|
|
|
|
|
|||
|
|||
|
|||
|
|
In My Opinion Home Page |
 Anthony Ramos Published Author and columnist IN MY OPINION |
Open dialog
with Anthony Ramos. |
|
| Article
35 - Arizona's
New Immigration Law |
|
| Article
22 - Should We Pull Out of Iraq Now? Reader Comments Article 21 - END OF DAYS Article 20 - My Memories of Christmas Reader Comments Article 19 - We are not Alone Reader Comments |
|
| Article
15 - To Be Or Not To Be An Illegal Alien |
Article
7 - My Little Piece of the Island |
|
Send your comments to: TonyRamos email
Dateline: June 2010 On April 23, 2010, the Governor of Arizona, Jan Brewer, signed into law the controversial Arizona State Senate Bill 1070 (“SB-1070”). Arizona’s passing of SB-1070 ignited a firestorm of protests in the United States, further widening the ideological gap between conservatives and liberals. As I read the newspapers and watched the controversy of SB-1070 unfold on television’s nightly news shows, certain questions kept recurring in my mind. I asked myself: Is it lawful to enter the United States without a visa? Is entering the United States illegally something new; a new violation that required Arizona to pass such a law? Does the federal government have laws against entering the country illegally or does federal law allow for the infiltration of aliens without proper authority? Here then, are the answers: The United States Federal law stipulates that no one can enter the country illegally. Entering the country illegally is nothing new but something, which has been occurring daily since the inception of the United States. Now I asked myself another question: Is entering the State of Arizona illegally a crime in the same manner as that stipulated under federal law? The answer is yes! Then why is there so much controversy over SB-1070? Before answering that question, I would like to explore the root causes that forced Arizona into enacting SB-1070 into law. For many years, the federal government has employed thousands of agents to patrol the border between Mexico and the US. The border starts in California and runs through the states of New Mexico and Arizona, ending in Texas; an area 1,969 miles wide. In spite of the fact that the U.S. employs nearly 20,000 agents, it cannot completely stop the influx of illegal aliens from Mexico. Federal funds supporting the agency responsible for patrolling the US-Mexican border is in the billions but how effective is the US Border Patrol Agency? Of the nearly two thousand-mile long border, the US Border Patrol’s effect covers a mere 700 miles, which leaves about 1200 miles of open and unguarded entry points. In contrast, the border between Canada and the U.S. runs from the States of Washington & Alaska to the State of Maine; a distance of over 5,000 miles! It is interesting to note that the number of border patrol agents covering this massive area is classified. Another point of interest is that the US-Canadian border enjoys a very low measure of security patrol. What does this all mean? It means that the influx of illegal Canadians is regarded as less of a threat than that of illegal Mexicans. It means that the number of Canadians entering the U.S. is significantly lower than that of Mexicans. Why? Canada is the 10th largest economy in the world. It is a member of the Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD), and it is a member of the G8. Canadians enjoy a strong economy and a quality of life that mirrors that of Americans in the United States. They have no need to cross into the U.S. illegally to find employment or to have a better quality of life. In contrast, Mexico is the 13th largest economy in the world, rebounding from its financial crisis of 1994-1995 when 50% of the population fell below the poverty line. Mexico’s economic recovery resulted mainly from the North American Free Trade Agreement or NAFTA, which accounted for 90% of their export business. Mexico is a member of the OECD but is not a member of the G8. Canada’s Gross National Product (“GDP”) is $1.3 trillion, while Mexico’s GDP is $874 billion. Canada’s population is 34.1 million, while Mexico’s population is 107.6 million. With a strong economy and a relatively low population, one can see why there is a low level of unemployment, thus a low level of security along the Canadian border. On the other hand, a weaker economy combined with a higher population would account for a higher number of unemployed, causing a higher percentage of illegal entry into the U.S. Is Arizona in violation of the Constitution of the United States? To answer that question I had to first examine Arizona’s Senate Bill 1070. As I read the language of SB-1070, I found that stipulations were made in accordance with and subordinate to federal statutes. I found no language contrary to or supplanting federal law or language that violated civil rights, as I have come to know them in accordance with the U.S. Bill of Rights. If Arizona’s SB-1070 is in accordance with and subordinate to federal law regarding illegal immigration, can it still be said that they are in violation of the Constitution? If they are in violation, then it can also be said that federal protocols governing the laws of immigration are also in violation of the Constitution. How then can the current officials elected to administer our federal government raise their noses of morality upon Arizona, when its very own laws support the constitutionality of SB-1070? To me it comes down to a basic, fundamental question. Is it legal to enter this country, or any other country in the world for that matter, without a visa or without permission from the host nation? The answer to that question is a resounding no. Does the United States or any other country in the world have the right to protect its sovereign domain? Does the United States have the right to exercise its sovereign power to stem the flow of illegal immigration? The answer to those questions is a very clear yes! Personally, I am not opposed to immigration so long as it is lawful. America is the land of opportunity, where the quality of life is arguably the best in the world. America is a place where anyone can become rich if they work hard at it. What I am against is the illegal immigration from either side, whether Mexico or Canada. I should clarify at this point that illegal entry into the U.S. through the Mexican and Canadian borders is not only limited to Mexican or Canadian nationals, but to other foreign nationals from countries such as Afghanistan, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, Sudan and Yemen. Although some Mexicans cross our borders illegally to smuggle drugs, the vast majority of them cross our borders with the honest intention of seeking jobs and a better quality of life. Yet there are others that come from the eastern hemisphere with vastly different intentions. They enter the U.S. with an evil agenda; a definitive plan to do harm to the American way of life, disrupt the economy and wreak as much havoc in order to weaken our nation. So why is there so much controversy over the passing of Arizona’s Senate Bill 1070? Is it because: A) Many illegal aliens will be exposed as a result of enforcing such a law? B) Illegal aliens would rather infiltrate this country rather than go through the legal process of obtaining citizenship? C) Illegal aliens and many decent law-abiding citizens fear that police officers will racially profile them? D) Such law is unconstitutional? My answers: A) I have no doubt that this new law will definitely expose illegal aliens. The law will not only help an existing federal agency whose ineptitude is on the same level as that of its Commander in Chief, but also will deter unlawful entry into the sovereign state of Arizona. B) Illegal aliens feel safe because the agencies created to combat unlawful immigration, simply do not have the necessary manpower or funds to mobilize into action. Why bother seeking lawful entry into the country when simply crossing the border will suffice? C) Racial profiling is an everyday occurrence in all metropolitan areas of the US; it is nothing new and it is something that Hispanics, Blacks and all people of color are all too familiar with. A police officer requesting proof of citizenship is no more harmful than requesting proof of a driver’s license, vehicle registration or insurance card, which is normally done at routine traffic stops. If you have those documents, then you have nothing to fear. D) Arizona’s new law is no more unconstitutional than the federal laws that prohibit illegal entry into the United States. To say that Arizona’s law is unconstitutional is to say that federal law is unconstitutional. You cannot have one without the other. It is my opinion that the State of Arizona was forced to enact such a law because the federal agencies designed to prevent illegal immigration have simply failed. These federal agencies represented the front lines in a long-standing war; a front line that has seemingly collapsed. Arizona has had no choice but to fall back and draw its own line of defense, and for this they have incurred the wrath of liberals and left-wing hypocrites who sit on the fence and take no sides except whatever cause suits them that current day. The State of Arizona has incurred the wrath of federally elected officials, which, admittedly, they have not taken the time to even read Senate Bill 1070! I have read all 16 pages of Senate Bill 1070, and have found nothing that would violate civil rights. On the contrary, I have found that Arizona’s new law adheres to as is in deference to federal law. It is my opinion that the controversy surrounding Arizona’s new law was created by the liberal media and left-wing radicals whose agenda it is to destroy this once beautiful and great nation. That is my opinion, what’s yours?
We eventually grew up, married, had children and some of us even became grandparents. The ensuing years, saw the older generations, become older, and our family’s matriarch pass away. It was at Grandmother’s wake that the last massive gathering of the family took place. Over the past two years, three of my uncles have passed away and it seems that the only times we see each other is at these saddened and tearful wakes. I think we can all agree that these events are not the ideal places to socialize, but, we do anyway. There was a lot of hugging and kissing, and through those heartfelt expressions, I could feel the strong love and bond that defines our family. The emotions were palpable, tangible, like a warm quilt that you snuggle into when it’s cold outside A few of us cousins complained about the same thing and kicked around the idea about a family reunion without it being attached to a death. Then, all of a sudden, the idea gained momentum until there was serious talk about an actual family reunion. I’ve always been daunted at the idea of coordinating such kinds of events. The logistics involved in getting a reunion off the ground are monumental; such as contacting hundreds of people to create a list of family members, choosing a place that everyone will agree on, and finally coming up with the funds necessary to make the event happen. Fortunately, there were many cousins that took up the challenge and have come through with flying colors. We have approximately 300-325 family members of which 150-175 will make the effort to attend. The event will take place in July 2010, at a park in Long Island, which will include barbecue pits, children’s playground, carousel, baseball diamond, volley ball court, and a pavilion in case it rains. Family members will be coming from Puerto Rico, Florida, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and New York City. I will be meeting many of my second and third cousins for the first time, and look forward to the event with excitement, giddiness, and with a good measure of love. I don’t know how the event will turn out and I don’t know if we could pull it off again one or two years later, but I am certainly going to enjoy it even if it only happens once. I also plan to share my reunion story with my readers. By the same token, I am certain that many of my readers out there have had family reunions, and I invite all of you to share stories of your reunions with us at El Boricua. Send me your comments to: Anthony Ramos THAT
TIME OF YEAR AGAIN Send me your comments to: Anthony
Ramos Manny Velazquez writes, “Saludos desde Houston, TX. Primera vez que visito el magazine (spanglish, estilo criollo). I too share the resolution to quit smoking this New Year, amongst others. Like you I have not quit yet but I've slowed down considerably, which is also good. Just like you, I had to partake from the sinfulness of ‘pernil, ron, arroz con gandules, ron, pavo asado, ron, pasteles, ron, and flan. And to round it all up, indulge in mass quantities of ron’. The more things remain the same, the more they change. By doing this very traditional way of celebrating, a surprising thing happened. I "remembered where I come from, who I am, always been and always will be". And all these cultural connections began to activate themselves. In the last week alone I've been in more contact with other Puerto Ricans, from here, abroad and en la Isla, than I had in the last couple of years. I find myself involved in art and design projects with other Puerto Ricans in business and civic events, local and across. I look around and see a lot of activities that went unnoticed for a while. A whole re-connection with our very unique flow of energy–y me siento bien contento de eso. I just found (again, re-discovery) El Boricua and felt the need to read the articles that jumped the most and am glad I did. Just wanted to say thank you for the effort of you all [at El Boricua] in having a way for some of us "expatriados" to re-connect to our roots. I'm copying some recipes "p'al proximo bembé" with neighbors. Keep up the good work pana. Saludos y abrazos fraternos” Thank you for your email Mr. Velazquez. I spent four
weeks in Houston a few years back—lovely city! I went around the
Loop a few times before finding my way back to the hotel; it was quite
an experience. I find it a great comfort when I read about people re-connecting
with their ethnic heritage. Though we live in the best country in the
world, and though we have made this wonderful country our home, a part
of us still remains connected to that beautiful island in the Caribbean;
the island of enchantment, the island we call Borinquen. I am also glad
that El Boricua has reached fellow Puerto Ricans in Houston and as far
away as Hawaii and even Europe. We at El Boricua strive to present the
best Puerto Rican image possible, to represent our people in best way
that we can and to keep our Puerto Rican family connected. Thank you for
your kind words, Mr. Velazquez, and please feel free to comment on any
of the previous ‘In My Opinion” articles or any other articles
appearing on El Boricua. August 15, 2009 Sonia Maria Sotomayor is an inspiration
not only to Puerto Rican-Americans, but to all our Hispanic brothers and
sisters. Her success should be viewed as a beacon of light for all minorities
trudging in the darkness of poverty and despair. It should be a message
to our Latino brothers and sisters that all they need to do is apply themselves,
and free themselves of all stereotypes and inferiority complexes. Ms.
Sotomayor, we are all very proud of you! My only lament is that you are
a liberal. I will be looking in on Ms. Sotomayor’s decisions and
will comment in later articles. Send me your comments to: Anthony
Ramos President Barak Obama and the Question of Puerto Rico’s Future January 25, 2009 - Earlier this month, President
Barak Obama wrote a letter to the newly elected governor of Puerto Rico,
Mr. Luis Fortuño, promising to address and resolve the issue of
Puerto Rico’s political status. President Obama told the new governor
that his administration has “set out an ambitious agenda over the
next four years.” Our new president also stated that, “It
will not be easy to accomplish. But we cannot sit back and wait for someone
else, at some other time, to do something about it.” This letter
was read aloud during Governor Luis Fortuño’s inauguration,
on January 2, 2009, and it was received with an ovation. Send me your comments to: Anthony Ramos Teresa Jimenez (Seattle, WA) writes,
Ruben writes, “I, like you, a conservative, believe that Obama's administration can be a good thing for Puerto Rico since he is a socialist and socialists like to give hand-outs like the island is so use to receiving. Of course, the hand-outs are not free from a socialist administration; they will take something in return. What would they want in return is difficult to pinpoint. I differ from you on the point that I do not have to give Obama a chance to prove me wrong; he already has. The damage this president is doing and will do to this nation will devastate us and more so our beloved island. It is time people wake up and see that Obama is going on the wrong path. Our lives, liberties and the pursuits of happiness hang in the balance. People need to get off the bandwagon and see things for what they are. We need to fire this president and the sooner the better.” Thank you for your email Ruben. It is sad to read your comments regarding the island being so used to receiving hand-outs. I guess we cannot deny it, right? Maybe they need to get off the hand-out bandwagon and start thinking and living independently, right Ruben? It might be easier to say than to do. As a commonwealth of the United States, the island of Puerto Rico is dependent on the mainland. One more thing, Ruben, in what manner does Obama’s “socialist” views devastate the Puerto Rican people? I have my own opinion but what is yours? Now, regarding Mr. Obama, I couldn’t agree with you more. I have yet to see how this huge stimulus package has resolved our nation’s economic woes. Frankly, I don’t know where all the money is or where it is going. Well, enough about that. Ruben, in what manner does Obama’s “socialist” views devastate the Puerto Rican people? I have my own opinion but what is yours?
Obama,
A New Page in American History is Written Mr. Guillermo Ruiz writes, Frances Wooden writes, “I am not Puerto Rican but I someday hope to live in that country. I am glad that there are people who really see what is going on in the White House. I am scared for this country. It was said a long time ago that America would not be destroyed by a foreign army but from within. I think that time has come. P.S. I love Puerto Rican cooking and saw your post on EL BORICUA.” Thank you for your email, Ms. Wooden. I think people
should open their eyes, truly I do. Barak Obama wins the Nobel Peace Prize!
FOR WHAT? What has he done in the past six months to earn a Nobel Peace
Prize? Obama has given many eloquent speeches about the need for people
to do this and to do that, and about how governments of the world need
to do this and do that. Motivational speeches are good thing, but they
can only go so far. Anybody with good speaking skills and a decent appearance
can accomplish the same thing. I was always under the impression that
to receive a prize, such as the Nobel, one had to accomplish something
special, achieve extraordinary results in the face of adversity or come
up with a solution to better the world. Has Obama accomplished any peace
at all? Conflicts in the Middle East, between Israel and the Palestinians
are still present and show no signs of abating. And what about the situation
in Afghanistan and Iraq, how can Obama reconcile winning the Nobel Peace
Prize with the fact that he may have to send additional troops there?
His foreign policies notwithstanding, let us focus on his domestic policies.
So far, the unemployment rate is in double digits, and the money for the
stimulus package has somehow disappeared. Where did the money go? Here’s
another thing: why did the President think it was a good idea to have
beer in the White House? Was it so that he could smooth over the ruffled
feathers of his dear, personal friend—an issue that could easily
have been handled on a local level? Why are the President and his White
House staff constantly attacking Fox News and other conservative speakers?
Is it because they want to deflect the negativisms of the presidency by
attacking those who expose them? Why did the president feel the need for
talking to the nation’s children? Was it because he wanted to indoctrinate
them in his liberal, leftist ideologies? The health care reform is a debacle,
and should congress vote in favor of it, it will cost us dearly. The price
tag so far is set at around $871 billion, but some say it will probably
cost about $1 trillion! Let me write this figure so that we can all see
it with zeros: $1,000,000,000.00 (nine zeros). Payment for this health
care system will span over the next ten years—roughly $10 billion
a year. It hurts me to say that America’s torch as a world leader,
as the bastion of true democracy, is slowly fading into oblivion. Ms. Jennifer Perez writes, Thank you for your email Ms. Perez. I don’t
know how to respond to your comments without trivializin President Obama’s
goals or your confidence in him. I do not think that George Bush ran the
country to the ground. That honor belongs to a select group of individuals
in Wall Street who planted seeds that would later blossom into our current
economic disaster. They nurtured those evil seeds with greed, avarice
and a never-ending lust for self-indulgence. Now, after all those prodigious
bonuses were paid and stock options exercised, we, the taxpayers, are
left holding the proverbial bag. You said that you notice sarcasm in many
people who do not believe in or agree with Obama’s politics. Well,
perhaps it is not so much sarcasm, but cynicism; a deep reluctance to
accept what many of us feel is nothing more than political rhetoric. You
further state that it cannot get any worse, but that is not true. In fact,
it can get a lot worse as evidenced by the plummeting stock market prices
these past few weeks. Yes, President Obama is our first African-American
president, and perhaps he has a genuine desire to change things. I further
agree with you that no president does a perfect job. I think that George
Bush had those same desires and I believe his administration did not do
a perfect job, either President Obama has given hope to the people, and
that hope was the impetus behind his election to the United States presidency.
