on Puerto Rico… This pathetic soul (link) needs to be in a hospital, not “representing” our youth. “They” do have a tendecy to paint us with the same brush.. Why didn’t they interview the drivers, I’m sure on their way to/ from work. It doesn’t sell! …
That being said, we better take heed of this drug situation. The one sided publicity is doing as much harm (ecomically)as the drugs. Thanks for the heads up, Julito.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/04/puerto-rico-drug-addiction_n_2411317.html
De nada, Myra. 🙂
Julio, thank you so much for writing this insightful post rebutting the innuendos and false allegations by the Houston Press and Miami New TImes articles. The reporters were irresponsible when they connected the dots between Puerto Rico’s crime wave and the immigration of Puerto Ricans to the cities of Houston and Miami.
The Huffington post seems to have a few Populares boricuas reporting for them.
On the night of November 6 th 2012, ………
* headline*
” Puerto Ricans choose statehood 61% ” YET, THE PHOTO GALLERY RELATED TO THE STORY DID NOT SHOW ONE OF THE OVER A MILLION US “Old Glory” and ” Monoestrella/PR FLAG WAVING PUERTO RICANS AT THE PNP RALLY STAGING GROUNDS…….NO!!!!…..The photo gallery only showed POPULARES WAVING RED FLAGS! PR ONLY FLAGS! THE LEAD PHOTO WAS a BUCH OF WACKO PUERTORICANS SPEEDING IN A RUSTY OLD OLDSMOBILE 440 (?) DANGEROUSLY HANGING OUT THE WINDOWS WITH A GIGANTIC PUERTO RICAN FLAG ALMOST HALF THE SIZE OF THE CAR. The editor in charge of this story was clearly a “popular” or had ties to the PPD.
* In the following days the Huffington Post attacked statehood, claimed that Commonweath won, despite losing by 54% in question one. Said that it was unjust, because the political status wanted by the PPD ( the ilegal commonwealth that combines statehood and nationhood aspects, veto over US laws, outside the territorial clause,yet having constitutional protections as a state,but with foreign PR embassies! ! UNA GARAMBETA ENREDA!
As Someone who reads ” EL VOCERO, ElNUEVO DIA, & listen to Notiuno,Wapa radio online, I INSTANTLY RECOGNIZED PPD QUOTES AND PROPOGANDA in the Huffington post articles. That Charlie Black anti PR lobbying group hired by the PPD does their job well! Huffington post continues to prohibit photos of US flag waving Purto Ricans in ANY of their PR stories. All Photos consist of Populares with ” la pava emblems” on their faces, cars, flags. THE PPD has a friend in the Huff post.
The New York Post is another one. For years, they NEVER reported anything on Puerto Rico, yet as the 1998 plebiscite neared, some ” post ” reporter..8 think he was names ” Morales” wrote a scathing article warning that the US may “face a statehood petition” and ended his article by suggesting the US IMPOSE INDEPENDENCE. The Post hired an independentista to do their dirty work of suggesting getting rid of Puerto Rico without sounding racist, after all, a Puerto Rican American “wrote it”. To Morales’s credit, he believes in Independence, and not the damaging commonwealth.
Paranoid much!? ‘m sorry but this is not the conversation I was hoping for. Julito, keep it up!
@Gilbert Delgado. Its not paranoia, Google ” Charlie Black PPD lobbying” , Go to El Vocero de Puerto Rico. Look at their “politica” section, and see the reporting on this alliance exposed between the PPD and this firm ,payd $500 an hour to lobby in DC AGAINST ANY STATUS REFERENDUM Passing US Congress. My, friend, not being aware of something outrageous doesnt make it paranoia. In fact the “paranoia” aspect demonstrates how serious it is if it were real…yet it is. Google. It. Try in spanish if you have to.
Luis, I am not naive nor do I pretend that those things do not happen. I know they do, from all political parties. Not one of them is innocent. The problem I see is that by presenting that argument and always going there you close the conversation about what can we do as puertoricans to change that perception. If we always blame outside forces and influences we are saying that it is beyond our reach to do anything about it and are forever caught in that circular blame game.
Luis, we need to get beyond the PNP-PPD discussion if we ever are going to change the dialogue here. We have to think beyond the political parties and the politiquería. You are a very smart person, and I respect you tons. This is an issue for all Puerto Ricans and we should be working together to change how we are perceived.
Google. …….MJR report Black Anti Puerto Rican
Google…….Black Puerto Rican Statehood suicidal for GOP.
Keep in mind Charlie Black is Paid by the PPD lo lobby in DC for the Popular democrat party. His job is to frighten the republicans against PR statehood or any vote that threatens the commonwealth.
Luis, do you know el vocero is Fox News of Puerto Rico
The PPD winning in PR got Congress breathing a big sight of relief. Heh heh
Amen, hermano, basta con los partidos de estatus. ¡De acuerdo!
Oops, this wasnt meant for THIS particular Julito posting. Is there a delete opcion?
That’s ok, hermano!!!!!
Yes, I agree we need to move beyond the PPD/PNP, I believe both parties should be abolished and just have local GOP/democrats. In my view, the PNP & PPD perpetuate the myth that commoweath is a sovereign status with its own unique poitical (PNP/PPD) parties. I will respectfully leave it at that. Hasta luego Hermano de foro.
are you kidding me. thats the problem PPD/PNP are first cousins of GOD/democrats. How about being ourselves as an independent nation ?
