Reflections on my nation

I'm Puerto Rican. Yo soy Boriken!

A few things happened in the past few weeks that really made me remind myself what this means to me personally and socially how it effects my existence. Here are some reflections:

On July 25th 1898, the United States invaded my country and made it it's colony, booty from the spanish-american war. Its been 114 years and my nation is still under the rule of U.S. Imperialism, they like to call it a commonwealth and guise it with all these technical terms. But all these terms and statuses were created to try and hide the fact that my nation Puerto Rico is the longest existing colony in modern times.

Because of this relationship my country is poverty stricken, american influence constantly attempts to erase the culture of my people and most importantly, we have no say in our socio-economic conditions but rather are at the mercy of decision makers in Washington D.C. We are "given american citizenship" as if its some sort of honor or gift..."Thanks for letting me steal your resources and colonize your nation...here's a free pass to come to america and be treated like a second class citizen". And they argue that we Puerto Ricans benefit from the U.S. welfare system and "have it good" compared to all the other caribbean nations who are not promised citizenship. I mean let's get it straight my mom and sister were supported by welfare when in Puerto Rico and when my mom was pregnant with me it was helpful that she could fly into the states and try to look for a better reality here. But why is Puerto Rico so poor? Why would anyone want to leave? Why do we need support from the welfare state in the first place?....it's really simple...cause our resources are taken from our island and we have no self-determination to try and chart our own reality as a nation.

I wasn't personally born in Puerto Rico, nor was my mother or father. Mom dukes is from BK and pops is from the BX. My mom didn't learn spanish till she ran out to PR and had my older sister, my parents meet out there at some nightclub dancing to Marvin Gaye and James Brown (lmao). I myself never learned spanish because when my parents asked the doctors in NYC Mt. Sanai Hospital in the early 80's, they claimed teaching me more than one language at such a early age would confuse me and stunt my development...hmmmmm right. But I still know that I am not an "american" but rather I am a Puerto Rican. Granted new york city is my home, where I was raised and the community I was brought up in and at times I even go as far as to use the term Nuyorican...I'm definitely not the same kind of boricua you find back on the island. But like all nations I share a common culture, identity, national pride, a common history. A rich history deeply rooted in struggle and resistance in a long protracted battle to claim our self-determination. A history that I feel even from my neighborhood of El Barrio here in New York City, facing some of the same oppressive conditions that my sisters and brothers exist under back on the island...and my own conditions that are particular to me as a member of the working class here in the states.

I value the independence and self determination of my people first as a Puerto Rican who wants my nation to have control over its own destiny and secondly as a worker here in the U.S. who is disgusted by any injustice against anyone...and let me tell you, being a colony is one of the gravest injustices in human existence.

And although conditions have always been rough in Puerto Rico under the yoke of america's rule, the recession we entered three years ago brought these contradictions out even more so(http://www.pslweb.org/liberationnews/news/from-defensive-to-offensive.html). And even though these conditions are painfully felt, with the right leadership qualitative change can erupt at the same time. Last year those leaders emerged in the student movement of the youth at the 11 campuses of the University of Puerto Rico and the Federation of Puerto Rican Teachers (FMPR) (http://www.pslweb.org/liberationnews/news/08-03-08-puerto-ricos-42000-teachers-st.html). Violent classes against the governement and its repressive tools of the police and national guard was culmuinated by a two month long shut down of the schools until the student body's demands were meet. Demands to not cut the budget for education and for the student body to have some say in the direction of their institutions and to end layoffs for the teachers. Ealier this year they went on strike again to make sure their demands were being meet. And they will continue to struggle for their rights as humans, as Puerto Ricans have historially always done.

U.S. president barack obama traveled to Puerto Rico this past tuesday, the first president to even travel to my colonized nation in 50 years, since JFK in 61'. On his campaign trail, then senator obama made nice claims of improved conditions on the island and some sort of "resolution" on the status of Puerto Rico...like really, who they hell are you to make any resolutions about the future of my people in the first place??? We couldn't even vote for you! And how about the fact that no u.s. president ever takes a stance on the status of my nation? Are they afraid to challenge those corporate entities that insure their power maybe? Maybe the pharmaceutical company who gets a vast majority of it product from the nation of Puerto Rico? And how about the fact that conditions are far worse under the Obama administration than they were under yankee doddle Georgie?  Am I asking the right questions yet?

So when you step foot on my nation's soil with your climate retarded suit wearing...trying to roll your R's ass in a chap attempt to get an increase latino vote here in the states...do you think I support your actions? But at the end of the day I know Obama has nothing to do with anything, but rather those corporate interest who really call the shots in D.C. from their small offices in Wall Street are the common enemy. So obama unless your willing to take a stance against the colonial situation and openly support the effort of my people's self-determination, I will not endorse your presence and empty promises to my nation! GO HOME!

So when I heard about the call from the independence movement in Puerto Rico to protest his presence this past tuesday and to make the demand for Independence and Freedom for the Puerto Rican political prisoners behind bars in the u.s., I knew my role here in the states was to support and promote their cry for freedom and self-determination! 

Some from the Puerto Rican community say its not our place as Nuyoricans to get involved in the politics of the island because we are not dealing with the conditions back on the island. And while it true I didn't grow up on welfare in PR, or get government "aid" when in need like the nearly 30% of unemployed in Puerto Ricans have to beg for today. I did grow up on welfare here in the states and face racism and classism daily, just the same as the people in my mother nation. And as a u.s. born Boricua I know I cannot say this way or that way is the best for the folks living on the island, but I know without a doubt in my mind, it is my obligation, my duty, to fight tirelessly for the RIGHT OF PUERTO RICO'S SELF DETERMINATION, the right for the people of Puerto Rico to determine their destiny independently! 

So I stand in solidarity with the Independence movement in Puerto Rico in word and action and echo their demands for a FREE PUERTO RICO! For the freedom of our political prisoners and a big "GO HOME" to all these politicians and their empty promises. And you need to too. Thanks for reading.