Now we need something more than hope, something tangible, action with
results. The honeymoon is over and now Obama has to fulfill those promises
he made during the election campaign. Ms. Lourdes Richardson writes, Ms. Liesla Lugo writes, “I have never been much into politics. Ever since I was a child, I remember seeing the caravans of election floats and the political arguments that took place between opposing parties on the streets of Puerto Rico. Those scenes left an indelible impression on me that I still cannot support. Well, as a very conservative person, I would have welcomed Senator McCain as president of the United States. Since that did not happen, I have no choice but to accept Obama and see what he does in the next four years. Obama is the elected president but he is not my president. In my opinion, I think Obama became president because it was God’s will. A leaf in a tree does not move unless it is God’s will. Obama reminds me of a movie I saw recently. The movie is entitled: “Left Behind”, and shows the government humbly promising it will fix the economy, etc. In the end, the Anti-Christ revealed himself. I do not mean to say that Obama is the Anti-Christ, but all the promises he made seems a little unrealistic. In this case, I must say that the majority of people voted because of Obama’s race, to make history and not because of ideals. I think people voted for Obama without really knowing his politics. Many African-American people, who have never voted before did so this year. I hope that Obama can fulfill all of the promises he made during his presidential campaign and not just become president in order to make history.” Thank for your email Leisla. I agree with your comments regarding politics; it is a nasty business. Perhaps the majority of the people indeed voted for Barak Obama because of his race. Perhaps it was the novelty of such an historic campaign or the freshness of his appearance or even the charismatic charm of his persona that swayed the pendulum towards the left. On the other hand, it is fair to say that eight years of President Bush and his politics might have been a consideration, too. In the wake of the elections, I have often asked myself, how many republicans voted for Barak Obama? How many conservatives, during the course of eight years, grew dissatisfied with their own party line politics? I believe that Bush did what he had to do, but I also believe that President Bush might have made decisions based on less than accurate information. Should we have sent troops to Iraq? Should we have sent troops to Afghanistan? Was Saddam Hussein developing ‘weapons of mass destruction’? I think after September 11, the people needed to know that the American government was going to do something about the attack on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. President Bush was compelled into acting swiftly and harshly against terrorism. We knew that Afghanistan and Pakistan were havens for terrorist camps, and we knew that Osama Bin Laden went into hiding in the mountains of Afghanistan. Yes, President Bush was right in sending troops to Afghanistan, and we should not withdraw our troops until we have Osama Bin Laden firmly in our hands. I also think that Saddam Hussein was deep into creating chemical warfare and other weapons of mass destruction. You may recall years ago, that Iraq had been purchasing nuclear materials from France and Germany with the intention of creating a bomb. The nation of Israel, learning of Iraq’s intent, dispatched the Air Force to destroy Iraq’s nuclear facility. Iraq has always been a radical nation with extremist Muslims who’d like nothing better than to destroy Israel and her allies. In the many months prior to our sending troops to Iraq, there were many debates in the United Nations and many threats and warnings by the United States. I strongly believe that the incredible length of time it took for the United Nations to approve the invasion of Iraq gave Hussein enough time to clear away all the chemicals, and make Bush a laughing stock. Could these horrible events have shifted the minds of ‘middle of the road’ conservatives? I think so. At the same time, I also ask myself, how will Barak Obama react to a new terrorist attack on the United States? Will he act quickly and go after those responsible or will he use diplomacy as he has stated so many times? It seems to me that diplomacy simply does not work with terrorists. Muslim terrorists have only one goal and that is to annihilate the nation of Israel, destroy the United States of America, and eviscerate our way of life. ******************************************************************* High Blood Pressure Among Puerto Rican-Americans August 2008 - On February 24, 2006, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”) published an article in their week report about high blood pressure among Hispanic Americans. The most alarming part of the article was the fact that Puerto Rican Americans were at the top of the list. The CDC based their analysis, which took place between the years 1995 and 2002, upon underlying cause of death obtained from death certificates. High blood pressure, if left untreated, can result in a stroke or a heart attack. According to the CDC, in 2002 the average hypertension-related mortality (“HRM”) rate among Hispanics was 127.2 per every 100,000. The CDC further stated that the age-standardized HRM rate for Hispanic women was 118.3, which was significantly lower than that of Hispanic men at 135.9. The most compelling fact of the CDC’s report was that Puerto Rican-American men ranked number one at an HRM rate of 154.0 per 100,000 deaths. This translates to 18.1 more hypertension-related mortalities than the national average for Hispanic males. So why do Puerto Rican-Americans have the highest number of hypertension-related deaths? Is it the result of our diet? Let’s face the truth here, no self-respecting Puerto Rican man can deny his predilection for cuchifritos, pernil, pollo frito, morsillas, and other oil-based Puerto Rican delicacies. We cannot deny either that our food contains a high caloric and cholesterol count. From the time that we are able to walk, we indulge ourselves in this diet and never change it because we simply love it. Could this be the reason why high blood pressure is so prevalent among Puerto Rican males? Can hypertension-related deaths be the result of mental conditioning? Puerto Rican men from an early age learn that they are the sole providers and caretakers of their families. A Puerto Rican man assumes this leadership role with all of his heart and soul, and he will work hard to provide for his family. Could this financial and familial burden be responsible for the high HRM rate among Puerto Rican males? Is the high HRM rate inherent in our genetic composition? If it is a question of genes, is there a remedy out there? Can our scientists isolate that gene and remove it before our children are born? In my opinion, it all boils down to what we put into our bodies. It is all about the food. Our food is full of salt, oil, fat and other ingredients that, although makes our food taste so good, they are actually killing us. I would like to make a special request of El Boricua’s readers: If you are a doctor, or a geneticist, or a physiologist, can you please tell us why our HRM rate is so high? Can we change our diet and stay away from our cultural food? Can we re-condition our ways of thinking? Can we destroy that high blood pressure gene (if there is one)? I would also like to hear from our regular readers. What is your opinion? Send me your comments to: Anthony
Ramos Ben writes, Thank you for your email, Ben. Indian food? I used
to work for an Indian man, and he took me out several times to Indian
restaurants. I am not a fan of Indian food, but many of my friends and
family love this pungent cuisine. What can I say? I love my fried ‘pork-chunks’,
my pernil asado, my mofongo—guilty as charged! I do work out though.
I started going to the gym about a year ago, when I was weighing a decent
210 pounds. I changed my diet by eliminating candy and in-between meals
(munchies). I now weigh 184 pounds, feel a lot better and go to the gym
religiously. I substituted candy with fruits, and when I feel the urge
for munchies, I reach for a granola bar. I don’t know if I can become
a vegan, as you have, for I love meat way too much, but I commend those
have tried and succeeded in this endeavor. As far as Jamaican food, I
love their beef jerky! Ms. XIR writes,
Both our parents were always asking
and meddling and commenting and comparing and criticizing, like many other
PR families do. We love them, but they need to respect the line between
caring and being nosey. My family is very much like that, his not so much.
He would get so much stress when he noticed how I was so easily manipulated
by my mother’s demands. They always come to visit and we love it
when they are here. But now that we live far away, it is easy to ignore
the criticizing and the commenting. Thank your for your email XIR. I guess family matters
can also contribute to stress, leading to high-blood pressure incidents.
In your husband’s case, the hereditary gene that causes high triglycerides
is present in his system, which further contributes to high blood pressure
episodes. However, both of you have taken the right steps by moving to
a more serene environment and by making healthy choices in both diet and
exercise. I hope that when my readers look at your comments and take note
of the changes you made to improve your living conditions, they will learn
and do the same. Elizabeth Barbieri writes, The irony is I was on www.elboricua.com to find a recipe for bizcocho/tarta for a family get together! Now I am convicted, perhaps I will serve some fresh fruits along with la tarta! I am not a physician or epidemiologist; I am a nurse that is completing my graduate work for a Masters in Public Health with a focus on Hispanic health and health disparity. I do not claim to be an expert by any means, and I am passionate about the state of health particularly amongst Latinos. Soy Española and my husband es Boricua and thanks to God, he is in good health with a normal blood pressure but he has a very strong family history of diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease in [his] male lineage. We love our empanadas, arroz hecho con tocino, jamón
Serrano, bocadillos, arroz con dulce…¡caray! I have to stop!
I am getting hungry! However, [we eat these] foods on occasion and we
prepare our traditional foods in a healthier manner and we are both very
active and make exercise a priority. We are also very fortunate to have
access to health care by way of insurance and our plans allow us to be
proactive in preventative health care. We all need to be accountable for our health. God gives us only one body while we are here on earth. We need to care for it. No reason to stay away from traditional foods, many of the traditional foods and food grown on the island are healthy, it is just the way in which they are prepared... not everything has to be fried (try telling that to my husband’s grandmother and aunts or mine for that matter!) I do feel that preventative and control measures must be taken by public health officials in Puerto Rico to bring awareness and incentives to the population. Stress is unavoidable in life, yet we need to learn to manage it and for some, it is a more of a struggle especially if one does not have access to health care. Also, it is important that educational materials are culturally relevant and sensitive. Educational materials one receives in the doctor’s office in the US may not be relevant to patients in Puerto Rico. Sorry my response is so long! This is an issue close to my heart and once I finish my degree, I hope to address and make a difference!” **************************************************** July 2008 - Hello again, my dear readers! It has been a while since my last article, and you are probably wondering why I have not written in such a long time. Since relocating to Florida from New York City, I have been working from home while at the same time acclimating to a new climate. Aside from that, I have been busy working on several projects, both around the house and personal. This has left little time to do much of anything else. However, I do want to keep writing, and now that I have a small window of opportunity, I would like to share something with all of you. To alleviate the stresses of work, as well as the ho hum of our day-to-day routine, my wife suggested we take a long, overdue vacation. I agreed and asked her if she could make all the arrangements. I did not care about where we were going so long as there was the promise that we would get away from it all. To my surprise and delight, my wife booked us on a seven-day cruise that took us from Miami to Puerto Rico, to St. Maarten and finally to Haiti. Well, if you have not treated yourself to a cruise, then you are missing something truly wonderful in life. I think everyone should go on a cruise at least once in a lifetime; it is the ultimate indulgence. There is just one thing you have to forget when you go on a cruise. You must forget your diet, because you will eat, eat and then eat some more! There are many things to do on a cruise, from dancing, to gambling, to ice-skating, to watching variety and comedy shows in the ship’s theatre. You could also do nothing, and just lounge by the pool and sip the drink of the day, whether a Mango Tango or simply a beer. There are many restaurants in the ship and numerous barbecue grills along the decks. By twelve o’clock, the smell of hamburgers and hot dogs is so overpowering, it is difficult to ignore it, so you must believe me when I say that you will eat, and you will eat a lot! I am not even going to tell you about the midnight buffet. On the ship we were on, Royal Caribbean’s Liberty of Seas, there was a grand promenade that resembled a shopping mall, complete with a coffee shop, men’s and women’s apparel store, jewelry store, other restaurants, a liquor store and even a Ben & Jerry’s ice cream shop. It felt like we were on a floating city where the crew catered to all our needs with the utmost joy and care. There was always something to do, and we never got bored. Did I mention that there is plenty of eating? In case I forget, I need to tell you something else. If you decide to go on a cruise, make sure you bring that old outfit in your closet, the one way in the back. You know the one I’m talking about, right? The one that’s a couple of sizes too big. You will need it after the cruise because you are going to EAT!!! Our first port of call was San Juan, Puerto Rico, and
I could hardly wait to disembark once we arrived there. It did not take
very long to moor the ship and clear customs, but to me it seemed like
hours. We anxiously walked the long pier and finally crossed the gates
into Old San Juan. The second I set foot on Puerto Rican soil, after more
than fifteen years, it felt like I was home again. As my wife and I began
to walk the streets, I felt a strong sense of pride and love for my ancestral
land that swept through the deepest part of my soul. Our sense of awe and pride would have remained high had it not been for something else we saw that day. On the way to El Morro from San Cristobal, we passed through a neighborhood called La Perla. La Perla is located practically on the shores of San Juan, between the San Cristobal and El Morro fortresses. The thoroughfare between the forts rises above La Perla on a ridge that overlooks the Atlantic Ocean. La Perla is a cluster of tightly packed, low-income houses that have been in existence for more than a century. At El Morro fortress, we took some time to talk to the Park Ranger there and he told us that La Perla was a crime-infested neighborhood, dominated by drugs and violence. Standing on the ridge overlooking La Perla, we saw a narrow street that gradually descended into the seemingly benign neighborhood. On occasion, the strain of a narrow street was clearly visible when one driver tried to exit while another tried to enter using the same road. While the drivers decided who had the right of way, our attention focused on La Perla’s entrance, where a drug transaction was taking place right before our eyes. It happened so fast, that if we had blinked, we would not have seen it. But we saw it, and we were disturbed by it. It is sad to look upon the slums of La Perla and witness a drug transaction while on your vacation. It is even sadder still to see American and international tourists witnessing the same thing. Even though we are not residents of the island, we could not help but to feel somewhat embarrassed for Puerto Rico. The San Cristobal and El Morro fortresses are main attractions for Puerto Rico’s tourism, and millions of people around the world come to San Juan every year to visit these grand monuments. The United Nations has recognized the historical importance of El Morro and bestowed upon it the honor of a World Heritage Site. Despite the global recognition and accolades associated with it, La Perla, nestled between the two fortresses, stands out much like a cold sore does on a person’s lip, and mars the beauty, historic value and prideful memories of the two ancient monuments. We lifted our spirits later that day when we took a stroll on the streets of Old San Juan, where we purchased a few souvenirs and ate at an authentic Puerto Rican restaurant. The shopping district is currently undergoing much needed renovations. New sidewalks are now visible, as well as freshly paved streets. We took in as much of San Juan’s sights as we could possibly take but in the end, we only had one day, and we needed to get back to our boat. Overall, we were happy to see San Juan again, and thrilled to reacquaint ourselves with our culture and heritage.
Send me your comments to: Anthony Ramos Reader Comments - Article 28 (La Pela) Ms. Raquel De Jesus writes, Patrick Webb writes, “I just happened across your site; I'm not Puerto Rican but I have been [to] La Perla. I take this as special, as I find even most Puerto Ricans have ever been, and I'm sorry to say there is no missing the drug activity there. Don't worry about blinking, the activity is quite obvious and open once you’re inside. Much like you, I did wonder why the government doesn't do more. After all, the place sits on "prime" real estate for development [with] absolutely stunning views. Relocate them, pay them to leave, even burning it probably would have been better; I don't know what, but I thought they must be able to do something. But the more I thought about it, really, the place is great. Right there in the heart of all the casinos, big hotels, millions in international tourism, and economic activity, sits a little community, which represents a polar opposite. Poverty, drugs, prostitution, and god only knows what else as even the police won't dare go to look for the world to see (if they care enough to look). Why is that great? Because that's P.R. After all the glitz, glam and show the island puts on for its well-healed generally Caucasian visitors, that is what P.R. is: a poverty-stricken corrupt nation with a terrible drug trade. How sad it would be if I had gotten my way. For me now, moving them would seem to serve only to hide the island’s problems from the eyes of the world. Allowing the government officials (which sit just blocks away) to forget the real problems facing the island and prevent the island’s "well to do" from fretting about where to park their Rolls-Royce. Rice and beans, plantains, and yucca are all cultural icons of the island. Icons created by the very same poor communities "La Perla" represents; the icons that reflect the lifestyle of the "Criollo" and not that of wealthy Spanish plantation owners. Somehow "making" it go away to serve some outside interest seems wrong to me. But, that is my opinion, and I'm not Puerto Rican. In the meantime (with my perfectly incorrect Caucasian accent), "Vaya con Dios".
Yolanda Semidey writes, “Hello Anthony, it was about time you wrote a new article!! It's great to read that you are doing well and moved to Florida. Good for you and your wife!! It is great that you both went on a cruise to PR, lord knows I need a vacation to PR too because it's been a while I haven't visited. I must comment on your article about La Perla, because it is a neighborhood that just about everyone I know that have gone to the Island have commented on. Of course, for us as "Boricuas ausentes", it is a shame that such a neighborhood still exists in such a visible and high trafficked area of San Juan. La Perla has been there for decades and the residents will oppose to any idea of relocation and the government of PR has no plans to do so anyway. They know that there will be hell raised and huge opposition from its residents. Even if they were to move to a nice "caserio", they won't want to go because their roots are deep in that community. My friend Marge visited PR about 2 years ago and she called me from nearby La Perla. She was amazed at the way drug transactions were being conducted right there on the street and there were lots of people walking around so she had to hold on to her friend who was giving her the tour of old San Juan. It was hilarious in a way because she was so awe-struck about what was happening there that night and the cops would not even venture inside La Perla, so druggies did whatever they wanted because they knew the cops would never bust them outside its perimeter, much less go inside its boundaries. Yes, it is an eye sore and I wish the government would use its eminent domain powers to move residents out of there and clean up that fabulous piece of real estate. But I suppose it would take a lot of effort on its part to do so because they know they will face fierce opposition from its residents. Anthony you might want to read Oscar Lewis's book: "La Vida: A Puerto Rican Family in the Culture of Poverty--San Juan and New York" published a long time ago in 1966 but even though he named that neighborhood in San Juan "La Esmeralda" experts say that he was really writing about La Perla. The book drew a lot of criticism due to the raw nature of the writing and description of Puerto Ricans, but oh well....he saw it as it was, so I don't know why people would get all offended. Anyway, this was a good article you wrote. I also enjoyed the one about Don Pedro Albizu Campos . . . what an intelligent man he was, regardless of his political affiliations. Ok please write more often and it is great to read your articles again.” Thank you for your email, Yolanda. Yolanda, you were
among the first readers of El Boricua to contribute your opinions and
comments to this web page, and I thank you for continuing to do so. I
would also like to thank you for your kind words. Reading your response,
I guess the first word that comes to mind is “bulldozers”
and lots of them, but that would never work. Perhaps rather than moving
the residents of La Perla by invoking eminent domain, and thus incurring
their wrath, the Puerto Rican Government could offer them incentives.
For example, the government could create a decent housing community. I
do not mean one of those pre-fabricated or low-income project-style dwellings,
but honest to goodness homes that people can be proud of and live happily.
The government could also bear the cost of all relocation expenses, and
provide a one-time cash outlay to every family as a reward for cooperating.
This would be a small investment when compared to the dividends Puerto
Rico would receive in converting that prime real estate area into a fabulous
tourist attraction. The government could convert La Perla into a Caribbean
Riviera, with casinos, luxury hotels, beaches, and other attractions such
as a Hard Rock Café, Planet Hollywood, etc. The government could
also level the place and create a park with a nice public beach for everyone
to enjoy. For now, there is only one thing that remains certain, La Perla
will continue to be sandwiched in between the El Morro and San Cristobal
forts, and many tourists, domestic and international, will continue to
walk to and from these two powerful attractions. “LA PERLA, LA PERLA! Who has not heard of the infamous place? Even as a child, living in Puerto Rico (until the age of six) I remember going to El Morro to fly “chiringas” and my mother reminding me not to go there. Now I am here responding to this article nineteen years later and the problem is still there. You talk about feeling bad when you saw a drug transaction happen in front of your eyes, well imagine being hustled for money by the inhabitants of “La Perla”. About five years ago, I went to visit my grandparents and decided that it had been a long time since I had seen “El Morro”. Frankly, I missed it. So my aunts and I decided to go. Once we were finished parking and out of the car, a kid asked us for twenty dollars to watch the car so that no one would touch it. I told him no, that there was no need for him to watch the car. Immediately my aunt interrupted and gave him the twenty dollars. Then she turns to me and said, ’If we want our car to be the same way we left it, we had better give him the money, or it would be destroyed by the time we come back.’ I was like WHAT! In fact, all this time has passed and that day still infuriates me. Then all these questions come to my mind: Do they also do this to tourist? No wonder some people think we carry knives. What is the government doing? Are they in cohorts with them? To add more wood to the fire, do you remember that Marc Anthony and Jennifer Lopez movie about Hector Lavoe? Did you know that Mr. Anthony had to ask whatever gangster was in charge of “La Perla” to film a scene of his movie there? So I guess we know who is in charge there and it is not the government. Oh well! C’est la vie!” Thank you for your email Claudette. I do recall the many elaborate kites (chiringas) that people were flying that day. It seemed like a mass holiday because there were so many people on El Morro’s grounds, picnicking and flying kites—all so dangerously close to La Perla. I understand your feelings regarding the kid who extorted money from your aunt that day, but your aunt did the right thing. It is better to be penny wise than dollar foolish, as the saying goes. I suppose tourists do see the same thing and suffer the indignity of extortion as well, but it is a risk all tourists have to take whether in Puerto Rico or China, England, Brazil, and so on. It seems that the government is doing nothing about La Perla but I do not think they are in league with any resident of the infamous neighborhood. Regarding your comments about Marc Anthony, I was not aware that he had to obtain a special dispensation from the Pope of La Perla, but it does not surprise me either. As you know, I talked about my recent cruise and about
our port of call in San Juan. Well, my wife recently went on the Royal
Caribbean web site to see the passenger comments about their recent trip.
