- Have you had a similar experience to Dayra Rivera's? If so, exlain...
- What do you think about other peoples' knowledge (or lack thereof) of Puerto Rico?
- Does Puerto Rico's political status confuse you? How? What about the social status? Is PR more American or more Puerto Rican? Explain...
- The BIG question: What do you think PR should do...become a state, become independent, stay the same, other?? Explain...
- Share this article with your parents or other family members. What do they think?
- Any other reactions, thoughts, questions, opinions that you have to this issue...
You should also start responding to your classmates' comments. Remember, this is a DISCUSSION with the whole class, not just with yourself. For example, "I really agree with ______ because _____." Or "I see the point that _____ is making, but I disagree because ________." As always, BE RESPECTFUL!!
Here is the link to the article:
State, nation, other: Puerto Rico tries to decide - Puerto Rico Daily Sun - Timely news about Puerto Rico, the Caribbean and the world
Here is an additional article about Puerto Ricans serving in the military:
Iraq War Hits Close to Home in Puerto Rico
I don't think I have ever been through a situation like that. But, its amazing how we can't even get an iPhone case just because we are not part of the US mainland. I find it very disrespectful what Vaughn Ward, the Republican from Idaho, said about it's not important what we are, that we are irrelevant. That's very ignorant when we risk our people for their mess of 9/11.
ReplyDeleteThe political status doesn't confuse me, I know that we just get certain things from the US. I think we are more Puerto Rican than American because even though we have fast food chains and other things from the US, we still have almost everything in Spanish and we still stick to our holidays that the US don't have. Also, we don't try to adopt to American's behaviors. We are our own people and we aren't ashamed of that.
I think we should stay as we are now, a commonwealth. Because if we become a state, we lose our identity, but if we become independent we will have a very hard time depending on ourselves.
My family was very surprised when I told them about this article, amazed how ignored we are in the face of Americans.
I have had a similar thing happen to me, but it isn't a big deal. It's just that sometimes I'm like in a website to buy clothes or to make an account and Puerto Rico isn't in the country category, so I just put U.S.
ReplyDeleteI think it's very wrong that Americans don't know we're basically part of the U.S, and they don't even care. We have all the stuff like fastfoods and stores as they have; we even celebrate their holidays and they don't even care about Puerto Rico or even knowing about it. It was very wrong what the Republican from Idaho said was very wrong. Because we are U.S. citizens. It makes us feel like we are from a lower class than them.
It does confuse me sometimes, but we are a common wealth, we're neither a state nor a country. I think Puerto Ricans are more American though, we have the same holidays, fastfoods, stores, etc... Our passports say U.S. citizens, so we are Americans basically, except that we aren't a state.
I like it this way, but if we had to choose I'd like Puerto Rico to become a state someday. I think it would be a lot easier, including politics and stuff. And we'd be treated more equally and Americans will not degrade us. It would be better that way.
My parents also think that we are looked down on and that Puerto Rico should become a state or stay this way. Because we depend on the U.S. for a lot of stuff and if Puerto Rico was to become it's own country, thing would be a lot harder.
Miguel - that is such an important point about Puerto Ricans serving in the military, but not having the same rights. If they are not even residents of the mainland, they can't vote for President, yet they can serve the country fighting and dying in a war!
ReplyDeleteAccording to this article, more than 150,000 Puerto Ricans served in World War II, Korea and Vietnam. I am not sure how many are serving in the current war, if anyone finds out, they should post it here!
Here is the article: Iraq War Hits Close to Home in Puerto Rico http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6401868
Hmm, the above link is not working, but I will post it in the original blog post above.
