|
|
|
|
|
|||
|
|||
|
|||
|
|
In My Opinion Home Page |
|
Article 27
- Don Pedro Albuzi Campos |
IN MY OPINION Open dialog with Anthony
Ramos. |
||
|
Article
15 - To Be Or Not To Be An Illegal Alien |
Article
7 - My Little Piece of the Island |
||
|
Sendyour comments to: TonyRamos email Article 27 - Pedro Albizu Campos PEDRO ALBIZU CAMPOS He was born on September 12, 1893, in the village of Tenerias,
Ponce, Puerto Rico. His birth name was Pedro and he was the son of As a young boy, between the years 1900 and 1911 Pedro’s scholastic performance caught the attention of his teachers, who began to nurture his sponge-like mind and encourage him to pursue higher academic goals. At the age of 18, Pedro Albizu Campos’ academic prowess had earned him a scholarship to study Engineering at the University of Vermont, where he received a Bachelor of Science after completing two majors in Chemistry and in Engineering. In 1915, Campos applied and received acceptance to the prestigious Harvard University, majoring in Law. As fortune would have it, though, World War I had broken out the previous year and the young Campos faced the first major decision of his life. He left Harvard University to join the Army and fight for the new masters of his beloved country. Pedro enlisted in the Infantry, where he received his training from the French Military mission. After training, the Army assigned Pedro Albizu Campos to serve under General McIntyre in an Afro-American unit. It was during his tenure in the United States armed forces that Campos first experienced racism, and that brief exposure to American bigotry left an indelible impression in his consciousness that would later become an ingredient to the formation of his persona. At the end of World War I, in 1918, the Army discharged Pedro as a First Lieutenant. Then, in 1919, Campos rededicated his life to his academic studies. He returned to Harvard University, where fellow students elected him president of the Cosmopolitan Club. While Pedro studied at Harvard, he met and fell in love with a Peruvian national named Laura Meneses. At the same time, Campos befriended other foreign students who shared the same ideals as he did—radical ideals that were starting to foment inside his activist soul. Among the students Campos befriended were Subhas Chandra Bose, who later became an Indian nationalist leader and stood shoulder to shoulder with Mohandas K. Ghandi in the liberation of India from English rule. Included in that small circle of friends was the man who later became the famous Hindu poet Rabindranath Tagore. Pedro’s formative years at Harvard drew his attention toward many causes, and his zeal was so powerful that he helped in the formation of several establishments in Boston dedicated to the independence of Ireland. It was no surprise that his connection to the centers for Irish freedom in Boston drew the attention of Eamon de Valera, the famous Irish independence leader. Pedro met Eamon de Valera during his final year at Harvard, and that meeting proved to be the pivotal moment of his life and when his passion for a free and independent Puerto Rico became cemented to his soul. Later on that year, Pedro Albizu Campos became a consultant to Eamon de Valera, and assisted with the drafting of the constitution of the Irish Free State. Pedro graduated from Harvard University in 1921 with a degree in Law Pedro Albizu Campos made the most of his time at Harvard University. By the time he graduated, Pedro had degrees in Chemistry, Engineering and Law. Aside from achieving those milestones, he was proficient in English, as well as French, German, Portuguese, Italian, Latin and Greek. Shortly after graduating, he received job offers. One offer came from a Protestant church to work as their Hispanic representative, and another one came from the U.S. Diplomatic Corp as their representative in Mexico. Pedro Albizu Campos’ dreams and visions of a free Puerto Rico, however, caused him to turn down the job offers and he immediately returned to his homeland, where he married Laura Meneses in 1921. The couple lived in Ponce and later had three children, Laura, Rosa and Pedro. While in Ponce, Pedro Albizu Campos received many high-salaried offers, but he rejected every one of them because he wanted to concentrate all his energies on the independence of Puerto Rico. This goal, this dangerous ideal, would never change and would remain the focal point of passion throughout his tumultuous life. In 1921, Pedro entered the political arena and became
a member of the Union Party, but three years later the political cohesiveness
within the membership disintegrated and the party dissolved. Pedro then
joined the Nationalist Party in 1924, where the members elected him vice-president.
Between the years 1927 and 1930, Pedro Albizu Campos, filled with an unwavering
determination and an undeniable patriotic fervor, traveled to Cuba, Haiti,
the Dominican Republic and Peru to drum up support for the independence
of Puerto Rico. Upon his return to Puerto Rico in 1930, the Nationalist
Party elected him president, and under Campos’ leadership, the party
became a powerful force, a movement that the United States had to take
seriously. It was then that Pedro Albizu Campos became an enemy of the
state, and it was then that he came under the scrutiny of the U.S. Federal
authorities. By 1936, the U.S. Federal government had collected enough data on Pedro Albizu Campos to fill three file cabinets, but still the government would not act. Then, a certain incident occurred that year in which the results affected the collective psyche of the Federal government and finally prompted them to initiate action against Campos. In 1936, two Nationalist Party members, Hiram Rosado and Elias Beauchamp, assassinated the appointed commander of the police in San Juan, an American named Colonel E. Francis Riggs. The assassination, however, was a retaliatory act upon Riggs because it was under his command the previous year that the police had killed four members of the Nationalist Party in what the people referred to as The Rio Piedras Massacre. What incensed the citizens of Puerto Rico the most was the fact that the police summarily executed the two Nationalist Party members behind closed doors inside the police headquarters in San Juan. Based on the fact Rosado and Beauchamp were members of the Nationalist Party, the U.S. Federal authorities arrested Campos and several other members of the party, charging them with sedition and conspiracy to overthrow the U.S. government in Puerto Rico. In March of 1937, while lawyers for the Puerto Rican Nationalist
Party were appealing the case in a federal court, a lawful rally was taking
place in Ponce. Hours before the rally, however, and unbeknownst to the
protesters, the Puerto Rican police, under pressure from U.S. authorities,
revoked the permit for the rally and began to surround the protesters
with their guns. The rally, whose leaders formed it with the purpose commemorating
the end of slavery in 1873, also protested the arrest of Pedro Albizu
Campos as well as the United States’ illegal occupation of Puerto
Rico. Though the protesters were unarmed, no one could verify whether
any one of them possessed a firearm. Shots eventually rang out and general
chaos ensued. In the aftermath, the police wounded over 100 people that
day, most of them innocent bystanders. Of the many wounded, 19 died—17
men, a woman and a little girl. The Ponce Massacre, as the people later
referred to it, would further strengthen the Federal case against Campos
and his followers. With The Ponce Massacre fresh in the minds of the Appellate
Court judges, lawyers for the Nationalist Party lost the appeal, and the
United States shipped Pedro Albizu Campos off to a Federal penitentiary
in Atlanta, Georgia; his sentence: ten years. Pedro Albizu Campos stated repeatedly that the U.S. Federal
authorities were trying to kill him, but the Federal authorities rebutted
his charges with the story that Campos had gone insane, all in an effort
to discredit his leadership and respect among the Nationalist Party.
