Posted on July 29 at 8:14 a.m.
Dear Readers, The following is an email I received this morning from Kenneth D. McClintlock, President of the Senate of Puerto Rico, posted here with his permission:
I read with interest your most recent blog post regarding your trip to Puerto Rico. I'd like to make a couple of points.
As you correctly point out, under Spanish rule, the rulers tried to prevent Puerto Rico's culture from flourishing. May I add that today, on the contrary, the Federal government helps finance a lot of our cultural activity.
Second, if you're concerned that Whoppers and BigMac's in Old San Juan affect our culture, please don't fly to Paris, or Madrid, or Moscow or Beijing. The presence of American culture has little to do with our political status and a lot to do with the fact that our nation's (the US-remember we're all Americans in PR!) culture is the prevalent culture today throughout the world.
Not even living decades in Kansas can do away with our culture! Just take a look at Paul Feleciano, a former Kansas state senator, current Parole Board member, former U.S, Senate Democratic nominee from Kansas, and still a Puerto Rican!
Recent public and private polls indicate there's been a recent surge in support for statehood, now pegged at 57% and growing.
If our nation still believes in majority rule, it will not deny us the preference of 60 percent-plus, much less impose us the preference of less than 5% of our voters-independence.
There are 4 million "Paul Feleciano" Puerto Ricans living in the States; only 3.9 million living in Puerto Rico. Should independence be imposed, I have no doubts that at least a couple of million more U.S. citizens from Puerto Rico will buy, as Paul did decades ago, a one-way ticket to statehood.
If in 1980 our nation could barely absorb the influx of 100,000 Cubans from Mariel settling in one county of one state, Dade County, Florida, is it ready to absorb two or three million Puerto Ricans settling all over the nation? Food for thought.
Kenneth D. McClintock
President of the Senate of Puerto Rico
Posted on April 24 at 10:07 p.m.
Linguo - I think a healthy reform is totally in order - in fact, that's what it sounds like you are saying. I side with Vladislav on that one.
TJG87 - Why is it acceptable, in your view, to not like someone because they choose to speak their own language? It's like saying "It's cool, you can not like them because they don't want to assimilate." And it sounds like hate-speak.
Who blames anyone for not willfully throwing themselves into modern American country. Besides, what impetus do they have? The come in, they work as hard and as long as they can until they get busted and sent back. They're not getting root down because our system doesn't let them and our racism doesn't want them. Why should they want to speak your language? Do you speak theirs?
Posted on April 15 at 10:28 p.m.
Why is it that anytime someone criticizes any country's foreign policy or lack of democratic merit they get branded a racist? One can literally say "I do not hate your people" and the very first email to get sent is the "admit you hate my people" one.
I feel like I'm taking stupid pills.
The second accusation that gets leveled is the: well you're country sucks too, don't be a hypocrite. There are other conflicts, don't pick on my country, wah wah wah.
Stop crying. No one is exempt from criticism. No one. That's the beauty of democracy. Freedom of speech.
Free Tibet. Free Palestine. Free Speech.
Posted on March 6 at 1:51 p.m.
hahaha. my turn: (to Simon) s) No YOU SUCK!!!
Posted on February 28 at 8:25 a.m.
I will get a cell phone as soon as they can do this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IX-gTobCJ...
-JS
Posted on February 26 at 7:53 a.m.
Hahaha. I thought you said "hot puddle". What's in that?
Posted on February 25 at 10:40 p.m.
I still can't believe Juno was even mentioned once for anything. How old is the whole quirky-smart-mouthed quit-witted schtick? It's like watching bad stand up. That and they've already made Napoleon Dynamite, and it already ripped off Wes Anderson in the first place. I give Juno and Co. a huge two thumbs down.
Posted on August 26 at 12:47 a.m.
Ha. You think Nader ruined if for the Dems? He's got nothing on Hillary. Give me a freaking break. I don't know if the Democrats deserve to win, as a whole, after this. I won't be surprised if they lose it, either. They've lacked a spine for at least 8 years, now it seems the brains are missing, too.
On A new species on the loose at this year's DNC