Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
So hurricane prone Florida can absorb & support 3 million+ PRicans. OK.
You're missing the point. The point IS to upset US state politics, so they're forced to deal with the "Puerto Rico question". So yes, making Florida run to mommy Congress and squeal like a stuck pig in their inability to handle the diaspora, is very much in our National interest. It's the only language mainlanders understand. You have to upset people's daily lives up here, otherwise they never do anything in the collective interest. We're too culturally/racially self-segregating of a Country to galvanize support for people who don't look like us, voluntarily. See the prior posts above regarding social conservatives being OK with LITERALLY disenfranchising fellow US citizens they happen to politically disagree with. You can't react reasonably to that baseline, you have to be equally recalcitrant in order to get things addressed.
South Texas? LOL Wait let me get back up off the floor. Ok, back.
The Rio Grande Valley and all regions south of San Antonio to Corpus line and into the MX border, is the poorest part of Texas by orders of magnitude. The level of Mexican cultural hegemony in South Texas also makes it difficult for non-Mexican Hispanics (yes, there is such a thing, much to the surprise of Civics-lazy Americans) to interact. This is one place where I give Anglos their due when it comes to criticism of reverse racism; Mexicans in Southwest Texas are the most hegemonic people you'll ever have the displeasure of having to endure, especially as a federal worker who clearly doesn't have filial ties to the community, even though we make up the bulk of the tax base, pathetically. Ask me how I know. Lord knows this is a means to an end for me. As a 1st generation PRican, with the exception of my 2.5 year stint in Alabama, every other region of the Country I've lived in was a cakewalk to regionally assimilate to compared to this Mexican dystopia. San Antonio proper is as far south as I would go as a transplant PRican. Even Mexican Nationals from the DF and Central areas of that Country consider the Texas area in question, indignant and backwards. The last place I would want to land in as a Puerto Rican transplant, is South/SW Texas.
This is moot anyways. There's already a place that fits the criteria you were going for: It's called Florida, which holds a much higher percentage of Caribbean and "near-S.Americans" Hispanics that have a lot more in common (Cubans, Dominicans, Colombians et al) with Puerto Ricans than the Mesoamerican culture and ethnicity of Mexico (de facto Central America). The cultural transition and springboard into the Midwest and Western CONUS is also easier from Florida than hegemonic Mexican S. Texas.
And to be clear, there's no jobs of consequence in South texas, beyond volatile and nomadic oil and gas. The rest is "federal welfare transfer" jobs like mine, federal alphabet soup jobs located here not for legitimate reasons, but for economic transfer ones. Sacrificial lambs of a sort. But these are professional and vested jobs a transplant PRican doesn't have access to (most require a college degree and command for English). The only exception being entry-level border patrol jobs, of which I do know migrating Puerto Ricans have taken in droves up and down the Arizona,NM and TX border stations. Otherwise, the level of unemployment, illiteracy, prevalence of preventable diseases such as diabetes, is off the charts in the RGV and S.TX compared to Florida, let alone the US National Averages. Your point about New England COL is noted, which is why the second diaspora focused on Florida vice New-York/Jersey/Penn.
I definetly agree with most of what you said brother. But as far New England/Northeast's cost of living, contrary to what most like you to believe, not all of the Northeast is expensive, just like not all of Florida is cheap. I mean sure you have New York City, Boston, Washington DC, as well as portions of Connecticut, NJ, & Maryland. But Pennsylvania (including major cities like Philly, Allentown, & Pittsburgh), Baltimore, Delaware, South Jersey, & Upstate/Western NY (including Buffalo & Rochester) are allll cheap and affordable, the Miami area in particular is actually more expensive than these areas.
Quote:
Originally Posted by WIHS2006
Houston has a growing Puerto Rican population, although that's not the Texas border country.
IMO the biggest spots for Puerto Ricans would have to be (in no particular order):
- New York City/Tri-State area
- Northeastern Pennsylvania (Allentown in particular)
- Orlando
- Miami
- Houston
- Chicago
- anywhere with a significant military presence (ie: around Fort Benning in Georgia, Fort Bragg in North Carolina, Naval Station Pearl Harbor, etc).
