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The Moral Argument for an Independent Puerto Rico
It is easy to believe that Puerto Rico cannot stand on its own and needs statehood, but the truth is a more complicated matter
The clouds in Puerto Rico possess a unique beauty. White and drunk with humidity, their billowy faces tumble over each other; they graze on the horizon more than move over it. And beneath them, almost everywhere you go on the island, you’ll find a flag displaying a single white star shining amid a bed of blue.
But that single star has become a renewed source of contention in political arenas looking to decide once and for all whether that star will be incorporated among the 50 other gems in the crown of America, or stand on its own.
In this year’s gubernatorial election, five out of the six candidates for governor were sovereignists, seeking a relationship with the United States defined by greater autonomy or outright independence. The sole outlier is the member of the current governing party, Pedro Pierluisi, who ultimately became governor-elect in a tight race. His party has been pushing for statehood since its inception in 1967. Now, in the wake of Hurricane Maria, devastating earthquakes, the ousting of its former governor, and widespread allegations of corruption, the party is in a position to push forward its statehood agenda.
Over the course of the election, Puerto Ricans were bombarded with daily messages encouraging us to vote yes to statehood in a nonbinding referendum on the ballot. We have been told that it is the only way to solve the island’s myriad problems. But these ads overlook a searing truth: Statehood would be the successful culmination of an imperialist agenda that started more than a century ago. Rather than punish the sins of the past, it would reward them.
A brief look at the struggle for Puerto Rican independence
Pro-statehood factions argue that the majority of Puerto Ricans support statehood and have for some time. But the truth is more complex. A quick look back at our history shows us that the fight for independence has been raging for hundreds of years. The first documented revolt on the island came against Spanish rule when the Taino…
