Descubra a Puerto Rico / Discover Puerto Rico

Recientemente, fui al pueblo de Manatí con el Fondo de Mejoramiento.  ¡Lo pase de maravilla!

El Fondo de Mejoramiento es una organización sin fines de logro con el propósito de que el publico conozca a Puerto Rico.  El Fondo tiene más de 40 años en esto.   Su lema es: No se puede querer lo que no se conoce.

El Fondo visita un pueblo los domingos.  Usted puede usar la transportación del Fondo o la suya.   Don Gabriel hace toda la diferencia del mundo.  El fue el segundo miembro del Fondo cuando se fundó en 1971.  ¡Su conocimiento y experiencia  hace tu descubrimiento de Puerto Rico mucho más divertido y enriquecido!

En enero, comenzará la Caminata Panorámica donde se cruza a Puerto Rico de este a oeste.  Es una manera muy genial para conocer de verdad a Puerto Rico.  Yo pienso participar por primera vez este enero 2013.

Para más información del Fondo de Mejoramiento:

www.fondodemejoramiento.org

787-759-8366

mejoramieno71@yahoo.com

I recently went to the city of Manatí with El Fondo de Mejoramiento.  I had a great time!

El Fondo de Mejoramiento is a non-profit organization for the purpose of getting people to learn about Puerto Rico.  It has been doing this for over 40 years.  Their motto is: You can’t love what you don’t know.

The Fondo visits a town on Sundays.  You can either use its transportation or your own.  Don Gabriel, the guide, makes all the difference in the world.  He was the second member of the Fondo when it was founded in 1971.  His knowledge and vast experience makes your discovery of Puerto Rico so much more enjoyable and enriching!

In January, the Fondo has its Puerto Rico panoramic walking from East to West.  It is a fantastic way to really get to learn about Puerto Rico.  I plan to do it for the first time this coming January 2013.

To learn more about the Fondo de Mejoramiento:

www.fondodemejoramiento.org

787-759-8366

mejoramieno71@yahoo.com

¿Por qué los puertorriqueños no se rebelan? / Why don’t Puerto Ricans rebel?

El padre de la patria puertorriqueña, Dr. Ramón Emeterio Betances, se hizo esta misma pregunta un poco antes de morir. Hoy día, esta pregunta todavía sigue siendo muy pertinente.  ¿Por qué todavía no hemos llegado al punto donde decimos, ¡Basta ya!

Hemos vividos más de 25 generaciones bajo el coloniaje.  Es decir, en toda nuestra vida como pueblo otros países nos han controlado para explotarnos.  Eso lo han logrado imponiendo los valores del imperio, mientras se nos ha menospreciado nuestros valores y cultura.  Por eso es que nuestra autoestima es baja.  ¡No porque no valemos nada, pero porque, para poder explotarnos, nos han tenido que enseñar eso!  Y por eso, después de 405 años de coloniaje español, y 114 años de coloniaje estadounidense, para un total de 519 años colonizado, todavía no hemos llegado al punto de ¡Basta ya!  ¿Como se rompe este ciclo vicioso que nos tiene en ruina?

Lamentablemente, no podemos depender del gobierno de Estados Unidos (EEUU) porque ella es nuestro problema.  No podemos esperar nada de los partidos principales de Puerto Rico (PR) porque ellos le responden a los intereses del imperio.  No pedemos confiar en el proceso electoral del imperio porque, precisamente, esta diseñado para que nos quedemos en el coloniaje.  ¿Con quién podemos contar?

¡Con usted!  Usted va a tener que hacer el sacrificio extraordinario para conectar los puntos de nuestra historia para darse cuenta qué nos ha ocurrido para haber llegado hasta aquí, y que tenemos que hacer para salir de nuestra desesperación. Don Pedro Albizu Campos lo dijo así.  “La patria es valor y sacrificio.”

Las informaciones que el gobierno te da fácilmente (El Vocero, por ejemplo) son para mantenernos en el estatus quo.  Tiene que buscar otras fuentes de información que no estén controladas por los gobiernos de EEUU y PR para encontrar la verdad.  Es importante que no cooperemos con el gobierno para dramatizar nuestra insatisfacción con la relación colonial con EEUU.   

