I have enjoyed writing my blogs because it gives me the opportunity to see how I have changed the ways in which I think and feel about Puerto Rico. However there is one thing that still intrigues me everyday. That is the Partido Popular Democrático, los populares.
It is easy for someone, including myself, to come in here and take a look at this party and say "They support their colonial status." But after I did some studying on the PPD I discovered that this party was monumental for the island. This was the party that established the Estado Libre Asociado, the Commonwealth.
1952 was the inaugural year of the Commonwealth. The Puerto Ricans were given the right to pen their own constitution. This document gave them the right to vote for their own governor. Prior to 1952, Puerto Ricans were appointed a governor, and everything was directed from Washington.
Essentially, the Estado Libre Asociado was a huge step. Now with their own constitution they were able to limit the instruction of English and place emphasis on their native language (Before 1952 many American born teachers were here on the island and English was the official language, but the PPD promoted Spanish and almost all American teachers returned to the states). Today, students are obligated to take English in public school, but just one class a day.
Hence, the Puerto Ricans could elect their own governor, and speak their own language. This was a complement to their already present American citizenship, as well as a heavily US subsided economy - life was looking much better. They were able to reap the benefits of being a state while still being a different entity.
Gary Voight, author of "Isla Verde," is an American who lived in PR for 26 years said Puerto Rico was the first colony to abuse it's colonizer. That statement is extraordinary. I think it is a fascinating way to describe the US/PR relationship.
For the most part I think its true. I think that is why the PPD still continues to be a driving force on the island. It seems to be a sense of pride for them. Because here are some of the main arguments that I hear frequently from los Populares:
1. I like having our own team in the Olympics.
2. I like having our own flag.
3. Spanish is the language of our parents.
4. We aren't completely assimilated to the United States.
But here is where I don't understand the PPD. I wouldn't be so concerned about being completely assimilated into the US, its too late. Look around, this really cannot get any more Americanized. Wendy's, Subway, Quizno's, McDonald's, Burger King, KFC and Leeann Chin's sprinkle the highways. Huge malls identical to the US which feature stores such as: JC Penny, Sears, Wal-Mart, K-Mart, Walgreen's and Sam's Club. Or the fact that I turn on my tv and my cable is all from the US, with a few Spanish channels here and there. Sadly, all this stuff, mostly crappy American food and huge department stores, make you feel awkwardly at home.
To also have the opportunity to live here during an election year has been nothing but a learning experience. As I have previously mentioned June 1st will be the Democratic Primary. Just now is propaganda for both candidates going up. In San Juan there are two huge Obama posters that stretch across a building and a parking ramp that say "Puerto Rico con Obama" and little signs in yards that read "Puertorriqueños con Hillary." It just doesn't make sense how we can ask for their participation in the nominee process but ignore it in a general election. Voting in the primaries is like a consolation prize. There is some moral victory but in the end you're still losing. Therefore those arguments mentioned by los populares do not carry much weight. Puerto Rico is being severely limited and it seems to be the people just continue on day to day in this semi-satisfied static state of mind.
To sum it up, it is impressive for Puerto Rico to hold on to their language, music, and food without being "completely assimilated" into the US. But I don't think turning it into a state would change much at all. The Spanish could be retained, as it would be a violation of the first amendment. The time is near for Puerto Rico to be given a path to independence or a plan for statehood. So PPD don't be afraid of assimilating, give your people their the chance to be a sovereign nation. Or the chance to be heard in their country.
Thank you for reading.
*Clarification, The Puerto Ricans right to elect their Governor was acquired in 1947 and has nothing to do with the constitutional changes in 1952 . The real political status change was in 1947...excuse me.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Thursday, May 15, 2008
I Should Send this to Barack
Dear Senator Barack Obama,
Your message has been one literally of "change." You have sparked hope in the heart of millions of Americans. You have also spoken of unity. You said in your keynote address at the 2004 Democratic National Convention "There's not a black America, and white America and Latino America and Asian America; there's the United States of America."