Response to Article 27 - Albizu-Campos Elizabeth A. Barbieri writes, “Thank you so much for researching this and sharing this story. It was fascinating and excellent, not to mention an important history lesson. As a conversation starter or questions that are asked in team builders for work, I have often been asked, "If you had to opportunity to speak to . . . (Abe Lincoln, Jesus Christ, George Washington, or whomever....), what would you ask?” I, too, would ask questions about 'cotidiana' (before that awful imprisonment)....what made you smile? Tell me what you do for fun? What was your favorite food or music or book? What was a typical day like? We can research history, but the personal items? Not too much. Thanks” Thank you for your response Elizabeth. Unless personal notes or autobiographical accounts are found, where we are able to obtain a glimpse of the person behind the fame, we must rely on historical data. Pedro Albizu Campos did not seem to me as a very complicated man, but a man with a clear mind, a man who immersed himself in the cause for liberty. It is rare to find such people, and when we read about them, we seem to connect to them and develop a profound respect for their work. September 2007 - Flags, they are seen everywhere in the world. Flags represent all kinds of things, from nations, to corporations, political and religious ideologies, to sports teams, and so on. So what is the importance of a flag? A flag is a symbol, a symbol of who you are, what you represent or what you believe in. Flags come in all shapes and sizes, some are colorful and bright, and some are banal and seemingly go unnoticed. Flags have been in existence since the dawn of modern civilization. They have spearheaded the vanguard of many armies throughout the course of world history, and they have caused religious and political turmoil; hailed by believers or condemned by detractors. One flag has even found its way to the moon and it is still there, undisturbed in the vacuum of space, as a testament to the achievements of man and the pride of the United States of America. But a country’s flag is a little different than, say, a corporate or an organizational flag, isn’t it? A country’s flag represents the focal point of its heritage, the tip of its cultural iceberg, so to speak, the banner under which its citizens unite. It is a visual icon for a nation’s people, the very essence of their identity, and the funnel through which flows their national pride. When I gaze upon the flag of Puerto Rico, whether in pictures, or whether hanging on the rear view mirror of someone’s car, it reminds me of who I am, and where my ancestry originates. The Puerto Rican flag also reminds me of my family, many of whom still live on the island, and of the physical and mental separation from my culture. It reminds me of the Puerto Rican struggles, the challenges they face under a commonwealth station, and of the desires of many to become a free and independent nation. To me, the flag of Puerto Rico is a sacred thing. With this in mind, I would like to make a few observations, and hope at the same time that my comments will not offend you, my beloved readers. What angers me most, what really makes my blood boil, is when I see the Puerto Rican flag dangling on a telephone or electric wire strung across a neighborhood street in New York City. With much dismay and reluctance, I witness a faded flag, mired in soot from years of car emissions; its endings ragged and torn, and long, uneven, strands of red and white thread floating in the air like the tendrils of a jellyfish bobbing in the middle of the ocean. As I watch our people’s symbol of heritage flapping helplessly, it seems to beckon me in its gloomy and miserable silence, as if wanting to talk to me. In my mind, I see what it used to be but in my heart I cannot ignore what is plain to my eyes, a proud flag now reduced to a mere rag. I hear its agony, in a passive yet disturbed voice that cries out to my soul and tells me, “Please, I beg you, tear me down from this wire and destroy the shame wrought upon me!” There are times when I walk through a Puerto Rican neighborhood and see a flag hanging from a windowsill, or covering a window of a five-story tenement building. The flags are all faded and so, too, are the windows. In my horror, I say to myself, “Is that how they demonstrate their pride?” I look away in shame and I start to get a feeling of helplessness because I want to share my views with the perpetrators of such shame, convince them that they are doing a disservice to our culture. My initial inclinations are to shout at them and demand that they remove the dirty cloths from their windows, the filthy fabrics that once represented the flag of Puerto Rico. I change my mind, however, because I realize that perhaps they do not know any better, or perhaps they have simply forgotten about their indiscretion. I simply walk away and hope that a strong wind rushes through the neighborhood and sweeps the rags away, deep into the pit of oblivion. I believe in expressing our Puerto Rican heritage, and
to avoid anyone from misconstruing my feelings, I would like to make my
observations perfectly clear. In the days preceding the Puerto Rican Day
Parade, the Puerto Rican flag is as ubiquitous in New York City as the
coquís are on the island of Puerto Rico. Many of my Puerto Rican
brothers and sisters take the time and effort to ornament their cars with
little flags, or drape the hoods of their automobiles with a huge Boricua
flag. I like that, because they do it meticulously, with a great deal
of pride and in good taste. The flags are clean and bright, and they draw
immediate attention. I also note young men and women bedecked in Puerto
Rican ensembles complete with matching baseball caps, tee shirts and pants.
One young teenager had even draped a large Puerto Rican flag over his
body in the form of a cape. Now that is pride! It is my opinion that we
Puerto Rican Americans must take the Puerto Rican flag a little more seriously.
We should honor it because it represents who we are and where we come
from. It should not be defiled whether purposefully or inadvertently.
It should not hang from a telephone wire or from a windowsill and left
unattended until it becomes a grimy piece of cloth. I do not know how
many of you will disagree with me, but then again, this is my opinion.