ReplyDeleteI have had similar things actually happen to me and it did include the same company that was talked about in the article, Apple inc. I tried to buy and "ipod" for Christmas last year and I couldn't because they didn't deliver to P.R. I still bought it though, only I had to send it over to my aunt, she lived in Florida. She there received the package and then sent it to us. It was harder and we had to wait even more! I'm outraged by what the governor of Idaho said. I find it so disrespectful. I also believe that people should learn more about P.R. When it comes to status, I really don't know what to say. I find it confusing. I know that P.R. has an Americanized society. We have the same fast food chains, stores, fashions, etc. Our society is based on American things as well as our own things. When I showed this to my mom, she was very surprised, especially with the part about Vaughn Ward.She said that he should care about P.R.
ReplyDelete*P.S.- there is this online store that has P.R. classified as a state. When I was buying some items, I didn't know what to do because I couldn't find P.R. But I remembered that a friend of mine told me that they did deliver over here so I checked the states and there we were! I was shocked!!
No, I've never experienced something like that, but I think that it is wrong. Because I bet that they sell those cases to other foreign countries and we have more rights of being an American than they do. Well I think that people just see Puerto Rico just as another foreign country, and that they don't really care about our culture or how it's applied in every day of our lives. Yes, Puerto Rico's political status confuses me because if many Pueto Rican soldiers are in the United States military why don't they have the right to vote on who their leader will be? I'd say that the majority of Puerto Rico is pretty much American because of the cloths, fast food, stores, etc. Maybe become a state because there would be better job opportunities, in other words a better economic status for every Puerto Rican that struggle every day to bring money that pays for the food on our dinner plates ^^.
ReplyDeleteMy family members said that it is racial discrimination because Apple is an international country and it sells to foreign countries like China, Japan, Europ etc, and not to Puerto Rico that is closer to being American than those other foreign contries.
i still havent experienced something like that! but i have heard of people talking of how us puertoricans being part of the US.territory are left behind in some things like what happend with the iphonecase or sometimes even worse i think that what vaughn ward said was very disrespectful and that he actually shouldnt have said that! i think that puerto rico should become a state because if it happens things would be a little bit better and they would treat us with the same rights..
ReplyDeletewhen italk to my family members about this they said that they are making this problem look bigger than it is because its is not racial problem it is a territorial.
Oh My God! I actually knew some people didn't know we were part of the United States but I really didn't know that we were ignored that way! It is totaly true, what miguel said that, Vaughn Ward was very ignorant with what he said, that Puerto Rico is not important! Because not only we Puerto Ricans help with the economy, we also play a big role in the US army and lots of Puertorican families have lost their relatives in behalf of the United States, which is totally unffair that they are putting us aside! Well I've been in a situation like this, kind of, because sometimse when we are on vacation the people in the US treat us as if we were intruders or so. I really think Puerto Rico should stay as a commonwealth, because that way we are kind of independent but also dependent in the US. If we stay as we are we'll stay as Puerto Ricans with the same customs and holidays, but with US support! Unlike if we become independent, Puerto Rico will be in economical and helath crisis, because those are the kind of stuff that we depend on the US. All I ask for is to let the Americans know that we are part of the United States even though we are miles apart from the mainland, and that we also play a big role in their army, economy etc.!
ReplyDeletewow! I cant believe that some people didn't even know that we were part of the United States of America, and how people ignores us and treat us like a lower class. its pretty sad and i think P.R should stay as a common wealth..! Puerto Ricans are very important and we are part of the U.S and we know that U.S would be nothing without their PUERTO RICO! its really frustrating and very sad.! Im thinking right now and I still cant believe how rude people are sometimes! P.R is very very important and im proud of being a part of my ISLAND no matter what. We actually help U.S alot with their economy and with The U.S army and so much more and they should apreciate our work!
ReplyDeleteWOW! I just can belived that some people did not know that we were part of the U.S.A. How peple dosent know about Puerto Rico I feel really bad about that,because we puerto ricans are very important!UGHH I can belived that Vanghn said that we are NOT important.How can Vangh say that Puerto Rico is not important.Even though somebody dosent know about a place,that person needs to know that every part of this world is important!Like the song says "We Are The World".We are also a big part of the U.S.A I mean we are good for them has thay are good for us.Americans need to find out all the things we puerto ricans can do.We are a very small island ,but with really big heart.For me Puerto Rico should stay as an commonwealth,because we will be a part of the U.S.