An overwhelming and disappointing number of people wrote that they did
not like San Juan, citing that it was dirty, with nothing to do there.
As I mentioned in my article, Old San Juan is undergoing a face-lift.
They are re-paving many streets and repairing sidewalks, but at the same
time though, I cannot deny the fact that I did see unclean areas and street
bums and panhandlers. I did not see any attractions for tourists, nothing
that would entice them into spending money in San Juan. With no real attractions,
other than El Morro, tourists end up in the same jewelry and department
stores they find in the United States. What is so novel about that? The
Puerto Rican tourism department should be very leery of this because,
very soon, Cuba will open her doors to the world and many U.S. citizens
will flock over there for vacation instead of Puerto Rico, and they will
spend their dollars there as well. Ms. Ivonne Figueroa writes, Ms. Ronnie Torres writes, “I was introduced to the El Boricua website by friend
and immediately was drawn to the website. While I was born in the U.S.
to parents who came here from Puerto Rico back in the 1940s I still find
it amazing that, while I will always feel pride in my American nationality,
I will forever feel a "pull" from Puerto Rico. I visited Puerto
Rico for the first time when I was 13 years old (a lifetime ago). I continued
to visit Puerto Rico every year until my early 20s, when I married. My
husband was not of Hispanic ancestry and as life usually does, I went
on with it. Ms. Leisla Acevedo writes, “It is good to hear from you, and about time, too. I was happy to know that you took your vacation aboard a cruise ship. I have been on about five cruises myself, and every time I go on one, I find more things to do; and it does not matter to me where the ship goes. Regarding your comments on La Perla, it is ironic the neighborhood you wrote about bears such a name; a name that, in this case, does nothing to define what Puerto Rico truly is.” Thank you for your email, Ms. Acevedo. Now that I
have been on a cruise, I can see why there are so many repeat customers.
A couple that we met on the ship told us they had gone on about twenty
or so cruises, and the number of additional cruises they were planning
to take. Hey, if you got the money, go for it! Regarding La Perla, it
still haunts me. You are right, Leisla, about the irony in such a lovely
name. 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) Robert Jason Jorge, Boothwyn, PA, writes, “Sr. Ramos, I am very impressed with your manner of expression on all the subjects, and reading your words makes me feel very proud to be Puerto Rican. I was born and raised in the south Bronx of New York city. (I never accepted the label of Nuyorican - we called ourselves New York Ricans back then) However, I would like to comment on the cock fighting issue. First of all, the islanders should not even listen or be pressured by the opinions from the US or any other country. They should take it upon themselves to ban the massacre of God's creatures for enjoyment and monetary gains. You cannot make a fair comparison between cock fights and boxing. Boxers are humans who choose to go into that ring fully knowing the short and long term effects of the sport, whereas roosters are thrust into fighting by humans for gambling purposes and selfish reasons. When a boxer is in trouble in a fight; a corner man or trainer will throw in a towel to halt the fight to keep his fighter from getting seriously hurt. In cock fights, the animals are egged on to fight to the death. No towel throwing there. My point is, this is the 21st century. We should all behave in a more civilized manner. To take a stand in favor of cock fighting because it is a Puerto Rican tradition is ridiculous. Let us show the rest of the world how intelligent and articulate we have become as a people and not let them make us targets for ridicule and contempt. Thank you for your email, Mr. Jorge, and for your
kind words. I got beat up by many readers over this issue, and though
my analogies did not find much favor with them, my focal point still remains
the same. Boxing and cockfighting are brutal, savage, bloody sports that
are driven by pecuniary forces. While I understand your sentiments, I
still feel that it is a cultural tradition in Puerto Rico. Personally,
I am against cockfighting and all blood sports; something I have made
perfectly clear in my previous comments. My feelings notwithstanding,
Puerto Ricans and Puerto Ricans alone, should make the determination to
discontinue the sport of cockfighting. Ms. MS writes, 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? Ms. Teresa Jimenez writes, Ms. Milagro Diaz writes, “Just recently did I come across the El Boricua
web site and I've been reading your opinions on various subjects on a
daily basis. I would like to congratulate you on your very interesting
and well-written articles. This is my personal opinion in reference to
your article of May 2007, regarding Jose Luis De Jesus Miranda, who claims
to be Jesus Christ. The Bible tells us that in the final days there will
be false prophets trying to confuse people and claiming to be Christ.
By the power of His Holy Spirit He will give us the wisdom to recognize
who these false prophets are. Through His Holy Spirit, we will be able
to discern what is and what isn't from God. That is why it's so important
for us to have God in our lives. Thank you for your email Ms. Diaz, and thank you for
your kind words. I try to keep an open mind on all religions, as they
are based upon personal beliefs. Your personal belief is in Jesus Christ;
it is your faith and there is nothing wrong with that, but Muslims believe
in Allah and Jews believe that the Messiah has yet to come. From an objective
point of view, I cannot say which religion is the true religion (though
I have my own personal belief), but I can say that you are right. The
strength of your faith is what will prevent you from falling prey to these
crackpots and scam-artists. Perhaps we should not blame Churches and Temples
for causing people to flock over to these charlatans, but rather on cynicism
and general lack of faith. 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 sit at the dinner table and eat pernil asado with arroz con gandules, drink my father’s coquito, eat my mother’s arroz con dulce, and devour my grandmother’s pasteles. After dinner, the stereo would blare out Christmas songs from Puerto Rico out of dozens of eight-tracks, everyone would be dancing and no one could hear a thing. Someone would always be in the middle of the living room recording every event on a Super 8MM camera—no sound, of course, but plenty of shots! This would go on until the stroke of twelve midnight when my mother would turn off the stereo. Then she would arch her body down to the base of our 900 foot tall, 300 foot wide, pine tree that nearly took up the entire living room, pick up the gift-wrapped boxes underneath the tree and start calling out names. Being a little kid at the time, you will certainly understand that the only name I paid attention to, the only thing that mattered to me, was hearing my name! Oh how I waited so impatiently for mom to call out my name! As my mother would pick up boxes and call out names, I would keep my eyes on the number of gift boxes remaining underneath our leviathan pine tree, watching it diminish until I could stand it no more! I was afraid my mother would take my gift and give it away to one of my cousins. Later in life I learned that she never put our gifts under the tree until the very morning of Christmas. I remember taking all of my gifts and going into my room with my cousins. We’d sit on my bed and open up every gift. There would be a ton of gift wrap paper all over the bed and floor. I’d sit there on my bed with my cousins playing with Tonka Trucks, Captain America dolls, and games like Kerplunk and Operation. Occasionally, I’d open up a box and find a sweater or a shirt. Disappointed, I would toss the box to the side of the bed and look for another box. By about 2:00 in the morning, when everyone had left for the night, my mother would yell at me and my sisters to go to bed. By this time we were all hip to Santa, although it took us a long time to recover from the mental scars of finding out there was no Santa and no Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and no elves and no North Pole and . . . well, suffice it to say that we did get over it. My sisters and I would struggle to keep awake but in the end, we would all succumb to sleep. Then, on one particular Christmas day, I got up out of bed and walked ever so slowly toward our monumental beast of a tree. I poked my head underneath it and recognized the box. I then pulled the box out as quickly as I could. Wide eyed and gleaming, I tore open the gift wrap paper and ripped open the box. It was the latest toy! The one every boy in the neighborhood had to have! It was none other than the Johnny Lightning 500 Series! It had come with an entire track and a ramp where the cars jumped up and flew to the next track! Wow! I had been dreaming of that toy for almost a year! I had been pestering my parents about it for as long as I had been dreaming of it! I had been waiting so long for Christmas to come! It was finally here and so was my toy, and no one was going to deprive me from my Johnny Lightning 500! My youngest sister would open up her gift and find her ballerina doll! My older sisters would get their radio record players or something teen-agers got at that time. But all I remembered was my Johnny Lightning 500! After watching me play with my Johnny Lightning for about an hour, my mother and father stood in the middle of the living room with their arms folded and waited for some acknowledgement from me. Of course, since I was so into my brand new toy, I was oblivious to their presence. My mother with arms still folded said, “Well, aren’t you going to thank your father and me for the gift?” Can you imagine the trouble and effort it took for me draw myself away from the latest, best and most sought after toy just to thank my parents? These are but a few of the thousands of memories that I store in the depths of my heart. We all have precious memories of our childhood Christmas days. Some recollections are funny and some are not so funny but we thank God that we have them. Christmas is a time of joy, of sharing, of giving to those
in need; a time of year in which we choose to forget about our differences
and love one another. Christmas is a time that we take not only to buy
gifts for one another and to appreciate your neighbor but to commemorate
the birth of our Lord and Savior, the Son of God who came to earth to
deliver us from sin. As we celebrate the coming Christmas holidays with
food, drink, dance, merriment, and exchange of gifts, let us not forget
the real Christmas, which is the commemoration of the birth of Jesus in
a manger in Bethlehem over 2000 years ago. These are just a few of my
memories, what are yours? Send me your comments to: Anthony Ramos Ivonne Figueroa writes, “Most people have great Christmas memories but unfortunately
some don't. That is the way life is. Not everything can be perfect in
life. I have great Christmas memories myself but I also have other memories
that are not so great. One thing we have to remember is that although
we cannot change the past, we certainly have the ability to make what
we want of our present and even our future. Thank you for your wonderful email Ivonne. I think
you’ve captured the true spirit of a Puerto Rican Christmas. You
have proven so enthusiastically that the spirit of a Puerto Rican Christmas
dwells in the heart of a Puerto Rican and not in the island itself. You
have taken the time to continue this age-old tradition in your home in
Texas, far away from our beloved island. You have also taken up the great
task of handing down our Christmas traditions to your children, so that
they too may know and experience the holiday spirit from a Puerto Rican
perspective. As I read your email, I imagined your house filled with Christmas
joy and love! Pa’lante Hermana!! “Nice article! Sounds like you had a great childhood. My Christmas days were not as fun as yours; I don’t have a big immediate family, so my Christmas days were pretty quaint. But I remember my art college Christmas parties. I remember sledding on lunch trays down the snow-filled steep hills of Purchase, New York. I remember, "Reggae Christmas parties", trimming trees while smoking trees; BBQ in 20-degree weather, snow ball fights, wrapping empty Christmas gift boxes (lol, we were really broke). I also remember kegs in bathtubs etc, "jungle juice", and jello shots; very fun times, still fun times today. I always hooked up the dinner though, since I was the only one of my roommates who knew how to cook. Here is mine and my design partner's website www.hi.hectorres.com. Check our portfolio by clicking on work page. Peace I.” Thank you for your email Ms. Martinez. Wow! You really did have fun in college! I don’t remember my college days being that exciting, but they were fun nonetheless. I’m trying to place an image in my mind of you sledding down a snow-covered hillside on a lunch tray; you must have been going pretty fast! I like the BBQ, though and the jello shots but I’m not too sure about smoking tress—that’s a little too much for me! I’m glad your Christmas days were fun for you in college. Now that you are in the real world, I’m sure you treasure those wonderful memories. Have a very Merry Christmas, Irene, and a prosperous New Year! Diana Dorta writes, “Nice memories. I live in Louisiana and I get very depressed during the holidays. I miss all the family, the music, spending time together just talking, joking and remembering the old times. I’m married to a Cuban who came to the U.S.A. when he was 5 [years old] so even he does not understand our traditions, especially the ‘parrandas’. Thank your for your email Diana. While I can certainly
understand your depression during the holidays, I can tell you that you’re
never too far away from your beloved island or from your people and culture.
You can plan a vacation with your husband, and you both could go to Puerto
Rico and Cuba. Try to plan your vacation around the holidays so that you
can enjoy the parrandas and other fiestas. October 2006
Since I wrote that article I have been contacted by numerous agents from around the world and given top secret government information about ABE’s. Well, as you can imagine my dear readers, I had to treat this matter with the utmost skepticism and with a great deal of trepidation. After all, you cannot put all of your trust in anonymous emails that come from the highest levels of government, not only here in the U.S. but in Europe and in Asia as well. After double-checking the source of the information as well as the information itself, I can only conclude its veracity. The data contained in the anonymous emails sent to me over the past few months is irrefutable, and its impact will send shivers up your spine. For the past few months I have been debating whether or not to share this secret information with my readers and thereby taking a huge risk by exposing myself to the governments of the world. After much consideration and soul-searching, I have concluded that although the inherent dangers of sharing this information are high, I am compelled to disclose what I know to all of my readers. So, without further delay, I will tell you more about these ABE’s; creatures with bad intentions that seem to invade earth with impunity. In an email received from Chile, I have been informed that hideous creatures are prowling the streets of Santiago de Chile. These are harrowing times for the citizens of Chile because these creatures seem to be attracted to restaurants at night, looking for chuletas fritas! But the most hideous thing about these creatures is that instead of eating the meat off the chuleta, they suck on the bones. That is how this creature has earned the name of El Chupahueso!!! I think I’ve gone too far now. Maybe I should stop. I can’t stop now. I must tell you everything! I received yet another anonymous email from a government official in Venezuela. This one is even more hideous than the one I mentioned previously. I mean this one flies, and continually circles the skies but when it spots a child, it swoops down on the child and yanks his sweets right out of his hand! Can you imagine how earthlings are being made to suffer at the hands of these alien creatures? That is why we must take steps to scan the skies and make sure that El Chupacandy does not infiltrate our airspace and steal our children’s sweets. We must unite against these alien visitors who seem to show no compassion toward us. In another disturbing email I have been given secret information about aliens that seem to be attracted to earth women!!! They have been seen ambushing women in countries such as Ecuador, Puerto Rico, Cuba and Colombia. They suck on women’s necks but they do not draw any blood. These creatures, also known as El Chupacuello, or known in the U.S. as El Chupahickey, leaves a red blotch on the neck of its women victims that seems to last for days. One woman, in Santurce, thinking that it was her boyfriend who was doing this deed, actually liked it. But when she turned around and confronted this creature, she fainted and remained comatose for days. I need not tell you about the mental scars that these incidents have inflicted on earth women. There is one more creature that I must tell you about. Now this one is probably the most hideous of them all. I shudder to even think about this creature. He is known in countries all over the world as El Chupapanty!! I cannot tell you what this creature does, because the data is too packed with sensitive information; information that you may not wish to know. By reading the foregoing passages you can easily deduce that something must be done! It is up to us, the citizens of the world to spur our governments into action. It is for this reason that I invite you to join MOFONGO (the Mutual Organization For Ongoing New Ghastly Organisms). As a new member of MOFONGO you will receive details revealing these creatures and their agenda for the citizens of earth. You will automatically be eligible for raffle tickets to win a trip to Mr. Kelvin Pena’s farm in Canovanas, Puerto Rico. There you will meet Mr. Pena, an internationally-known cross-dresser, and witness the remains of his marijuana plantation after the terrible destruction caused by yet another ABE called El Chupapasto. For the next thirty or so days, I will remain in hiding.
I will try to answer your emails but if you don’t hear from me,
then you may presume that they’ve gotten to me. But before I allow
them to get to me, I will leave my friend from the United States, Mr.
Jose Canyousee, in charge of MOFONGO. Until then, my beloved readers,
please keep vigilant and watch the skies. E. Peña from Chicago writes, “HA! HA! HA! I got to say, this was the funniest thing I have ever read re the Chupacabra. I couldn't stop laughing. I think I am going to read it to my relatives when they come to my house for the traditional ‘comida de noche buena’. Thank you for a good laugh.” Thanks for your email E. Peña. I was wondering
if you’ve seen any alien creatures in your neck of the woods. If
so, then MOFONGO is ready to hear your story. Carry on, and always maintain
vigilant! To all of my readers: MOFONGO is a private organization dedicated
to the investigation and subsequent exposure of all alien creatures invading
planet Earth (lol). Ms. Yoly Semidey writes, “Hi Anthony . . . I had to laugh at your story. What, you don't believe in the Chupacabras? You have to wonder what truth there is to this legend, or to what really happened to all those dead animals found with their blood sucked from their bodies. No eran marcianos! Okay, well it is funny anyway.” Thank you for your response Ms. Semidey, it was nice to hear from you again! Regarding your question, yes, I do believe in the UFO phenomenon. That is what got me into trouble the first time, and why I had to go into hiding for one month. But by responding to you now, I am officially coming out of hiding, though it may not yet be completely safe for me. By the way, has anybody contacted Jose Canyousee about the latest Chupacabra incident? Yoly, I think you should be the one to tell him. I cannot make contact with any member of MOFONGO yet, but I will rely on you. Yoly, you must tell Jose that yet another alien creature has been spotted. This one is kind of dumb because it seems to run into walls and get hit by cars. They call it El Chupadedo. Tell Jose Canyousee that he must add that one to the list. Also, at the MOFONGO convention in January, I will nominate you as secretary of our organization. I hope you don’t mind. A MESSAGE TO ALL MOFONGO MEMBERS: This year’s convention will take place on July 2, in Roswell, New Mexico. With the approval of the U.S. Air Force and other interested parties, we have arranged daily bus trips to Area 51. Upon arrival, you will be greeted by several armed sentries who will provide you with a detailed tour of the base. I am told that sometimes, depending on the sentry, visitors are given a glimpse of recovered spacecrafts or even alien creatures, and if you are very lucky maybe even the Chupacabra itself! So bring plenty of tip money for the sentries and remember to book your rooms early! And one more thing members: please don’t forget to dress properly. Bring as many bulletproof vests as possible and a very good pair of sneakers! Package Deal Offered By Chavienda Travel, Inc. September 2006 The Mexican people have a beautiful history and culture that’s been in existence for centuries; a fusion of Aztec and Spanish blood that evolved their ethnicity into what it is today. The Puerto Ricans, like the Cubans, have evolved from a fusion of Taino, Arawak and Spanish blood, and their culture and history is just as colorful and beautiful as that of the Mexican people. The common thread that binds all Hispanics today is the Spanish language that we all speak; the last remaining legacy of the Spanish conquest. But other than sharing a common language, what other things do we have in common? In spite of sharing the same language, our cultures, heritage and manners of being are vastly different and definitely not common among us. So, can I say that England and Ireland or the United States and Australia are all the same simply because they speak the same language: English? No! England’s culture is vastly different than that of Ireland’s and the same could be said of America’s. You do not tell an Irishman that he is the same as an Englishman, so why is it that this train of thought can cannot be applied to Hispanics, too? I don’t know why, and believe me I’ve tried to rationalize it many times. This reminds me of an incident that happened in an elevator several years ago. It was May 5th, and several of my colleagues were on their way to the bar to celebrate Cinco de Mayo, a Mexican holiday that not only has gained popularity with young Americans today but has found commercial appeal among American businesses, as well. One of my colleagues in the elevator wished me a happy Cinco de Mayo, and then he asked me what do we do for celebration on this day. I told him politely that I wouldn’t know because I wasn’t a Mexican. The others in the elevator laughed at my colleague, and I need not tell you that during the laughter in the elevator, my colleague could not hide his chagrin or the redness prevailing upon his face. I didn’t want to sound off at him or make him feel that I was angry because of his naïveté, but what I wanted was for him to understand that he should never make that presumption again, but take the time to know a person’s ethnicity before making such a remark. I must tell you though, my beloved readers, that he asked an innocent question of me, and that I did not perceive any hint of bigotry behind it. In American cities today, we find many Hispanics from South America, as well as the Caribbean co-existing in neighborhoods. Though these urban centers have brought us Hispanics closer together, and though many of us have inter-married, there is still distinction between us. We do not hate each other but we try to learn each other’s culture and co-exist peacefully. We enjoy the different cuisines that we bring with us, like ceviche, tamales, arroz con pollo, etc., and we learn the different nuances of our cultures and the different accents and enunciations of the Spanish language spoken among us. Yes, we do speak Spanish but we are a diverse collection
of people, with different cultures and foods that distinguish us from
each other. What is your opinion? Esperanza writes, “I found this web page looking for the pig feet recipe. Yes, I have lost my cooking skills. I was taken by reading some of your articles, and you said it all in Article 18: Are all Hispanics the same? I always make sure that the people understand that we are different, and even our foods are different. But we must always respect one another, enjoy each other’s culture and learn about diversity is very important. “ Thank you for your email Esperanza. I am wondering:
did Carmen Santos de Curran, our wonderful chef, have the pig’s
feet recipe you were looking for? Regarding your comments, we each have
our unique culture, food and customs but we all fall under the same Hispanic
umbrella! Isn’t that marvelous, to be different and yet still be
the same? By the way, now that you have written to El Boricua, what is
your nationality? Marco Alemany, Esq., Orlando, Florida writes, “I want to thank you, first and foremost, for reading
this letter. I only have one thing to say to all Now the previous statement may have come out rude or disrespectful, however, what is it our business what is happening on the island? All of us by one way or another made the choice or the choice was made for us to be here in the mainland, so it is not our concern what happens there. Let the people living there make their own decisions and choose what they want to choose. Here in the mainland, there is always some kind of discussion in regards to what is happening in the island . . . why? I am proud of being Puertoriqueño! I am proud of coming from one of the most elegant families of Puerto Rico, the Alemanys. I am proud of having part of my education coming from the Hermanos De La Salle. I am proud that my brother-in-law is a Federal Attorney and I am proud that my nephew was the only student appointed by Sila Calderon to the United States Military Academy at West Point (look it up, Roberto Perez). However, how can I be proud when ignorant people start speaking their mind in regards to what is happening in the island and the most eloquent statement that they can say is "pal' carajo!". What can we do? How can we become the culture of the "Island Continent" as we have been described? How can we excel without having to compromise our values? Can you answer those questions Mr. Ramos? No one else can.” Thank you for your email Mr. Alemany. My take on this
issue is that Puerto Ricans living on the mainland feel a need to maintain
connection with the island’s politics and culture. That connection
is what seemingly closes the long distance between themselves and their
ancestral land. Some of us feel so strong about Puerto Rico’s politics
because perhaps we still have family living there and wonder about their
future. Perhaps our love of the island is so powerful that it outweighs
our sense of rationale and forces us into making irresponsible comments
or unnecessary statements. Perhaps we have been away from the island for
so long, that it has made our minds far too nebulous to make sound judgments
when it comes to Puerto Rico’s current and future political status.