Definetly forgot Philadelphia/South Jersey, South Central Pa (Harrisburg, York, Lancaster), Boston, Tampa & Jacksonville in Florida, Cleveland, Buffalo, as well as emerging populations in Columbus Ohio, Pittsburgh, Baltimore/DC, Hampton roads & Richmond in Virginia, Charlotte, & Atlanta.
Outside Florida, Pennsylvania has the fastest growing PR population, has had for some time and I think it will possibly excellerate post-Maria. Places like Philly & its Pa suburbs, Allentown, Reading, Lancaster, York, Harrisburg, & even Pittsburgh, as well as other surrounding areas like South Jersey, Delaware, & Baltimore will boom. What makes Pennsylvania (& Philly in particular) so popular, is its central location in the Northeast a region which holds over half of the mainland PR population, its close proximity to far more expensive NYC city with largest PR population, its decent economy, affordable housing, and large pre-existing PR populations. Catergory 1 & 2 hurricanes always hit Puerto Rico thats normal, but a catergory 5 probably shook people and scared them out of moving to Florida. As soon as the airports are fully functioning again migration will likely pick up tremendously and may swing back north, this may possibly be a big boost to Pennsylvania especially, it may replace Florida as most popular destination or atleast head to head rival it in popularity.
Last edited by Spreadofknowledge; 10-09-2017 at 03:39 PM..
Based on what I have observed in work and around folks here in Philly quite the opposite. The images on the news of post hurricane PR reinforced people’s anti statehood stance for PR. They see an island that looks nothing like the US with American news reporters needing interpreters to speak to the general populace. Let’s face it around 80% of the island can’t hold a basic conversation in English and never will due to stubborn pride in a language imposed on them by Spain. They wave their flag in ur face and I barely saw a single US flag anywhere on the island other than post offices lol. Look let’s face it it ain’t no way no how America. The vast majority of Americans agree. Time to say goodbye to foreign Puerto Rico. And if they cared at least more than 20 % would have bothered to learn the language of their supposed nation. They didn’t cause they don’t really care and never will. They don’t feel American is the real truth of the matter.
It's a stubborn pride, but Spain didn't impose on Puerto Ricans the Spanish language. Remember that most Puerto Ricans descend from the Spaniards and we're not talking a couple of drops of Spanish blood in the majority. Yes, many are mixed with African and Indian, but the average Puerto Rican is overwhelmingly of Spanish ancestry. If we go by relatively recent DNA studies, around 60 to 80% of the genes of a typical Puerto Rican originates in Europe and the bulk of that European connection is Spain.
For people with Spanish ancestry, the Spanish language is never imposed, it's their ancestral language.
It could be argued that of all the languages in PR, it's the English language that has been imposed on the population and only with a moderate success. For a time the US government tried to shove English down Puerto Rican throats without even bothering to ask the people if they wanted that. This doesn't make the English language good or bad for PR, but it always catches my attention when some people suggest that the Spanish language isn't somehow the native language of people that descend from the Spaniards.
It could be argued that of all the languages in PR, it's the English language that has been imposed on the population and only with a moderate success. For a time the US government tried to shove English down Puerto Rican throats without even bothering to ask the people if they wanted that. paniards.
the U.S. "imposed" the English language on P.R. like Math and Science were imposed in the public schools........they teach English as a Second Language. Only the best private schools teach 1st class English. The private schools where the politicians send their children but they refuse to give the same education in the public schools.
When I went to a public high school in Bayamon in the 80's, My Spanish teacher "imposed" Don Quijote which is not modern Spanish, it was CASTELLANO (which it was Chinese to all of us).
I asked the teacher how was this going to help all of us get a job after HIGH SCHOOL since we needed to learn ENGLISH in this market (I was being sarcastic, which she didn't like) but this is pushed by the department of public education in Puerto Rico MANDATORY to graduate High School......they didn't bother to ask us if we wanted to take the class.
There was NEVER a federal law that imposed ENGLISH on Puerto Ricans because that is not the jurisdiction of the federal government and it could NEVER be enforced anyway. I wish it was, Puerto Rico would be better off but that's my opinion.
