By Daniel Nardini
I find the famous Puerto Rican singer and one of the members of the reggaeton group Calle 13, Rene Perez, a hard person to understand. In an interview, Perez said that he would give up his U.S. citizenship to be Puerto Rican, but that this is impractical. Perez apparently sees U.S. citizenship as an imposition of an imperial power on his native Puerto Rico. He wishes that there is such a thing as a Puerto Rican citizenship, and although he does not say it, he seems to believe that Puerto Rico should be an independent country. Perhaps that is what he wants, but 90 percent of all Puerto Ricans in Puerto Rico do not want that.
In every single referendum held since the establishment of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico in 1954, most Puerto Ricans have chosen to retain their island’s autonomy. That is they are U.S. citizens, use U.S. currency, and have to live under the U.S. Constitution. At the same time, they have all the freedoms and privileges of American citizens (except in voting in U.S. presidential elections, and having senators or house representatives in the U.S. Congress since Puerto Rico is not a state). Whatever the problems Puerto Rico faces, and they are many, Puerto Rico is still way better off than just about any country in the Caribbean. Puerto Rico has the highest per capita of any country in the Caribbean, and Puerto Ricans have freedoms not found in, for example, Cuba.
Having U.S. citizenship is no small honor. It means people have the right to freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of religion (or not), freedom of peaceful assembly, and the right to seek redress for grievances. Just as equally important, U.S. nationality is recognized throughout most of the world. If a Puerto Rican wanted to renounce his or her U.S. citizenship, then they will be unable to travel for the most part outside of Puerto Rico. But what really bothers me is how some people seem to think that U.S. citizenship is NOT worthy of having. My own wife would totally disagree with Rene Perez. She waited until she could qualify for U.S. citizenship, and she pursued it once she could qualify. At the swearing in ceremony for U.S. citizenship, my wife was among 150 immigrants who became U.S. citizens, and this became a major celebration for their families who attended the event. I find it sad when there are those who do not think that U.S. citizenship is not worth keeping. Well, they can renounce it if they wish—that is also their right. My wife and I will NEVER give up our U.S. citizenship. It has too much meaning to us.
Never Give Up U.S. Citizenship!
By Daniel Nardini
I find the famous Puerto Rican singer and one of the members of the reggaeton group Calle 13, Rene Perez, a hard person to understand. In an interview, Perez said that he would give up his U.S. citizenship to be Puerto Rican, but that this is impractical. Perez apparently sees U.S. citizenship as an imposition of an imperial power on his native Puerto Rico. He wishes that there is such a thing as a Puerto Rican citizenship, and although he does not say it, he seems to believe that Puerto Rico should be an independent country. Perhaps that is what he wants, but 90 percent of all Puerto Ricans in Puerto Rico do not want that.
In every single referendum held since the establishment of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico in 1954, most Puerto Ricans have chosen to retain their island’s autonomy. That is they are U.S. citizens, use U.S. currency, and have to live under the U.S. Constitution. At the same time, they have all the freedoms and privileges of American citizens (except in voting in U.S. presidential elections, and having senators or house representatives in the U.S. Congress since Puerto Rico is not a state). Whatever the problems Puerto Rico faces, and they are many, Puerto Rico is still way better off than just about any country in the Caribbean. Puerto Rico has the highest per capita of any country in the Caribbean, and Puerto Ricans have freedoms not found in, for example, Cuba.
Having U.S. citizenship is no small honor. It means people have the right to freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of religion (or not), freedom of peaceful assembly, and the right to seek redress for grievances. Just as equally important, U.S. nationality is recognized throughout most of the world. If a Puerto Rican wanted to renounce his or her U.S. citizenship, then they will be unable to travel for the most part outside of Puerto Rico. But what really bothers me is how some people seem to think that U.S. citizenship is NOT worthy of having. My own wife would totally disagree with Rene Perez. She waited until she could qualify for U.S. citizenship, and she pursued it once she could qualify. At the swearing in ceremony for U.S. citizenship, my wife was among 150 immigrants who became U.S. citizens, and this became a major celebration for their families who attended the event. I find it sad when there are those who do not think that U.S. citizenship is not worth keeping. Well, they can renounce it if they wish—that is also their right. My wife and I will NEVER give up our U.S. citizenship. It has too much meaning to us.