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I read the opinion of Jose F. Pacheco, ,M.ED. He doesn't say what his masters is from but he throws it in his piece. He sounds like a socialist independentista that is gay and left Puerto Rico not for financial reason but to follow his partner that is no longer with him and he was a public school teacher (his words). Public School teachers is a low paying job but they get lots of government benefits, government retirement and lots of time off because of holidays and off school months. They don't work for over 3 months a year if you add all the holidays and summer months but they get paid with full government benefits. Remember, he left Puerto Rico not for financial reasons but go after his boyfriend. So his reasons are personal.
He makes obvious points that everybody knows but mixes his political opinions on guns and college. Puerto Rico has free college for most for a Bachelor degree. If you want a Master degree, the taxpayers shouldn't pay for that and should be your responsibility. When he says: A college education is not free like in other countries. Well is never free, the other countries just taxes the people in other ways and have a huge bureaucracy that will make matters a lot worse in Puerto Rico because that's more power and more money for the government in Puerto Rico and We all know how the Puerto Rican government operate.
He calls the U.S. gun violence "deplorable" and then gets defensive for his move by saying:
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I respect those who stay and fight, but we cannot judge those of us who left. Even the Puerto Rican patriots who fought for independence from Spain, such as Lola RodrÃguez de Tió (from New York) and Eugenio MarÃa de Hostos (from Santo Domingo) did so from overseas. Modern Puerto Ricans can battle for Puerto Rico from the states through voting and lobbying, whether for statehood or independence. The diaspora also rescued the island during Hurricane Maria, when the shameful late response of the U.S. government, under Donald Trump, gave much to talk about.
Who is judging him for chasing his boyfriend to the states that at the end didn't workout? Like he feels guilty for moving and wants to be call a patriot Puerto Rican working in the U.S. I don't know how is he going to push change in Puerto Rico living in Mass but oh well.. Then he gets political and blames Trump for the response for the 2017 hurricane when the facts proves that the former governor, mayor of San Juan and many others where withholding aid and played politics who got what for politics first. That's the reason the former governor and many on his administration had to resign and the Mayor of San Juan was rejected by her own party when she ran for governor in 2020. It wasn't a federal response problem but a huge internal problem that they haven't fix and another category 5 hurricane would be the same
He didn't say much how to change the system or what can the people do but people moving between states in the nation is common. New York, California, new Jersey to name a few lost population because they moved.
Hypocrites of the highest order, while I've been now 16 years and counting putting my money where my mouth always was, serving Uncle Sam in the armpits of this Country risking my neck for a middle class salary (when adjusted for 2022 inflation) in questionable 1960s equipment. At least Anglos thank me for keeping them away from a draft they rather not ever be exposed to, by virtue of my "volunteerism".
I don't say any of that to aggrandize my position, I'm just saying I can't take seriously the cultural opinions of the cognitive dissonant demographic that author belongs to. I actually don't mind independentistas; I find many of them morally and logically consistent, even though many would be my declared enemies if we ever had to square off with weapons. Life is grey like that. And really they probably don't mind me, someone who in their eyes is the Puerto Rican equivalent to a modern day Canadian (Revolutionary war tory).
But that chinese buffet, pick-three-flavors, waffle fry perspective of waxing poetic about independence while enjoying the collective largesse of a large continental power, while paid in the world's reserve currency as the tender from your employment? That's a bridge too far for me as a native too. The double-speaking, New England salary-level teacher can spare me his opinion on why the rest of us belong to the diaspora.
I've already spoken my opinion on here about the reasons I left, and the reasons I think most leave, at least from the perspective of the W-2 earning middle class: The personal income tax tables and median incomes are not conducive to a mainland level of middle class attainment in the island, and with a birthright blue passport in hand, one would be remiss not to seek economic redress vis a vis what Latin Americans have to do to seek the same. Occam's Razor. Next.
Last edited by hindsight2020; 04-11-2022 at 09:49 PM..
