dadachango69
22nd August 2004, 07:35
The "Liberator" of Puerto Rico
http://www.loc.gov/rr/hispanic/1898/img/miles.jpg
On July 25, 1898, General Nelson A. Miles invaded Puerto Rico. He declared martial law, silenced the press...
and three days later presented his message to the Puerto Rican people:
"We have not come to make war upon the people of a country that for centuries has been oppressed,
but, on the contrary, to bring protection...to promote your prosperity and to bestow upon you
the immunities and blessing of the liberal institution of our government."
After two years of repressive military rule, the Puerto Rican people asked Congress for an immediate
"redress of grievances." Congress responded with the Foraker Act. Now "Puerto Rico was not only a colony,
it was the first unincorporated territory in U.S. history.
This duplicity continued with an enforced "citizenship" in 1917 against the will of the people.
This was a special kind of citizenship, since it came without rights or representation.
Puerto Ricans could then be drafted into the military by a government they couldn't vote for.
I guess we were needed as FODDER for the war. As a Boricua, I think we have heard Bush's speeches
of liberation by other "spreaders of Democracy" over a hundred years ago.
Today, we are still screwed up.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/1935000/images/_1938460_dolls300pa.jpg
http://hnn.us/resources/bushfixcap.jpg
http://www.loc.gov/rr/hispanic/1898/img/miles.jpg
On July 25, 1898, General Nelson A. Miles invaded Puerto Rico. He declared martial law, silenced the press...
and three days later presented his message to the Puerto Rican people:
"We have not come to make war upon the people of a country that for centuries has been oppressed,
but, on the contrary, to bring protection...to promote your prosperity and to bestow upon you
the immunities and blessing of the liberal institution of our government."
After two years of repressive military rule, the Puerto Rican people asked Congress for an immediate
"redress of grievances." Congress responded with the Foraker Act. Now "Puerto Rico was not only a colony,
it was the first unincorporated territory in U.S. history.
This duplicity continued with an enforced "citizenship" in 1917 against the will of the people.
This was a special kind of citizenship, since it came without rights or representation.
Puerto Ricans could then be drafted into the military by a government they couldn't vote for.
I guess we were needed as FODDER for the war. As a Boricua, I think we have heard Bush's speeches
of liberation by other "spreaders of Democracy" over a hundred years ago.
Today, we are still screwed up.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/1935000/images/_1938460_dolls300pa.jpg
http://hnn.us/resources/bushfixcap.jpg