ReplyDeleteI believe that what 32-year-old Adriana Pons said about Puerto Rico being very American just because it has Costco, fast foods, and malls is not necessarily right. Just because we have fast food and other American companies doesn't make us more American than Puertorican. I agree with what Miguel said, we are really more Puertorican since we have our own customs and traditions that the U.S. does not have. I have been in the same situation as Dayra sometimes, many times I want to buy stuff from the internet and in the majority of the sites it says thay they do not ship anything to Puerto Rico, and that really isn't fair. WE ARE U.S citizens. It is really an offense to me about the ignorant people are about P.R. and the way they think of it. I think Puerto Rico should become a state. In my opinion, the only thing that would change if we become one is that we would have more benfits than the ones we have now. I don't think our traditions or customs would change if we become a state. Why should they? Hawaii is a state. Did they change their customs and traditions when they became a state? I don't think so. So, why should we? I showed the article to my parents and they were just so shocked about how ignorant people can be about this, and thay also thought P.R. should become a state.
ReplyDeleteMy opinion is that the peolple that want puerto rico to become independent dont know what they are saying. they just think in the past; growing crops and making coffee. i mean is not the same
ReplyDeleteI think that puerto rico is more american than PR, yes we had our traditions but we haved copied americans; for example . . the fourth of july; we always copy their new things and form of living. bevause they are more advamnced than us.
I believe that puerto rico should become a state, because we have ALOT! of things that belong to them. Walmart, Wallgreens, cosco, cold stone etc. i mean the majority of the things we have is thanks to them. imagine puerto rico become indipendent it will be a disaster; it all the meaning of the word.
my parents have the same opinion as i do. puerto is as advanced as it is thanks to U.S. i agree that is not the best to depend on them but is
the REALITY!!!.
I have experienced a similar situation as Dayra's, but it was from an online clothes store. They can't delivered the clothes to me, because Puerto Rico is a territory outside of the mainland. So, I didn't buy the clothes. I agree with Miguel, I find what Vaughn Ward said is very uncivil. Also, I agree with Miguel and Ms. Kaufhold about the military idea; that Puerto Ricans are serving around the world for the U. S. but they don't have the same rights as american citizens that live in the mainland. I think that the world's population know about Puerto Rico. A island where you can visit beautiful beaches, and eat a lot of delightful dishes. Also, many of Latin American countries know about Puerto Rico, because they have the "American Dream"; and we (Puerto Ricans) have the american citizenship they're dreaming about.
ReplyDeleteI think that Puerto Rico is more American that we thought. Because, we have a lot of their fast foods restaurants (McDonalds, Burger King, IHOP, etc.), many of their department stores (Wal-Mart, Kmart, JCPenney, Macys, etc.) Also, many Puerto Rican speak english and watch American series and cartoons. I think that Puerto Rico should be a state, because being a state we can have all the rights that we being american citizens don't have. Because, if Puerto Rico converts in a republic, will be a disaster. Look how we are right now, imagine if we will be a republic.
P.S. I have a question.
Do Americans will accept Puerto Rico as a state?
I really agree with Gustavo in every case because its true with buying online most of the the sites(or companies) don't have P.R listed in places they can send items and that just gets me mad because i have to send it to my aunt in New York or my uncle in Texas and its true it does take longer. So I guess it has happened to me what happened to Dayra. I actually dont normally think to much of what people say about Puerto Rico but what Vaughn Ward said that he doesnt care, but just about how he said it makes me mad because its so ignorant of him to say something like that. In status I really dont know, first because I'm confused myself, so for them to be confused i sorta can relate because right now they are just to many changes going on. I personally think P.R is more American but with a puertorican twist because were not completely puertorican because we have Walt-mart, Costco, Wendy's, Taco Bell, etc. but i also say with a twist because we also have real puertorican food joints, like in places very deep in P.R. but were just to populated over american things. I agree with Angelica that we should stay as a commonwealth because we at least, I hope, have back up. Because they're are many puertorican soldier who fight and die in Iraq, so were just basically helping the United States and we don't even live in the exact country and I hope that if something happens they will help us too, in return as we help them. And I asked my mom and she says that we probably wont end up being a state now but probably in the future.
