The first thing I noticed upon returning was how totally run down things are in Puerto Rico. The airport is not taken care of, way too many things in it are dirty and broken. As soon as I left the airport I also noticed how many holes, more like lunar craters, there are on the roads in Puerto Rico. After not having to pay attention to the topography of the road, and instead being able to look at the signage for directions as to where I was headed, now I was forced mind the hills and valleys of Puerto Rican roads lest I end up with a busted tire or worse destroy the car's suspension. The roads here are a total mess, but it does not end there. The city is dirty, dirty, dirty. I remember going to downtown San Diego and looking around the streets and thinking to myself the the streets in the middle of the city were cleaner than the streets anywhere in PR, even the rich suburbs.
The next thing I noticed was how horrible the vegetables are here. I went and got a salad at a restaurant. The lettuce and the tomatoes were both gross. Which brings me to the next point. A salad here consists of lettuce and tomatoes. That's it. After being treated to super fresh vegetables in CA coming back our decrepit produce options is depressing.
Another thing I noticed is how unhelpful and confrontational store employees here can be. While I San Diego I went one night to a Rubio's only to find I was too late. The employees were locking the doors as I drove into the parking lot. I turned around a told Al Carbon that I would go ask them about any nearby Rubio's that might close later but did not feel like dealing with the attitude I would get. For a second she assented, but then she said: "We're in southern California maybe they will be all happy and cheery about it." Indeed they were. If I had done that in PR, the clerk would probably have ignored me as I knocked on the glass door, until he got agitated because his continued exclamations informing me that the place was closed didn't make me leave, and then would tell me off. "Service" in PR is so bad across the border that we have become accustomed to be abused as customers.
What is up people? Why is PR so messed up? Let's fix it.
I would kill for heirloom tomatoes, first of all.
ReplyDeleteSecond, for being a tropical island, we have alot more tropicalness we need to develop.
Third, given our size, we should realize that we can better all our lives, exponentially, by being kinder and cheerier.
Not even Mexico is so dirty or has roads filled with craters. Even in front of government buildings, tourist areas and highways. It's incredible that PR is an American territory.
ReplyDeletePuerto ricans give the worst service in all of Latin America and the U.S. It's like if they are doing you a favor by serving you.
The only way this is going to get better is if PR becomes the 51st state. And we all know that isn't possible in the next 60 years. Just teaching 3rd grade english to these people is going to be impossible. Try talking to the manager at a Burger King.
They don't even know their own history, how are they going to know U.S history. I'm sure 90% of all Puerto ricans wouldn't pass the U.S citizen exam.
I remember the first time I visited PR. The anti-statehood party was in power, The Populars. A guy told me "We have the best of both worlds" After 10 years i've come to the conclusion that PR has the worst of both worlds, the laziness of the latino and the victimization pride of the welfare americans.
The only other fixing I see for PR would be to have a Franco or Trujillo. Somebody to put people in line. With or without the US.
God Bless.
PF
Wow Pat. It's not like you're wrong on all points, you just phrase everything so mean-spirited-ly.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I disagree about the english, it doesn't surprise me in the least that you frequented Burger King while you were here.
For that matter, I'm pretty sure 90% of AMERICANS couldn't pass the US citizen exam (you know, like "real" Americans, not Puerto Rican Americans).
Ask any Porto Rican American who Thomas Jefferson, William McKinley or Theodore Roosevelt is. For that matter, ask them who De Diego, Baldorioty De Castro, Martinez Nadal or even Ponce De Leeon is.
ReplyDeleteAny Real American would know their own history, in fact, anybody. Go to any country in the world and ask the Taxi driver who was the person this road was named after.
I'm sorry but Porto Ricans don't even know they can't run for President. If you can't run for President you are not a "Real" American.
There are 50 states and Porto Rico is NOT one of them.
I got it from the US Constitution.
ReplyDeleteOne of the requisites for being a US president is to have been born in the United States. Is PR a state? NO.
Again, there are 50 states and PR is NOT one of them. It does not say "Have been born in the United States and its territories"
For the benefit of the doubt, that could be taken to the Supreme Court and at the end they would decide if PR is or not the United States.
It is a known fact that Porto ricans CAN NOT vote in presidential elections. Now, does it make sense that a person that can not vote for presidency become a president.
I'd like to know where the So Called Americans that think PR is the 51st state are? In Kissimmee, Florida? These people must not even know how to count the stars in their own flag so I doubt they come from Columbia, Harvard or Yale.
I don't think Porto ricans are "Real Americans" because even if they could become president, they can't, they can't vote for the president of the Greatest Nation In the World U.S of A thank God.
