31 thoughts on “How do Puerto Ricans relate to other Latinos in the U.S.?”
Puerto Ricans and Latinos
I think there’s some division between Puerto Ricans and other Latino groups in the U.S. Many of my Dominican acquaintances criticize Puerto Ricans. Why? They say we’re lazy, don’t speak Spanish properly or at all, haven’t take advantage of our American citizenship, and don’t have the backbone to stand up and fight for Puerto Rico’s independence. The criticism is harsh.
Our cultural ambivalence makes us an easy target for such acerbic “observations”. My only hope is that we reacquaint ourselves with our Puerto Rican heritage (regardless if you were born in the States or in Puerto Rico). This should hopefully put to rest the disdainful remarks from other Latinos.
JBaez
p.s. As a Nuyorican, I’ve seen the Latino landscape of this city change. I laugh when I hear other Latinos in NYC talk as if “making it” in this city is easy. What they don’t realize is those bodegas and restaurants and clubs that they now own, were first established by Puerto Ricans. We broke down the barriers and made great inroads in NYC. In other words, we set the stage upon which their shoes now do the tapping!
RE: Puerto Ricans and Latinos
I really agree with your last paragraph–in fact, going back to the civil rights movements in the 1960s, it was PR’s who agitated for bilingual education in NYC. And yes, in the east, the earliest massive movements of Latinos was PRs looking for factory jobs.
However, it seems to me that one cannot begin to undestand other Latinos without a good grounding in history–that includes not only PR history, but that of the world. In fact, a look at (especially) Latin American history, shows a remarkable story of genocide, oppression and resistance. Often, I find that PRs not only are abysmally ignorant of their history, but have absolutely no idea (for example) who Simon Bolivar was. Or La Malinche. Or how US governments have historically trained, equipped and supported the regimes of Guatemala, Argentina, the contra army in Nicaragua, Brazil, Uruquay, Bolivia, Peru, etc. This ignorance is pathetic (not just because I’m a history major) because if you can’t say where you’re from how could you even begin to analyze the present and deal with the future.
There’s also the nonsense (seen especially by Cubanos, I’m sorry to say–and not all of them) that one group is better than the other. So Cubanos–because they’ve been able to form a formidable lobbying group–for about three decades have been able to strangle Cuba, just because they claim Castro is a dictator (he is, but they forget to mention how Batista was also a dictator; it’s a way of not bringing attention to the fact that the lighter skinned Cubans, who lost their property, were mostly in cahoots with the Batista regime, either overtly or covertly. god help you if you’re Cuban and disagree with US policy towards Cuba, especially in Florida! Cubans are also wealthier than (say) PRs and have moved more into the US mainstream than any other Latino group (possible exception of Mexicans in the West).
To wrap up: we as PRs cannot begin to see our commonalities with other Latino groups until we do the hard work necessary. A grounding in history IS absolutely necessary, and that means we have to decide to turn off the TV and actually read! Learning (contrary to rumor) is not fun–it is hard work and demands time and attention to detail. But all can do it–if we can talk (god only knows why) about Jennifer Lopez, Ricky Martin and other relatively insignificant Latinos, we already possess the skills to learn about the historia de la familia Latina/Hispana. So get to work, people!! 🙂
RE: Puerto Ricans and Latinos
I think other Latinos who believe that Puerto Ricans do not have the backbone to fight for their independence are ignorant and un-learned. Many Nationalist have died and continue the struggle for independence. Other Latinos should not criticize Puerto Ricans about being oppressed because they whether they like it or not, they are “in the same boat” as we are. The big difference is that Puerto Ricans have more power in the United States as citizens, and even that claim came with a price tag…
Latino Diaspora…
I don’t recall every meeting a non-Puerto Rican Latino who was not thankful to Puerto Ricans for the ground we broke for other Hispanics. I always look forward to meeting hispanics of other culures, and learning the similarities and differences between us…and there are many. The bond of language and religion sustains these relatinshhips; and , i find, that before long the cultural differences begin to dissipate, and then genuine relationships begin to form.
On the other hand, I find that the sheer number for force of new migrations place Puerto Ricans in something of a quandary: How to embrace other Hispanic cultures while maintaining our individuality as Puerto Ricans. One of the difficulties we hae in doing this is that, at least in the case of New York City, we have “given up” what waw the Puerto Rican stronghold — i.e., East Harlem. By giving up our bodegas, restaurants, and not acquiring major parcels of real estate, I’m not sure that we have a “home base” from which to maintain our individuality. We have ceded our local patrimonio. We have administrators, politicians, artists and educatins, but we no longer “own the streets” of El Barrio. I believe it was Algarin who said it best recently in a recent interview. To paraphrase him, we essentially threw it all away; and we really have no one else to blame.
My point is that we are the short end of the quandary. We are admired and appreciated for our accomplishments in New York City, but we have not solidly anchored our community solidly, in real estate and enterprise. If we had, we would be able to embrace other Latinos without being threatened.
RE: Latino Diaspora…
A perfect example of “blaming the victim.” Let’s see–PRs come over in the 1940s and 1950s in large numbers to work in factories. They are discriminated against, paid low wages and basically herded into concentration camps–we’re so dishonest, however, we call them “ghettos” or “low income housing.” The public schools don’t care about a new, poor nonEnglish speaking population. The city of NY also doesn’t care–after all, the point of ghettos is to keep the “surplus” population at bay and away from others. Along with African Americans, social services are not provided at anything near adequate levels. In a few decades, these places begin to really go downhill. In some parts of NYC, greedy landlords set fire to their buildings, thus driving more people out (note that the South Bronx was not burned down by the people who lived there–how stupid do you think we are?
In spite of all that, the PR community does manage to own some small businesses. This in spite of redlining–where banks would not lend money if you were in certain neighborhoods.
So, the fact that somehow PRs “gave it away” might be technically true, yet it obscures quite a lot of history. Oh, yeah, most of us were nonwhite, so the option the early Cubans had (who were mostly white skinned and middle class) was not available to our community. The fact that during the 1960s, some benefits were finally beginning to trickle down, should not obscure the FBI infiltration of PR civil rights movements, etc. In the 1980s, we had a neofascist administration in office that did nothing but cut social services. A poor community cannot possibly be expected to own real estate and enterprise.
RE: RE: Latino Diaspora…
Victor,
Yes–don’t blame the victim. But–let’s stop whining, too! As Puerto Ricans or Puerto Rican-Americans (or whatever one prefers to be called) we did have “bad timimg” in terms of our emigration to the U.S. However, it doesn’t excuse us from wallowing in poverty as our fellow Latino brethren improved their lot in the U.S.
So please let’s quit playing our sorrowful compositions on our violins and bemoaning the situation we now find ourselves in. Let’s get off our couches of self-pity and do something…
…..I know I have!!!!!!!!
