Writing, Running & Referendums

Note: I originally wrote this before the fascist rally at MSG. I shelved it thinking I had no place to comment, but now I feel like what I have to say matters more.

Dear Puerto Rico,

The United States of America would be a better place if you were a state. I think this something that needs to be said. This has nothing to do with mainland politics, control of the Senate, or anything other than the simple fact that the people of Puerto Rico have a lot to offer the rest of the USA. Your islands offers a unique culture, a broadening of language, and a rich history (both good and bad). This white guy from the mainland would love to have you as a full and equal state on your own merits.

But statehood might not be what you think is the best direction for the future. While recently visiting your gorgeous island and talking with some of your wonderful people this topic came up. How could it not? Many people discussed Hawaii, and that is a great frame of reference for what statehood might look like. You can see that Hawaiians have more autonomy than Puerto Ricans do, but you can still see the colonialism at play as well. Your friendly neighborhood polluters at the US Military have done just as much damage to the state of Hawaii as they have your island. Rich mainlanders hoard the valuable land, and the islands don’t produce as much food as they could or should. This means they import more than they should, making the islands expensive to live on for those born there. As a state, maybe you and Hawaii could form a voting bloc to help ease your common burdens. Together you could work to fix the Jones Act to free up your economies. Your congresspeople and theirs would have a lot in common on that front alone.

Alaska is worth looking at as well. You don’t need a boat to have colonialism, you can have it overland as well. Politically speaking Alaska is a ”Red State” where even their Democratic Congressperson is pro-drilling for oil. Because to win an election in Alaska you have to be pro-extraction. Again though, the separation from the mainland, or lower 48, puts you and Alaska in similar situations. No other state besides you and Alaska would be as physically close to several other nations. The North Pole sea border is a real hotspot right now and will be as long as we let climate change run rampant.

I recently studied the related history of the Philippines Revolution. I am aware of the ties between your people thanks to the Spanish American War and the colonialism that the US has treated you both with since. Philippines shows us what independence might look like for you, and sadly, there is still so much colonial bullshit involved. There are pitfalls here as well. The US won’t let go as easily as any of us would like. But being free and calling your own shots might very well be the answer. Owing accountability to only yourselves is sometimes exactly what is needed. I can’t imagine Filipinos wanting anything other than their independence even with the flaws it comes with. Being stuck between China and the US is better than being stuck as a colony of either the China or US.

Cuba. So much to say here, but this is the ultimate risk of independence. I would not let fear of this stand in your way. You have to do what’s best for you. And if it means rejecting the US that much, then do it. However, think of how cool an embassy row in Old San Juan would look? All those flags, along all that old brilliant architecture? Diplomats coming to your island as equals? The are many upsides to independence despite the many risks.

The UK is worth a glance as well because the Brexit thing was as complicated as your situation. The UK was not fully in the EU, they were only partially in. Does that sound familiar? Had their referendum included a third option to “Fully join the EU” I am certain the vote would have been even messier, leaving them without a clear result. Leaving them stuck in the status quo. The reality is that, unlike Puerto Rico, the British were actually doing fine in the weird place they were in, but they would have benefitted from closer ties to the EU. Whereas your in-between position as a colony is not working at all. You need and deserve autonomy. The US Congress should not be dictating the basic terms of how to run your island.

From what I understand, this sounds like that third option on the ballot (not statehood, nor independence). It would force the US to react, and it’s about time Washington answers to San Juan. The referendum sound more serious this time and it feels like a solid rejection of the status quo. I like that you are rejecting the status quo. You deserve better. The post WWII promise of self-determination should be delivered to your island. You need to be in charge of your future.

I know the last thing you need to hear are words from a white guy on the mainland, but it is important that you know that some people understand what’s going on. You deserve autonomy. I hope you come to a consensus and I hope that you can all pull in the same direction after a decision is made. Your island and your people have a lot of great things and the world should be able to see that without Washington DC getting in the way.

I wish I could promise reparations, I wish I could promise that congress would play fair with you no matter what choice you make for your future, I wish I could promise that one of the choices would fix the problems forced upon you from the outside. But all I can promise is that the status quo sucks and you should be choosing some form of Autonomy regardless of what the mainland wants. If Congress isn’t smart enough to invite you to statehood that is America’s loss. If you want to be free, then sail off as bravely as the USA’s founding fathers and go for it. I am one person, but I will root for you every single time. Your people should be making the decisions for the island.

Thank you for reading,

-Philip