By: Daniel Nardini
With all of the talk about the U.S. national debt crisis, the three wars in Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya, and the Great Recession and the dismal jobs situation, few people in the United States really noticed the 58th anniversary of the establishment of the constitution that eventually created the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. But the anniversary is probably the only good news in that it is a case of not only having brought stability to the island but has also helped give Puerto Ricans the means to decide what the status of their island should be.
This has not been an easy path to follow. From 1899 to 1953, when Puerto Rico was ruled as a virtual colony of the United States, both the United States and Puerto Rico were having trouble coming to terms with what Puerto Rico should be. In fact, there was a much stronger Puerto Rican independence movement then than there is today. Even then many Puerto Ricans were not too thrilled about becoming an outright independent country. The Puerto Ricans only had to look at their neighbors to see how poor, unstable and dismal their conditions were. At the same time most Puerto Ricans certainly did not want statehood. They feared that their unique culture would be assimilated and eventually destroyed.
The Commonwealth, while not exactly the best of answers, was and has remained the best answer for the island. Unlike then there is now a struggle in Puerto Rico either for remaining autonomous or becoming a U.S. state. If Puerto Rico became a state then it could have a direct senator and representative in the U.S. Congress and the island could also vote in presidential elections. There is yet another faction among Puerto Ricans who are calling for “more autonomy” on the island than it has under the present constitution. No one is sure what “more autonomy” is. It could mean that Puerto Rico conducts its own foreign affairs. It could mean that Puerto Rico has a court system not entirely in line with that of the U.S. judicial system. It could mean more self-governance.
Whatever the conflicts are, at least one thing is clear—the present day constitution has worked for well over half a century and shall continue to work until the people of Puerto Rico say otherwise.
Anniversary of the Constitution of Puerto Rico
By: Daniel Nardini
This has not been an easy path to follow. From 1899 to 1953, when Puerto Rico was ruled as a virtual colony of the United States, both the United States and Puerto Rico were having trouble coming to terms with what Puerto Rico should be. In fact, there was a much stronger Puerto Rican independence movement then than there is today. Even then many Puerto Ricans were not too thrilled about becoming an outright independent country. The Puerto Ricans only had to look at their neighbors to see how poor, unstable and dismal their conditions were. At the same time most Puerto Ricans certainly did not want statehood. They feared that their unique culture would be assimilated and eventually destroyed.
The Commonwealth, while not exactly the best of answers, was and has remained the best answer for the island. Unlike then there is now a struggle in Puerto Rico either for remaining autonomous or becoming a U.S. state. If Puerto Rico became a state then it could have a direct senator and representative in the U.S. Congress and the island could also vote in presidential elections. There is yet another faction among Puerto Ricans who are calling for “more autonomy” on the island than it has under the present constitution. No one is sure what “more autonomy” is. It could mean that Puerto Rico conducts its own foreign affairs. It could mean that Puerto Rico has a court system not entirely in line with that of the U.S. judicial system. It could mean more self-governance.
Whatever the conflicts are, at least one thing is clear—the present day constitution has worked for well over half a century and shall continue to work until the people of Puerto Rico say otherwise.