What is your opinion? Reader Comments (Article 26 - Our Flag) Angel A. Pla Jr. from Virginia writes, “The use of the flag is regulated by the Government of Puerto Rico and follows the regulations of the United States government on their flag. As you stated in your article, we should be proud of our symbols and show them with pride. The problem is that most people do not know the correct way to do so. Those of us who do know should educate those who do not know. The first flag given to Puerto Rico by the Monarchs of Spain in 1511 is the most beautiful and oldest of the Americas. It had a red background with a white cross of equal length on both sides. On the upper half the Coat Of Arms of Puerto Rico over a green background, [there is] a castle on the right and a lion on the left. The castle and the lion were of gold color over green background. On December 22, 1895, a group of 59 Puerto Ricans met at the Chimney Corner Hall in New York and organized the Puerto Rico section of the Cuban Revolutionary Party. At that assembly the flag, as we know it today, was selected as a symbol for the independence of Puerto Rico. The flag resembles the Cuban flag but the colors are inverted. The Red stripes meant the blood of the fallen patriots during the revolution; the white stripes meant victory and peace after the revolution; the equilateral triangle blue in color meant the color of the sea and skies over Puerto Rico; and the lone star meant the Island itself. Puerto Rico's Union Party and the Nationalist Party used the flag as their symbol. In 1952, the Legislature approves the design as the symbol for Puerto Rico and an official description is approved. The red stripes meant the blood of the people that nurtures the Republican form of government; that is Legislative, Executive and Judicial. The white stripes meant the rights and liberties of the individual that maintain checks and balances on the Republican form of government. The equilateral triangle blue in color means the Republican form of government and the lone star means the Commonwealth Government of Puerto Rico. The Lares Cry (Grito de Lares) flag is the official flag of the municipality of Lares. This flag was designed by Dr. Ramon Emeterio Betances and was presented by Don Manuel Rojas at a meeting of the junta de Centro Bravo de Lares. The flag was formed [with the use of] a Latin white cross in the center. Four squares formed on the flag. The top squares were blue in color and red the bottom ones. In the center of the upper left square, a white five point star. Mariana Bracetti made the first Lares flag. This flag was used as the symbol for the revolution on September 23, 1868, known as the Grito de Lares (Lares Cry). The cross meant rebellion and desire for the establishment of a country. The red meant the blood the heroes shed in the rebellion. The star on the lone over the blue meant liberty. I hope [you share] all of this information with others so that we can feel proud of our heritage and understand that when we disrespect our flag, we are disrespecting ourselves.” Thank you for your email, Angel. It is nice to hear from readers that know their Puerto Rican history. Aside from the fact that the Puerto Rican flag represents our identity and heritage, you have also made us aware of how its details symbolize our ideals, struggles and history. Perhaps more readers will come across El Boricua’s web site and see the article, as well as the reader comments, and maybe they will take use of the Puerto Rican flag more seriously. For my readers (especially those living in the U.S.) who are not aware that there was another flag, which once represented Puerto Rico (as mentioned above by Mr. Angel Pla), I feel you should see what it looked like. As Mr. Pla stated, Dr. Betances designed the flag and requested Mariana Bracetti to make it. Manuel Rojas, the rebel leader of the El Grito De Lares, along with his fellow rebels entered the Lares town church and placed the flag above the altar when he declared Puerto Rico a free and independent nation on the morning of September 24, 1868.
Eileen Concepcion writes, “After reading your opinion, I began to consider the vivid picture you portray. It is indeed a sad, sad sight to see our beautiful flag reduced to a faded and torn shadow of what it should be. I agree with you 100%!” Thank you for your email Eileen. Sad indeed, but perhaps
we can educate those who, because of their ignorance, remain unaware of
their indiscretion. Alejandro E. A. Luciano writes, “I'm glad you have brought up this important subject. I believe that the Puerto Rican flag is the single most abused and overused national flag in the whole United States. I wouldn't say that it is a symbol of pride to wear a flag as a cape during the PR day parade or on the hood of a car like some Mexicans do with Our Lady. We should respect our national symbols and display them with pride and honor, and not this exaggerated "pseudo-patriotism" that makes us look like a ridiculous unruly bunch. Another thing I'm very much against is when a drawing is put on the flag like a coqui or bongos. What is even more interesting about that is that it is against the Puerto Rican government's regulation on the usage of the flag (Reglamento Sobre el Uso de la Bandera del ELA de Puerto Rico). Article 26, Section D-1 prohibits the drawing of any symbols on the flag. Also under section D-5 of the same article, it states that "under no circumstances" will the flag be used in articles of clothing. Pride should be expressed though our actions and be inflamed in our hearts, not in disrespectful and truly tacky displays of our flag.” Thank you for your email Alejandro. I think that the outrageous and unethical displays of the Puerto Rican Flag by many Puerto Rican-Americans stem from the isolation and separation they feel from their homeland and their culture. The 6th of June (NY Puerto Rican Day Parade) is a day for celebration, a day in which the need to proclaim your heritage calls out from the pit of your stomach, a need that has lain dormant in your soul for one year. Perhaps this pent up energy gives rise to such blatant yet ignorant disregard for the flag. You tell me because, frankly, I am at loss for words here. Should Cock-Fighting In Puerto Rico Be Abolished? August 2007 - In June of this year, the state of New Mexico made the blood sport of cock-fighting illegal. On Thursday, July 12, 2007, the governor of Louisiana signed a bill that would make cock-fighting illegal in that state beginning in August 2008. With the signing of the bill, Louisiana became the last state to make cock-fighting illegal. Now that we Americans have successfully banned the sport in our country, animal-rights activists are targeting Puerto Rico, a commonwealth of the United States since 1898 where cock-fighting is not only a profitable industry, employing more than 50,000 people and generating sales of over $400 million, but a sport that has been a part of the Puerto Rican culture for more than 400 years. According to a July 16, 2007 article written by Mr. David McFadden of the Associated Press, he quotes an email he received from a PETA spokeswoman, Ms. Heather Carlson: “The cruel blood sport [is] illegal in every U.S. state and now it is time for Puerto Rico to follow suit." PETA is the acronym for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. Mr. McFadden’s article further states that Mr. Wayne Pacelle, chief of the Humane Society of the United States, “plans to closely monitor the island’s industry to ensure cock-fighters are not violating a new federal law that makes the transport of fighting birds or cock-fighting implements abroad or across state lines a felony.” Mr. McFadden’s article quotes the following statement from Mr. Pacelle made by phone, “We do plan to mount a campaign to appeal to the many Puerto Ricans who agree with our perspective that this practice constitutes needless cruelty.” With Louisiana becoming the last state to ban cock-fighting, will the United States pressure Puerto Rico to follow in their footsteps? Recently, the Puerto Rican government approved a bill that established the sport of cock-fighting as a “cultural right” of Puerto Ricans. The bill recognizes the sport as a deeply rooted tradition in Puerto Rico, but aside from that, it also sends a clear message that Puerto Ricans will not allow outsiders to meddle in their affairs. I am not going to deny that cock-fighting is violent and bloody, and I’m not going to deny that there is growing opposition to this unique pastime. However, it just strikes me as funny that the most inhumane sport, the sport that, in my opinion, truly represents “needles cruelty” and requires banning is the sport of professional boxing. In boxing there are two opponents, just like in cock-fighting, but instead of two animals as in cock-fighting, there are two MEN that face each other and try to beat each other to a pulp. Professional boxers receive bloody lacerations to their faces, bruises to their bodies, and damage to vital organs such as the liver and kidneys; many professional boxers urinate blood the day after a fight. Aside from that, the long-term ill effects on their central nervous systems, as well as their visual acuities have been medically documented and proven. There is another blood sport growing in popularity in the United States called the “Octagon”, where two fighters enter a cage and beat each other not only with their fists but with their legs, too. The fighting is real and so too is the blood. So why is it that the so-called humane societies, have not taken steps to ban this barbaric sport in the United States? Are animals that much more important than human beings? Can this really be? How can the Unites States ban cock-fighting but turn a blind eye to the violent and inhumane sport of boxing? How can the humane societies clean someone else’s house without cleaning their own house first? Let’s face the truth here: the reason why boxing is not banned in the United States is because it is a billion dollar business, and where money is concerned, well, you draw your own conclusions. Moreover, the innate lust for blood has been entrenched in our genes since the Roman times. Boxing delivers the quench for this insatiable blood-lust, and people pay to see two modern-day gladiators pummeling each other until one of them is knocked out or even killed. It is my opinion that cock-fighting in Puerto Rico is
a tradition, an institution, and a favorite pastime that islanders may
find difficult to give up. Will the United States pressure Puerto Rico
to ban cock-fighting? Yes! Will Puerto Rico knuckle under the American
will? Probably. Will we see the United States depart from their duplicitous
stance and ban professional boxing, as well as all other blood sports?
