PUERTO RICO: ABC Report Highly Critical of Anti-Navy Protesters (Did ABC finally get one right?)

The San Juan Star | Tuesday, March 18, 2003 | ROBERT FRIEDMAN

[4Freedom]

Those who protested the Navy exercises on Vieques "want bombs to stop falling from the sky, but they want money to keep falling" to Puerto Rico.

That more or less was the gist of a critical report, aired Friday night over ABC to millions of stateside viewers, of efforts to keep Roosevelt Roads Naval Station open after the Navy ends exercises on Vieques on May 1.

The report, featured on the 20/20 news show by commentator John Stossel, suggested that keeping Roosevelt Roads open after the Navy leaves Vieques was "a waste of taxpayer money."

Stossel, who usually hosts a segment entitled "Give Me a Break," which spotlights excessive federal spending, noted that Adm. Robert Natter, head of the Atlantic Fleet, said he did not need Roosevelt Roads anymore.

The 20/20 commentator noted that the base contributes $300 million a year to the local economy, and its possible closing has upset the politicians who protested the use of Vieques by the Navy.

"It's as if some of the protesters want bombs to stop falling from the sky, but they want money to keep falling," said Stossel.

U.S. Rep. Jose Serrano, D-N.Y. was quoted on the report saying the Navy wants to close the base to punish the protesters.

"[The Navy] says, 'We'll fix you. We're getting out. And we're taking everything,'" Stossel quoted Serrano as telling him.

Serrano said it was up to Congress to decide on whether the base closes, and with the presidential election coming up and everyone courting Latino votes, he predicted that the Navy will stay put.

"When the president realizes that it's getting close to 2004, and this becomes another Latino political issue again, he's gonna tell them, you don't have to go. And they won't go," Serrano was quoted as saying.

Stossel ends the segment by saying: "He [Serrano] may be right. With votes at stake, politicians may spend millions on a base the Navy doesn't even want. Give me a break!"

Many e-mails to the show's Web site opined on the matter. One from doradodown said: "I agree with Adm. Natter. It really burns me to hear the arrogance of people like Serrano who so smugly declare that politicians whoring for votes will back his sentiments. If Puerto Ricans want their independence, I say, great! Give it to them."

According to DatonaBikerBabe: "I think Congress and the president should unilaterally grant Puerto Rico independence as well - with zero foreign aid. They don't want to be American. They want to be independent, with government aid."

But hectormaria had a different take on the issue.

Noting that base closings always stir up out-cries from residents of the surrounding areas because of the economic impact, the writer said that in the case of Vieques "problems created outweighed the economic advantages, therefore they wanted the bombing practice to end."

The writer agreed with Serrano that the Navy was trying to punish all Puerto Ricans "for daring to ask them for the closing" of the Vieques target area.

"Thousands of Puerto Ricans have died protecting those rights you and the Navy so cavalierly want to deny fellow American citizens. Your report simply smacks of 'yellow journalism,'" said hectormaria.

[4Freedom]

"Thousands of Puerto Ricans have died protecting those rights you and the Navy so cavalierly want to deny fellow American citizens."

This is the same stupid argument I keep hearing over and over. It galls me.

Thousands of Germans, Irish, Czechs, Poles, British, Italians, Greeks, French and men and women from almost every country on earth have died in combat wearing the uniform of the United States military.

Why do we owe Puerto Rico $18.8 billion dollars plus in hand-outs, each year, that we don't give any other country whose immigrants to the USA died in the service of our country?

Puerto Rico and the rest of the free world owe the United States.

[Dog Gone]

John Stossel is the only one at ABC who ever gets it right.

[Semper Paratus]

That's only because John Stossel was the reporter, the only conservative reporter that I know in th alpabet networks.

[4Freedom]

Have the Puerto Ricans started a 'John Stossel is a racist' smear campaign, yet.

Have they started calling for Stossel's resignation?

[Zorrito]

Si senior.

It is time for the Navy to vacate Puerto Rico. Then maybe next time the average PR will think twice before letting leftwing island commies set the agenda.

[SMEDLEYBUTLER]

Vieques

[gaspar]

It is not only time for the Navy to vacate Puerto Rico, but after a century of wasted effort it is time for the United States to cut the silver cord, dump the Commonwealth, and let the Islanders go their own way.

