Puerto Rico honors Obama, LBJ visits with statues

There are reportedly more Puerto Ricans in New York City than San Juan PR.

The Puerto Rican people are now quite inter-mixed with other Americans.

Simply put, I doubt Puerto Rico is going anywhere (except to stay as part of the U.S.).

Only 2% want Puerto Rican independence, the rest of the people are split over statehood and staying a "commonwealth" (U.S. territory).

In many areas of the northeast and even down here in Florida, there are Puerto Ricans in most families or among neighbors.
Just saying.......

Puerto Ricans are simply Americans (even the ones that won't admit it).
**wink**

I have visited Puerto Rico and talked to locals. The impression I got is that only a small percentage perhaps 5-10% want complete independence. The rest are about equally split between statehood or maintaining the current commonwealth status. I think the Puerto Ricans themselves should first figure out by significant majority what they want before we (the U.S.) decide what we should do.

I lived in Puerto Rico in 1993 during the plebocite (sp?) when the Puerto Rican people voted to remain a commonwealth-this guy is just a member of the statehood party-the majority of the Puerto Rican people did not vote for statehood when they last had the chance-they were afraid they would lose their language and culture.

I am a white conservative, republican, male who happens to teach at U.S. military bases. What struck me was the number of Puerto Ricans in the military. They do pay taxes, are in the middle for aid and serve this country. Get away from San Juan and you will find a beautiful island with friendly people and low crime. San Juan is like most other major metropolitan areas with high crime, corruption and homeless. (like NY or LA or Chicago). I'm not sure but I would also bet their college graduation rate is higher than most mainland areas.

As a Puerto Rican, I know I speak for the great majority of islanders who think this was as stupid an attempt at #$%$ as we've ever seen. It's no wonder that mainlanders have the negative view of us that they do. GEEEEEZ!

Again, so little is know of Puerto Rican history, yet people spill nonsense like its Holy Scriptures. In fact, Puerto Rico had won it autonomy from Spain in February of 1898. Therefore, when Spain surrendered Puerto Rico to the U.S., in July or August of that same year, it did so illegally. For no nation has the right to hand over another soveriegn nation; at that point in history it was not legally responsible for Puerto Rico. Also, at that point in history, Puerto Rico had rich export trade supplies of Sugar, Tobacco and Coffee and was very much so, self-sufficient. The U.S. saw Puerto Rico as a strategic military base and as another source of soldiers for any future wars. The U.S. did us no favors. As a matter of fact, if it wasn't for our dear First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt who reported to her husband to poor state of Puerto Rico after a devastating hurricane, we would not have been considered for any assistance or been part of President Roosevelt's "New Deal"; which pulled our nation out of the Great Depression. Enough already. Statehood now!!!

Forget all about how many wars or taxes are paid or not paid. look at the fun facts. As a state PR will be known as the US state home of the piña colada, great golf courses, capitol of rum, great baseball legends (Clemente, Bernie Williams among others), biggest radio telescope, the only US rain forest, great food, amazing beaches (Flamenco Beach), movies filmed in the island, BEST HAND MADE CIGARS, I could go on...

Were the statues made in China?

I have asked one question of every person that I have met from Puerto Rico... when are we going to add a start to our flag for Puerto Rico? In other words, when are the people of Puerto Rico going to decide that they want to be a state? Every time I get the same asnwer, "Never!". Puerto Ricans have shed their blood for America (along with people from the Virgin Islands, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands and American Samoa) and are United States Citizens (not all of the other territories can claim that). All they need to do is to decide they want to be a state and get Congress to bless it so we can add the star. Puerto Ricans will then get a chance to have the proper equeal representation in Congress, vote for President and pay Federal Income Taxes like the rest of us. Federal Income Tax is a pain, but its part of American Citizenship that Puerto Ricans, who are all American Citizens, are not paying unless they work for the Federal Government. I Welcome Puerto Rico's admission... and the Virgin Islands, Guam, Northern Mariana's, and American Samoa as well.

If they want to vote, they need to become part of the US and they choose not to. Great reporting (not).

Served with alot of good Marines from Puerto Rico.....just saying.

Building statues didn't help the inhabitants of Easter Island either.

Puerto Ricans do not pay federal imcome taxes unless they are federal employee. They pay payroll taxes because they are eligible to collect social security. They receive federal aid including stimulus money. They might as well become a state and pay US income taxes and be net contributors to the system. Puerto Ricans may not be so keen on Obama once they have to pay the same income taxes as the rest of us.

Something else for the birds to poop on!!!?!?

Why can't we just make Puerto Rico a state and give then full rights?

They could easily have Senators and vote for the President. They just have to become a state and pay taxes like the rest of us. They can change it at any time with a simple election. Their lack of "basic rights" is their own problem to solve in one simple step.

t's funny because since WWI puertoricans until the end of the Vietnam war puertoricans were being drafted for US military service, dozens of National Guard & Reseve units were activated and sent to Iraq & Afganistan....fed emp/service personnel pay taxes to the US Treasury also in the imports that include fuel which goes to PR to be refined and sent back. Some people need to get a refund from your American History teachers, seems that they skip the chapter of the Spanish-American war of 1898.

If Puerto Rico wants all of the rights of a state, it's people must first vote to become a state.

if PR wants to vote and have the same rights as US citizens then they should become a state. They want US funding, but want to remain as a commonwealth. Congress should force PR to either become a state or become independent with no funding.

WHY?