JBaez
RE: RE: Latino Diaspora…
The World According to Victor P. I agree with both Msr. Espier and Padilla–at least in part. We have not creating a lasting permanence in terms of real estate but I’m not too sure that is the only way one creates permanence. Also many factors come into play in why we own so little although this assessment — which I have repeatedly heard warrants closer study. Certainly, the creation of the Schomburg Library is an example of permanence. It’s true that institutions, by their very nature, are ephemeral unless there are consistent efforts to reinforce and build permanence into them. And certainly owning real estate and having some sort of endowment are key.
I don’t think Puerto Ricans have been exceptionally weak in creating permanence. I believe that many of the problems in our community were perceived as impermanent or transistory. I also believe that many of us thought we would be returning to Puerto Rico and that to remain meant to become assimilated. I also believe that our class and our status as U.S. citizens also factored into how we approached our institutions. There was no concern for a legacy because we were eventually planning to go home.
Being mostly poor and working class or really country folk, most of us basically thought of studying and going on to professional careers or jobs. This has been done. It is amazing how many Puerto Ricans are accomplished–against the odds of achieving success in this country. What would be worth looking at is how disproportionately high the numbers are of successful Puerto Ricans. That is, for such a small island and number of people, there are so many who are accomplished.
I’m thinking of people like Jose Ferrer, Rita Moreno, Dr. Antonia Novello, Jaime Sanchez, Juano Hernandez (who was black, not mulato or white), Rafael Hernandez, Tufiño, Arena, etc. The list is really quite endless and in different areas. It’s really amazing. And yet, one might say we don’t own things. Well, perhaps now, we have reached a point in our history that we know we shall not be returning to the island and that we don’t simply want to assimilate. And that is why we are now looking for our legacy. We have indeed accomplished a great deal and founded some of the most important institutions in New York City and in the U.S.A. Perhaps a site like this can help document it.
RE: RE: RE: Latino Diaspora…
Well, I’m flattered there’s a world according to me–of course no one bothered to tell me, so I’ve been stuck in the real world all this time. Oh, well.
I’m not sure what, “we’ve created some of the most important institutions in NYC and the USA” Really? Apart from the Schomburg and (perhaps) Museo del Barrio, what else? All examples, of course, are to come from the real world, not my world.
RE: RE: RE: Latino Diaspora…
Hmm, let’s see what this “whining” refers to. Discriminated against because of skin color and main language. Put into horrible living conditions because of de facto discrimination and “restrictive covenants.” Poor schools, redlining and other lack of access to capital, all in a society that is an institutionalized racist one–from the very moment the Spanish, then other Europeans stepped off the boat, the operative principle has been white power. Add to that the so-called “war on drugs,” which has taken large numbers of our youth and put them in jail–when they come out, of course they’ll all be CEOs of major companies aned will be able to help their communities (if you want to control a group, one of the main ways to do so is by attacking the youth). Oh, lest I forget–we’re still digging ourselves out from the progressive Reagan-Bush years, when services the PR community fought for during the 1960s were cut (not that the city of NY wasn’t doing it’s own cutting of budgets for the poor/working class).
The comment reminds me of that great intellect, Dinesh D’Souza, who in his last book asks, “what do blacks owe this country.” He also dismissed black claims to discrimination, etc. as nothing more than “whining.” One is not engaged in whining by pointing out historical acts whose repercussions are still reverberate in communities of color. In fact, in order to figure out why things are as screwed up as they are IS to look backwards.
RE: RE: RE: RE: Latino Diaspora…
The Institute for the Puerto Rican/Hispanic Elderly, Centro de Estudios Puertorriqueños (the largest Latino Archive in the U.S.A.), the Puerto Rican Traveling Theater (the first bilingual professional theater in the country), The National Puerto Rican Forum, ASPIRA, Hostos Community College, Nuyorican Poets Cafe, Institute for Puerto Rican Policy, etc. There are many more, but these are just some of the many really significant organizations.
Patrimonio…
I think K Smith opens up the question of “patrimonio” excellently by referring to our accomplishments in organization building; and I allude to the thankfulness other hispanics have of how [we] paved the way for them, this is essentially what they mean. It is through our organizations, big and small alike, that bad laws are challengced, educational policy honed, and so on. When I say that we do not “own the streets” I mean exactly that: “patrimonio” has to be anchored to the land — read “real estate.” That can be “el terreno” of Puerto Rico, or the streets of New York City. The dominent cultures in this country, Anglo, if you will, OWN the land; they own the real estate, and that is ultimately the source of their control and power.
However significant the contributions made by our organizations, they are vulnerable and transitory. Organizations come and go. All organizations created by dominant cultures have anchored them in real estate, which only increases in value over th eyears. Additionally, I mean by “the street” is owning restaurants, bodegas, mom & pop stores, small apartment buildings — i.e., owning at least 75% of the commercial enterprises in the community. That is what we have lost…that is what we had the opportunity to own.
RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: Latino Diaspora…
I’ll acknowledge they are significant, but except for the Centro (at Hunter College) the rest are not “significant,” except in the PR community. The Natl PR Forum as significant? The Institute? Nah, don’t think so. They ARE significant in the same way the Chinese-American political forum might be–in other words, whenever the media need a “spokesperson,” they’ll come to these folks (as if these folks alone represent PR discussion). In other words, it’s the elite speaking to the elite.
RE: Latino Diaspora…
Yo llegue a este pais en el 59 y desgraciadamente sufri mucho por no aber tenido un apoyo de nadie, pero
doy gracias a Dios que me pude reponer.
en cuanto a lo que a pasado en la ciudad de NY. creo que a sido un descuido de nosotros mismos, que en ves de aseptar este pais como lo icieron los de europa nos quedamos aislados, limitandonos a estar conforme con la esperansa de bolver, cuando uno se regresa se da cuenta que aquello era solo una ilicion,
RE: Latino Diaspora…
Both the National Puerto Rican Forum and the Institute for Puerto Rican Policy are significant in the area of civil rights and research for Latinos. They are also important in coalition-building with other groups. Actually, I’m not even beginning to do them justice. You should contact them in order to inform yourself.
RE: Patrimonio…
Although, I agree that there is a need for continuity and that certainly owning things or having assets is a way of creating some sort of lasting permanence, I do not subscribe to the notion that real estate in anyway guarantees this. I think the idea of a legacy and of continuity should be explored more. Also what exactly do we mean by permanence? To what end?
RE: RE: Puerto Ricans and Latinos
Congressman Serrano’s prompting of the FBI to account for the torture of Albizu Campos and the disruption of the independence movement of Puerto Rico from the onset through harassment, arrests, intimidation and even murder, is a major step in clarifying our history to ourselves and other Latinos. It is not that Puerto Ricans have never struggled for their independence. On the contrary, it is amazing that we still have an independence movement given the direct intervention into our politics by the U.S. This will all become known shortly. You might want to check out the book called LAS CARPETAS.