That would prompt a thumbs up .
My long recollection, since 1976, is that the US media ( all inclusive) has never had anything positive to say about PR. Its like Congress, they do not care to tell the real story : that the US has denied us freedom ever since the US invasion of the island in 1898. They US press loves to echo the US govt. about the democratic values the US attempts to impose around the world. But they fail to talk about their own backyard and how they deny their own citizens as well as other territories the freedom they advocate in the rest of the world. The US Govt,, the US press are both a bunch of weasels.
Call me when you are back in San Juan.
Yeyo
Ok, Yeyo! Lo haré. Last time I was slammed with work, but I will be back soon!
I believe that there are more good people in Puerto Rico than bad and sure we have our crimes but what state or country doesn’t, but to consider our island as a warzone or drug base is going way overboard. These writers never been to Puerto Rico and experience the beautiful side of the island. Why not write about Puerto Rico’s achievements and role models, our culture and our families. I’ll always visit my Puerto Rico.
Amen, Frankie!
For those of us that live here day in and day out, BOTH parties suck. They all do the same thing…hire their buddies and at the end of the deal? They all leave richer than they came in, and in the meantime the Island is a hot mess. I live in peace, and no, it isn’t a den of iniquity as the article may try to portray. I love it here, grew up here and spent 35 years in the USA. First thing I did when I retired, was make sure my house was paid off, and here I sit, in La Suiza de Puerto Rico, Aibonito, enjoying my well earned retirement. And yes, we travel all over the Island with no fear.
The root problem of Puerto Rico´s crime is the connection with the USA.
The consumerism emanating from the consumption economy that the USA has there is killing the people economicly. If you add that Puerto Rico does not control the entrance of the drugs into the island leaves the Island powerless to deal with the problelm.
Can you provide me evidence that the Island requested independence in 1914. I am trying to write an article about the island prior to 1917.
Thanks, and very good posting .
why comments moderated here…. seems this is a pnp jungle
Because that is what happens when you comment for the first time here. I have approved all your comments. ¡Gracias!
is that a word press feature?
Yes, it is. WordPress allows the owner of the page to read new comments from new people before allowing it to be on the page. Helps with spam, not that I am saying that what you are posting is spam 🙂 gracias mil por los comentarios
Julito all this amalgam of newspaper articles is a reflection of the fear that anglos have to admit as a state a new 100% latino country
Luis Arroyo suggested that and the more and more I think about it, I am starting to believe it myself. Why now? Why paint Puerto Rico as a drug war zone? It is too convenient.
i only say, poeple, just remember, let everything in God hands, He will take care of everything, He knows the hearts of every single person who was offended, and the hearts of those who offended us. He will bring out the true, and the true will send us free. Love my island, miss everything there, is I’m here is because have not choise at this moment, but if an opportunity come out, i will be back no questions ask. blessings for all.
Very good.
I cant believe the hatred the United States has for my country. Common Wealth or not We consider it a country of its own. I would like them to help us 3.6 million citizens out. But they are too greedy to pass the wealth. Hoping that God gives us a way to get on our own! So that he can control our Island our country! And have it blessed like it was supposed to be!!.
This article was written in 2005 by the Puerto Rico Herald. Before we start changing the perception mainlanders have of Puerto Rico, we should start changing the facts first. Murder rates are still too high, and drugs are continuing to flow into the island.
With 60% of murders linked to illegal drugs, the answer to reducing crime lies in improving police education and technology and improving social deficiencies leading to drug traffic and use.
If you asked anyone in Puerto Rico what the No. 1 problem on the island is, they more than likely would respond without hesitation, crime. The fact is more murders occur in Puerto Rico than anywhere in the mainland U.S., according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Once again, Puerto Rico–with a population of 4 million–ended the year with an alarming homicide rate, higher than the three-largest cities in the mainland U.S. With 790 murders reported during 2004, the island had a higher murder rate than New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago.
http://www.puertorico-herald.org/issues2/2005/vol09n03/CBWithHiMrdr.html
I would like to go on record and say that I would vote for Luis Arroyo for Congress!!!!
Thanks. Lol.
Connected by DROID on Verizon Wireless
You do know Luis Arroyo is pro-statehood right?
Yes, and this is a new political world. 🙂
A new political world?
I’m interested to see how the Congressional “cost” study comes to a conclusion on how PR statehood would negatively effect the federal budget. I know it’s going to be tremendously biased but I question if it’ll be better all around if statehood is approved and federal income tax from PR residents contributes to the budget. I’m sure you know about it but I read about the study here: http://www.puertoricoreport.org/congress-team-going-to-puerto-rico-for-statehood-cost-study/
I came to PR for my honeymoon, and we had a blast. The people here are super friendly, and unlike Mexico, you don’t have to be afraid to tour the island on your own. The places you need to avoid are extremely easy to notice, and, being that I’m from Texas, didn’t look worse than the bad parts of Houston.
If you think about it simplistically, when was the last time Mexico voted to become a US state? That, initself, should provide an intelligent person enough reasons to visit.
Beinvenidos!
I didn’t know Mexico was a US territory Jonathan.