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article and photos by Steve Dodds
WELCOME TO THE 51st state of the United States of America! Puerto Rico is as close to being a state as it can legally or socially be — though this statement is neither politically correct nor even my preference. The USA’s Caribbean wonderland, Puerto Rico is as easy to get to and get around in as any US mainland destination. And what a beautiful, elegant, historical, and exciting destination it is. About 5,000 years ago, the first human inhabitants — the Archaics — came to this island from North and Central America. It was 2,000 years ago when Arawak Indians began to progress from Central America through the Caribbean archipelago, eventually reaching Puerto Rico. Through time and cultural evolution, the Arawaks gave way to the Taínos who became the Caribbean’s most advanced culture. On his second excursion to the New World in November of 1493, Christopher Columbus landed on the western shore of this island, then known as Borinquén. Columbus renamed the island San Juan Bautista. However, many modern-day Puerto Ricans continue to refer to themselves as Boricuas. The Spanish brought with them their terrible reign of colonization and militarization which brought an end to the indigenous peoples. In 1493, there were 60,000 Taínos living on Borinquén. About fifty years later, nearly all were dead. The first governor of San Juan, Ponce de León, renamed the island Puerto Rico (“rich port”) and began the building of fortifications which made it Spain’s most important Caribbean military outpost — guarding against the English, French, and Dutch. The capital was now named San Juan and turned into a walled city. The English were eventually successful in taking San Juan’s El Morro walled fortress after numerous attempts. This was the extent of the British conquest of Puerto Rico. During an attack by the Dutch, a prayer procession of local women led by a bishop carried torches as they approached El Morro. The English, mistaking the procession as Dutch troop reinforcements, were scared off of the island forever. Puerto Rico was invaded by the US in 1898 during the Spanish-American War. The US seized the island from the Spanish, claiming it as a bounty of war. As the last Spanish governor surrendered to US troops, legend has it that he stopped to take one last look at the grandfather clock in his mansion, La Fortaleza. Drawing his sword, he struck the clock, stopping it dramatically at the moment Spain lost power over Puerto Rico. In 1917, the people of Puerto Rico were made citizens of the US. In 1952, Puerto Rico was declared a semi-autonomous Commonwealth Territory of the US. Due to poor pronunciation of the island’s name by Americans, it was unfortunately known as Porto Rico for a period of time. Today, residents elect their own governor, a US Representative, and a US Senator. The island receives federal funds and citizens are drafted into the US Armed Forces. Islanders, however, cannot vote for President and do not pay federal income taxes. Political status is a source of constant debate in Puerto Rico. In the last 25 years, the idea of US statehood has become increasing popular. Recent votes show that the trend is that Puerto Rico will become a state. There are also strong arguments for outright independence. In 1998, the winning ballot on a political-status referendum was “none of the above.” Today, Americans can travel to Puerto Rico without a passport, spend American dollars (the official currency), and speak English wherever they go. If you go to the mountains or to a small fishing village, your knowledge of the |
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