RE: RE: Latino Diaspora…
Been there done that. Not that impressive–though they do a fair job. There. Now I’m “informed.”
RE: RE: Puerto Ricans
wow. right on….
you just blew me out of my chair.
i had to read the rest of the thread.
education. education. education.
how can we know where we are going if we don’t know where we came from? the puerto rican experience…. i think the first real split
in our community happens when we decide on where to educate our children. if they are educated on the island, for better of for worse there was puerto rican history on the agenda…. i can’t speak for the new york city area. i only assume that because puerto ricans had such a strong impact in the city, that we are written into the history books. that would be local history though. i then assume that any puerto rican who was educated stateside had a similar experience to mine: there was a short mention of puerto rico in fourth grade…. one of the benefits of the spanish – american war of 1898…. again, we touched on the subject of puerto rico in sixth grade as we did geography: where is it… who does it belong to…. stuff like that. i must say this would be the sum of my education in terms of puerto rico having grown up stateside. i think that is about the same as saying: two weeks out of my entire K – 12 experience…. this is significant because i find myself constantly correcting the average american as to their concept of puerto rico:
even now, people still ask me what the currency is, what kind if immigration papers will they have to fill out to go there from here, are there modern ammenities outside of the resorts…
WHAT?
why is it that i have never had to explain any of this to anybody that is hispanic oriented?
as i mentioned, i grew up outside of new york…. so i am double outsider… not an isleño, and not a nuyorican. i am familiar with the nuyorican dilemas only by second hand observations: what people tell me. this is followed up by a couple of visits a year, in which i make my own observations…. i’ve got to say that it becomes harder and harder to casually stumble upon the nuyo-rican…. it was a tangible community all through my childhood…. bodegas, restaurants , etc…. all important mediums of contact for the community…. any community… my past couple of visits have created a huge personal interest in the dominican republic….. everywhere i turned. everyone i talked too….
the nuyo – rican versus:
the nuyor – ican
is it that even the nuyorican has become an immigrant in new york…. slowly drifting into the suburbs and getting absorbed by the mainstream homoginization vibration….. one thought, one language, one action….
i suppose you could say that because nuyoricans have given up their base, that there is less splintering between us: in a few years there will be only slight differences between the puerto rican american in orlando, the nuyorican in new hampshire, and the puerto rican who got stuck in the west coast during the sugarcare in hawaii fiasco… it then amounts to an individuals contact to the motherland. and our motherland suffers as i right this. so we all suffer. i have said some of this in the forum, and i will say it again… if we were to equate countries with personalities, then puerto rico had a 405 year (1492 – 1897) relationship with one of it’s parents. puerto rico was kind of like the oldest child who never leaves home and takes care of the mother….. then this dude named uncle sam comes along, and snatches this adult child away before it can take it’s first true steps on its own. after 54 years of stepchild like treatment, (1898 – 1952), uncle sam deceids to visit a witch doctor, and the poor thing has been in a state of zombie since then…. HOW DO WE WAKE OUR MOTHERLAND UP !! all we have to do is wake up for her !!
(like that’s an easy task)
i live in los angeles….. things are a little different out here. there are ALOT !! of mexicans in the world !! i would almost swear that this town is split three ways: 30% mexican, 30% white, 40% other… and an important thing about this area is that it once belonged to mexico…. the mexican vibration runs deep in the soil…. mexican history is part of the future here…. there has been up to the recent past, enough land for the creation of whole communities of one culture or another….
RE: RE: RE: Puerto Ricans and Latinos
Good point. I’ll look out for that book. Ronald Fernandez has also written three good books on this topic: (a) The Disenchanted Island,(b) Cruising the Caribbean and (c)Prisoners of Colonialism. All excellent and worth missing a TV show or two for
We contribute and they have made us aware
I think Puerto Ricans here in New York have contributed a great deal to the Hispanic communities that have come. We sort of hold their hand until they get started. They generally move into our communities–at least the poor ones. And the vast majority of Latinos coming to the States are poor. I think the Mexicans who have been flowing into New York for the past five years have really opened our eyes to a lot of things. Firstly, there are jobs out there and the Mexicans certainly know how to find them. They may be low paying but there are those jobs. Their presence highlighted for me a fundamental difference and characteristic of the Puerto Rican stateside community. We have become marginalized through the welfare and have lost at least a good number of us a will to go out there and try to do something about our situation. I know I’m generalizing. We also feel a certain type of self-defeating entitlement that keeps us from taking jobs we deem menial. Although, we may not have the education or training to do anything but that sort of menial work.
RE: We contribute and they have made us aware
Don’t sound so apologetic about what you wrote. I think you made an excellent point about stateside Puerto Ricans, especially Nuyoricans, becoming pacified with welfare. It’s a shame. No wonder we’re the poorest hispanics in the U.S. (Based on comparisions between Mexican-Americans and Cuban-Americans).
Not only have the Mexicans, for lack of a better term, “showed us up”, the Dominicans have also proven extremely industrious. They’ve opened countless restaurants, own car services, bought the NYC bodegas from fleeing (to where I don’t know) Nuyoricans, and seem willing to try just about anything to get a foothold into the American way of life.
Puerto Ricans also allowed those infrastructures we either built or supported to collapse. For example, La Marqueta in Spanish Harlem. Why did we allow that great Puerto Rican cultural/economic institution crumble? It’s a shell of its former self.
[For the record, I’m not the least bit business savvy. However, if there’re any Puerto Ricans in NYC who are, please investigate the possibility of revitalizing La Marqueta. It creates jobs and instills pride.]
We Nuyoricans seem awfully comfortable wallowing in poverty. And, that’s a shame! Thus said, i think that we’ve become “comfortably numb” with our lot.
And that should change!
JBaez
Latinos have to support Vieques
There has to be unity among stateside Puerto Ricans and their Latino brothers and sisters. We should be supporting each other and, specifically, with the issues of Vieques and the Puerto Rican status question, they should be supporting us.
White Ribbons
In one of the pictures from Vieques I noticed an elderly woman standing next to a fence covered in white ribbons. In an
article elsewhere I read the ribbons stood for Peace.
In honor of this woman and Vieques, I have placed a white ribbon on the attenae of my car. In addition, I have copied
the Marina Fuera Sign and placed it in my car window.
I encourage all Vieques supporters to do the same.
Everyone, Place a White Ribbon on your car, trees, picket signs, etc to symbolize the fight for Naval freedom in
Vieques.
In the 90’s I was a yellow ribbon supporter of the Troops in Gulf War. I had many college friend and school teachers
called to the war.