[tiredoflurking]

Maybe because Puerto Rico is not a separate country looking for a hand-out. It's property the U.S. took ownership of after the Spanish American War, and therefore its well-being is as much a responsibility of the U.S. as is any of the 50 states. Now personally I couldn't care less if they keep a base open or closed, and after all the protests over Vieques I say this should've been expected.

But please don't paint all of us Puerto Ricans with the same brush, especially since so many Puerto Ricans are conservative Republicans like myself. Puerto Ricans have voted on the issue of independence time and again, and the status quo has always won out. So please don't assume that because some Puerto Ricans are complaining about one issue that all Puerto Ricans want to be separated from the U.S. There are just as many people demanding statehood as demanding independence.

And yes, many Puerto Ricans have died fighting for the U.S. (including one of my great-uncles who was killed in Germany in WWII) and their families are quite proud to say so. In fact, nearly every male relative I have has served in the military. Those other nationalities you mentioned put on our uniform because they LEFT their countries. Puerto Ricans fight because we're part of this country and proud. We're not immigrants, we're citizens. Therefore, money given to PR is NOT foreign aid "hand-outs" going to another country! It's money given to Americans.

[chiller]

Glad to hear the citizens of PR have some common sense. But what about the idiots who thought that closing the missile range wouldn't also mean closing the base? What on God's green earth do they use for brains? It's astounding!

[FredZarguna]

But please don't paint all of us Puerto Ricans with the same brush, especially since so many Puerto Ricans are conservative Republicans like myself.

True. The problem is the island is split into nearly identical size factions, and the left wing is really very radical--Castro radical. Puerto Ricans who consider themselves Americans are plentiful, but they get no airplay.

Branding all Puerto Ricans as leftists is like characterizing all Americans on the basis of what happens between San Francisco and Seatlle, or East of the Hudson River. Although you must admit the lefties are a far larger proportion of the population than in the continental US.

How do you propose increasing the visibility of pro US Puerto Ricans?

[tiredoflurking]

I don't know what they were thinking. Frankly I'm no expert on the subject of Vieques, but it always seemed odd that they were demanding the military leave since that land was bought and paid for by the U.S. Navy. Seems to me the Navy had the right to do what it wanted on its own property.

[tiredoflurking]

That's a very good question. I wish I had a good answer. You have to remember that being a Hispanic conservative in this country is like being a female conservative. The Democrats assume you're their property and make you feel like a traitor. Then when you turn to the Republican community you have to face comments like those above, making you feel like you don't belong there either. So you vote your conscience and leave the political discussions to other people (unless you're like me and find it hard to keep your mouth shut).

[battlegearboat]

I was stationed at Roosevelt Roads for two years.

It is the world's largest U.S. Naval Station.

It was built partially to house the British Royal Family in the event of they're having to flee England in WWII.

It employs many Puerto Rican citizens.

The Officer's Club is the "Casa Coqui". Home of the "Rat Bat".

[Willie Green]

Puerto Rico and the rest of the free world owe the United States.

There are two opposing perspectives regarding Puerto Rico's status:

1. An island that was unjustly seized and occupied by the United States as booty of the Spanish-American war, and whose citizenry have been unfairly exploited ever since, owing nothing to America.
2. An island that was liberated from Spanish colonial rule by the United States and is a legitimate U.S. territory. As such, the citizens of Puerto Rico are also U.S. citizens and have contributed both admirably and significantly to the defence of our nation.

I happen to hold that the second perspective is proper. But even the first perspective, with which I personally disagree, shows what an ignorant and illigitimate arguement you present. Your incessant anti-Puerto Rican diatribes are the product of an irredeemably twisted and bigotted mind.

[SakoL61R]

I worked on Roosevelt Roads for 3 years and just left recently. The departure of the Navy will have a very negative effect on the economy of Ceiba and Fajardo (closeby towns) along with the rest of the island to a certain extent. This saddens me as I made quite a few friends while living there and cruising the island. However, there is some good that might come out of this IMO. One must remember that the present (liberal) governer, Sila Calderon was very vocal about "no mas bombas on Vieques". Therefore, I believe that in the next PR elections we will see Sila and her gang ousted and replaced by folks that are much more conservative. This, I believe will be a step in the right direction to solving many of the problems inherent to the island present day.
To the Puerto Ricans that might read this, make sure you remember all the politicians, actors, activists and other knuckleheads that were responsible for the civil unrest that led to the closing of Vieques. Vote accordingly.