ReplyDeleteADRINA - i desagree with your first opinion; i think that yes, we are very american because almost everything is from the U.S. Imagine puerto rico without marshalls, wallmart, costco, rave etc. and all the stores you go to, to purchase all the things you need. you can't compare the things from the U.S. to ours. the quality of the things of them are alot better than ours. i mean when you go to ''amigo'' you dont purchase the amigo cookies you prefer to purchase the one with the best quality . & almost everything that is better is from the U.S. :$
ReplyDeleteI agree with Natalia, we Puerto Ricans are more American but with a twist. The twist to be out of the mixture of three races. And have many customs that Americans do not have. As we celebrate Christmas, as we dance, our music and our food to delight the palate of all who eat it.
ReplyDeleteI haven’t experienced Dayra’s situation, though a similar one. Sometimes when I’m going to buy ballet items online, P.R. doesn’t appear as a state and it’s hard to purchase through the site. It is unfortunate how Puerto Rico’s political status is not clear and therefore it isn’t of much importance to many of the U.S. companies or to government candidates. This lack of knowledge of Puerto Rico affects us and our relation to the U.S. in many ways. One of these we could see in the article: Dayra’s experience. I wouldn’t want P.R. to become a state because it would lose many of its customs and traditions; it should stay as a commonwealth. I also agree that this situation has to change, as to becoming a state; because Puerto Rico’s political status is very unstable which affects us as citizens. I discussed this article with my parents and they considered that Puerto Rico receives benefits in some aspects but not in others, and that this is not right for us as a country.
ReplyDeleteI have to agree with many people here. we can say it is a whole other level of what we can say is racism. I mean we have man american stores including the apple inc. which at least with the problem that occured with her and many people they should acomplish what the propose and i dont think they made small exeption words that said that if youre from P.R. you cant recieve an iphone case. I say we should be a separate nation because even though we would lose all of their things and products that they export to P.R. but at the same time we will show our culture and that we have many potential to grow as a nation with our spices and cultural expretions we have and show
ReplyDeleteI disagree with the newspaper because it reads "The island shuts down and shoots off fireworks on the Fourth of July." We don't shot off fireworks, I find this disrespectful. We do celebrate the 4th of July but we don't shoot fireworks as the mainlanders do. This year's 4th of July, my New Yorker cousin come to visit and we were at the pool. At night he started to ask when we will shoot off the fireworks, and I was like "What are you talking about?". He replied "Seriously you don't shoot off fireworks in 4th of July?"
ReplyDeleteI haven't had a experience like Rivera's, but I can sympathize with her.For example my parents bought my laptop in the state and recently I needed to replace the battery , but when I went to the website I couldn't order it from online because Puerto Rico didn't exist on it's list of shipping places. I had to ask my brother to buy it for me from the states because of this. I think its kind of insulting that people don't really care about Puerto Rico especially some U.S. citizen when we are technically associated with them. I think it was very wrong what that man from Idaho said about Puerto Rico and saying it doesn't matter. Puerto Rico's political status doesn't confuse me really. I know that we are part of them, but not completely. I think Puerto Rico is more American than Puerto Rican. I feel that Puerto Ricans that actually live in the states have more pride and defend Puerto Rico more than some of the actual locals.