While the ribbons themselves did not bring them home, The display of the yellow ribbons everywhere supported our
friends and loved ones as called by the military.
I knew people of all ages, all walks of life and all races supporting and knowing what these ribbons were for.
It is a similiar story with the pink ribbons for breast cancer awareness and other ribbons for causes.
When people do not know what the ribbons mean, they ask questions and we can share the information to spread
awareness of the plight of Vieques.
Please everyone, Find a White Ribbon somewhere and Show the fight for Vieques is not ending with a few
demonstrations here and there.
The large battle is at hand. We must spread the word of Vieques and get more people involved.
I am so happy to see that there are so many cities having demonstatrations, but there should be more.
We need to write letters, send emails, and encourage our representatives to have a bill passed to cease Naval activites
in Vieques.
The time is now. Voting seasons will be coming soon, and we need all the votes and supporters we can muster.
The pictures have helped, but Everyone needs to know.
GODPEACE
Vieques SI
Marina NO
PEACE TO VIEQUES No More BOMBS (concrete or Live!)
How much support for Vieques among Latinos
It’s kind of funny but I wonder how much support there was for the Vieques protesters among non-Puerto Rican Latinos in the U.S. I know there was some because there were Dominican and Mexican flags at the rally in Times Square which really was encouraging. I just wonder how substantive it was and would like to hear more about this. Latinolink ran an article on how Latinos supported Vieques but it turned out to be basically the coverage of different rallies that were sponsored by Puerto Ricans–meaning, stateside Puerto Ricans were being considered Latinos, which we are but….
RE: Puerto Ricans and Latinos
Alot of these things are a result of jealousy. Puerto Ricans get alot of money and help from the U.S. and these are things alot of other people would love to have. Less fortunate people. About the way we speak spanish, they mainly say that about Nuyoricans who in part, dont speak spanish very well at all. This is an embarrassment to Puerto Ricans as well and is a problem people should deal with.
RE: How much support for Vieques among Latinos
Good point–however, I doubt many Latinos even knew (cared?) what the whole issue was about. What’s needed is a Pan Latino/Hispanic awareness. Education, education, education—and less TV!!
RE: We contribute and they have made us aware
Work isn’t menial, except when given that social characterization by the dominant community and accepted by minority communities. However, the context must be clear: when the educational system is geared towards warehousing kids, when teachers are paid shit, though many have or will have a master’s degree, when classrooms are overcrowded and textbooks outdated, when our brothers are stopped for no reason or shot down like dogs, when public housing is not fit for animals, etc., etc., and when the group in question is distracted by nonsense like who Jennifer Lopez is sleeping with, these conditions will not change.
RE: RE: RE: Puerto Ricans
WOW,I FEEL ALOT OF WHAT YOU ARE SAYING IF YOU THINK YOU HAD IT HARD THINK HOW I FEEL I WAS A MILITARY BRAT AND NOW AM A MILITARY WIFE (MI ESPOSO ES PUERTORIQUENO)AND GROWING UP ON THE WEST COAST WERE EITHER YOUR MEXICAN OR AFRO AMERICAN AND BORICUA IS JUST SOMETHING “NOT NORM..”I AM A DARK LATINA AND ASKING FOR MALTA OR GUANDULES AT THE STORE WAS A NO NO WE HAD TO CHANGE OUR WAY OF LIFE OVER HERE AND BOY AM I GLAD THAT THERE IS THE CALIFORNIA PUERTO RICAN PARADE ASSO.(ARE YOU GOING TO THE FESTIVITIES IN JUNE EMAIL ME IF YOU NEED THE INFO ITS IN MONTEBELLO Y SAN DIMAS)AND MY HUSBAND IS ORIGINALLY FROM CIEBA BUT HE IS ALSO A NYRIQUEN FROM THE BRONX AND WE HAVE TWO KIDS THAT WE ARE RAISING AND TRYING TO TEACH BE PROUD OF WHAT YOU ARE PUERTO RICAN AND NOTHING MORE !!!!!!!!THANK YOU FOR PUTTING SUCH A POSITIVE MESSAGE OUT,MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND LIBRE PARA LA ISLE DE PUERTO RICO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!LOS RIVERAS
the pet shop
please be advised that the best pet shop in all of el barrio is located at 2166 2nd ave, new york, ny. 10029. we will be moving soon to 2012 3rd ave, between 110th & 111th street, new york ny. 10029 please visit the old and new location son.
MIND OVER MATTER!
Once upon a time there was an island where all the feelings lived; Happiness, Sadness, Knowledge, and all the others……, including Love. One day it was announced to all of the feelings that the island was going to sink to the bottom of the ocean. So all the feelings prepared their boats to leave. Love was the only one that stayed. She wanted to preserve the island until the last possible moment. When the island was almost totally under, Love decided it was time to leave. She began looking for someone to ask for help. Just then Richness was passing by in a grand boat. Love asked, “Richness, Can I come with you on your boat?” Richness answered, “I’m sorry, but there is a lot of silver and gold on my boat and there would be no room for you.” Then Love decided to ask Vanity for help who was passing in a beautiful vessel. Love cried out, “Vanity, help me please.” I can’t help you”, Vanity said, “You are all wet and will damage my beautiful boat.” Next, Love saw Sadness passing by. Love said, “Sadness, please let me go with you.” Sadness answered, “Love, I’m sorry, but, I just need to be alone now.” Then, Love saw Happiness. Love cried out, “Happiness, please take me with you.” But Happiness was so overjoyed that he didn’t hear Love calling to him. Love began to cry. Then, she heard a voice say, “Come Love, I will take you with me.” It was an elder. Love felt so blessed and overjoyed that she forgot to ask the elder his name. When they arrived on land the elder went on his way. Love realized how much she owed the elder. Love then found Knowledge and asked, “Who was it that helped me?” “It was Time”, Knowledge answered. “But why did Time help me when no one else would?” Love asked. Knowledge smiled and with deep wisdom and sincerity, answered, “Because only Time is capable of understanding how great Love is.”
“Did you know that it’s easier to say what you feel in writing than saying it to someone in the face? But did you know that it has more value when you say it to their face?
Did you know that you can make your dreams come true, like falling in love, becoming rich, staying healthy, if you try really hard to get them, if you really knew, you’d be surprised by what you could do.
Did you know that those who dress in red are more confident in themselves?
Did you know that those who dress in yellow are those that enjoy their beauty?
Did you know that those who dress in black are those who want to be unnoticed and need your help and understanding?
Did you know that when you help someone, the help is returned in two folds?
Did you know that those who appear to be very strong in heart are real weak and most susceptible?
Did you know that those who spend their time protecting others are the ones that really need someone to protect them?
