My dad called me up earlier tonight and told me to switch on channel 13, which is PBS here in the NYC area. I thought he was trying to tell me, yet again, that In the Life, a lesbian and gay news show, was on; my dad loves to tell me about every single remotely gay thing he sees, watches, or hears about.
But this time, he was calling to tell me about a film that was on, Mi Puerto Rico. I’m really glad he called me about it; it was an excellent film, all about issues of cultural and political identity in Puerto Rico, centered around US colonialism and the question of Puerto Rico’s political status. While presenting all sides of the debate, the film had what I thought was a decidedly independista slant, which, of course, I greatly appreciated.
I’m sad I didn’t get to watch the whole thing from the very beginning, and am tempted to get in on DVD. Only thing is, you can only get the DVD for either $295 from the independent film distributor, or for a $75 or more pledge to Thirteen, the PBS station here. Even though I really need not spend that sort of money, I’m so tempted.
If you’d like to watch it, are in the NYC area, and are the early riser sort, it’ll be airing again at 7:30am this Saturday.
You can probably have your local library order it and avoid paying those high prices. I believe that if there’s ever a referendum on the status if the island, all Boricuas not only those currently living in PR should be allowed to vote on the matter.
So cute that your dad loves to tell you about every gay thing he sees. My aunt is like that – I always get these clippings every time something “gay” appears in her local paper.
The NY and Brooklyn public library systems both actually own the video, as a search just turned up, but it’s only on reserve and can’t be checked out, alas.
I don’t know if I know enough to say I agree about the referendum. On the one hand, I think that there was a lot of essentially forced emigration to the States after the decimation of the island’s economy and especially after Operation Bootstrap. But I know that, for me personally, it would feel weird for me to vote on the status of the island when I’ve never lived there myself. Do I really have the right to vote on what should happen there if I’ve never lived there? Do you think that even Boricuas who were born and raised in the states and have never lived on the island should be able to vote?
Yeah, my dad is cute like that. I think it’s his way of telling me that he’s cool with me being gay, and his way of bonding with me.
Yes all Boricuas should be allowed to vote, regardless of where you were born, you still have the legal right to go back and live in PR. I was born and raised in the Island and travel to PR 2 to 3 times a year to visit family and to work.
The fact is that immigration to the States did not stop in the 40’s and 50’s. The economy in PR at the moment is very weak (has been for years) and a lot of Boricuas are leaving the Island for the US ( a lot of us go back too ). The constant immigration makes it easier on those who stay on the Island But as the recent PR budget debacle proved, the Island is really dependent on the income that the Boricuas from the US send back home.
I know is a thorny issue but look at it this way. A decision on “The Status” made by people living in the Island will affect all Boricuas living in the US. Regardless of whether the outcome is for independence or statehood, the Boricua’s living in the US will be facing the repercussions of the outcome for generations to come.
Just adding my 2 cents and BTW I love your blog 🙂
This is one of the most interesting blogs I’ve read! Forgive my ignorance, but where does the term ‘Boricua’ come from.