I read the opinion of... He doesn't say what his masters is from but he throws it in his piece. He sounds like a socialist independentista that is gay
SanJuanStar, you are a well-known collaborator in this forum, and you should know best the etiquette of a decent online discussion on city-data. The sexual orientation of the article's writer is not the focus of the debate. Sexual orientation is a sensitive topic, and you should avoid it if the subject of the discussion is not about that. In other words, it seems that you are trying to minimize the validity of the arguments in the article because the author is gay. Your comment falls into a blurry boundary that could end with your suspension from here. Are you clear?
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Originally Posted by SanJuanStar
So his reasons are personal.
College Writing 101: Essays are objective and subjective. The article is a subjective essay that is part of a blog. It's clear the author's reasons are personal, and there is nothing wrong with that.
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Originally Posted by SanJuanStar
Who is judging him for chasing his boyfriend to the states that at the end didn't workout?
Once again, the author’s romantic life is not the topic of the arguments, and it doesn’t sound like his main complaint. You should avoid bringing that subject. The author blames both the United States Government and Puerto Rico’s Government. I might disagree with some points, but I’m sure many Puerto Ricans will feel related.
SanJuanStar, you are a well-known collaborator in this forum, and you should know best the etiquette of a decent online discussion on city-data. The sexual orientation of the article's writer is not the focus of the debate. Sexual orientation is a sensitive topic, and you should avoid it if the subject of the discussion is not about that. In other words, it seems that you are trying to minimize the validity of the arguments in the article because the author is gay. Your comment falls into a blurry boundary that could end with your suspension from here. Are you clear?
I didn't say anything negative or positive about his sexual lifestyle. The writer said himself that he left Puerto Rico NOT for economic reasons (he was fine economically in Puerto Rico ) but to go after his lover, novio, jevo, partner or whatever you want to call it. I guess one was trying to run away from the other and the other was chasing him (I'm assuming and frankly it doesn't matter what sex his ex partner is) . That means he left for PERSONAL reasons. If you leave Puerto Rico for personal reasons for a man or a woman is a lot different than economic or security issues so his reasons for leaving puts perspective to his essay or opinion piece.
if I have a life in Puerto Rico, a career (a job) and doing fine economically and my girlfriend leaves Puerto Rico without me, there is a good % she doesn't love me and chasing her is not going to make her love me to be with me. The author relationship failed and the geographic didn't matter. This is important to his story? don't you think?
Again, I didn't bring his sexual orientation or said anything negative but his reason for leaving is key.
It's seems that he is trying to convince himself in reasons NOT to return and something tells me there is more to his story.
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Originally Posted by diegomar2007
Once again, the author’s romantic life is not the topic of the arguments, and it doesn’t sound like his main complaint. You should avoid bringing that subject. The author blames both the United States Government and Puerto Rico’s Government. I might disagree with some points, but I’m sure many Puerto Ricans will feel related.
Well, send him a personal message. I don't tell people how to write their stories but once they do and open the can of worms and make it part of the topic then is fair game why he left Puerto Rico in our response. He could have said he left Puerto Rico to chase his girlfriend and my respond would have been the same, he left to chase a person not for economic or security reasons, he was fine in the island economical. If his partner didn't leave Puerto Rico, 3 out of 4 betting odds, he would be still be in Puerto Rico today.
I left Puerto Rico to join the military. After I got out I was offered good jobs in the states. I could have return for personal reasons and grind it out, I know the people and system. Most of my friends from High school and girlfriends are in the island but my reason were economical and career opportunities and security last (I like nice things) . That's a lot different than the author of the topic. I guess economic ladder and love makes us jump the pond but there not the same thing. Love makes us do dumb moves sometimes.
What the author said what every Puerto Rican that has lived in the island knows. It's like a person dating your longtime ex-girlfriend telling you what she is like. What I find funny from the author that he sounds defensive for leaving Puerto Rico and wants to pretend that he can "fight" for change in Puerto Rico living, paying taxes and voting in in Mass. How is voting for Biden in Mass is going to change Puerto Rico? Maybe he can explain in the next one.
Let me put it to you this way, if I'm doing fine economically in Puerto Rico and have a career, I'm a school teacher and only work less than 9 months a year but get paid for 12 months and have a Master degree and leave my family and life in Puerto Rico to chase a woman in Spain that ends in failure and I'm stuck there and I find many reasons not to return for reasons that everybody knows you didn't leave in the first place then my people in Puerto Rico would call me out and they will be very smart in reading me out.