ReplyDeleteTruly I think Puerto Rico should stay as it though I think we should receive more benefits that the citizens have. For example my dad is a veteran and he applied for veterans benefits and so did another friend that went to war with him. The only difference was that while my dad apllied in Puerto Rico his friend apllied in The U.S. While his friend got full benefits, my dad only got 20% of it because he was from Puerto Rico. Even my dad and his friend compared their papers and everything was the same. Puerto Rico should stay the same because we are doing ok the way we are and if we suddenly change it will just bring more problems because many people will be mad with whatever decision it takes.I've dicussed this with my parents and they think that some people dont really understand the situation completely and are confused on what Puerto Rico is and what is going to happen in the future. I do agree on what miguel has said about risking people because of the 9/11 mess and think he has a big point in that.
well for sure i have never experience something like these, ever.i agree with john because the island dosen't do that, yeah some do but is because they choose it is illegal and i find it disrespectfull two. Another thing is that i feell left out sometime becausearicans see us like nothing, and is really direspectful sometimes that Puerto Rico dosen't appear in some of there site and many people dosen't see us as country and as important as they. but we have to admit that with out americans we would be alot behind in our revolutionaries like ectronic's and all that, but at the same time i feel sometimes like they don't take us seriusly because alot of thing that we use dayli come from U.s and all that.
ReplyDeleteDayra Rivera saw the letter as a slap in the face for Puerto Ricans: No, Apple Inc. told her over the summer, you can’t have the free iPhone case promised to U.S. customers. <-- these part really choock me because we are part of U.S and alot of thing that we use as a say before is from U.s and how they can't give us that oportunity so what are we?? nO body? sometimes americans get to involve to see that they are more people in the world, and should take in consideration the importance of other opinion and life's
I really agree with Miguel because the ignorance of many Americans makes them commit many errors and mistakes.For example, the U.S. congress doubts on whether they need a passport to go to Puerto Rico. If you go to Iraq or some other place were the U.S. army is you can see that in the first line many if not all are Puerto Ricans. This is to show how many Americans think and view us as outsiders. I'm not confuse on my political status, I know that we live under a commonwealth. I prefer to stay this way because Puerto Rico has a very different life style and different traditions. It will take us a along time to adapt to a new government and laws. But, also, if we separate from the U.S., it will make a critical effect in our lives because we are adapted in the dependence to the U.S.A. in the trading area and if we are not connected to the U.S.A. it will be harder trade to other places.
ReplyDeleteWe all Puertoricans are more part of the United States than independently. I agree with Miguel because we cannot get an ihpone cover just because we are not part or completely of the United States. And is also unfair not that our people died in 9/11 if not all people right now of Puerto Rico that are in the military. Sometimes I feel even bad knowing that some Americans doesn't care about we being part of them. We celebrate all their holidays and they even care about ours also we have all their fast foods or the majority and they even care it is very disrespectful ! I also agree with Yamilette because Vanhg said that since he doesn't know us we are not important and I think that everything and place in the world eventhought are little they are really important.
ReplyDeleteWell Ive never had an experience like that and I think some americans dont know much about puerto rico and sometimes are racist with us.I dont understand puerto rico's political stauts and I belive that politicians are a bunch of liars and thieves. I think we should become a state once and for all.
ReplyDeleteI have never had an expirience like that. I think Puerto Rico should stay the same, because if we become independent things will be so different for us Puerto Ricans. Puerto Ricos political status dosent confuse me, because I think is really clear of how our goverment works. My mom agrees with me in the fact that Puerto Rico should stay the same.
ReplyDeleteNo Ive never experienced that. I think americans are very nice with puerto ricans because when I went to the states they treated me nice. I dont understand puerto ricos political status and I dont care about it. I think we should be a state and live together with equality.
ReplyDeleteno i have never experienced that. i think that not all americans think about us liked Vaughn Ward did. i think that we should become an state because we could have all the benefits that the U.S. can give us. because than we could get the stuff we buy through internet to here to Puerto Rico. And i agree with Miguel, because is not fair that we cannot even get an iphone case because we are not completely part of the u.s.
ReplyDeleteThe reason to start a store for kids is to help your child learn the importance of spending their money wisely. Get more interesting details about clothes store for kids check out here.
ReplyDelete