From the pages of El Nuevo Federalista—(http://nuevofederalista.blogspot.com)
This report from the White House Task Force of Intergovernmental Affairs is the first report of its type issued this century by the Executive Branch. For a long time now supporters of the current and so-called "Commonwealth" status have said that Puerto Rico's political status was a new federal body politic conceived to place the Island outside of the Territorial Clause of the U.S. Constitution. This Report effectively ends that kind of speculation, as far as the Executive Branch is concerned. In spite of the cries of "foul" from critics inside the beltway and across the pond in the Island that the document seeks to impose a "Washington-solution" whereas one originated by Puerto Rican themselves, the Report will guide Federal policymakers for the foreseeable future.
But the Report is not an end in itself. It is but a beginning, for it opens up an opportunity to solve the issue of Puerto Rico's political status once and for all. By deflating the myths propounded by status-quo defenders about "further developing" the present political status by granting more rights and sovereignty to Puerto Rican – Americans while still remaining "Americans," coupled with even less citizenship responsibilities, President George W. Bush has set up clear and precise boundaries as to what is, and what isn't possible within the American constitutional system.
Those of us who defend the admission of Puerto Rico to the United States as its 51st state still have a lot of work to do. Powerful interests in the Mainland and in Puerto Rico are organizing even now to maintain Puerto Rico under an unchecked position of political subservience by concocting "new directions" for the current Commonwealth status that would allow them to keep their political and economical hegemony, fully expecting that Congress will be unsympathetic to tackle any petition of statehood made by Puerto Rican – Americans, as they would fear the cultural debate that will ensue.
Granting statehood and full American citizenship rights to Puerto Rican – Americans living in the Island will be used by so-called conservatives who are intent in denying any such recognition to Puerto Rican – Americans on the basis of language, culture, and national origin, as a wedge issue. The underground of our national debate has been abuzz for quite sometime now with arguments justifying the discrimination against Puerto Rican – Americans precisely on that basis. The aim of this not-quite-so-vast conspiracy is to force Congress to grant Puerto Rico independence unilaterally, without consulting the wishes of the 4 million Americans living there, a power that, this Report shows anew, Congress may exercise unfettered.
On discussion boards across the 'Net one can read statements written in all seriousness calling Puerto Rico a "Third World" country which should be "tossed out." In another exchange, on calling the Island "a dump," a reader took offense when I called to his attention the racist character of his assertion, which called Puerto Ricans, albeit implicitly, dirty, uncouth and therefore undeserving of full citizenship equality with other Americans. The reader in question showed dismal disingenuousness if he thought that his "neutral" remark was empty of ethnocentric connotations or that it somehow excused him from espousing these detestable views.
Yet, this trashy rhetoric can still arouse the pseudo-patriotism of those who think that the blessings of American citizenship and democracy are to be bestowed only upon worthier candidates, "worthiness" being defined by them as whatever their fancy, bias, and prejudice may dictate.
As a social and fiscal conservative, as a believer in a culture of Life, Freedom and Individual Rights, as a defender of the original meaning of the U.S. Constitution, I decry any such sentiments levied against Puerto Rican – Americans as contrary to the spirit nurturing our most sacred values. As an American man in uniform, I simply cannot deny to my fellow citizens of Puerto Rico the freedoms I defend for my other fellow Americans; as a resident in the mainland, as a tax-payer, and as an involved citizen, I have the voice and power I need to fight in word and in deed in favor of full equality for Puerto Rican – Americans.
Some of you may dismiss this as grandstanding, but I assure you, I will not be intimidated nor deterred by what ethnocentric conservatives may say against our democratic project to enfranchise 4 million American citizens in Puerto Rico.
That is not to say that Congress should just admit Puerto Rico to the Union without an ensuing debate. But to me, the debate should be—once the sovereign will of the people of Puerto Rico is ascertained through the ballot box—not if Puerto Rico should be admitted as a state, as much as what will be the best way to make it happen.
Any argument, be it in the halls of Congress or in public opinion, seeking to deny Puerto Ricans of those political, civil, and economic rights the rest of Americans take for granted because of their race, ethnicity, language, and cultural background, may look politically expedient for some opportunist politicians in some rarefied back rooms seeking to exploit nationalist fears; the possibility of Puerto Rico's admission to the Union may even inspire the rabble to new heights of hateful rhetoric, but as we all know, not everything that is politically expedient or constitutionally protected speech is always moral or conducive to the best interest of our Nation.
In the final analysis, Puerto Ricans are American citizens and as long as they remain so, they are entitled to the full range of privileges enshrined by this citizenship. Visionary and morally courageous Puerto Rican – Americans feel that is their duty to embrace all of the responsibilities American citizenship entails, and are nor ashamed to say so, unafraid of the ghosts of Federal tax-paying and forced cultural assimilation that fear mongerers love to spawn in the Island every time the talk of statehood for Puerto Rico gets a bit more serious.
We are not foreigners; we are "you." If the American citizens of Puerto Rico can be denied their rights for reason of where they live or the language they speak, tyranny will not be far behind: tyrants and demagogues will feel empowered to come after anyone not fitting the bill of what an American ought to be. You will be next.
In the final analysis, those of us who pursue and defend the admission of Puerto Rico to the United States, are convinced we are acting in the best American tradition of liberty, democracy, and the rule of law; of civil rights, enfranchisement, and popular sovereignty; of free enterprise, private initiative, and the culture of freedom; of our Founding Ideals, of Natural Law and ultimately, with the sanction of Nature's God.
I invite you to reflect on all this, and to join us on this just cause. Our cause must triumph if America is to continue to serve as a beacon to the world. That much is at stake.
- Download the White House Intergovernmental Affairs Task Force Report from http://www.endi.com/multimedios/pdf/reporte_status.pdf
Beautifully written.
Puerto Rico is a beautiful place, and there are a lot of beautiful people there.
Don't let anyone define you. You were born an American, you'll die an American. You don't need anyone's permission to do either one.
PR is a land inhabited exclusively by Americans, and consequently it is a permanent part of the US. The only question is the terms of the marriage. We're already married, mind you, we're just arguing about whether or not to tear up the pre-nup.