If the U.S is going to fund the public school system in P.R. with U.S. taxpayer's money from pre-school to college, the least they could do is make English mandatory as a Second Language in the schools.
Yeah, unless Democrats get a solid enough majority in Congress and hold the White House, PR statehood is dead, unless proposed plans for, say, Texas to be split into one or more states were adopted. Republicans will never go along with a plan to admit only PR into the union as a state, thereby ensuring more Dem representation in Congress. And who can blame them?
With all due respect, you don't know very much the history of the Democrat Party with the colonial status of Puerto Rico.
Democrats had a solid majority of Congress from 1954 to 1994 with JFK, LBJ, Carter and Bill Clinton as Presidents and the party NEVER push for statehood for P.R.
Democrats had a solid majority again from 2007 to 2011 in Congres with Obama as President for 2 years and they NEVER push for statehood for P.R.....the only time Obama went to P.R. was in 2012 to get millions of dollars in campaign funds and eat a sandwich and leave within 4 hours.....didn't mention the debt or the status.
There is a reason for it....the Democrat party is in bed with the LEFT/SOCIALISTS in Puerto Rico who are against statehood. The Democrat party has strong ties with the colonial status party PPD and lefties since the 50's and they have strong allies in Congress like Luis Gutierrez, the Democrat from Chicago, who is against statehood.
You are ignoring the politics in the island that are against statehood and they are from the LEFT in the island......all the Republicans and conservatives in Puerto Rico are PRO STATEHOOD and are NOT Anti-American....you only get that from the left in P.R. and they are in bed with the Democrat party like the mayor of San Juan, Carmen Yulin, which now she is a rock star in the Democrat party.
Puerto Rico will become either a state or independent. Status as a commonwealth is an utter disaster and cannot continue. Meanwhile a lot of Puerto Ricans will move to the mainland. Florida and Texas will get big new influxes of Puerto Ricans, something that was already happening before the hurricane.
When I went to a public high school in Bayamon in the 80's, My Spanish teacher "imposed" Don Quijote which is not modern Spanish, it was CASTELLANO (which it was Chinese to all of us).
I asked the teacher how was this going to help all of us get a job after HIGH SCHOOL since we needed to learn ENGLISH in this market (I was being sarcastic, which she didn't like) but this is pushed by the department of public education in Puerto Rico MANDATORY to graduate High School......they didn't bother to ask us if we wanted to take the class.
we all had to read Don Quijote in spanish class in the 11th grade
the U.S. "imposed" the English language on P.R. like Math and Science were imposed in the public schools........they teach English as a Second Language. Only the best private schools teach 1st class English. The private schools where the politicians send their children but they refuse to give the same education in the public schools.
When I went to a public high school in Bayamon in the 80's, My Spanish teacher "imposed" Don Quijote which is not modern Spanish, it was CASTELLANO (which it was Chinese to all of us).
I asked the teacher how was this going to help all of us get a job after HIGH SCHOOL since we needed to learn ENGLISH in this market (I was being sarcastic, which she didn't like) but this is pushed by the department of public education in Puerto Rico MANDATORY to graduate High School......they didn't bother to ask us if we wanted to take the class.
There was NEVER a federal law that imposed ENGLISH on Puerto Ricans because that is not the jurisdiction of the federal government and it could NEVER be enforced anyway. I wish it was, Puerto Rico would be better off but that's my opinion.
If the U.S is going to fund the public school system in P.R. with U.S. taxpayer's money from pre-school to college, the least they could do is make English mandatory as a Second Language in the schools.
Lets see a few glimpses from that presentation, shall we:
Look what happened once Americans felt that Puerto Ricans were civilized enough to take control of the island's politics, the will of the Puerto Rican people became evident as far as the language is concerned:
Check the link above (in blue) for the complete presentation by Dr. Alicia Pousada of the English Department at the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras.
It never crossed my mind that I'd someday find myself scrambling for ways of getting food and aid to my family and fellow Puerto Ricans on the island. Yet, here I am, a little more than two weeks after the disaster doing exactly that.
As I ponder Hurricane Maria's devastation from afar, it looks as if God decided to erase Puerto Rico off the face of the earth and start anew.
