Borincano
19th May 2002, 07:39
The PNP and Colonialism
by Luis Orlando Gallardo Rivera
www.reddemcee.com
(I didnt write this article, its an online buddies.)
Since the beginning of its existence, the Popular Democratic Party has been labeled a colonialist party, tricking the population into accepting colonialism. Such claims were not only limited to the mouths of independentistas but also the New Progressive Party. Constantly on the estadista radio programs, various PNP voices call on more cooperation between independentistas and estadistas to put the pressure on colonialism. Us penepes have a lot in common with independentistas: we both want to free Puerto Rico from colonialism a commenter stated last night. A pro-statehood book that I purchased just the other day is titled Breakthrough from Colonialism. Even former pro-statehood governor Pedro Rossell approached the UN Decolonization Committee asking to be put back on the list of non-self-governing colonies. "I think we should use all the forums available for Puerto Rico to have a process of decolonization and self-determination that culminates with its own government, stated Rossell. By the looks of things, one could perceive the New Progressive Party to be an anti-colonialist party.
The PNP wishes to obtain the full annexation of Puerto Rico by the United States. The PNP wish to become a fully integrated part of the U.S. something I find quite hypocritical when they bash colonialism. The institution of the U.S. original union in its very nature was (and still is) colonialist. One of the earliest expressions of uniting the colonies came in the Albany Congress of 1754, where seven of the northern colonies met to discuss a variety of problems, specifically the Indian dilemma. The delegates of the congress, under the guidance of Benjamin Franklin drafted up a plan that would establish a king-appointed President-General to the body, which would handle the settlement (colonialism) of the western lands. These early congresses paved the way for the United States of America.
In fact, the difference of interests that ignited the grudge between England and the soon-to-be U.S. was not the Americans opposition to colonialism, something that is commonly believed to this day, but the English denial of further American colonization into the west. After a violent Indian rebellion, known as Pontiacs Rebellion, Britain issued The Proclamations of 1763 that forbade purchases or settlements by Americans in any of the areas west of the colonies. This proclamation was met with heavy resistance from the American colonists, who believed that it violated their right to the colonization of the West. Initially, the Americans did not revolt because they were sick of colonialism, but because they wanted more of it.
Georgia Washington, with his Mississippi Company enterprise, had his eye on the colonization of the thousands of acres available that lied in the West. Benjamin Franklin represented a group of wealthy Pennsylvanians who wished to get their grips on the lands along the Ohio. Both of these men have their faces on the very currency that the estadistas wish to continue using. And the PNP call themselves anti-colonialist?
The U.S. is the pinnacle of modern colonial powers. While the traditional colonialist ways of the U.S. have shifted towards neocolonialism, the U.S. still holds its countless military and economic holdings throughout the entire globe two relics of imperialism. The U.S. globalist and neoliberal policies are also traits of neocolonialism, placing the U.S. in a higher colonial position then the British Empire could have ever dreamed of. The U.S. is undisputedly the champion of colonialism, and not only the PPD, but also the PNP comply and collaborate with this colonialism.
The U.S. currency and national monuments are covered with the faces of colonialists, slave owners, and imperialists. Their national capital is named after the most famous colonialist of them all, Christopher Columbus (the District of Columbia). Dont think the U.S. power as a colonial figure developed only recently, for since its earliest years the U.S. has been conquering and colonizing the lands of the Native Americans and Mexicans. Please do not forget that even the settlers that founded the original colonies were themselves colonists.
The fact that the PNP is a pro-annexationist institution only proves its colonial nature, for annexation is the final blow of colonialism - the very purpose of colonialism is annexation. While the PPD justify colonialism with our constitution and Commonwealth status, the PNP would be justifying it just the same with statehood. The statehood movement in a sense does not wish to finish colonialism and toss it in the trash, but finalize and bronze it, and move on to its next level.
