In this article reflection, one of our level 3 students discusses how journalist Aura Arroyo feels the relationship between the USA and Puerto Rico has historically been handled as well as the many different political options that remain undecided on today. For the original article, click here!
In this 2022 History Today article, Aura S. Jirau Arroyo writes about the challenges that Puerto Rico faced throughout its history, as well as the alternatives that the island might follow in the future regarding the socioeconomic and political affair with the US. She also states that Puerto Ricans are requesting plebiscites to express their wishes over the island’s political status and bind the US congress to please their mandates.
In the beginning of her article, she mentions the meeting between the representatives of the US democratic party ( Raul Grijalva, Nydia Velasquez and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez), and the island’s resident commissioner ( Jennifer Gonzales Colon) to discuss regarding the island’s status act, which if it’s passed, it would enable plebiscites that would enable Puerto Ricans to express their wishes on the Puerto Rico’s political future as well as bind the US to act on their mandate. The bipartisan group supports the act. However, others within the US and Puerto Rico, do not.
The writer moves on into how the US acquired power over the island’s territory, in which she explains that the US acquired not only Puerto Rico, but also the Philippines, and Guam after the Spanish-American war, and granted citizenship to Puerto Rico in 1917. The writer goes on to say that Puerto Rico became the first Associated Free States in 1932 in which she states the US has ultimate power over the island’s affairs. However, the only island congressman of the house of representatives has, as well as the Puerto Ricans no right to vote for the president of the US. Therefore, the writer contends that Puerto Rico is neither a part of the federation of the mainland nor a sovereign country.
The writer mentions three alternatives as a solution regarding the future relationship between the US and the island’s political future. She states that the United States-Puerto Rico commission determined three potential options for the island in 1966, two of them would change the relationship between both territories. The first one was to keep the Associated Free State, but it was so unpopular because it would not bring any solution and the situation would still be unresolved. She continues with the second alternative in which would get Puerto Rico annexed as a state along with federal tax responsibilities and the incorporation of English as principal language and other methods of assimilations. In addition, the writer says that support for annexation skyrocketed from 1960 onward due to the increasing importance of the welfare state’s subsiding of the shortcoming of the Associated Free State’s economy. Arroyo also adds that the Progressive Party which is the principal elected government in Puerto Rico, not only advocates for statehood but also has succeeded to collect non-binding plebiscites that happened in previous years.
Finally, Arroyo manifests that the last option regarding the political future of Puerto Rico means the end of any relationship with the US, allowing the island to be an independent nation. Many Puerto Ricans agree that this is the only way to become a sovereign country. However, the writer keeps on to assert that this alternative would mean the loss of the US citizenship as well as government funding which terrifies most of the inhabitants of the island.
Surprisingly, Arroyo mentions that a fourth alternative was raised in the mid 1980s as the federal states of Micronesia Marshall Islands, and Palau ended their territorial status after signing up a Compact of Free Association but they would still be receiving military and financial assistance from the US. Arroyo carries on to claim that this is a perfect option for those Puerto Rican who reject being ruled by the US but still want to maintain close economic and diplomatic affairs with them.
To conclude, Arroyo contends most of the island’s economic policies are now controlled by a group of officials appointed by the US president. The writer also mentions that federal bills have always been designed to reach political goals between Puerto Rico and the US. Although, political status is the most significant factor that will determine the future of the Caribbean island. Arroyo appeals that there are still some parts of the island where Puerto Rican are struggling with blackouts, water shortages, increasing prices, roads and buildings are not being maintained properly, and the majority of available jobs are underpaid. The writer sums up that living in Puerto Rico is an act of everyday resistance.
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