You can't ignore the personal reasons why people jump the pond and pretend is just the government or the Puerto Rican mentality when you lived all your life in that system.
I didn't say anything negative or positive about his sexual lifestyle.
Being gay is not a lifestyle, except for homophobic people. Are you a homophobic? Think twice your response because your comment is in a blurry line. Being straight, gay, lesbian, or whatever is a sexual orientation. Please, use correct terms. Remember, you are a frequent commentator here, you should know the etiquette.
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Originally Posted by SanJuanStar
Well, send him a personal message. I don't tell people how to write their stories but once they do and open the can of worms and make it part of the topic
What do you think makes me the best person to send a message to the writer? The author's sexual orientation should not become a can of worms, except for homophobic people. You are committing the same mistake twice. Once again, do you have a problem with gays?
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Originally Posted by SanJuanStar
Let me put it to you this way, if I'm doing fine economically in Puerto Rico and have a career, I'm a school teacher and only work less than 9 months a year but get paid for 12 months and have a Master degree and leave my family and life in Puerto Rico to chase a woman in Spain that ends in failure and I'm stuck there...
Relationships start and end. The author is not complaining about the end of the relationship or stuck in the states. The article gives me the impression of a successful Puerto Rican.
Teachers not only teach, but also endure FOR 6 TO 8 HOURS misbehaving kids that many parents bring to this world and don't know how to discipline at home. I hope you are not one of those parents that dumps your misbehaved kid at 7:00am at school expecting the teacher to do what is your responsibility for bringing that kid to the world.
Many parents need parenting classes and that's what teachers receive in the classroom every day. Schools in the states have more resources to help those kids and their parents. After all, kids are not to blame for the poor skills of their parents. It's all a cycle and teachers in Puerto Rico deal with a lot of difficult situations in a troubled island with little or no support from a corrupt Department of Education. Teachers in Puerto Rico (and elsewhere) should be more estimated than the military. [/quote]
Being gay is not a lifestyle, except for homophobic people. Are you a homophobic? Think twice your response because your comment is in a blurry line. Being straight, gay, lesbian, or whatever is a sexual orientation. Please, use correct terms. Remember, you are a frequent commentator here, you should know the etiquette.
SEXUAL LIFESTYLE. a person's pattern of sexual behaviour in terms of partners, orientation and sexual activities. How does this offends anybody?
The definition of homophobic is: hostility to, disdain for, or fear of gay sexual orientation or gay people.
Can you bring any evidence from my posts that I said anything hostility, disdain or fear for the author being gay (his admission to his story why he left Puerto Rico) for you to attack my character?
I find your post absurd. The old saying in Puerto Rico "El ladron juzga por su condicion" comes to mind but it's more like you like to control other people's views and expressions.
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Originally Posted by diegomar2007
What do you think makes me the best person to send a message to the writer? The author's sexual orientation should not become a can of worms, except for homophobic people. You are committing the same mistake twice. Once again, do you have a problem with gays?
No but I think you do. I know more about gays than you do.
Well, let me take out the crayons. The author said that he is gay teacher and he left Puerto Rico to be with his partner. That was his reason (main reason). So his personal reason and politics for being gay are important to him in how he views Puerto Rico overall . You are lecturing me that is not important to the topic and to keep it out and I told you to message him to keep it out if is that important to you but you don't control my response or accuse me for something I didn't say. You are failing miserably. Being gay is the #1 thing for gay people and how they view things through their lenses.
A gay person might look at the institutions and people differently than heterosexual people especially in Puerto Rico, especially a gay teacher where it's a more conservative place in social issues and many parents and students don't view his opinions.
The author put it for a reason in expressing his views.
.
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Originally Posted by diegomar2007
Relationships start and end. The author is not complaining about the end of the relationship or stuck in the states. The article gives me the impression of a successful Puerto Rican.
Depends what you define success in life. For me it takes a lot more than 1 article from a stranger.
