From: ez007856@hamlet.ucdavis.edu
Newsgroups: soc.culture.latin-america
Subject: ?Puertorriquen~os con dos paises?
Date: 17 Aug 92 23:33:27 GMT
Organization: Computing Services, UC Davis

******On the so called purity of our Puerto Rican territory********

Some fellows on this net promote the theory of one Puerto Rican nation one 
Puerto Rican culture.  This is precisely why they are horrified if a Puerto 
Rican identifies to U.S. culture in some sense.  The tag words for these 
individuals are "asimilado" (assimilated), "pitiyanqui", "cultural 
schizophrenic" and all other sort of tags which seem to fit a stereotype. 
In order to promote awareness of Puerto Rico's culture/politics I will assert 
some categorical beliefs about Puerto Rican culture, so that fellow netters can 
decide whether Puert Rico is a homogeneous society with a homogeneous and pure 
Puerto Rican culture, in the same vein as those of other latin American 
countries and has not yet been contaminated with the "anglo" culture of the 
U.S..  First we examine the culture of right and wrong in Puerto Rico:

1.- JUDICIARY   

In spite of the myth that there is somo sort of Roman Law which dominates the 
decisions of Puerto Rican courts, or its legislature, the Federal courts, 
particularly the U.S. Supreme Court, have the last word on to the judicial 
revisions of Puerto Rican matters. The interpretation of law and any fact 
related to the "law of the land" in Puerto Rico, and U.S. Supreme Court 
decisions are of MANDATORY application in Puerto Rican courts. The U.S. 
Constitution is the "law of the land" in Puerto Rico and overrides any specific 
contradictions with the Puerto Rican Constitution, subordinating all Puerto 
Rican laws to it. So the entire judicial system is based primarily on the anglo 
COMMON LAW.  In this sense, all Puerto Rican lawyers have been "assimilated" in 
one way or another.  The same truths hold for law enforcement.  The Federal 
Bureau of Investigation, applies all U.S. law in Puerto Rico and frequently 
meddles itself in raids against Puerto Rican racketeering (such as the charges 
against Puerto Rican Col. Melia for taking drug money to look the other way).  
There are plenty of Puerto Rican FBI agent, Federal judges, marshalls and 
others belonging to the U.S. justice Department.  In fact, the U.S. courthouse 
is so pervasive that one in 5 Puerto Ricans has been involved in the buisiness 
of the Federal courts (as bankrupcies or other).  Just as many Chicanos 
participate in the activities of the U.S. border patrol, so too many Puerto 
Ricans belong to U.S. immigration as the only standing power to enforce 
immigration to the island.

3.- ECONOMY

Puerto Rico's "government" cannot conduct trade without the consent and 
approval of the U.S. Department of Commerce.  If considered a "state", 
interstate commerce restrictions do no apply to the island, where products from 
the U.S. are further taxed locally and there is no tax reciprocity with other 
states...  Federal funds sent to the island do not match the amounts of such 
monies granted to the states.  This also includes federal aid to Veterans and 
all other sorts of federal monies given to U.S. citizens. Banking laws an all 
other sorts of federal regulations on commerce apply in Puerto Rico. The FDIC 
rules the "Puerto Rican" banking systems and all local bankers or stockholders 
know the Fed very well.  S&L banking scams were not limited to Bush's son bur 
were also common among Puerto Rican buisnessmen.

Puerto Rico is totally dependent on the U.S.economy thanks to the 936 IRS 
code.  What is 936? It is a LOOPHOLE in the US tax code where corporations with 
plants in Puerto Rico can claim profits from their international subsidiaries 
as "TAX FREE" and enter the U.S. as such.  936 corporations are the best 
promoters of "assimilation" on the island creating a high cosumption economy 
stimulated by a high and private debt per capita promoted by 936 corporations. 
Puerto Rico is in fact a tax loophole economy with a strong fast food and Cable 
TV 'asimilista' component where shopping malls have replaced tienditas.   All 
varieties of fast foods joints have sprouted in Puerto Rico and are make 
massive profits for their parent companies.  

Puerto Rico imports more than 90% of its food from the U.S.  Pueblo 
Supermarkets, the largest chiain on the island  sell a variety of frozen 
pizzas, tacos, pampers, tv dinners, and all sorts of yanqui cuisine wich are 
massive consumed by the Puerto Rican populace. Today we even find books taking 
about "cocina criolla en microhondas" people running to eat their apple pies in 
junk food joints, MASSES seeing MTV, NEURORICANS ASIMILADOS AND BLACKS, YES, 
BLACKS returning from the north , black Puerto Rican SURFERS, and even 
CLARIDAD, that national socialist newspaper that speaks for the hard line 
nationalists is writing about the history of ROCK in in PR.