Your question: How can we become the culture of the "Island Continent",
as we have been described? How can we excel without having to compromise
our values? The answer to those questions is complicated, but I will try
to respond. Literally speaking, it is my opinion that as long as Puerto
Rico remains a Commonwealth of the United States, it will never achieve
the description of “Island Continent”. To become an Island
Continent in the literal sense, to obtain its own identity, Puerto Rico
must be a free and independent country. Regarding your next question,
we can excel without having to compromise our values. As an attorney,
you have done it. Many of us have achieved certain degrees of success
without having to compromise our culture, ethnicity and values. So what
is preventing Puerto Rico from doing the same? Nothing! In the end, it
is up to Puerto Ricans living in Puerto Rico to take action and do something
about their future. Amanda Garza Lightfoot writes, “First of all, let me say that your web site is
fantastic. I enjoy it everyday. I have cooked several of the delicious
recipes from Mrs. Carmen. I look on the recipe list every morning and
make something new and delicious every day. Thank you for your email Amanda. It’s nice
to hear kind words from our readers whether Puerto Rican or not. Regarding
your growing desire to acquaint yourself with your Mexican heritage, I
applaud you, Amanda! I also applaud your desire to pass on your heritage
to your children. Your roots go back to the mighty lands where empires
like the Aztecs and Mayans ruled, a land steeped in glorious history,
enchantment and wonder. I’ve been to the Yucatan peninsula, deep
into the jungle where I came face to face with the pyramids and temples
of Chichen-itza. I have a profound respect for the people who once dwelled
in these lands; a resolute, coherent and dedicated people who lived in
communion with mother earth and thrived hundreds of years before the European
invasion and theft. Yes, my dear Amanda, that same Aztec and Mayan heritage
flows through your veins, like the fresh water that flows through the
winding rivers and creeks of the Yucatan. Embrace your heritage, and open
your arms to receive what has always been yours to claim! Boodawgmama writes, Hi I totally agree about other people thinking all Hispanics are the same cause that is so not true. First off you also must be careful when you say "Americans" because I consider myself "American" even though my heritage is Mexican. The reason for that is because I don't know the half of what Mexico is. I think being of Mexican heritage we have it the worst because of all the millions of unwelcome illegal Mexicans. All Anglos think "Oh you’re Mexican, well go back to your country because you’re not welcome here." So I find it hard to place myself anywhere. If you've ever watched the movie Selena, where Edward James Olmos says, “We're not welcome by the Whites and we're not welcome by the Mexicans, we have it rough on both sides,” he couldn't have said it any better. My great great-grandparents were here before Texas became the 28th state in 1836. They never had to cross any borders, this was their home from the time Mexico lost the battle at the Alamo. So when I say I'm American and other ethnicities think being "American" is white I have to disagree, because I am not white but I am American. Sorry if I sound rude I don't mean to be.” Thank you for your email Booda. I don’t think
that you were rude at all. In fact, I think you brought up a very important
issue for the Mexican-Americans. Aside from Texas, Mexicans were also
in California long before it was taken by the U.S. They were in Arizona
and in other southwestern states, too, before Americans arrived there.
In fact, they are more American than the so-called “Americans”.
Thank you for brining up this often forgotten fact. However, as a fellow
Hispanic and one that grew up in the American culture, I can commiserate
with your sentiments. You are an American, and that is true, but your
roots go deep to your motherland of Mexico. And no matter what Mexicans
might think of you, you are still very much a part of them and of their
culture. Ms. Irene Martinez writes, “You forgot to add African blood, as well. Spanish
missionaries [originally] brought over the African slaves and [the] Spaniards
[soon began] raping Blacks and Indians; mucha mescla! This is also the
reason for Santeria, which comes from the African [slaves who were forced
into hiding] their polytheistic beliefs in the guise of Catholicism, etc.
I wasn't aware of the Arawaks being in Puerto Rico; glad I read that.
Thank you for you email, Irene. Yes, I did forget
to mention the African contribution to the Puerto Rican culture; something
which many of my readers have reminded me time and again. Regarding Santeria,
I really know nothing about that subject. However, it is interesting to
note your comments on that subject. On the matter of non-Spanish-speaking
Latinos, I don’t think that makes them any less Latino. There are
many Italian-Americans, Polish-Americans, German-Americans (and many more)
that do not speak their ancestral tongue, but that doesn’t make
them less Italian, Polish or German. My children do not speak Spanish,
but they understand it well (thanks to their grandparents). This is what
happens when people from other countries come to live in the U.S.A; their
descendents assimilate into American society and culture. If you do not
speak Spanish, Irene, hey it’s okay. You are still Boricua!! It’s
never too late because you can always learn to speak Spanish. Anthony Santiago, Sr. Antonio Santiago Jr. writes, Thank you for your response Mr. Santiago. I guess
rather than expending our energies in talking about our differences, we
Hispanics ought to focus on our commonalities, such as our language, struggles
of life, and desires to be recognized as equals, as one nation, if you
will. To all of my readers, I have the honor of informing you that Mr.
Santiago Jr. is the son of Antonio Santiago Sr. who is also known as ‘Tony
the Marine’, a writer for El Boricua. Aside from El Boricua, Tony
Santiago also writes for Wikipedia, an online encyclopedia, where he focuses
on Puerto Rican related topics. Frncs67 writes, Being born and raised in Connecticut, from two parents
whom are both from Patillas Puerto Rico, I can understand why Anglo American’s,
take our culture so lightly. The African “black blood”, [which]
runs through our veins, is looked down upon by most American’s for
historical reasons and guilt for past and present indiscretions. Yes, in our home we had our Christmas parties and festivities,
but as a Puerto Rican, I know there is much more to me, I feel it in my
bones and every fiber of my being. We are more than food, flags and parties,
more than an island, we are a people. So, I choose to educate others and
not infuriate. Thank you for your insightful response Frncs67. While I might agree with your perception that Americans pass on their guilt and spread it around on Puerto Ricans,, I think that the lack of sensitivity is the result of disinterest and general laziness to know learn about other ethnic groups and their cultures. Let’s face it: from the moment foreigners set foot on the U.S., they strive to assimilate into American society, and many lose their ethnicity within one or two generations. Many Puerto Ricans living in the U.S. have done the same thing; we’re no different than any other culture. The general belief is that everyone has to learn to speak English and must become Americanized in order to fit into the societal scheme of things. We come in all shapes and sizes, whites, blacks and olive-skinned, but though our appearances vary, and though many of our racial lineages differ from one another, we are still one people, one voice, one nation and one culture. Indeed Frncs67 let’s all of us choose to educate others and not infuriate them! Let’s all of us choose to learn, ask questions, and teach others! It is the best approach I’ve heard thus far!. PSR122 writes, I am Boricua but born and raised in NY, and [now] reside in Tampa, Florida. In reality, Hispanics are not the same! In my office we celebrate the Hispanic Heritage week, [a time when] every Hispanic shows their pride and culture and food for others to get familiar [with]. I root for food (smile). Me encanta los congri (Cuban), tamales, burritos (Mexico), churrasco (Argentine), mangu (Dominican Republic), do I have to list all the Hispanic food?? Oh gee you will get hungry! Hispanics speak Spanish but there are words that each country speaks or interpret differently. When I visit home in NY, people confuse me as Italian. When I speak Español, they [say], "Oh you Latina," and I correct them: “Soy Boricua pa’ que tu sepa!” Thank you PSR122 for your email. Indeed, the food
seems to bring us all together; it’s our ambassador, so to speak.
I couldn’t agree more with you, and with the title of the television
documentary starring Rosie Perez: SOY BORICUA PA’ QUE TU LOS SEPA!
If you have not seen it, my readers, then I recommend that you do. You
will discover interesting things about Puerto Rican history. It comes
on every now and then on the IFC channel, so you must be on the look out.
If you wish you may go to your local video store and inquire about it.
“It seems to me that some Puerto Ricans have a problem
in regards to "African Blood." Is it a bad thing to have African
Blood in your veins? What's the big deal? I don't get it.” Mr. Fernando Fortunato Vizcarrondo writes, Thank you for your email Mr. Vizcarrondo. Notwithstanding
the Poesia Negroide, I feel that I can safely tell you that I have traced
my lineage to the mid 1800’s when both sides of my families settled
from Spain. I have not deciphered my lineage, as you stated, because it
was not ciphered to begin with. It was neither a riddle nor an enigma
of races. I am not saying this to you to make myself appear different
or better than anybody else but to simply state a fact. Why must all Puerto
Ricans be forced into claiming African lineage so categorically and so
arbitrarily, and without the benefit of a complete review of their own
geneology? This is a misconstrued thought that has insinuated itself as
a racial axiom among many of our people? Yes, my response to Rasta was
full of apologies. But I apologized for not mentioning the fact that the
African culture has been a contributing factor in the evolution of the
Puerto Rican culture. If you have not researched your own lineage, then
how can you pass judgment on me? How can you presume that I am not what
I am? How can you arbitrarily say that all Puerto Ricans have African
blood without performing a scientific study on the composition of our
racial bloodlines? Are you basing your opinion on a poem or on hard scientific
evidence? Mrs. Elizabeth A. Barbieri writes, Original Text Translation Thank you for your response Mary Juana. I understand
your sentiments regarding your personal ethnicity; many Puerto Ricans
feel the same way you do. However, I think your statements were more directed
at Rasta’s response a few days ago rather than my article. Rasta
was born and lived in Puerto Rico and he merely brought to my attention
the fact that I had neglected to mention in my article the African element
that comprises many Puerto Ricans, too. Mary, in talking about our ethnicity
we cannot ignore the racial and cultural contributions that the Africans
made to the Puerto Rican mosaic. Though you, and many like you, may not
have any African blood, there are many Puerto Ricans that do. And so when
we talk about our Puerto Rican heritage, we must take the African element
into consideration. Rasta writes, Maybe you were simply describing 'your' bloodlines and maybe you would wonder why I would give so much weight to your omission. Maybe your family does not look like mine, which I tend to think is a typical Boricua family. I have first cousins of every complexion imaginable—blondes, redheads, brunettes, straight hair, wavy hair and kinky hair. Then I gave you the benefit of the doubt and thought to myself; maybe his family is from up in the mountains and not from the coast like mine. Then again, my mother's father was from the mountains, a proud Corsican-Taino man and he married the little Black woman who was my grandma. My father's father was a second generation Spaniard who married a Taino-Spanish Mestiza (my other grandma). I doubt if my very 'Hispanic looking' grandfather would have omitted the African from our Boricua "fusion". We all don't look like Ricky Martin but I have noticed many Puerto Ricans in the US who bleach our identity for the benefit of gringos and assimilation. Maybe you've gotten used to leaving out the African for the benefit of your Anglo friends. I hope you never shame our heritage like that again. If you omit the African from our language, our music, our art, our food you would be left with the sullen culture of the conquistadors, instead of the vibrant culture that we can call our own. Notice I say: 'we' even though you left me out of your equation "hermano". Our 'fusion' is: Spanish, African (including Arab-Moors),
Taino, Irish, Corsican and Canary Islands, to name the majority. By the
way, I was born 'en la Isla' and lived 'en la Isla'. I have a Spanish
language (only) Blog, so that I combat this idea that millions of Afro-Latinos
don't exist.” Ivonne Figueroa writes, Thank you for your response Ivonne. Indeed, learning
about other Hispanic cultures is a lot of fun, especially the food part!
Perhaps we may never be able to get that message across to Americans,
but we know who we are, and we know that we each have our individual identities.
So in the long run, I won’t lose too much sleep over this American
misconception. Puerto Rico’s
Future Revisited I was invited to join an internet group called Diaspora, a forum where the members discuss current topics relating to Puerto Rico and to Puerto Ricans both living on the island and on the mainland. Among the hotly debated and often recurring topics is the future of Puerto Rico’s status. Some months ago, you will recall that I wrote an article entitled: The Question of Puerto Rico’s Future: Commonwealth, Statehood or Independence, Article 8. In this article I wrote about the pros and cons regarding each of Puerto Rico’s possible futures. A fellow Diaspora member provided the group with an article written by Megan Scott, entitled: Puerto Rico’s future debated. The article was published by the Lexington Herald-Leader, a Lexington, Kentucky newspaper, and it appeared on its July 26, 2006 publication. It is interesting to note the many similarities between this article and the one I wrote back in September 2005. Anyway, the reason why I am writing about Puerto Rico’s future is because the article that Ms. Megan Scott wrote did not bring a fresh perspective to this very important issue; it simply rehashed the same old issues that we have come to know so well and have discussed at great lengths. The second reason for writing about this issue again is because I still receive emails from El Boricua’s readers. As you all know, I believe that Puerto Rico should explore the possibilities of becoming an independent nation. But those are my personal feelings, and I never try to persuade anyone to think like me because I feel that everyone should have their own opinions free of outside influence. I have always said that the final decision on Puerto Rico’s future, whether commonwealth, statehood or independence, will ultimately rest upon the shoulders of the Puerto Rican people. As a Puerto Rican American, I will respect and honor whatever decision is made because it will be based upon the majority and the will of the Puerto Rican people. My previous statements notwithstanding, I remain curious
about how El Boricua’s readers, if given a chance, would vote. For
this reason I would like to conduct a poll with El Boricua’s readers.
I would like to know which future you would vote for: a) continued Commonwealth
status; So, if it isn’t too much trouble, please send me an email telling me which future you would vote for and why. Hopefully if I get enough emails, I will post the results on this page. If you are interested in reading Ms. Megan Scott’s article, please email me and I will forward it to you, or you can search the web for the Lexington Herald-Leader.
