Puerto Rico: State, territory or country?

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Marcelino Pastrana
  • 17th Communications Squadron
GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  What is the political status of Puerto Rico? Is it a state, a territory or a country? There are 3.9 million Puerto Ricans living on the island and this question could potentially have 3.9 million different answers.

First, let's review the history of Puerto Rico. In 1493, Christopher Columbus "discovered" the island. Spanish settlements founded the first town, brought Christianity along with a new official language, Spanish. Spain ran the show in Puerto Rico for more than 400 years. In 1898, the Spanish-American War brought many more changes to the island. The most significant change was the transfer of Puerto Rico from Spanish rule to American rule. That's when the United States of America and Puerto Rico started a long-standing relationship.

In 1900, under the Foraker Act, the United States established the first Puerto Rico Supreme Court, and the first islander as a representative in the U.S. Congress - a non-voting member. Then in 1917, thanks to the Jones Act, all Puerto Ricans became U.S. Citizens. Three decades later in 1948, Puerto Ricans elected their first democratic governor, Honorable Luis Munoz Marin. With the assistance of President Harry S. Truman, Governor Munoz Marin established the Constitution of Puerto Rico. The island adopted the name of Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. In 1953 the United Nations approved Resolution 748, removing Puerto Rico's classification as a non-self-governing territory. This is where the confusion started. In the eyes of the United Nations, Puerto Rico should not be a U.S territory, in the eyes of Puerto Ricans, Puerto Rico is a Commonwealth, and many think they should be a Nation. In the eyes of the U.S. Federal government, Puerto Rico is both a Commowealth and a Nation. It's not an easy question to answer.

What's more important than the political status to some Puerto Ricans, is that they're very proud "boricuas" or "of Puerto Rican heritage" and very proud of to be U.S. citizens.

A very common love Americans and Puerto Ricans share is their love for baseball. In Puerto Rico baseball is as much a passion as it is in the U.S. and the love of the local teams does not stop on the island. Sometimes, I think my dad is more of a Yankee fan than most New Yorkers, and he's never been to New York. Puerto Ricans use U.S. currency, love shopping centers and honor both the American and Puerto Rican flags. In essence, Puerto Ricans are not that much different, but there are few things that make Puerto Rican distinctively Puerto Ricans. Puerto Ricans tend to speak in a high volume when they converse with each other, their English has a Spanish accent, many listen to salsa music most of the time love to decorate their houses with the Puerto Rican flag in every corner.

Puerto Ricans have been honored to fight next to American born brothers in every military conflict since World War I. Thanks to American influences on the Island, Puerto Rico enjoys a stable government system, a strong financial market, top of the line health care system and many other political, social and economic benefits. Puerto Ricans are very grateful for the United States relationship.

I don't think I answered the political question, probably because there are too many answers. That's because as a Puerto Rican serving my country as an Airman I prefer to see the similarities between both countries without losing the identity.