4.- MILITARY

Puerto Rico's "National" Guard Units are under the ultimate command of the 
President of the United States in whatever he considers a "national" emergency. 
 Over 30,000 Puerto Ricans served in Dessert Storm: the largest ethinc group 
other than Anglo and African Americans.  All U.S. and National Guard troops of 
Puerto Rican origin must speak English and the culture of the military is in 
English.  Futhermore, the ARMY ROTC has its most productive recruiting centers 
in the University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez and Rio Piedras.  For thousands of 
Puerto Ricans the yanqui army and its culture is a way of life where they can 
be all that they can be. 

5.- SPORTS

Puerto Rico has no right cultural or sports autonomy.  Current "autonomy" was 
granted by the U.S. olympic committe and can be revoked at any moment.  Some 
Puerto Ricans have even decided to participate with the U.S. olympic team and 
have won Gold Medals for the U.S. (e.g., "Jesee Vasallo, Gi Gi Fernandez). 
Furthermore, the Puerto Rican olympic basketball team, is complete with its 
asimilado coach, "Raymond" Dalmau (also Black) and all the niuyorican players 
who Speak ENGLISH ONLY. 

6.- LANGUAGE AND EDUCATION

Althoug monolingualism in Spanish has become the rule, 15% of the population 
is functionally billingual and there is even an English speaking newspaper in 
San Juan with a total circulation of 100,000 daily.  Puerto Rican Spanish is 
full of interesting anglicisms (English loan words) which are pervasive in the 
lexicons of millions of speakers. If all yanqui loan words would be disallowed, 
Puerto Ricans uttering things like  close', braun, palkin, clacson, sueter, 
tenis,..would be unable to communicate.  In K-12 English is a mandatory 
subject.  In the University two years of college English are required. 
Textbooks are generally in English (including humanities).  All colleges are 
acredited by the Middle States Assciation of Colleges and follow U.S. 
guidelines in order to cualify for financial aid.

7.- POLITICS

The people of Puerto Rico have decided to relinquish sovereignty to the 
Congress of the United States and such offer has been happily accepted by 
Congress.  There are two parties in Puerto Rico: the 100% assimilationist party 
(46% of the vote) the "autonomist" party which is split between "union 
permantente" [with the U.S.] assimilationists and "puertorriquen~ista" 
nationalists.  So I would claim that 75% of the island is for assimilation. 
Meanwhile both Democrats and Republicans hold primaries in Puerto Rico.  Mr. 
Clinton alone won 400,000 votes in the past primary held on the island and 
Puerto Rico had the highest number of delegates of hispanics in the Convention.


8.- SOCIAL SERVICES

All programs for social assistance are U.S. based and financed.  From food 
stamps to Pell grants and Stafford loans, Puerto Ricans follow the U.S. system 
and its regulations.  Not to speak about the Veterans Administration and the 
Social Security System which are all yanqui.

9.- ENTERTAINMENT

The most widely viewed tv program in Puerto Rico now belong to HBO CINEMAX and 
MTV.  Cable culture has predominated all sectors of society.  To the point that 
rock competes with salsa and merengue as the "national" music.  Baseball and 
basketball are the the inspiration of the masses which soon wish to play 
professional in the States.  Some Puerto Ricans have assimilated so well that 
they no longer consider themselves Puerto Rican (c.f., Chi Chi Rodriguez).  
What the hell, !we're the country with the highest per capita golf course in 
all the hispanic world!  Surfing and wind surfing have establised cults of 
their own in the beaches of San Juan and Rincon.  Having state this, it is 
clear that  yanqui  culture has also assimilated our sports culture.

So having stated this, Puerto Ricans live in a land of asimilados.  There is 
no such thing as a pure Puerto Rican.  All of us have become yanquified whether 
we like it or not.  In fact it's impossible to continue stating that Puerto 
Ricans are a mixture of three cultures: the Taino, the African and the 
Spaniard.  A fourth must be added: la cultura gringa. Now that 1992 will be 
over, we must prepare to celebrate 1998.  We will certainly find massive 
contribution from Sears Roebuck, J.C. Penny, Woolworth, Wallgreens and all 
other corporate groups on the island.

!!QUE VIVAN NUESTRAS RAICES YANQUIS!!

Edelmiro Salas Gonzalez

[PD: I know I'm gonna get a lot of heat for having said this.  No problem.  
Life without heat ain't no life]
Newsgroups: soc.culture.latin-america