But what about Puerto Rico? Mr. Obama, there is a Latino America, and it is Puerto Rico. This is a territory that has been lost along the way. You don't hear too much from the Virgin Islands or Guam,smaller tourist / naval bases, but Puerto Rico is a territory of 3.8 million American citizens. Or to put it this way - 3.8 million American citizens that are prohibited from voting.
We can not just let it sit here in this confused hybrid-like state. The Commonwealth was meant to be a transition, not permanent. The Puerto Ricans deserve better. Consider this, 48,000 Puerto Ricans served in the Vietnam War, 345 of them died. Puerto Ricans were silenced from voting throughout this entire controversial period (not to mention every other war we've fought since 1898).
After the womens and civil rights movements one would believe everything is square, right? However as of today, sadly in 2008, 3.8 million Americans do not have the right to vote. Where is the sanity in that?
Mr. Obama I am an avid fan of yours, so if you truly speak of these things "Hope, Change, Unity" this must be high on your list of priorities. Fix Puerto Rico. You said the Puerto Ricans should decide their destiny, I agree with you, but interest has to come from your part too. Lets give Puerto Rico their deserved freedom or their chance to vote in their own democracy.
Thank you for your time.
From Hatillo, Puerto Rico
Andrew Howard
Your message has been one literally of "change." You have sparked hope in the heart of millions of Americans. You have also spoken of unity. You said in your keynote address at the 2004 Democratic National Convention "There's not a black America, and white America and Latino America and Asian America; there's the United States of America."
But what about Puerto Rico? Mr. Obama, there is a Latino America, and it is Puerto Rico. This is a territory that has been lost along the way. You don't hear too much from the Virgin Islands or Guam,smaller tourist / naval bases, but Puerto Rico is a territory of 3.8 million American citizens. Or to put it this way - 3.8 million American citizens that are prohibited from voting.
We can not just let it sit here in this confused hybrid-like state. The Commonwealth was meant to be a transition, not permanent. The Puerto Ricans deserve better. Consider this, 48,000 Puerto Ricans served in the Vietnam War, 345 of them died. Puerto Ricans were silenced from voting throughout this entire controversial period (not to mention every other war we've fought since 1898).
After the womens and civil rights movements one would believe everything is square, right? However as of today, sadly in 2008, 3.8 million Americans do not have the right to vote. Where is the sanity in that?
Mr. Obama I am an avid fan of yours, so if you truly speak of these things "Hope, Change, Unity" this must be high on your list of priorities. Fix Puerto Rico. You said the Puerto Ricans should decide their destiny, I agree with you, but interest has to come from your part too. Lets give Puerto Rico their deserved freedom or their chance to vote in their own democracy.
Thank you for your time.
From Hatillo, Puerto Rico
Andrew Howard
Monday, May 12, 2008
My Two Sweet Gifts
I was at the Plaza del Norte this weekend, shopping for Mother's Day, when I picked up a gift for myself. I bought two hats, both can only be found in Puerto Rico. I bought a Red, Partido Popular Democratico (pro-commonwealth) and a blue, Partido Nuevo Progresista hat (pro-statehood). These are two unique hats, they look sharp, and they will always remind me of my time in Puerto Rico. However, I will never put either of them on until I get to Minnesota.
That's because I would really push buttons, I would make the Puerto Rican's political blood boil more than it already is. I know that if I went out with that hat some fanatics would flip because there is a gringo in their country making a political statement (even if I was just wearing it because the red hat matched a red shirt).
I already walked into my a friends house with the PPD red on, because I just wanted to get a rise out of him, and he looked at me and said "Ah take that shit off, thats colonialism!"