Después que lleguemos al punto de ¡Basta ya!, necesitamos solicitarle a la Organización de Naciones Unidas (que es el mecanismo con la correcta jurisdicción para hacerlo) empezar a llevar a cabo nuestra descolonización. 

¡Debemos hacer esto ahora para que la generación que viene no lo tenga que hacer!  Mientras más años pasen, más difícil será hacerlo por las razones que ya hemos discutidos.  Las generaciones futuras se deben encargar de establecer una sociedad justa y prospera para todos los puertorriqueños y puertorriqueñas.  Y deben también enseñarnos que, aun cuando los puertorriqueños mandemos en nuestra patria, los ciudadanos estamos obligados a fiscalizar continuamente a nuestro gobierno para que no se nos vaya poco a poco al grupito del 1%.  Ésa fue la advertencia de Thomas Jefferson a su pueblo.  Le dijo, “Tenemos una democracia ahora si la podemos conservar.”

 

The father of the Puerto Rican nation, Dr. Ramón Emeterio Betances, asked this very same question shortly before he died.  Today, this question is still so very pertinent.  Why are we still not at the point of, enough is enough?

We have lived for over 25 generations under colonialism.  That is to say, we have always been controlled by other countries in order for them to exploit us.  The empire’s values have been imposed on us, while our own culture and values have been treated as tawdry.  This is why Puerto Ricans have low self-esteem.  Not because we are really worth nothing, but because, in order to exploit us, we need to be taught that!  And that’s why, after 405 years under Spanish colonial rule, and 114 years under American colonial rule, for a total of 519 years of being colonized, we have still not gotten to the point of enough is enough.  How do we break this vicious cycle that has us in ruins?

Unfortunately, we can’t count on the United States (US), because she is the problem.  We can’t count on the major Puerto Rican political parties because they represent the interest of the US.  We can’t rely on the Puerto Rican electoral system, because it is designed to keep us a colony forever.  Who can we count on?

You can count on you!  You will have to make the incredible sacrifice of connecting the dots of our history to understand how we got here, and what we must do to get us out of our chaotic existence.  Don Pedro Albizu Campos said it this way.  “La Patria es valor y sacrificio.”

The information that the government make easy for us to have (El Vocero for example) are to keep us in the status quo.  You must search for information that is not controlled by the government to arrive at the truth.  It is important that we not cooperate with the government to demonstrate our dissatisfaction with our colonial relationship with the US.

After arriving at the point of enough is enough, we need to request that the United Nations (which has the correct jurisdiction to do it) to begin our decolonization process. 

We should do this now, so that future generations will not have to!  The more we wait, the harder it will be, because of what we have already discussed.  The future generations should see to it that we establish a government that will be just and prosperous for all Puerto Ricans.  And, it should teach us to always be vigilant of our government so that it does not drift back to the small group of the 1%.  That was what Thomas Jefferson tried to warn his countrymen about.  He told them, “Yes, we now have a democracy, if we can keep it.” 

Para más infamación lea / For more information read:

 

State terrorism against Puerto Rico

Clemente Soto Vélez - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Here is another example how the United States (US) government used state terrorism against Puerto Rico (PR) to keep PR a colony.

Click on the link above to read a short biography of Clemente Soto Velez.  He was arrested after the US chief of police for PR was assassinated.  This is why.

The chief of police had declared war against the Puerto Rico Nationalist Party (PRNP) for wanting independence for PR.  He gave orders to the police to shoot to kill the members of the PRNP.  The police killed 4 university students in what is known as the Rio Piedras Massacre. 

To see the US’ contradiction, you need to keep in mind that whenever you hear a US government official speak about the future political status of PR, he/she will always say that the US will support whatever decision the people of PR make.  But that and what the US has done during 114 years of PR occupation are totally opposite each other.  But that rhetoric is what the US considers to be politically correct one!

In response to the massacre, the PRNP ordered the death of the chief of police.  The 2 men who executed the chief were captured and executed while in police custody. 