Back in February 2006, I wrote about the unnecessary fuss that certain New York sports radio personalities made over Omar Minaya’s acquisition of ball players for the New York Mets. Way back in February, even before the start of spring training, I wrote that Omar Minaya, as the new General Manager of the New York Mets, was doing a good job in acquiring the ball players desperately needed by his team. The fuss that these radio personalities made (I will not mention their names) arose out of the fact that the newly acquired players were nearly all Hispanics. In case you are not following the progress of the New York Mets and the success of Omar Minaya, let me bring you up to date. As of Friday, July 28, 2006, the New York Mets were in sole possession of first place in the National League Eastern Division. Not only were the Mets in first place but as of Friday, they had a commanding 12 game lead on the second place Atlanta Braves. Now I know it’s still too early to give Mr. Minaya his due accolades, and I realize that in baseball a 12 game lead can be cut short in no time at all, but I have to say that the New York Mets have far exceed any of my expectations. Regardless of where the Mets end up this year, or how far they will go in the playoffs, we must agree that Omar Minaya has already turned the team around. As I stated in Article 13, I have been and always will be a die hard Yankees fan. But since I felt that the media (radio in this case) was wrong to pass judgment on Mr. Minaya without giving him the opportunity to prove himself, and because of the fact this Dominican man and fellow Hispanic was forced to defend his actions, I have been rooting for the New York Mets. It is interesting to know that no other General Manager in the history of baseball has had to defend his actions based upon the issue of ethnicity. Send me your comments to: Anthony Ramos On Sunday, June 9, 2006, I was home and working on my computer. I turned on my television and flipped through the channels several times until I came across the live telecast of the Puerto Rican Day Parade. At first I thought about changing the channel to watch something else, but something caught my attention. I noticed that the famous rapper, Fat Joe, was sitting alongside Ernie Anastos (a popular New York City news personality) as a fellow broadcaster of the parade. Despite the fact that this was Fat Joe’s first foray as co-host of a nationally televised event, he did a very good job. He came across as a very warm-hearted and sincere person filled with enthusiasm and pride. Many famous Puerto Rican personalities participated in the parade. Among the many that made a pit stop at the broadcast booth to speak with Fat Joe and Ernie, were Geraldo Rivera, Jimmy Smits and Rosie Perez. The parade was led by that famous couple, Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony. I watched most of the parade and was terribly impressed at the sight of so many colorful floats, beautiful women and handsome Puerto Rican men, and as I heard the vibrant sounds of our Salsa music blaring out of speakers, I couldn’t help but to feel very proud to be a Puerto Rican. The Puerto Rican Day Parade has grown so much in popularity that it is now broadcast nationally. Many of the participants in the parade not only came from New York City, but from Connecticut, Massachusetts, Illinois, Florida and many other states. A great number of participants even came from Puerto Rico. To see the streets lined on both sides by hundreds of thousands of Puerto Rican spectators enjoying the parade, and seeing the genuine pride that their faces reflected, was truly a breath-taking sight. But what does this beautiful parade mean to us? For me, the parade is something that magically brings us all together for one day. It is a massive forum for Puerto Ricans to express their pride and solidarity. For that one day, we are all as one, whether we come from Puerto Rico or whether we come from as far away as California. For that one day, all of our ideological differences with regard to politics, religion and philosophy vanish into the black asphalt of 5th Avenue, and supplanted by the convergence of our minds and souls in a prideful celebration. For me, the parade fills my heart with the desire to visit Puerto Rico again. My daughter is dying to visit Puerto Rico. I have promised her that I will take her not only to San Juan but to my father’s home town of Orocovis, and my mother’s home town of Utuado. I want her to know her roots and learn all about our beautiful Spanish and Taino heritage. I know her visit to our enchanted island will change her dramatically, as it changed me when I first visited Puerto Rico for the first time. And by change, I mean that all confusions I had about who and what I was disappeared, and I came to embrace my Puerto Rican heritage with open arms. When the parade was finally over and the station switched to broadcast something else, the event it left an indelible impression inside of me but it also left me with an empty feeling. I didn’t want the parade to end, and I didn’t want the celebration to end either. It frustrated me to think that I would have to wait until next June to see the parade again. So, my Puerto Rican brothers and sisters out there, what does the Puerto Rican Day Parade do for you? How does it make you feel? What impact do you feel the parade has on the Puerto Rican people? Send me your comments to: Anthony Ramos Reader Comments (Article 16/Day of Celebration) Llope46 writes, “If you visit Puerto Rico with your daughter, I don't know how long it's been since you visited, both of you are going to enjoy it. I was there in April and the island is beautiful. Please try to go around the island and don't miss "GUAVATE", in Caguas. Live music in every kiosk and not forgetting the food. Lechon en la vara, arroz con gandules, guineitos, ensalada de pulpo, maduros fritos, morsillas, etc. etc. Y BARATO! QUE DISFRUTEN!” Thank you for your email Llope. Well it’s been
a long time since I was last in Puerto Rico, my friend. And I plan to
do just that: go around the island, to places I have never before visited.
I’ll try to make a stop in Guavate, and experience the music and
DEFINITELY THE FOOD! RgArn writes, “I, very much, enjoyed watching the parade. The only thing I didn't like was that the spectators were so loud. Whenever someone walked up to them with a microphone, they would yell and scream. One spectator was asked what “Boricua” meant, and she responded, “Puerto Rican power”. Well, that's not what it means, and that's not what the parade was about. Anyway, other than that, I did enjoy the parade.” Thank you for your response RgArn. I guess some people
get caught up in the excitement of the moment and express their feelings
by yelling and screaming. Some people are less vocal, but are equally
excited. These are individual expressions that shouldn’t be judged
too harshly. Regarding the Puerto Rican woman’s comment that “Boricua”
means Puerto Rican power, I agree with you that it is an incorrect definition,
and should not be connoted with the Puerto Rican Day parade either. But,
although you said you enjoyed watching the parade, you did not tell us
what the parade meant to you. I invite you to write back and share with
us your reflections on the parade. To Be Or Not To Be An Illegal Alien A couple of weeks ago, millions of illegal immigrants walked off their jobs for one day in an effort to show the people of the United States just how important the workforce is without them. They also walked off their jobs in protest over House Resolution 4437-Border Protection, Anti-Terrorism and Illegal Immigration Control Act, an immigration bill that was introduced to Congress for ratification in December 2005. I’m not going into the specifics about House Resolution Bill 4437, but I will talk about the illegal immigration issue and its effect on all Hispanics in North America today. The United States has stepped up its efforts against illegal immigration by reinforcing its southern borders with miles and miles of fencing, increasing border patrols and dispatching 6,000 soldiers to help stem the rising tide of non-U.S. citizens entering the country every day. House Resolution Bill 4437 even cites Alien street gangs as inadmissible, and rightly so. But, on the other hand, in New York City, in the Brighton Beach area, Russian mobsters have carved a niche in the so-called underworld of crime. How did these criminals get here? Why didn’t the U.S. screen these people like they screen the people coming from south of the border? Another issue behind these China Great Wall measures is that if illegal immigrants are held back from crossing the southern borders, employers will be unable to hire them, and thus cannot pay them the ridiculously low wages “under the table” or “off the books”, as so many of them are willing to accept. This will then force U.S. employers to hire legal immigrants and pay them at least the minimum wage; an idea that they may not particularly like. So why do we not hear about the efforts the United States is taking to protect its northern borders? Has the United States taken the same measures to protect its northern borders from illegal immigrants as it has done with its southern borders? Didn’t a few of the Islamic terrorists responsible for 9/11 enter the U.S. illegally through Canada? Aren’t there two fronts in the war against illegal immigration? I just wonder: how many people enter the U.S. illegally through Canada? I cannot help but to think that it all boils down to ethnicity.
Hispanics come from Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba,
Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua,
Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela, and, yes, even Puerto Rico.
They are not white, and they speak Spanish and come from what the United
States refers to as Third World Countries. Anglo-Americans and perhaps
a large number other white Americans tend to view the Hispanic people
as an inferior class. They complain that the Hispanic population is growing
too fast, prefer to speak Spanish and that in time they will become the
number one ethnic group in the United States. There is even talk in Congress
about making English the official language of the United States. In spite
of these prejudices and outright bigotry, Hispanics still come to the
land of opportunity to seek jobs and better lives, like so many Jews,
Italians and Irish did in the mid to late 1800’s. Unfortunately,
the Hispanic’s skin color is not white, though there are exceptions,
and because of this cannot assimilate into the U.S. mainstream as easily
as the many Jews, Italians and Irish did within a generation. Bad luck,
I guess, to be born a Hispanic, right? Not so fast! It is my opinion that, collectively, Hispanics can extricate themselves from the American inferiority stigma and become respected people by pooling their resources to become, perhaps, a Latin-American Common Market. A what? Are you kidding me? That’s impossible! That’s a pipe dream! But . . . is it really a pipe dream? I don’t think so. Why can’t Hispanics manufacture automobiles or airplanes or machines? Why can’t Hispanics create their own Space Agency? Why can’t Hispanics become major players in world economics and politics? What’s stopping Hispanics from becoming a world power? I believe it is their inability to dispense with their differences. So what was achieved two weeks ago by the walkout? Some say nothing! Some say it only disrupted certain businesses for a day. And yet, some would say that it had a great impact on the United States economy. But the next day, they all went back to work (illegally) and the events from that day faded away from the media’s attention. All of their energies were focused on the protestation of a Congressional Bill and their hopes of achieving favorable immigration laws. I say, instead of expending such energies to reach a country
that really doesn’t want them there, why don’t Hispanics do
something to keep their people in their own countries? Nothing should
stand in their way toward becoming something truly special. They must
put aside their differences, like the European countries did, and band
together to become an economic and political force to be reckoned with!
They must stop eating the crumbs off their master’s table and become
masters themselves, masters of their own destiny! What is your opinion? On a rainy September evening in 1995, Olga Cruz was driving on a lonely street in the outskirts of Canovanas, Puerto Rico. Earlier that evening she had been embroiled in an argument with her husband over his infidelity and his refusal to change his philandering ways. In a fit of anger, Olga stormed out of the house, and while she drove to her mother’s house, she fought against her tears of anguish and bitterness, and the sudden feeling of loneliness. She had decided to leave her husband for good, despite Efrain’s pleas that this time he was going to change. But she had heard him say those words so many times before, and though her husband would keep his promise for a few weeks, he’d always revert to his old self. So she made up her mind to finally break with her tumultuous eight-year marriage. Olga Cruz took her three daughters, ages 3, 5 and 7, forced them into her tan-colored 1985 Toyota Corolla, and decided right then never to look back. Her jet-black hair was dripping wet and her hands, for some strange reason, shook uncontrollably. Yet, the 35 year-old Olga was fully determined to start a new life. As she slowed the Corolla at a stop sign, her light-brown eyes squinted through the torrents of rain water that cascaded down her windshield. There were no overhead lamps on the street and Olga could barely see with the aid of her Corolla’s headlights. The howling winds rocked the trees along the edge of the street and leaves would come down, like the falling rain, and scatter throughout the asphalt thoroughfare. Olga had always been afraid of the rain, especially the lightning and the loud claps of thunder that followed it. But on this September evening, she was oblivious to those childhood fears because a sudden shiver ran up her spine. It was an eerie feeling; something Olga had never before experienced, and even the hairs in the back of her head began to stand. Something was out there! A strange and malevolent force was hiding somewhere inside the forest of trees beyond the edge of the desolate street. Olga Cruz made her full stop, looked both ways as the rain pounded her car, and just before hitting the accelerator, she caught sight of it! With eyes widened and mouth agape, Olga tried to focus on the four-foot creature that jumped out of the forest and seemed to be hopping its way toward her. At that very moment though, her reliable Corolla buckled for a few seconds and then simply went dead! Olga tried frantically to turn her car back on but it wouldn’t turn over; the engine refused to ignite. That was when Gloria, her eldest daughter caught sight of the creature too and began to scream. Olga turned around quickly and tried to calm Gloria in the best motherly voice that she could muster during those tense and harrowing moments. Soon, all three girls began to shrill and there was nothing Olga could do to calm them down. They were scared of their wits and so too was Olga but, for the moment, she would have to dispense with her own fears and draw upon all of her motherly instincts to protect her children. Olga turned back to see the creature hop once toward her car, then hop twice. Then, as if God had answered her prayers, the creature turned around and darted back into the forest. As the girls clamored for their mother, Olga fixed a long stare at the tree line beyond the street, exactly at the point where the creature had disappeared. She waited until she felt the creature was gone for sure, and then turned back to calm her daughters. The rain came down hard and crashed against the car with unrelenting fury, as if the helpless Corolla had been underneath a waterfall. After taking several more moments to pacify her daughters, Olga felt comfortable enough to try to turn on her car again. Her shaking right hand reached for the key that was still in the ignition and turned slowly. At first the car rattled and then the engine finally kicked over. Olga made the sign of the crucifix and thanked God. But before she could reach for the stick shift, she noticed that the creature was back again and standing right outside her window! The creature’s angular face bore two large, oval-shaped red eyes and its skin was like that of a reptile. The creature’s back contained a line of quills that ran down its spine, much like a porcupine. Blood dripped down from its mouth as if it had just eaten an animal, like a cow or pig or even a goat. For that one split second, Olga and her three daughters were catatonic; their hearts inexorably pumping as a result of their deathly fear of the creature that stood only inches away from them. All of a sudden, Olga felt her right hand grasping the stick shift and bringing it down to drive. She stepped on the accelerator all the way down to the floor, causing the wheels to spin wildly on the wet asphalt. Then, as the creature raised its hands to reveal long, sharp claws, the Corolla began to move. Smoke rose from the wheels as they spun on the asphalt, and in a matter of seconds, the Corolla shot past the stop sign and rumbled its way out of Olga’s hellish nightmare. Ten minutes later, Olga parked in front of the police station in Canovanas and gave an account of one of Puerto Rico’s most bizarre occurrences. The foregoing passage is perhaps one of hundreds of similar reports made during the middle to late 1990’s concerning sightings of a hideous creature. The creature, mentioned in Olga Cruz’s ordeal, is known in UFO circles as an Anomalous Biological Entity (“ABE”). It is more popularly known as “El Chupacabra” or “Goat Sucker”. But what exactly is this creature? Some say that it is a cross between one of those “Grey” aliens and a porcupine. Some say it is the product of genetic engineering gone haywire, and some say it is simply a mad dog. So why all the hysteria? Why have these bizarre occurrences spread not only to parts of Central and South America but even the United States? Is there any truth to the numerous sightings made on the island of Borinquen? Or is it an illusion of the mind? What can we make of all this? Well, I did some investigation of my own, albeit through the internet, and found a plethora of information on the subject. I am not going into specifics here but I can give you a few websites that write extensively on this most enigmatic creature. What I am interested in, though, is the whole UFO phenomenon. I have come to believe in my heart that the universe is so vast that there has got to be life out there somewhere. Perhaps we are the product of alien beings that came to earth hundreds of thousands of years ago and seeded the planet. Perhaps there are aliens living among us right now. I am not quick to dispel the UFO phenomenon because many people have stepped forth to talk about their personal and most terrifying experiences. Some are lawyers, pilots and policemen, and some are regular citizens. But they all share one thing and that is a strong desire to talk about their experiences, a desire so strong that they are willing to suffer the indignities of being ridiculed by the mainstreamers and debunkers. I’ve never had a UFO experience but I do like to
read about them. I cannot dismiss El Chupacabra, nor can I dismiss the
Roswell Incident or the countless other UFO stories because I feel that
there is truth in these accounts. In my opinion, I believe that aliens
have visited earth, and though I have no proof other than the thousands
of articles on the subject, something inside me simply believes in UFO’s.
What is your opinion? Have you ever had an alien encounter? Have any readers
personally encountered El Chupacabra? If so, then please share your experience
with all of us at El Boricua. And don’t worry because in this forum,
we will not ridicule anyone for stepping forth to talk about their experiences. Reader
comments “Well, my brother, the term “UFO” is unreal because they have been identified for a long time. Now IFO’s are as real as anything else can be. Too many people have testified, too many people who have had no contact with each other, have given accounts too similar for this be another lie. Every ancient culture, including our Taino [ancestors] gave accounts of these so-called “Unidentified”. It’s also another reason why we’ll never see a Reverend quote the Dead Sea Scrolls. The Dead Sea Scrolls speak of Ezekiel’s wheel, describing it as a spacecraft, and it also quotes the planet it came from. Like you said, there is lots of information out there. Siempre de Corazon, Suave.” Thank you for your response, Skindeep. Indeed, the
evidence regarding extra-terrestrial objects or beings is not only compelling
but it is overwhelming, too. Perhaps one day, the governments of the world
will come clean and fess up this great secret. For those who have seen
or have had contact with extra-terrestrial entities, there is no need
for them to wait on the governments of the world to tell them what they
already know. But for those who do not believe, I bet it will come as
a great shock to them. Regarding the Dead Sea Scrolls, I believe that
these ancient writings have forced the world’s religions to re-think
certain aspects of their faiths. When I first read the book of Ezekiel,
I thought the man was on acid and was experiencing a bad trip. But then
on my second read of the passages, I couldn’t help but to draw parallels
between his account and those mentioned in UFO sightings. I have seen
television documentaries about the Dead Sea Scrolls, but outside of this
I know nothing about them. They are as mysterious as they are profound.
David Sanchez writes, Mr. Ramos, I would like to comment on your article “ABE”. For many years I was the kind of person that always required proof before believing in things. I had always thought it absurd that people actually witnessed Unidentified Flying Objects, or experienced abductions by aliens bent on performing exotic probes on their bodies. Basically, I rejected the UFO thing as a myth and always refused to participate in such conversations. But I had a UFO experience that changed my entire outlook on this subject. About four years ago, my brother Rick and I were hiking in the mountains of Pennsylvania all day, and pitched our tents for the night in a very secluded, dark and remote part of the woods. All had gone well and, except for the sound of a steady breeze rustling the leaves in the trees or the hoot of an owl, the night was quiet. My brother had started a small campfire and was brewing some coffee, while I was busy inside the tent un-rolling our sleeping bags. I had already set up my sleeping bag but as I reached for Rick’s bag, I heard my brother calling me. It was the sound of terror in Rick’s voice that captured my attention because my brother never got exited; he was always an easy going guy and was usually very quiet and reserved. I stepped out of the tent and saw that Rick had dropped his coffee mug on the ground and was looking up into the darkened skies, his body seemed frozen and his face looked as if he had seen a ghost. When I turned up to see what had captured my brother’s attention, I froze too! What my brother and I saw was a triangular-shaped object that was shining a narrow beam of light down at the woods, apparently searching for something. Now I don’t know what this UFO was searching for but I am very grateful that the beam of light did not shine on the two of us. The most striking thing about this object though was that I heard no engine sounds like one might expect from a conventional aircraft. Then, all of a sudden, this UFO shot straight up into the skies, made a right-angle turn and moved westward at such an incredible speed that it seemed to have simply vanished right before our eyes. I know that what I witnessed that night four years ago was not of this earth and since then I have become a believer. I never talk about that incident because people usually give me a strange look, like I’m nuts or something. But after reading your article I wanted to share this story with your readers. My brother has never spoken about that night and I never bring up the subject. I know he was really shaken that night so unless he wants to talk about, it will remain an unspoken incident between us. I have read many books on the UFO subject and read personal accounts of abductions. What I want to know is if the governments of the world are aware that aliens are visiting our planet, or have been visiting us since ancient times, what are they doing about it, and why so much secrecy? Well, I could go on and on so I’ll just end it here. I hope other readers will share their personal stories on your column, Mr. Ramos. Thank for your response Mr. Sanchez. Wow! As I read your personal account, I couldn’t help but wonder what might have happened to you and your brother had that beam of light shone on your campsite. I live in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania, and I know how dark and desolate the woods can be at night. You and your brother were out there all by yourselves, and I can’t even imagine how terrified you would have been had the UFO made a turn and head straight for you. Regarding your concerns about the government knowing about UFO’s and keeping it all a secret, I’m afraid I don’t have answer for you. Maybe the governments of the world are working with aliens, but toward what goals, I dare not think it. Or maybe they feel that in revealing what they now about aliens to the general public, it might cause civil unrest on world-wide scale. But what impact would it have on the religions of the world and those who believe so passionately in their faiths? Think about it. Sometimes, though we may not agree with the notion of secrecy, it is far better not to stir the hornet’s nest or open up Pandora’s Box. I would like to thank you for sharing your very personal story with all of our readers at El Boricua. Minaya’s Mets Management Madness For the first time in modern history, a Hispanic man has been hired as a General Manager for a Major League Baseball club. His name is Omar Minaya and he is the new GM for the New York Mets. So what’s the big deal? Why are newspapers, magazines and sports talk shows making so much fuss about Omar Minaya? Is it because Omar Minaya is determined to bring the best ball players to a team that desperately needs them? Is it because he wants to bring the Mets out of the prodigious shadow cast by the New York Yankees? Is it because Omar Minaya wants to fill seats at Shea Stadium and bring respectability back to his childhood team? Or is it because Omar Minaya is a Hispanic man who has gone out and hired 14 talented Hispanic ball players? Some radio sports talk shows have lambasted Omar for doing what he’s supposed to be doing as a General Manager, and that’s going out and getting the best ball players your team’s money can buy. So why didn’t anyone make a fuss when the New York Yankees, the only Major League team with deep pockets, bought out Alex Rodriguez’ 25 million dollar contract from the Texas Rangers? Did anyone speak out against the Yankees when they hired Mariano Rivera, Jorge Posada, Tino Martinez, Bernie Williams or El Duque? Did the New York Yankees say, “Wait a minute, I think we’re hiring too many Hispanics.” I don’t think so. I think they pursued the best talent available and got it. Baseball, like all sports, is all about wining. Yes, Baseball is a game but it is also a business and a team that cannot win ball games cannot put butts on stadium seats. And an empty stadium produces no income. The fact is that Hispanics love Baseball and play it well. Hispanics from Cuba, The Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and Mexico begin holding bats before they start walking. Baseball is in their blood and in their hearts and that is why Hispanics excel in the sport. It is the job of GMs and talent scouts to search for this talent and they will go wherever necessary to bring that talent back to their team; case in point, Kaz Matsui, all the way from Japan. Will the Mets win ball games? I think so. Will they win more games this year than they did last year? I also think so. Will the Mets have team that can honestly make a run for the play-offs? Maybe. Is it too early to make a judgment? Definitely. In professional football, Head Coaches are given two to three years to build their teams before the media starts to judge them. We must allow Omar Minaya to do his work without distraction and without having to justify his every move to sports talk radio personalities who do nothing more than second-guess rather than taking up the mantle and doing the job themselves. Omar Minaya was born in Valverde, in the northern hills of the Dominican Republic. While his father worked, his mother taught at school. In 1965, Omar’s father was arrested for opposing the Dominican dictator, Rafael Trujillo. After spending two years in prison, Omar’s father moved his family to Queens, where they came to settle in Corona. At Newton High School, Omar became the star catcher, batting .489 in his senior year. He was drafted by the Oakland A’s and was sent to their minor league team. Unable to become the player he once aspired to be, Omar left the minors after two years. But Omar had another talent besides baseball and that was the talent of finding talent. He discovered Sammy Sosa and the rest, as they say, is history. Mr. Omar Minaya, you go boy! All Hispanic eyes are on
you and we’re going to stand behind you every step of the way whether
you succeed or fail. We know how difficult it’s going to be for
you because you will be under the New York Media’s spot light, where
one day you are a hero and the next day you are a goat. But you have shown
how well you have dealt with the media and that is an achievement unto
itself. Good luck to you, Mr. Minaya, and may your team succeed. I am
a New York Yankees fan. I have been a fan since I was eleven and I will
always be a fan. But because so much fuss has been made over you, I will
be rooting for the Mets this year. So my dear readers, how do you feel
about this Minaya’s Mets Management Madness? Richard Caban writes, “Well said, Tony. Although I do not know when you wrote this article, I think all the talk should have stopped by now. Minaya has proven his worth a million times over. Now I hope you see what a force the METS have become, and with Pedro back in the rotation, fresh and ready for the playoffs, I just want to say one thing: SUBWAY SERIES! If your Yankees care to join us, it won’t be like in 2000.” Thank you for your email Richard. I think I wrote
this article in the beginning of the baseball season, without really knowing
the outcome of Minaya’s work. I guess Mr. Minaya has proven his
worth, and he certainly has put those radio talk show hosts to shame.