Are you kidding me? What is your opinion? If there are any members of
the humane society, I would love to hear from you. Please tell me why
you have not gone after professional boxing? Is it because they do not
qualify as animals? And please don’t tell me that boxing is a controlled
sport, with doctors sitting at ringside monitoring the fights. Having
doctors at ringside does not lessen the violence, nor does it lessen the
physical and mental damage that boxing causes to HUMANS. Why are you not
humane about the inhumane sport of boxing? Send me your comments to: Anthony
Ramos Reader Comments (Article 25 - Cockfights) Aurora Yolanda Darroch writes, Ivan Feliciano writes, Zulma60 writes, Andrew French writes, ”Hello, I believe the main reason cockfighting is unsupported yet boxing is supported is because animals aren't asking to be thrown into a ring and fight. Boxers are. Boxers want fame and fortune and they are willing to risk physical abuse for it. But animals don't have that choice. And what do the cocks get out of it? That's the reason most people are against it. Thank you for your time.” Thank you for your email Andrew. So let me get this straight, you feel more empathy for an animal than you do for your fellow man, is that it? So because they aren’t asking to be thrown in the ring you say, “Oh well, it was his choice—tough luck.” You see Andrew, when I witness such violence in the ring, as in professional boxing and Ultimate Fighters, I feel as much sorrow for the participants as I do with any animal being made to suffer. It is not simply the notion of man vs. beast, but the similarity of violence that both cockfighting and prize fighting share, a violence driven by none other than our own primal lust for blood, as well as our lust for capital gains. K Jay writes, Thank you for your response K Jay. Granted, these fowls do not have choice, I do agree with you on that point. But do people who enter professional boxing have a choice, too? Not really. They mostly come from urban centers and they are poor and desperately looking to rise from their urban blight. They gravitate toward boxing because it promises them riches. They enter the sport at a very young age and they are raised in the art of fighting much like the fighting birds of Puerto Rico are raised. Regarding the treatment of women in Saudi Arabia, well that is a tradition deeply rooted for hundreds of years, but you do not see the U.S. trying to change their way of life, do you? So why should the U.S. force Puerto Ricans into changing theirs? Are Puerto Ricans any less important than Saudi Arabians? Regarding the money made in cock fighting, it is a mere spit in the bucket when compared to the money made internationally with professional boxing. Yes, it is always about the money, billions and billions of it. K Jay, I do respect your opinion on this matter, and I don’t want you to think I’m not subject to change. As I mentioned in my article and rebuttals to some of the emails, I don’t particularly like either cock-fighting or professional boxing, because in my opinion they represent they same levels of violence. The crux of the matter, what this all boils down to, is the right that Puerto Ricans have to make that decision. LET THEM DECIDE FOR THEMSELVES. As you said, “. . it’s not about killing a tradition but rather us growing and becoming more aware . . .” I agree with you, but let us allow Puerto Ricans to grow and learn by themselves rather than an outside party forcing them into doing so. Robert Rodríguez Rodríguez writes, “Mi gente, no rindan esa tradición con los
gallos. Do not give up the tradition of the gamecocks, which we've loved
for 1000's of years, even since before moving [from] Iberia.” Iris Espinoza writes, “Fist of all I don't agree with U.S taking that sport [cock-fighting] away. It's been part of Puerto Rico for a long time. Second, we are not a State and until we become one [the] United States should not get things taken away from us.” Thank you for your email Iris. I think that by and
large, whether or not island-dwelling Puerto Ricans like or dislike the
sport, the issue of banning cock-fights has taken exception with them
because it is yet another display of U.S. societal intervention on another
culture; a 500-year culture that the U.S. knows nothing about and where
they have no business sticking their noses. Let Puerto Ricans decide for
themselves what’s best for their Island. Do not force Boricuas into
doing something they don’t want to do because this will further
widen the cultural and ideological divides already prevalent in Puerto
Rico-U.S. relations. It is good that the United States humane societies
have rid the country of the blood sport of cock-fighting; their collective
conscience is clear and now they can take the moral high ground without
shame. Not so fast! This is only the beginning. The road is long and the
work is tougher than before because now the humane societies should concentrate
their efforts on professional boxing and Ultimate Fighters (UFC); blood
sports that employs human beings. Until then, and only until then, can
the humane societies stand without shame! “Hi Anthony, I have read your articles before but
for some reason have never expressed my opinion until now. Why? I'm not
sure why. As background, I was born in New York but have lived in New
Jersey all my life and have only just recently visited Puerto Rico for
the first time (at the age of 42 -- shame on me!!). I have always been
proud of my heritage and have learned to read, write and speak Spanish.
I also cook authentic Puerto Rican foods. Both my husband and I are 100%
puro Boricua; both of our parents having been born and raised in Puerto
Rico. Thank you for your email Eileen. I agree with you
that cock-fighting is a gruesome blood-sport, and I don’t care for
it myself. I also agree that cock-fighting is a deeply-rooted tradition
and, albeit violent, a Puerto Rican institution. I guess what really bothers
me is the double-standard here, the hypocritical nature of organizations
such as PETA and the Humane Society of the United States, treating Puerto
Rico as if it were their ‘problem child’, saying things like
(paraphrase): they are going to closely monitor the island’s industry
to ensure that fighting birds are not going to be transported over state
lines. How asinine can this statement be, especially when cock-fighting
has been banned in all 50 states? Why would Puerto Ricans want to transport
fighting birds over state lines anyway? How would they transport the birds,
in boats, like drugs are? How about by small aircraft designed to land
in some remote airfield, and the birds whisked away to some holding pen
where they are brought out to fight in an undisclosed location deep in
the bayous of Louisiana? How about stuffing them in their crotches? Well,
maybe not that; it might be an unforgettable experience for them. The
illegal transportation of fighting birds is not going to happen. There
is no need for Puerto Ricans to transport fighting birds anywhere because
their money is made on the island itself. I guess the question we must
ask ourselves is what about professional boxing and UFC? Aren’t
they just as violent, brutal and gruesome as cock-fighting is? Shouldn’t
those blood-sports be banned as well? Why aren’t organizations such
as the Humane Society of the United States “closely monitoring”
those violent sports? You see my reasoning here, Eileen? Do you see the
double-standard? Are PETA and the Humane Society of the United States
placing more value on animals than they do on human beings? I’ll
tell you why, because PETA and the Humane Society of the United States
are powerless to take on the behemoth of professional boxing.
