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Oh, I have no problem calling myself Hispanic (though my parents never taught me the language) or Latino or whatever the newest term is. Some of my relatives have a hang-up about that, but I just don't care. To me it just means I am of Spanish descent, and I don't mind other people knowing that. If I rejected all labels, than I would not call myself a woman, a Republican, or even an American. Some labels you can be proud to wear.

I think it's not so much the labeling that's objectionable. It's the spirit in which it's done. Like if I'm having a conversation about my family background and the topic of my ethnicity comes up, no problem. But when total strangers come up to me and ask "What are you?" as if they have a right to know, that gets annoying.

Trust me, I've noticed the left-wing tendency to point out everyone's race and count up the numbers. It comes from that attitude of "If you're a minority we own you." I know there are probably plenty of sexist bigots on the right, but at least you know where you stand with them. They don't hide it behind a phony, condescending smile.

If I rejected all labels, than I would not call myself a woman, a Republican, or even an American. Some labels you can be proud to wear.

Sorry mate, these are not labels. These are facts. If you are a post-puberty female, you are a woman. If you are registered to the republican party, you are a republican. If you are a US citizen, you are an American.

Contrast that with "labels" such as being a racist, a homophobe or a right wing conspirator. They are subjective terms, loosely defined and often mis-used to make pejorative points.

Spent a month on the south side of the island last summer, working. Loved it. Would like to move there, if it became possible.

I notice a difference in the attitudes of some mainlanders towards Puerto Rico; as Fred says there is something of a xenophobic tendency that blinds some people. When I hear some of them describe the island, I find it impossible to believe we are talking about the same place. Of course, I lived in various places in Latin America over the years, and so it is very likely that I see it with different eyes. But the place is beautiful, and the people I worked with there were very first rate, very serious about their work, and I liked them. The place is modern, the infrastructure is "first-world". It is a better place to raise kids than most places I have been.

The independence movement is a tiny minority, mostly academics and students, who are about as leftist as their mainlander colleagues. The "Republicans" on the island typically want statehood, the "Democrats" want territory status. The independentistas can only get a hearing by lying to themselves, I have heard them say that it would be possible to retain US citizenship after independence, which should tell anyone how serious they are. No one has any intention of giving up their citizenship, not even the independentistas.

For the folks that want to "cut them loose", dream on. They are US citizens. They are not leaving. You can't make them leave. If you think too much federal money goes there, fine, do something about it. You will probably find that there is a reason behind every dollar.