Let us see now if the Mets and, indeed, the Yankees will face each other
in another World Series. There is no doubt in my mind that it will be
a very entertaining series for New Yorkers and a profitable one for the
city. “Minaya needs to seguir pa’lante and staying strong!!!” Thank you for your response, Mr. Peña. Indeed,
we shall keep watch on Mr. Minaya’s progress, and we shall root
for him on every step of the way! Benjamin Cruz writes, “Love what you wrote, to hell with the critics. Keep it up my nephew...” Thank you for your response, Mr. Cruz. To all my readers, Benny Cruz is my wife’s uncle and he is a die-hard Mets fan. At our family gatherings, there are always heated discussions over the Mets and the Yankees. They usually start as regular sports conversations but then turn into arguments and then digress into team bashing and finally all hell breaks loose. I, being a Yankees fan, against my wife’s uncles who are Mets fans— well you can imagine how that goes. Anyway, as I said, I will be rooting for the Mets this year because I want Omar Minaya to succeed more than anything else. I want him to prove to everyone, especially to those radio talk shows, that he did the right thing! English as a Second Language or ESL I grew up in a household that spoke only in Spanish. Up until the age of six, I had no knowledge of the English language, or that the world was replete with many languages. But for a young, Hispanic boy, growing up in a Puerto Rican family, there really was no need to know any other language. My mother, father and grandmother spoke Spanish and so too did my uncles aunts and sisters. Life was wonderful in my little world; a world that communicated solely in Spanish. I had no conception that my world would turn upside down on the first day of classes at Public School 196. Well as you can imagine, being spoken to in English and not being able to understand is a traumatic experience for a six-year-old child. But I have come to believe that children are resilient creatures, and their minds, at such a tender age, are as absorbent as sponges. I had trouble in the beginning, and most of the times I spoke two languages. When I didn’t know a word in English, I would substitute it for an equal word in Spanish. But this only lasted for a short while and before long, I learned to read and write in English. Today public schools have embraced programs, such as ESL, as a tool with which to ease the difficult learning process. While I am not wholly opposed to these progressive programs, I have to ask this question: are they really necessary? Do they really help Spanish-speaking children entering public school for the first time? Do these programs cause more harm than help? I had originally opined that these programs have a tendency to slow the learning process because children are being taught in two languages, which, in the end, causes confusion. However, my sister Maribel enlightened me to a few things I didn’t know. Maribel graduated with a Batchelor’s degree in Business and later went to graduate school, earning a Master’s degree in education. She is a certified teacher and teaches in an ESL class at an elementary school in Suffolk County, New York. Maribel explained to me that ESL is not only intended for Spanish-speaking children but for all non-English-speaking children. In her classroom there are children from Russia and from other parts of the world and the only language spoken in her classroom is English. While these meritorious programs tend to soften the trauma of confronting a different language, I believe in something totally different. I believe that if a non-English-speaking child is forced into an English-speaking world, he or she will have no choice but to learn how to speak English. As I mentioned earlier, children are very resilient and their young minds are keen and open to many things. My sister firmly believes in the ESL program, and as a teacher in the field there is no doubt in my mind that she will have a different opinion than I do. What is your opinion? Do you think the ESL program is helping children or is it a detriment to the learning process? Send me your comments to: Anthony
Ramos Professor Jeremy Lignelli writes, “I am a current resident of Mayagüez, Puerto
Rico and a current Teacher/Professor. I have been here in PR for three
years teaching English. First off, it is not easy to teach English in
the public schools here. Besides that being a separate issue, having ESL
programs established in the public school system is essential for all
non-English speaking students living in the U.S. I don't necessarily consume
my train of thought solely with public schools. Adult education in the
community college and university sector is also vital to our school system
in the U.S. These programs push the boundaries of language learning and
find new ways to teach languages (not just English). Mostly what I think
you talk about is immersion. This technique is the tried and true old
school way of learning a language (and maybe the best-who is to say?)
I personally enjoy a bilingual program. I feel that two languages being
taught simultaneously is a very effective way of learning languages. My
fiancé teaches at an English immersion school near my bilingual
private school. Often times, our schools are in competition with each
other. You could argue until you are blue in the face about which one
is better. However, the real deciding factor is the student. Each student
learns differently. I hope this helps or adds to the discussion.” Tina writes, “My wonderful Boricua friends, I worked as an ESL
teacher in public schools in PR for many years. I have to say that my
students developed excellent grammar and comprehension skills; and some
of them could develop fluid English language proficiency. The challenge
in teaching ESL in PR is that students hardly get to interact with English
language speakers once they are out of the classroom. So the oral practice
is very limited. In a Bilingual instructional setting, students can develop
more their oral English skills as well as their Spanish oral skills. Thank you for your email Tina. Frankly, the issue
of ESL versus Non-ESL remains continuously debated amongst the Hispanic
community. Some feel that the ESL program is not as useful as its proponents
so vehemently espouse, and some feel it is a valuable educational tool.
However, I still feel that scholastic achievement is based upon individual
performances and not upon programs developed by PHD candidates or educational
revisionists. I know that as a pedagogue, who is currently in the service
of the US Department of Education, you may think differently, and I respect
that. But since I am ‘old school, my opinion has not changed. Nevertheless,
I am very proud that you are currently involved and genuinely committed
to the educational process, especially for Hispanic children. Keep up
the good work! Thank your for your response Ody Rivera. No one is
arguing for or against possessing the skill of speaking two languages.
In fact, I think we all agree that being a bilingual, in some cases, does
give you an advantage over a monolingual. I speak English, Spanish and
a little French. I would love to learn more French because a trilingual
might have even more advantage over a bilingual. But that wasn’t
the central point of our argument. The argument focused on whether a program,
such as ESL, is detrimental or beneficial to non-English-speaking children
entering school for the first time. We discussed at great length and with
deep passions our feelings on whether children are given the opportunity
to prove themselves scholastically prior to being placed in ESL programs
or, by suggestive professional studies, placed on ESL programs arbitrarily.
Ms. Maribel Ramos-Cavanagh writes again, “I’m glad Ms. Figueroa has made up her mind, I don’t want to confuse her anymore with the facts. I’m disappointed but not surprised that MY FINAL response was not posted. However, it is only fair that your readers be given the opportunity to visit the websites listed and be more informed on the topic so they may have a chance to share their opinion armed with quantitative data rather than opinions based on personal experiences. Remember, one person’s experience does not apply to the general population. One size does not fit all when it comes to a child’s education.” Thank you for your response, Maribel. Your final statement
is correct and is truly what I believe. I believe that children, as are
all humans on earth, are uniquely individual and therefore should be judged
on their individual performances rather than on someone’s dictatorial
study. It is the essence of what I have been saying all along—that
the only way to determine whether a child needs ESL is to evaluate his
or her individual performance. Regarding your complaint that your final
response was not posted, I will check my emails and get back to you. Ms. Ivonne Figueroa writes again, Thank you for your response, Ivonne. The arguments for and against the ESL programs have been presented well, and I think that each camp stands firmly upon their belief. As I have mentioned before, I am from the ‘old school’ camp and feel that too much emphasis is placed in the psychological and socio-economic situations of young children. Though these aspects of life are important, I feel that psychology and socio-economics are intangible factors that evolve throughout the years and come to fruition when children reach puberty and adolescence. I think they are virtually non-existent in children at the age of six because their minds are young and innocent. I say this: Let their individual performances be the
deciding factor. Grant them same academic opportunities without intrusion
for however long it takes to determine whether or not children would require
ESL as a tool to further progress their education. I also think that in
isolating these children from mainstream academics at the outset of their
education is more damaging because it tends to stigmatize them with the
thought of somehow being mentally handicapped. How can scholastic aptitude
in children be properly gauged if those responsible for their education
have no knowledge of their performance in the first year or two of school?
Rather than relying on a cross-section, upon which statistics are based
and decisions arbitrarily made by the results, let us rely on individual
performances. Not to put too fine a point on it, and at the risk of sounding
repetitious, it is the child’s performance that will ultimately
prevail regardless of an ESL Program or not. But . . . that is my opinion! Maribel Ramos-Cavanagh’s answer to Ivonne Figueroa, “Actually, statistics play a vital role in everything that requires assessment and needs to prove validity. Would you invest in a company stock that statistically fails to generate a profit? Wouldn’t you want to know the number of Hispanic students that under achieve? Or better yet, how many Hispanic students are enrolled in gifted programs? Would you send your child to a high school that statistically, the graduates of the school go on to college? Let’s be real. Statistics are important and the more valid a study is the more impressive the statistics. Instead of fighting against the program, more effort should be placed in making sure these students are getting everything possible to achieve success in less time. It is not a matter of smart or not smart. There are many factors that contribute to the success or failure of a student – socio-economics, literacy in the primary language, emotional disabilities, family values, prior education, trauma (leaving a beloved country and forced to learn a new language and culture), etc. I suggest that you study the many research studies available on this topic so we can have a more valid discussion and be on par with information.” Thank you for your response, Maribel. If you wouldn’t
mind it too much, could you provide our many readers at El Boricua the
sources of your information? If you have any web links, journals, published
papers or books that focus on the need for ESL programs, then perhaps
some of us might be interested in reading them. I know that you quoted
sources in your initial response but if you have a list, please send it
to us so that we could post it on the site. Mr. C. Corrado writes, “Let's try to remember that not all teachers are
patient and loving with students with whom they cannot communicate and
that not all students have the innate intelligence to "absorb, process
and articulate" as well as others. Please let's leave the question
of conservatism and liberalism out of it; it is simply dumb to do so,
no offense! The central point of argument should be the educational -
learning process and quotients applicable under a revision of the current
cultural and historic backdrop. To say that because I learned English
under a total immersion school and class environment thirty or forty years
ago, that should be good enough reason for non-English speaking students
today to do the same is simply a shallow and ignorant statement, no offense.
Thank you for your response, Mr. Corrado. I think it does come down to a matter of viewpoint: either you are for the ESL program because you are a progressive thinker who believes that modern science can better mainstream non-English-speaking children, or, you are against the ESL program because it is your view that spoon-fed children become more dependent rather than independent. But as I said in my comments below Ms. Ivonne Figueroa’s rebuttal, it doesn’t really matter what school of thought we ascribe to because it is the student’s initiative that will ultimately prevail. There’s an old adage that comes to mind: “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”. Sometimes, in the processing of retooling and tinkering, we tend to ruin things rather than fix them, no offense. But . . . that is my opinion. To all my readers: Mr. Corrado is a wonderful writer who has his own blog on AOL. The blog is chock-full of information and well written. If you are interested in reading Mr. Corrado’s blog, please take note of the link below. http://journals.aol.com/lowatel/QuenosPasaPuertoRicoYoSe/ Ivonne Figueroa writes, “My response to Ms. Maribel Ramos-Cavanagh is: When
in doubt, use common sense! Statistics don't impress intelligent people
because intelligent people know all about statistics. We also understand
how 'studies made by professionals in the field' work. Thank you for your response, Ivonne. I think there
are two schools of thought here. On the one side, we have the staunch
conservatives like you and I, and on the other side there are the progressive
liberals. We, of the old guard, tend to look at things in a more simple
and pragmatic way, and feel that sugar-coating or spoon-feeding children
is a detriment or hindrance to their educational progression. Modern thinkers,
however, tend to look at the educational system in a more psychological
and sociological manner. They perform evaluations based upon these and
other noble precepts, and then ponder the results at great length. And
when they are done with these evaluations, they write books and scientific
papers for educational trade journals and then slap themselves on the
back for a job well done. In the end, it is all up to the individual student.
It doesn’t matter whether the student is pushed into a ‘sink
or swim’ situation or whether the student is the recipient of a
bona-fide ESL program; in the end it will always be the student’s
initiative that prevails. Ms. Maribel Ramos-Cavanagh writes in response to Ms. Ivonne
Figueroa, Maribel Ramos-Cavanagh writes, “Ah… The Sink or Swim method of learning a new language of yesteryear experienced by many up until 1970’s when the Office of Civil Rights stepped in and various court cases thereafter required school districts to provide services to this growing number of students. You are right; eventually students do learn English, but statistically, those without primary language support show little or slow academic growth especially at the upper elementary and secondary grade level. Kids usually achieve BICS within a few months. To achieve CALP takes much longer. So what are BICS and CALP? BICS - Basic Interpersonal Communication Skills are the
language skills needed in social situations such as the playground. These
skills have meaningful social context and develops within a short time
period because the language is not specialized. The problem arises when
teachers and administrators assume that a child is proficient in English
because he or she uses good social English. That is the goal for these children, is it not? The academic demands have changed dramatically since you were a kindergarten student. By first grade, kids must develop higher order thinking skills, be effective communicators, and have strong technology skills at minimum. English language learners not only need to meet the same academic demands as their Native –English speaking peers but they are also required to take standardized tests in English after 3 years in the program. I teach ESL – middle school, which is a pull-out/push-in program taught in English only. This method is the slowest in minimizing the academic achievement gap. Why? Well, because it does not provide academic instruction in the student’s native language. This is essential in order for students to reach CALP and raise their achievement levels as close as possible to their Native English speakers in as short time as possible. The goal is not to enable but to empower the students. A common misconception is that students get confused when taught in two languages. Studies (Collier, V.P. Bilingual Research Journal, 16:1&2 Winter/Spring 1992) show that students in Dual Language programs achieve higher academic levels than an English immersion program with some students outperforming native English speakers by the end of the 6th year. I believe specialized programs, such as ESL or Dual Language empowers students to achieve academic success. Imagine you are a 7th grade Spanish speaking student just arrived from Puerto Rico. You listen carefully as the social studies teacher is giving a lecture on the U.S. Government. You have no idea what she is saying and feel your anxiety level rising. You breathe a sigh of relief when the period ends and you go to your next class, which is ESL. You are relieved because the ESL teacher will explain the content discussed in social studies using picture and context clues, pointing out cognates, making the content meaningful and teaching you strategies that will help you understand the lecture. You are also relieved that the teacher is Hispanic and sensitive to the ways of your culture. In summary, any English Language Acquisition program is better than sink or swim. Does America want these students to become high school dropouts or does it want these students to achieve academic success so they can be productive members of society and not a burden? We need to ask ourselves: What can we [do], as advocates for Hispanic children, to ensure that the State Education Department is providing bilingual Spanish-speaking students with an equal opportunity to achieve high academic growth as their mono-lingual English speaking peers?” Thank you for your response, my sister. I knew you
wouldn’t fail me. In your response you mentioned studies made on
this subject, and I often wonder: how are these studies made? What is
the core sampling and the basis for these studies? No doubt the studies
are made by learned, and, I would imagine, objective people. Maybe the
ESL programs are a good thing, but I can only speak for myself and from
my personal experience. Perhaps I and others like me are the exception
to the rule. This brings me to my next question: Are there any studies
made on people who excel without the benefit of ESL programs or are these
studies mainly concentrated on underachievers? "When I came to the U.S., I was thirteen and going
into 8th grade. I went to a summer of language inversion at the public
schools. That did not nearly prepare me for immersion. I spend my 8th
grade confused trying to learn a new language and turn in homework and
understand Math explanations. It was very hard. To all my readers, Ms. Ivonne Figueroa is the editor of El Boricua.com. The
Cry Is For You: Borinqueños!