May 2007 - The book of Revelations, in the New Testament of the Holy Bible, states that in the final years before the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Antichrist will reveal himself. He will first appear as a compassionate and noble leader, and will gain much power and fame. The people will not know him but will hail him and submit to him, and he will come to rule the world as a benevolent leader. His benevolence however, will last for only three and a half years, and for the next three and a half years, he will reveal himself as the Antichrist and will plunge the world into what the book of Revelation says will be the period of the Great Tribulation. Well, my dear readers, the Antichrist has already revealed himself to the world. He is a sixty-one-year-old man who lives in Miami, Florida . . . and is a Puerto Rican. That’s right, the Antichrist is a Boricua and his name is Jose Luis de Jesus Miranda! Miranda grew up poor, in a housing project in Puerto Rico, where, during the early 1970’s, as a teenager, he was forced to steal in order to support his heroin addiction. While in prison, in 1973, Miranda claims that two angels appeared to him in a vision, and that the “spirit that was in Jesus of Nazareth” came into his soul. Miranda converted to Christianity and later began to teach himself all about the Bible. Following his release from prison, he arrived in the United States and drifted from the Catholic Church to the Pentecostal Church to the Baptist Church where he finally began his religious life as a youth pastor. In 1986 Miranda began his own ministry, Growing in Grace, in an old warehouse in Florida and over the past twenty years, Miranda claims that his movement has grown to the point where it has congregations in over 30 countries (mostly Latin-America), 287 radio stations, a web site and a 24-hour radio and TV station. He claims to have millions of followers and plans to expand his ministry across the globe. So what does Miranda preach that makes followers of purportedly millions? Mr. Miranda preaches that the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ means sin no longer exists and that people can no longer do wrong in the eyes of God. Miranda claims to be a living incarnation of Jesus Christ, and in January of 2007 revealed to the world a tattoo on his arm bearing the number 666. He then announced that he and his followers are antichrists because their beliefs are greater than those of Jesus Christ. Many of Miranda’s followers have gotten their arms tattooed with the number 666, showing their leader just how much they believe in him. Some followers have donated their entire savings to Miranda’s church in a show of absolute Jim Jones cult-like submission. Mr. Miranda has taken special aim at the Roman Catholic Church, claiming that its priests are child-molesters and that the vows of chastity are in conflict with the Bible’s teachings. The Roman Catholic Church has denounced Miranda as a false prophet, and South American governments have labeled him a terrorist, banning him from their countries. Detractors have claimed that he is nothing more than a fortune-seeking, money-hungry opportunist who draws a $136,000 salary from the church (some say much more than that), wears expensive Rolex watches and travels in a bullet-proof Lexus or BMW. As you well know, my dear readers, I am a conservative thinker and I am compelled to put in my two cents on this bizarre subject. First of all, I have to ask myself something. What is it about our world society that compels us to accept something so quickly? What is missing from the Christian, Jewish, Islamic, Hindu and Buddhist faiths that force people to go looking for it elsewhere by flocking over to a new doctrine or ideology? Is it that yesterday’s message no longer keeps us captivated, and no longer puts fear in our hearts? Is it that we have lost our hope in this ever-changing world and cannot find it in our Churches or Temples? Is it that we are stimulated by a new brand of thinking? Are we so weak that a new manner of thought sways our rationale? Or, are we just plain gullible? I think that many members of the human population are in desperate need of comfort and reassurance. I think that they need to know they are not alone in this universe and that there is a supernatural power that keeps things in control. I think that they constantly ask themselves: Is this all that I am? I am born, I live and I die, and when I die there is nothing more of me. I think that as a species here on earth we all want to be more than just an indigenous creature. I think that we want that supernatural power to exist and the promise that there is life after death and that we will be rewarded for living a good and pious life. I think that we have had these thoughts in our hearts since the beginning of time, out of fear of the unknown. Maybe that is why thousands have flocked over to Miranda’s teachings and have converted to a new religion that promises new hope to them. Maybe the reason why Miranda has become so popular is that he offers new hope to a disillusioned people. As a Christian myself, I must denounce Mr. Miranda as a false prophet. He cannot be the antichrist because the antichrist will not reveal his identity until he has achieved global power and become the leader of the world. It is my firm opinion that if we reject Miranda’s message, ignore him and take him as yet another Jesus Christ wannabe crackpot that his financial empire will crumble like the walls of Jericho. And let’s face it: it’s all about money, isn’t it? I’m sure that if the potential for making money in religion had not been there for Mr. Miranda, he might still be a pastor somewhere in Florida or Puerto Rico or maybe still dwelling in prison searching for an answer to his problems. So, what is your opinion? Jennifer Hernandez writes, “I read this article on the website but I've also seen news coverage on it and I think that this man is nothing but a scammer with the morals of a slug who like many of these religious extremists who twist the Bible's words and make their own interpretation of it. In my opinion any one who has a tattoo of 666 isn't someone that I would be associating with, let alone go to a church where they minister. This man is a disturbed individual and needs to be put of business permanently. It angers me and saddens me at the same time that there are people out there who are so gullible to fall victim to a fake like him but he [cannot] not survive without the support from the public or financial donations. If you need to speak to [a] priest or pastor go to your neighborhood churches but don't empty your pockets to this crook! I think if people are not careful, this guy is going to be the next David Koresh and we don't need another Waco, TX incident on our hands.” Thank you for your email, Jennifer. I guess the Bible has always been an interpretive subject and a tool for people such as Jose Luis de Jesus Miranda, David Koresh and Jim Jones. They interpret what they want to interpret, and they base their beliefs by taking the Bible’s passages out of context for nothing better than to serve their selfish needs. They are false prophets that prey on the weak-minded, the poor and the desolate. You are correct that these false prophets cannot survive without the public’s support and their financial donations. However, as long as there are weak-minded people, willing to accept alternative doctrines, there will always be people like Miranda; wolves hiding in the brush, waiting to pounce on innocent sheep. Ms. Yoly Semidey writes, “Hi Anthony long time I haven't posted any opinions. This topic is very good because I have seen this guy in like in 20/20 or one of those magazine shows. He sure has charisma, but you know he is just another hypocrite that uses religion as a means to fool