6 thoughts on “Should Vieques and the future of Puerto Rico be a plank in the Democratic Presidential Platform?”
Yes
My understanding is that Margarita Lopez, Nydia Velasquez, Luis Gutierrez, Jose Serrano and others were planning to propose the issue of the Navy in Vieques as a plank. If not a plank–these stateside Puerto Rican leaders were planning to bring attention to this matter and the status of Puerto Rico at the Democratic Convention. They all happen to be Democrats. I say yes, the Navy in Vieques and the question of Puerto Rico’s status should be brought to national attention and taken up seriously by both the Domocrats and the Republicans. Our leaders are mostly Democrats and so our presence will be mostly felt in the Democratic Convention. If not, then we should take a look at our leadership and how effective they’re being.
we are a non-issue
of what value is there in making it a part of the democratic agenda for the coming millenium. it sounds more grandiose than anything else. i understand the publicity value in having it be part of the platform but this could also backfire in having the issue of Puerto Rican sovereignty appear as a partisan issue rather than a bipartisan issue. although i think it is worth the risk in the long run to being just ignored or continually marginalized. we are a non-issue. to make it a pivotal issue would mean a kind of Latino solidarity and power brokering which to the moment appears non-existent. i believe the issue of Puerto Rican sovereignty will be resolved when there is enough power among stateside Latinos to flex and bring attention to the matter. until then we will just stew in american juices. in this sense the Puerto Rican sovereignty issue and its resolution is a way of measuring Latino power in the u.s. obviously, there is much to be desired.
although i will answer in the affirmative that there should be a plank or perhaps even more than one plank dedicated to Puerto Rico, Vieques and the removal of the u.s. navy should be a separate plank from the sovereignty issue, i think the democratic party and gore would not want to run the risk of controversy: of appearing to be anti-military and/or of deciding on the unpopular direction for Puerto Rico.
The Democratic National Convention
It seems highly unlikely that there will be any mention of Puerto Rico which would stir controversy and threaten the carefully-crafted unity that is unfolding. Today was just opening night at the DNC.
RE: The Democratic National Convention
Absolutely–I think “carefully crafted” says it all.
The Party theme is taking care of one’s own
This second DNC day seemed to reflect once more a push towards taking care of their own–that is, Americans: minimum wage, health care, etc. — That is domestic policy issues. In other words, the big issues being presented involve national more than international concerns. If the push for social justice in the U.S. has any moral weight, then the Puerto Rican leadership must find a way of insinuating Puerto Rican issues in all of this. I have no doubt that, contrary to what the pro-statehood party would want us to believe, the people at the convention would see Puerto Rican sovereignty as an international issue.
Third Day at the DNC–surprise! PR delegation?
I had been watching the nomination of Al Gore by the delegations of each state–that means fifty individual nominations to sit or lie through–when I dozed off at about Louisiana. I woke up and suddenly heard the chair call Puerto Rico. On the floor, a cluster of men among whom I recognized Romero Barcelo and Rosello. Rosello was introduced and took the microphone and after a short preamble, in which he referred to Puerto Rico as America’s enchanted island in the Caribbean, he announced that Puerto Rico’s 58 delegates were casting their votes for Gore and Liberman! I was speechless. This, so far, is our presence at the DNC.
Yes
My understanding is that Margarita Lopez, Nydia Velasquez, Luis Gutierrez, Jose Serrano and others were planning to propose the issue of the Navy in Vieques as a plank. If not a plank–these stateside Puerto Rican leaders were planning to bring attention to this matter and the status of Puerto Rico at the Democratic Convention. They all happen to be Democrats. I say yes, the Navy in Vieques and the question of Puerto Rico’s status should be brought to national attention and taken up seriously by both the Domocrats and the Republicans. Our leaders are mostly Democrats and so our presence will be mostly felt in the Democratic Convention. If not, then we should take a look at our leadership and how effective they’re being.
we are a non-issue
of what value is there in making it a part of the democratic agenda for the coming millenium. it sounds more grandiose than anything else. i understand the publicity value in having it be part of the platform but this could also backfire in having the issue of Puerto Rican sovereignty appear as a partisan issue rather than a bipartisan issue. although i think it is worth the risk in the long run to being just ignored or continually marginalized. we are a non-issue. to make it a pivotal issue would mean a kind of Latino solidarity and power brokering which to the moment appears non-existent. i believe the issue of Puerto Rican sovereignty will be resolved when there is enough power among stateside Latinos to flex and bring attention to the matter. until then we will just stew in american juices. in this sense the Puerto Rican sovereignty issue and its resolution is a way of measuring Latino power in the u.s. obviously, there is much to be desired.
although i will answer in the affirmative that there should be a plank or perhaps even more than one plank dedicated to Puerto Rico, Vieques and the removal of the u.s. navy should be a separate plank from the sovereignty issue, i think the democratic party and gore would not want to run the risk of controversy: of appearing to be anti-military and/or of deciding on the unpopular direction for Puerto Rico.
The Democratic National Convention
It seems highly unlikely that there will be any mention of Puerto Rico which would stir controversy and threaten the carefully-crafted unity that is unfolding. Today was just opening night at the DNC.
RE: The Democratic National Convention
Absolutely–I think “carefully crafted” says it all.
The Party theme is taking care of one’s own
This second DNC day seemed to reflect once more a push towards taking care of their own–that is, Americans: minimum wage, health care, etc. — That is domestic policy issues. In other words, the big issues being presented involve national more than international concerns. If the push for social justice in the U.S. has any moral weight, then the Puerto Rican leadership must find a way of insinuating Puerto Rican issues in all of this. I have no doubt that, contrary to what the pro-statehood party would want us to believe, the people at the convention would see Puerto Rican sovereignty as an international issue.
Third Day at the DNC–surprise! PR delegation?
I had been watching the nomination of Al Gore by the delegations of each state–that means fifty individual nominations to sit or lie through–when I dozed off at about Louisiana. I woke up and suddenly heard the chair call Puerto Rico. On the floor, a cluster of men among whom I recognized Romero Barcelo and Rosello. Rosello was introduced and took the microphone and after a short preamble, in which he referred to Puerto Rico as America’s enchanted island in the Caribbean, he announced that Puerto Rico’s 58 delegates were casting their votes for Gore and Liberman! I was speechless. This, so far, is our presence at the DNC.