Open letter to former congressman Jay Kim,

(Letter in response to a blog post written by former Congressman Jay Kim)

Dear Mr. Kim,

I feel compelled to respond to your blog post, as an American citizen, a puertorican and as a history student at the University of Puerto Rico. I specially feel compelled to write to you as a pro-statehood activist in the island.

To start off, I would expect a former congressman, an honorable man as you to research facts before you state them. For example, Puerto Rico has indeed been a colony of the United States, but its residents have been United States Citizens since 1917, due to the fact Congress passed the Jones Act, in March 2^nd of that year, effectively granting citizenship to the resident of its colony which allowed them to be available to serve in the military. Since then, puertoricans have died in every mayor battlefield, including Korea, where the 65^th infantry regiment, composed mainly of my fellow puertoricans, held the invading Chinese at bay, giving the rest of the army time to retreat back into South Korea, your homeland. My grandfather and his brothers fought bravely so that South Korea may today enjoy democracy.

As for the reason why Puerto Rico has yet to decide between independence and statehood, is due to the fact that the Popular Democratic Party, one of the 2 main local parties, that advocates for the status-quo, has lied, time and time again to the people. Time and time again they have gone before Congress to ask for more powers, yet to retain the “best of both worlds” relationship they say has made Puerto Rico a prosperous island. In all occasions, Congress has denied them their requests. Unfortunately, when past referendums have been held, this same party has demonized statehood, and independence. Their argument against statehood and independence is frivolous at best, but rings enough into the hearts of my fellow colonial citizens to instill fear.

It is this same party that has gone to Congress and given a negative perspective of our society, claiming we are lazy, good for nothing, welfare leeches. The reality is completely different. The average resident of Puerto Rico strives to excel and better themselves by looking for an education, or aiming to do an honest living. Unfortunately, due to the unsustainable colonial status we currently “enjoy”, Puerto Rico has seen an exodus of families into the states, crime has risen, and the economy has stagnated.  Even with these limitations, Puerto Rico is one of the leading exporters of pharmaceutical products in the United States. Many of the top pharmaceuticals, like Pfizer and Glasko-Smith, have factories here.

The statehood movement, has slowly but surely, been gaining more and more followers, throughout the years. A recent poll by the largest local newspaper, “El Nuevo Dia”, shows this trend is correct. To believe we want to be a State because the local politicians want to be more influential in national politics is completely off base. We want to be a State because we wish the U.S. Constitution to be applied fully to Puerto Rico. We want to be considered first class citizens, the right to vote for our representatives to Congress whom will give our voice to the rest of our brothers and sisters in the continent, we want the right to vote for the man who sends our men to battle in defense of freedom and democracy, amongst other very major reasons. We want to be held accountable, and do our part to help our nation steer into the future; we also want the sovereignty that is protected in the 9^th and 10^th amendments of the Bill of Rights so that our State may grow and prosper, while we contribute to the growth of our nation.

Puerto Rico is the bridge between the United States and the rest of Latin America, it is the place where the United States becomes a Caribbean nation, and its beauty surpasses anything you may encounter in the mainland.

Mr. Kim, maybe you would understand us if you moved here. Did you know that a man born and raised in Virginia may not vote for the president of our nation if he moves to Puerto Rico? That is a serious Civil Rights issue, and it has been overlooked for many years, because the enemies of freedom have lied to our people and to Congressmen like you.

I urge you to do a proper research of the matter, and as a minority in the United States, I urge you to support Puerto Rico Statehood, instead of advocating with false facts the status quo.

Attentively,

-Edwin R. Jusino-

Student UPR- Mayaguez

Former president of the Puerto Rico Statehood Students Association UPR Mayaguez Chapter

Director of the José Celso Barbosa Pro Statehood Education Campaing