Clemente Soto Velez and three other leaders of the PRNP were arrested and tried for the chief’s death.  They were found not guilty.  Since the US judge was not happy with that verdict, he ordered a retrial.  This time, the judge got the verdict that he wanted!  But what was the crime?

Get this!  The four Nationalists were found guilty of trying to overthrow the government of the United States through violent means in Puerto Rico!  According to international law, that is perfecting legal.  What is not is the US’ colonization of PR! 

This is why; any process to decolonize PR controlled by the US will never work.  The obvious reason is because, the US has gone to extreme measures to acquire and keep PR as her colony.  The decolonization process must be totally out of the US as required by the United Nation’s Resolution 1514 (XV) of 1960. 

You can see a brand new documentary about Clemente Soto Velez called, A Revolt in Letters.

http://centropr.hunter.cuny.edu/civicrm/event/info?reset=1&id=24

Imposible descolonizar Puerto Rico vía plebiscito / Puerto Rico decolonization impossible via plebiscite

El problema principal es que el plebiscito del 6 de noviembre de 2012 se dará mientras estamos bajo el coloniaje.  Por el conflicto de intereses natural de la metrópolis de retener a su colonia, el proceso de descolonización se transfirió a la jurisdicción de la Organización de Naciones Unidas (ONU) en el 1960.  Por lo tanto, este plebiscito es ilegal.  ¿Para que tenerlo?

Se hace para servir de propaganda para Estados Unidos (EEUU).  Ese ha sido una de las maneras que nos ha mantenido en el coloniaje por 114 años.  EEUU pretende tener un interés en descolonizar a Puerto Rico (PR).  ¿Cómo sabemos de verdad que realmente no lo tiene?

La manera más fácil para EEUU lograr la descolonización de PR seria permitirle a la ONU hacerlo bajo la ley internacional.  Después de todo,  EEUU ha estado cometiendo un crimen en contra de la humanidad desde el 1960 por mantener a PR en el coloniaje.  Haciéndolo así haría a EEUU lucir mejor por demostrar que de verdad es una nación gobernada por el respecto a la ley.  Sin embargo, ella ha preferido seguir con la política del Presidente Theodore Roosevelt  de, “Speak softly and carry a big stick.”

¡Su acción habla más fuerte que sus palabras!

A través de su insistencia que la descolonización es un asunto domestico que solo involucra a EEUU y PR, eso le permite a continuar dividiéndonos, como siempre ha hecho, con el uso de la represión y el terrorismo del estado.  Y de esa forma nos echa la culpa a nosotros por no poder decidirnos en que estatus preferimos. 

El Dr. Pedro Albizu Campos entendió muy bien el plan de EEUU para mantenernos en el coloniaje para siempre, y adopto la política de “no cooperación con el imperio”.  En lugar de votar en este plebiscito, debemos boicotearlo.   A través de llamar la atención de esta manera para decirle a mundo que sabemos que esto no va a resolver nada, la ONU estaría más dispuesta a ser más agresiva en descolonizar a PR. 

Nosotros adelantamos nada para descolonizar a PR cooperando con el imperio.  Eso es así, porque nuestros intereses son totalmente opuestos.  EEUU nos quiere explotar y nosotros queremos salir de la miseria de ser explotado por 114 años.  Tan pronto entendamos eso, podemos todos insistir que PR se descolonice correctamente a través de la UNU.

Para leer más sobre la represión, lea:

The principal problem is that the November 6, 2012 plebiscite will be held while Puerto Rico (PR) is under colonial rule.  Due to the natural conflict of interest of empires wanting to keep their colonies, the decolonization process was transferred in 1960 to the jurisdiction of the United Nations (UN).  Therefore, this plebiscite is illegal.  So why have it?

It is done for the purpose of United States (US) propaganda.  That has been one of the ways the US has maintained PR as her colony for 114 years.  She wants to pretend that she has an interest in decolonizing PR.  How can we be sure that she really doesn’t?

The easiest way for the US to decolonize PR is to allow the UN to do it via international law.  After all, the US has been committing a crime against humanity since 1960 by keeping PR a colony.  Decolonizing this way would improve the US’ image of being a country governed by the rule of law.  But instead, she has decided to do what she has done historically, which is to continue with President Theodore Roosevelt’s policy of “Speak softly and carry a big stick Big Stick”.  Action speaks louder than words!

