Puerto Rico’s political parties have traditionally been known colloquially as the statehood, commonwealth, and independence parties. Now that the “commonwealth” option has been clearly debunked, terms like “annexationist” or “assimilationist” are being thrown at the party supporting statehood.
This is another myth that has to be debunked.
What’s annexation?
Annexation is the action of adding new land into an existing political entity. This can be unclaimed land, or it can be a matter of taking a smaller area into a larger one. For example, a small village could be annexed into a larger town that has grown into its borders. The former village, once annexed, is part of the larger town. It might lose its post office, its schools, and its name on the map.
Puerto Rico is a territory belonging to the United States. The territory was ceded to the United States by Spain in 1898. You could certainly say that Puerto Rico was annexed in 1898, but it makes no sense to refer to statehood as annexation.
Puerto Rico already belongs to the United States. Statehood for Puerto Rico will not change that. The U.S. will not own more land. Puerto Rico will gain from the change, but no land will change hands.
Puerto Rico as a state will have sovereignty and rights that it does not, as a territory, currently have. It will lose nothing. Statehood is not annexation.
What’s assimilation?
“Assimilation” is used to describe a smaller group of people adjusting to, accepting, or being absorbed into the dominant culture. Puerto Ricans have been citizens of the United States for a century, and more Puerto Ricans live in the 50 states than currently live on the island. Will becoming the 51st state cause Puerto Rico to be more assimilated into the culture of the U.S.?
In the sense of being absorbed into U.S. culture or losing the unique Puerto Rican culture, this is not a realistic fear. As Governor Pedro Pierluisi said, “Our history, our traditions, our language, our faith, our food, our music, our dance, our art, our love of family, and our embrace of life—these things constitute the very essence of what it means to be Puerto Rican. Nothing—least of all equality under statehood—could ever diminish their power or their role in our lives. Our culture is simply too strong and too resilient.”
Spanish is a mainstream language in the United States and Puerto Rico will not be the state with the largest number of Spanish speakers when Puerto Rico is the 51st state. There is no chance that Puerto Rico will forget Spanish as a result of statehood.
Those who call the statehood movement “Assimilationists” aren’t actually suggesting that equal rights will mean the end of Puerto Rican culture. They’re using the term as an insult, a suggestion that people who favor statehood lack the pride to refuse to be absorbed into the United States. In fact, states have more dignity, more rights, and more power than territories. Calling statehood supporters “assimilationsts” doesn’t change that.
It’s time to end the insults. It’s time for statehood, the path to equal rights and sovereignty for the people of Puerto Rico.
Join us now and move Puerto Rico closer to the sovereignty, dignity, and equality that comes with statehood.
3 Responses
“Correctamente, las opciones incluidas son aquellas reconocidas por el Derecho Internacional como fórmulas descolonizadoras, de acuerdo a la Resolución 1541(XV) de la Asamblea General de las Naciones Unidas. Entiéndanse, la independencia, la libre asociación y la anexión.” Bottom line Annexation is the correct word.
The US Territory of Puerto Rico upon becoming a State will not be assimilated as other diverse Territories that became STATES haven’t!
Each diverse State, admitted to the “UNION of STATES”– has EQUALITY; its own IDENTITY; CONSTITUTION; FLAG; SOVEREIGNTY! ALL UNITED under the US Constitution (“WE THE PEOPLE”); noble US Flag that represents ALL US Citizens, States, and Territories. Like the “Lone Star Republic of Texas”, Hawaii…
So, thus a new Boricua- US State of Puerto Rico… which has made many contributions; sacrificed; shed sweat, blood, and Tears for the Good of ALL–Family, Comunity, Puerto Rico, USA, and Humanity!
EN LA UNION ESTA LA FUERZA!
Dennis O. Freytes
Florida Veterans Hall of Fame
My father and mother raised all their children under a democracy. For so many years a lot of politicians have been playing games with the status of Puerto Rico and the people. Its time for Puerto Rico to become a State of the US. So many people in the Congress are playing games with the Puerto Rico people. In my view it is unconstitutional and yet they don’t give Puerto Rico statehood. I hope you people of the Congress will work together to give Puerto Rico what it desires.