By: Daniel Nardini
Puerto Rican Governor Luis Fortuno will hold another referendum on the status of Puerto Rico. Actually, the referendum will be two referendums in one. The first referendum will ask Puerto Ricans if they want to change their current island’s status from what it is now. The second is a little different. It asks Puerto Ricans if they wish Puerto Rico to become a state, have free association, or become independent? The chances of Puerto Ricans seeking independence is next to nil. There are far more Puerto Ricans who have an interest in the island becoming a state. Yet the largest number remains those for the current commonwealth—part of the United States but with autonomy.
I remember someone in Puerto Rico telling me that “most Puerto Ricans will vote for the commonwealth and that includes those who want independence for Puerto Rico.” This means that even though the Puerto Rican independentistas want Puerto Rico to be an independent nation, they know that most Puerto Ricans do not want this, and Puerto Rican independentistas definitely do not want Puerto Rico to become a state. Their fear is that statehood would mean more movement from the mainland United States to Puerto Rico of non-Latinos. This in turn would, in their view, lead to Puerto Ricans and the Spanish language becoming a minority on the island. Statehood in their eyes would mean the complete destruction of the island’s rich cultural heritage and Spanish architecture. Even if the independentistas do not like the commonwealth, they would prefer it to statehood. For both the independentistas and supporters of the commonwealth at least with the commonwealth Puerto Ricans have internal control.
On the other side of the argument, those in support of statehood, and it is a growing number of Puerto Ricans, means direct representation in the U.S. Congress and being able to vote in presidential elections. It would mean far more economic growth and being able to represent Puerto Ricans on the U.S. mainland as well as in Puerto Rico. This argument for the destiny of Puerto Rico is nothing new. Puerto Ricans have voted in similar referendums for Puerto Rico’s status since the creation of the commonwealth in 1954. Such referendums were held in 1967, 1993, and again in 1998. The chances are high that Puerto Ricans might just vote again for the status quo. But maybe….maybe….there might be a difference?
Another Referendum
By: Daniel Nardini
Puerto Rican Governor Luis Fortuno will hold another referendum on the status of Puerto Rico. Actually, the referendum will be two referendums in one. The first referendum will ask Puerto Ricans if they want to change their current island’s status from what it is now. The second is a little different. It asks Puerto Ricans if they wish Puerto Rico to become a state, have free association, or become independent? The chances of Puerto Ricans seeking independence is next to nil. There are far more Puerto Ricans who have an interest in the island becoming a state. Yet the largest number remains those for the current commonwealth—part of the United States but with autonomy.
I remember someone in Puerto Rico telling me that “most Puerto Ricans will vote for the commonwealth and that includes those who want independence for Puerto Rico.” This means that even though the Puerto Rican independentistas want Puerto Rico to be an independent nation, they know that most Puerto Ricans do not want this, and Puerto Rican independentistas definitely do not want Puerto Rico to become a state. Their fear is that statehood would mean more movement from the mainland United States to Puerto Rico of non-Latinos. This in turn would, in their view, lead to Puerto Ricans and the Spanish language becoming a minority on the island. Statehood in their eyes would mean the complete destruction of the island’s rich cultural heritage and Spanish architecture. Even if the independentistas do not like the commonwealth, they would prefer it to statehood. For both the independentistas and supporters of the commonwealth at least with the commonwealth Puerto Ricans have internal control.
On the other side of the argument, those in support of statehood, and it is a growing number of Puerto Ricans, means direct representation in the U.S. Congress and being able to vote in presidential elections. It would mean far more economic growth and being able to represent Puerto Ricans on the U.S. mainland as well as in Puerto Rico. This argument for the destiny of Puerto Rico is nothing new. Puerto Ricans have voted in similar referendums for Puerto Rico’s status since the creation of the commonwealth in 1954. Such referendums were held in 1967, 1993, and again in 1998. The chances are high that Puerto Ricans might just vote again for the status quo. But maybe….maybe….there might be a difference?