Central Florida should pay attention to Puerto Rico's 'statehood' referendum -
It is a choice that has long divided thousands of Puerto Ricans.
The choice of whether or not the island should officially become apart of the United States has always been a hot button issue among Puerto Ricans. But on November 6, the residents of Puerto Rico will be asked that question yet again.
Should Puerto Rico become the 51st state in the union?
To understand why this is such a hot button issue, we have to look back at how the island got to this point. Puerto Rico was invaded by the U.S. in 1898 during the Spanish-American War. The island was originally a colony of Spain, but under the Treaty of Paris Spain ceded Puerto Rico, along with the Philippines and Guam, to the United States. At the beginning of the 20th century, the island was under military rule until the Foraker Act of 1900 gave the island a limited amount of civilian popular government, including electing House of Representatives and a judicial system that mirrored the U.S. Puerto Ricans were not grated full U.S citizenship until 1917, when the Jones Act of Puerto Rico was signed into law.
Which brings us back to the present.
The issue of whether or not Puerto Rico should become a state has never had a clear-cut majority. It is split right down the middle, half for statehood and the other half for it to remain a commonwealth or become it's own country. It is no different in Metro Orlando, which is home 300,000 of the 4.9 million Puerto Ricans who currently reside in the U.S. mainland. On November 6, the residents of the island will be asked what kind of status do they want the island want to have: Become a State, an independent country or a freely associated nation with legal ties to the U.S, which is what the island is now.
Any change in status would require the approval of Congress and the president's signature. According to the Orlando Sentinel, both President Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney both support the island's right to determine it's own fate. But because Puerto Ricans in general lean democratic, Republican officials would more than likely not support statehood, since the island would gain two senators and seven representatives who would more than likely be democrats.
Ocseola County Commission Chairman John Quinones, who became the first Puerto Rican Republican to serve in the Florida Legislature, says that the current situation is not working. Quinones told the Orlando Sentinel:
And that is what it comes down to. Puerto Ricans take tremendous pride in their culture and heritage. If the island was to become a state, many Puerto Ricans fear that it may cost them their culture and heritage.
Is statehood worth the risk?
We will find out on November 6.
http://www.examiner.com/article/central-florida-should-pay-attention-to-puerto-rico-s-statehood-referendum
The choice of whether or not the island should officially become apart of the United States has always been a hot button issue among Puerto Ricans. But on November 6, the residents of Puerto Rico will be asked that question yet again.
Should Puerto Rico become the 51st state in the union?
To understand why this is such a hot button issue, we have to look back at how the island got to this point. Puerto Rico was invaded by the U.S. in 1898 during the Spanish-American War. The island was originally a colony of Spain, but under the Treaty of Paris Spain ceded Puerto Rico, along with the Philippines and Guam, to the United States. At the beginning of the 20th century, the island was under military rule until the Foraker Act of 1900 gave the island a limited amount of civilian popular government, including electing House of Representatives and a judicial system that mirrored the U.S. Puerto Ricans were not grated full U.S citizenship until 1917, when the Jones Act of Puerto Rico was signed into law.
Which brings us back to the present.
The issue of whether or not Puerto Rico should become a state has never had a clear-cut majority. It is split right down the middle, half for statehood and the other half for it to remain a commonwealth or become it's own country. It is no different in Metro Orlando, which is home 300,000 of the 4.9 million Puerto Ricans who currently reside in the U.S. mainland. On November 6, the residents of the island will be asked what kind of status do they want the island want to have: Become a State, an independent country or a freely associated nation with legal ties to the U.S, which is what the island is now.
Any change in status would require the approval of Congress and the president's signature. According to the Orlando Sentinel, both President Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney both support the island's right to determine it's own fate. But because Puerto Ricans in general lean democratic, Republican officials would more than likely not support statehood, since the island would gain two senators and seven representatives who would more than likely be democrats.
Ocseola County Commission Chairman John Quinones, who became the first Puerto Rican Republican to serve in the Florida Legislature, says that the current situation is not working. Quinones told the Orlando Sentinel:
I know how contested the issue is on the island. Many people can agree the way it is now doesn't lend itself to equal representation,"Quinones was 14 years old when he left Puerto Rico for Kissimmee. Like many Puerto Ricans who have family on the island, he keeps up with the news and politics on his home island. Likewise, Maria Codero, who owns the Puerto Rican Cafe restaurant in Kissimmee, which is sometimes referred to as "little San Juan" because of it's heavy Puerto Rican population, fears that they will lose their culture and language if Puerto Rico become a state. "It's about pride and culture," she told the Orlando Sentinel on Sunday.
And that is what it comes down to. Puerto Ricans take tremendous pride in their culture and heritage. If the island was to become a state, many Puerto Ricans fear that it may cost them their culture and heritage.
Is statehood worth the risk?
We will find out on November 6.
http://www.examiner.com/article/central-florida-should-pay-attention-to-puerto-rico-s-statehood-referendum
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