Sure wish I was in Guavate chowing on some lechon this afternoon.....
no' vemo',
Sako

[FredZarguna]

You have to remember that being a Hispanic conservative in this country is like being a female conservative.

First, reject the label. Calling yourself Hispanic is like calling yourself an "English speaker". It's meaningful only to people who want to foster identity politics so they can ignore individuals. I have relatives from Puerto Rico, and relatives from Mexico. They acknowledge that they have very little in common.

Then when you turn to the Republican community you have to face comments like those above, making you feel like you don't belong there either.

There are nativists and xenophobes of both persuasions. I think the major distinction is that racism or group identity politics is an accidental characteristic of some conservatives, whereas it is an actual policy of the left. The liberals mask theirs with condescension. You belong where the truth is.

Three of the most powerful people in the country are black, and they are Republicans. There is no black figure of any real power in the supposedly "tolerant" party. The first Hispanic on the US Supreme court will be Republican--if the Democrats don't block him. I'll let you judge where the really bigotted people are for yourself--on the basis of what they do.

[4Freedom]

The United States doesn't own Puerto Rico. The United States Taxpayers own the property our bases are on, but Puerto Rico is an unincorporated territory that could unilaterally declare its independence or be given its independence unilaterally by the U.S. Congress at any time.

Puerto Rico is way closer to being an independent country than it is to being a state.

I believe that the $18.8 billion plus in U.S. Taxpayer's hand-outs to the ingrates in Puerto rico should be stopped immediately.

hand-out: 1. CHARITABLE GIFT something such as money or food given as charity to somebody in need.

Encarta World English Dictionary 1999

Puerto Rico has never given the USA anything of equal value in return for all the $100's of billions in charitable hand-outs we've lavished on the residents of the island.

Never more than 46.49% of the residents of Puerto Rico have ever voted for statehood even when as many as 75% of them were collecting Food Stamps and they accounted for 10% of all of the Food Stamps dispenced by the U.S. Taxpayers.

Here's a brief History of all of the murder and mayhem committed by Puerto Rican Terrorists since 1936.

Puerto Rico National History

Here's some of the low-lites:

1950 - Puerto Rican terrorists tried to assassinate former President Harry S. Truman in Washington.

1954 - PR terrorists opened fire in the U.S. House of Representatives wounding 5 Congressmen.

1975 - PR terrorists killed 4 and wounded 50 with a bomb in a restaurant in NYC.

1981 - PR terrorists blew up 11 jet fighters belonging to the Puerto Rico National Guard near San Juan.

1981 - PR terrorists killed one man with a bomb in the Kennedy Airport.

? - PR terrorists machine gun a group of American servicemen standing at a bus stop killing one.

2001 - 4 PR terrorists hurl Molotov Cocktails at a Naval convoy on Vieques.

Over the years, Puerto Rican terrorists have planted over 130 bombs across the United States.

Who in their right mind would be for making a state out of an island like that?

[tiredoflurking]

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.

[tiredoflurking]

Good Lord! Are you really telling me that Puerto Rico is worthless because a few of its millions of people have been terrorists? I can't imagine how much time it would take to document each and every act of murder committed by people born in the States, but I certainly don't view any of the states as worthless. If you looked at a list documenting every act of murder, rape, and child molestation committed by Americans born in the States you'd have to also ask "Who in their right mind would be for living in a country like that?"

For crying out loud. Is this the attitude you have about Iraq as well? Let's just leave that country in the hands of Saddam since after all there have been some terrorist attacks carried out by Iraqis, and there are a lot of poor people there that are going to need hand-outs. Why waste money feeding them, and why waste American blood liberating them? It's a waste of time for a worthless endeavor, right? Oh, wait. That would leave that pesky WMD problem. I know, we'll just bomb the entire country, civilians and all. If some of them are terrorists, the whole country must be rotten to the core.

I'm asking you for the last time (because I don't intend to respond to you again) to please stop lumping us all into one group. I can only imagine how you must feel about the black community.

At least with current events as they are, now all Americans are beginning to get a taste of what it's like to be looked down on by people who don't even know you. Maybe a lesson will be learned.

[Go Gordon]

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.