Photo taken by Enrique Sabater
Puerto Rico. A nation forced into submission. Economic crisis. Political instability. Lack of progress. This concealed nation has been in distress for too long. Nothing is being done. How can such an identity like the one of Puerto Rico be so confined? The answer is in the people. |
During the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, a brave 23 year old Puerto Rican woman by the name of Mónica Puig won gold in women’s tennis against all odds. That moment when that last point of the last set was won, an entire nation rose to its feet in celebration. She made history as an Olympian, woman, and most importantly as a Puerto Rican. Her motto was “pica power” which referenced the saying “a picar piedras” meaning to pick away at something little by little. The purpose of this statement was about her home Puerto Rico being small with many problems and getting through it little by little even though the struggle is great. As Antonio Sotomayor said in an interview of NPR, “…that victory for Mónica Puig, you have a whole nation united…. that victory, that nationalistic feeling is an impediment to Puerto Rico's assimilation. Even if you say, let's separate it from politics, the existence of Puerto Rico's Olympic committee is a political brick wall for the pro-statehood movement.” Puerto Rico is unique and will never truly be part of the United States. Even in the 2004 Olympics the Puerto Rican basketball team beat the American team of NBA all-stars. “For Puerto Ricans, that whole historical context of an island that's been under colonial rule, without political voice or face to the world, beating the most popular team in the world in one of the most popular sports, was extraordinary.” Said Antonio Sotomayor. There is a nationalistic separation that will never be concealed.
Even through the arts, there is a call to action to the people. The Puerto Rican band Cultura Profética made a strong point about the current problematic situation of Puerto Rico with their song “le da igual”. The song talks about that there is no escape from the tragedies, the economy is a mess, and how the people with the power to make the change don’t take the initiative to do so. The chorus “le da igual” means it means the same to him referencing that the people with power and money don’t care for the people below them. The song laments the unjust situation that the key to the problem is in front of them but is not being used for the good of the Puerto Rican community. |
This cannot be.
Puerto Rico, it’s time for a change.
Puerto Rico, it’s time for a change.