#1 Puerto Ricans can vote for President when they reside in the US. Equally, "Real" Americans (which I am hoping you are beginning to realize is a category that doesn't really exist), but anyway "Real" Americans equally CANNOT VOTE FOR PRESIDENT when they reside in Puerto RIco. That's right, I, as a "real" American, had the right to vote for my own president stripped away in the last election.
ReplyDelete#2 The constitution does not say they have to be born in the United States. It says that the candidate must be a natural born citizen. That means you must either be born on US Soil, (which, sorry, but PR counts) and/or be born to American Parents (even if you are born in, say, Panama, like John McCain was). So all Puerto Ricans, by virtue of being born 1) on US soil and 2) to parents who are also American citizens, are eligible to run for Pres. Once they reach 35 years of age.
#3 The above is all a long way of saying that Puerto Ricans' citizenship is no different than your citizenship or my citizenship or any "real" american's citizenship. Kudos to the US for being fair on that count.
The Americans who go to Columbia Harvard and Yale for the most part would be more knowledgeable about these issues than most Americans (although you'd be surprised. Take a quick poll if you're interested, of non-poli sci types). The Puerto Ricans who go to Columbia Harvard and Yale are also more knowledgeable than most so I don't see your point. In the immortal words of Harvey Pekar, "Average is stupid". It's totally unfair to compare the burger king managers of one country to the educated elite of another.
Why are things like this? Because the average Puerto Rican is willing to put up with it, because he is either so self-centered and apathetic he could give a shit, or B- (like my grandmother) he has a perverse third world fear of opening their mouth against the government and having a carpeta started about them, or worse.
ReplyDelete1. The fact that Porto rican "Americans" can't vote, residents of the island or not , automatically makes this Real American category exist. And Real Americans that don't vote because they are "residents" of Porto Rico impose the situation on themselves. Real Americans have family and (as many Porto ricans do) have a drivers license from the state they're from. PR is only a 2hr flight away from Miami. I think you stripped yourself from the right to vote.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure Mr. Roberto "Dirty" Sanches BK "No ablo ingles" Manager doesn't have that option.
2. John McCain is a war hero. And even if he was born in Okinawa, Germany or Guantanamo. Both of his parents where Real Americans. Plus these are military bases, like the one in Panama at the time.
As you know, the fact that he was born in Panama was an issue for some people during the elections. As was the birth place and date of Obama. Some people say that he was not born on 1961 but in 1958 and that would make him a non natural born citizen. This because Hawaii was not a state until 1959.
That would be exactly the case of Porto Rico. The only difference is that there is no statehood in sight for an island with such dirty airports and streets.
3. So the main problem is the island? Like in the series LOST. When people, even Real Americans, go down there they loose their privileges? I don't think so.
Even if you take the most educated Porto, with his nice Porto Rico, USA t shirt, he will still not have the same rights. And the sad thing is they don't even care. As long as they have US $$, a nice car and a trip to Disney every other year, they are happy.
That's why the airports will only get worst, and the holes on the roads will always be there. I though it was the tropical weather, but then you go to Key West, Miami, Singapore, even St. Thomas (they drive on the left side) and the roads are in concrete with no holes. Not in PR.
I was not comparing them, I was just illustrating how a person that doesn't know that he lives in a country with 50 states is not that bright.
In the immortal words of John McCain, "We cannot forever hide the truth about ourselves, from ourselves."
I love it. We have our first troll.
ReplyDeleteyeah Pat it's clear to me that you either
ReplyDelete1. didn't read my last post.
2. are refusing to understand the contents of my last post
3. are self destructing because you realize your argument has no legs left to stand on, devolving into raving nonsensically about your prejudices (it's so cute when that happens to conservatives)
or 4. are just messing with me
either option leads to the same conclusion: this discussion is over.
oh and PS if you live in PR you can't just fly to miami to vote. That would be voter fraud. Surely you aren't suggesting I commit voter fraud??
ReplyDeleteAl Cabron,
ReplyDelete1. I did read your last post.
2. I understand , it's just not accurate. You seem to ignore all the facts.
3. Self destructing? More like destroying your bubble.
How does one become a Porto rican resident? It's just like moving from NY to NJ just with a plane or boat ride. No visa,no customs, where is the proof of residency needed for a Porto? Do Portos have some kind of special resident ID that I don't know about?
Self inflicted stripping of the right to vote. Thats what happens to Real Americans that don't want to vote.
The US Government has all the resources to give Real Americans living anywhere in the world who want to vote access to vote.
I have a friend living in Canada for 10 years that votes in every election. And many friends that voted from Iraq and Afghanistan. If they did it I'm sure a Newyorican or self hating Real american living in an american territory can do it.
