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Puerto Rico will never become a federal state. The "antis" on the island are numerous enough (between the status quo and pro-independence people), but many Americans on the mainland oppose statehood. Puerto Rico is more like a separate nation with its own culture. It does not want to lose its culture and identity and language, no matter how long this would take. (Playing on the U.S. Olympic team under the American flag and many other things you give up when you opt for statehood? Puerto Ricans won't accept that.)
Congress would have to approve statehood, and a Spanish-language state is just impossible. More Democrats want it (for more Democratic voters), but Republicans will never approve it (more Dem senators and representatives, and more federal funds for welfare). Puerto Rico is considered too poor, too backward outside its bigger cities, and the poverty level is higher than Mississippi's (our poorest state). The opposition will be formidable, and the pro-statehood side hasn't a chance. The 2012 referendum was quite sleazy, really, and the results are not impressive. No one believes this is a mandate for statehood, and statewood would be tricky enough even if it were a mandate.
Even if it becomes a state, would it speak spanish?
why dont u just calm down about puerto rico. It's not gonna lose it's spanish heritage, it's not going to go through some drastic culture shift in your lifetime. Just don't spam the boards, dang.
Puerto Rico will never become a federal state. The "antis" on the island are numerous enough (between the status quo and pro-independence people), but many Americans on the mainland oppose statehood. Puerto Rico is more like a separate nation with its own culture. It does not want to lose its culture and identity and language, no matter how long this would take. (Playing on the U.S. Olympic team under the American flag and many other things you give up when you opt for statehood? Puerto Ricans won't accept that.)
Congress would have to approve statehood, and a Spanish-language state is just impossible. More Democrats want it (for more Democratic voters), but Republicans will never approve it (more Dem senators and representatives, and more federal funds for welfare). Puerto Rico is considered too poor, too backward outside its bigger cities, and the poverty level is higher than Mississippi's (our poorest state). The opposition will be formidable, and the pro-statehood side hasn't a chance. The 2012 referendum was quite sleazy, really, and the results are not impressive. No one believes this is a mandate for statehood, and statehood would be tricky enough even if the referendum had been a mandate.
Funny, because it's the Republican Party that pushes for statehood, while the Democrats oppose it and support the status quo please inform yourself of the situation before you make any comments? Thanks!
@unbrainwashed. Among Puerto Rican Republicans, and U.S. Hispanic Republicans in general, yes, many are for statehood while Puerto Rican Democrats and leftist groups are opposed (as they would be--it's an issue of culture and sovereignty for them). The U.S. mainland -- which will make or break statehood -- is as I described it above. On the mainland, progressive Democrats want a new Hispanic 51st state that will add to their arsenal in both the Senate (2 senators) and the House (4 seats). Mainland Republicans, most all of them except Hispanics, are suspicious if not outright opposed. You're the one who's misinformed, I'm afraid. But no prob--it's a moot point really; statehood for Puerto Rico is impossible in our lifetimes.
I just have some gut feeling that Puerto Ricans will speak english as a first language, like 50-70 years after they become a state. How can I have hope that they won't abandon spanish?
We have been under the U.S flag for over a century and we still speak spanish and eat rice and beans and listen to Salsa music. Spanish is spoken by millions in the states. If you forget how to speak a language is not because of the government, its because of you. Reading the scare tactics by some is funny. The U.S. constitution doesn't say anything about an official language and what language should be spoken in your home or your own business.
I just have some gut feeling that Puerto Ricans will speak english as a first language, like 50-70 years after they become a state. How can I have hope that they won't abandon spanish?
based on what?........have you been to cities and towns were the majority of the residents are latinos?....they speak spanish a lot and in a lot of places in states spanish is the language spoken more than english like Miami and Los Angeles.,,,,,hell! in some places in Miami and Los Angeles you can't get service if you don't speak spanish....lol
If spanish in Puerto Rico wasn't erased under 100 years under U.S. rule as a U.S. territory it won't be under statehood. I don't see millions of white gringos moving to Puerto Rico after it becomes a state and force 4 million Puerto Ricans forget about speaking spanish and force them to listen to Rock and Country music only....that is not going to happen. There is no more space in the island and statehood doesn't work that way.
The best way to preserve your culture starts at home and education.
based on what?........have you been to cities and towns were the majority of the residents are latinos?....they speak spanish a lot and in a lot of places in states spanish is the language spoken more than english like Miami and Los Angeles.,,,,,hell! in some places in Miami and Los Angeles you can't get service if you don't speak spanish....lol
If spanish in Puerto Rico wasn't erased under 100 years under U.S. rule as a U.S. territory it won't be under statehood. I don't see millions of white gringos moving to Puerto Rico after it becomes a state and force 4 million Puerto Ricans forget about speaking spanish and force them to listen to Rock and Country music only....that is not going to happen. There is no more space in the island and statehood doesn't work that way.
The best way to preserve your culture starts at home and education.
Will future generations of Puerto Ricans speak it? What language will be the language of education, government, etc. could they follow a model like the Netherlands?
I just have some gut feeling that Puerto Ricans will speak english as a first language, like 50-70 years after they become a state. How can I have hope that they won't abandon spanish?
Lol why do you care so much? I'm from Puerto Rico and I don't care a smuch as you do lol
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please inform yourself of the situation before you make any comments? Thanks!