Did you know that the three most difficult things to say are:
Puerto Ricans and Latinos
I think there’s some division between Puerto Ricans and other Latino groups in the U.S. Many of my Dominican acquaintances criticize Puerto Ricans. Why? They say we’re lazy, don’t speak Spanish properly or at all, haven’t take advantage of our American citizenship, and don’t have the backbone to stand up and fight for Puerto Rico’s independence. The criticism is harsh.
Our cultural ambivalence makes us an easy target for such acerbic “observations”. My only hope is that we reacquaint ourselves with our Puerto Rican heritage (regardless if you were born in the States or in Puerto Rico). This should hopefully put to rest the disdainful remarks from other Latinos.
JBaez
p.s. As a Nuyorican, I’ve seen the Latino landscape of this city change. I laugh when I hear other Latinos in NYC talk as if “making it” in this city is easy. What they don’t realize is those bodegas and restaurants and clubs that they now own, were first established by Puerto Ricans. We broke down the barriers and made great inroads in NYC. In other words, we set the stage upon which their shoes now do the tapping!
RE: Puerto Ricans and Latinos
I really agree with your last paragraph–in fact, going back to the civil rights movements in the 1960s, it was PR’s who agitated for bilingual education in NYC. And yes, in the east, the earliest massive movements of Latinos was PRs looking for factory jobs.
However, it seems to me that one cannot begin to undestand other Latinos without a good grounding in history–that includes not only PR history, but that of the world. In fact, a look at (especially) Latin American history, shows a remarkable story of genocide, oppression and resistance. Often, I find that PRs not only are abysmally ignorant of their history, but have absolutely no idea (for example) who Simon Bolivar was. Or La Malinche. Or how US governments have historically trained, equipped and supported the regimes of Guatemala, Argentina, the contra army in Nicaragua, Brazil, Uruquay, Bolivia, Peru, etc. This ignorance is pathetic (not just because I’m a history major) because if you can’t say where you’re from how could you even begin to analyze the present and deal with the future.
There’s also the nonsense (seen especially by Cubanos, I’m sorry to say–and not all of them) that one group is better than the other. So Cubanos–because they’ve been able to form a formidable lobbying group–for about three decades have been able to strangle Cuba, just because they claim Castro is a dictator (he is, but they forget to mention how Batista was also a dictator; it’s a way of not bringing attention to the fact that the lighter skinned Cubans, who lost their property, were mostly in cahoots with the Batista regime, either overtly or covertly. god help you if you’re Cuban and disagree with US policy towards Cuba, especially in Florida! Cubans are also wealthier than (say) PRs and have moved more into the US mainstream than any other Latino group (possible exception of Mexicans in the West).
To wrap up: we as PRs cannot begin to see our commonalities with other Latino groups until we do the hard work necessary. A grounding in history IS absolutely necessary, and that means we have to decide to turn off the TV and actually read! Learning (contrary to rumor) is not fun–it is hard work and demands time and attention to detail. But all can do it–if we can talk (god only knows why) about Jennifer Lopez, Ricky Martin and other relatively insignificant Latinos, we already possess the skills to learn about the historia de la familia Latina/Hispana. So get to work, people!! 🙂
RE: Puerto Ricans and Latinos
I think other Latinos who believe that Puerto Ricans do not have the backbone to fight for their independence are ignorant and un-learned. Many Nationalist have died and continue the struggle for independence. Other Latinos should not criticize Puerto Ricans about being oppressed because they whether they like it or not, they are “in the same boat” as we are. The big difference is that Puerto Ricans have more power in the United States as citizens, and even that claim came with a price tag…
Latino Diaspora…
I don’t recall every meeting a non-Puerto Rican Latino who was not thankful to Puerto Ricans for the ground we broke for other Hispanics. I always look forward to meeting hispanics of other culures, and learning the similarities and differences between us…and there are many. The bond of language and religion sustains these relatinshhips; and , i find, that before long the cultural differences begin to dissipate, and then genuine relationships begin to form.
On the other hand, I find that the sheer number for force of new migrations place Puerto Ricans in something of a quandary: How to embrace other Hispanic cultures while maintaining our individuality as Puerto Ricans. One of the difficulties we hae in doing this is that, at least in the case of New York City, we have “given up” what waw the Puerto Rican stronghold — i.e., East Harlem. By giving up our bodegas, restaurants, and not acquiring major parcels of real estate, I’m not sure that we have a “home base” from which to maintain our individuality. We have ceded our local patrimonio. We have administrators, politicians, artists and educatins, but we no longer “own the streets” of El Barrio. I believe it was Algarin who said it best recently in a recent interview. To paraphrase him, we essentially threw it all away; and we really have no one else to blame.
My point is that we are the short end of the quandary. We are admired and appreciated for our accomplishments in New York City, but we have not solidly anchored our community solidly, in real estate and enterprise. If we had, we would be able to embrace other Latinos without being threatened.
RE: Latino Diaspora…
A perfect example of “blaming the victim.” Let’s see–PRs come over in the 1940s and 1950s in large numbers to work in factories. They are discriminated against, paid low wages and basically herded into concentration camps–we’re so dishonest, however, we call them “ghettos” or “low income housing.” The public schools don’t care about a new, poor nonEnglish speaking population. The city of NY also doesn’t care–after all, the point of ghettos is to keep the “surplus” population at bay and away from others. Along with African Americans, social services are not provided at anything near adequate levels. In a few decades, these places begin to really go downhill. In some parts of NYC, greedy landlords set fire to their buildings, thus driving more people out (note that the South Bronx was not burned down by the people who lived there–how stupid do you think we are?
In spite of all that, the PR community does manage to own some small businesses. This in spite of redlining–where banks would not lend money if you were in certain neighborhoods.
So, the fact that somehow PRs “gave it away” might be technically true, yet it obscures quite a lot of history. Oh, yeah, most of us were nonwhite, so the option the early Cubans had (who were mostly white skinned and middle class) was not available to our community. The fact that during the 1960s, some benefits were finally beginning to trickle down, should not obscure the FBI infiltration of PR civil rights movements, etc. In the 1980s, we had a neofascist administration in office that did nothing but cut social services. A poor community cannot possibly be expected to own real estate and enterprise.
RE: RE: Latino Diaspora…
Victor,
Yes–don’t blame the victim. But–let’s stop whining, too! As Puerto Ricans or Puerto Rican-Americans (or whatever one prefers to be called) we did have “bad timimg” in terms of our emigration to the U.S. However, it doesn’t excuse us from wallowing in poverty as our fellow Latino brethren improved their lot in the U.S.
So please let’s quit playing our sorrowful compositions on our violins and bemoaning the situation we now find ourselves in. Let’s get off our couches of self-pity and do something…
…..I know I have!!!!!!!!
