US politics, Puerto Rico
I... I really don't understand any hate for Puerto Rico.
I visited there once, when my parents took me on a Caribbean cruise. I enjoyed Viejo San Juan, especially Pigeon Park.
But I associate it with amazing Caribbean food. I am convinced that every Puerto Rican grandmother wants every person in her life to become spherical from so much plantain, arroz con gandules, and bacalao guisado.
And I associate it with entertainment. Marc Anthony, Bad Bunny, Rosario Dawson, José Ferrer, Luis Fonzi, Raul Julia, Jennifer Lopez, Ricky Martin, Luis Miguel, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Rita Moreno, and Tito Puente are from there.
Yes, the island is poor compared with the mainland. That's fixable, especially if it either becomes a full US state or it becomes its own nation.
But hate for Puerto Rico... utterly baffles me.
re: US politics, Puerto Rico
@Chip_Unicorn I think it's opportunism. PR's still a territory, so they can't vote right? And by definition there won't be a big number of Riquenos registered in the states. So right wing whites will understand hating on them as code for hating Mexicans, and right wing Cuban- and Mexican-Americans can feel okay that they're not supporting someone openly dissing them.
re: US politics, Puerto Rico
@Leucrotta
Puerto Ricans in Puerto Rico can't vote for President.
Puerto Ricans living in the mainland are natural-born citizens and can serve as President. Oh, yeah. And can vote in the state they live in.
Yeah, I know that's weird.
But, yeah -- I agree that it's not-well-hidden code for hating The Other.
re: US politics, Puerto Rico
@Chip_Unicorn I checked Wikipedia; about 60% of Latinos in the US are Mexican-Americans, 10% are Riquenos. About 20% of the population are Latinos in general - so that's a staggering 2% of the overall population. There are more Jews and First Nations, and *we're* safe enough demographics to scapegoat.
re: US politics, Puerto Rico
@Leucrotta
Yeah. According to https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stateside_Puerto_Ricans , there's around six million Puerto Ricans in the mainland. The 2% figure is another way to estimate-- and they agree.