people into believing in false pretenses in order to gain financial, personal wealth. I mean come on people! This guy probably has no theological education and he is a former felon. They all claim they have found some type of God or another in order to gain early release from prison. I know because I work for law enforcement. Once they are out, most of them get involved in criminal behavior again and end up in prison again. The recidivism rate in California is very high because mostly these felons do not receive rehabilitation that will prepare them for life outside of prison. Anyway, I don't know what makes a person get hypnotized by these so-called "prophets" or so they think they are. Miranda is a very convincing person or so he thinks. Maybe his followers have stumbled onto something different than what they have experienced in their churches or religions and are looking for something new. But people shouldn't be so trusting, especially of a man that convinces them to donate so much money to him or his "cause". And someone that writes 666 on their body is not a religious person as Christ intended, he is a false prophet. I feel sorry for the fools that follow this idiot. I know he will never fool me to believe in his false pretenses, for I'm a strong spirited person and I can spot a con man from miles away. It's just too bad there are many that fall prey to these con men. I truly feel sorry for them because they are missing something from their lives and they are looking for an escape. But believing in a fool is not the way to redeem one’s self. I do hope this Miranda guy gets censored by most countries and gets banned from preaching his cheap "religion". By exposing his false ideologies thru the media can we get the word out about what he really is, nothing more than another opportunist.” Thank you for email Yoly, it was nice to hear from you once again. Frankly, I am baffled at the fact that Mr. Miranda has so many devoted followers. I mean, what are these people looking for that they cannot find it in mainstream Christianity? Is it because the current political events around the world, the growing violence, the death of millions, famine, and disease all point towards a bleak future, a future without hope? Has this end-of-days mentality contributed to a kind of religious cynicism that has compelled them to seek answers elsewhere? Yoly, I really do not understand the human psyche surrounding this bizarre issue. All I can say is that the Bible does talk about false prophets arising in the last days before the Second Coming of our Lord, and false prophets cannot rise without the support of their followers. So it goes hand in hand that a false prophet must have his followers. As you said in your email, by exposing their false ideologies through the media will word get out about these illegitimate prophets, these con men that prey on the weak-minded, these vultures who thrive on the hopes of innocent people. April 6, 2007 A couple of months ago, I received an email from one of El Boricua’s readers who suffers from Multiple Sclerosis (“MS”). She calls herself La India Caribe, and in our many email exchanges, she told me all about MS and about her struggles with this dreadful disease. I was previously aware of MS and saw many T.V. commercials about it, but I was ignorant about the horrible symptoms and the terrible suffering that those afflicted with MS have to endure. Profoundly touched by La India’s sincerity in her emails and her powerful will to live life to the fullest in spite of her daily sufferings, I asked her to write a little about her life and share it with all of El Boricua’s readers. What you are about to read is a mere glimpse of what La India goes through every day of her life, and I am very pleased and honored that she has graciously consented to share this very personal account of her life with us. Also, as El Boricua is a cultural web site and not a medical web site, I am grateful, too, that El Boricua’s editor, Ms. Ivonne Figueroa, has permitted me to publish La India’s story in this article. Anthony Ramos DESPUES DE LA TRAGEDIA, VIENE EL TRUIMFO...UNA
VIDA QUE CAMBIO POR INGUNA OTRA
The sorrow in Phabian's eyes and the dive his grades took in school {from an A's to F and D's) just added to my stress, and I came to realize that my baby was traumatized. Hay un refran que dice, ‘No hay nada mal, que para bien no venga!’ Si la fe mueve montanas, que mueva este cuelpo no viene diciendo nada! La fe en Jehovah Dios es lo que me tiene handando. Me libere de las cadenas que me tenian amarrada y sali corriendo! Tengan fe mi gente, que los milagros todavia existen. As I mentioned earlier, this is merely a glimpse of what
La India suffers everyday of her life, but what truly amazes me about
La India is her attitude. Though she suffers daily, she is very optimistic
and very determined to live as normal a life as she possibly can. Her
candor is refreshing and her humor, in spite of her daily struggles, is
admirable. If you want to know more about Multiple Sclerosis, you may
use the link below. Also, if anyone, whether afflicted by MS or not, would
like to chat with La India, please send me an email and I will forward
your message to her. If you suffer from MS and want to respond to this
article, please feel free to write to me. Send me your comments to: Anthony
Ramos Reader Comments (Article 23 Multiple Scherosis) May 2007 María Adelita Reyes-Velarde, MD, MPH “Dear Mr. Ramos, February 2007 I try never to write about politics and religion because these topics are very subjective and interpretive. However, in light of the fact that we are heading toward our third anniversary in Iraq, I feel that the war in that devastated country, as it relates to the Hispanic community, should be discussed in our forum. As you all know, I am a conservative thinker, who believes in the notion of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. These inalienable rights should not be exclusive to the citizens of first-world countries but should be experienced by all of humankind. The repression in Iraq, under the dictatorship of Saddam
Hussein, was barbarous. There was no free speech, and the act of speaking
out against the oppression in Iraq was tantamount to committing suicide.
Iraqis lived in perpetual fear for their lives. Men disappeared, taken
away from their families, and were imprisoned to be tortured mercilessly
or executed. Women had no rights and their social status in Iraq was equivalent
to that of cattle (as in the ancient days of Persia). When President George Bush asked Congress for broader powers and funds for liberating the Iraqis from Hussein’s oppression, I supported him. I firmly believed that Iraq was at the beginning stages of developing their nuclear arsenal. I also believed that they did have chemical plants and were well on their way to a campaign of chemical warfare. It is unfortunate that the nations of the free world gave Hussein too much time. There were several warnings and far off deadlines given to Hussein, and while the United Nations took their time haranguing and voting, Hussein’s minions used the political lull to either hide their weapons or transport them safely out of Iraq. Naturally, when members of the United Nations inspected Iraqi facilities they found inconclusive evidence of biological and/or nuclear weapons of mass destruction. Despite these setbacks, we went to war in Iraq. A good number of Hispanics representing the Marines, Navy,
Army and Air Force, were sent to the Persian Gulf. Many of our Hispanic
leaders claim that since the war began in March 2003, the Hispanic casualties
have been disproportionate. Many claim that Hispanic soldiers more often
than not are among the first to be sent to the front lines or selected
to go on dangerous missions. Never let it be said that Hispanics are cowards!