For better or worse, chances are, Puerto Rico will never be the same again. Residents are leaving in droves, possibly to return only as visitors to the place they once called "home." The looming debt crisis is being closely scrutinized yet again. Heck, just yesterday I read an article regarding Congress's unilateral power to declare Puerto Rico as a Sovereign Independent Country. That's kinda like that Boricua who painfully explained to Trump how his house-roof got blown off, only to receive Trump's disinterested response: "Have a good time."
What long lasting effects will this hurricane have on Puerto Rico? Will we see another like this within our lifetime? How many residents will remain on the island? How does the massive debt get paid off with fewer residents? So many questions. So few answers.
Good fortune be with us all.
are you kidding me????? you don't know history very well . My grandparents (both side of the family) and that generation went through Hurricane San Felipe of 1928.
24,728 homes destroyed
192,444 Homes damaged
over 500,000 homeless
312 deaths total
NO FEMA, NO WELFARE STATE, NO electricity, Limited resources and limited technology.......then after that they had to deal with the GREAT Depression that lasted from 1929 to 1941 and our Grandparents survived and raised future generations and built Puerto Rico.
It was done before with limited resources, less help compares to today's standards and bigger obstacles and it will be done again. The generation of today is nothing like our grandparents that lived through San Felipe, Great Depression, and WW 2......the current generation is spoiled and too dependent on the government and act like DIVAS because they can't live without electricity, a/c, internet, cell and microwave for a few months and have no concept how to prepare and survive from the land.
You would think that if you live on an island that gets hurricanes, tropical storms and constant rain and floods every year for over 500 years people that the local government would be prepared with storage of water and food for at least 30 days min. and outdoor tents and camping supplies if you are in the country side, people in the cities have better options, always have and always will .....but since the welfare state and federal funds increased in Puerto Rico, people became more dependent on the government and that old generation of personal responsibility and self-preservation is not a priority.
to answer the title of your topic of : " Changes You Foresee Coming to Puerto Rico As a Result of Hurricane Maria"
I would demand of the Puerto Rican government, central and the 78 municipios to have a system of emergency of water storage for 1 to 3 months and food and reserve fuel so the government can operate after the crisis until FEMA and the feds comes in so FEMA and the feds doesn't have all the load........my state has it........they have huge holes under ground with tanks of fuel so the government can operate right after a crisis which in my state is SNOW storms .....they also have warehouses of food and water for emergencies. I would promote every citizen in P.R. to always have 30 day supply of drinking water, food in cans and other basic things in their homes at all times. I would give tax credits and tax deductions in resident's tax returns to get these basic things for their homes and promote it all the time. Make mandatory in public schools and colleges courses to survive under a crisis, just like the Boys Scouts. If they make mandatory DON QUIJOTE in the 11th grade they should make mandatory outdoor skills by making a knot with a rope, making an outdoor fire to cook and first aid and other basic things.
My grandfathers taught me how to kill a chicken, take the feathers out and cook it.....how many people in P.R. know how to do that if their lives depend it on it? this generation? not too many.
The only good thing about Maria, it exposed the Puerto Rican government and their readiness in a crisis and bad communication from the Central government and the 78 municipios.
it's like being in a boxing fight and your defense gets exposed badly. I hope this is a learning lesson and reform because hurricanes will always come through P.R., it has been the history for over 500 years and motherr natures always wins.
we all had to read Don Quijote in spanish class in the 11th grade
in Castellano language?...I don't know about your school but my school it was taught in old Castellano (Latin).....which it's like Chinese for me and the classroom. For people here that don't know what it is, it's old Latin.......explain how is that going to help high school graduates get a job after high school when the market is American (English) and most of the books in the colleges in Puerto Rico are in English?
Unless the applications for jobs and job interviews are done in old Latin, that shouldn't be a mandatory course in high school....it's a waste of time....if they make it optional like French or German like they do in the high schools here, I understand, at least speaking French and German has some value that students can use in the market after High School but old Latin????? please.
Unless you are taking a time machine to the 10th century Iberian Peninsula, it shouldn't be mandatory in the public schools in P.R. .....modern English should be the priority.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