It is not voter fraud, it is common sense.
Every (Real) American has the right and means to vote.
I think it's cuter when people write: "this discussion is over" and continue writing.
La (Che) Güeva rara,
ReplyDeleteFor a person with such a pseudonym you don't write in spanish to often. Is that self hate or is it that you don't want your people to understand you, or even read your posts.
Porto Rican is in the Dictionary. And I am writing in English not Spanish, like you should.
Robert,
ReplyDeleteThank GOD there is an Urban Dictionary to guide me. I didn't have the slightest idea what a troll was. Now that I know.
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Blog%20Troll
I don't agree with you at all. First of all I am writing about issues that affect you and me. I'm not writing about gothic homosexual socialist lovers.
I write it like it is.
Thanks again for teaching me something I did't know.
PS
Are you Porto Rican?
Pat -
ReplyDeletePlease look up the difference between "to" and "too". It will make your argument more credible if you at least know how to spell.
I like writing in English. I don't see it as self-hatred, as you so kindly put it. It's more about embracing the fact that I'm bilingual; something that you probably can't attest to.
If I wrote in Spanish, people like you wouldn't understand what I'm writing about, and I certainly wouldn't want to pass up that opportunity.
Dear Güeva rara,
ReplyDeleteI did study spanish in high school and dated a Porto Rican so I know a thing or two about the airport, craters in the roads and Porto RIcan responsibility. And I am sure my Spanish is better than most Porto's English any day.
About my spelling, last time I checked this is not a grammar exam. My point gets across.
Pat, I am half Puerto Rican. I regret to inform you, but the term "Porto Rico" hasn't been in regular use for close to 50 years.
ReplyDeleteAs for writing in English, the reason for that is simple. Should you want to reach an online audience beyond your shores, English is the only choice of language to use.
That being said... puedo escribir, hablar y leer español sin dificultad... excepto cuando se usan términos técnicos y científicos cuyo equivalente Puertorriqueño tiene raíz en ingles.
As for the who is more American argument, that's a pissing contest I won't involve myself with. I am an American citizen, there's no way around it. No more and no less than anyone else posting (unless you're really a closet Canadian Pat.)
Roberto,
ReplyDeleteI've used Porto Rican because it is the way I say it, it is in the dictionary and always though Rican was an insult so I always included the Porto. Plus Porto sounds pretty. Puerto, isn't it a male door? And a port of course.
Writing in English vs Spanish. I am almost sure there are more countries that speak Spanish than English. I wonder if a person from Buenos Aires, Madrid, Havana, Mexico City or Caracas feels the same way you do
"the reason for that is simple. Should you want to reach an online audience beyond your shores, English is the only choice of language to use."
Ya tambien puedo ezcribir en Castellano.
It is not about who is more American, it is a fact that a person from California ( Born there) is American. Ricans on the other hand don't consider themselves American so they shouldn't complain of the Third World conditions they live in.
My name is Robert, not Roberto :)
ReplyDeleteFunnily enough, I just checked Merriam Webster, and while "Porto Rico" is there, it is listed as the former variant of "Puerto Rico" hence, it isn't in use.
Puerto is Spanish for a port. Porto is an anglicized Puerto, created by the US as one of the many ways they attempted to "whitewash" Puerto Rico and its Puerto Ricans during the first several decades of the US colonization.
Thanks for reading Pat.
Let's get back to the point here.
ReplyDeleteThe food and the attitudes in Puerto Rico are generally mediocre at best and it's no coincidence. Puerto Ricans are not eating nutritious food. Sugar, corn syrup, and processed foods consisting of harmful ingredients make people violent, depressed, sick, tired and unspirited. Puerto Ricans can't be nice, happy, healthy, motivated, or creative with a diet like this. And there's really no excuse for Puerto Rico to not live up to its name of a rich port- so many fruits grow here that we could be making billions of dollars growing acai, mangosteen, cacao, coconuts, goji berries, and a thousand other superfoods for use in an even greater number of products.
Anyone interested in finding real solutions to the agricultural problem and making serious money doing so should read the recently published book Oro Verde by Sadhu Govardhan, written with Puerto Rico in mind but applicable to all tropical countries.
http://www.organicfarm.net
Improving our health and our economy will change the course of our history.
Back to the point.
ReplyDeleteI doubt healthy food will help Porto Rico at all.
It won't help it's economy or it's people.
Go ahead compete against Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela, US and Canada. You will loose. History would repeat itself. As it happened with coffee and sugar.
And I doubt people consume more acai and goji than sugar & coffee.
What PR needs is banking, hi tech and God.
Not Soy, Tofu and Yoga.