Subtle things such as this represent so much to me. From this I still see how far the United States is from Puerto Rico. I really could cause problems if I put that hat on. Some people don't want to see a gringo making statements, because thats not what I'm supposed to do, because its not my country. But then you stop and think for a moment, 2 of the 3 political parties advocate some form of United States participation. Shouldn't I be able to have an opinion? Wouldn't it be better if more gringos came down here and instead of get drunk and hang on the beach, actually show some interest in the country? Couldn't we resolve this issue if more Americans knew more about the actual situation on the island? Ask someone if they need a passport to go to Puerto Rico? I wouldn't have known the answer prior to April 2006.
It just sparked me as peculiar how my hats could cause an uproar. I believe that the Puerto Ricans should respect me for whatever hat I put on my head. I've lived here modestly, on volunteer living wage which is similar to what many Puerto Ricans earn. I've experienced many of the same frustrations Puerto Ricans deal with everyday (I'm single, but I know people that support their families on their Americorps wage! IMAGINE THAT!). I give back to my foreign community in a self-less job and live on foodstamps. I speak Their language, give back to Their community, participate Their society and damnit I feel I've earned the right.
Again, thanks for reading.
That's because I would really push buttons, I would make the Puerto Rican's political blood boil more than it already is. I know that if I went out with that hat some fanatics would flip because there is a gringo in their country making a political statement (even if I was just wearing it because the red hat matched a red shirt).
I already walked into my a friends house with the PPD red on, because I just wanted to get a rise out of him, and he looked at me and said "Ah take that shit off, thats colonialism!"
Subtle things such as this represent so much to me. From this I still see how far the United States is from Puerto Rico. I really could cause problems if I put that hat on. Some people don't want to see a gringo making statements, because thats not what I'm supposed to do, because its not my country. But then you stop and think for a moment, 2 of the 3 political parties advocate some form of United States participation. Shouldn't I be able to have an opinion? Wouldn't it be better if more gringos came down here and instead of get drunk and hang on the beach, actually show some interest in the country? Couldn't we resolve this issue if more Americans knew more about the actual situation on the island? Ask someone if they need a passport to go to Puerto Rico? I wouldn't have known the answer prior to April 2006.
It just sparked me as peculiar how my hats could cause an uproar. I believe that the Puerto Ricans should respect me for whatever hat I put on my head. I've lived here modestly, on volunteer living wage which is similar to what many Puerto Ricans earn. I've experienced many of the same frustrations Puerto Ricans deal with everyday (I'm single, but I know people that support their families on their Americorps wage! IMAGINE THAT!). I give back to my foreign community in a self-less job and live on foodstamps. I speak Their language, give back to Their community, participate Their society and damnit I feel I've earned the right.
Again, thanks for reading.
Monday, May 5, 2008
Puerto Rican Cuisine
Living on my own has forced me to improve on my cooking abilities. OK, after eight months my ability does not go much further than Healthy Request Chunky Soup, grilled cheese, or tuna sandwiches, but I still eat well. Since I'm pretty limited on cooking, I never pass up the chance to eat a nice Puerto Rican meal.
If a friend invites me over to have dinner, there is no point in asking what will be served, because the answer is already known. Over the past 8 months I have eaten more arroz y habichuelas (rice and beans) than I have in 23 years of my life. I would go as far as saying that the rice and beans that I consume here throughout the course of my year will probably exceed the amount that I will eat in the rest of my life. Before Puerto Rico, rice and beans would not have sounded very stimulating, but now I love it. With hot white rice, or yellow rice or however its prepared with some hot beans soaking over the top, it grows on you.
Another fantastic side dish or compliment to any dinner is the mofongo. Mofongo is usually made out of plantains that get smashed up and fried and when its done it is served to you in a heaping mound. It has a texture similar to mashed potatoes but not quite. Mofongo can be filled with anything, from chicken, meat or sea food. However, mofongo is best when you pour one of Puerto Ricos finest innovations over it. This innovation is the infamous mayoketchup. Literally a mixture of mayonnaise and ketchup. Tastes kind of like 1000 island dressing, but different. Any recreation is not a quality substitute. I've tried making my own mayoketchup, but I just can't pull it off. Mayoketchup makes everything a little sweeter.