This is proof positive of the great sacrifice our sons and daughters have
made in Iraq. One of the first soldiers to die in the Iraq War was a youngster
named Jose Gutierrez, an orphan from Guatemala, who wasn’t even
a United States citizen at the time! If that doesn’t speak volumes
about the Hispanic character, then I don’t know what does. Many
of our Hispanics brothers and sisters joined the military because they
believed it was a path toward a better life. After serving four years,
the GI Bill would pave the way toward an education among several other
benefits. Joining the service to some Hispanics meant a way out of their
impoverished homes or neighborhoods with a promise to see the world and
become an effective member of society. And yet to some, joining the U.S.
Armed Forces was the fulfillment of a dream; a dream to serve their country
with honor, to fight for freedom and democracy, to make the world a better
place in which to live. Let us not cower in the face of adversity like Spain did, because the results of Spain’s withdrawal only served to give the terrorists more encouragement. In my opinion, Spain’s withdrawal was a travesty because it showed the world how afraid they were. They were stepped on and remain firmly underneath the terrorists’ feet. Though many of you might disagree with me, I still support my President. Furthermore, I will not allow anyone to devalue the deaths of these soldiers, especially our Hispanic sons and daughters, by pulling out of Iraq. We should honor our soldiers, particularly those who bravely made the supreme sacrifice on the battlefields of Iraq. This past weekend, I was at a McDonald’s where I saw an older gentleman sitting a table. He was wearing a cap that read: World War II Veteran. I walked up to him, introduced myself, shook his hand, and talked to him for about a half hour. He told me what he did during the war and he was very happy to see my interest and gratitude toward a veteran. So when you see a young man or woman in uniform, don’t be afraid to walk over and show your gratitude. Let them know that you appreciate what they are doing and that their decision to join the Armed Forces was an honorable one. What is your opinion? PS. As an afterthought I would like say that on Sunday night Hollywood’s Academy Awards will be televised. I think that the entertainment industry is the only industry that awards itself so many times over. They award themselves with the Emmy, the Tony the Oscar, Golden Globe, Peoples Choice, MTV, etc., etc. I could go on and on but you get my point. Why would I want to see a show about people awarding themselves for singing and acting? I would rather see a show rewarding people for making positive contributions to society, not for making movies and pretending real life situations. Why not do a show honoring the men and women of the services, awarding them with medals for their bravery on national television? Too boring you say? Perhaps, but I would rather see this than the Oscars any time. Send me your comments to: Anthony Ramos Leroy Z writes, “Due to my participation in a letter to the editor campaign for which the topic is the Iraq war on the anniversary of 9/11 I will produce and distribute my current assessment of the conflict. Prior to 9/11 and the invasion of Iraq I put the world on notice as to how the conflict would unfold via civil actions filed under the name of Leroy a/k/a Derek McSmith that I requested to have transferred to Washington, D.C. & New York on specific dates that can be viewed at the Office of the Clerk of Court for the United States District Court Northern District Of Georgia. The assessment will be distributed to (Clayton News Daily, LA Times, ABC News, The Miami Herald & Rolling Stone Magazine) on the anniversary date and will be distributed to no more than XL media outlets in the morning on the date that Gen. Petreaus will provide his assessment. The author of this memo supports the bill that passed the House of Representatives on August 2, 07 on a vote of 229-194 sponsored by Rep. Ellen Tauscher D-California relating to our troops.” Thank your for your email Leroy. I will be on the lookout for your assessment on the war. However, as I stated before, I still feel that we cannot pull out of Iraq without completing the job. That job was to remove a despicable tyrant from power and bring democracy to Iraq. The former was completed and now we are close to completing the latter. Mr. Arsenio Cruz of Albuquerque, NM writes, “You said in your article that we need to finish what we set out to do, and what was that, to stop the weapons of mass destruction and to get [Saddam] Hussein? Well, we never found the so-called weapons of mass destruction, [but] we did get Hussein. So, why are we still there, to fight a civil war? Not our job. President Bush says that we don't want to look like we are losers, well what I say to that is, I don't want our children fighting for Bush's personal [beliefs]. I rather look like a loser and have our children home alive than to bring them home in a casket. [President] Bush is fighting for the oil because he has a personal interest in it. I say let us use the oil we have at home and stop making Bush richer with the blood of our children.” Thank your for your email Mr. Cruz. While I understand
that you would rather have our children come home alive rather than in
a casket, I must remind you that our children have made a choice, an adult
choice. The decision to join the army or any branch of the military does
not come with a guarantee from the President that they will not serve
in action. It does not come with the guarantee that they will serve out
their four years in peace, and collect their GI benefits afterwards. The
inherent risk of enlisting in the military, and perhaps the most obvious
one, is the risk of dying in a battle. I saw the need to remove Saddam
Hussein from power because of the human atrocities his regime wrought
upon his own people. After 9/11, we all knew that Hussein was responsible
for harboring known terrorists of Al Queda and perpetuating his own brand
of international terror. Not once did I consider the notion that there
were any weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, but I still believed that
Hussein needed to be removed. I still believe that we did the right thing,
but I also believe that we simply cannot remove a despot from power and
immediately leave the country without a semblance of governmental order.
We must gradually transition the people of Iraq from a totalitarian regime
into a democratic society, and this cannot be accomplished overnight.
