From: bp523@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Jimmy Gonzalez)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.latin-america
Subject: Re: Statehood for P.R.?
Date: 9 Nov 1992 22:19:15 GMT
Organization: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH (USA)
Reply-To: bp523@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Jimmy Gonzalez)
NNTP-Posting-Host: hela.ins.cwru.edu


In a previous article, mh6i+@andrew.cmu.edu (Mario Alejandro Hidalgo) says:

>
>I am from Puerto Rico, and I was very dissapointed to learn that the
>Partido Nuevo Progresista won the elections by a big margin.  The only
>position of which I am not sure who won was the Resident Commissioner,
>because I thought that the PNP, Carlos Romero Barcelo, had won.  But on
>yesterday's USA Today it says that Antonio Colorado, the current
>Resident Commissioner had won.  If anyone knows who really won, please
>post the results on this bboard.  On the other hand, I must say that
>Carlos Romero Barcelo is one of the most hated political-related persons
>in Puerto Rico. While being Governor from 1976-1980, he cheated in the
>1980 elections and was re-elected. My personal opinion is that he only
>ran for the position because he wants to retire from politics only after
>getting credit for giving statehood to PR, which I dissaprove.  
>

I am puertorrican too and I'm also disappointed with the results of the 
elections held in Puerto Rico.  But that's what democracy is all about.  
Some people vote, majority wins, let's move on.

I'm  sure  that  the  Spanish  Law  will be  eliminated  now  that  the
pro-statehood  party  won  both the Congress and the Governor's Office.
The philosophy of this party (pro-statehood) has always been to eliminate 
every law considered (by them) to be an obstacle to implement statehood
in Puerto Rico.

I recall a  quote from  Carlos Romero Barcelo,  when  he  was the  mayor 
of San Juan (capital of PR).  He said - "If the concept of a Puerto Rican 
Culture is an obstacle to the statehood ideal, then that obstacle must be 
eliminated."  (Of course he denies this today).  This is the man who will 
represent the island in the  Federal Congress at Washington D.C. for the 
next 4 years. (Oh, my lord!)
  
At the beginning of this article I mentioned that majority spoke in PR.
I don't know what they said. Is this only a change on the Administration...
or is it a sign of  new  ideals and collective goals?  I only know that
the  pro-statehood  party NOW has the political power to implement their
philosophy.

This party was the one who hide the truth about the murder of two young 
"independentistas", who were guided to their graves by a secret agent of 
the Police.  The famous case of Maravilla should not be forgotten, even 
though it seems to be forgiven by the voters.

I hope that the new leaders of this party  WILL  respect the principles
of  democracy,  because if they  turn back  to  their  old behavior of
harassment and persecution of political minorities,  then  Puerto  Rico
will not have any reason to be proud of its democratic history in Latin 
America.

I'm proud of Puerto Rico's democracy.  This November we saw a political
change without blood.  I saw a nation where opposite ideas clashed without
violence.  I don't agree with the decision, and of course, I will criticize
the new administration when I believe it should be done.  That's my right
as part of the minority.

And I expect respect for this right from the NEW "majorities" in PR.  It's 
still my right to fight for what I believe.  Without violence, but also
without fear.



-- 
Jimmy Gonzalez
bp523@hela.INS.CWRU.Edu
Case Western Reserve University
Cleveland, Ohio