By insisting that our decolonization is a domestic matter that only concerns the US and PR, she can continue to divide us as she has in the past by repression and state terrorism.  That way, the US is assured that these illegal and “just for propaganda” plebiscites will always result in not obtaining a clear consensus.   Then, the US can continue to put the blame on the Puerto Ricans for not being able to make up their minds!

Dr. Pedro Albizu Campos understood the US’ plan to keep us a colony forever, and adopted the policy of non-cooperation with the invaders.  Instead of voting in the plebiscite, Puerto Ricans should boycott it.  By calling attention and demonstrating that we will not pretend to believe that this is a genuine attempt to decolonize PR, the UN would have more of an incentive to be much more aggressive in decolonizing us. 

We do nothing to advance our decolonization cooperating with the empire.  We don’t, because the empire has totally different interests than we do.  The US wants to exploit us, and we want to free ourselves from our misery of 114 years of exploitation.  The sooner we all realize that, the sooner we can all agree on insisting that decolonization be done the right way thought the UN.

To read more about repression, read Ivonne Acosta’s book (available in English).

Propaganda for Puerto Rico colonialism

This is a poster making the case for President McKinley’s decision to embark the United States (US) in her own quest to acquire colonies.  The poster compares and contrasts Spanish and US colonialism.  

What’s not depicted, for obvious reasons, is the US’s exploitation of her colonies.  After all, that is the only reason why a country obtains a colony.  Though here, the reason is clearly stated that it was, “For Humanity’s Sake”.  How many people really believe that?  Those that accept colonialism believe in discrimination.  The record is clear that President McKinley believed in discrimination, as do other US elected officials currently in office.  This is why colonialism still exists!

The privately funded production of the documentary, “The Last Colony” is running into a budget deficiency.  Obviously, the people who want to keep the status quo will not help make a documentary about the 114 year colonial relationship between the US and PR (including the government of PR).  So it is up to the ones who believe that colonialism is a crime against humanity to help educate the public about it.

Here is the email I received from the producer of the documentary, and my response to him.  I hope you will consider helping financially this historic project that will hopefully lead us to the decolonization of the oldest colony in the world!

Project Update #3: Production schedule and other updates

Posted by Juan Agustin Marquez

Dear backers, We've been busy this week relaunching The Last Colony. We have been on the Puerto Rican radio twice talking about the project and next week we will be on CNN en Español. There is a lot of enthusiasm for the project. However, we are still underfunded, to say the least. But we will not give up. We will tell this story. I have already started working on the production schedule to follow the campaign trail that will lead up to the referendum vote this coming November 6. From October 25 to November 7 we will be covering everything that happens in Puerto Rico. We have begun talks with private investors but nothing is certain at this point. We need a financial boost to cover the next month of pre-production and the two full production weeks in Puerto Rico. Please visit our NEW Kickstarter campaign and make a pledge to help get the documentary off the ground. We have set a small goal of $3,000 to make sure that this time we don't lose your pledges. http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/944767467/the-last-colony-relaunch Thank you very much, Juan Agustín Dear Juan Agustin,             I’m glad that you are determined to get this documentary out, because that is the only way that it will ever happen.             The reason why Puerto Rico (PR) has been a colony of the United States (US) for 114 years is because that’s the way the US wants it.  To accomplish that, the US has used every repressive means possible (see “LA REPRESSION CONTRA EL INDEPENDENTISMO PUERTORRIQUENO: 1960-2010 by Ché Paralitici) including state terrorism (2 examples: The Rio Piedras and Ponce Massacres).  The resistance to this project is the cumulative result of 114 years of colonialism (a learning/conditioning process).  The best example of this is the fact that, “La Corporación de Cine de Puerto Rico” will not make any movie about the history of PR.  Its latest production, Broche de Oro, is excellent, but it contains nothing politically controversial.             This is also why the PR media ignores you.  I think the idea you have about sending your backers an email to be released to the media is an excellent idea.  We know they want to ignore us, but if we reach the threshold where they can’t, they will have to cover it!             Our only solution lies through education, so that the public could see the truth over the propaganda!             Count on me to spread the word! Pa’lante, José www.TodosUnidosDescolonizarPR.blogspot.com Propaganda for Puerto Rico Colonialism