Lets be part of the U.S.! Instead of being the colonized, lets be the colonizer!
by Luis Orlando Gallardo Rivera
www.reddemcee.com
(I didnt write this article, its an online buddies.)
Since the beginning of its existence, the Popular Democratic Party has been labeled a colonialist party, tricking the population into accepting colonialism. Such claims were not only limited to the mouths of independentistas but also the New Progressive Party. Constantly on the estadista radio programs, various PNP voices call on more cooperation between independentistas and estadistas to put the pressure on colonialism. Us penepes have a lot in common with independentistas: we both want to free Puerto Rico from colonialism a commenter stated last night. A pro-statehood book that I purchased just the other day is titled Breakthrough from Colonialism. Even former pro-statehood governor Pedro Rossell approached the UN Decolonization Committee asking to be put back on the list of non-self-governing colonies. "I think we should use all the forums available for Puerto Rico to have a process of decolonization and self-determination that culminates with its own government, stated Rossell. By the looks of things, one could perceive the New Progressive Party to be an anti-colonialist party.
The PNP wishes to obtain the full annexation of Puerto Rico by the United States. The PNP wish to become a fully integrated part of the U.S. something I find quite hypocritical when they bash colonialism. The institution of the U.S. original union in its very nature was (and still is) colonialist. One of the earliest expressions of uniting the colonies came in the Albany Congress of 1754, where seven of the northern colonies met to discuss a variety of problems, specifically the Indian dilemma. The delegates of the congress, under the guidance of Benjamin Franklin drafted up a plan that would establish a king-appointed President-General to the body, which would handle the settlement (colonialism) of the western lands. These early congresses paved the way for the United States of America.
In fact, the difference of interests that ignited the grudge between England and the soon-to-be U.S. was not the Americans opposition to colonialism, something that is commonly believed to this day, but the English denial of further American colonization into the west. After a violent Indian rebellion, known as Pontiacs Rebellion, Britain issued The Proclamations of 1763 that forbade purchases or settlements by Americans in any of the areas west of the colonies. This proclamation was met with heavy resistance from the American colonists, who believed that it violated their right to the colonization of the West. Initially, the Americans did not revolt because they were sick of colonialism, but because they wanted more of it.
Georgia Washington, with his Mississippi Company enterprise, had his eye on the colonization of the thousands of acres available that lied in the West. Benjamin Franklin represented a group of wealthy Pennsylvanians who wished to get their grips on the lands along the Ohio. Both of these men have their faces on the very currency that the estadistas wish to continue using. And the PNP call themselves anti-colonialist?
The U.S. is the pinnacle of modern colonial powers. While the traditional colonialist ways of the U.S. have shifted towards neocolonialism, the U.S. still holds its countless military and economic holdings throughout the entire globe two relics of imperialism. The U.S. globalist and neoliberal policies are also traits of neocolonialism, placing the U.S. in a higher colonial position then the British Empire could have ever dreamed of. The U.S. is undisputedly the champion of colonialism, and not only the PPD, but also the PNP comply and collaborate with this colonialism.
The U.S. currency and national monuments are covered with the faces of colonialists, slave owners, and imperialists. Their national capital is named after the most famous colonialist of them all, Christopher Columbus (the District of Columbia). Dont think the U.S. power as a colonial figure developed only recently, for since its earliest years the U.S. has been conquering and colonizing the lands of the Native Americans and Mexicans. Please do not forget that even the settlers that founded the original colonies were themselves colonists.
The fact that the PNP is a pro-annexationist institution only proves its colonial nature, for annexation is the final blow of colonialism - the very purpose of colonialism is annexation. While the PPD justify colonialism with our constitution and Commonwealth status, the PNP would be justifying it just the same with statehood. The statehood movement in a sense does not wish to finish colonialism and toss it in the trash, but finalize and bronze it, and move on to its next level.
Lets be part of the U.S.! Instead of being the colonized, lets be the colonizer!