To Be or Not to Be?

Picture Courtesy of mentalfloss.com

In regards to Puerto Rican statehood, my opinion is that if Puerto Ricans are going to be governed by our laws and regulations, they should have the right to vote. Sound familiar?


The Washington Times on the other hand seems to disagree. According to them, "Past elections have shown that commonwealth status is favored directly over statehood, directly against independence and directly against some sort of hybrid arrangement." Apparently those favoring statehood, 46.3% in 1993 and 46.5% in 1998, is an obviously example of the previous statement.

However, even if Congress passes the proposed upcoming referendum, it is not obligated to grant statehood if Puerto Ricans approve by a small margin. So what is the harm of letting the voices of the Puerto Rican people be heard, at the very least.



Here is what one such individual had to say in response to The Washington Times article:


"Oh, the distinctive voice of privilege speaks. Us islanders should not even think about being so bold! Unfortunately for many, the imperialist era is over. Puerto Rico is a real place with real people. This isn't the 19th century; we can't live like this anymore. There are only two real options: Statehood or Independence. What other options are there? We have been living under a wretched non-status for 60 years (commonwealth is nothing more than a euphemism for colony). But sure, there are choices, just like eating is also a choice. You could *not* eat and die, or you could eat and live. But hey, at least you have the option! I would argue right now for our soldiers to stop enlisting, stop dying for nothing. Just comeback home already; the country you're fighting doesn't even think you have the right to vote for the man that sends you to your death. Give us our independence if you don't think we deserve the right to be a state (because that would be stealing an election, right?). We've been living in this horrid political, social and economic limbo for too long, and the time has come to decide, once and for all, what are we going to do. "There's nothing wrong with letting a free people occasionally reanalyze their governing status. " ...Just not when what they apparently want to change to contradicts with your idea of where they belong. But hey, I'm glad you cleared that up. I was wondering."
-treelifefun


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