Another favorite food of mine is the hot dogs sold on the street. If you take a cruise down just about any street here in Puerto Rico you can see little entrepreneurs on almost any corner. These hard workers arrive every morning in their restaurant, literally in their restaurant as they turn UPS like trucks into businesses. They sell everything, pizza, burritos, tripletas (a fantastic sandwich) and much more. My favorite is the hot dog. I just pull off the side of the road and sit down at one of these little businesses and enjoy a mouth watering dog. There is no such thing as cross contamination as I watch the man (or woman) use the same tong to pick out the hot dog, ground beef, and onion that he puts on it. I am not too concerned, that's probably more of a guideline than a rule. The item that makes these hot dogs fantastic are the little potato chips that look like little sticks. This extra crunch along with the ground beef, ketchup, mustard, and onions is delicious. I usually can get a hot dog and a soda for under $2.25.
Another excellent, cheap food are the pinchitos. When I say pinchito think of the state fair in Minnesota, because its on a stick. My favorite place to get a pinchito is at the most beautiful beach on the island, Crashboat, in Aguadilla. Every now and then on a Saturday or Sunday morning I will wake up and drive about 3o or so miles (with all the traffic lights 30 miles feelslike 100) westward to Crashboat. I only bring about 20 bucks because I know I will not spend more. Once you arrive to the beach you see about 6 or so negocios (businesses) barbecuing pinchitos out of their truck. The chicken and meat are good, but I have been opened up to the seafood pinchitos. I recently tried marlin. I have not tasted anything so good in a long time. Besides marlin you can get pinchitos of shark, shrimp, or dorado. The great thing is, each one only cost $3 (and only $2 for chicken or meat). So for only $3 you can get a fat pinchito, while at the Minnesota State Fair that would run you about $7 or so. So if you're ever in Puerto Rico and see a little truck selling pinchitos, do yourself a favor and try one, and don't be deceived there are thousands of little trucks claiming to be "Lo mejor pincho" or the best pincho, but they are all pretty damn good.
Another food that is very popular among Puerto Ricans is your typical American fast food. I think it would be interesting to see a report on how many Wendy's or Burger Kings there are per square mile. In my town alone I could take you to 3 or 4 Wendy's. The main chains here are McDonald's (with no dollar menu), Burger King, KFC (referred to by the locals as simply "Kentucky") Wendy's, Subway, and Church's Chicken (similar to "Kentucky"). I try to steer clear of these places but every now and again I am tempted, especially with Wendy's and Subway. I continue to convince myself that Wendy's isn't fast food, "it's Wendy's" just like the commercial says, so I don't feel as guilty eating it.
The Puerto Rican food goes on and on. I have omitted many fruits and vegetables (i.e. guayaba, and yuca) but this blog would run on for a long time. If you do ever come to Puerto Rico make sure you try the local food, and don't go to a Mexican restaurant thinking all latino food is the same. Believe me, when I lived in Venezuela I remember people asking me "so what do they eat down there, tacos?" The food has variations from country to country. One last thing, if you order rum drink, ask for the Don Q not the Bacardi, because the Don Q is truly Puerto Rican and Bacardi is the big market company that is actually Cuban and was forced to flee when Castro instituted his communist regime.
Once again, Thanks for reading.
If a friend invites me over to have dinner, there is no point in asking what will be served, because the answer is already known. Over the past 8 months I have eaten more arroz y habichuelas (rice and beans) than I have in 23 years of my life. I would go as far as saying that the rice and beans that I consume here throughout the course of my year will probably exceed the amount that I will eat in the rest of my life. Before Puerto Rico, rice and beans would not have sounded very stimulating, but now I love it. With hot white rice, or yellow rice or however its prepared with some hot beans soaking over the top, it grows on you.
