Walker
Ax-Wielding Nerd
- Joined
- Mar 14, 2007
- Messages
- 2,868
- Reaction score
- 380
- Points
- 265
- Age
- 33
Puerto Rico
THIS THREAD IS A TERRIBLE AWFUL BAD IDEA.
One ground rule, before I start this. Anyone who posts here MUST be civil, okay? Don't even IMPLY any ethnicity-based slander, okay? Good.
So, awhile back Congress enacted a law that said basically, IF Puerto Rico votes to change their status they can vote for independence, statehood, or a free association as a sovereign nation-- kinda like the Northern Marianas Islands, I guess.
The bill is here.
Going from the summary version, the bill says this:
Puerto Rico is an island of roughy 4 million people. If it were a state, it would be the 27th largest, between Kentucky and Oregon. (For reference, from Wkipedia, Maryland would be and still is 19, New York is and would be third, Wyoming would be 51st (unrelated: It'd be 52nd if Puerto Rico and DC both became states), and Rhode Island would be 44th.)
Puerto Rico has been part of the United States since the Spanish-American War, in the waning days of the 19th century, and its people have been citizens since 1917. They have fought in every war we've had since (including Iraq and Afghanistan), been drafted in every war we've had a draft, they can vote in presidential primaries, and they have a nonvoting representative to Congress.
They also speak Spanish. They value their heritage and their language, and unlike the Southwestern states, they haven't had an influx of Anglophone immigrants and coordinated reduction of Spanish usage.
Is it just me, or is this a dealbreaker? Both from the GAAARGH, ENGLISH ONLY American side and the WHAT THE HELL, WE DON'T WANT TO LOSE OUR LANGUAGE Puerto Rican side?
Because, seriously, I want them to be a state. My goal in life is to be able to fly
That flag.
Which, personally, I think looks cooler than the alternative.
THIS THREAD IS A TERRIBLE AWFUL BAD IDEA.
One ground rule, before I start this. Anyone who posts here MUST be civil, okay? Don't even IMPLY any ethnicity-based slander, okay? Good.
So, awhile back Congress enacted a law that said basically, IF Puerto Rico votes to change their status they can vote for independence, statehood, or a free association as a sovereign nation-- kinda like the Northern Marianas Islands, I guess.
The bill is here.
Going from the summary version, the bill says this:
Library of Congress Website said:(1) the official language requirements of the federal government shall apply to Puerto Rico; and (2) it is the best interest of the United States for the teaching of English to be promoted in Puerto Rico as the language of opportunity and empowerment in order to enable students in public schools to achieve English language proficiency.
Puerto Rico is an island of roughy 4 million people. If it were a state, it would be the 27th largest, between Kentucky and Oregon. (For reference, from Wkipedia, Maryland would be and still is 19, New York is and would be third, Wyoming would be 51st (unrelated: It'd be 52nd if Puerto Rico and DC both became states), and Rhode Island would be 44th.)
Puerto Rico has been part of the United States since the Spanish-American War, in the waning days of the 19th century, and its people have been citizens since 1917. They have fought in every war we've had since (including Iraq and Afghanistan), been drafted in every war we've had a draft, they can vote in presidential primaries, and they have a nonvoting representative to Congress.
They also speak Spanish. They value their heritage and their language, and unlike the Southwestern states, they haven't had an influx of Anglophone immigrants and coordinated reduction of Spanish usage.
Is it just me, or is this a dealbreaker? Both from the GAAARGH, ENGLISH ONLY American side and the WHAT THE HELL, WE DON'T WANT TO LOSE OUR LANGUAGE Puerto Rican side?
Because, seriously, I want them to be a state. My goal in life is to be able to fly
That flag.
Which, personally, I think looks cooler than the alternative.