I wrote the article early in September of this year to coincide with Puerto Rico’s celebration of El Grito de Lares. However, as I wrote the article, I never contemplated or imagined the events that would take place in Puerto Rico later on in the month. On the 23rd day of September 2005, on the 137th anniversary of El Grito De Lares, Filiberto Ojeda Rios, a Puerto Rican independence leader, and leader of a militant group known as Los Macheteros, was hunted down by U.S. Federal Agents in Hormigueros, PR and killed. Numerous reports about the incident indicate that Federal Agents surrounded a farmhouse where Ojeda Rios was staying and that more than 100 rounds were fired. The Federal Agents then proceeded to arrest Ojeda Rios’ partner, Elma Beatriz Rosado Barbosa, and left Filiberto Ojeda Rios outside bleeding to death. Filiberto Ojeda Rios had been wanted by the FBI for his alleged involvement in the Wells Fargo robbery in 1983 in Hartford, CT. Reports claim that 7.2 million dollars were stolen and allegedly used to fund the independence movement and to buy medicine for the poor. In the days following the death of Ojeda Rios, many people spoke out against the Federal government’s decision to use September 23rd as the date for Rios’ arrest. Many people believe this date was intentionally chosen by the Federal Agents for symbolic purposes. In my opinion, I believe this notion to be true. I consider this a heinous act by the Federal Agents, a slap in the face to all Puerto Ricans whether living on the island or living in the USA. By choosing this date, the Federal Agents belittled the Puerto Rican culture and pride, insulted and stomped on Puerto Rico like an insignificant insect. What were they thinking? El Grito De Lares lives in all of us; it is a sacred date, an event that characterizes the Puerto Rican people. El Grito De Lares symbolized the Puerto Rican desire for independence and galvanized their way of thinking in the same manner as the Boston Massacre galvanized the American people in their quest for independence. What were the Federal Agents hoping to accomplish by choosing this date? Did they hope to bring the Puerto Rican people to their knees by disheartening them on the very day that they celebrate and take pride in themselves? In choosing this date for the arrest of Ojeda Rios and his partner, the Federal Agents may have grossly miscalculated the Puerto Rican people. I, for one, feel insulted and angered that Federal Agents have cheapened the significance of El Grito De Lares. I love the United States of America with all my heart. I love our democratic way of life and the things associated with the kind of country our founding fathers hoped America would become and indeed has become. But I love Puerto Rico too with all my heart and all my soul! And right now I am angry at the U.S. I am torn by conflicting emotions and disillusioned and my heart is imbued with abject melancholy. The Federal Agents have shown an extreme lack of sensitivity and outright disregard for our people and culture and that is something that cannot be forgotten so easily. I cannot comment on Mr. Ojeda Rios because I do not know enough about him and I do not know the facts surrounding the FBI’s case or their reasons for arresting him. But I can comment on the date chosen for Ojeda Rios’ arrest because I know in my heart it was intentionally done to remind us of the futility in seeking Puerto Rican independence. This was a clear message to all Puerto Ricans: Beware! U.S. Representatives, Jose E. Serrano (D-NY), Nydia Velasquez
(D-NY) and Luis Gutierrez (D-IL) have contacted the head of the FBI, Robert
Mueller, demanding an investigation into the agency’s actions. If
you want to follow up on this trampling of Puerto Rican pride, you may
wish to contact the above U.S. Representatives. Juan Peña writes, “It's been a while, my brother, but I haven’t forgotten about you. Concerning the topic of Los Macheteros, I set that Mr. Harry Santiago [a previous responder] needs to wake up! Whether the man [Filiberto Ojeda Rios] was guilty or not, he deserved a trial. They [FBI] were making a statement by laying rounds and letting the man bleed to death. Filiberto Ojeda Rios was a citizen of the U.S. and he should have been treated like one. If he was a criminal, the law says that you are innocent until proven guilty, and that process is done at a court of law. What kind of Jibarito are you [Mr. Harry Santiago] by calling a Machetero a criminal? Do I need to go into details [about] the actions [that] the [U.S.] government has taken towards our people? Can 7 million dollars come close to the damage that was done in Vieques? [Let] he who is without sin cast the first stone!” Thank for your response, Mr. Peña. I was beginning to wonder if you would ever write to us again. At long last you have written! I agree with you 100%. Every citizen of the United States has the right to Due Process, and the right to be judged in a court of law by twelve of his or her peers. It is a travesty that certain elements, within the institutions that are created for the strict enforcement of the law, tend to go beyond their boundaries and into a forbidden realm of authority. While this does not apply to all members of law enforcement, it is sad to note that their arbitrary actions go seemingly unchecked or not acted upon by those directly responsible for their actions. These elements take on the role of a jury, judge and executioner, and so what? It happened in Puerto Rico, so nobody’s going to care. But, had this happened in the United States, could the repercussions have been different? I think so. Look at what happened at Ruby Ridge or Waco, Texas. Because of the tremendous media coverage given to these two incidents and because of the backlash resulting from the government’s faulty actions, the law enforcement community has had to re-evaluate its procedures and methods for handling certain confrontational situations. Regarding Vieques, you are right, 7 million dollars is not enough. It just gives more credence to the sad notion that the U.S. regards the inhabitants of Puerto Rico as an inferior people and feels it can do whatever it pleases. Mr. Harry Santiago writes, “Sir, first and foremost I would like to commend
you on writing about our culture. Whether right or wrong, the educational
effect that your article offers is very refreshing. I'm a 46 year old
Jibarito that was born on the island. I came to the states in 1969 to
"look for a better life." Today, I'm educated, have two businesses,
live in a very nice area and have a lovely familia. Our family is well
knit and we keep our Boricua culture alive everyday through our language,
food and customs. Amigo, I grew up believing that Puerto Rico should indeed
become the 51st state. This was the result of our familia believing it
should. Once I became better educated, I realized that I no longer wanted
"Nuestro Pais" to become a state. Thank you, Mr. Santiago for your response. Okay, okay,
maybe I was a little too harsh on the FBI. And maybe the FBI just didn’t
really know that the day they set out to arrest Filiberto Ojeda, September
23rd 2005, coincided with a date we have been commemorating for over one
hundred and thirty-five years. Maybe they didn’t anticipate an exchange
of gunfire. And maybe, Don Filiberto Ojeda was the criminal the FBI alleges
he was. And maybe I was wrong . . . maybe. I just would like to ask the
FBI one thing: Please, can you be a little more sensitive next time? I
believe the FBI provides an invaluable service to the security of my beloved
country, as well as Puerto Rico, my beloved ancestral home. After all,
we are all humans and apt to make mistakes from time to time. It will
take me a little time, but I will forget this terrible incident and place
my trust in the good people of the FBI once again. Now regarding the crime
in Puerto Rico, it is unfortunate that the FBI cannot assist in matters
that pertain to the police or to local jurisdictions. This task must be
left to the leaders of Puerto Rico. It is they who have the power and,
hopefully, the wisdom to deal with these matters. It is troubling to know
that crime is so widespread in Puerto Rico and perhaps the offspring of
an economic condition that may warrant a closer look. Regarding your views
on an independent Puerto Rico, there are many who think like you. In the
end, however, it is up to the people of Puerto Rico to decide on their
future. Mr. Julio Gomez writes, Ms. Cynthia Figueroa writes, Thank you, Cynthia for your response. Indeed our people have been disrespected far too long. I don’t really know how much our two congressmen and one congresswoman can do to assuage the deep pain and insult wrought upon us by the FBI’s callousness and insensitivity. And although they have raised their voices at the FBI, I fear that nothing of significant consequence will come about, and that’s the damnable misery of it all. Unless we unite and shout in one clear voice, we will always suffer these kinds of indignities. I can only suggest that you write to your congressmen or your representative and demand to know the status of the FBI’s investigation into this unfortunate incident. Miguel Hernández Torres writes, “First, let me say that I believe Puerto Rico has
outgrown its democratization training wheels and more than ready to ride
solo. Everyone in Puerto Rico even the most ardent statehood advocate
refer to the island as—"mi pais"—my nation, my country
etc. And, when they use the term, "pais" they are not talking
about the United States of America. The mind-set is that Puerto Ricans
think of themselves as a separate people or, if you will, as a nation
and not as an appendage to the US. Furthermore, it's clear to me that
most Americans don't think of Puerto Rico as being part of the U.S and
those that do would be just as happy if it were not. Thank you, Mr. Hernandez for your response. While I concede to the fact that most of the rebels involved in the Lares insurrection were land and slave owners that found themselves indebted to Spanish merchants you must also understand that the founding fathers of the United States were themselves land and slave owners. Despite America’s founding fathers being slave owners, it did not cheapen or diminish their noble cause to rebel against imperial England. It took a civil war to finally abolish slavery in America but it was part of the growing pains of what would become the world’s only superpower. I understand your views that perhaps the Lares uprising was nothing more than a skirmish by inadequately armed and poorly trained men but at the very least it gave Puerto Ricans hope. And hope, Mr. Hernandez, is a powerful elixir and the impetus behind any acts of rebellion. To minimize the Lares uprising, as you have so eloquently put forth, is tantamount to calling the Boston Massacre a garden party. I disagree with you because the events and memories of El Grito De Lares are what Puerto Ricans draw upon for strength in their quest for independence. We must never erase that glimmer of hope. Regarding your defense of the FBI, I also disagree with you because nothing is done by the FBI without calculation. I am convinced they acted upon their political proclivities and propensity for symbolism. In short, it was a deliberate act made with the intentions of warning Puerto Ricans to think twice before exercising their God-given right to become independent. A long time ago, back when I was in elementary school, the faculty had invited a man to speak to the students. The man’s name was Piri Thomas. To an elementary student, with his mind on playing ball, girlfriends and other non-academic things, the name or the man incited no interest. We were all gathered into the auditorium that day in full assembly and witnessed Piri Thomas speak about his life and the trials that he went through living in Spanish Harlem as an adolescent and later as a young adult. Later on in life, I realized how important Mr. Thomas’s appearance was and how I cheated myself out of truly listening to what the man had to say. He told us that he was half Black and half Puerto Rican and said that he was proud of that because he had the best of both worlds. Most of what he said remains a blur in my mind because that was over thirty years ago. Mr. Thomas was invited to the school because he was a person of note. He had just written Down These Mean Streets, an autobiography that received critical acclaim. I have copied a description of Piri Thomas’s book directly from Barnes & Noble.com. If you are interested in reading the description, it will be displayed at the end of this article. Other half Puerto Ricans that come to mind are Tony Orlando (half Puerto Rican and half Greek) and Freddie Prinze (half Puerto Rican and half Hungarian). I remember a joke that Freddie Prinze once said after he became rich and famous. He said that he bought his mother a new house in the suburbs but that she found the neighborhood too quiet, so he hired a guy to sit outside and break bottles. Freddie was a funny man. I imagine there are many half Puerto Ricans living in the US and on the island, but are they outsiders because their other half is from another nationality? Piri Thomas never forgot his Puerto Rican heritage and neither did Freddie Prinze nor Tony Orlando. In fact, these famous people were very proud of their Puerto Rican roots and never once denied who they were. I feel that many full-blooded Puerto Ricans tend to reject half Puerto Ricans and I have grown to detest this form of bigotry. In my opinion, we full-blooded Puerto Ricans ought to embrace all half Puerto Ricans as our brothers and sisters, whether half Black, half Mexican, half Cuban, half Dominican or half whatever. These are very special people because in some point in their lives they will face an identity crisis. We ought to help them pass through this rough period in their lives by making them feel wanted and loved. We ought to show them that we will never reject them. What is your opinion? Can you name other famous half Puerto Ricans?
As he recounts the journey that took him from adolescence in El Barrio to a lock-up in Sing-Sing to the freedom that comes of self-acceptance, faith, and inner confidence, Piri Thomas gives us a book that is as exultant as it is harrowing and whose every page bears the irrepressible rhythm of its author's voice. Thirty years after its first appearance, this classic of manhood, marginalization, survival, and transcendence is available in an anniversary edition with a new Introduction by the author.” Shanelle Jimenez writes, Thank you for your email Shanelle, and thank you for
your kind words, my dear. Frankly, I really don’t know what to tell
you. Johnny Ortiz writes, “I read the article "Half and Half". I must say that I was very pleased at the way you articulate in your writing and helping the readers understand what you write. I wanted to write and mention to you that I am a full-blooded Puerto Rican and proud of my heritage, and when I see the P.R. flag I smile, but I wanted to share something. There are times when few people try to make me feel out of place because I do not speak Puerto Rican that well or that I grew up in a different part of town than most Ricans. I grew up with my sister and my mother who worked three jobs at times to keep us out of the rougher neighborhoods. What gets me is that those same people who try to put me down because I can't speak the language or grew up elsewhere don't even know their history, can't tell you what part of the Island they originate from, or don't know how the Island of Puerto Rico came to be! I don't believe that being 100% P.R. is [about] knowing the language, hanging a flag, or lowering your car. It is [about] knowing and being proud of the Puerto Rican [that] you are in your heart. My children are half and half, and I take pride in sharing with them their history and knowing where they come from, who they are and will become. Thank you for allowing me to share my thoughts. You write well and I look forward to reading your future articles.” Thank you for your email Johnny. I would like to thank
you for your compliments, too; believe me, they go a long way. Over the
years, I have come to an understanding. People can say whatever they want
to say, they can also react the way they want to react and nothing I can
say or do will ever change their minds or opinions. With that in mind,
I have resolved to disregard them and live my life according to me. Furthermore,
I do not have to justify my existence to anyone except for God, the All
Mighty. Johnny I praise your efforts in teaching your children all about
their Puerto Rican culture, and do not feel bad that you do not speak
Spanish as well as your island counterparts. Keep up the struggle, my
brother, you have a great responsibility in raising your children. God
bless you and your family! Mindblowinscorpio (Sheila) writes, “I just read your article, ‘Half & Half’, and the comments submitted by other readers. Well I also have a story. I have been influenced by Puerto Ricans immensely; well most of my family is Puerto Rican. I grew up in Spanish Harlem, yo hablo Español and everything, pero paresco morena porque lo soy. My mother and father were born in Puerto Rico, they raised me and my two sisters and five brothers as one big family. Only four of the children were my mom’s birth children, the others were foster children, which she later adopted. My mother used to say ‘Mai es la que crea no la que pare’ (meaning mother is not only the act of giving birth but raising a child—with the emphasis on raising because its the hardest part). I grew up eating arroz con habichuelas, doing everything you can imagine that’s Puerto Rican, and being exactly the same as any other Puerto Rican except for the fact that my biological parents were African-American, from Harlem. I remember as a kid, my mother and I coming into our building, my mother was ahead of me, I was little and a man asked me, ‘Is that your mother?’ It was amazing for me to have so many experiences like that and to have so many ups and down. I have my own family now, and I regret not teaching my kids how to speak Spanish. I'm starting to teach my little one, he's only two years old. But the thing I have an issue with is that nobody can look at me and see me for who I am. The only way they know I speak Spanish is if I come out and speak it, which I rarely do, or if I tell them, 'I speak Spanish'. When I do it's beautiful to be able to communicate in their language, especially other Hispanos who are not fluent in English and they love it. I've had neighbors from Guatemala, Colombia, and the Dominican Republic, and it's been a pleasure being able to speak to them in Spanish. I feel for the guy who responded to your article, ‘Half & Half’, and says he just found out that his father is Puerto Rican and how he finds it lacking not knowing the language. Language is such an important part of any culture especially for Hispanos. I would tell him: stick to it, embrace your family and your culture and keep working on your Spanish, you can do it. I hope that one day my kids will study Spanish seriously so I can converse with them. But even though I share the culture, the language, and a [Spanish] last name, I feel like I'm not complete because I'm still a morena and seen as such. My mother was great, she passed away almost two years ago; does anyone know anyone like her, a person who would open her heart and home to children regardless of race? She used to tell a story that when she was joven (young) before she came to New York, there was a young man who liked her in Puerto Rico but her parents wouldn't let her date him because he was prieto (black-skinned). My mom was a very white-skinned Puerto Rican. My father was special, too, who also passed away years ago. They're both resting in Puerto Rico, and I tell you: when I was there, in Puerto Rico, I did see dark-skinned Puertoriquenos, some were dark but you could see they were not African-American, and I even saw this one women I swear to you she looked African. God bless them all. I just wanted to share part of my story, thank you.” Thank you for your email Sheila. Wow! I just don’t know where to begin. I think it takes a very special person not only to open her doors to parentless children, but to open her heart to them as well. When my sister and her husband first adopted their daughter, I thought they were making a mistake. As time went by, however, I saw this child grow into a beautiful, intelligent and lovely young lady, and I thought to myself and said: ’what a marvelous job my sister and her husband did!’ I think the world of my sister because she did something that not too many people do. She opened her heart and her world to a child that wasn’t hers, she gave all her motherly love to her, taught her, nurtured her and made her feel every bit a member of our family. Your mother not only shared her love with you and with your siblings but she shared her world with you, and made you feel Puerto Rican in every way. You are Puerto Rican, Sheila, and you should say that you are a Boricua to whomever you meet! You speak Spanish and you were raised in a Puerto Rican culture in the same way that I and many hundreds of thousands of Puerto Rican-Americans were raised. Regarding your sentiments about how people perceive you, who cares? You don’t have to prove yourself to anyone! You know who you are and that’s all that matters! Concerning your regret that you didn’t teach Spanish to your other children, I, too, share the same regret. My children do not speak Spanish, but thanks to their grandparents, they understand it well. As I read your email I truly felt the love and admiration that you have for your mother and father, and those feelings and reflections are your treasure; a treasure that I’m sure you have already passed on to your own children.
Ms. Tiffany L. Williams writes, “Hola! My name is: Tiffany L. Williams. I'm also half Puerto Rican and half African-American. My father is Puerto Rican and my mother is Black. I read the article that you wrote on the El Boricua Web site, about Mr. Piri Thomas. I'm so glad that you wrote that article, I’m very blessed because even though I'm half Puerto Rican, I'm still treated kindly by all Hispanics, and, of course, even by other Puerto Ricans. As a matter of fact, no one even acknowledges the fact that I'm half Puerto Rican; they pretty much treat me as if I'm 100% Puerto Rican, but I speak very little Español. However I'm in school right now learning more about my language, and hopefully one day I can be very fluent in my Spanish. It's funny how people view you as a person of Hispanic descent. I have a caramel or honey type complexion and sometimes I have Mexicans thinking I'm Mexicana, and others think I'm either Brazilian, or Dominican! Everybody guess me to be everything else except Puertoriqueña. But I proudly say, ‘Yo soy Boricua pa que tu lo sepas! Just like the poem: My Puerto Rican pride I will not hide, My Puerto Rican race I will not disgrace, my Puerto Rican blood runs hot & true, my Puerto Rican peeps, I'll stand by you, through thick & thin until we die, but if you’re Puerto Rican, you die with pride…’ Muchas Gracias, Ciao!” Thank you for your response, Ms. Williams. How wonderful
it is to read about someone’s personal discovery and full embrace
of their Puerto Rican heritage. On behalf of all Puerto Ricans worldwide,
I welcome you to La Familia Puertoriqueña! I encourage you to learn
more about your heritage, your culture and your history. And yes, be proud
to be what you are! Ms. Yoly Semidey writes, “Hello Anthony I hope all is well and thank you
for inviting us to comment our opinions on the various topics that you
touch. I liked the article about Piri Thomas and have read Down These
Mean Streets. I came about that book while I was working as a Library
Page back in the early '80's and was fascinated by the cruel depictions
of the misery he endured growing up. [It] goes a long way to show that
racism still exists in our own "raza". There should be more
articles about our Puerto Rican authors living in the U.S. and their experiences,
such as Pura Belpre and Esmeralda Santiago, amongst others. Maybe you
can write an article about Santiago's "When I Was Puerto Rican"
and her experience. Keep up the good work Anthony and thanks for allowing
us to post our opinions here.” To all my readers: Ms. Yoly Semidey hails from San Diego, California. I am happy to know that we are represented well way out in the west coast. I have received emails from Puerto Ricans living in Hawaii, Florida, Illinois, Texas, New York, New Jersey, Louisiana and Pennsylvania. I have also received emails from Puerto Rico, Istanbul and Iraq. Our people have spread out and it is nice to know that El Boricua has the ability to bring us all together. Palante, mis hermanos y hermanas!!! Khalid Draper writes, Ms. Cynthia Figueroa writes . . .
