For the records
Resources Committee
Hon. Nick J. Rahall
Chairman
House of Representatives
Wash. D.C. 20500
Dear Mr. Chairman and all members of the Committee:
Please include this statement for the records of the hearing on H.R.2499 – The Puerto Rico Democracy Act, June 24th, 2009.
As a loyal American Citizen, residing in Puerto Rico I am writing to your Resources Committee because HR 2499 does not represent me or many of us even if it has been presented by Puerto Rico’s Resident Commissioner. The bill includes options that are detrimental to the well being of those of us who live on the Island and its surrounding Islets.
Any bill that split the cultural ethnic group known as Puerto Ricans between those that live on the Island and those that live in one of the fifty States, is not protecting the civil rights of the group nor respecting the will of the people. There are at least 4, 120, 000 Puerto Ricans living in the States while only 3, 800, 000 live on the Archipelago called Puerto Rico.
Since for the last four decades the people of Puerto Rico have voted in free elections with parties that cherish American Citizenship and have repeatedly rejected all choices of Independence and Separation by 95% or more, it is absurd to include it in any bill written for “self determination” that makes independence one of the choices.
Furthermore, there is no resident of Puerto Rico that does not have a close relative in the States. Personally my grand children and my step daughter live in Florida and New Jersey respectively therefore, independence would split my family as it would divide hundreds of families unless Statehood is adopted by all. Independence is conceivable but it is contrary to all humane and possible democratic judgments.
In conclusion, I believe that only statehood should be included in any Political Status seeking for self determination. After 111 years of a colonial and inferior political status, it is time to grant statehood as well as for Congress to discharge the responsibility bestowed upon it by the Treaty of Paris of 1898 and accepted by the USA.
Sincerely,
José C. Barbosa, Ph. D.
Korean Veteran, 1951 to 1953 as a member of the 40th Division and 538th C Eng. while on active duty and then 20 years of Army reserve and National Guard.
As a loyal American Citizen, residing in Puerto Rico I am writing to your Resources Committee because HR 2499 does not represent me or many of us even if it has been presented by Puerto Rico’s Resident Commissioner. The bill includes options that are detrimental to the well being of those of us who live on the Island and its surrounding Islets.
Any bill that split the cultural ethnic group known as Puerto Ricans between those that live on the Island and those that live in one of the fifty States, is not protecting the civil rights of the group nor respecting the will of the people. There are at least 4, 120, 000 Puerto Ricans living in the States while only 3, 800, 000 live on the Archipelago called Puerto Rico.
Since for the last four decades the people of Puerto Rico have voted in free elections with parties that cherish American Citizenship and have repeatedly rejected all choices of Independence and Separation by 95% or more, it is absurd to include it in any bill written for “self determination” that makes independence one of the choices.
Furthermore, there is no resident of Puerto Rico that does not have a close relative in the States. Personally my grand children and my step daughter live in Florida and New Jersey respectively therefore, independence would split my family as it would divide hundreds of families unless Statehood is adopted by all. Independence is conceivable but it is contrary to all humane and possible democratic judgments.
In conclusion, I believe that only statehood should be included in any Political Status seeking for self determination. After 111 years of a colonial and inferior political status, it is time to grant statehood as well as for Congress to discharge the responsibility bestowed upon it by the Treaty of Paris of 1898 and accepted by the USA.
Sincerely,
José C. Barbosa, Ph. D.
Korean Veteran, 1951 to 1953 as a member of the 40th Division and 538th C Eng. while on active duty and then 20 years of Army reserve and National Guard.
posted by Antonio Velázquez @ 9:56 a. m.
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