Let’s examine common wealth the impact that can have on Puerto Rico on the long run, and what impact it had thru out history, the coomonwealth status is what most Puerto Ricans support. Puerto Rico continues to support commonwealth, however let’s look at certain examples how United States has used for its benefits. More or less united States are able to control most government policy that Puerto Rico has. It can be foreign policies, etc. but as you can see history has showed what United States main purpose has been with Puerto Rico, its definitely not one of progression, but one of experimental and deceive. As some you might know or not, 1931: Dr. Cornelius Rhoads, a pathologist, conducted a cancer experiment in Puerto Rico under the auspices of the Rockefeller Institute for Medical Investigations. Dr. Rhoads has been accused of purposely infecting his Puerto Rican subjects with cancer cells. Thirteen of the subjects died. A Puerto Rican physician uncovered the experiment an investigation covered-up the facts. Despite Rhoads’ hand written statements that the Puerto Rican population should be eradicated, Rhoads went on to establish U.S. Army Biological Warfare facilities in Maryland, Utah, and Panama, and was later named to the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission. Rhoads was also responsible for the radiation experiments on prisoners, hospital patients, and soldiers. The American Association for Cancer Research honored him by naming its exemplary scientist award the Cornelius Rhoads Award, if you think is conspiracy I am holding a copy of 1949 TIME magazine with DR.Rhoads on the cover when he conducted an interview in which he was quoted “The Porto Ricans (sic) are the dirtiest, laziest, most degenerate and thievish race of men ever to inhabit this sphere… I have done my best to further the process of extermination by killing off eight and transplanting cancer into several more… All physicians take delight in the abuse and torture of the unfortunate subjects”.

Who is not to say that this cannot happen again, in fact I can point out that history has showed the United States continues to support such behaviors on the island using Puerto Ricans as subjects, let’s take another example. With out giving much explanation, as many should know that Puerto Rican women were subjects of sterilization thru out the 1950’s and 1970’s, in fact such grotest actions were documented by pbs.org the name of the documentary “The Pill”.. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/pill/peopleevents/e_puertorico.html.. y el otro documentario es .. http://www.ejumpcut.org/archive/onlinessays/JC29folder/AnaMariaGarciaInt.html..

Lets take a look at the last 2 territories that join the union (Hawaii and Alaska). Both territories have certain things in common. Both are geographically separated from the US mainland. Both entering 20th century were populated mostly by Indigenous inhabitants and a mixture of other cultures. This link will show a timeline of how American government intervened to slowly abolish the native language of many Alaskans. http://www.gi.alaska.edu/ScienceForum/ASF4/419.html

The population of “White Americans” increased rapidly once Alaska became part of the union January 3, 1959. Another side note: The annexation of Alaska was rapidly instituted due to the discovery of oil in Alaska. As of 2007, the population of Alaska consisted of mostly “White Americans” http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/02000.html.

In the case of Hawaii; in 1893 John L. Stevens lead a committee to overthrow the Hawaiian government. At the time 90% percent of the population was indigenous Hawaiian. In 1898, the percentage fell to 80%. In 1959, Hawaii was allowed into the union and the population of indigenous Hawaiians fell to an outstanding 50% Side note: Hawaiians are not allowed to play the Hawaiian national anthem as the main country anthem. The anthem can only be played after only can follow after the US national anthem. The national flag cannot be raised. Congress ensured that any territory joining the union is 2/3 “American”.

In 1993, newly elected president Bill Clinton had a letter read to the Congress apologizing to the native Hawaiians of an illegal takeover by United States, and its subsidies. http://www.hawaii-nation.org/congrec-house.html. What is very intriguing is that by 1993, Hawaii had only 30% indigenous Hawaiians, and 35% white Americans. If that is not a warning of what can happen in Puerto Rico just ask Native Hawaiians about their history.

For those who still argue that the decline of our culture won’t happen if Puerto Rico becomes a state, research Native Americans in modern United States. The decrease in the Native American population would indicate that a decline in our culture is inevitable.

If PR becomes a state, it will be flooded with mainland Americans and the culture of PR will be dramatically changed. Hotels, resorts and theme parks will increase 10 times in ten years. Your sacred areas will be dug up and replaced with Wal-marts. Your homes will be lost by eminent domain. I hope folks realize that. As a former resident of Hawai’i, I have seen firsthand the destruction and loss of Hawaiian culture.

The most recent NAIP member survey completed last month included this very question. The results were:

59% Support PR Independence
24% Retain Commonwealth status
13% Support Statehood
4% Unsure/Don’t Know enough about it

“If Puerto Rico votes for independence say good bye to U.S citizenship,medicare,medicaid,social security,…” blah, blah, blah. Nothing like a propaganda of fears.
Am ready to trade all this right now for a Puerto Rican passport. There is more to life than handouts and of having an inferiority complex.
There are many who seek the “grandeur” of a US citizenship, but am ready to give mine away for the one which am entitled by history and nature. For above all.. am a Puerto Rican.

Grown up status for a grown up culture.

—— Donald Raymond Lake

Perhaps much better to have 1 nation-state for ALL of the ex-empire islands (Spain, France, U.K., etc.) south of the U.S.A.?

Somewhere along the way under all these colonial- like influences most of us started thinking of ourselves as an inferior kind, individuals who slowly but surely became permanent hand-outs recepients and got used to it. However, we just got too many professionals, college graduates, civic groups, and skilled workers, to let anyone influenced us or veer us wrongly. SOCIAL MAKEOVER NOW!!! Then, let’s worry about the political mumbo-jumbo.

While some people would have you believe that independentistas are blood-thirsty warriors hell-bent on bringing America to its knees, nothing could be further from the truth.

Being Pro-Puerto Rico does not mean you are Anti-American.

There is absolutely no reason not to maintain excellent relations with the United States of America. There are plans to maintain unrestricted passport-free travel between the island and the U.S. mainland for a minimal period of 20 years, due to our particular situation of having almost as many Puerto Ricans living stateside as on the island.

It can only be a relationship of mutual respect and bilateral agreements entered into by two sovereign nations, and not based upon the imperial-colonial relationship presently in place.

Only register U.S. Citizens living in Puerto Rico shall be allow to vote.