Mi correo electrónico al Presidente Obama sobre Puerto Rico / My e-mail to President Obama about Puerto Rico

Estimado Presidente Obama:

Como abogado y Presidente de Estados Unidos (EEUU), usted tiene que estar conciente de que desde el 1960, el coloniaje se considera por la comunidad internacional como un crimen en contra de la humanidad [Resolución 1514 (XV) de la Organización de Naciones Unidas (ONU)].  Usted también tiene que saber que la descolonización no es un asunto domestico.  Sin embargo,  usted ha rehusado permitir la ONU, que sí tiene jurisdicción en esto, proceder con la descolonización de Puerto Rico bajo su protocolo.  Su decisión agrava aun más el crimen que se ha cometido al Pueblo de Puerto Rico de parte de EEUU.  EEUU, en esencia, cree en la discriminación por su historia de 114 años de haber aceptado el colonialismo.  ¡Los hechos hablan más duro que las palabras!

¡Oscar López es el prisionero político con más tiempo encarcelado en todo el mundo (31 años)!  A pesar de que su Secretaria de Estado les ha dicho a los otros países que, “Un preso político es uno de más”,  usted ha permitido que el crimen continúe.  Oscar tuve el derecho de hacer lo que hizo bajo la Resolución 1514 (XV).   El mundo se da cuenta de la doble vara.

Depende en usted seguir la ley internacional, o continuar con los negocios como de costumbre.  Pero si escoge lo último, ¿Dónde esta el cambio?

Sinceramente,

José M.López Sierra

www.TodosUnidosDescolonizarPR.blogspot.com

Dear President Obama:

As a lawyer and President of the United States (US), you must be aware that, since 1960, colonialism is considered by the international community as a crime against humanity [United Nations (UN) Resolution 1514 XV].  You must also know that decolonization is not a domestic matter.  However, you have refused to allow the UN, who does have jurisdiction in this matter, to proceed with Puerto Rico decolonization following its protocol.  Your decision further aggravates the crime that has been committed by the US against the People of Puerto Rico.  The US, in essence, believes in discrimination due to her long 114 year history of accepting colonialism.  Action does speak louder than words!

Oscar López is the world’s longest held political prisoner in the world (31 years)!  Despite your Secretary of State’s remark to other countries that, “Even one political prisoner is one too many” you have continued to allow the crime to continue.  Oscar had the right to do what he did under Resolution 1514 (XV).  The world can see the double standard!  

It is up to you to follow international law, or continue to do business as usual.  But if you choose the latter, where is the change?

Sincerely,
José M. López Sierra

www.TodosUnidosDescolonizarPR.blogspot.com

Segunda oportunidad para un documental sobre la relación política entre Estados Unidos y Puerto Rico / Second opportunity for a documentary about the political relationship between the United States and Puerto Rico

The Last Colony (relaunch) by Juan Agustin Marquez — Kickstarter

Oprima el enlace arriba para saber sobre el proyecto de hacer un documental sobre la relación política entre Estados Unidos y Puerto Rico.  Si es importante para ti que el público tenga la información correcta para poder tomar una decisión sabia,  considere apoyar financieramente este documental.  El gobierno no producirá este documental, ya que será perjudicial a mantenernos en el coloniaje  ¡Nuestra ignorancia es lo que ha permitido que nos quedemos colonizado eternamente!

Para una lectura corta y fácil sobre la historia de Puerto Rico empezando desde el Grito de Lares (23 de septiembre de 1868) lea (solamente en Español) :

Click on the link above to learn about a project to make a documentary about the political relationship between the United States and Puerto Rico.  If it is important to you that the public has accurate information to make an informed decision, consider supporting financially this documentary.  The government will not make it, since it would be detrimental to keeping us under its colonial rule.  

For a short and easy reading of the history of Puerto Rico since the September 23, 1868 Grito de Lares, read the above book by CARLOS GALLISÁ BISBAL.