Last Tuesday
November 8th the United States of America elected its new president
for the next quadrennium, Donald Trump. This election is particularly
interesting because his opponent, Hillary Clinton, won the popular vote; Trump
won the Electoral College therefore he is the president elect. Because of the
structure in the democratic process, the small majority that voted for Clinton
have conducted several rebellious actions. Some of these are: news and
magazines articles explaining how to survive Trump’s presidency or why he’s
“not my president”; Safety Pins: a movement than encourages people to wear safe
pins on their clothing in solidarity of the communities that feel scared by the
new president; protest: there have been peaceful and violent protest in
different parts of the country in reaction to the results.
Yes, America is in
shock because Trump was triumphant. Sorry to keep reminding you but it’s our
reality. Donald Trump won and lashing out won’t change the fact that its true.
However, in their emotional state, Americans forget about the nearly four
million citizens that did not get to vote in the election. Puerto Ricans don’t
have a right to vote over who presides them. In contrast to the other three
organized territories: Guam, Northern Marian Islands, and the Virgin Islands,
Puerto Rico also has commonwealth status and is bound by federal law. In
simpler terms, Puerto Ricans pay taxes, follow federal regulations, form part
of the military, have Commerce regulated, utilize American currency, has a
non-voting representative in Congress, have cases in federal courts, and
receive federal funds but we can’t vote in federal process. What all of this
means is that Puerto Rico is going to suffer any and every change that the new
administration brings like all of the states, with the small difference that
the islanders never had a choice about who makes the rules.
Just like many
Americans, the legal U.S. citizens of Puerto Rico are preoccupied about all of
the possibilities that can happen in the next four years. Will they keep or
loose the citizenship? Will the U.S. conduct more studies without consent? What
will they do to the natural resources? Will they become the fifty-first state
or be asked to be an independent nation? But unlike Americans that can protest
and make movements that will be heard, Puerto Ricans don’t have that luxury. Now,
don’t misunderstand my words. Go and protest if the needs if the nation aren’t
being met. Rebel. Defend your right. All I’m saying is don’t forget that there
are others out there who aren’t heard.
2 comments:
Nikole, I agree with the fact that lashing out will not change the results of the election. It saddens me that you and millions of other Puerto-Rican Americans are not able to voice your opinion and ultimately make a difference in the country you reside in. With that being said, I am confused by this statement: "But unlike Americans that can protest and make movements that will be heard, Puerto Ricans don’t have that luxury." Why do Puerto Ricans not have that luxury? Is it because of the lack of media attention an recognition this subject matter gets? I hope that we can one day change this and you along with millions of others residing in the United States will be able to make your voice heard.
You are correct Nicole, Puerto Rico does not get a lot of media attention and because of this it's very difficult for its residents to voice their concerns. I should have made a distinction that the luxury is not in the literal act of protest but the act of being heard.
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