Quote:
Originally Posted by diegomar2007
Teachers not only teach, but also endure FOR 6 TO 8 HOURS misbehaving kids that many parents bring to this world and don't know how to discipline at home. I hope you are not one of those parents that dumps your misbehaved kid at 7:00am at school expecting the teacher to do what is your responsibility for bringing that kid to the world.
yeah, everyone has a story in how bad they have it and how hard is their work. Everybody has a role in life.
Quote:
Originally Posted by diegomar2007
Many parents need parenting classes and that's what teachers receive in the classroom every day. Schools in the states have more resources to help those kids and their parents. After all, kids are not to blame for the poor skills of their parents. It's all a cycle and teachers in Puerto Rico deal with a lot of difficult situations in a troubled island with little or no support from a corrupt Department of Education. Teachers in Puerto Rico (and elsewhere) should be more estimated than the military.
Teacher is 1 job out of many in a society. You lost me with the military comment. I'm guessing you never served in the military.
Teacher is 1 job out of many in a society. You lost me with the military comment. I'm guessing you never served in the military.
Well, I'm downplaying the role of the military the way you downplay teachers in Puerto Rico. You should be grateful of the patience of your teachers because I'm not sure you were the best kid. After all, you got where you have gotten in your military career thanks to your teachers.
I should send you to volunteer at a public school in an inner city as a way to show the community the civility you learned (or should have learned) in the military. I know heroes who do that. Are you one of them? What mission did you work in the military? What did you learn? What lessons from your military work can you apply to make this society better? Let's see your contributions and how well-adjusted you are to civilian life.
I hope you are not one of those retired military who expects others to pay lip service everywhere they go, while collecting a big payment from taxpayers, and not doing anything else. Sorry, but the work after the military continues.
Last edited by diegomar2007; 04-12-2022 at 04:39 AM..
Diegomar, I just read the essay. Not a lot new there.....Island is corrupt. Unfortunately those who have the clearist vision on how to fix it, have left the island. The politicians there can't seem to break away from the corruption and are the problem itself.
The other big takeaway is the fantasy that if only the island could become a state, go independent or any other option that could exist that all the problems would be solved. No the culture of corruption is the issue. Those in power keep beating the drum that "if only we could become a state" " or these Act 60 people are the enemy" is all nonsense. Just boogie men created so the people hate those things for their problems instead of focusing on the government of Puerto Rico to do the job they were elected/ appointed too.
Diegomar, I just read the essay. Not a lot new there.....Island is corrupt. Unfortunately those who have the clearist vision on how to fix it, have left the island. The politicians there can't seem to break away from the corruption and are the problem itself.
The other big takeaway is the fantasy that if only the island could become a state, go independent or any other option that could exist that all the problems would be solved. No the culture of corruption is the issue. Those in power keep beating the drum that "if only we could become a state" " or these Act 60 people are the enemy" is all nonsense. Just boogie men created so the people hate those things for their problems instead of focusing on the government of Puerto Rico to do the job they were elected/ appointed too.
Stepfordct:
You have a very valid point. Some believe that changing the island’s political status will solve all its problems. I agree with you. However, that same argument is constantly used to downplay and discredit ideas and people that attempt to solve very ingrained systemic issues that are a product of the subordination to the U.S. I think part of the corruption might be because they think Washington will always pay the bill.
Just pay attention to some comments here, labeling the author as a socialist pro-independence to discredit the validity of the points in the article. But Puerto Ricans are not unique in that short-sighted mentality. We have that in the states, where any criticism or commendation is seen under blue or red lenses and many problems are never solved.
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Like he feels guilty for moving and wants to be call a patriot Puerto Rican working in the U.S. I don't know how is he going to push change in Puerto Rico living in Mass but oh well.. Then he gets political and blames Trump for the response for the 2017 hurricane when the facts proves that the former governor, mayor of San Juan and many others where withholding aid and played politics who got what for politics first. That's the reason the former governor and many on his administration had to resign and the Mayor of San Juan was rejected by her own party when she ran for governor in 2020. It wasn't a federal response problem but a huge internal problem that they haven't fix and another category 5 hurricane would be the same