Mr. Juan Peña writes, “I’ve read Down These Mean Street and Seven Long Times. As a matter of fact Down These Mean Streets was the first book I ever read from beginning to end, twice. Piri taught me a lot through his pen and paper. It’s been over ten years and I remember it all; Piri and his partner Brew, a true inspirational [story]. Just found out about a documentary called Every Child Is Born a Poet. I will be buying it! Half and Half is a sad story because it goes beyond a case like Piri's. What about those who live in the US who are full-blooded Puerto Rican but are treated differently because they were not born there or whatever the case may be? Hell we are half and half from the beginning anyway so what's the point? Sammy Davis jr. was also a half Boricua!!! Oh yeah. Stay Strong!!!” Thank you, Mr. Peña for your thoughts. Indeed, Piri’s frank account of his struggles is an inspirational story that all Puerto Rican-Americans, in fact, all minorities in the US should read. It is a gritty and brutally honest story told from the depths of Piri’s heart. You mentioned a documentary titled “Every Child Is Born A Poet”. I want our readers to know that this is a documentary about Piri Thomas’ life, his struggles, his coming of age despite insurmountable odds and his poetry. Any one interested in this documentary can go on line and type in “Every Child Is Born A Poet” Getting back to your comments, you are right: We Puerto Ricans have been a mixed lot from the beginning, so what’s the point in our rejecting half-Puerto Ricans? That was the point I was trying to make. In fact, my grandchild is half Puerto-Rican and half African-American and this child steals my heart everyday! There is no color barrier in my eyes, for all I see is a little boy who lights up my soul and brings me joy. Sammy Davis, Jr., how about that! Thank you for that one. October has been chosen as Hispanic Heritage Month, and so for the next thirty-one days we celebrate our diverse cultures in a myriad of magazine articles, television documentaries, shows and various other forums. But what does the word Hispanic mean? The word is derived from a settlement in the southern part of Europe’s Iberian Peninsula that the Greeks called Hispalis. After the Romans conquered the peninsula in 25BC, it became a province of Rome and was renamed Hispania. The Romans divided the peninsula into two sections and named them Hispania Ulterior and Hispania Citerior. The language originally spoken in Hispania was Celt-Iberian but after the Roman conquest, Latin became the predominant tongue. In the 5th Century, during the Germanic influx, the Visigoths and Vandals fused Latin with Lombard and other German dialects, and through years of evolution it became Spanish, the language we speak today. The name Hispania evolved over the centuries to become what is today España. So, to be Hispanic is to be from or have origins in Hispania. Then Christopher Columbus, in search a new route to the West Indies and despite the volumes of maps in his possession, got lost (really, he did) and stumbled upon the New World. Not long after Columbus’s discovery, Spanish Conquistadores came in boatloads. The Spaniards colonized the islands of the Caribbean, the great lands of South and Central America and parts of North America. Spanish dominion lasted hundreds of years and left an indelible imprint on these lands, as well as the indigenous and Creole population. During the 16th and 17th Centuries, Spain was embroiled in many European wars and suffered financial hardships as a result. The cost of these wars depleted Spain’s coiffeurs and the Spanish continually lost their Caribbean and North American possessions to the English, French and Dutch. The 18th Century saw Spain losing possession of South America primarily due the revolutionary efforts of General Simon Bolivar. The last of Spain’s possessions, Cuba, The Phillippines and Puerto Rico, were lost to the Americans during the Spanish American War of 1898. Puerto Rico and Cuba had the closest ties to the motherland because during the years of colonization and even up to the final year before the Spanish American War, many Spaniards settled in these two islands and brought over their distinct cultures from various parts of Spain. The years of Spanish colonization brought about the eradication of the Taino population in Puerto Rico, which created the need for the importation of African slaves to work on the plantation fields. We Puerto Ricans take pride in our unique culture; a heritage that began in the 1500’s and is still strong today. We call ourselves Boricuas; a derivation of Boríken, the original name the Tainos gave Puerto Rico. We take pride in our Taino and African heritage but somehow neglect our most common and predominant heritage, namely, our Spanish heritage. So what have we inherited from our Spanish ancestors? We have inherited the Spanish language, Christianity, surnames that are as ancient as Spain itself and idioms. Each of our towns has a “plazita”, which is an open courtyard in front of a Catholic Church—a basic design brought over from Spain. In Old San Juan, the cobblestone streets and alleyways complement the tightly packed colonial houses and the bastions of El Morro fortress, jutting out to sea, are a constant reminder of a bygone era, a time long ago when Spain was mistress of the world. We do not celebrate Christmas on 25th of December but on January 6, again another practice inherited from Spain. Our Salsa is not only of African origin but a fusion of African and Spanish. On the island, unique dances and folk music find their origins in Spain. Our culture is mainly Spanish but it is laced with Taino and a little African too. So why is it that we Puerto Ricans tend to embrace the Taino or African heritage quicker than we do our more preponderant Spanish heritage? Perhaps it is our need to identify with the island itself, and what better way than with the indigenous inhabitants of long ago? Perhaps there is a need to identify with the suffering of the African people during the harsh years of slavery, to identify with the rhythmic sounds they brought over from the Dark Continent and mixed with Spanish music. Yes, I am of Spanish decent—that much is self-evident. But how much Taino blood do I have? Is there any African blood in me? What do we really know about our genetic make-up? How can we tell? Do we take it for granted that we are the product of three cultures and accept the axiom because that is what we want to believe? There are places in Puerto Rico where African descendants have lived without mixing their blood. There are places in Puerto Rico where white, blue-eyed and blond-haired Puerto Ricans live. There are Mulattos, Trigueños, Blancos and Negros but the thing that binds them into a cohesive society is their unquestioning love of Puerto Rico. I may have Taino blood, but I have Spanish blood too and I have accepted this. It is my opinion that instead of rejecting our Spanish heritage we should embrace it also. What is your opinion? Diego, from Orlando, FL, writes, “You know, I was planning to write a much longer and thorough response to the article about our Spanish heritage. I just want to clarify real quick that not all Spaniards that came over came with the conquistadors. Many came later, whether to bring their much needed skills, or to find some land to cultivate where there was none in the old world. To condemn all Spaniards as bloody conquistadors is unfair and ignorant.” Thank you for your email Diego. You
are right! We should not condemn all Spaniards as bloody conquistadores!
You must be referring to the email responses from our readers, which varied
in opinions. I invite you to read my article again, and note that I wrote
positively about our Spanish heritage. I cannot say that my readers are
right or wrong, just respect their opinions though I may not necessarily
agree them. Aurora writes, Mr. Alejandro Luciano writes, Marshalla Ramos (no relation) writes, ”My name is Marshalla Ramos, and I reside in Brooklyn,
New York. I first clicked on your profile to find out where you are from
because you have similar features to my father, Emilio, and my uncle,
Johnny (‘Papo’). However, after reading your biography I have
to say that in many ways, I disagree with the point made about being proud
of our Spanish heritage. I think that this has been something I have been
grappling with for quite some time now. I am completing my Master's degree
in T.E.S.O.L, and am an avid researcher and reader. I have been researching
my roots since I was very young. All the facts point to the Spaniards
(‘Conquistadors’) being oppressors and not valuing the Taino
and African peoples' culture. I understand that they are a part of my
heritage, and when asked about my ancestry I include them. I am aware
that my ancestry is what has contributed to my identity. Yet, how can
one be proud of having been raped, killed and not being accepted for who
they are? Does your book delve into the other cultures that make up Puerto
Ricans? If so, I will be interested in reading it. Thank you for taking
the time to read my letter. Stay focused, positive and strong.” Thank you for your email, Marshalla. First of all,
I am proud of my Spanish heritage, but I am equally proud of our culture’s
Taino and African heritage, too. I have never omitted these contributing
factors to our ethnic make-up. While it is true that Spaniards mistreated
the indigenous peoples of Borinquen, as well as their African slaves,
so too did other Europeans in the Americas during that violent era. The
fact still remains that our culture is predominantly Spanish. We speak
Spanish, our surnames are Spanish, our Catholic religion came from Spain,
and our customs and ideologies are Spanish in origin. My new book, entitled:
‘The Angel Falls’, deals with the issue of slavery and the
mistreatment of the Taino population during the colonial days of Puerto
Rico (circa 1625). In my first book, ‘Profound Crossroads’,
I romanticize the Spaniards, but in my second book, I vilify them. So,
you see, Marshalla, there will be a balanced look at our Spanish heritage
from these two books. I hope to have it available on the net via Barnes
& Noble and Amazon very soon. I plan to make an announcement as soon
as it is released from my publisher. I may also print excerpts from the
book in one of my monthly articles. Juan Peña writes again, “First of all my brother I didn't leave anybody hanging if I give you a name as important as Rafael Cordero the first thing you should do is research, you know, go online hit search and find information but since you want to be spoon-fed rather than to go to Amazon.com, you will find a full book with his biography. As a matter of fact, go to El Boricua's home page click on Afro-Borinquen scroll down to the people link and the first name you will find is Rafael Cordero (this is where I first read about him). Now concerning freemasonry it goes back way before these knights of templar it goes back to the mystery schools of ancient Egypt for example explain to me why the freemasons (no matter what race they are) give honor and praise to the pharaoh Khufu whom they acknowledge as a black man? And explain why the women all strive to become true sisters of Isis (another Egyptian deity) and then explain to me why the Pope still worships the Black Madonna who is really a duplication of Horus being held by Isis. Egypt influenced everybody!!! As far as the Tainos go they came from South America and in South America all your tribes link back in one way or another to the Ancient Olmecs which means the people of the rubber because they were bringing rubber trees all the way from Uganda (in Africa). For example, explain how the Hopi Native Americans ended up with the same traditions as the Dogon tribes of Mali? As far as comparing religions how can you say that the Sumerians are pagan and polytheistic and that the Jewish are monotheistic? If you take a look at a Jewish calendar you will find that some of their months are named after those same pagan Sumerian deities. For example, Tammuz: does that make any sense? It does if you realize that the Bible that you read everyday came from those tablets like the Gilgamesh epics and the Egyptian book of the dead, read the 10 commandments and then read the 10 declarations of the pharaoh in the Book of the dead and than come back to me. What do you think Noah and everybody before Abraham was going by? Monotheistic religions came through the children of Abraham, and the Gilgamesh epics and their story of creation laid a foundation for the Bible. I see your point and we are made up of different cultures and no I wouldn't chastise anybody for loving their so-called Spanish heritage, but tell me: what Spanish heritage? I mean what did we really inherit from Spain, what did they give us to grow with? As far as people who relate with what they look like, it can go either way and I'll give you a perfect example. Take a look at Adalberto Santiago does he look Negrito? Does he look Taino? No he doesn't. But still he can relate like when he and Ray Barretto did ‘De Donde Vengo’ from the ‘Together’ album listen to the lyrics "si blanco fue Adan y Eva tambien, entonces porque es negra mi piel' and check this one yo vi en el teatro la muerte y passion, mas no vi un negrito en ninguna ocasion' and what about Barretto does he look Black? But still he was called El Watusi coming from the name of an African tribe; brothers to the pigmies. Now, on my final note, you said we have roots in Spain. If Spain is our mother country, then don't leave us HANGING, I'm sure all of us would love a history lesson on this mother who abandoned her children!!!” Thank you again, Mr. Peña, for your rebuttal. I must be honest. I didn’t know anything about Rafael Cordero until you mentioned his name in your previous email. But then again, you had no idea who this person was either, not until you came across his name in El Boricua’s website. Your comment that I want to be spoon-fed is unfounded. You see, Mr. Peña, when you bring up an important subject such as Mr. Cordero, especially in a site where thousands of people visit everyday, it is always good to tell readers little about that subject. When I read what you wrote about Mr. Cordero, I thirsted for knowledge, that’s all. Regarding your notion that Freemasonry goes back before the Knights Templar you are dead wrong, my brother. Freemasonry emerged in the period between the Black Death, 1348 and the War of the Roses, 1453. Before that date there are no trends or events that can be identified as leading definitely towards Freemasonry. Freemasonry’s tenets and practices are founded upon Egyptian and other historical ideologies and practices and perhaps that is how you drew your conclusion that this secret society goes beyond the middle ages. History tells us that the people of Asia crossed into North and South America through a land mass that connected the two continents. These people of antiquity became the Native Americans you speak of, Mr.Peña. They emerged out of Africa and spread out throughout Europe and Asia, so I must agree with you that Africa is the mother of us all because that is where humanity was born. Regarding religions, all I said was that despite the differences in theological philosophies, many religions share similar origins and stories. I have read the Gilgamesh epics, as well as the Hindu epics Ramayan and Mahabharata, I have studied Judaism and Islam, as well as Buddhism. So what I said holds true, Mr. Peña, many religions have similar origins and I invite you to read my comments again. Of all the cultures I have come across in my studies, the one that fascinates me the most is the Sumerian culture. I am presently studying this culture because it is the earliest known civilization on earth, going back as far as 6,000 BCE and predating the Egyptian civilization by 2,000 years. Regarding your comment that I left people hanging concerning our roots in Spain, please, please read my article again and see that I did mention Spain’s legacy and contributions to the Puerto Rican culture. On a final note I want my readers to know that although I disagree with you Mr. Peña, I respect your opinions. You never cease to amaze me, my brother. I also want to let you know that I didn't mean to insult your intelligence in my response to your previous email and if I did, please accept my sincere apology. Your replies and opinions are the kind that I look for, my brother! I look for sincere, tough and thought-provoking responses, ones that will stimulate El Boricua’s readers and push them into emailing their opinions. Once again, thank you for your reply. ____ Ms. Cynthia Figueroa writes, Mr. Juan Peña writes, “I have to disagree with you on that brother! You got it all backwards when you say [that Puerto Ricans are] a little African, some Taino and mostly Spanish. African influence is the biggest influence of them all; I’m talking music, art, science, religion, etc. Music is only a small part of it. The Moors who have their origin in ancient Egypt are the ones who civilized Spain, as well as all of Europe. We may speak Spanish but look at how it happened. The black man in America may speak English but he doesn’t call himself a European. Who brought rice and beans over to Spain? The Moors did. Who educated the Europeans on Freemasonry? The Moors did. Even the Taino culture has its roots in Africa. What is a Cemi? A Cemi is an intermediate between the humans and the gods in Taino culture. The same happens in Egypt where the priests of Shem or Sem were the mediums between the gods and men. I can go on and I’ll give you one more example straight from Puerto Rico. Who is our father of education? The man who is in the process of being made a saint in the Catholic Church: RAFAEL CORDERO, un negrito de quien Puerto Rico nunca debe de olvidar! Keep up the good work . . . SUAVE.” Thank you, Mr. Peña, for your response. It’s always a pleasure to hear from you even it has been a long time in between responses. Despite our disagreements, I do look forward to reading your comments with great anticipation. I am not denying the fact that African culture has influenced the evolution of Puerto Rican culture. In fact, our music is rooted in African rhythms and so are many other things like dancing, Santeria, etc. I think, however, you may be wrong about the Moors. Derived from the Latin “Maurus” Moors was the name given to the people of Mauritania by the Christians. Today about 70% of Mauritania’s population consists of Moors. In Mauritania, the term “Moors” is synonymous with both light-skinned Mauritanian descendants of Arabs and Berbers and dark-skinned Mauritanians of Sudanese descent. They do not have their origins in Egypt but you are correct that they originate from Africa. Mauritania is located on the western coast of Africa. It is bordered by Western Sahara and Algeria to the north and by Mali to the east and Senegal to the south. There is no doubt that the Moors were the keepers of scientific, mathematical and philosophical works and their vast libraries had no comparison in the ancient world. I do agree with you on this point. I further agree that African-Americans do not refer to themselves as Europeans but as African descendants. But then again, I think that everyone in America harks back to their origins like Irish Americans, Polish Americans, Italian Americans and so forth. We Puerto Ricans do the same. Regarding your notion that the Moors educated the Europeans on Freemasonry, I’m not so sure you are correct. During the Christian Crusades, a secret French organization known as the Knights Templar discovered ancient documents in Jerusalem. These documents were so controversial that it is widely believed the Catholic Church, in an effort to maintain their secrecy, paid the Knights Templar exorbitant amounts of money. The Knights Templar became rich and very powerful for hundreds of years and transformed themselves into Europe’s first bankers. They became so powerful that the French king, in concert with Pope Clement V, accused the Knights Templar of heresy and other sacrileges in order to break their financial hold on Europe. On October 13, 1307, nearly all of the Knights Templar were rounded up and executed. This date marks the origin of “Friday the 13th”. The few Knights Templar who escaped the mass executions fled to Scotland, England, where they continued their secret society under its new name: The Freemasons. Regarding Taino roots in Africa, I do not how you arrived at this conclusion. Just because two cultures have similarities in their religion, it doesn’t mean that they are connected to one another. Case in point: the great flood and the ark. Judaism’s story about Noah and the flood is similar to that found in the Sumerian culture and yet no two religions could ever be so diverse; one being monotheistic and the other pagan and polytheistic. Our people have evolved into a distinct society, Mr. Peña; they are racially diverse and unique. Puerto Ricans born with African physical features tend to embrace the African culture more quickly than they do their Spanish or Taino culture. Likewise, those Puerto Ricans born with Taino physical features tend to embrace the native culture more than they do the African or Spanish cultures. But what about the many Puerto Ricans whose blood was never mixed with African or Taino blood? What do you tell them, Mr. Peña? Would you stop them from embracing their Spanish heritage? Would you chastise them because they do not embrace either the Taino or African cultures? They are just as Puerto Rican as any Negro, Trigueño, Mulatto or Mestizo and if they want to embrace their Spanish heritage, then so be it, let them. On a final note, you talk about Rafael Cordero being
the father of our education but you did not elaborate. You left us all
hanging. I’m sure our readers would love a history lesson from you
on the soon-to-be saint, Mr. Cordero. “I found your biography interesting. I am writing because I had a defensive reaction to your affection with the Spaniards and I am struggling to sort this out for myself. I am just recently learning about Puerto Rican history. I am Puerto Rican and I was raised in Brooklyn, NY. The schools in Brooklyn taught little or nothing of Puerto Rican history. I’m now in search of a critical analysis of our history. Every time I read about our roots going back to Spain I cringe. I cannot get past the horrible atrocities brought upon the Taino by the Spanish people. I cannot seem to get past this or maybe I just don’t want to. I think our true ancestors deserve more. To honor the Spaniards who persecuted and annihilated the Tainos just doesn’t make sense. Can you help me understand this?” Hi Shirley, The Question of Puerto Rico’s Future: Commonwealth, Statehood or Independence The Cry for Independence The militia was led by a small cavalry, carrying with them the new rebel flag designed by Dr. Betances. By the morning of September 24, 1868, Manuel Rojas and his militia had occupied the town of Lares with very little resistance, declaring a provisional government for La Republica de Puerto Rico. The idea | |
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.