Reasons

In the midst of all the political propaganda for statehood, independence and a sovereign association with the United States, I still encounter Puerto Ricans who have no knowledge of self. You mention some of the greatest leaders of our nation, and it's as if you had mentioned an unknown. In fact, if it does not pertain to the arts, it is a national secret. So you must come to wonder, what then are they proud about? Well, the honest truth is, most could not tell you what or why. Mind you, these are the same people who hang a Puerto Rican flag from their rear view mirror; the same ones that at the sound of "Yo soy Boricua" chant back as loud as they can, "Pa' Que Tu Lo Sepas!"

It is disturbing, to say the least. It's as if somewhere along the way... we taught our children to be proud of their heritage, yet failed to give them the many reasons for being proud of who they are. You see, our ancestors were warriors, kings, and conquistadors. Through our veins run the blood of some of the greatest men in history. Some of the most fascinating tales and events have occurred in our little island. It's time that we reevaluate the information that we have stored about ourselves, and dig deeper into the rabbit hole. There is much to be proud of, and what we can learn about ourselves can lead us to make better choices about what tomorrow will hold for us as a people. In the words of one of our greatest, Don Pedro Albizu Campos:

"In order to resolve Puerto Rico's political status, we must first understand who we are and our island's history." - Don Pedro Albizu Campos, after the Ponce Massacre, 1937.