JBaez
RE: RE: Latino Diaspora…
The World According to Victor P. I agree with both Msr. Espier and Padilla–at least in part. We have not creating a lasting permanence in terms of real estate but I’m not too sure that is the only way one creates permanence. Also many factors come into play in why we own so little although this assessment — which I have repeatedly heard warrants closer study. Certainly, the creation of the Schomburg Library is an example of permanence. It’s true that institutions, by their very nature, are ephemeral unless there are consistent efforts to reinforce and build permanence into them. And certainly owning real estate and having some sort of endowment are key.
I don’t think Puerto Ricans have been exceptionally weak in creating permanence. I believe that many of the problems in our community were perceived as impermanent or transistory. I also believe that many of us thought we would be returning to Puerto Rico and that to remain meant to become assimilated. I also believe that our class and our status as U.S. citizens also factored into how we approached our institutions. There was no concern for a legacy because we were eventually planning to go home.
Being mostly poor and working class or really country folk, most of us basically thought of studying and going on to professional careers or jobs. This has been done. It is amazing how many Puerto Ricans are accomplished–against the odds of achieving success in this country. What would be worth looking at is how disproportionately high the numbers are of successful Puerto Ricans. That is, for such a small island and number of people, there are so many who are accomplished.
I’m thinking of people like Jose Ferrer, Rita Moreno, Dr. Antonia Novello, Jaime Sanchez, Juano Hernandez (who was black, not mulato or white), Rafael Hernandez, Tufiño, Arena, etc. The list is really quite endless and in different areas. It’s really amazing. And yet, one might say we don’t own things. Well, perhaps now, we have reached a point in our history that we know we shall not be returning to the island and that we don’t simply want to assimilate. And that is why we are now looking for our legacy. We have indeed accomplished a great deal and founded some of the most important institutions in New York City and in the U.S.A. Perhaps a site like this can help document it.
RE: RE: RE: Latino Diaspora…
Well, I’m flattered there’s a world according to me–of course no one bothered to tell me, so I’ve been stuck in the real world all this time. Oh, well.
I’m not sure what, “we’ve created some of the most important institutions in NYC and the USA” Really? Apart from the Schomburg and (perhaps) Museo del Barrio, what else? All examples, of course, are to come from the real world, not my world.
RE: RE: RE: Latino Diaspora…
Hmm, let’s see what this “whining” refers to. Discriminated against because of skin color and main language. Put into horrible living conditions because of de facto discrimination and “restrictive covenants.” Poor schools, redlining and other lack of access to capital, all in a society that is an institutionalized racist one–from the very moment the Spanish, then other Europeans stepped off the boat, the operative principle has been white power. Add to that the so-called “war on drugs,” which has taken large numbers of our youth and put them in jail–when they come out, of course they’ll all be CEOs of major companies aned will be able to help their communities (if you want to control a group, one of the main ways to do so is by attacking the youth). Oh, lest I forget–we’re still digging ourselves out from the progressive Reagan-Bush years, when services the PR community fought for during the 1960s were cut (not that the city of NY wasn’t doing it’s own cutting of budgets for the poor/working class).
The comment reminds me of that great intellect, Dinesh D’Souza, who in his last book asks, “what do blacks owe this country.” He also dismissed black claims to discrimination, etc. as nothing more than “whining.” One is not engaged in whining by pointing out historical acts whose repercussions are still reverberate in communities of color. In fact, in order to figure out why things are as screwed up as they are IS to look backwards.
RE: RE: RE: RE: Latino Diaspora…
The Institute for the Puerto Rican/Hispanic Elderly, Centro de Estudios Puertorriqueños (the largest Latino Archive in the U.S.A.), the Puerto Rican Traveling Theater (the first bilingual professional theater in the country), The National Puerto Rican Forum, ASPIRA, Hostos Community College, Nuyorican Poets Cafe, Institute for Puerto Rican Policy, etc. There are many more, but these are just some of the many really significant organizations.
Patrimonio…
I think K Smith opens up the question of “patrimonio” excellently by referring to our accomplishments in organization building; and I allude to the thankfulness other hispanics have of how [we] paved the way for them, this is essentially what they mean. It is through our organizations, big and small alike, that bad laws are challengced, educational policy honed, and so on. When I say that we do not “own the streets” I mean exactly that: “patrimonio” has to be anchored to the land — read “real estate.” That can be “el terreno” of Puerto Rico, or the streets of New York City. The dominent cultures in this country, Anglo, if you will, OWN the land; they own the real estate, and that is ultimately the source of their control and power.
However significant the contributions made by our organizations, they are vulnerable and transitory. Organizations come and go. All organizations created by dominant cultures have anchored them in real estate, which only increases in value over th eyears. Additionally, I mean by “the street” is owning restaurants, bodegas, mom & pop stores, small apartment buildings — i.e., owning at least 75% of the commercial enterprises in the community. That is what we have lost…that is what we had the opportunity to own.
RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: Latino Diaspora…
I’ll acknowledge they are significant, but except for the Centro (at Hunter College) the rest are not “significant,” except in the PR community. The Natl PR Forum as significant? The Institute? Nah, don’t think so. They ARE significant in the same way the Chinese-American political forum might be–in other words, whenever the media need a “spokesperson,” they’ll come to these folks (as if these folks alone represent PR discussion). In other words, it’s the elite speaking to the elite.
RE: Latino Diaspora…
Yo llegue a este pais en el 59 y desgraciadamente sufri mucho por no aber tenido un apoyo de nadie, pero
doy gracias a Dios que me pude reponer.
en cuanto a lo que a pasado en la ciudad de NY. creo que a sido un descuido de nosotros mismos, que en ves de aseptar este pais como lo icieron los de europa nos quedamos aislados, limitandonos a estar conforme con la esperansa de bolver, cuando uno se regresa se da cuenta que aquello era solo una ilicion,
RE: Latino Diaspora…
Both the National Puerto Rican Forum and the Institute for Puerto Rican Policy are significant in the area of civil rights and research for Latinos. They are also important in coalition-building with other groups. Actually, I’m not even beginning to do them justice. You should contact them in order to inform yourself.
RE: Patrimonio…
Although, I agree that there is a need for continuity and that certainly owning things or having assets is a way of creating some sort of lasting permanence, I do not subscribe to the notion that real estate in anyway guarantees this. I think the idea of a legacy and of continuity should be explored more. Also what exactly do we mean by permanence? To what end?
RE: RE: Puerto Ricans and Latinos
Congressman Serrano’s prompting of the FBI to account for the torture of Albizu Campos and the disruption of the independence movement of Puerto Rico from the onset through harassment, arrests, intimidation and even murder, is a major step in clarifying our history to ourselves and other Latinos. It is not that Puerto Ricans have never struggled for their independence. On the contrary, it is amazing that we still have an independence movement given the direct intervention into our politics by the U.S. This will all become known shortly. You might want to check out the book called LAS CARPETAS.
