Puerto Rico Ping! Please Freepmail me if you want on or off the list.
Posted on 07/22/2022 8:02:20 PM PDT by cll
On July 25, 1898, U.S. Army General Nelson Miles and his troops landed on the south coast of Puerto Rico during Spanish-American War, in a campaign framed by the fledgling American power as 'to bring the blessings of Freedom and Liberty to another People long oppressed'.
I recently learned of the following poem penned by my late great-grandfather on the occasion of the third anniversary of that event. The poem was written in turn-of-the-century Castilian, which is a little difficult to translate (this cheap translation is mine), but I hope that you can understand the sentiment of the time (the original Castilian version follows in the comments).
I am in no way embarrassed by my Spanish heritage - my near ancestors coming from Andalusia, the Basque Country, Catalonia, and the author's birthplace, Galicia - but those were different times and Spain then ruled its last American territories under a brutal dictatorship.
Without further preamble:
Gloria in Excelsis Deo!
The beautiful light of a fortunate day Painted Heaven in magnificent colors! The prairie was covered in striped-colored flowers And the birds sang in defiance
An enthusiast cry of happiness Proudly rose through valleys and hills When with its entourage of horrors fled Forever the dark tyranny
The sun of Liberty shone in its brilliance And in my beloved Puerto Rican land Justice triumphed, great and powerful From that day on The Law is no longer mere words Because in Puerto Rico now highly flies The Great American Flag!
José Lloréns Delgado Ponce, Puerto Rico July 25, 1901
'Gloria in Excelsis Deo
Hermosa luz de venturoso día Brindó el cielo magníficos colores! El prado se cubrió de gayas flores Y cantaron las aves a porfia
Un entusiasta grito de alegría Ufano recorrió valles y alcores Al huir con su séquito de horrores Para siempre la negra tiranía
El sol de Libertad lució esplendente, Y en mi querida tierra borincana La justicia triunfó grande y potente Desde entonces La Ley no es sombra vana Que en Borinquen trémola altivamente La gloriosa bandera americana!'
José Lloréns Delgado Ponce, Puerto Rico July 25, 1901
Puerto Rico Ping! Please Freepmail me if you want on or off the list.
be good to post on the 25th
We freed the Cuban people, the Philippine people, and the Puerto Rican people during the Spanish American War.
We granted independence to Cuba and the Philippines. I think it is time we granted independence to Puerto Rico—whether they want it or not.
Gloria in Excelsis Deo!
The beautiful light of a fortunate day
Painted Heaven in magnificent colors!
The prairie was covered in striped-colored flowers
And the birds sang in defiance
An enthusiast cry of happiness
Proudly rose through valleys and hills
When with its entourage of horrors fled
Forever the dark tyranny
The sun of Liberty shone in its brilliance
And in my beloved Puerto Rican land
Justice triumphed, great and powerful
From that day on The Law is no longer mere words
Because in Puerto Rico now highly flies
The Great American Flag!
José Lloréns Delgado
Ponce, Puerto Rico July 25, 1901
” my near ancestors coming from Andalusia, the Basque Country, Catalonia, and the author’s birthplace, Galicia “
****
My best bud growing up in Canada is from Galicia. Get this: when their family immigrated to Canada, it was Montreal. At a young age, he had to learn both English and French which was a nightmare but he pulled it off. When he visits me in Hollywood, he calls the mexican spanish “ third world garbage” lol
Another fun part was when he invited me to a Basque party years ago. They didnt want to be called Spaniards but Basque. It’s like a number of Texans I know of who get insulted when you call them Americans. Truly eye-opening..
Good idea, bigbob. But since I will be in the air that day, Ebenezer, please feel free to re-post and ping the list if you'd like.
The Basques may be the oldest ethnic group in Europe. It is unclear what other groups they may have branched, and their language is unique.
Nice!
Also Saint James day.
Drove the Moors out of Spain.
Walk the Camino de Santiago.
Thanks. Planning on the Camino but the VA owes me for my busted back first.
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