Another fantastic side dish or compliment to any dinner is the mofongo. Mofongo is usually made out of plantains that get smashed up and fried and when its done it is served to you in a heaping mound. It has a texture similar to mashed potatoes but not quite. Mofongo can be filled with anything, from chicken, meat or sea food. However, mofongo is best when you pour one of Puerto Ricos finest innovations over it. This innovation is the infamous mayoketchup. Literally a mixture of mayonnaise and ketchup. Tastes kind of like 1000 island dressing, but different. Any recreation is not a quality substitute. I've tried making my own mayoketchup, but I just can't pull it off. Mayoketchup makes everything a little sweeter.
Another favorite food of mine is the hot dogs sold on the street. If you take a cruise down just about any street here in Puerto Rico you can see little entrepreneurs on almost any corner. These hard workers arrive every morning in their restaurant, literally in their restaurant as they turn UPS like trucks into businesses. They sell everything, pizza, burritos, tripletas (a fantastic sandwich) and much more. My favorite is the hot dog. I just pull off the side of the road and sit down at one of these little businesses and enjoy a mouth watering dog. There is no such thing as cross contamination as I watch the man (or woman) use the same tong to pick out the hot dog, ground beef, and onion that he puts on it. I am not too concerned, that's probably more of a guideline than a rule. The item that makes these hot dogs fantastic are the little potato chips that look like little sticks. This extra crunch along with the ground beef, ketchup, mustard, and onions is delicious. I usually can get a hot dog and a soda for under $2.25.
Another excellent, cheap food are the pinchitos. When I say pinchito think of the state fair in Minnesota, because its on a stick. My favorite place to get a pinchito is at the most beautiful beach on the island, Crashboat, in Aguadilla. Every now and then on a Saturday or Sunday morning I will wake up and drive about 3o or so miles (with all the traffic lights 30 miles feelslike 100) westward to Crashboat. I only bring about 20 bucks because I know I will not spend more. Once you arrive to the beach you see about 6 or so negocios (businesses) barbecuing pinchitos out of their truck. The chicken and meat are good, but I have been opened up to the seafood pinchitos. I recently tried marlin. I have not tasted anything so good in a long time. Besides marlin you can get pinchitos of shark, shrimp, or dorado. The great thing is, each one only cost $3 (and only $2 for chicken or meat). So for only $3 you can get a fat pinchito, while at the Minnesota State Fair that would run you about $7 or so. So if you're ever in Puerto Rico and see a little truck selling pinchitos, do yourself a favor and try one, and don't be deceived there are thousands of little trucks claiming to be "Lo mejor pincho" or the best pincho, but they are all pretty damn good.
Another food that is very popular among Puerto Ricans is your typical American fast food. I think it would be interesting to see a report on how many Wendy's or Burger Kings there are per square mile. In my town alone I could take you to 3 or 4 Wendy's. The main chains here are McDonald's (with no dollar menu), Burger King, KFC (referred to by the locals as simply "Kentucky") Wendy's, Subway, and Church's Chicken (similar to "Kentucky"). I try to steer clear of these places but every now and again I am tempted, especially with Wendy's and Subway. I continue to convince myself that Wendy's isn't fast food, "it's Wendy's" just like the commercial says, so I don't feel as guilty eating it.
The Puerto Rican food goes on and on. I have omitted many fruits and vegetables (i.e. guayaba, and yuca) but this blog would run on for a long time. If you do ever come to Puerto Rico make sure you try the local food, and don't go to a Mexican restaurant thinking all latino food is the same. Believe me, when I lived in Venezuela I remember people asking me "so what do they eat down there, tacos?" The food has variations from country to country. One last thing, if you order rum drink, ask for the Don Q not the Bacardi, because the Don Q is truly Puerto Rican and Bacardi is the big market company that is actually Cuban and was forced to flee when Castro instituted his communist regime.
Once again, Thanks for reading.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