RE: RE: Latino Diaspora…
Been there done that. Not that impressive–though they do a fair job. There. Now I’m “informed.”
RE: RE: Puerto Ricans
wow. right on….
you just blew me out of my chair.
i had to read the rest of the thread.
education. education. education.
how can we know where we are going if we don’t know where we came from? the puerto rican experience…. i think the first real split
in our community happens when we decide on where to educate our children. if they are educated on the island, for better of for worse there was puerto rican history on the agenda…. i can’t speak for the new york city area. i only assume that because puerto ricans had such a strong impact in the city, that we are written into the history books. that would be local history though. i then assume that any puerto rican who was educated stateside had a similar experience to mine: there was a short mention of puerto rico in fourth grade…. one of the benefits of the spanish – american war of 1898…. again, we touched on the subject of puerto rico in sixth grade as we did geography: where is it… who does it belong to…. stuff like that. i must say this would be the sum of my education in terms of puerto rico having grown up stateside. i think that is about the same as saying: two weeks out of my entire K – 12 experience…. this is significant because i find myself constantly correcting the average american as to their concept of puerto rico:
even now, people still ask me what the currency is, what kind if immigration papers will they have to fill out to go there from here, are there modern ammenities outside of the resorts…
WHAT?
why is it that i have never had to explain any of this to anybody that is hispanic oriented?
as i mentioned, i grew up outside of new york…. so i am double outsider… not an isleño, and not a nuyorican. i am familiar with the nuyorican dilemas only by second hand observations: what people tell me. this is followed up by a couple of visits a year, in which i make my own observations…. i’ve got to say that it becomes harder and harder to casually stumble upon the nuyo-rican…. it was a tangible community all through my childhood…. bodegas, restaurants , etc…. all important mediums of contact for the community…. any community… my past couple of visits have created a huge personal interest in the dominican republic….. everywhere i turned. everyone i talked too….
the nuyo – rican versus:
the nuyor – ican
is it that even the nuyorican has become an immigrant in new york…. slowly drifting into the suburbs and getting absorbed by the mainstream homoginization vibration….. one thought, one language, one action….
i suppose you could say that because nuyoricans have given up their base, that there is less splintering between us: in a few years there will be only slight differences between the puerto rican american in orlando, the nuyorican in new hampshire, and the puerto rican who got stuck in the west coast during the sugarcare in hawaii fiasco… it then amounts to an individuals contact to the motherland. and our motherland suffers as i right this. so we all suffer. i have said some of this in the forum, and i will say it again… if we were to equate countries with personalities, then puerto rico had a 405 year (1492 – 1897) relationship with one of it’s parents. puerto rico was kind of like the oldest child who never leaves home and takes care of the mother….. then this dude named uncle sam comes along, and snatches this adult child away before it can take it’s first true steps on its own. after 54 years of stepchild like treatment, (1898 – 1952), uncle sam deceids to visit a witch doctor, and the poor thing has been in a state of zombie since then…. HOW DO WE WAKE OUR MOTHERLAND UP !! all we have to do is wake up for her !!
(like that’s an easy task)
i live in los angeles….. things are a little different out here. there are ALOT !! of mexicans in the world !! i would almost swear that this town is split three ways: 30% mexican, 30% white, 40% other… and an important thing about this area is that it once belonged to mexico…. the mexican vibration runs deep in the soil…. mexican history is part of the future here…. there has been up to the recent past, enough land for the creation of whole communities of one culture or another….
we’ll see what the next century
brings to us all….
i think i’ve said enough for now….
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡ ECHAPALANTE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
RE: RE: RE: Puerto Ricans and Latinos
Good point. I’ll look out for that book. Ronald Fernandez has also written three good books on this topic: (a) The Disenchanted Island,(b) Cruising the Caribbean and (c)Prisoners of Colonialism. All excellent and worth missing a TV show or two for
We contribute and they have made us aware
I think Puerto Ricans here in New York have contributed a great deal to the Hispanic communities that have come. We sort of hold their hand until they get started. They generally move into our communities–at least the poor ones. And the vast majority of Latinos coming to the States are poor. I think the Mexicans who have been flowing into New York for the past five years have really opened our eyes to a lot of things. Firstly, there are jobs out there and the Mexicans certainly know how to find them. They may be low paying but there are those jobs. Their presence highlighted for me a fundamental difference and characteristic of the Puerto Rican stateside community. We have become marginalized through the welfare and have lost at least a good number of us a will to go out there and try to do something about our situation. I know I’m generalizing. We also feel a certain type of self-defeating entitlement that keeps us from taking jobs we deem menial. Although, we may not have the education or training to do anything but that sort of menial work.
RE: We contribute and they have made us aware
Don’t sound so apologetic about what you wrote. I think you made an excellent point about stateside Puerto Ricans, especially Nuyoricans, becoming pacified with welfare. It’s a shame. No wonder we’re the poorest hispanics in the U.S. (Based on comparisions between Mexican-Americans and Cuban-Americans).
Not only have the Mexicans, for lack of a better term, “showed us up”, the Dominicans have also proven extremely industrious. They’ve opened countless restaurants, own car services, bought the NYC bodegas from fleeing (to where I don’t know) Nuyoricans, and seem willing to try just about anything to get a foothold into the American way of life.
Puerto Ricans also allowed those infrastructures we either built or supported to collapse. For example, La Marqueta in Spanish Harlem. Why did we allow that great Puerto Rican cultural/economic institution crumble? It’s a shell of its former self.
[For the record, I’m not the least bit business savvy. However, if there’re any Puerto Ricans in NYC who are, please investigate the possibility of revitalizing La Marqueta. It creates jobs and instills pride.]
We Nuyoricans seem awfully comfortable wallowing in poverty. And, that’s a shame! Thus said, i think that we’ve become “comfortably numb” with our lot.
And that should change!
JBaez
Latinos have to support Vieques
There has to be unity among stateside Puerto Ricans and their Latino brothers and sisters. We should be supporting each other and, specifically, with the issues of Vieques and the Puerto Rican status question, they should be supporting us.
White Ribbons
In one of the pictures from Vieques I noticed an elderly woman standing next to a fence covered in white ribbons. In an
article elsewhere I read the ribbons stood for Peace.
In honor of this woman and Vieques, I have placed a white ribbon on the attenae of my car. In addition, I have copied
the Marina Fuera Sign and placed it in my car window.
I encourage all Vieques supporters to do the same.
Everyone, Place a White Ribbon on your car, trees, picket signs, etc to symbolize the fight for Naval freedom in
Vieques.
In the 90’s I was a yellow ribbon supporter of the Troops in Gulf War. I had many college friend and school teachers
called to the war.
While the ribbons themselves did not bring them home, The display of the yellow ribbons everywhere supported our
friends and loved ones as called by the military.