I feel that we should leave Iraq as soon as we transfer power to the new
Iraqi government. Mr. Francisco Nazario, Jr. U.S. Army (Ret.) writes, Thank you for your email Mr. Nazario. I agree with you because not only should we lend our full support but we should also believe in what our soldiers are doing for us there, in such hostile countries like Iraq and Afghanistan. To simply pull out would send a signal to the world that we have given up, cowered in the face of adversity; and that is contrary to the character of the United States Armed Forces. But more importantly, it would (in my opinion) devalue the deaths of the many men and women who have bravely fought in the struggle for bringing freedom to a foreign people who have only known subjugation by tyranny and brutality. As a retired U.S. Army soldier, I salute you, Mr. Nazario, as I would salute any veteran or current member of the Armed Forces. You are the backbone of our society, the protectors of our freedom and our last line of defense. January 2007 As we celebrate the beginning of the New Year and move closer toward the end of the decade, we are seeing more television shows and magazine articles concerning the ‘end of days’. We log on to web sites laden with theoretical views, religious interpretations and warnings about doomsday, and wonder: when will it all happen? Growing up in a Pentecostal Church, the preachers continually drilled into my head this ‘end of days’ message until I was old enough to leave home. But aside from the teachings and warnings of the Church and the beliefs of so many of God’s faithful followers, why are more non-churchgoers so concerned about the end of days? Why can’t they get enough about this subject and why do we all search relentlessly in libraries or surf the internet for answers, as if by some miracle the elusive answer will come to us as if through prayer? I think there is an inherent fear within all of us; a fear of the unknown, fear of our own mortality, fear that there is nothing after death, and fear of a planetary destruction. I also think there is an immeasurable amount of curiosity in all of us, too. Many religions of the world have predicted the ‘end of days’ for more than two thousand years, and for the past two millennia, many humans have shifted their lives to become more pious so that on judgment day they can enter the kingdom of heaven. I have read the book of Revelations many times and each time I read it I get something new out of it. I have read many other books concerning the end times, and I have seen documentaries and shows about it, too. I recently began looking into the subject of 2012 and found some interesting things. The year 2012 is important because many people believe something great will happen then. The ancient people known as the Maya were great watchers of the skies. They lived in what is now Honduras, Guatemala and Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula. The Mayans kept a very accurate calendar based upon their keen knowledge of astronomy. For hundreds of years, the Mayans, by virtue of their vast astrological awareness, were able to calculate both the winter, and the summer solstices; June 21 (summer) and December 21 (winter) and thereby assist their farmers with this knowledge. According to Mayan scholars, the Mayan calendar abruptly ends on Sunday, December 21, 2012 at 11:11AM, Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). It is precise up to the second! It is also interesting to note that although the Mayan calendar ends in 2012, the Mayan civilization ended around 900 A.D. So why did their calendar keep going for more than a millennium past their demise? But my research didn’t just end there. In fact, it took me to the scientific world of Astronomy, where current astronomers have already calculated that on December 21, 2012, our sun will align itself on the same plain as that of the center of the Milky Way galaxy! But that’s not all. Scientists have also calculated that on this day, planet Earth’s poles will shift, causing great worldwide calamity. This has been scientifically and mathematically proven, and such a natural disturbance only occurs once every 26,000 years! Today the media has kept us well informed about global warming, greater frequency of hurricanes and tsunamis and tectonic plate shifts causing terrible earthquakes. What does it all mean? Are these natural events the precursors to the global catastrophes mentioned in the Bible? Is it the second coming of Jesus Christ? Are these events occurring by design; a sophisticated plan of action concocted by alien entities thousands of light-years away? Or is it simply the Earth getting ready to shift its poles, and nothing more? Has nature selected that date for the extinction of all humanity, much like the extinction of dinosaurs 65 million years ago? As I delve more into this gloomy subject, it is my opinion that something will definitely happen on December 21, 2012, though I cannot decide on what will happen, whether natural or spiritual. I think it will be the end of the old age and the beginning of a new age. I also cling to my religious beliefs and to the idea that God will somehow intervene and will not allow for the destruction of his greatest creation: Man! What do you think? What is your opinion? Want to know more? On your web browser, simply type: 2012.
You will see many web sites concerning this controversial subject. Send me your comments to: Anthony Ramos December 2006
Thanksgiving Day is the one day in the year that we set aside to show God our gratitude for waking up healthy every morning and being able to breathe the Lord’s good air once again. We show our appreciation to God for giving us a roof over our heads, and for the wonderful memories of our parents and grandparents. We are grateful to God for giving us children to love and grandchildren to dote on. We give thanks to God for the food that we eat and for everything that we have. Though we may not necessarily have everything that we desire, we are, nevertheless, grateful. One of my best memories centers around the kitchen table, where I used to watch my mother, father and grandmother, cut box loads of green bananas, and then grate them by hand, one by one, until a thick, creamy glop (otherwise known as masa) formed and oozed into a huge pot. I was always fascinated at how my father would patiently slice the pernil off the bone and meticulously cut the meat into small cubes. The infinite patience with which my parents and grandmother performed these laborious tasks and the loving care they took in preparing pasteles for the holidays was not fully appreciated by me until I began to do the same thing later in life. Believe me: it is not as easy as it looks! While my father helped out with wrapping the 10,000 pasteles, my mother and grandmother would begin spicing up the 400 pound nuclear turkey. My father would always get the biggest turkey; it was always so big that it could never fit into any conventional pot. My mother would stab the turkey three hundred times, and then stick a green substance (cilantro, recao, sofrito, etc.) deep into the holes she’d made with the knife, and then she would color the turkey with achiote. After my father was done wrapping the pasteles and stacking them ten feet high on the table, he would then go out to the store and buy turones, bags full of nuts, and several eight-tracks filled with nothing but Christmas songs from Puerto Rico. It was then that he would reminisce and tell us all about the parrandas in Puerto Rico, and how much fun it was for him to celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas on the island. I remember my sisters and I sitting on the floor listening to my father talk about the parrandas, and wishing so much to be there in thick of all the merriment. Thanksgiving Day for me would start by watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade on television, and then Laurel and Hardy in March of the Wooden Soldiers. Then I would switch the channel and watch Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and other Christmas shows. Finally, my mother would call us all to the table where all the plates and glasses were set and where we watched my grandmother (a firebrand Pentecostal) pray to God for about four hours. It seemed that long to us because my sisters and I (by choice) never ate a thing on Thanksgiving Day until dinner time. The day after Thanksgiving, my mother would shove us all into the car, and then go on her yearly pilgrimage of Christmas shopping. I swear: it seemed to me as though we stopped at every possible store in Brooklyn, covering every square foot and every nook and cranny of Kings County; that’s how it was day in and day out until Christmas day. Now Christmas was an entirely different holiday than Thanksgiving. Christmas was even more festive and happier. The fun would begin on Christmas Eve, usually after 5:00PM. My aunts and uncles, cousins and friends would come over with arm loads full of shopping bags filled with gifts. They would s | |||
Alejandro
Albizu and Juana Campos. Pedro might have been just another ordinary Puerto
Rican boy content with the notion of living out his existence on the island,
anonymously, without much fanfare, and without controversy. Pedro might
have been just another Puerto Rican citizen born in a country ruled by
a foreign power, and he could have accepted the cards dealt to him by
fate, had he not been born with a prodigious reservoir of passion for
his country, exceeding intelligence, and the audacity to question the
status quo. He looked at the hand dealt to him and had the iron will to
throw the cards back at fate and alter his destiny.
experiments on him. Note the visible scars on Campos’ legs, the
result of intense radiation.
You
may notice similarities between the rebel flag of El Grito De Lares and
the flag of the Dominican Republic. There is good reason for this because
while Dr. Betances was coordinating the rebellion against Spain, he was
living in exile in the Dominican Republic. He was friends with and publicly
supported the Dominican rebel leaders Jose Maria Cabral and Gregorio Luperon.
There is no doubt that Dr. Betances’ design of the Puerto Rican
rebel flag in 1868 was influenced by the flag of the Dominican Republic.
My
fondest memories about the Christmas holidays actually do not begin with
Christmas itself but with Thanksgiving, too. As long back as I can remember,
the holidays always started on Thanksgiving Day and did not end until
New Year’s Day. I guess what made those days so memorable for me
was how our family came together to give thanks to God for the many things
that He had given us and to celebrate the birth of His son, our Lord,
Jesus Christ.