Puerto Rico - An American State 113 Years In The Making; Part III

When I started this undertaking, of clarifying Puerto Rico's and its peoples' political status, I had no idea that it would be such an extensive project.  I did not jump into this project on a whim.  I have been pondering this subject for years.  I am proud and humbled by the new found information I have uncovered;  and a little disappointed at myself for not digging deeper into my Puerto Rican heritage sooner.  As a Genealogist, specializing in Puerto Rican Genealogy for the past 13 years, that should have been my first endeavour.

Well, so far, I've written a summarized version of pre- and post-Columbian history of Puerto Rico.  I gave you a glimpse into Puerto Rico's attempts to free itself from Spain's domination and gain independence.  And a taste of what Puerto Rico has contributed militarily in the early stages and thereafter, of a newly created Nation called the United States of America; keep in mind, we haven't yet discussed in depth Puerto Rico's role in the Cuban Independence Movement.   And now we will get down to the nitty gritty of some major impact Puerto Rican-US policies, terrorist plots and Puerto Rico's commingled history with Cuba.

The Foraker Act of 1900, an act passed by the U.S. Senate, gave Puerto Rico a civilian popular government including a popularly elected House of Representatives.  It also allowed a judicial system following the American legal system that includes both State and Federal courts; establishing within that system a Puerto Rico Supreme Court, a United States District Court and a non-voting member of Congress, by the title of "Resident Commissioner".  In addition, this Act extended all U.S. laws "not locally inapplicable" to Puerto Rico, specifying specific exemption from U.S. Internal Revenue laws.

In 1906, President Theodore Roosevelt recommended that Puerto Ricans become U.S. citizens.  In 1917, "Puerto Ricans were collectively made U.S. citizens" via the Jones-Shafroth Act, signed by President Woodrow Wilson.  The same Act also provided for a popularly elected Senate to complete a bicameral Legislative Assembly, a bill of rights and authorized the election of the Resident Commissioner to a four-year term.

Translation?  A mini-U.S. government was unilaterally formed on the island of Puerto Rico.

More than a century later, this does not seem like such a negative occurrence, after all, from the American point of view, Puerto Rico at this time in history was only beginning to see itself as a Nation, as a separate entity from the World's Super Powers; and although wanting very much to become self reliant, economically, did not have the resources to accomplish that goal.  But to a contemporary Puerto Rico, who had only less than a decade earlier gained its independence from Spain, this American government, imposed upon it, without it's consent or participation, was devastating to the morale of it's people.  Most of the population accepted their fate in accordance with the humility that is still very much a common characteristic among modern Puerto Ricans; most but not all.

Natural disasters and the Great Depression impoverished the island during the first few decades under U.S. rule.  Tensions ran high for both sides for the next 50 years.  On March 21, 1937, a march was organized in the southern city of Ponce by the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party, lead by Pedro Albizu Campos.  The march turned tragic when the Insular Police (comparable to the National Guard) opened fire on the unarmed civilians.  Nineteen were killed and over 200 badly wounded.  Most shot in the back while trying to run away from the police.  This incident came to be known as the Ponce Massacre.   Thirteen and a half years later, on October 30, 1950, Pedro Albizu Campos and other nationalists lead a 3 day revolt against the United States.  The most notable were in the towns of Jayuya and Utuado.  These became known as the Jayuya Uprising and the Utuado Massacre.  These were by no means the only Uprisings or Massacres occurring on the island; but were the most prominent and most publicized.

Meanwhile, during these turmoil filled years, Puerto Rican politicians like Luis Munoz Marin, member of the Popular Democratic Party, championed a compromise with President Truman to appoint, in 1946, the first Puerto Rican born Governor Jesus T. Pinero.  A year later, in 1947, the Puerto Rican people, won the right to democratically elect their own Governor.  Luis Munoz Marin, ran a successful campaign, and became Puerto Rico's first democratically elected Governor, on January 2, 1949; he was immensely popular for previous public works, including securing the inclusion of Puerto Rico in President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal program, thus, maintaining his Governorship for the next 16 years.

The Puerto Rican Nationalist Party, whom interpreted the U.S. actions as the, once again, colonization of Puerto Rico; decided to gain publicity to their cause by committing several terrorist acts, ordered by Pedro Albizu Campos while incarcerated in prison, upon the Continental United States.  One of which was the attempted assassination of President Harry S. Truman, in his home, by Griselio Torresola and Oscar Collazo, on November, 01, 1950.  Another well documented case was that of Dolores "Lolita" Lebron Sotomayor, who proceeded to attack the United States House of Representatives on March, 01, 1954; by opening fire with a semi-automatic rifle while the House was in full session.

Here lies the reason why I have said time and time again, since our involvement in Afghanistan, send an Elite Force of Puerto Ricans and our Bin Laden problems will be over!!!

Now, to our Cuban Connection!

Many Puerto Ricans sympathized with Cuba's plight in that it was so fundamentally tied to their own.  I could only speculate that our brave Puerto Rican men believed that helping Cuba free itself from Spain would cause a domino effect and facilitate Puerto Rico's independence.  A very well known saying among our Hispanic community is "Cuba y Puerto Rico, de un pajaro, las dos alas"; translated, "Cuba and Puerto Rico, from a bird, it's wings".  Meaning, at some point in time, Cuba and Puerto Rico were so closely related by idealogy, customs, heritage and struggle that we were blood brothers.

Among the illustrious group of Puerto Rican men that were involved in Cuba's Independence from Spain were:

• Juan Riuz Rivera, Commander in Chief, Cuban Liberation Army, he fought in the "Grito de Lares" revolt, under the command of Mathias Brugman.  He also fought in Cuba's Ten Year War (1868-1878).  

• Jose Semidei Rodriguez, Brigadier General, Cuban Liberation Army.  He was involved in Cuba's Ten Year War (1868-1878), after Cuba gained its independence he continued to serve in that country as a diplomat. 

• Francisco Gonzalo Marin, Lieutenant, Cuban Liberation Army, he was so inspired by the Cuban cause that he adapted the Cuban Flag by introverting its colors and is credited with designing the Puerto Rican flag; he was a poet and journalist who fought alongside Jose Marti.

It is rumored that people of the northeastern province of Oriente, Cuba, have a peculiar dialect, idiosyncrasies and other mannerisms that are not common in any other part of the island.  I like to think that our ancestral Puerto Rican warrior brothers, after accomplishing their mission, decided to take a well deserved vacation and rested in Oriente for a while.