I knew people of all ages, all walks of life and all races supporting and knowing what these ribbons were for.
It is a similiar story with the pink ribbons for breast cancer awareness and other ribbons for causes.
When people do not know what the ribbons mean, they ask questions and we can share the information to spread
awareness of the plight of Vieques.
Please everyone, Find a White Ribbon somewhere and Show the fight for Vieques is not ending with a few
demonstrations here and there.
The large battle is at hand. We must spread the word of Vieques and get more people involved.
I am so happy to see that there are so many cities having demonstatrations, but there should be more.
We need to write letters, send emails, and encourage our representatives to have a bill passed to cease Naval activites
in Vieques.
The time is now. Voting seasons will be coming soon, and we need all the votes and supporters we can muster.
The pictures have helped, but Everyone needs to know.
GODPEACE
Vieques SI
Marina NO
PEACE TO VIEQUES No More BOMBS (concrete or Live!)
How much support for Vieques among Latinos
It’s kind of funny but I wonder how much support there was for the Vieques protesters among non-Puerto Rican Latinos in the U.S. I know there was some because there were Dominican and Mexican flags at the rally in Times Square which really was encouraging. I just wonder how substantive it was and would like to hear more about this. Latinolink ran an article on how Latinos supported Vieques but it turned out to be basically the coverage of different rallies that were sponsored by Puerto Ricans–meaning, stateside Puerto Ricans were being considered Latinos, which we are but….
RE: Puerto Ricans and Latinos
Alot of these things are a result of jealousy. Puerto Ricans get alot of money and help from the U.S. and these are things alot of other people would love to have. Less fortunate people. About the way we speak spanish, they mainly say that about Nuyoricans who in part, dont speak spanish very well at all. This is an embarrassment to Puerto Ricans as well and is a problem people should deal with.
RE: How much support for Vieques among Latinos
Good point–however, I doubt many Latinos even knew (cared?) what the whole issue was about. What’s needed is a Pan Latino/Hispanic awareness. Education, education, education—and less TV!!
RE: We contribute and they have made us aware
Work isn’t menial, except when given that social characterization by the dominant community and accepted by minority communities. However, the context must be clear: when the educational system is geared towards warehousing kids, when teachers are paid shit, though many have or will have a master’s degree, when classrooms are overcrowded and textbooks outdated, when our brothers are stopped for no reason or shot down like dogs, when public housing is not fit for animals, etc., etc., and when the group in question is distracted by nonsense like who Jennifer Lopez is sleeping with, these conditions will not change.
RE: RE: RE: Puerto Ricans
WOW,I FEEL ALOT OF WHAT YOU ARE SAYING IF YOU THINK YOU HAD IT HARD THINK HOW I FEEL I WAS A MILITARY BRAT AND NOW AM A MILITARY WIFE (MI ESPOSO ES PUERTORIQUENO)AND GROWING UP ON THE WEST COAST WERE EITHER YOUR MEXICAN OR AFRO AMERICAN AND BORICUA IS JUST SOMETHING “NOT NORM..”I AM A DARK LATINA AND ASKING FOR MALTA OR GUANDULES AT THE STORE WAS A NO NO WE HAD TO CHANGE OUR WAY OF LIFE OVER HERE AND BOY AM I GLAD THAT THERE IS THE CALIFORNIA PUERTO RICAN PARADE ASSO.(ARE YOU GOING TO THE FESTIVITIES IN JUNE EMAIL ME IF YOU NEED THE INFO ITS IN MONTEBELLO Y SAN DIMAS)AND MY HUSBAND IS ORIGINALLY FROM CIEBA BUT HE IS ALSO A NYRIQUEN FROM THE BRONX AND WE HAVE TWO KIDS THAT WE ARE RAISING AND TRYING TO TEACH BE PROUD OF WHAT YOU ARE PUERTO RICAN AND NOTHING MORE !!!!!!!!THANK YOU FOR PUTTING SUCH A POSITIVE MESSAGE OUT,MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND LIBRE PARA LA ISLE DE PUERTO RICO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!LOS RIVERAS
the pet shop
please be advised that the best pet shop in all of el barrio is located at 2166 2nd ave, new york, ny. 10029. we will be moving soon to 2012 3rd ave, between 110th & 111th street, new york ny. 10029 please visit the old and new location son.
MIND OVER MATTER!
Once upon a time there was an island where all the feelings lived; Happiness, Sadness, Knowledge, and all the others……, including Love. One day it was announced to all of the feelings that the island was going to sink to the bottom of the ocean. So all the feelings prepared their boats to leave. Love was the only one that stayed. She wanted to preserve the island until the last possible moment. When the island was almost totally under, Love decided it was time to leave. She began looking for someone to ask for help. Just then Richness was passing by in a grand boat. Love asked, “Richness, Can I come with you on your boat?” Richness answered, “I’m sorry, but there is a lot of silver and gold on my boat and there would be no room for you.” Then Love decided to ask Vanity for help who was passing in a beautiful vessel. Love cried out, “Vanity, help me please.” I can’t help you”, Vanity said, “You are all wet and will damage my beautiful boat.” Next, Love saw Sadness passing by. Love said, “Sadness, please let me go with you.” Sadness answered, “Love, I’m sorry, but, I just need to be alone now.” Then, Love saw Happiness. Love cried out, “Happiness, please take me with you.” But Happiness was so overjoyed that he didn’t hear Love calling to him. Love began to cry. Then, she heard a voice say, “Come Love, I will take you with me.” It was an elder. Love felt so blessed and overjoyed that she forgot to ask the elder his name. When they arrived on land the elder went on his way. Love realized how much she owed the elder. Love then found Knowledge and asked, “Who was it that helped me?” “It was Time”, Knowledge answered. “But why did Time help me when no one else would?” Love asked. Knowledge smiled and with deep wisdom and sincerity, answered, “Because only Time is capable of understanding how great Love is.”
“Did you know that it’s easier to say what you feel in writing than saying it to someone in the face? But did you know that it has more value when you say it to their face?
Did you know that you can make your dreams come true, like falling in love, becoming rich, staying healthy, if you try really hard to get them, if you really knew, you’d be surprised by what you could do.
Did you know that those who dress in red are more confident in themselves?
Did you know that those who dress in yellow are those that enjoy their beauty?
Did you know that those who dress in black are those who want to be unnoticed and need your help and understanding?
Did you know that when you help someone, the help is returned in two folds?
Did you know that those who appear to be very strong in heart are real weak and most susceptible?
Did you know that those who spend their time protecting others are the ones that really need someone to protect them?
Did you know that the three most difficult things to say are:
I love you, Sorry and help me?”
IF YOU DON’T MIND, IT DOSE’NT MATTER
ARCHANGEL RALPHY SALCEDO
What happened to The Pet Shop? Where is it now?